Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Busy

Since I got home from Georgia, I have been busy. It seems there is no end to busyness. I left about 3 days after I had originally planned. It was a great 3 days in Georgia. I enjoyed it so much. It was very hard to leave.

When I got back to town, it was in the middle of a home football game. And afterward, our church was having a 5th quarter for the town. I was blessed, I did not have to go. I was able to unload the car and sort of unwind and catch up on some computer things (email - WAY over 100 new ones that I had received since the last time I was able to log on - 3 days earlier).

Waiting for me was the typing of the 2 separate Charge Conference books. If you are not Methodist and have never experienced a Charge Conference then you don't understand I'm sure. It is a yearly accounting of everything the church has done in ministry, groups and organizations, with their finances, officers and leaders being elected and it is supposed to be a celebration of what Jesus has done in and with our church. My husband does one of the very best booklets ever! It has lots of great stuff in it. It is about 30 or more pages. Needless to say, it takes lots of work and he "gets" to do TWO of them this year.

I have jokingly said that the purpose for a Charge Conference is to develop character in the Pastor and secretary.... (of which we do not have one, hence the reason that I am doing it.)

On top of this, we are learning the ropes in our new conference and many of the reports must be filed online, then printed out and put in the booklet. The problem is that we are having major problems getting them filed. There is a certain format and WAY to do it - and we have yet to get there.

And. this week... I also have a Parsonage Committee meeting and Parsonage walk-through. Now, every Methodist Pastor's wife trembles and quakes at the mere mention of "parsonage committee meeting". It means that they come into the parsonage and are to inspect it. It is a safeguard for the church and pastor because it is an opportunity for them to see the condition of the house - if it needs repairs or updates. It also gives them an opportunity to see the condition of the house - if WE are keeping and maintaining it properly.

So, in the middle of typing and figuring and stressing over the Charge Conference, I am also trying to clean. Since I've been gone, it has gotten very dusty and things have moved out of place (I'm not saying anyone moved them or misplaced them... just some phantom must have come in and played a trick or two...) Also, I brought a few things home from Georgia that I need to work into the mix of what is here and I still have not unpacked my suitcase! (not to mention about 4 plastic bins and 5 or 6 boxes that are stuck in the corner of my room - that MUST be hidden or something)

As we were eating supper tonight (yes, I DID cook!) I found out that we have a funeral on Friday.

AND, I have two different bulletins to do for Sunday....

AND AND.... Sunday is my hugsum's birthday!!!!

Please pray for me that I have peace and supernatural wisdom and insight and revelation as to how to get it all done. Also, that HE has the same thing in his life....

I'm so thankful that God's grace is sufficient for me and that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! Glory!

11 comments:

LIFESPEAKER said...

Isa. 41
8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

9Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

3 times in this passage the Lord reiterates that He doesn't leave us, He will help us and upholds us. May you experience His love and help and upholding in new, wonderfuly joyfilled way.

The LaBouffs said...

Take a DEEP breath!!!Feel better now? It always makes me feel better to write down all I've got to do (or talk it all out). You'll get done what needs to get done!

Merrie said...

I did breath deep....
Got some peace ...
meditated on the Word
made a list :)
Thanks!

the finchers said...

Hey there, sounds like you are having my kind of week.........my pastor is on vacation(out of the states).....
and with that said, we have one thing after another take place......
one of our members fell and cracked a hip, another had to have surgery, and sadly a military family which has been coming to our churh for about a year lost their husband, father, in Iraq Sept14. So we,as a church family have been trying to take care of their every need. I feel lilke I'm walking in shoes I can't fill........But GOD.....always comes through for us and gives us the ability to do what we often think is impossible to do. With the help of the ladies at church a full memorial service has been planned and things are coming into order.........Please pray for this family, the memorial service will be held sat. sept. 22 at 2:00pm........

What a privlege to serve the body of Christ

Yes His grace is sufficient for us.

Merrie read the prophecy bulliten for sept.18 , you'll be blessed

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Merrie,

I enjoy reading your blogs but especially this one. I understand your stress. As I prepare for Charge Conference in Blakely, I can relate to your extreme worry over getting reports ready and getting everything done just right. Just remember this too will pass and you will get it done. I miss you and Pastor Steve. Blakely just isn't the same without your sweet smile and Pastor Steve's energy.

Have a great day!

Love Teresa Dykes

Unknown said...

Okay, OKAY! YOU are Bro. Steve's current secretary?! Oh, how I will pray for you!!! LOL No, I'm kidding! But, I can feel your pain with the charge conference books! Yes, Bro. Steve does a really good Charge Conference book, but they do take a lot of work!!! Like I said, I'm praying for you! LOL

As one who has been a church secretary (For Bro. Steve ;-)) and is now a Pastor's wife, I couldn't imagine doing both at the same time! I got a taste of how busy a Pastor is when I worked for GUMC, but I am REALLY seeing how busy a Pastor and PW are now that I am living it! Ya'll pray for us and we'll pray for ya'll!

Anonymous said...

stop gripping folks. what a blessing it is to have the opportunity to not stay stagnate in life and move towards accomplishing all that we have to do to move forward. The busy part just keeps us from finding something else in our lives to not be satisfied with. Let's choose to move forward with a great attitude and love that we have the ability to do everything as unto the Lord.

The LaBouffs said...

If you have something to say....and think it's worth saying, then why not put your name to it? Why leave anonymous comments? What a cowardly way to give your opinion.....

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I never understood how busy and stressful the life of a Pastor and family is until I became a PW myself. Sometimes there is TOO MUCH going on and the PW shouldn't have to be the one that does it all. With that said, I don't think we are complaining, we know that this all comes with the calling that is placed on us by God. But, it does help sometimes to vent to those that understand. I'm so glad that I have a veteran PW to seek advice from when times are hard. Because unfortunately in the ministry there are some tough times!

Merrie said...

I agree. It takes one to know one! It is in the sharing of our lives that we grow. It helps to know that others understand and can say, "this too shall pass" and "I've been down this road before and it does end!". I do not think that anyone was "complaining" or "gripping", just acknowleding that life is busy. We accept it, appreciate it and live it. There is no stagnant life, we are either living or dying, but no such thing as stagnant.

Too bad some people do not understand a cry for help and prayer, but want to judge and criticize and point the finger without taking any responsibility.