Comments for http://sarahstent.com For Pastor's Wives and Women in Ministry, Before, During and After ... this is my journey Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:24:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Too Fast and Furious Too by Shannon http://sarahstent.com/2011/03/18/too-fast-and-furious-too/#comment-9 Shannon Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:24:19 +0000 http://sarahstent.com/?p=105#comment-9 When there is a person who 'resists' something, it could be that they are uncomfortable with change, OR they have a viewpoint that is worth listening to. By asking a few clarifying questions, you will not only validate the person in question, but you may uncover something wonderful to help support your program and keep it running smoothly. Sometimes people will resist something because they are intuitively sensing a possible problem, but because they might be more of an introvert, they won't just tell you what they think. Questions have to be asked, and they need to know they have time to answer (if you rush them, you'll get nothing but panic). It's also possible that they don't understand where you are going with the program and having more information about the overall vision will help them to get 'on-board'. Most often, issues like this are personality and communication issues, not actual resistance. When there is a person who ‘resists’ something, it could be that they are uncomfortable with change, OR they have a viewpoint that is worth listening to. By asking a few clarifying questions, you will not only validate the person in question, but you may uncover something wonderful to help support your program and keep it running smoothly.

Sometimes people will resist something because they are intuitively sensing a possible problem, but because they might be more of an introvert, they won’t just tell you what they think. Questions have to be asked, and they need to know they have time to answer (if you rush them, you’ll get nothing but panic). It’s also possible that they don’t understand where you are going with the program and having more information about the overall vision will help them to get ‘on-board’. Most often, issues like this are personality and communication issues, not actual resistance.

]]> Comment on Too Fast and Furious Too by Pat http://sarahstent.com/2011/03/18/too-fast-and-furious-too/#comment-6 Pat Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:34:43 +0000 http://sarahstent.com/?p=105#comment-6 I am a Pastors wife of a small church (5.5 yrs old) and 6 months ago we moved into Phase 1 of our Phase 3 permanent building. In an effort to draw in youth and excite our children, a few of us started a puppet ministry. We have seen two youth salvations, Praise the Lord and our children's and youth ministries have doubled. We now have one of our 2 deacons (with teenage sons that "do not feel led" to participate) complaining that we are moving too fast. He is a Godly man and his "opinions" have meant much to me. I don't want to move too fast but how fast is too fast. Aren't we in a race?? The point is to grow spiritually and mature in the way that continues to lead others to Christ. Your post has given me encouragement to continue. Thank You. I am a Pastors wife of a small church (5.5 yrs old) and 6 months ago we moved into Phase 1 of our Phase 3 permanent building. In an effort to draw in youth and excite our children, a few of us started a puppet ministry. We have seen two youth salvations, Praise the Lord and our children’s and youth ministries have doubled. We now have one of our 2 deacons (with teenage sons that “do not feel led” to participate) complaining that we are moving too fast. He is a Godly man and his “opinions” have meant much to me. I don’t want to move too fast but how fast is too fast. Aren’t we in a race?? The point is to grow spiritually and mature in the way that continues to lead others to Christ. Your post has given me encouragement to continue. Thank You.

]]> Comment on How Can I Be Submissive When I Know He’s Wrong? by admin http://sarahstent.com/2011/03/16/how-can-i-be-submissive-when-i-know-hes-wrong/#comment-3 admin Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:37:41 +0000 http://sarahstent.com/wordpress/?p=33#comment-3 Eventually, SOMEONE has to make a decision. It wouldn't matter whether or not it were the man or the woman who made the final decision. The outcome will be evident and it may work for the better - or it could work for the worse. God's grace is always sufficient for us. We will learn from our mistakes and will make better decisions the next time around. Who ever makes the decision, will have the responsibility of that decision on their shoulders. It is hoped that the Lord has been sought together in advance and that both the husband and the wife were in an attitude of agreement for the best answer. This means that competition in proving who is right and who is wrong, was not a part of the decision making progress. It is the competitive spirit, filled with resentment and judgment that causes us to make decisions unwisely, completely leaving out the Wisdom of God. Our challenge is in our heart. Loving one another in an attitude of humility and grace, forgiving one another for our humanness and praying for each other for wisdom. The challenge of 'right vs. wrong' is rarely about what is truly right (by God's standards) but rather, "who is better, or who is wiser, or who is smarter and finally "who wins". Eventually, SOMEONE has to make a decision. It wouldn’t matter whether or not it were the man or the woman who made the final decision. The outcome will be evident and it may work for the better – or it could work for the worse. God’s grace is always sufficient for us. We will learn from our mistakes and will make better decisions the next time around.

Who ever makes the decision, will have the responsibility of that decision on their shoulders. It is hoped that the Lord has been sought together in advance and that both the husband and the wife were in an attitude of agreement for the best answer. This means that competition in proving who is right and who is wrong, was not a part of the decision making progress. It is the competitive spirit, filled with resentment and judgment that causes us to make decisions unwisely, completely leaving out the Wisdom of God.

Our challenge is in our heart. Loving one another in an attitude of humility and grace, forgiving one another for our humanness and praying for each other for wisdom. The challenge of ‘right vs. wrong’ is rarely about what is truly right (by God’s standards) but rather, “who is better, or who is wiser, or who is smarter and finally “who wins”.

]]> Comment on How Can I Be Submissive When I Know He’s Wrong? by Laura http://sarahstent.com/2011/03/16/how-can-i-be-submissive-when-i-know-hes-wrong/#comment-2 Laura Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:08:04 +0000 http://sarahstent.com/wordpress/?p=33#comment-2 What are your thoughts on the belief system that the husband and wife are to submit to one another, but if they can't come into agreement over a certain decision, it's the man's responsibility to make the final decision? What are your thoughts on the belief system that the husband and wife are to submit to one another, but if they can’t come into agreement over a certain decision, it’s the man’s responsibility to make the final decision?

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