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Shepherdess Journal for 2001 A SHEPHERDESS INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE FOR MINISTRY SPOUSES Volume 18 First Quarter 2001 Number 1 I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free. Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste. Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive. Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born. Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses. Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships. Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do. Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge. Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because God has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul. Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have! Have a great day ... unless you have other plans. —Unknown 71e Yournaf COli/OF )S 97(US.//298. Stepping out of the hotel lobby, the bitter cold wind of December caught my breath. I snuggled down in my coat and breathed a thankful sigh that I 3 The Mountains or had the good sense to bring my heavy boots and scarf to London. Waiting the Maker for my friend Judy and my husband Jim to get into the car, I paused—and 6 The Husband-Wife saw her. She was bent over in a curve with a thin scarf clutched around her shoulders. Her feet were wrapped in plastic bags tied on with string. Relationship thip One of the city's homeless. She had toe nearly frozen. My whole body 7 Greatness Is Up ached at the sight. She passed by so quickly I had to run to catch up with to You her. Overtaking her so I didn't scare her by touching her on the back, I said "Ma'am, please—this is for you" as I stretched out my hand with several 8 Marriage Lessons pound coins originally meant for the taxi. From an Ivy Plant Without hesitation she lifted the large bag in her hand and with strength I couldn't imagine from a woman of her sire, bashed it into my face. It must 10 Showing God's Love have contained a brick because it nearly knocked me out. My face was to Hurting Children instantly numb with pain. Uttering words of obscenity, she kept moving, never missing a step, as I reeled to keep standing. Jim and Judy, sitting in 13 My Testimony the taxi were beginning to wonder if I had vanished into thin air. "What happened to your face?" they asked in horror as I stumbled into the car. 14 My "Soul's" Desire As clergy wives, most times the vicious attacks we receive by those we try to help do not conic in physical form. They are verbal, emotional, and 15 Insights From a inflict hidden wounds. But they do leave scars. Mother Teresa once said "The Marathon biggest disease today is not leprosy or cancer. It is the feeling of being 17 Let Us Rise Up uncared for, unwanted, of being deserted and alone." Maybe that is why so and Build much of our world is hurting and wants to hurt someone back. Yes, I still press coins into the hands of the homeless. And yes, I still 19 Pastor Friend, Lift hear lectures from my husband about it! But the point is that we should Up Your Wife continue doing whatever the Lord impresses us for good. Even if we are knocked down! Even if we are hurt! Even if it is by our own chuch members! 21 The Privilege of God bless each of you! Service 22 A Cry of Despair .7Se Yournar A SHEPHERDESS Ministry to Clergy Spouses INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE FOR Division Coordinators: MINISTRY SPOUSES IS a quarterly publication ADRA—Pat Watts produced by Shepherdess International, an Africa-Indian Ocean—Denise Ratsara entity of the General Conference of Seventh- Eastern Africa—Angeline Musvosvi day Adventists Ministerial Association. Euro-Africa—Maeve Maurer Editorial Office: 12501 Old Columbia Pike Euro-Asia—Galina Stele Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 Inter-American—Evelyn Omana Phone: (301) 680-6513 Fax: (301) 680-6502 e-mail: [email protected] North American—Marti Schneider Bible Credits: web page: www.ministerial association.com/ Northern Asia-Pacific—Mary H. T. Wong Text credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New shepherd/shepindex.html South American—Evelyn Nagel International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Printed in the U.S.A. South Pacific—Kay Winter Zondervan Bible Publishers. Coordinator: Sharon Cress Southern Asia—Hepzibah Kore Editor: Sharon Cress Southern Asia-Pacific—Netty Rantung All articles are printed with permission. Editorial Assistant: Shelly Lowe Southern African Union—Beautiful N. Wakaba Layout and Design: Ann Taylor Trans-European—To be appointed 2 The Journal, First Quarter 2001 7.A& 9.R1'0uniains or ./Aer iMier Do I look to the mountains, expecting look to mountains for help when it 6anofra fi-Jearson my help to come from them? No, my is the Maker of the mountains who help comes from the Lord who made actually deserves our trust. the mountains. He will not let you slip Do we trust in creatures some- or fall but is always there to hold your times, in human beings, in wealth, hand. He never slumbers or sleeps but in things, when He is by our sides? watches over His people day and Do we trust in the powers of this night. The Lord is your keeper; He Earth when His providence, power on shades you from the blazing sun. The and goodness are so readily available? 7.&uy.ks sun will not hurt you and the moon We must lift our eyes above the hills will not harm you. The Lord will help to see the strength of One who "ever rilahn 121 you so you will not fall into evil. He lives to make intercession for us?" will preserve your soul. He will watch There are resources and individuals over your comings and goings as long who represent mountains in our as you live. lives. Consciously or subconsciously, —Psalm 121, The Clear Word we come to depend on them. With- out realizing it, we learn to depend hese poetic sentiments have on them to help maintain our stability affirmed thousands at the from day to day. But the Lord is the gsummit of contentment and only One upon whom we can rely sustained many others in the valley unconditionally. of despair. They have become so When I reflect on thirty-three synonymous with affirmation that years of fulfillment as the spouse of tears of joy and smiles of contentment a pastor, a mother, a homemaker, Sandra has been appear practically at the moment the and a professional; I realize that it is the wife of a pastor for many years. recitation begins. It's one of those His unchanging hand that has helped Currently she works psalms that always seems appropriate, me to juggle these roles with some with her husband, no matter what the situation. And measure of success. Jesus steadfastly Walter, for the Breath of Life yet, there seems to be another layer led me and helped to make sense television ministry. of meaning lurking beneath the of it all. He was the invisible, serene surface of this psalm. In the irreplaceable entity standing within opinion of some commentators, the the shadows to keep watch over me Psalmist is suggesting that we often and my family through the years. The Journal, First Quarter 2001 3 It is a blessing to be surrounded thoughts. The natural humor that as the spouse of a minister. They by mountains. I have been blessed to you observe as my husband preaches were mountains. have many in my life. Until a few years has been a blessing in our relation- Through the years, God has ago, my parents were mountains for ship and in our home. We laughed strategically placed peers in my me. Their thoughtful instruction our way out of many difficulties as pathway who empathized and under- during my childhood was priceless, we trusted in God as the center of stood. Trust developed between us but not more meaningful than the our joy. My spouse has been a and we were able to share the unique encouragement that they supplied mountain in my life. joys and sorrows that are possibly for me as I faced the challenges of known fully only by those who have adulthood. They became best friends elected to take this path.
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