Yesterday, I had the privilege to visit the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. It was a very nice place and inspirational to me. I've heard a lot over the years about Billy Graham, some good and some bad. Regardless, he has preached the Gospel for a very long time. The witness that he had all over the walls of the tour tell the story of Jesus Christ and that Salvation is ONLY through Jesus Christ. Regardless of whatever else people do not like about him, he has preached the Gospel message.
One thing that I noticed that got me a little emotional, was the tribute to his dear wife, Ruth, who passed away several years ago. I began to think about my husband, our ministry, the hardships we have endured, and the privilege of being the wife of a preacher.
I think many times those of us who are called to be preacher's wives, yes it is a calling, know the sacrifice it takes to be in that role. Not everyone has the same calling. Some are pastors, some evangelists, some church planters, some missionaries, but all wives of these men are important to their ministry. The wife of a minister should never have the attitude that "That is HIS ministry, not mine. God didn't call ME to preach, he called my husband. The church doesn't pay ME, it pays my husband. I'm not required to be active because it's HIS ministry." If you married him, and called him, then he has called you, plain and simple.
Recently, I've noticed preacher's wives are becoming less and less active in their husband's ministry. I see evangelist's wives staying home or not coming with them, when they have no real reason other than they just do not want to come. This bothers me deeply. Satan wants to destroy our families. He will start with Christ's church, the bride of Christ! This starts with the ministers that God has ordained and set apart for the ministry! Let me encourage all of you young and old evangelist and preacher's wives. Take part in their ministry! Be active and be supportive! If you can't go because you are unable to travel with them, then pray at home and get excited when they do about the work God is doing through them! Stop being jealous of God's work!
Ruth Graham did not go to every place her husband ever preached. She couldn't, she had children to raise and a home to keep. However, I'm sure when she could she was there. It is so vitally important to a preacher's ministry that his wife support him. That means when she is able to be in a service where he is preaching, she goes. She probably got to see very little of her husband when her children were little. She could not go out of the country or probably out of the state very much! But I'm sure she prayed! She may have even fasted! She supported him and when he did come home she loved him as if he had been there the whole time! But I'm sure when there was an event in the area where she could go, she went.
My life as a preacher's wife has not been easy. I have been an evangelist's wife and a pastor's wife. However, my heart is to support my husband however I can. There are only a few places that I have not gone with him when he has preached. I feel it's important to support him and if I'm the only one saying amen, then I say it!
My prayer is that God will help me to be the wife that my husband needs. That I will be supportive of his ministry and that I will never hinder him. That was my prayer when we married and that is still my prayer now. If you are the wife of a minister that should be your prayer as well.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Should a Wife Be the Spiritual Head of the Home? Part 2
One of the blogs that I follow recently create a podcast that spoke about the very topic about which I had just written a few days ago. Should a wife be the spiritual head/ leader of the home? I found this podcast the perfect timing. The Lord knew I needed the confirmation. I pray it blesses and confirms to you what it did to me. It's from Jolene Ingle's blog and it's called What to Do When a Husband is Not Spiritually Leading the Home. Please listen to it with a open and humble heart.
http://joleneengle.com/husband-isnt-spiritually-leading-home-podcast-44/
JJ
http://joleneengle.com/husband-isnt-spiritually-leading-home-podcast-44/
JJ
Monday, January 5, 2015
Dwell With Them According To Knowledge
"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." I Peter 3:7
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" Ephesians 5:22-25
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" Ephesians 5:22-25
God knew that husbands would need a lot of knowledge to live with their wives. He also knew that the women would need shelter, protection, love and cherishing. Yes, ladies we are the weaker vessel and we need our husbands.
They need respect and honor from us. They do not need to be raised or trained. They are not little boys and we are not their mothers. They need us to love them and respect them. If we respect and reverence them (as we are commanded in the Bible) and they love and honor us (as they are commanded in the Bible) then our marriages will be much happier.
Our submission and respect should not be based on whether or not they loved us like we thought they should. Our submission and respect should be based on a Biblical command just as their love for us should. The Bible doesn't say "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husband as long as he treats you with respect." No, it says "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husband as unto the Lord." Eph. 5:22
If you have a husband, stop and take a look at yourself and what YOU can do to make the marriage happier, not what he can do. My husband as always loved me, even when I was very unloveable and stubborn. I'm thankful that God and my husband are patient with me because it's an everyday learning experience with many failures along the way. However, I know that if I do what I am supposed to do, with God's help, and God will help my husband to do what he is to do without my training him, our marriage will continue to be a happier one, and maybe even more happier as we go along! Just my thoughts for the evening.
JJ
They need respect and honor from us. They do not need to be raised or trained. They are not little boys and we are not their mothers. They need us to love them and respect them. If we respect and reverence them (as we are commanded in the Bible) and they love and honor us (as they are commanded in the Bible) then our marriages will be much happier.
Our submission and respect should not be based on whether or not they loved us like we thought they should. Our submission and respect should be based on a Biblical command just as their love for us should. The Bible doesn't say "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husband as long as he treats you with respect." No, it says "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husband as unto the Lord." Eph. 5:22
If you have a husband, stop and take a look at yourself and what YOU can do to make the marriage happier, not what he can do. My husband as always loved me, even when I was very unloveable and stubborn. I'm thankful that God and my husband are patient with me because it's an everyday learning experience with many failures along the way. However, I know that if I do what I am supposed to do, with God's help, and God will help my husband to do what he is to do without my training him, our marriage will continue to be a happier one, and maybe even more happier as we go along! Just my thoughts for the evening.
JJ
Should a Wife Be the Spiritual Head of the Home?
A conviction about an issue and a Biblical commandment are two different things. I may have a conviction about wearing pants, which is my own, but the Bible is clear on modesty regardless if you wear pants or dresses
When reading what the Bible says, it is important to make sure that I am applying the Bible correctly to my life and not putting off what someone else says as their conviction. The Bible is clear on the role of the husband and wife. The husband is the head.
Ephesians 5:22-23..., "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." The Bible does not separate between spiritual and physical head. The Bible clearly states that the husband is the head of the wife.
Why?
The husband 's job is to love his wife, protect her, be a covering for her. That's what God intended with a husband. Why do you think men throughout the ages have been the tougher ones, defending their ladies honor? It's in them to do this!
Just to clarify, I am not saying that a wife does not need her own personal relationship with Christ. She must be led by God everyday. However, a true spiritual Christian woman is going to allow God to lead her not only in spiritual matter but in the home and in her marriage. By allowing her husband to be the spiritual leader, she is obeying God.
There are times when a husband does not take the role he is supposed to as the spiritual head of the home. Christ is his head, and he will deal with that husband accordingly. It is not our place to rule our husbands.
I Timothy 2:12 is clear on this. "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." Does that mean we don't have an opinion? No, absolutely not. But ladies we must use tact, even which at times I lack, with our husbands.
Either way, the Bible is clear that the husband is the head of the home and there is no separation of spiritual or physical.
If your husband is not taking the role of head as you think he should, talk to God about it. You see, if Christ is his head, then he will convict him about such matters. Keep doing what you know to do to be spiritually fit, having devotions, being faithful to church, loving your husband (like it talks about in Titus 2:4-5), praying for him and your family. God will work on him and you will be blessed for it.
I pray that you will allow the Lord to lead you to a life of a submissive, loving, cherished marriage. This can only happen when we follow God's design for the home.
JJ
When reading what the Bible says, it is important to make sure that I am applying the Bible correctly to my life and not putting off what someone else says as their conviction. The Bible is clear on the role of the husband and wife. The husband is the head.
Ephesians 5:22-23..., "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." The Bible does not separate between spiritual and physical head. The Bible clearly states that the husband is the head of the wife.
Why?
The husband 's job is to love his wife, protect her, be a covering for her. That's what God intended with a husband. Why do you think men throughout the ages have been the tougher ones, defending their ladies honor? It's in them to do this!
Just to clarify, I am not saying that a wife does not need her own personal relationship with Christ. She must be led by God everyday. However, a true spiritual Christian woman is going to allow God to lead her not only in spiritual matter but in the home and in her marriage. By allowing her husband to be the spiritual leader, she is obeying God.
There are times when a husband does not take the role he is supposed to as the spiritual head of the home. Christ is his head, and he will deal with that husband accordingly. It is not our place to rule our husbands.
I Timothy 2:12 is clear on this. "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." Does that mean we don't have an opinion? No, absolutely not. But ladies we must use tact, even which at times I lack, with our husbands.
Either way, the Bible is clear that the husband is the head of the home and there is no separation of spiritual or physical.
If your husband is not taking the role of head as you think he should, talk to God about it. You see, if Christ is his head, then he will convict him about such matters. Keep doing what you know to do to be spiritually fit, having devotions, being faithful to church, loving your husband (like it talks about in Titus 2:4-5), praying for him and your family. God will work on him and you will be blessed for it.
I pray that you will allow the Lord to lead you to a life of a submissive, loving, cherished marriage. This can only happen when we follow God's design for the home.
JJ
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