Eight ways to comfort the suffering soul
When suffering happens to leaders we begin to comfort others differently. Our own journey informs our …
Resources for Planter Wives
When Suffering Produces Endurance
…the testing of your faith produces endurance…” (James 1:3) Several years ago, our daughter and her …
The Benefit of the Bird’s Eye View
Not long ago I listened as another pastor’s wife confided some problems she was facing. It …
Chauffeuring children to frequent doctor’s appointments, therapy, and extracurricular activities; spending hours reteaching school material to …
No matter how great of a minister, husband, leader or father he is, he’s not immune …
wrote the blog below on the 10th anniversary of my husband Rick Ferguson’s death in a …
How to face adversity and anxiety
Adversity is wrapped up in anxiety. Where there is trouble, there is also fear, worry, fretfulness …
Three Ways to Encourage Others with Your Suffering
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion …
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Don’t be surprised: on facing struggle, adversity, and suffering
Today we launch a new series on how to endure adversity, struggle, and loss well. Suffering and hardship …
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The Maturing of Self-forgetfulness
This blog by Michael Kelly was posted on my last birthday. I read and reread this …
Four truths to fight the anger monster
Aisle Two was not the place to be this morning. Today at WalMart, I heard a …
How teaching high schoolers has made me a better mom
I recently learned of some heavy heartache a student of mine is carrying quietly upon his …
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Five cross-cultural lessons for families in public school
My 11-year-old daughter, Alli, looked anxious. It was sixth-grade summer orientation — her first year of …
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At the Pastor’s Wives conference of the SBC this summer, we had a helpful conversation with Faith Whatley, …
Three Sure Ways to Squander Your Influence
Our influence is temporary. It was given to us by God. It can be taken away. …
Five practices of an emotionally mature leader
When you think of emotional maturity what do you think of? Do you think of someone …
The Strength of a Reluctant Leader
Do people look to you to solve problems or provide the answers or direction needed to accomplish …
Leaders work smarter, not harder
A picture is worth a thousand words. Right? So what words does this one say? Uhhh, …
Five prayers to pray for your husband
Strength in the midst of discouragement Lord, I pray that my husband would turn immediately to …
He crushes me- when leaders lament
Chauffeuring children to frequent doctor’s appointments, therapy, and extracurricular activities; spending hours reteaching school material to …
The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership
I have consistently made an effort to ‘be who I am’ and not ‘put on a …
Your Blind Spot Is Only Blind to You
For our series on leadership we are reposting this old blog on blindspots. Leaders, especially ones that …
The Resilient Leader: Don’t Quit
Did you know that 2 Corinthians is actually Paul’s 4th letter to that church? Since I’ve been …
The Disciplined Leader: Saying “No” When Necessary
One afternoon last fall, as I put the clean laundry away, I fell to the floor …
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“When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from …
Not long ago I listened as another pastor’s wife confided some problems she was facing. It …
Leadership: committed to a cause
Cause – a principle, idea, goal or movement to which a person or group is dedicated. …
Most of us want to be leaders. We want to make our mark for Christ and …
Three Insights on Building a Team
Last year I started a ministry to internationals at our church. We live in the suburbs …
By this, I was taken by surprise. Humbly knowing in our 4 1/2 years of existence, …
Leadership is all about developing other leaders. It allows you to multiply the work by equipping …
Life as a pastor’s wife means we’re on display for all to see – which is …
Ministry wives have a great capacity for leadership. We all are uniquely empowered and gifted to …
Turn Your ESL Ministry into a Church Planting Machine
In the past, I have shared about the importance of shifting from a “come and see” …
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Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. — Hebrews 13:3 …
The Pep Talk You Need To Hear Today
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We …
Culture in 5 easy-to-understand categories
Let me start by saying this is an oversimplification. Culture and worldview are complicated topics. Are …
Engaging people groups: cultural expertise vs. cultural acquisition
So you feel unequipped to connect with diverse cultures? Keelan Cook writes such an encouraging, informative …
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With U.S. global migration rates rapidly rising, we no longer have to book a flight to …
Learning to love foreigners well
People gathering together is a universal activity that translates into every culture. And there’s nothing quite …
What Does the Bible Say about Loving the Foreigner?
“Who is my neighbor?” — Lawyer in Luke 10:29 According to USA Today, currently 14.9% of the residential …
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The Biggest Ministry Lesson from 2015: Loving the Foreigner
Flourish will continue a New Year practice of identifying a specific critical ministry lesson from the …
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Five lessons from Elisabeth Elliott
We’re re-posting some of our favorite blog posts from 2015. This encouraging and challenging post by Susie, from …
Why I Stopped Entertaining People In My Home
We’re re-posting some of our favorite blog posts from 2015. Kathy’s post from October 5, 2015 is …
The Best Pastor’s Wife Advice I Ever Received
We’re re-posting some of our favorite blog posts from 2015. This might just be our most commented …
How to Shape Christmas Memories
My happiest Christmas memory is the time each year that my aunt Nancy directed my cousins …
Help, I’m Not Attracted To My Spouse
A friend recently asked me what you do when you are not attracted to your husband. …
Time was full, ready to give birth. A promise had been given and many had whispered …
How to Deal with Being Far From Family
“Come over to Macedonia to help us.” Macedonia? Let me translate that for you: “far from family.” …
How to Deal with that Mean Church Member
Recently, I’ve been asked more times than I can count if I have any insight as …
The stack of books on my nightstand inches higher everyday. Some were recommended and loaned by …
When the Pastor’s Wife Goes Back to Work
Leaving behind our house of vomiting children, I went for a quiet walk on a beautiful …
Four Practical Actions the Exhausted Church Planting Wife Should Take
I won’t remind you that church planting is exhausting, it would actually do us more harm …
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How Generosity Affects My Ministry
When we first started in ministry, I heard a lot about the pastor’s wife as the …
What You Need to Know About God {in this very moment}
I had a little self-talk after getting up from my face and knees bent to the floor. …
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The Key to Belonging in Your Community
I love my community. I love eating at my favorite restaurants. I love shopping at my …
Have a plan. Of course, you need a plan. It is always helpful to think through …
Four Things Your Wife Wants You to Know
Last weekend, my husband and I had the opportunity to talk to a room of church …
Brave. Radical. Fearless. Awake. Step Up. Next level. All In. I hear these words everywhere in …
Comfort in the Bitter Face of Disease
Family stood by on Face Time, while we held our breath and stared at that ultrasound …
Thick Skin, Tender Hearts, and Four Types of Leaders
Don’t miss our iPad giveaway! Click here to check out Monday’s post for details. This piece by …
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Barry gave us much to consider in our last blog as we evaluate if our families need …
How a Family Plan Could Change Everything
Today’s post by Barry Rager gives us much to consider when we think about the importance of …
How I Started Pursuing Hospitality
The New Testament abruptly righted my lens in regard to hospitality versus entertaining when I got …
Where Have We Gone Wrong With Sex?
A critic for People magazine said that no one watches a heavy sex film for the …
How to Be a Mother and Woman with Tenacious Faith
The wonder of tenacious people is that their words continue to blaze trails in many hearts …
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How To Survive A Ministry Transition
Still relishing the warmth of my blankets, I am snuggled among my down pillows willing the …
I did not know I was depressed until I got married. Over time I would see …
Raising the Game on Your Kid’s Social Skills
We discussed YOUR social skills a few weeks ago. Soon after writing that piece I ran …
Confrontation, Speaking the Truth in Love, and Unity
Recently I disappointed a friend. We have all been there for a hundred different reasons. She …
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“You will have to be his advocate.” Those words echoed ceaselessly through my head for the …
An Open Letter: I Don’t Have it All Together
Dear Friend, I got your message. I hate what happened to you this past week. You …
A Heart Strategy for Dealing with Difficult People
Recently a blog posted on Desiring God by Stacy Reaoch caught my attention. There isn’t a space …
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Recently I was sitting in the back of my mini-van with my 5 month-old after a …
We checked no. Did I ever tell you that? When Keith and I sat down to …
Social Skills: 7 Tips to Raise Your Game
Our lives demand social skills! Some of us have them naturally and are inclined to be …
The kids decided to get creative in the kitchen. Five year old Ben chattered on excitedly …
How To Respond To Ethnic Tension {#SEND2015}
A little over two years ago I moved from rural Kentucky to the urban core of …
I was absolutely shaking, sitting in the front seat of my minivan packed full of six …
How to Balance the Demands of Family and Ministry
My husband is currently a bi-vocational church planter. This means that he has a full time …
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