Weekend thoughts...........

"Experience has made it certain that the clergyman's wife must either throw in her lot unreservedly with her husband's difficult and distinctive career, and reap her reward with a range and depth of personal influence which are unequalled in the case of any other married woman, or she must separate herself from his work and life with consequences ruinous both in his success and to her own credit, and, we must add, to the happiness of both." Herbert Hensley Henson, formerly the Bishop of Durham, in the Bishoprick papers.

Reading for a group I belong to a book called Glittering Images by Susan Howatch. Written in 1987, this is a series of 'church books' that Howatch wrote about her own experiences of the Christianity journey. In Chapter Five, she quotes Herbert H. Henson as I've written above.

I used to have great respect for the military wives, especially the Navy's, who have to put up with long separations and short visits home. They have to switch gears from single parenting to joint parenting. They realize that their husbands can be wisked away at a moment's notice and possibly never come back. I still have that respect, for those on active duty who love those who are constantly in harm's way, and those, unfortunately, who have a somewhat blissful civilan life with weekend interuptions that are being torn apart as one or even both are sent to the war zones.

And there are those who I am developing a great respect for too....the minister's wife. The struggle is there and so clearly evident in the lives of any who are married to a pastor, minister, chaplain, or any lay person in the church who follows God's call.

I believe this is where the Proverbs 31 chapter comes into play, because too often those wives who cast their lots with their husbands find;

She is clothed with strength and honor,and she can laugh at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom,and loving instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the ways of her household,and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed,her husband also praises her:

"Many daughters have done valiantly,but you surpass them all!"

Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting,but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. Give her credit for what she has accomplished,and let her works praise her in the city gates. (Proverbs 31:25-31 NET.)

The wife of noble character....not only do they serve in the military alongside their husbands, in the dynamic of the family, but also in the success of the ministry to which their husbands have been called......

It is well that the husband remembers such noble character.....

My version of the Psalm 102.......

Wayyyyyy back when, August 1 of last year, I felt led to write in my personal way the Psalm 102. I didn't get much reading of it on the Faithwriters site. And then, scanning my profile there today, I saw 100 people had at least click on it to open the page up.

After the soaking prayer last night, with the conversation going much like this post, I found myself rereading and reliving this Psalm...... with the storms raging in my life and the still soft voice calling me to Him despite the fear.......

I felt led to repost it here. Originally I posted it on the 14th of August, 2007
Thanks,
Jim

Mighty Creator, ABBA Father,

I lie prostrate on the ground, with only the firm reality of Your creation keeping my body from sinking lower into the depths. Your child cries out in desperation and despair, can You hear the anguish that has become my daily companion? Listen, Father, Your son needs the direct and full attention of Your mercy and grace upon my pleas. Affect in my life a drastic and impactful change, removing my trials. I am standing on sinking sand; send Your angels to rescue me!

I stagger under the weight of my despair that has seized my mind,
As if there is no future, no condolence in the struggle.
Death awaits the stilling of my faith's heartbeat,
Weariness weighs my arms and legs and fatigue haunts my strength.
Enemies of my past haunt my future and surround me in the depths of my despair,
As the True King has turned His gaze from me and removed all blessings.
I am but a shadow-----
Of the man You created me to be.

But You are as You have always been, Holy and Pure.
Your creation still echoes Your Glory and the Heavens shine with the brightness of Your Sovereignty.
Your Name has withstood the changing of the generations,
Your Power and Might are undiminished from the beginning of Time.
All I see, touch, taste, and hear owe its creation to Your Desire and Will.
Your mercy gazes upon the ruin of creation and affects change.
Your promises restore and renew those whom Your servant loves and cherishes.

You have laid waste to my strength, and devastated my path,
Bringing me into a position of servititude before Your throne, prostrate upon the dirty ground.
Though You have removed Your hand from my life and mercy from my cup,
I beg You to give Your servant hope, so that I may release my hold upon this world.

Bless Your servant's wife and children, and those he loves.
Demonstrate Your mercy and grace powerfully in ways that they can understand and see.
Stand with them in their struggles, few as they will be in Your mighty hands, and bask them in Your love as they spend their days in glorious service to You.
Be with them each day so that they will not know an hour without Your love,
Covering them as if with new clothes each and every day.