Back in October I saw this question on social media: Would you rather be a good man or be good at being a man?
How would you answer?
Continue reading “A Good Man or Good At Being A Man”A Good Man or Good At Being A Man
Category: Men
The Month of Love (N)
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Here we are in the middle of February, and we continue the V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E acrostic on ways to make this a blessed month of growth and change in biblical marriage.
With “N” being the middle letter as it comes between V-A-L-E and T-I-N-E, let us be reminded to let NOTHING come between you and your spouse in this blessed grace gift!
Continue reading “The Month of Love (N)”The Month of Love (E)
Is your marriage stalling out? In a dry season? Need some energy?
Continuing to use the acrostic V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E, here’s another idea to help make this a blessed month of growth and change in biblical love in marriage.
E – Energize your marriage
The word “engergize” means “to give vitality and enthusiasm to.” Does your marriage need some life, some energy, some revving up!!
Continue reading “The Month of Love (E)”The Month of Love (L)
Using the acrostic V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E, here’s some ideas to help make this a blessed month of growth and change in biblical love. (Click here for V-A)
L – Love your spouse unconditionally.
Love is an action verb, yet it is not dependent upon you to love unconditionally.
As a born again believer living the Christ-life, we surrender to the Trinity to love unconditionally as we ought.
Continue reading “The Month of Love (L)”Walking Through Sadness Together
“I just received a text about my dad. My heart is breaking for him.”
My father-in-law has been dealing with several health issues for awhile. He has declined greatly due to a fractured hip coupled with dementia.
Continue reading “Walking Through Sadness Together”Come Around the Fire
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
Before men’s prayer breakfast on Saturday morning, a real concern gripped my heart. The men arrived, filled their plates, and gathered around the firepit. On this cloudy, 34 degree morning, the roaring fire felt really good!!
Continue reading “Come Around the Fire”Monday Ministry Encouragement
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
Pastor, ministry friend, you are two weeks away from 2023! Turn around and . . . it’s here!
So far, this has been a month filled with opportunities, expectations, programs, preaching, singing, eating, laughing, weeping, etc.
In these final days of 2022, you will probably travel to visit family or have a house full at some point in the next two weeks or possibly be invited to share in other families’ holiday traditions.
No matter the scenario, 2023 is fast approaching? Are you ready?
Continue reading “Monday Ministry Encouragement”He Adores Her
Feeble and weak, he shuffled a bit wobbly toward the couch carrying a prized possession. In my 89 year old father-in-law’s hand was a photo mousepad. As he sat down on the couch next to me he said, “This is a picture of Mil (Mildred) and me after our first date.” He then proceeded to tell, with great delight, a bit of laughter, and a tear of joy how he got his sister to sit in the back seat of the car so the girl of his dreams would join him in the front seat. And as they say, “The rest is history.”
Continue reading “He Adores Her”Get Off the Interstate: Picnic for Two With a View
A hurry-up life-style results in a throwaway culture.
Chuck Swindoll
Indeed, many, many marriages are thrown away or put-on-the-back-burner because of the hurried pace and expectations of today’s society. There’s little time to develop attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize the culture of a good, godly marriage.
So, I offer a simple solution that can have positive “cultural” effects by way of two examples. If you don’t live in East Tennessee or travel these roads, just adapt to your neck-of-the-woods!
Continue reading “Get Off the Interstate: Picnic for Two With a View”But We’ll Be Late! | The Pastor’s First Ministry
There she was, sleeping so soundly. After a very draining week emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually, my wife was snuggled securely in bed in a deep slumber.
“What time is it? What day is it?” Those were her words when I awakened her.
Slowly she crawled out of bed and began to make herself ready for the day.
What day was it? Sunday.
What time was it? Suffice it to say, she had overslept!! Didn’t hear her alarm either.
We have pre-service prayer meeting on Sundays at 8:30. As I watched the clock and began to fix her a to-go breakfast, she came down the stairs. My wife was ready to go to church on the outside, but I could see that she was not on the inside. And based upon my ever present “I’ll fix this situation” manhood, I declared, “I’ll go on ahead, and you can come in your Jeep.”
Wait a minute! It’s raining, she’s fighting off a migraine, and she is definitely not crusin’ along on all eight cylinders.
It was then and there that my first ministry captured my attention. Serving my wife was more important than being at prayer meeting on time. She had no business driving by herself. She needed her husband. She needed her pastor. She needed her friend.
Pastors, Christian leaders, missionaries, we are so prone to put the ministry above our wives, leaving her in the dust with her brood as she carries seven diaper/book bags, Bibles, a purse, and wearing her “running shoes” to keep up with you. I mean, after all, you are the pastor and you must be there to open the door and lead in prayer! What will people think if you are late!!!
Men, you know the words of Matthew 22:37-39 quite well. May I encourage you to remember that your wife is your neighbor. She is to be loved more than your church congregation (Ephesians 5:25). Your ministry to your wife, and your church member, I might add, is an example to all the other believers. She is your first ministry.
Fighting the urge to drive a bit more aggressively and take some of the curves on two wheels, we had a nice, easy and enjoyable journey.
Interesting enough, folks gathered for prayer as always, and . . . we were the second ones in the parking lot. No harm done. Compassionate, caring love shown to my wife.
Thank You, Lord, for stopping me in my tracks and reminding me what is of greater value.
“C’mon, Hon. Take your time. I’ll wait. Let’s go together.”
From A Pastor's Heart 