Confessions of a Female Pastor

Marten (my husband) had to work today. He has to work a lot of Sundays. I got up early before the girls like I do every morning. I had my "quiet time" study, prayer, meditation. I went over my sermon...then I got the girls up, made their breakfast, made sure they were dressed appropriately,hair brushed, eating, before I finally started getting ready myslef. My oldest shortly parked herself on my bed right outside my bathroom door where I was putting on my makeup. "The computer has a virus, there is something on the screen and...," she said. I just wanted to get ready. I just wanted to be in "the zone" to prepare for my pastoral duties, to deliver the sermon, to...She went on. She sat there. I think she actually expected me to go figure out what was going on, or fix it, or I don't know. I just wanted to get ready. I just wanted to be in "the zone". I told her I had no time and to please leave my room so I could get ready.
I am certain that male pastors do not have to handle these Sunday morning responsibilities. Their wonderful wives are dressing and feeding their children. Their wives are stopping the fights and the bickering. THEY are in "the zone". These male pastors have probably been handed a cup of coffee by their wife. They might not even have ironed the shirt they are wearing.
I get to church. I have the kids in tow. I start giving them instructions before we walk in. "When we get there please do this and go do that for mommy." The youngest always interrupts conversations. She is asking permission to do something or go somewhere. I'm just trying to be the pastor and she just sees mommy.
I'm trying to figure this out. It's pretty much the same after the benediction when I am speaking to folks as they leave. The kids are there, the younger one asking questions and wanting my attention. Yes, Marten and I have both spoken to her, but it continues.
We are all getting used to this. ALL of us. I pray that those I serve will see that in order for me to be a better pastor they might have to help me to be a better wife and mother...whatever that might look like.

Children and the Kingdom of God

Children are our future. That is the simple truth. Like so many things in this country our care for our children is all over the place. Some children have everything they could possibly ever need or want to the point that they don't even appreciate a bit of it while others live on the street or in little more than a shack all but thrown away by society. Some have two parents that live in the same home, but statistically more or more do not, while some will never know their fathers at all. Regardless of the situation these children are the future of our country, of our world, and of the Church. How are we reaching them with the love of Christ in each of their situations?

I met some people last week that are going to great lengths to reach children with the gospel from suburbia to project housing they are doing whatever it takes and it is changing lives of those both young and old and it is changing churches and it is changing the shape of our future one child at a time.

It is so awesome to watch someone so committed to the calling God has placed on their lives. This is not something they set out to do, yet in the midst of growing in their relationship with God, and in the midst of living in obedience, this new opportunity presented itself. It wasn't an easy decision. It meant walking away from a nice stable job and stepping into the unknown. Wow how they have blessed others and they have been blessed in return!

Is there anything risky that God is calling you to?