When Mez gave me this book to read, I doubted its usefulness. I’ve read books like this and sometimes they’re really suitable for pastors in the United States. It’s often hard to see the relevance to pastor’s wives here in america. United Kingdom [ii], despite the biblical content. However, I really liked this one and encouraged me to read it. I liked the way Gloria uses examples of her life abroad and some of the different challenges this poses. book in three sections, the first of which is “Love the Supreme Shepherd”. In these chapters, Gloria reminds readers that, as wives of shepherds, we must love Christ above all else, and that “our identity at its most fundamental and fundamental level is that we are “in Christ” (page 29). Of course, this is true whether you’re a pastor’s wife or not, but it’s a useful reminder, because we can often lose sight of it. These first chapters lay the groundwork for the rest of the book.
The central part of the book focuses on our responsibility to our husbands, based on Proverbs 31:12: “It does you good and does not harm you, every day of your life. “Throughout these chapters, Gloria uses her own experience and openly shares how she tries to better support and encourage her own husband. Personally, I found these encouraging chapters and they made me think about how I could better support, pray, and encourage Mez. It also evokes the great privilege of being married to a pastor. I recognize that there have been many occasions when I did not see my role in this way, so I felt challenged to remember it, especially during periods of intense activity, fatigue or stress.
- The last section is about the love of the church.
- She spends some time laying the biblical foundations of the church and asks the question.
- “What is the church.
- Anyway?” She responds: “The church is not a non-profit club.
- Organization or entity.
- Church is not just a Sunday morning service.
- The Church is a gathered people.
- Existing by the grace of God.
- To reveal the glory of Jesus and to bear witness to his goodness and his work in bringing home all of God’s prodigal children.
- (pp.
- 117.
- 118) Whenever I read or listen to a sermon on the church.
- I never cease to be amazed that this is how God chose to display his glory.
- This is especially true when I think of our inadequate little church in a popular Edinburgh suburb.
- Sometimes I look around on a Sunday and think.
- “Wow.
- How the hell can all these completely different individuals be in the same room together?” This can only be through Christ.
- And it speaks volumes for those who are yet to be saved.
- The last two chapters are about using the gifts God has given you and reminding you that He will support you when you feel overwhelmed with the task ahead.
Gloria concludes the book by pointing out to readers eternity: “In fact, each of us has been endowed to be part of Christ’s wife, the church. But we are not obsessed with the things of Jesus, but with Jesus himself. Since we longed for our heavenly bride, we have not stop at the altar admiring the lace of our wedding dress; Do we look at the gates with great anticipation for the coming of Jesus?(p. 154) . I strongly encourage any pastor’s wife who feels overwhelmed, discouraged, or who has lost the love of serving Jesus to make a good reading of this book.
[i] N. de T. ? This translation cites references to the view of the Portuguese version of the book, published by Editora Fiel.
[ii] N. de T. ? While this article considers the contexts of the United States and the United Kingdom, we, returning to the Gospel, also consider it relevant to the Brazilian context.
I’m a promotional text! In this uplifting and fun book, Gloria Furman reminds the wives of pastors that Christ is willing to help them under any circumstances, whether during night counseling sessions, unrealistic expectations about how to use time, or complaints about preaching their husbands. Filled with liberating truths from the Word of God, this book will help you joyfully appreciate your Savior, love your husbands, and serve your churches. Edit button to change this text.
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