I love that God created Sabbath! I think we are so accustomed to churches on every corner, we take the privilege of gathering together with believers for granted. We falsely assume church is just a given or worse, treat is as an obligation because that is where we are supposed to be on Sunday morning. I've felt this way often in my life and have only recently began to ask for gratitude for such an amazing blessing as the fellowship, worship, teaching and gathering together of believers. The body of believers is a true gift from God and not only includes the believers we sit with on Sunday mornings but those in our city, nation and around the world. Today, I am so thankful for a pastor who, in my opinion, embodies the two qualities that I most value in a church leader- humbleness and faithfulness to scripture. (Of course, as he reads all these blogs that humble spirit might be challenged!) He's not perfect (do I ever get to blog his faults?!?) but the fact that I can sit week after week and learn from him is a beautiful testimony. There was a time in our marriage where I sinfully resisted his teaching in small groups and Sunday School. I knew how he lived throughout the week, so therefore he had no right to attempt to instruct me! Ugh, having to write these sinful thoughts out is certainly humbling but glory be to God for his sanctifying work on his children! I still see how he lives and, believer it or not, he still sins on a daily basis, but I cherish the freedom and grace that comes when you begin to realize just the smallest idea of how vast is the mercy of God towards you and therefore that mercy begins to extend to those in your life. (My pastor preached something of this nature this morning). God is active and alive in all of his children and how arrogant of me to set up the perimeters of who can and cannot be used of God to teach me more about His amazing glory in my life! I think one of the things I hold most dear about my husband-pastor is seeing God at work in His life- sanctifying , disciplining, growing, challenging. Jay has always enjoyed the attention of others (can I hear an amen?) so it is often challenging to be so transparent in front of large groups of people when it is the approval of people that you desire. At times, people feel very free in their critics and, often, in their criticism of Jay and his work in the church. Some is motivated out of love and, even if it stings, it is held dearly, but some seems rather selfish and unnecessary. At those times, I want to rant and rage and strike down the offending brother for daring to utter anything against my amazing husband, but you know what God has graciously given Jay as an answer in those situations? "I understand that one of my temptations in life is to please and be liked by many, if the Lord has chosen to remove that sin from my life by the not-so-gracious words of those in my life, then praise be to God." Hmmm did I mention, I love learning from my pastor?
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