It's A Wonderful Life - by a Sweet Pastor's Wife

For the last several months, I have been reading a book by Terrie Chappell.   She is the wife of  Paul Chappell, who is the Pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in California.

The church, when they first arrived, was falling apart and in a terrible area. There were only a few congregants.  It now has a membership of over 7,000 people!

Mrs. Chappell is a homemaker and Mother of four grown children.  She is known to be a sweet, meek-hearted lady who loves the Lord. She is a dedicated Pastor's wife and is much loved by those in the congregation.

She was urged to write a book to encourage women.  "It's A Wonderful Life: Serving God Joyfully in Marriage and Ministry" is the result. 

This hardcover book consists of three sections and sixteen chapters. There are 257 pages.

Section One is about our Personal life.  This covers the definition of a godly wife, becoming a godly woman, preparing for ministry, etc.

Section Two is about Family Life.  She talks about balancing the family and the ministry, praying for your husband, developing memories, etc.

Section Three is about Ministry Life.  Here you'll find a wealth of wisdom on challenges in the ministry, hospitality, and being a blessing to your church family.


Terri writes as if she is standing before us, at a Mother's Tea, speaking in a friendly way; making us smile, laugh, and want to take notes!  She mixes her own life stories with beautiful lessons about living a godly life.  

She shares both practical ideas and humble encouragement.   Even though the book has a great amount of help for the wives of pastors, it is also greatly needed for wives of laymen.

Mrs. Chappell writes in a gentle way that makes you feel as if she is a dear friend.  I highly recommend this book to wives!!



For More Information, or to buy a copy:

- Directly from the Publisher:  "Striving Together Publications" - "It's a Wonderful Life."







*Disclaimer - I received a copy of this product for review purposes. This review is my own personal opinion. I would not recommend a book unless I sincerely found it to be beneficial.*



To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.


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Easter in Vermont

We are getting ready for morning church services, here in Vermont. It is a beautiful day of hope! The cold winter weather is starting to fade. Snow is melting. There is a bit of warmth in the air. This Easter, I am reminded of how very difficult the bitter cold winter can be, but how very precious it is when spring comes. This is like our life - the sin and the misery that pulls us down is the winter. The spring is the joy and peace of holiness and purity.

I am delighted and thankful to be able to go to church today.  After services, we will have a special dinner with Nana and Grandpa.  It is to be lovely day!

I want to take a minute to thank you so much for being here. Thank you for your comments, emails and kind notes over the years.  You have encouraged me through some very wearying times. You have also shared in my joys!  May you have a blessed Easter!

Most Grateful,

Blessings
Mrs. White






For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 



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The Church Yard

Seventeen years ago, I visited Cades Cove  in rural Tennessee. I have often thought of that place. There were small, rustic old cabins. This is the type of housing the frontiers-people lived in during the 1800's.  As we walked along, looking at the beautiful, quiet surroundings of the woods and simple structures, I was in awe.

Soon we came across a Church yard.   The simple building spoke of a time when ornate designs, or furnishings, were impossible for the pioneer families who resided there. Their life revolved around the most basic and essential things - Bible, Food, Shelter, Survival, Family and the Church.  I didn't see a single store.  But what keeps drawing me back to the memory of Cades Cove is the gravestones. 

We read the names of so many people. There were small children, babies, elderly, and husbands with their wives. The dates were in the 1800's and it was just amazing to realize that these godly people lived in that very spot.

There were also sayings on the graves.  Sweet words of comfort to onlookers, like Something from the Bible.  The wives also had the most precious words:  "Beloved Wife and Mother." Because that was the focus of those women's lives.  That was what mattered more than anything else in the world.

Every now and then, we need to look back at different times and places in American History, so that we may understand what is happening to our culture. We cannot allow ourselves to be so "Americanized" that we lose our heritage and our traditions.  Modernism and changes will always come quickly.  . . Just like the wind, which we can feel but not see.  If we are strong and stable in our historic roots, nothing will be able to shake us.

Blessings
Mrs. White

Life during hard times - When There Isn't Much.

Taking Pride in One's Work - When Mother is the Maid.

The Way it Was before Feminism - The Old Time Housewife.


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The Respite Before Church

A loud sermon played on the CD radio in my kitchen. I washed the dishes, swept the floor and polished the stove.  I listened to spiritually quickening nourishment, while I tidied the parlour. Then I heard the church bells ring. I knew it would be time to leave soon.

There is a short time between daily tasks and religious duties that are like a "respite" for the soul.  It is when we prepare for the unseen joy of seeking holiness.

Yet, if we left the house a mess, or did not prepare in advance to take care of our earthly work, oh how restless and distracted we would be during the church time!

We can slowly walk away from our work, knowing it was well done.   We take a worldly break and head to the sacred time of heavenly things.    Is this a foreshadowing of things to come?

Some preparation time is necessary. If we are having a quiet Bible time at home, we gather our Bible and books and papers. We settle ourselves in our usual place before we begin. This is part of the respite. This is all part of the expectation and the eagerness, during the break between earthly and heavenly matters.

If we are to attend church and must travel, the time we get ready, or walk or drive is the respite.   It is a time of contemplation, and a readiness, to rid of us worldly thoughts, so we can focus on better things.

I wonder if those few moments before mortal death, the saints feel a blissful peace as they enter their long-awaited home in the heavenly realm?

Blessings
Mrs. White

The Wasting of Money - Electricity as an Entertainment Expense.

Every Home Should Have - A Housewife on Duty.

Through the Good and the Bad - As Sorrowful Yet Always Rejoicing at Home.

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The Blessing of Being a Half - Southern Mama

I have a disattachment, somehow, to the cares of this world. I think it has a lot to do with having a strong cultural background and then living in a different place.

My father is from rural Alabama and my mother is from suburban Massachusetts. We grew up in a beautiful, wealthy town, south of Boston. But the culture of my father's life was with us every moment. We travelled to Alabama many times. My Uncle was a minister and had a small church, packed with the sweetest people you could ever meet. Many cried with joy, or repentance, at his revival meetings.

Have you ever heard the beautiful, humble songs of the saints in those old rural churches, down south? The melody echoes in my memory, even after all these years. The thought of them brings tears to my eyes.

When poor, gospel country clashes with rich, majestic values, there is a shaking of the character.  There is a yearning for a life that is true and poor (in worldly goods) and grateful.

There is a reason this old reserved New Englander has a tremendous attachment to the old southern ways.  I live in a cold society. It is full of culture and worldliness. But my heart is in the memories of the old Alabama life.

It is the world where Grandma wore pretty dresses, and spoke with such a deep accent, I could never understand her.  She had the sweetest heart!  I can still see her smiling, walking across the hill on the family property.

I remember her old house. It was humble and precious and just like something you would see in a movie from the 1930's. It was a white, 2 story, with a large covered front porch. The furniture was clean and neat and simple. Mothers in those days would set out tablecloths and bring you a drink with lots of ice. They would make sure you were happy!  The home and the neighborhood were nothing like the suburban area in which I lived.  It seemed like rural Alabama homes held the hardest working, strong families you could ever meet.

 I remember living there for part of a summer, as a teen, and being given some lovely dresses. They fit me perfectly and were homemade. I only wish I still had them. You can't find beautifully made fashion like that anymore.

The Bible was the book everyone wanted to read. It sat predominately where all could see it. It was treated with the greatest respect.

I cannot even remember anyone not going to church. Everyone got dressed up and went together.  Oh, and the music of that time is outstanding.  Famous gospel singers openly loved the Lord. You could hear it in their songs. They knew where the real money came from - singing the old godly songs, knowing the reward was in Heaven.

The homes were neatly kept and lovingly cared for.  The summer heat was intense but just right. There were gardens and delicious home-cooking.  Neighbors watched out for neighbors and were friendly and thoughtful.

The sermons in the old country churches would melt the heart of the coldest sinner. They touched the soul and would never leave you. This is the southern culture that has stayed with me all these years. And so I listen to old  gospel songs, from the likes of Roy Acuff and J.D. Sumner to help me stay strong in this cold-hearted world around me.

Sometimes I wonder what will become of my children, who have never been down south. But I know that my habits and values from those memories, are vivid in their daily lives. Somehow, they may just become half-southern without even realizing how it happened.

The reality of what I crave from this heritage, is old American values frozen in time. That is what the southern lesson is to me. It is the memory of what was, and what I must keep alive each and every day of my life.


Blessings
Mrs. White




Daddy's Presence - Holiness from the Garage.

The Sermons - What Daddy Gave Me This Week.

 Ideas and Memories -  Teaching Life Skills to Sons.

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The Parlour on Sunday Morning



[Roses and a Bible in the Parlour, at Mrs. White's House]


Early Sunday mornings are a great time of holy expectation. The house has been cleaned and ready for a special day.  There are distant echoes of church bells ringing in the village square. The family will soon be up, dressed in their best, and heading off to church services.

I miss going to church. I haven't been able to go in such a long time. But I trust the Lord to provide a way for me someday soon. We have had car trouble for a few months. We can drive locally, but my favorite church is far away. I would have to get on the interstate. Since I cannot go this Sunday, I will remember Sundays past. I will imagine what it is like walking through the doors of the sanctuary and being greeted by an usher, and handed a bulletin. I will remember sitting in a pew and looking at a hymn book. I will remember the gentle hellos from congregants and smiling faces as we all prepare for the service. I will be there in my mind and heart.

But for now, I will sit in the parlour, in my favorite chair near the window. . . and I will read my Bible in the quiet of the morning.

Blessings
Mrs. White

It has been said that American Housewives are Lazy Squaws.

The amazing task of Mother as the Coach.

Living with Financial Hardship - in Victory Homes.




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Always True Giveaway and - The Church Stories Link-Up

The greatest place of refuge for me is a spiritual one. The acts of worship - preparing for and going to church; Gathering my Bible and journal and reading them; Spending time in private prayer; fellowship with godly people; and the moment-by-moment sacrifice of a life lived entirely for God. Meditation on these thoughts and actions bring me great peace and comfort.

Today is day 3 of my open house party, here at The Legacy of Home.  I baked cookies on the first day, and offered a Betty Crocker prize pack. On day two, I encouraged us all to clean our homes and offered a wonderful book about real simplicity. Today is more of a somber day. It is a day about Church.

I want to tell you about a great book, Always True,  by James MacDonald, pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. You can hear him at Walk in the Word.  I will also be offering one copy of his book in a giveaway.

At the end of this post, I will ask you to link up your stories and memories about Church. 

The Book - Always True - God's 5 promises when life is hard by James MacDonald.

A loving, supportive foreword by his wife, Kathy.
Paperback, 150 pages.
Published by Moody.





James went through a massive time of trial in his life. He was struck with cancer and overwhelmed. He had been preaching for many years and now the test had come. Did he believe God's promises would work in his own life?  This book came as a result of his leaning on the Lord to help him in the hard times. He tested those truths and found them to be always true! He shares 5 principles to help guide us all through the bad times. You will find strength and comfort in his words.

The book includes 5 Promises:

1. God is Always with Me (I will not Fear).
2. God is Always in Control (I will not Doubt).
3. God is Always Good (I will not Despair).
4. God is Always Watching (I will not Falter).
5. God is Always Victorious (I will not Fail.)

Each chapter reads like an encouraging sermon. We see the reality of life and the reality of struggling with fear and doubt. We see how we can cling to God and be victorious.

You will find highlighted quotes throughout. Here is an example: "The harder the trial, the closer He moves toward you."

This is one of those books that you will want to refer to again and again. You will re-read portions of it in your time of devotions and you will be blessed.

The Giveaway

Would you like a chance to win your very own copy of Always True? I have one available for a giveaway. All you have to do is leave me a comment.

For additional Entries:

1. Post about this on Facebook.

2. Post about this on Twitter.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Write a post, linking to this giveaway, on your own Blog. (This is worth 3 entries. Please leave 3 separate comments.)

5. Become a Public Follower through Google Friend Connect, or let me know if you are already a follower.

6. Choose to "Like" The Legacy of Home on Facebook.

7. Subscribe in an email to The Legacy of Home Blog.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

One random winner we be selected on Thursday, June 23, 2011. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 

*Disclosure - I received this book from the publisher for review purposes.*

This contest is closed. The winner is -
Debbie

To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.

Now for the Link-Up!

Church is a special part of life. I want to hear your church stories!  All you have to do is write a post on your own blog. Some suggestions include: The blessings of a women's Bible Study; how to joyfully prepare for church; precious childhood memories of attending church with your family, or memories of church picnics and potlucks.

 Then link back to this page, so we can visit one another during this open house celebration!





Enjoy the day!

Watch for more link ups and giveaways going on here all week long!

Blessings
Mrs. White

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Missing Church on Sunday

I love Sunday mornings. I love that we are all dressed up and ready to go worship the Lord together at Church. I love the sight of my family walking into the building, holding Bibles.

But, sadly, today I must stay at home. I have been worn out this past week and I have to miss church.

Since I will be at home. . .

1. I will look through my hymn book and read the songs.
2. I will watch Charles Stanley on Inspiration television.
3. I will do only minimal housework.
4. I will read from the Psalms - perhaps all of chapter 119.

Very often, Grandpa and Nana (who live with us) have health issues and aren't able to attend church. On those days, I can hear the sound of an old country preacher coming up through the house. Grandpa has cassette tapes of sermons from the old south, including the sermons of his late brother, who was an amazing preacher.

I also hear old gospel music throughout the house. Those are the happiest, most comforting sounds of all. Hearing Preachers and Gospel music, to me, are the sounds of home - whether it is Sunday or any other day of the week.

When you must stay home from church, what do you do instead?

blessings
Mrs. White

What was life like for A 1950's Housewife?

When things are really difficult - Brave Mothers Who Walk into Walls.

Making things nice for the family - Waking Up To A Cozy Kitchen.


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