Marvelous. Messy. Ministry.
Resources for Pastors’ Families
Marvelous. Messy. Ministry. Resources for Pastors’ Families
This book contains selections from talks that I’ve given over the years, especially to ministry wives. Most of them come from a series called Gently Take My Hand and Lead Me. It was organized around Psalm 16, which is why you will see many references to that psalm and to David’s life.
I had hoped to one day turn all of these into a “proper” book, but health issues lately have put a damper on that project. In the meantime, I hope you will find these selections, even with their typos, encouraging to your ministry family.
While you are welcome to simply read the selections straight through, they are meant to be a resource of articles for you to pick and choose. Read them on your own, with your husband, or with a wives’ group, as they were originally used here at Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
Feel free to photocopy selections for your personal or ministry use.
Grateful for your partnership in the gospel,
Connie Dever
FULL DOWNLOAD/AMAZON PURCHASE LINK
- Purchase Hard Copy through Amazon
- Download Whole Book (a whopping 344 pages! pdf bookmarked for easy navigation)
DOWNLOAD BY ARTICLES (Follows Table of Contents)
- Five Ways Mark Has Cared for Me in the Ministry (and You Can Care for Your Wife, Too)
- Caring for Your Family in the Ministry, A Talk for Pastors
- The L’s: Lots of Quick Tips We’ve Learned over the Years in Ministry
- Marvelous. Messy. Ministry 40+ Years Looking Back
- Titus 1 and the Conversion of Pastors’ Kids
- Helping Your Husband Care Well for the Kids
- 42 Ways to Do Your Husband Good in the Ministry
- Keep Me Safe, O Lord: Fears of the Ministry
- Transitioning to a New Ministry: What to Expect and How to Do It
- Dealing with Expectations
- these first 3 sections combined into one file:
- God Is the Best Thing
- How We Seek After God: The Three Food Groups
- How God Grows Us as We Seek Him
- Why We Need to Seek God: 10 Encouragements for Pastors’ Wives
- Seeking God Makes Flourishing Our Family in the Ministry Possible
- 13 Ways to Help You and Your Husband Seek the Lord While in the Ministry
- Delighting in God’s People: Why?
- Delighting in God’s People: Sheep Bites
- Delighting in God’s People: Sheep Blessings
- Nine Marks of a Healthy Church: Mountains to Thrive On, Cry On and “Die” On
- Finding and Choosing Friends
- Bringing Up Difficulties with Your Husband
From Section 4: God Is Faithful to Fight Our Sin (Psalm 16:4)
- these first 2 sections combined into one file:
- Idols, Israel, David, and Us
- The War and the Weapons
- Common Sin Struggles of Pastors and Their Wives:
Desiring Protection from the World
Desiring Protection in the Church
Looking for Plenty
Seeking Prominence
Seeking Pleasure - Victory Through Jesus: Our Sure Hope in Our Fight with Sin
From Section 5: God’s Good Portion: Finding Contentment Together (Psalm 16:5)
From Section 6: Living within God’s Good Limits: Making a Plan (Psalm 16:6)
- Blueprint for Balance
- Advice from the School of Hard Knocks
- Limit Liars: Halving, Doubling Your Husband’s Ministry and Other Measurements of Success
- Ministry Potluck: 11 Tips for Balancing Your Ministry and Family Life Inside the Church Doors
- Labor Lengtheners: Ways to Make More of Your Limited Time
- A Host of Ways to Be Hospitable
From Section 7: God Is Faithful to Furnish Wisdom (Psalm 16:7)
From Section 8: God Is Faithful to the Finish (Psalm 16:7-11)