The Ugly Truth

I’m a people pleaser. Yep … I surely am.

I like for people to like me. No. That probably isn’t true. I need people to like me.

I’ve known this about myself for a long, long time. I’ve known it is a weakness. I’ve known it is something that I needed to work on. It is why I struggle so much with criticism.

But through a series of events over the last couple of weeks, I’ve come to realize something.

It isn’t just a weakness. Not just something I should work on. It is an idol. A big, fat, old, ugly idol.

I have gotten to the place where I am putting the thoughts and opinions of others above the Lord’s. I had let the criticism of a few wreck me even though I knew that I was doing what the Lord wanted.

But no more … nope. Making sure the Lord is back on the throne in that part of my life. Will I still struggle … probably. But I know what it is now … in all of its ugliness.

So, there it is … deep breath … I’m feeling better.

When The Going Get Tough…

It’s my second week at Leading and Loving It and I decided to jump right in and tackle a topic that’s not fun… misery!

Let’s be honest, sometimes misery visits ministry.  I remember hearing Beth Moore speak last year and she said…

Ministry was meant to be hard.  We were meant to suffer for the sake of the gospel.

There will be times that are tough, there will be days you never want to relive and mornings you just want to stay in bed.  Here’s what I think is most important… how do you respond when misery visits ministry?  Beth gave two scenarios: Repression or Rebellion.

Those who know me well know I’m a total repressor… in fact, I don’t think there’s a rebellious bone in my body!  But when times get tough and ministry gets hard, I repress.  I stuff down the pain, I question my discernment, and I allow myself to be filled with guilt.

And for those rebels out there… well, Beth said it best when she said, “Repression will make you sick, Rebellion will make you stupid.”   So if you’re purposely going against the grain, walking the path of defiance, or you resist for the sake of resisting be aware you can be doing yourself a dangerous injustice as well.

How do you respond when the going gets tough… do you practice Repression or Rebellion?

Your Fabulous Opinion Needed

I have a little something cooking on the side, and I could really use your help here.

There are quite a few pretty universal challenges to life in leadership. Some that I can think of off the top of my head are:

• Change / Transition
• Criticism
• Expectations
• Family
• Integrity
• Marriage
• Personal Passion
• Relationships/Friendships
• Spiritual Growth
• Time/Schedules
• Handling Difficult Situations & People

Here is where you come in. Could you tell me the top 3 areas that are a concern for you in your leadership and ministry? What am I missing? What have I forgotten?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

What’s Your Flavor … Oreos

This week’s get to know you question: How do you eat your Oreo?

I’m not a huge Oreo fan. But I do love those new golden ones. Yummy.

I twist the cookie apart. Eat one cookie. Then eat the creamy filling before finishing off the last cookie.

How do you eat your Oreos?

How Did I Get Here … Lori’s Story

Is there a worse possible freeze frame? I think not. Quick hit play so that I won’t be embarrassed.

 

How’d I Get Here??

Today I officially join Leading and Loving It as a contributor… and I couldn’t be more excited.  Let me fill you in a little about my journey, I’ve spend most of the last 12 years or so “wandering” in the role of pastor’s wife.  To take it to another level, in a lot of ways I’ve been lost.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last 12 years of ministry… but I’ve spent quite a bit of time wondering where and how I fit.

I’ve been married to a pastor for about 13 years and I’ve loved almost every minute, but to be honest I’ve probably wasted a lot of time.  Up until last year I believed that my husband was the only one doing the important work because I never felt “called” to ministry.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Pete and have a huge heart for the local church, I volunteer regularly and I’m very connected in our church… I fully supported his call to ministry, but I still felt it was his call and not mine.

Last year I had a revelation… it sounds like a simple thought, but sometimes I can be a little slow.  I remember driving down the road feeling quite discontent and praying for guidance.  I clearly felt God press on me “Brandi, I didn’t call you into ministry… but you’ve been a pastor’s wife for 12 years and I’m not gonna waste that experience, it’s time you step up.”

Around that same time my cyber friendship with Lori started to become more real.  I’d called her asking for advice on a situation and we discovered we viewed ministry with a very similar frame of mind.  Late last summer Pete and I even got the opportunity to sneak out to Vegas to meet she and Jud face to face.

Lori and I spent an evening sitting in a sleek booth at a trendy high-rise dreaming about connecting and networking other pastors’ wives.  Finding other ladies who have been in seasons where they’re lost and helping them walk through to the other side.  Encouraging and supporting other women in ministry and using technology as our  means of communication.  In short… we wanted to create a community.

So today I join Leading and Loving It to help create that community but I have to be honest, sometimes I’m still a little lost and sometimes I wonder how I fit in… but I believe that getting to know those of you who visit here is one stepping stone on my journey to purpose.

Anyone else every feel a little lost or wonder where you fit in?

Drum Roll Please …

Exciting news around here:

Make sure to check out her blog and their church. And give Brandi a few words of welcome and encouragement.

What’s Your Flavor … Halloween

The get-to-know-you question of this week:

This year we are saving the world at our house. I have a Wonder Woman t-shirt to go along with the Super Cuties:

What costumes are rocking your house this year?

Create Your Own … Blog

Obviously I write this blog mainly about leadership or my own personal experiences in life and ministry.

Pretend we are back at Starbucks, (since we planned events and conferences before) brainstorming and dreaming about awesome blogs.

What would the best blog for Pastor’s Wives and ladies in leadership look like?

What things would be discussed?

What do you wish you could find, in relation to ministry and leadership, on a blog?

What would be the purpose of reading? Connection? Information? Growth? Encouragement? Something else?

Thoughts?

We Don’t Take the Paper

Some thoughts from my awesome friend Donna. Wanna see & hear more from her … and you totally should … Click here, here, here, or here.

 

Sunday mornings around the Politz home look a little like this…

Our 11-year-old daughter is up first and is usually ready before anyone else wakes. Tommy is next. If I wake up before 8, we may chat while he irons his shirt. Then the boys and I get ready for the morning. Cole and I eat at home. My older two eat at church. Tommy doesn’t eat before our services. That’s it.

A pastor and his wife stayed with us a while back. He was in town to speak one Sunday morning for Tommy. They are great and super fun. Their Sunday mornings look a lot different from ours. Let me begin with some background information… we don’t take the paper. This amazing wife gets up, makes her man a hot breakfast with the paper next to his plate. Oops, we don’t take the paper. Thankfully, we had eggs in the refrigerator.

So, what does Sunday morning before church look like at your house? Even if you attend Saturday night service, how does Sunday morning look?