“Don’t be consumed with talking about the church at home all the time. If you are consumed with your issues at home, simply resolve to pray about it together and truly give it to God. Simply say your ‘Amens,’ and leave it there.”
Teresa Merritt from My Husband Wants to be a Church Planter… So What Will That Make Me?
I came across a couple of new resources I thought you might be interested in…
From One Ministry Wife to Another by Susie Hawkins
Amy Knapp’s Digital Organizer
We all go through times of discouragement, and certainly, as a church planter your husband has some difficult days. What are some practical ways you provide encouragement and support to him when he’s going through a difficult time?
Due to popular demand, we are on our second printing of the book, My Husband Wants to be a Church Planter, So What Will That Make Me. In case you see someone with it, it does have a new cover (above), but the contents remain the same. If you don’t have a copy, you can download one at www.ChurchPlantingVillage.net/wives or you can email me at planterwives@namb.net and I’ll send you a hard copy.
Hope your 2009 is off to a great start!
As we look ahead to 2009, I would love to share with our readers your stories. What did God teach you about being the wife of a church planter in 2008? What are you doing different in 2009? Send me your stories: planterwives@namb.net.
I look foward to hearing from you!
A note from the blog creator…
I apologize for the lack of updates in recent days. Things have been extremely busy for me and apparently for many of you!
I hope you are taking some time to spend with family over the holidays. In ministry, Christmas can be a particularly hectic and stressful time of the year, so even if you have to say “no” to some things, be sure you are taking some time to spend with your children and husband.
For January, I would love to hear what God taught you as the wife of a church planter in 2008 and what you are doing different in 2009. Email me at planterwives@namb.net.
In the meantime, have a joyful, restful Christmas!
Sherri Jachelski
The following post was written by Beth Whitworth. Beth has her own blog for church planter wives at http://cpwives.blogspot.com.
Feel like you’re going crazy? Getting a pressured feeling? Is it hard to laugh even when it’s funny or do you find yourself laughing so you don’t cry? You may need an emotional break.
Take time to do something that you like to do. Something that will help relieve the stress valve. We sometimes get so caught up in doing things that we “have” to do, such as laundry (I believe it reproduces in the basket somehow), cleaning, raising children, paying bills, working, etc. etc. etc. that we don’t take the time to just kick back and do something that we like. It doesn’t have to be extreme to help reenergize us. If you like to be alone, send the family out for 2-3 hours and just sit and enjoy the silence. Maybe you would rather be the one who goes out to find some peace and solitude. Are you a people person? Get together with some friends and do what you like to do. No friends around? Plan to go to lunch at the same time and then call each other and talk while you eat out. Does doing what you like cost money? Then save up for that purpose and calendar your time so that you will have something to look forward to. Buy a new bubble bath and soak with candles and music playing.
The point is, do something that will minister to yourself. When you are involved in church planting and the friends are not there to take you away, the hubby is so busy you could easily feel bad about asking him to help with the kids, or there is no church family to help with stress relief, you must take action and make time for you. Don’t allow your emotional tank to be filled only with stressful times. Find ways for that stress relief valve because if you don’t do it purposefully, then it will explode. That can become very damaging! Even an unexpected release can cause pain. Find that thing you like to do and then DO IT! Take an emotional break. And if you’re like me, you might even have a cup of coffee while you do.
This post is especially for those of you who are not just church planter wives, but also moms! Click here for the video, ”Mom’s Wisdom.”
We hope you’re enjoying a day of rest with your family!
Take some time to think back over your journey in church planting. What has God taught you? We’d love to hear your stories! Email them to us at planterwives@namb.net and we may just feature your story as a post!
Now that school’s back in session, what are you reading?
Here are some books you might enjoy:
Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life by Keri Wyatt Kent
You Matter More Than You Think by Dr. Leslie Parrott
Finding More Time in Your Life by Dru Scott Decker
We used quotes from each of these books in our book, My Husband wants to be a Church Planter… So What Will That Make Me?
