Happy Thanksgiving

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.

 

We are so thankful for you. Thankful for the way God is using you. Thankful for the difference you are making for the Kingdom.

 

Enjoy your turkey, football, and nap time!

 

See you on Monday!

A God We Cannot See…

One of the questions we hear most often here at Leading and Loving It is “What tips do you have for raising children in ministry?” And to be honest it’s always the question I ask when I get time with adult PKs.  My children are still relatively small so I’m doing my learning as I go, but our oldest, Jett,  took a step of faith that left Pete and myself speechless.  I didn’t write the following post, my husband did.  I started to record this story from my perspective, but Pete’s was so beautiful that I decided to share it with you all.

As a father I feel as if I have the responsibility to teach my boys a lot of different things. Here’s just a few I’ve been thinking of…

How to ride a bike.

How to shave.

How to tie a tie.

How to dribble a ball.

How to love people you don’t like.

How to jump off really high stuff.

How to do a push-up.

How to understand women.

How to treat a woman.

But the most important thing I want to teach my boys…

How to trust a God they cannot see.

This past Sunday I watched hundreds of people make their commitment to Faith, Hope, & Love. Each commitment represented someone trusting God in a new and unique way. But the pledge that caught my attention was the one my 8 year old son filled out.

He pledged $50 (that he doesn’t have) to the vision of Cross Point Church. He later told me that God would provide a way for him to fulfill his commitment. This card represents a lot more than fifty bucks. It represents what is hopefully just the first of many adventures my son will have trusting a God he cannot see.

What do you want to make sure you’re teaching your kids?

500th Post & What You’ve Learned Along the Way

If you have been around this here blog, you’ve learned a few things about me over the last 500 posts:

1. I love my iPhone. I occasionally give it a bath. I’ve even let it go for a ride on the hood of my car while I take my kids to school.

2. Apparently, I am a nut-ball.

3. I’ve been known to humiliate myself and wear my clothes inside out.

4. People have asked me if I was pregnant even when I’m not and haven’t had a baby in YEARS!

5. I laugh out loud at completely inappropriate moments.

6. I don’t still have IT.

7. I have major foot issues.

8. I’m obviously not a detail girl.

9. I have two literary loves.

10. I’m a little OCD when it comes to my books.

11. Apparently my friends and I are bad girls.

12. I call it Coke.

13. I’m a hugger and hug non-huggers and freak them out.

14. I was a dork in High School and wonder if anything has really changed.

15. Once upon a time I rocked some underoos.

Whether you’ve been around here for a week and a half or a year and a half, thanks so much for being part of this community. I love getting to know you guys! Thanks for sticking with me!

A Little Bit Crazy …

Donna called and said I could add our video. So here we are in all of our craziness. Enjoy your Twilight-day!

What’s Your Flavor … New Moon

Today is the day for the Twilight themed What’s Your Flavor question.

Donna and I recorded a fabulous video about “New Moon” but she has forbidden me to post it. Which is probably a good thing so that you won’t think I’m completely off my rocker … although the following questions should handle that pretty nicely.

Since the movie debut is today, one question won’t cut it today. So get ready for a barrage of “Twilight” questions.

1. When are you going?

We are hitting the first movie this morning hoping that the high schoolers are in school where they are supposed to be. I don’t want to miss anything because of their screaming.

2. What are you wearing?

I am wearing this super cute hoodie that I bought myself. I mean really … how cute is that?

3. What team are you?

If you have no idea what I’m talking about … just move along. It is quite well known that I am a fan of the vampires. But can admit that Jacob’s new abs made me think twice … hence my choice of this fabulous hoodie.

4. What did you think?

Now you don’t have to answer this now … but come back and report in after you’ve seen the movie. I have attempted to keep my expectations in check … but have failed. Going in with high hopes.

I’m a Peeker, He’s a Peeker, Wouldn’t You Like to be a Peeker, Too

Forever and a day ago, my friend Cindy wrote this awesome post. I think of it … all … the … time. So, she let me post it here so we could share in the fabulousness.

I get the honor of being a part of the most awesome church ever.  I know, your church is the best, too.  But mine, well, it really is.

And behind our great church is one of the greatest men I know.  Our senior pastor.  I am so thankful to have him speak into our lives.

If you currently attend or have attended our church you’ll know where we stand and how passionate we are about seeing people become fully devoted followers of Christ.  One of the ways we do this is by sharing an invitation at the end of each message.  This invite is open to all who want Jesus to reign in their hearts, take over their lives and change them forever.

Shortly before the invitation is given, we are all cued to bow our heads and close our eyes.  And most people do.  How do I know this?

Because I’m a peeker.

Don’t you know that all pastor’s wives have the right to peek?  We do.  It’s an unspoken rule.  We all just know we’re exempt when the pastor makes his with every head bowed and every eye closed statement.  And not only can we peek at our church, we can peek at any church.  It’s just the way it is.  It’s a sisterhood.

So, in my times of peeking, I’m noticing that more and more people are peeking.  Like just this weekend, I saw a man next to me peeking.  I almost wanted to say, “Scuse me, but you need to be praying for people to raise their hands and give their lives to Christ, thankyousokindly.” But I refrained because I’m good like that.  I mean, I guess that guy can peek if he wants to.

Pashaw.

In all seriousness, I must tell you why I peek, why we pastor’s wives peek.

Because we love to see a changed life. We love to know that the sacrifices our husbands have made, including energy given to our families, is not in vain. We love to see that all of the blood, sweat and tears our families put into our church and its people is paying off.

And that, my friends, is why we peek.

I Sit Alone

A while ago I was reading the back cover of a novel and read this “In her opinion there was a fine line between being supportive pastor’s wife and an obnoxious one. Sitting in the front row fell in the second category.”

Sure, this was in a novel but it reminded me of an article I read with the same sentiment a while back. It made me wonder: Is this what the people at Central think? Does our staff feel that way? Do they think I’m trying to separate myself from them?

I do sit on the front row. It also happens to be a row that is completely reserved for staff families, especially those that are on the platform that weekend. Most of the time, I sit by myself on that row. Sure people might look at me all by my lonesome on the front row, surrounded by reserved seats, and think that I’m a snob. But the reasons I sit there are very simple.

Every once in a while, Jud can actually come and sit with me for a song maybe even two. And I like getting to sit with my husband in church, even if it is just for a few minutes. I’m absolutely happy to sit alone so that I can hold his hand during a little bit of the worship. Quite happy indeed.

I also feel closer to him there. He makes eye contact with me anytime he is talking about our family. If he needs a little encouragement, he looks over and gets a big smile or nod … or even a little wink.

So, I’m not trying to be obnoxious or separate – I’m actually just trying to be with my husband.

I wonder how many times I’ve jumped to conclusions about other people in leadership. It reminds of what Marcus Buckingham says: Find the most generous explanation for another person’s behavior and believe it. I need to make sure that I’m extending that little bit of grace to other leaders, too.

(Updated from the original July 2008 post)

My Confession

A few weeks ago Lori did a fun post where quite a few of us made a few Pastor Wife Confessions.  My personal confession was when I’m at church I usually introduce myself as “Brandi” and leave off the “Wilson.”

I do it for a couple of reasons… I want their first impression to be of me, not “Pete’s wife.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud to be Pete’s wife, but I also like people’s first impression to be of ME, because let’s be honest… people treat you differently when you’re married to the pastor.

There’s another ugly reason I introduce myself using only my first name… insecurity.  The “What if I don’t measure up to what they expect?”  I’ll be the first to say my husband is awesome.  He’s gifted, has a magnetic personality, loves people, is full of charm and a leader of integrity… and I’m Brandi.

I’m not honestly sharing that thought for any support or accolades, but just to say sometimes it’s challenging for us to be connected to the front men, the men who deliver inspiring messages when I’m doing good to get three boys to church on time wearing clean clothes.

But I have learned that during those times of insecurity I’m not plaqued by self-doubt… but I doubt God.  I haven’t been chosen by men or by my man… I have been chosen by God.  And that is the ultimate security.

And I’m sure at times I’ll continue to introduce myself as “Brandi” because there’s also the slim possibility that I like to maintain a low profile!

Anyone understand where I’m coming from?

Paul, an apostle –sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. Galatians 1:1

Man in the Arena

Someone emailed this quote to me last week. Wanted to share … be encouraged.

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

“Citizenship in a Republic,”

Roosevelt Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Thoughts?

What’s Your Flavor … Retail

Yesterday I asked all my friends in Twitter-verse to suggest some great get-to-know-you questions.

Loved this one from @ktreth:

If you had to live in a chain retail store, which one would it be?

Me? I’d live in Barnes and Noble. No question.

Why? Well, there’s obviously a zillion books. There are comfy chairs. And there is a Starbucks. Oh and bathrooms … they have relatively clean bathrooms.

What about you?