Comments

Posted by kindredhearts

What an encouraging story! Thanks for sharing!

With love and prayers~

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Posted by SongOfTheSagebrush

Praise the Lord for how He has worked in regard to your sister!

Thanks for the thoughts regarding Nehemiah 4:6....I think the Lord confirmed it in church this a.m. as He impressed upon my mind at the beginning of service what I was to build...it will be interesting to see how He goes about it in days, weeks, months to come...and in some other areas, there are things to work at, and having that mind to work makes a difference...things like dieting (South Beach), some story and writing projects/ideas a friend and I have gotten together on in recent months...lots of areas that I see being disciplined as important.

As for the toddler and the tools, daddy is ultra organized when it comes to tools, and is planning to find a few things that are not problematic (tape measures, etc.) and won't cause serious problems!

Blessings,
Anne-Marie

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Posted by psalm518

This is Angelle (psalm518), just thought I'd visit and enjoyed reading your latest entry. My sister and I haven't spoken in two years. I could never understand people who don't keep in contact with family unconditionally, until my sister cut us off. It's been difficult because I love and accept her just the way she is but she cannot reciprocate that as she is the older by nine years. She is very emotional and boisterous about her strong opinions and feels like I need to follow closely in her footsteps in every area...politically, spiritually and even in the way I dress. My husband is a pastor and I respect his decisions for our family...we pray, fast and obey what the Lord tells us is right for our family in all areas of our life. A couple of years ago when we were homeless as a family, having lost everything (even by prayer and supplication :) Job 1) , we stayed with her family for a few weeks, hesitantly. What a wonderful time to spend with my neice and nephew, but needless too say...we couldn't change in the ways that she wanted and has not spoken to me since. I dream of them often, waking in the night too pray. I have tried to call, write...no response. At times it has seemed easier this way because she has a very difficult personality, and I seek out truth. Ultimately though, I grieve because I know reconciliation is the heart of Jesus. She is my only sibling and of course being a Pastor's wife can be a lonely road of keeping confidence's and warding off the enemy...It would be nice to have a sister to talk too. I'm encouraged by your post to wait (Isaiah 64:4) and keep praying!

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Posted by bubbebobbie

My sister is older as well, this one by five years, the others by seven and eight years my senior, and one younger by thirteen years. We are completely different. She is not a believer and that creates a gulf that is pretty wide. Unlike my other siblings, we live in the same town. That has made our not talking difficult on everyone else. I too dream about her often and told her so when she called. She will always be the woman she is until Jesus enters in. I have been grateful for the lack of drama in my life the last year and a half. But I missed her too. I have discovered hat everyone's timeclock on relationships is set differently and that my forgiveness may be quick, but their acceptance of that may never come. That is not my responsibility. I only answer to the Lord and if I have done all He requires that is all He asks of me. It sounds like you have done that. I love this verse in Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.



I love the freedom in that verse. Jesus knows that no matter how hard we try, we can only do as much as is possible with ourselves. The rest is up to them. And sometimes it s just not possible.



I have had peace in this whole situation, because I knew I had done all that I could to bring peace. Our "Big" fight was even because I had called her to try to rectify our current situation. So I waited as instructed by both my God and my husband. A very peaceful place to be, for me anyway, the rest of the family well, peace eludes them.



I also know the "loneliness" and the "fake intimacy" that comes with ministry. I pray the Lord will send you an intimate, someone you can be totally transparent with at all times and will lift you up to the Lord.

I discovered early on while teaching Bible studies the more real and transparent I am the more transparent they become. It also squelches gossip. I mean who can talk about the pastor's wife when she shares her truth openly. How disappointing it is to the bearer of tales to whisper "did you know" only to be told "of course I do she shared that at Bible Study, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?" Conviction is good!



Do as you are instructed and leave her responses between her and the Lord. Jesus can do amazing things when we get out of the way.

Because of Jesus, Bobbie

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Posted by psalm518

Hi today! Thank you for the words of encouragement, it is good to hear others who seek after righteousness going through the same trials with family members. God is faithful and ultimately will sharpen both my sister and I through this, sounds like our situations are very similar. My husband also agrees that this time apart is peaceful and character building. I really miss the kids though, they are growing up quickly. My struggle with transparency is almost opposite of what most women experience, the Lord revealed to me early on that "my cross to bear" is transparency. I agree with you wholeheartedly...it's what inevitably causes me not to fit the typical role of a "pastor's wife". The cross to bear part comes in when women become weary of my transparency, I guess. It always seems an ice breaker in the beginning, it is refreshing for others when they know they can be real...however it seems eventually it's the very thing the enemy grabs hold of... later women regret having revealed so much, been so real...and begin to gossip, or try to cause division. When I am teaching, the Lord seems to be working on the hearts of the women. Then later, as a dog returns to his vomit...dissention sets in. My husband says my transparency comes off as a childlikeness and maybe women feel as though they cannot respect me. I feel they should respect Jesus not me. My words are foolishness, His words are wisdom--when I teach His wisdom comes out because they are His words. When I am not teaching--I will probably always be young at heart and have nothing to hide from anyone...I am foolish and fail everyday. Any success I have is from the Lord alone in which He can be glorified. I'm babbling! I guess you got me thinking again because lately I have been pulling away from women's ministry and friends because of this. I long to share with women the wonderful trials and hardships He has allowed in our lives by His grace and mercy. I know He has a plan for this, yet I seem to fail everytime. I have given up and hear His voice saying, "finally! Now I can work." Anyway, my first priority is my family who I love and are my best buds...just that the boys are growing up and I have so much more time on my hands. Sorry for rambling. P.S.--We were in Homestead during hurricane Andrew also it is when my husband and i met! Small world huh?

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Posted by myboysand1ladybug

I recently reconciled with my sister too which happen in almost the exact same way, I was told not to call ever again. I was blessed by your story. My sister and I have been talking it is hard, but the Lord is speaking to me and I am listening.

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