The Woman Beside The Man
Welcome back to The Woman Beside the Man! It’s my complete pleasure to introduce you to Shane at Heart Reflections. Don’t forget to take note of the question she asks of us in #7. I’m loving the interaction so y’all chat it up! And lay people? Don’t feel left out. Please chime in with your own responses and feel free to contribute your thoughts regarding the relationships between congregations and the ministry wives who serve them.
1. Share your real name and blog name:
Shane at Heart Reflections
2. In what area/areas of ministry do you serve alongside your husband?
I serve with my hubby in worship – as I am a praise team leader. I also started a women’s ministry approx 5 years ago. You can read more details about my journey into women’s ministry here:
http://heartreflections.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/how-it-all-began
How long have you been in ministry? I grew up in the church loving music. So, music started way back when. But as I stated above it’s been about 5 years being really active.
3. What is your favorite part of being a ministry wife?
My favorite part of being married to my preacher-man is the first-hand experience of God’s work in others lives. Often, the life is my own. My hubby, Marc, really was the first one to introduce me into a relationship with Christ. Growing up in the church it was just a piece of my life, Jesus wasn’t ingrained into every part of me. So, watching our church grow into a deeper relationship with Christ is amazing.
4. Describe your personal giftedness. How do you exercise that within the church?
Do I have to? Can’t I write about my weaknesses? Well, actually that might be my gift. Let’s see here… I believe God has gifted me with a sense of being REAL. This gift came wrapped up in an ugly package of postpartum depression. Through this journey (and my ongoing battle with depression) God revealed the beauty of humility and vulnerability. It takes one woman to share her story to reach other’s hearts. Once the doors open, suddenly you find yourself in a community of believers who are real, honest, and understanding.
5. If you have children, what’s the most embarrassing PK thing they’ve ever done?
Where do I begin? My little one, in Kindergarten, loves telling people her Daddy is the Pastor. She goes to our church school. Everyone already knows who she is and who her Daddy is. But I think it’s so cute that she continues to let everyone know just who were Daddy is. Couldn’t we all be like this with our heavenly Father?
But, the MOST embarrassing probably comes from a sermon series my husband did a few years ago. The series was entitled Home Makeover: Church Edition (I think!). It was based upon our home’s need for reconstruction because our daughters FLOODED the house. Yep! They played slip n slide during their nap time. These ingenious girls (at age 3 & 5) let the water run full blast in the tiny sink upstairs. The water then flowed into the hallway, where they took clothes, towels, anything they could use to water down their runway. It was all fun and games into the ceiling in the lower level collapsed! True Story!
6. What is the single most important piece of advice you would like to offer other ministry wives?
Be yourself. If you don’t know who that is, spend time in God’s Word and have Him reveal it to you. Don’t rush into any commitments just because you think it’s the right thing to do. If people criticize you, let it roll off your shoulders. Remember the Beatitudes, Matthew 4:11-12: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
7. Do you have a question about ministry life you’d like answered by those who reading this spotlight?
How do you stay fresh in your relationship with Christ?
8. Where can we visit you on the web? (blog url)
http://www.heartreflections.wordpress.com/ and www.ShanesHeart.com
I have a few friends that are strong spiritually that don’t live in the same state as me, some of them pastor’s wives also and we keep a private blog together for our personal devotions and study the same Scriptures together. We have a sub blog together as well for prayer. It’s this small group of women that hold me accountable to keep going back to the Word for refreshment and that faithfully pray for me in a personal way that doesn’t make me feel vulnerable in the way that I would with the people in my church.
I love the question. I was actually talking to a brand new ministry wife about this a few days ago. They are just beginning to see that some people in the church can be down-right nasty (nastier even than the average non-church person). It’s hard to be worshipful when you have so many responsibilities on Sunday morning.
I shared with her that I realized early on in our ministry that I had to find ways to feed myself. For me that means lots of reading. I especially enjoy biographies. The real-life stories of how God has moved in the lives of people inspires me.
I also search out worship music that speaks to me. I put it on my iPod and listen to it while I’m in the car.
Third, at least once a year, my husband and I go to a church conference together. It’s really the only time that we get to attend ‘church’ and worship together, and I don’t go to the women’s event. I stay with my husband. This always gives us information to talk about.
Most importantly, I journal my prayers. I make time each week to sit and write out my prayers. This helps me keep my prayer life focused but it also gives me something tangible to look back at to see where God has answered. I’ve realized that I often forget what I asked him to do and don’t even realize how often he answers unless I keep a record.
This is what works for me. I’m interested to hear what other ministry wives do.
I have a list of books that have helped me on my blog. Those are here:
http://www.discoveringtogether.com/recommended-reading-etc/
Other than making sure you’re spending time each and every day reading your Bible and spending time in prayer, I’d recommend going to retreats and other events geared towards ministers wives. Maybe there are some ministers wives inyour area that you could have an accountability group or just a time to get together and socialize.
Shane: It is nice to meet you and read about your life and ministry!
For me, I know that it is important to stay “clean and close” to the Lord so that I can have something to give to others from the overflow of my own life. The best way is tried and true – time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word. This past weekend I attended a minister’s wives conference that was a huge blessing.
Reading and keeping a study going “on my own” is also a great encouragement. I read voraciously! And always remember, we have an AUDIENCE OF ONE! Jesus the One and Only!
Much Love,
Georgia Jan
Great question, Shane. I do “quiet days” twice a month and I use any of Jane Rubietta’s books: Resting Places, Quiet Places, Come Closer, etc. Each chapter is a mini-spiritual retreat and they keep me more honest with myself and with God.
Thank you ladies for all the ideas and encouragement. And, thank you again, Lisa for this feature. As Georgia Jan said, it’s nice to meet you all!
I think Shane knows I heart her…but for the record…I heart Shane! lol
She is real and such an encouragement to me…
I keep my relationship with Him fresh by keeping the Word going…its alive and active…and also, praise and worship music….I have to remind myself that my one on one time with Him is not performance based…so many other aspects of my life can become that way…but my walk with HIm is meant to refresh me and grow me…and I approach it as such…I (this is just my opinion here) I have to separate doing it for MY benefit and doing devotion because surely that is what is expected of me…I have to remind myself that God would woo me and draw me even if we werent in ministry…make sense??s