From Rotting Vegetables to Fruit. . .

So, apparently when your five-year-old daughter is standing next to you and you discover this
←
. . . in your vegetable crisper, you are supposed to stop the world and scrub down the entire refrigerator with a bucket of PineSol.

ESPECIALLY if you are a Stay-at-Homeschooling-Mom. What an opportunity!

This is not the first time this kind of thing has happened at our house. . . . And OH! The blogging possibilities! It's a bummer though, I don't really have it in me to say anything funny about it . . . .

I will say that the refrigerator is now a thing of beauty. It shines like the top of the Chrysler Building. And I don't want to sound bragadocious, but I am pretty awesome as a Mom!

Let us enjoy the moment. . . .

Last week I discovered Home Sanctuary where Rachel Anne offers simple household tasks -- one a day -- to help us make our homes a sanctuary for our families. What a beautiful idea.

In good conscience, I will state emphatically that I am the Queen of Spork and I took Tuesday's chore to a new level and actually cleaned my kids' bathroom too!

And to take Rachel Anne's idea one step further -- why not use simple household tasks to teach spiritual lessons?

As Christians, we do waste opportunities. I am more than guilty. I've missed plenty of opportunities to bless my children because of my obsession with FoxNews. It runs 24/7 in our house! Good Grief! I could turn it off for 15 seconds.

Okay . . . 15 minutes.

I could also do a better job of incorporating vegetables into our family's meals before they turn stinky and ugly and furry.

Our lives are so full of God distracting activities and just plain useless garbage. We need a renewed sense of priorities. Getting rid of the useless garbage (see rotting vegetables above) is a wonderful first step. Getting rid of distractions helps us put both our priorities and our purpose in proper perspective. (Just like my crisper drawer. It is now ready to hold all those beautiful carrots and tomatoes saved from the frost this week.)

God does speak to our hearts on all matters if we'll just listen. Sometimes we just need to clean out the garbage and distractions first. He is always attempting to get us to draw closer to Him. Sometimes he has to remove the distractions Himself. The distractions must go away if we are to going to be receptive to God’s constructive and purposeful guidance?

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

~ John 15:1-2

This "Fruit Guide" (below) is something I used in a small group study once several years ago. I'm posting here today for my own personal evaluation and to share with you.

I love the wording -- it really challenges us to honestly evaluate each area. I'm less than enthusiastic to share all my scores, but I did score fantastically on one -- Faithfulness. (Needs Work: Kindness.)

How 'bout you? (Care to comment?)

The Fruit Test. . .

Rate yourself on each Fruit of the Spirit on a scale of 1 - 10.
1 is lowest. . .
10 -- "I am doing fantastic!"

___ LOVE Love is pre-eminent in my life. I see all people through the eyes of Christ. I have a deep compassion for the lost, the lonely, the weak and the poor. I am magnanimous towards those who “get in my hair.” I keep no record of wrongs. I give selflessly, sometimes till it hurts. I go the extra mile. I would rather forgive 20 injuries than avenge one. God always comes first.

___ JOY People know me for my joyful disposition even when there is a cause to grieve. There is a contagious radiance about me because “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” I remain strong and positive when things go wrong because I trust in God. I am quick to see the brighter side of things. I know that for my shattered plans, God has better plans. My contentment springs from the knowledge that God is sovereign and Jesus is coming, again.

___ PEACE The peace of God rules my heart and mind. I stay calm in disturbing situations because my eyes are fixed on Jesus. With few exceptions (and I’m working on these) I enjoy wholesome and beautiful relationships all round. Whenever relationships are strained or fractured I take the initiative in moving toward healing and restoration. I can see the dark spots in my own life and am quick to confess them. I am willing always to pay the price of being a peace-maker in a world of bruised relationships.

___ PATIENCE I never make hasty judgements or speak hasty words. I am not quick at jumping to conclusions. I am patient with people when they fail or fall. I face opposition and discouragement with composure. I never give up. I keep cool while others are hot. I am not irritable or easily angered. My “tolerance level” is extremely high. I can put up with a lot. I accept people for who they are and not for how they perform. When I confront others, they feel I do so because I care!

___ KINDNESS People feel “love’s touch” when they’re around me. I am blessed with a M-I-L-D disposition (though, occasionally, I do turn that “M” upside down). I let God deal with the bitterness, anger and malice in my heart. A deep respect and consideration for others, coupled with a forgiving spirit, makes relating to people such a pleasure! The kindness of Jesus is seen in me.

___ GOODNESS The goodness of God touches my life and then overflows into the lives of others. I am a caring person, a friend and neighbor to many. A genuine benevolence characterizes my life. When I see a need, I respond to it in the compassion of Christ. I am sensitive to the evil and suffering around, and seek to be an instrument of God’s liberating touch. Uplifting the quality of people’s lives is a major concern to me.

___ FAITHFULNESS I make promises and keep them. I am a man of my word. People can count on me. There is no gap in what I say and what I do. Fidelity is the hallmark of my marriage and other commitments. I do not flirt with the world or with anyone. I am true to the Lord, to my spouse, to people, and to causes that God entrusts to me. They are all sacred to me!

___ MEEKNESS I am willing “to go under” any yoke that God wants me to to be SUBMISSIVE to God and to one another out of our mutual reverence for Christ. I freely and willingly accept all that God, in His providence, gives or withholds from me. I am willing to step “under the yoke” with Christ and my co-workers in kingdom service. I am willing to step aside when it is time to do so. I bring myself under the authority of Christ and His Church. I can “glory in my infirmities so that the power of God may be made manifest in me.” I bear provocation without being inflamed by it. I give a soft answer when angry words are spoken. I respect my own rights and the rights of others, willing to give up mine if the Lord so guides me. I am a pro-actor not a reactor. I relate to others as one among sinners never arrogantly.

___ SELF-CONTROL The key to my life is self-mastery. I am temperate in my thoughts, words, and actions. I live a disciplined life-in private and in public. I have complete mastery of my body, my mind, my emotions and will, my time, my possessions, my desires and appetites. I never lose control. I don’t eat too much, drink too much, work too much, play too much, or sleep too much: no excesses whatever! Jesus is Lord over every area of my life!

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Inspiration for Fridays:
Fruit of the Spirit Friday at Heart of Wisdom
God Stop Friday at Girlfriends for God
Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary

12:13 AM | 27 comments | Read More

Friday Funny. . .

Find more Friday Funnies at Homesteader's Heart.

. . . and in the scary Halloween spirit of Wacko-Right-Wing-Christian-Conservative-Political-Incorrectness, I would be careless to not also lead you to THIS.

12:01 AM | 14 comments | Read More

WORDFilled Wednesday

ProLife Voter Guide:
http://www.lifenews.com/2008prolifevotersguide.html
Obama's View of Abortion:
http://www.stopobamainfo.org/
A Notable Blog Post on Choosing LIFE:
http://takeck.blogspot.com/2008/10/to-choose-life-in-politics.html

9:15 AM | 21 comments | Read More

No Evil Shall Befall You. . . Really?

No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
~Psalm 91:10-11

Throughout the Book of Psalm -- and especially this Psalm -- we see beautiful and poetic illustrations of God's protection:

He spreads His wings over us and keeps us secure. His faithfulness is like a city wall (vs. 4). He sees us through the dangers of the night and arrows of the day. . . diseases that strike in the dark or the sudden disaster at noon (vs. 5-6). Verses 10 -11 tell us that He puts the angels in charge of our well being. The angels actually take us into their hands so that we do not stumble on stones in our path. How much more can we ask?

The only requirement is that we take the time to know Him -- TRULY know Him, and love Him. Yet, there are people everywhere, everyday who will say, "Where is God in this!?"

If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe.

~ Psalm 91:14

Remember September 11, 2001? Remember the aftermath? Who couldn't?

I don't know about you, but my life ceased for days after 9/11 as I sat glued to the television as the surreal events unfolded. I choked up when the entire U.S. Congress sang "God Bless America," and when the Buckingham Palace Guard played the "Star-Spangled Banner," and when New York City Firefighters told tender yet agonizing stories of their fallen comrades, and when a solitary bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" in Union Square, and when thousands of Americans walked around dazed with crumpled photographs of their missing loved ones, and when Dan Rather had to be comforted by (of all people!) David Letterman. Remember these days?

Do you also remember all the critical "news" pieces asking "WHERE WAS GOD?"

It is not mine to judge -- It is not your to judge. But you do have to wonder how often the people asking this sarcastic question had actually muttered the Lord God's Name prior to September 11, 2001. . . . And how often since have they opened the Word of God to know Him or offered prayer before Him.

God does promise to take care of us, to keep us in safety, but He cannot do it if we walk off the path He provides. We must listen to what God teaches us in His Word. We need to follow Him in all things. It's only when we follow him that we can enjoy the blessings of His refuge and safe protection.

I am not going to judge, answer, or pretend to know the hearts of the thousands of lives lost and affected by the tragedy of 9/11. I could never do that. No human being ever could.

I am not going to even attempt to answer the question, "WHERE WAS GOD on 9/11?" There are plenty of far-more eloquent Christian writers and speakers who have already done that.

What I will do is look honestly at Scripture. How can the angels do other than what they have been ordered to do by God Himself. YES. . . He gives His angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways, but the Lord also says,

If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe
~ Psalm 91:14

Isn't that an awesome thought? God orders angels to watch over us, to keep us from harm. They actually hold us. And all that is required of us is that we love Him and truly know who HE is.

Sometimes I think we Christians expect God's protecting angels to do whatever we order them to do. We get so arrogant in our thinking sometimes that we really believe we are untouchable by the Enemy. We think we're wrapped in some spiritual cocoon of God's mercy and grace. God's Word does give conditions for His promises. Like it or not. Read it!

God's protection is not possible unless we are completely in line with His Word. The angels can only do those things that are right for us -- things that God has planned for our lives. If the angels were to go against God and listen to our commands, they would be cast out of heaven like one third of them were with Satan.

But what do the angels do if we are not in line with God? I cannot say for certain because I've never actually seen angels in action (CBS's Touched by an Angel does not count) but I imagine they have to stand back, watch what we're doing wrong, fold their arms and call out to God to be allowed to intervene on His behalf. God loves us! His angels love us. He provides the angels because He loves us and does not want to see us harmed.

Have you ever felt like this? . . . If only I had prayed about it first, we wouldn't be in this financial mess. If only I'd spent more time in God's Word, I wouldn't have been so critical. If only I'd listened to God, I wouldn't have had that accident. If only. . . if only . . . if only.

We all have twenty-twenty hindsight AFTERWARDS! Question is: Do we then seek God? Sometimes. Sometimes not. Why? Because the situation is over and we have to move on to something else. The something else becomes more important.

And that's where our lives (and our country) take the wrong turn and the mistakes gets bigger and bigger.

Consider the aftermath of 9/11 -- and the atmosphere of the country.

Consider the atmosphere of the country today. . . .

They asked WHERE WAS GOD on 9/11?

WHERE IS HE TODAY?

How about starting right now, right where you are.

Why not simply start reading God's Word and praying and listening to Him? When you do, the blessings flow and angels take hold of you. The angels are handling the situation.

Wow! That would be awesome!

In particular -- wouldn't it be awesome if the angels took over on November 4th!

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Tuesday Inspiration:
In Other Words @ Writing Canvas

12:20 AM | 12 comments | Read More

The Message of the Cross. . .

I love KOHL’s Department Store. I'm especially fond of the sales at Kohl’s. It's good quality stuff and quite regularly up to 60% off!

(Still can't beat the GoodWill, but. . . )

And . . . if you take your [senior citizen] mother on selected days: more $$$ discount. YEA! (Only she has to pay with her credit card and then you have to take her out to lunch at Baker’s Square and write her a check for all your stuff. . . . Not a bad deal though.)

Point: Everyone loves a sale.

Yesterday Laurie at Women Taking a Stand offered the most poignant correlation between Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the Cross and our often neurotic affinity for the much-loved "sale." Here's a portion:

"As much as I love a bargain, I am so thankful that when Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, and suffered, as He bled and died for me, that He did not try to make a bargain. He was willing to pay the full price.

Wouldn't it be great to shop at Kohl's and pull up to the check out stand with a full cart of merchandise and be told "It's been paid for" - "Your debt has been paid". (You know where I am going with this, don't you. . . )"

I was so moved by her thoughts . . . this is surely of the best parallels one could make to convey the Divine act of atonement. It's nothing less that an airtight line of reasoning for the Message of Salvation. The Way of the Master should be so incisive. . . . for where would any of us be right now without the unspeakable and unmatched sacrifice of the Cross.

Yet. . . ministries all over the world have abandoned the message of the Cross for a more agreeable, pleasing and less confronting message that seriously circumnavigates the message of the entire Bible. After all, the message of Salvation starts in Genesis!

In my husband's own ministry, he faces criticism for his emphasis on the Cross and message of Salvation.

Regardless of Mark's sermon subject/topic/theme, he always (always!) brings his message back to the Cross. This is our mandate as Christians! Evidently, the Enemy does not appreciate this. Here's a small sample of an e-mail my Mark received a while ago:

...Honestly, can’t you be more creative and challenge the people? The only thing you know how to preach about is Salvation. I’m pretty sure the people are saved! But maybe you preach it, because you wonder if you’re really saved. I wonder if you’re saved! Are you saved? Good luck in whatever it is you are trying to do to the people... I always thought a pastor’s mission was to save people, not drag them down.

I won't comment too much on this. It's pitifully sad. Only God can judge a person's heart, but a surrendered Christian does not write this kind of hateful, illogical rant. I've never yet met a True Believer who did not welcome, appreciate and express great passion for the Message of the Cross! See I Corinthians 1:18.

Does an aversion to the message of the Cross hinder the life of the Church?

Of course! Salvation is the message of the Gospel. Ignore the message and you may as well use How to Win Friends & Influence People, Consumer Reports or Martha Stewart Living as your "bible."

Does an aversion to the message of the Cross hinder the fruit that Christians are called to bear?

Absolutely! In the life of the Christian there is a law at work which is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:2 says, ". . . because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

There's no getting around it. Scripture clearly states that it was Christ's death on the Cross that set us free.

It's only when we submit to and apply this law in our life (Prerequisite: the Cross!), the Holy Spirit can begin to manifest the fruit of the Spirit within us. Romans 8:4 says, " . . .in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."

And here's a poser for ya': What happens to a Christian nation when a potential leader (Democratic Presidential Nominee) believes that the Cross of Jesus Christ is simply "one of many ways to reach salvation?"

(I'll leave that one for Sean Hannity.)

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

~ II Corinthians 1:18

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile

~ Romans 1:16

This week. . .
I witnessed fruit this week - at Laurie's blog. There is a presence of love and peace and kindness and goodness and gentleness there. I also saw a woman not ashamed of the gospel.

I recognize and appreciate just a bit more how Satan works in the life of the Church. He (Satan) has a surely won a prize when he is able dilute and weaken the message of the Cross. He does far more damage to God’s Church when the work of the Spirit and the resulting fruit is in short supply.

I grew in my relationship with God this week knowing that the fruit in my life is completely contingent upon my walking in the Spirit.

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

Inspiration for Fridays:

Fruit of the Spirit Friday at Heart of Wisdom

God Stop Friday at Girlfriends for God

Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary

8:00 AM | 18 comments | Read More

Thankful Thursday -- The Lesson of the Sunflower. . .

I am thankful today for the opportunity to use both the everyday, hum-drum routine at our house -- as well as the seasonal transformations in my own backyard -- to teach life lessons to my children.

We harvested sunflower seeds this week. *Everyone in our family loves sunflowers. There’s just something about that long, powerful stalk and the huge seed-filled disk with bright yellow petals. It clearly enchants all of us.

And – being a home-school family -- there’s both the scientific and spiritual correlation that captivates me as well:

Sunflowers demonstrate phototropism, the ability to rotate their head so that the face of the flower always faces the sun even though the angle of the sun’s rays on the flower constantly change. That means that the face of the flower faces east as the sun rises, and follows the sun across the sky so that at sunset it is facing west.

By its very existence, God is praised!

As a Christian, I can only liken this process to Christians following the Son of God and the responsibility to see my own life and the life of my family -- as well as to envision the entire Body of Christ -- as a field of beautiful, hardy sunflowers.

Spiritually speaking, our ultimate purpose in life is “His good pleasure.” Our lives as Christians are to be lived for God’s greater glory – not our own selfish desires.

Again . . . think about the giant sunflower. . .

. . . it has a long, strong stalk and when it blooms, it’s huge, it has edible seeds, it’s beautiful to look at, and basically, this flower is completely useful. Shouldn’t this be our desire as Christians? – to be useful to God wherever He puts us?

I am thankful today. . .

► Thankful that God’s Gift of salvation reached me at an early age.

► Thankful for the incredible godly example of my parents who continue to live their faith and influence their grandchildren.

► Thankful for the nudging of the Holy Spirit that opened my heart to use my Spiritual Gifts without timidity.

► Thankful for the many instructors along my path: wise pastors, spiritually grounded youth leaders, discerning Sunday School teachers, Christian college and graduate school professors who faithfully taught God’s Word right along with academic subjects. . . . because without a Creator, there’d be nothing to study or teach or learn.

► Thankful – finally -- for friends who share both a delight and gratitude for God’s Great Creation! Including – of course – sunflowers!

. . . thankful too for my cookie sheet, 100% Natural PAM Olive Oil Spray®, Lawry's Seasoning Salt® and a 200° oven. Without which, the sunflowers would just be soggy little kernels suitable for little more than a winter supplement for . . . goats. We do not raise goats. Yet.

- Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

For More Thankful Thursday, visit Grace Alone at http://www.eph2810.com/

* See Shepard's inspired exposé on Sunflowers HERE.

1:38 PM | 14 comments | Read More

WFW. . . Who Wears the Millstone?

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
~ Luke 17:1-2

~~ * Please Stop! * ~~

The picture below could make you sick.

And, in my humble opinion, those Americans who support a Presidential Candidate who condones this are just as much to blame. . .

God will hold each of us individually accountable! . . . And YES! This is a repeated theme from last week's WordFilled Wednesday - Because God's Word is FILLED with Words about this abomination.

~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ *

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ *

This is not a broken doll. This little boy was one of several third trimester children found in medical waste bags outside a legal abortion center in Houston, Texas in 1986. This little one was 14" long, weighed 2 lbs. - 2 oz., and was 30 weeks gestation (7 months old!) when he was killed. Today he would be 22 years old. I wonder who he would have voted for on this coming November 4th.

If you were born after 1972, consider yourself a Survivor of the Abortion Holocaust. ONE-THIRD of your generation has been killed by abortion in the United States of America.

Who wears the millstone?

For more information:

http://bibleprobe.com/abortion.htm

http://www.priestsforlife.org/resources/photosassorted/index.htm

~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ *

Find more WordFilled Wednesday at The 160 Acre Woods.

12:40 AM | 24 comments | Read More

Fall Into Flavor -- Cake Mix for Idols. . .

My husband gently reminded me this morning that -- in its intended context -- yesterday's post should have addressed the "food" issue. And he is correct. I Corinthians 10:23-33 does address the issue of food.

Matthew Henry's Commentary correctly interprets the verses:

"In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honoring Him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies."

That said. . . . what follows is a delicious recipe that begins with a (*gasp --*) boxed cake mix.

Now, if you know me -- you know that boxed/prepared food is as food presented to idols since (*gasp --*) boxed food almost always contains the iniquity of Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil!

So. . . in the spirit of edification of the Church and living peaceably among all men bloggers, here's the one and only recipe in my collection that starts with a prepared cake mix.

Pumpkin/Pecan Bars

Ingredients:
3 Boxes Jiffy Yellow Cake Mix (divided)
12 Tbsp Real Butter (1 1/2 sticks) (divided)
30 oz. can Strained Pumpkin
1 can sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs
2 tsp cinnamon
1 - 2 cups Chopped Pecans

Instructions:

1. Combine 2 boxes of the cake mix with 8 Tbsp (1 stick) melted butter. Press into a 9"x13" greased pan.

2. Combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and cinnamon - Blend well with electric mixer.

3. Pour pumpkin mixture over cake layer.

4. Blend 1 box of cake mix with 4 Tbsp CHILLED butter, using a pastry blender. Mix in pecans.

5. Sprinkle pecan mixture on top of pumpkin layer.

6. Bake for 30 minutes in 350 degree oven or until center is set.

7. Cut into bars once completely cooled.

You must visit Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee for more Fall Into Flavor recipes and good conversation.

11:31 AM | 11 comments | Read More

On the Sidelines. . . With Camera

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.
~ I Corinthians 10:23

The word “constructive” here is the Greek word “oikedomeo.” It literally means a “house-builder.”

Ever watch a four-year-old “build a house?”

Shepard built one today in a pile of leaves. Really. The boy used some cars from the sandbox -- a weather-beaten Snickers® wrapper -- and a piece of broken plastic from a lawn chair. He really wasn’t building as much as he was playing. But. . . he’s FOUR-Years-Old!

Play is permissible when you’re four.

Play is “permissible” when you’re forty-four too . . . which brings me back to I Corinthians 10:23: It is a verse that is almost impossible to take out of context.

See what verse 24 says. . .

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

And verse 33 is such an excellent conclusion to the matter:

“. . . even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”

Here’s something I’ve noticed in churches: Church is an excellent place to observe a vast range of both chronological ages and spiritual maturity – you’ve got children and youth (and some adults) who are content to just have fun and partake in the social interaction that church offers. But you also have those spiritually mature Christians who are contributing to the edification and building-up of the church body.

Those who just come for the social stuff aren’t necessarily detracting, but they definitely aren’t contributing to the Kingdom. The social fun is certainly “permissible,” but it’s not necessarily beneficial or constructive to the ultimate goal of seeing people “saved” (I Corinthians 10:33).

Now. . .don't get me wrong. Fellowship and evangelism are absolutely necessary in the Body of Christ. Of course we need social interaction and fun in the Body of Christ -- and if done in the right spirit, serves the ultimate goal of seeing people saved!

But Paul is speaking to Christians in I Corinthians. The Christian's ultimate goal is to build-up the Body of Christ -- and bring people to Salvation. And, oh! how this is needed in the church today. If you believe for a second that churches are made up entirely of believers -- think again!

We need the social interaction and fun and I love that Scripture makes clear that fun is permissible! It is the spiritually mature and creative church that can use the permissible to reach the ultimate goal of seeing people saved. I want to be part of a church like that!

I don’t think Paul is telling anyone that they cannot have fun. His words are presented so we can ask ourselves if our actions are truly building up the Body of Christ, or if we are just standing on the sidelines watching others do the work while we take in the fun.

. . . Today I stood on the sidelines (with a camera) and watched my husband rake leaves. I watched Shepard build a house out of garbage and enjoy himself in a way that only a carefree four-year-old can. I hate to think of life without the "permissible."

- Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

2:27 PM | 10 comments | Read More

Saturday Selah . . .

He Gathers Us All

~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"He shall gather the lambs with His arm."

--Isaiah 40:11

Our good Shepherd has in His flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but He is impartial in His care for all His sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to Him as the most advanced of the flock.

Lambs are wont to lag behind, prone to wander, and apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the Shepherd protects them with His arm of power.

He finds new-born souls, like young lambs, ready to perish--He nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; He finds weak minds ready to faint and die--He consoles them and renews their strength.

All the little ones He gathers, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish. What a quick eye He must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far- reaching and potent arm, to gather them all!

In His lifetime on earth He was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that He dwells in heaven, His loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below.

How gently did He gather me to Himself, to His truth, to His blood, to His love, to His church!

With what effectual grace did He compel me to come to Himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has He restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of His everlasting arm!

The best of all is, that He does it all Himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending Himself to rescue and preserve His most unworthy servant.

How shall I love Him enough or serve Him worthily?

I would fain make His name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for Him?

Great Shepherd, add to Thy mercies this one other, a heart to love Thee more truly as I ought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday Selah is a new meme on Patricia’s blog, Typing One Handed. Here's the idea behind it:

Learning to be still takes practice. With that in mind, and in the spirit of the Titus 2 Woman, Saturdays are set aside to share how the Lord is teaching us to be still and know. . . .

~~~~~~~~~~

My son's name is Shepard. We think and talk often about shepherds at our house. This week, the Lord used this devotional by Charles Spurgeon to teach and encourage and nudge me to be still and know. . .

12:36 AM | 1 comments | Read More

Thankful Thursday. . .

In light of yesterday’s post (Life vs. Punishment) and the overwhelming response via e-mail and comments, I am thankful for PRO-LIFE Family Values and every American who is absolutely unyielding on this issue!

I am thankful for the 26 year old “undecided voter” named Candy from Tampa Florida who was so stirred by Rowan’s story that she is now motivated to vote for the Pro-Life Candidate on November 4th.

I am thankful that every vote counts!

I am thankful that PastorMark and I made the decision to homeschool. It is the only way our children will have these Pro-Life values instilled as part of every academic subject.

I am so thankful for the freedom that homeschooling gives us to teach what we want our children to know – not what the public school system deems “essential” to their education.

I am thankful for the modicum of control (insert sweet smile here) I have over the use of crayons, safety scissors and glue stick!

I am thankful for the blessing of having these precious children and being entrusted with loving and teaching them.

If you have 1 minute, 8 seconds, see my full and [slightly] proud heart HERE.

And in the spirit of random thankfulness, I am thankful . . .

► that Shepard asks for "lined paper" without lines because he doesn’t use the lines anyway.

► that I have not felt compelled to either wear a denim jumper or raise goats in my backyard.

► ANEW Clinical Expression Line Filler from AVON. (It’s a miracle!)

► 3" x 5" Index cards.

► 7 ½ watt light bulbs.

► SiteMeter & Latitude/Longitude Finder Utility

► Dear Husband who walked to the [only] gas station in SmallFarmTownMinnesota to get me this when I was the Guest Contributor at Christain Women Online last week. Is this man the greatest, or what?!

- Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

See More Thankful Thursday at Grace Alone

12:43 AM | 25 comments | Read More

Life vs. Punishment. . .

". . . You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

~Psalm 139:13-14

"If they [my daughters] make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."
~Barak Obama (At a Town Hall Meeting in Johnstown, PA - March, 2008)

Read the true story of a precious baby boy named Rowan (above) at WorldNetDaily.com.

See More WordFilled Wednesday at The 160 Acre Wood

9:28 PM | 27 comments | Read More

The Irony of the Pharisee. . .

“A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself,but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.” ~ A.W.Tozer

The irony of this statement in today’s culture (although I agree entirely with its premise) is that people are now calling those who stand for True Biblical Christianity “Pharisees” while it is the spiritually blinded who are in fact the ones who reflect most closely what a Pharisee really is.

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment. . .

~ I Corinthians 2:15

Most people identify a Pharisee as one who is over-legalistic in regards to what the Bible says. However this is a stunted and deficient view of what a Pharisees really is.

We live in an age of deception. And the line between a believer’s biblical call to discern and the act of judging another person is a very smudged line indeed. I deal with it myself – and so does every Christian with the spiritual gift of discernment.

I do agree with Tozer's idea – and I am taken straight to Matthew 7:1-5:

“Jesus said to his disciples: "Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."

We all have a propensity to judge others. It's just part of being flesh. And Jesus knew this when spoke of the ease in which we see the splinter protruding from our neighbor’s eye. Who couldn’t notice that!?

Our neighbor’s faults, however, should not distract us from a sincere examination of our own lives. We have our own splinters to deal with and at the end of the day, judging obtains little or nothing productive. A spiritual person knows it is far more fruitful to spend one's time rooting out their own defects.

When I was in college, I developed a rather sophomoric and fruitless practice of name-calling with a few of my girlfriends.

If one of us was acting selfish or carnal we were a “Canaanite.”

If one of us was complaining about something, we were an “Israelite.”

If one of us was acting superior or judgmental, we were a “Pharisee.”

(And so on. . . )

While we had perfected the art of sarcasm, we were the subject of the Matthew 7 passage.

In a sense, we were “Pharisees.”

But. . . What exactly is a Pharisee?

In Jesus’ day, a Pharisee was inclined to be very rigid in regards to the written Jewish Law (The Old Testament). But their greater error was that they held their “Oral Law” (the oral traditions/customs/way of life, etc.) just as important -- or more important -- than the written law.

Here’s where the Pharisees got into trouble: The oral tradition of the First Century – in most cases -- contradicted the Old Testament. The Pharisees danced around the contradiction by embracing the idea that you could not understand the Old Testament by simply reading it, but instead the Law had to be interpreted within the context of the oral traditions/customs/way of life, etc.

Good Grief! Isn’t this EXACTLY what non-believers and many “Christians” do today? Ever heard this statement? . . .

The Bible was written thousands of years ago. It isn’t relevant today. We can only glean simple moral lessons from it.

How ‘bout this one:

Biblical Submission is out-of-date because I Peter 3 was written when women were considered chattel. Today, women are “equal” with men.

Bologna!

God’s Word is GOD’s WORD. Period.

You have to understand that in Jesus day, the Jews had strayed far from God. Very much the same way that America has strayed from its Christian Heritage.

The Jews in the New Testament had allowed pagan ideas and practices to creep into their culture. It happened over a period of some four hundred years – going back to the time of Ezra and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple.

While the Pharisees of Jesus’ day thought of themselves as true followers of God because they followed the written law (The Old Testament), JESUS had something quite different to say to them:

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.'"

And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

~ Mark 7:5-9

Here's where I get into trouble:

This is EXACTLY what is happening in churches today!

Over a period of several decades, our society has allowed pagan ideas and practices to creep into our culture. And way too many churches have allowed the culture to make its way into the life of the church. . . . and when someone speaks God’s Word and points it out, we call that person a “Pharisee.”

In our culture – and yes, our churches too - we validate the corruption of our culture while at the same time claiming to believe what God’s Word says. (Do I dare say this?. . . ) The average churchgoer is a Pharisee calling the spiritual man who believes in the inerrancy of Scripture a "Pharisee."

We definitely live in an age of deception. A.W. Tozer's quote is most certainly well received by this blogger. I agree totally with his thought. Please don't misread me here. I do not want to judge others. Believe me -- or ask my husband -- I've got plenty of beams with which to deal!

But the light of the Gospel has definitely been eclipsed today by way of both pagan culture and false teachings. They come at us by way of television, radio, Internet, books, seminars and any other media that is available. No believer could possible discuss and work out each of these specific disagreements/faults/heresies (whatever you wish to label them) with their authors as Matthew 18:15-20 requires.

Thus. . . speaking out against them is seen as "judging."

If that makes one a "Pharisee?. . . "

Well. . . I, for one -- have been called worse.

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife
Amy is hosing In Other Word's this week. Visit her at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31.

1:27 AM | 15 comments | Read More

Saturday Selah. . .

Saturday Selah is a new meme on Patricia’s blog, Typing One Handed. Here's the idea behind it:

Learning to be still takes practice. With that in mind, and in the spirit of the Titus 2 Woman, Saturdays are set aside to share how the Lord is teaching us to be still and know. . . .

- - - - - - - - - -

Throughout the Book of John, Jesus keeps saying, "I Am:”

“I am the bread of life.”

“I am the light of the world.”

“I am the good shepherd.”

“I am the living water.”

“I am the door.”

“I am the way, the truth and the life.”

“I am the vine.”

"I am Sam, I am…"

OH, wait. SAHM gets confused. . .

…although there is much to be said for Dr. Seuss.

But, I wander …

Jesus says, “I AM.” . . . whatever we need, Jesus can be!

And John 21:35 also says this:

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.”

So . . .

We know that Jesus is Everything we need. . . yet what we know about Him could be written on the back of a toothpick.

Here's where I get into trouble:

If Jesus is Everything –

. . . and we know so little about Him, why have so many Christians quit reading The Word of God to gain knowledge of Jesus and set up websites and blogs and seminars and discussion groups and entire movements that claim to be about Jesus, yet fail to include the Word of God?

And in more than a few instances, the people behind these matters have misquoted, misinterpreted and de-legitimized God’s Word!

I admit I am sensitive on the issue – but I am also adamant and unmovable.

God’s Word is the absolute final authority on all things.

Last week I received three personal e-mails from women who either follow or frequently visit my blog. All three women presented legitimate and serious questions which they (I presume) are hoping I will address on The Heart of a Pastor’s Wife.

Pros & Cons:

Con: In answering the questions posed, am I de-legitimizing God’s Word and making my thoughts the “final authority” and God’s Word simply a “reference?” (All three questions are clearly and unambiguously answered in Scripture.)

Pro: In answering the questions posed, am I pointing people to God’s Word and making clear that His Word is the answer? Is God’s Word that difficult for some people to grasp, understand, and incorporate into their own lives that it takes a discerning writer or speaker to reveal, uncover and bring to light its Truth? And am I that writer?

(Comments welcome. . . . )

Laurie Ann wrote on the Importance of Reading God’s Word yesterday and it really hit a chord in me. Do you hear it?

This is my Saturday Selah. . . .

I believe the Lord is teaching me to be still and dwell in His Word . . .

I believe the Lord is teaching me to open my heart and sharpen my mind. . .

I believe the Lord is teaching me to perfect my understanding and discernment of His Word. . .

I believe the Lord is teaching me to know that I must use discernment and wisdom in choosing whether or not to answer questions presented to the blog.

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

12:28 PM | 8 comments | Read More

Thankful Thursday. . .

. . . unsure at what age I became aware of the stars in the night sky – their nearly invisible enormity and splendor and ability to make me feel unbelievably small and incredibly significant at the same moment. To dissolve myself in the high, dim-starred sky was to utterly lose myself in God’s Creation!

Last night my little Shepard came running down the stairs in a near state of panic to declare:

“Mom! I see the moon. Stars too. God made them!”

We sat together in our pajamas on the back step and admired the vast cosmic existence of God . . . and our tiny little house on the corner of Third and Bergen (. . . and our sandbox and our rock-garden and our bikes and our political yard signs and the neighbor’s swing-set and. . . )

I think the child “gets” it!

I’m guessing I must have been about four when I became aware of the stars.

Shepard is four.

Being thankful is fairly easy once you experience the awareness of our very small existence within God's immense Creation. (You know – the sandbox and the bikes and the swing-set. . . )

Thankfulness just moves ever-so slightly away from that connectedness with Creation and into thoughtfulness in terms of individual things and giver, gift, receiver.

I am thankful today for my children. They teach me everyday how very little I really know and how very little I comprehend outside my too-often logical and academic little head.

I am thankful for Autumn – it is my favorite season of the year.

And because nowhere in Scripture can you find mention that we are to give thanks for only the things in our life that have reflective and profound meaning, here's my list of negligible thankfulness . . .

-- The smell of crayons

-- Dental Floss

-- Junior Mints ®

-- All the students from Liberty University who landed on my blog this week whilst researching “Submission in Marriage”. (If everyone who actually read what the Bible has to say on this topic [men too!] . . . lived it? – WOW! The world would be a better place!)

-- My German ancestry. Makes being married to a German less annoying.

-- The fact that the entire globe is in financial crisis. (Makes it harder to blame the entire thing on President Bush and John McCain.)

-- The stars

. . . . and the sandbox and the bikes and the yard signs and the swing-set and the . . .

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

12:22 AM | 22 comments | Read More

A Mirror. . . Or a LIGHT!

“There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

~Edith Wharton

Before I became a pastor’s wife, I was a perfect Christian and “light before all men.”

(You may chuckle now.)

Seriously though, I thought I had risen to the challenge to be a holy presence in the world. We’re all perfect at something…until tapping into human experience makes us . . .well, human! Becoming a pastor’s wife made me human!

A decade ago, I was committed to letting my light shine everywhere I went. I was captivated by Jesus’ imperative in the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds. . . ” (Matthew 5:16) The powerful truth in that child’s song, “This Little Light of Mine,” was something I desperately wanted to live.

I had made a commitment to be a reflection of God in my own life. I wanted so badly for people to "see my good deeds,” and be drawn to Jesus as a result of it.

Fast Forward: 2005. My husband is in full-time ministry, I’m the pastor’s wife and I’m knocked flat on my butt in the realization that most of the people in the church (let alone the world) really don’t care about being drawn to and finding hope through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, but by every other possible way to meet their needs except for salvation! And – in my situation – the “good deeds” were only a point of contention. I was doing better in my secular career at bringing people to Jesus than I was in the setting of a church! What was I doing wrong!?

I became a little sulky and cynical and more than a slightly angry toward the trend of the evangelical church to be less about God’s Word and its message of Salvation and more about meeting people’s “needs” through modernized human intelligence, popular psychology, pseudo-philosophies, psychopharmacology, and (of course) good deeds. (That's just not God's Plan!)

The whole thing caused me pause. Was I really being the light that pointed to Jesus that I had wanted so desperately to be years earlier? Obviously not. God's Word is perfect. It must be me that has the definition of light confused with something else. . . .

Here is that Truth: Simply reflecting (or mirroring) God’s work in my life was doing little to expand the Kingdom. Hoping for others to somehow come to Christ as a result of seeing my “good deeds” wasn’t just the stuff of chuckles -- but fall down laughing hysterics. And my error in thinking is just a small piece of a far greater flaw in the thinking of the Church today.

Scripture does not tell us to mirror God’s Love and His Plan of Salvation. It tells us to be the actual light that points people to Christ:

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

The mirrored reflection of a lighthouse in the waters of the coastline waters will do nothing to bring a ship into a harbor. It is the actual light that brings the ship into safety.

The moon reflects the light of the sun -- and as beautiful as it is -- it isn’t a very bright light.

The reflection of my favorite scented candle on the small mirror-trivet I place it on is pretty to look at, but it's not the actual flame . . . the reflection of any light does not provide the same illumination or warmth as the actual light.

As Christians, we are not called to be mirrors! We are called to be a LIGHT. . . . brighter and more brilliant and intense than ever in a world that is dying from lack of knowledge and understanding! A world where most Christians are more interested in their "good deeds" than they are being an actual light to bring people to Jesus!

Being a light is not about reflecting or mirroring anything! Being a light means BEING A LIGHT that points people to the Truth of God's Word and the Truth of Salvation. Our good deeds are just that: good deeds. They do little to actually present the Truth.

Yes . . . Even in churches!

The name Christ means “the anointed One,” so each Christian should be a person marked by the truth and love of God -- not and echo or mirror of it -- but an actual light. . .

Yes . . . there are two ways to spread light – you can be a mirror and reflect what might (or might not) bring others to a saving faith in Jesus. Or you can be the actual light that Christ call us to be.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

~ Romans 1:16

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

~ 2 Corinthians 4:4

. . . That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world . . .

~ Philippians 2:15-16

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

Bonnie is this week's Hostess for In Other Words. Visit her at Ink It Blog

12:28 AM | 11 comments | Read More

Iron Sharpening Iron. . .

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

~Proverbs 27:17

Rachel at Musings of a Future Pastor's Wife nominated me for this Brillante Award! Honestly, I have no clue what this means to the blogging kingdom since The Heart of a Pastor's Wife pretty much exists among the cobwebs of the blog-world. Nevertheless, imagine me now in a elegant sparkling evening dress (probably black or navy) accepting the award and thanking God and my briliante husband and my children and Rachel and my cat. . . . (Yeah - right!!) But in all seriousness. . .

Rachel’s kind comments about The Heart of a Pastor's Wife really touched me. Thank you, Rachel! She received the award from another blogger and her award is well-deserved. This girl does blog up a storm (no pun intended -- she lives in New Orleans and I first met her as she was evacuating from Gustav).

Be prepared when you visit her. She does prattle, but she'd got depth and spiritual maturity. Check out her blog: Musings of Future Pastor's Wife. She does a fair amount of serious musing!

Anyhow, as I understand it, the idea behind the Brillante Weblog Award is to honor blogs that provide quality content on a consistent basis; and increase their readership and following by using the always well-received "link".

Iron really does sharpen iron in the world of Christian bloggers. I am amazed when I look at those sitemeter referrals and see how many people have included a link to the The Heart of a Pastor's Wife on their own blogs and websites. I've been humbled over and over by the kind words of commenters. I get inspired when I read e-mails from my readers and followers. My writing is only enhanced in that I am faced with my own personal biases and weaknesses by those who lovingly take the time to contact me. I have all the more greater responsibility to stay true to God's Word in all I do and say and write. (I've strayed from the point here.) but. . . (What else is new?)

As a recipient of the award, it is my responsibility to pay it forward and award the honor to seven more much deserving bloggers. This was an easy decision for me. You will find Quality Content in these blogs. Please visit them.

And my choices are. . .

Amy's Blog: Beautiful Descent

Julo's Blog: The Accidental Pastor's Wife

Kris' Blog: Elephants are People Too

Laurie Ann's Blog A Magnolia's Heart Beat

Michelle's Blog: Because I Love You

Patricia's Blog: Typing One Handed

Karen's Blog: Karen's Kids Corner

_____________________________

For the winners:

Here are the [no penalty for not following] rules:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog.
<center><a href="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/esthermaygoossen/brillante-weblog-premio-2008.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/esthermaygoossen/brillante-weblog-premio-2008.jpg" /></a></center>
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on your own blog.
5) Leave a message for your nominees via e-mail or on their blogs.

Click HERE to visit my BlogRoll for more links to quality blogs and websites!

-Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

12:19 AM | 3 comments | Read More