All Posts
You Can’t Brush Conflict Under The Rug
As a pastor’s wife, you’ve likely had an experience or two with conflict. We all have! You’ve probably been going about your life, ministering to your families, communities, and God’s…
Why every pastor’s wife needs community (and how to find it!)
As a smart, strong, hard-working pastor’s wife, maybe you have been tempted to believe you can do it all – by yourself – without any help. While you could try…
This Season Has My Purpose
In this life, we will all go through seasons. Some we will enjoy more than others. Seasons mean change. Some changes are anticipated and welcomed while others are not. Change…
How can we help you?
Where do you need help? We want to make sure we are providing resources that serve you well. Please tell us topics that are of interest to you. You can…
Managing Challenging Seasons
I have a good friend who has a saying, “Everybody has STUFF!” That’s her way of saying each of us has our own set of challenges. It’s usually her response…
Keys to Standing Strong in Every Season
Life can be a challenge, at times it can be down-right difficult. We all walk through seasons where we feel as if we are barely hanging on. Seasons of discouragement,…
Joy in Challenging Seasons
Today, I’m sharing an interview between my daughter Chrystal Hurst and Kay Warren. Kay is the wife of Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.
The Shalom of the Lord
I have been overwhelmed with the full meaning of the word shalom this year. It has been a rhema word that has brought me great comfort in 2018
Pumpkin Bread
Fulfillment
As a pastor’s wife for 20 years, I have over and over again, seen people search for means of fulfilling themselves. I find it truly heartbreaking to watch.
Unwrapping the Gift of Rest
I think we can all think of periods of our life that could best be described as deserts. Times when we felt trapped by our circumstances.
You Are a Child of the King
The story has been told of the Queen of England attending a banquet with her daughter. Several hours into the evening, the Queen’s daughter began to get bored, and started…
Choose the Better Thing
One thing that I have noticed over the many years that I have served as a wife to a minister is that staleness can creep into a woman’s life when…
What’s in Your Hand
Friend, do you ever feel like you are in an obscure place, living off in the middle of nowhere, or anonymously dwelling in a crowd, with no particular gifts or…
Taking the Next Step
A lot of what God wants to do in your life won’t be done until you do what He has already revealed to you. When my children were growing up,…
The Beauty of Protection
Recently, my husband and I went to Estes Park for a few days, to spend some time together. Upon our arrival, we very quickly noticed that elk were everywhere.
Deep Waters
As I read this verse, I am struck by the first word. It does not say IF you experience trials, rather, it says WHEN you experience them.
Thankful Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Occasionally, I try to imagine the volume of prayer requests that God receives from us on a daily basis. “Help us pay the monthly bills!”
Antidote for Discouragement
Most of us at some point in our lives have felt the pit of discouragement. We each have our own reasons that brought us to that point.
Spinning Your Own Wheels
I remember many years ago on a day when I had become ill. I had gone to see my doctor, and after arriving at the diagnosis, the doctor prescribed some…
Guard without Hardening
I heard this quote recently, “Don’t mistake guarding your heart with hardening your heart.” As I pondered those words,
Find the Standard
One thing that I have noticed over the many years that I have served as a wife to a minister is that staleness can creep into a woman’s life when…
Put on Love
Paul tells us, that above all things we are to put on love. As love is the chief of virtues, and all the others grow out of love.
Rising Above the Grief
I read of a woman named Sarah who went on a missions trip to Ukraine. During her time there, she befriended a 12-year-old orphan girl named Bogdana, who proved to…
Balancing Motherhood and Ministry
One day, my seven year old daughter grabbed my hand and said, “Mommy can you stop being so busy for a minute and play dollhouse with me?”
Silver Linings
I have faced criticism in my life, as both a pastor’s wife and a human. I have come to the realization that although it hurts, not everybody is going to…
When You Need a Helping Hand
Most people have had pets of one sort or another. While dogs and cats remain tremendously popular, some people prefer hamsters as an alternative.
Hearing the Voice of God
Have you taken the time to listen lately? While the numbers suggested by experts vary dramatically, it can be safely assumed that the average person speaks millions of words in…
Are You Truly Content?
During our seminary years, when all Tony and I could feast on was ground beef, I developed several ways to cook what we affectionately called “seminary steak.”
The Humanity of Jesus
My Dad’s a Preacher!
“Oh, I bet you can’t, because, your dad is a preacher!” Has anyone ever said this to your children?
What Do You Do When You Aren’t Seeing Results?
I Sleep with the Pastor
Fighting Fear with the Word
Early in our marriage, Tony traveled frequently, which meant I was home with young children. Fear riddled me in the night. I worried constantly about Tony’s safety.
God’s Silence Doesn’t Mean His Absence
God’s silence doesn’t mean His absence. Just because you can’t see or hear God, that doesn’t negate His presence and active work behind the scenes.
Are You Feeling Captive?
I remember feeling captive during heavy child-rearing years with Tony working long hours. As women, we have to be aware of our feelings so we don’t take them out on…
Success God’s Way
Our success doesn’t hinge on what the culture at-large says or does, or how others act toward us, or even the outcome of our circumstances.
What Are Your Stones of Remembrance?
Challenges in our past can hold us hostage in our present. However, God’s mighty hand in our past delivering us can bring us great encouragement as well today.
Under Construction Pt. 3
Sometimes there are detours in your life and ministry that you did not plan or you did not expect.
Under Construction Pt. 2
You Have Been Made For A Purpose
Why does God call us, planting the seed of discipleship in our hearts? He calls us because He loves us.
Under Construction Pt. 1
In our hometown we are dealing with a lot of construction and improvement of new bridges and also potholes from the severe winter.
Alone With Nothing!
I’ve been going to my local coffee shop to write. I have a place at home but there have been instances when I can’t use it.
The Purpose of Prayer
Oswald Chambers writes, “Never say you will pray about a thing, pray about it.”
Don’t Forget to Worship God
You and I need to be worshiping the Lord. He says He inhabits the praise of His people. Sometimes we get so busy that it’s easy to forget that.
Do You Have the Right Perspective?
When the economic downturn hit our nation a few years ago, I noticed how my calendar started to have fewer and fewer speaking engagements on it.
That’s what I want to do….Nothing!
I don’t want to write today. I’m exhausted. Every aspect of my life right now has a responsibility attached to it and somehow everything will fall apart if I don’t…
The Importance of Taking Time Off Together
One of the questions I get from pastors’ wives is how best to encourage their husbands to take time off to rest.
When the Sun Rises
The burst of His glory in the early morning reminds me of who is ultimately in control of everything.
P.M.S. (Prayer, Meditation, Self-Control)
“I’m sooo hot! God if you don’t help me I’m going to lose my mind!” I know at first glance it appears that I’m talking about what all women will…
God’s Call on Your Life
God’s call on your life as a pastor’s wife is about relationships. The primary relationship is to God himself, then your relationship to yourself, your mate, your family, and your church.
Expectations of a Pastor’s Wife
The “pastor’s wife” role scares me because I feel it brings a lot of expectation and people think you are perfect. How do I keep the right perspective and do what…
Essentials for New Pastors’ Wives
Your personal spiritual walk with God is the most important priority in your life. Let nothing interfere with that!
Letting The Word Be At Home
Is God’s Word at home in your heart? The word dwell in today’s verse means to make oneself at home. Paul doesn’t just want us to hear the Word
Positive Versus Negative Stress
How’s your thought life? Dr. Caroline Leaf has written a great article on the effects stress can have on our lives.
Posting a Guard
In his classic book True Spirituality, the late Frances Schaeffer said that the true spiritual battle and the loss of victory are always in the thought world.
The feeling of being ill equipped
To My 28 Year Old Self on Mother’s Day
On Mother’s day the year I was 28 I was just hours away from giving birth to my youngest son. Being a dutiful pastor’s wife I went into labor at…
Thinking Like Christ
Have you ever thought about what is means when the Bible says, “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16)?
Doing It All
The feminist movement of the last thirty years has given us a lot of angry and frustrated women who are determined to prove to themselves and everyone else——particularly to men—that…
Smiling Through Your Tears
My sister in Christ, I want to share a special word of hope and encouragement with you today. God can enable you to smile in spite of your tears.
“Friendly” Church Members
During our Live Web Event on marriage, the question was asked how we as pastors’ wives should handle a female church member’s “friendliness” toward our husbands.
It’s Ok To Be Different
We all face tremendous pressure to be like everyone else. No one wants to feel like the odd person out. I remember that growing up, I was always the one…
The Key to Real Power
The Trinity is made up of three co equal Persons who are one is essence: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Safeguard
I had noticed her looking at him, laughing a little too loud, practically swooning over the brilliance of his sermons and cleverness of his insights.
How I Lost 9 Pounds in 7 Days
First of all, let me get this out of the way. I’m not selling anything. There. Now you can relax.
A Quiet Place
I hope you have a quiet place where you can be alone with the Lord each day, a place where you can shut out the world for a few minutes…
Something to Get Excited About
There’s a painting by the great artist Rembrandt that says it all for me at Christmas. The scene is the manger of Bethlehem. The painting focuses my attention exclusively on…
Stay Close and Get Fed
Some friends of ours like to feed the birds when they go to the beach. On one occasion, they tell us, a large flock of birds gathered to receive the…
Super Thinking Plus Superfood Helps Get & Maintain a Super Brain
Did you know that thinking plays a huge role in eating? In fact, you shouldn’t eat if you are feeling stressed, worked up, angry, facing or trying to bury a…
Dealing with Fear
Just like our other human emotions, fear is a gift of God to be used for His purposes.
Adjusting to the Dark
I was no longer the pastor’s wife and my husband was no longer the pastor. Three days earlier Rick had been killed in a tragic car accident and I was…
Rejoice. Pray. Trust.
When our commitments lead us into storms, if we want to have resurrection power for today, we have to put three principles to work: R.P.T.—Rejoice, Pray, Trust.
A Psalm of Comfort
The words of Psalms have always been a source of comfort and strength for me. They are filled with God’s promises to provide strength for the weak, comfort for the…
Praying with Confidence
How can you pray with the confidence you’ll hear from God? The apostle John says there is a direct correlation between our abiding relationship with Christ and productive prayer (John…
Prayer: Your Connection to the Creator
Our Lord’s teaching about prayer is amazing. It is so simple but at the same time so amazingly profound that we are apt to miss His meaning.
God’s Presence Through the Journey
I have now entered what is called the “sandwich generation”—a season where 46 million of us are positioned between the generations of family above and below us.
Speak Words of Life
In times of discouragement it’s essential to speak life to yourself. Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” (The Message).
Equipped for your Calling
Perhaps there have been times in your life when you’ve felt like running from what God was calling you to do. If so, you wouldn’t be the first person who’s…
You Matter
Every Christian has a specific call from God. The prophet Jeremiah received that call when he was a child. God spoke directly to him and said, “Before I formed you…
A Kingdom Woman’s Prayer…
Lord, You know my name. You see me and you care. You know where I’ve been and where I’m going. You are always present, always moving, and always ready to…
Prayers That Get Delivered
Avoiding the Squeeze
ur spiritual condition is changed in an instant when we receive Christ and become joint heirs with him; at that point we become entitled to everything He has.
Too Perfect?
Whenever I wonder how a Christian wife and mother can find the time and energy to do all the things she needs to do, a biblical image comes to mind:…
The Importance of Communicating with Your Husband
A number of years ago I hit burnout. My work as the senior vice president at The Urban Alternative, having two teenage boys still at home, and trying to…
What Will They Remember Most?
One of the most important things your children should know about you is that you are always ready to encourage them. This does not mean you have to ignore their…
How to Make Your Husband Secure
One of the marks of a godly woman’s home is that her husband can feel secure because he has confidence that she will do what is right for him and…
Seeking God: A Woman’s Devotional Life
Mary of Bethany was one sister in the Lord who knew how to keep her life in spiritual balance. Mary was the willing worshiper, the person who would rather sit…
Put Your Mask On First
When you are in an airplane preparing for takeoff, the flight attendant instructs you on how to use the plane’s oxygen system in case of emergency. You’re told to put…
How Prayer Shapes Your Life
Our Lord’s teaching about prayer is amazing. Simple, but at the same time so amazingly profound that we are apt to miss His meaning. The danger is to water down…
More Abundantly
We mark Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Too Hurt to Serve
I can remember when everyone wanted a gold rope chain necklace to wear around their necks. Some people focused on how big the width of the rope was.
