Get Up And Walk

With Father's Day coming close, only a week away, I was having some thought's rattle around in my head.  These thoughts are just fighting to get out, so I'm thinking I better get them onto my blog. 

My mom and I are very close, and have been for most of my life.  We are very much alike.  She's my best friend!  However, growing up, my dad and I always "Butt Heads!"  It wasn't as bad as some father-daughter relationships I know, but it wasn't the best either.  However, the older we've both become, the closer we've gotten.  Now we are more like two peas in a cute little pod!  Even when we were at odds in the past though, I never once believed my dad would ever lie to me.  As a matter of fact, I know my parents never lied to me.  It wasn't in them.  That's not the case with many parents, and I'm sorry if your's was one of them.  If they ever told you you were worthless, or ugly, or they would be better off had you not been born, they lied to you.  You were and are part of a Master's Plan!

This blog entry has more to do though, with our Heavenly Daddy.

This evening at Youth Group, we talked mainly about Saul/Paul, but as with most youth groups, we wandered off topic a few times.  We, my partner leading the youth group (Brenda) and I tried to tie it all together no matter how far off track we were taken.

As we talked about Saul/Paul, School, Osama bin Laden, Liars, Cheaters, Dopers, Bullies, etc, one thing came through loud and clear.  Fruits of the Spirit.  Any of the above could have or can change, but we will only know that change by the Fruit that each person posseses.  The group I have didn't know (for the most part) what the Fruits of the Spirit where, so I read to them from Galatians 5:23-26 (NKJV)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ's have cruciied the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

So, if our Daddy is Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, then guess what?  The above "fruits" will be what we not only posess, but what we show to the world!  I made it clear to the kids that we are human and mess up sometimes.  When that happens, we need to ask for forgivness from our Daddy, and then just .....move on!  Get Up and Walk!

"But how do we know?  How do we know if a person is NOT really who they claim to be?" Meaning, if they say they are a Christian, but we continually do not see the Fruits from Galatians 5:23-26, then what?  Well, then Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!"

So, if your Daddy is Jesus, you will posses the Fruits of the Spirit, and if your fruits are of the flesh, then Who's Your Daddy?

In our discussion tonight, I claimed that because two people from quite a large family have proven themselves nothing but untruthful to me in the past, that I would have a hard time ever believing anyone from their family.  Keep in mind, I don't know one other person from this family.  All I know, is what I have been taught by the two individuals, and that is, that all they have ever done was lie.  They never had any reason to lie to me.  In fact, I constantly forgave, and then would tell them, "I love you, and want to help you succeed in this life, just Don't Lie To Me!"  They would say, "OK" then continue to lie.  Now, in order for me to trust any one of their siblings, (should I ever meet them) or these two individuals again, I  would need to see some "Fruits of the Spirit."

We may meet someone and right away, the Spirit bears witness, and we know that the person is a Child of the King!  We both have the Holy Spirit within, and therefore are able to identify with each other right away.  However, there are times when we are fooled, because someone comes to church, they say all the right things, do all the right things, and 'wear' all the right clothes!  We never really give the Spirit a chance to bear witness.  But then, slowly and surely, we start to recognize those fruits of the flesh.  We wonder, "How can this be?  This person is a Christian, right?"  In my book, Get Up and Walk, I give this analogy; 

'Entering the church doors numerous times a week, does not make you a Christian anymore than entering the grocery store several times a week turns you into food!  It's what you do while in those buildings, and what you take home from each of those places that will determine the nourishment that you recieve each week!'

When some fellow Jew's wanted to kill Jesus, He tried to explain to them that they were slaves to sin, (Fruits of the Flesh) and that their Heavenly Father wanted them to repent and become FREE! (receive the Fruits of the Spirit!)  After they argued with Him, not truly understanding Him, He said this in John 8:42-47 (the Message)

"If God were your father," said Jesus, "You would love me, for I came from God and arrived here.  I didn't come on my own.  He sent me.  Why can't you understand one word I say?  Here's why:  You can't handle it.  You're from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him.  He was a killer from the very start.  He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a shred of truth in him.  When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies.  I arrive on the scene, tell you the plain truth, and you refuse to have a thing to do with me.  Can any one of you convict me of a single misleading word, a single sinful act?  But if I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me?  Anyone on God's side listens to God's words.  This is why you're not listening - because you're not on God's side."

Other translations say in verse 44 that "Satan is a liar and the Father of lies."

Therefore, if your fruits are of the flesh............Who's Your Daddy?

I John 2:2-6 (The Message)

"Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way:  Keep his commandments'  If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar.  His life doesn't match his words.  But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love.  This is the only way to be sure we're in God.  Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived."

Taking all of this in, I ask you tonight............Who is YOUR Daddy?

I've always enjoyed writing.............for myself, my family, maybe an occasional card or something for the children's program a church.  I always got pretty good grades in English in High School and College because I enjoyed it.

However, I never truly considered myself a writer, and I don't really like doing it "on demand!"

That all has changed though.  When I started my ministry, I envisioned it all to be about speaking and singing.  I wanted to make a CD (and actually started on one of those before I ever even TRULY thought of writing a book).

I would joke with family and friends and say, "One of these days I need to write a book!" Or, I would go speak at a church, and someone would ask me if I ever thought of writing a book.  But that's as far as I ever went with the idea.

I love when I go to write something though, and the Spirit moves, and the words begin to flow, and out pours something that I can be proud of, because I know it's of God!

But a book?  Me?  A writer?  An Author?  I dreamed it maybe, but never truly thought that it would happen!

Then, when I went to a weekend ladies convention, where every single speaker and/or singer seemed to have a book for sale, I thought, "This is crazy!  MY story needs to be heard!"

I had promised God when he healed me of a brain tumor, that WHEN, (not if) WHEN He healed me, and we got trough it all, I would tell everyone I could find, that HE did this!  He healed me and brought my family through a horrible couple of years.  The day that the healing was confirmed (my birthday, April 29 2002) I told the teller at the bank, some ladies in the bookstore, and anyone else who would listen!

Some rejoiced with me, one cried, and some looked at me like I had two heads - and my heads were each speaking different languages, and both of those languages were foreign to them!  But I promised, and I was rejoicing, so I told people!

I've spoken at lots of different places between Ohio and Michigan, but I really think that I owe God more than that! 

Finally, and this ladies convention I was talking about, God put this HUGE desire in my heart to not just write for the pleasure of writing, but to write a book!

In the middle of writing that book, something so horrible happened to our family, that I forgot about writing for a while..........

A good evangelist friend told me years ago, "When you go to the front lines for Christ, that's when Satan will hit the hardest."

So, one day, I got myself out of bed, and said, "That's It," and I wrote, and wrote and wrote.

Finding my publisher the way I did (a blog for another day) and the rate at which things took off from there, can only be of God!

So, the title of the book, "Get Up and Walk!" truly IS good advice.  Don't let Satan EVER get you down to the point that you forget what you are supposed to be doing.

Get Up and keep Walking...........And AMAZING things will happen!

(written by AUTHOR - Jewels A. Staiger....yea, that's ME!)

October was "Pastor Appreciation Month"

Although October always seems to be a very busy month for our church, they always remember to do something, even if it's in November - like this year!

However, Pastors' spouses can sometimes be the most unappreciated people.

I was thinking about this just the other day, as I thought of some past experiences and friends in the ministry.

I've been blessed enough to have some great friends and church family that remember my kids and I during Pastor Appreciation for the past 8 1/2 years. Cards, gifts, food for my family, cash to take on a Ladies Retreat!

Not all are as fortunate, and I must admit, there have been times in our ministry when I felt sorry for myself or my kids because we had seemingly been 'forgotten.'

As the spouse of a pastor, we share our mate with literally everyone. Church members, church 'attenders,' people that show up at our doors at all hours, neighbors who have no pastor of their own. 

We share them with jails, hospitals, and funeral homes.  There are even occasions when we sense that someone may even have a crush on our spouse, and although we know it would never be reciprocated, it doesn't make it any easier to fellowship with the 'would-be-Jezebel or Don-Juan!'

Our spouses (your pastors) are on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for the pay of 40 hours a week IF we are lucky.  Sometimes, our spouse may not get paid, or receive a raise for years!  If it helps the church, we usually, as a ministry couple, are willing to help in any way that we can.  Yet we are being 'greedy' and 'not trusting God enough,' if we worry about finances or ask for help.

We, as the spouse and family of a pastor, are expected to not spend money on expensive clothing, yet look impeccable at all times.  We should dress fashionably, but not so up to date, that others feel as though they are beneath us.   Our children should always be on their very best behavior, and if they are not, we are considered  as 'too lenient' with them, but if we discipline them in the church, we are 'too harsh.'

We are to stay upbeat and refreshed, yet we are 'spending unwisely' if we go on a vacation once every 11 years, and 'must have TOO much money if we are seen going out to eat!

Everyone has something to say when they think your child should be off of the bottle or potty trained, but not one of those people have ever offered to come to the parsonage to help with even the simplest of tasks.

That brings us to another subject; The Parsonage. It's their home, not yours.  I've found that most do not feel that way, but some will remind you at every turn, that they have "paid for the home you live in."  It seems to some, that since we live in 'their' home rent free, we should not have any financial burdens.  Therefore, we should never be in need, because there is a roof over our heads.

So what if we can't be paid this week?  So what if little Johnny needs some new clothes or the car breaks down, or one of us needs medical assistance from the government because the church can't afford to buy insurance for us?  At least they've provided a roof over our heads, so we should have TONS of extra money for all of these other things, right?

We, as pastors spouses, are expected to be available as though we too are getting paid, and treated as though we are the hired help.

We have watched our spouses be mistreated and disrespected knowing that God is frowning over the lack of respect His called is receiving! 

We teach Sunday school, lead the choir, head up VBS, supervise the youth, spearhead programs and serve dinners. 

At the same time, some of us, like myself, home school our children, deal with a chronic illness, and take care of the home that we don't personally own.

And we are to do it ALL with a smile, grace and perfection, while dressed impeccably nice, but not TOO nice! 

I'm not disgruntled.  Truly, I'm not.  Not in the sense that you might think anyway.  You see, my husband was called to be a pastor.  I was called to be a pastors wife.  We prayed for the children we may one day have or not have, and since God gave them to us, I believe they are called to be 'PK's.'  It's not so much the things listed above that get to me, as it is the attitudes from where they came! 

You see, God CALLED us, and we work for Him.  The local church should have respect for him and his family, as the very ones God placed in your church!  We are to have respect for those in leadership above my husband, and them for those that lead them and so on. 

Hebrews 13:17 (NKJ) says, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you!"

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (Msg Bible) "And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience.  Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!"

Romans 10:14-15a (NKJ) "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they were sent?"

I say ALL of this to tell you that, our mates that are your pastors, have been called by God Himself to preach and be your pastor.  Treat him or her with respect!  There will be times that you don't agree with them, and they may even make you angry.  But respect them as God's called and as the chosen person to lead you, whether you always like it or not!  Unless they have fallen, and are blatantly sinning, you need to respect them!

Also, show some appreciation for their families.  Their spouse and children sacrifice MUCH for your pastor to BE your pastor.  More than you will probably ever know.  So, show your pastor Appreciation, but show some for his spouse and children too!  Surprise them with a gift card, or a box of goodies, or a scrapbook!  Something that will show them that you are thinking about them and the sacrifices they have made for YOU as a family.

I know that the kids and I have received some pretty special things throughout the years, and we treasure those.  It's nice, at the end of a LOOONG year, to know that you too, are appreciated and loved!

I had a meeting with Rochelle - the Publisher, and Carroll the designer for the cover.  It was such fun discussing what would possibly be the cover of MY book!  But then, it's not MY book.  It's God's book~

I want Him to have the glory, that's the purpose of sharing the story in the first place!  I remember lying in my hospital bed when the babies were 9months old.  I told God, "If you will just get me through this - No, WHEN You get me through this, I will tell Everyone that I can, what you've done for me."

When I found out some good news - and I do mean GOOD NEWS shortly after that time, I told some ladies at the bookstore, the teller at the bank, and anyone else I could find!!!

This book is just another extension of that.  I've always thought that my ministry was in going to speaking engagements and telling people what's happened.  Telling everyone what God has done.  When I wouldn't get invited to the places I thought I would, I would get discouraged.  Even angry at times!

But God, in His infinate wisdom and gentleness, showed me a NEW plan.  Not only did He enable me -  ME to write a book, but He handed me a Publisher and Contract without even hardly looking!

Some say "it's too good to be true,"  But they don't understand how mine and His relationship works!  He is FOREVER doing things for me, that are SUCH a surprise!  I just have to giggle when He hands things over, and I say "Ha ha ha, thank You!"

Now, trust me, He doesn't always just "hand things over."  The things that He has given me, have come at some great prices.  Sometimes, I feel the price will be too much! 

Then, in His gentle way, He taps me on the shoulder, hands me a beautifully wrapped gift and with love in His eyes, He says "Daughter, I've been saving this for you.  I knew just when you would need this, and, well, here;  It's time."

WOW, I LOVE that about Him!

The editing on the book is FINISHED! I just have to go through and correct and elaborate in a few places and I'm ready to have my sister Diana look it over one last time!  Erik, my nephew did a FABULOUS job, so there shouldn't be much more to do.  Then we can send it off to the Publisher for their approval!  I'm so excited, yet so sick of reading and writing about myself! LOL

Well, I did it! Today I signed a contract with Ellechor Publishing LLC to publish the book, Get Up and Walk; "He's Calling Your Name"

I'm SO stinkin excited!  They are a new publishing company that wants to help authors get their unpublished works, into the hands of readers.  The publishing world is a very hard place to be!  A lot of Traditional Publishers want you to have been published elsewhere already, before they will take you.  The problem with that is, if everyone wants you to already be published before they will take you, then who will really ever take you?  Ellechor!  They want to help Authors better themselves, and to get "out there."  They give a chance to promising authors that no one else will give a chance to!

In MY case however, it was a total "God Thing!"  I 'friended' them on facebook, and the next thing I know, they wanted my manuscript after reading the Facebook page for "Get Up and Walk!"

I hadn't actually sent it anywhere yet - It wasn't ready!  It hadn't been edited yet!  BUT God wanted it to happen, and put the right people into my path.................He's SUCH a loving Father!

So, today I signed the contract!  I'm so happy - BUT - Now I have SO much work to do!  I have to hurry and get the rewrite with the edits done so that they can go over it and edit again according to their standards before the end of September in order to make it by the March 2011 release date!

SO, if you are reading this - Pray - Pray - Pray!!!

Are you hurting today?  Did someone "do you wrong?"  Has your husband lost his job, or been unfaithful, or does he treat you badly?  Has a good friend, done something to hurt you?

Maybe your children have turned away from the faith that you tried to instill in them, and you're wondering if you can even hang on or handle anymore of this.............

He Is With You!  He cares about what's going on right now in your life.  He cares about whether or not you can pay a bill.  He cares that you're feelings get hurt.  He cares that your heart is broken.  He cares that you mourn the way things 'used to be.'

He does!  The things that matter to YOU matter to HIM!

Don't lose hope!  Hang on to Jesus, and let Him know how you are feeling.  He can take it!  He's tough, and wants you to come to Him with every single little thing!  And then, rest in Him.  Rest and know that He can and will handle it.  He can do some amazing thing, so just trust Him!

Hello everyone!

Wow, God is so good!  I've noticed in the pattern of my life's tapestry, there are tons of rough spots. Bad things seem to happen in such a BIG way to my family and I!  But I have noticed too, that in the good times, when God gives His beautiful gifts to us, He does it in a HUGE way!  It makes the tapestry look so beautiful with all of the hills and valleys so beautifully woven together to make such a beautiful piece! 

As you know by either knowing me, or reading this website, I have felt the call to speak and sing for quite a few years, but when God first started calling me, I had no clue what what it was He was calling me to do exactly!

You see, I had always felt the desire to be involved in the church to the point where it is my entire life.  I thought since I was about 12years old that I would someday marry a pastor, and have just always thought that would be the way I worked within the ministry.  However, I still wasn't sure what it was that I would share if I spoke and sang for other churches and ministries!

Then I lived through some things that I didn't think I would actually live through!  I experienced heartache that just about 'did me in' to the point that I didn't want to get out of bed for days.  However, then God would do something for us.  He would lift me up and hold me up.  He would let me see with my own eyes His miraculous Ways!

After some time, I realized "THIS is what He planned!  He KNEW all of this was going to happen in my life and THIS is what He wants me to share!"

I married my pastor a little over 11years ago, and have been speaking and singing for other churches and ministires for about 8years now!

When I do go places to speak, I get asked two things all of the time. "Do you have a CD?" and "Have you written a book or ever thought of writing a book?"

The CD I've always wanted to do, but the book? "No, I'm not a writer." I would say to people, and that's that. 

I've always written.  Poetry, fun short stories etc.  Just for fun!  But I do NOT consider myself a writer.  A singer, a speaker, a pastors wife, a mommy - those are the things I consider myself.  But a Writer? An Author? Never! Never considered myself a writer or an author.

Well guess what!?   I wrote my story in 8 months, and as it was being edited, a publisher actually contacted ME!

In less than a weeks time, I have a meeting with the publisher to discuss a contract!  THAT is how God works in my life!  That is how God would like to work in YOUR life!

I've had to constantly just say "Jesus, I cannot handle this, so You are just going to have to handle it for me.  You are just going to have to hold me up, because I'm drowing."  And through that, God has not only held me up, helped me to keep walking, but He has blessed me SO abundantly!

On Monday I am meeting with the Publisher in a Conference Call, and on Tuesday, I'm going to be on a Blog Talk Radio Show to talk about my Ministry and Book.  GOD IS GOOD!!!

So, yesterday was mine and Dave's 11th wedding anniversary.  WOW.  It was just as hot yesterday as it was 11 years ago.  Those of you that were there remember how extremely hot but beautiful the day was.  On our wedding day, we had approximately 300 people in attendance.  Yesterday for our 11th anniversary, we had (besides us) 3 people in attendance!  We spent the day with our babies.  I wasn't feeling to well early on, so I rested, but in the evening, well, that's when we had our fun!  So much in fact, that none of us wanted to get up this morning!      

Dave got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Mrs Pepers.  We cooked out on the grill and ate in the living room while we watched a movie together.  Something we've been doing more of lately.  It's been nice.  Then we took a break so all five of us could go out to the grill and make some smores!  They were so yummy, and it was fun just standing around the grill together!  It's funny how something so small can make a family feel so close!  For some reason though, that was almost my favorite part of the day!  We came back in and the kids got baths, and then we finished the movie.  We watched Flywheel, from the Christian bookstore.  It was a surprisingly good movie!  BUT my favorite part of the day, was after the movie right before everyone went to bed.  As Abbey and I sat on the couch at the end, she leaned over and whispered in my ear; "Remember that time I asked Jesus in my heart? Well, I don't think it worked!" 

AAhhhh, the innocence of a child.  I asked her why she didn't think it worked, and she said she just wasn't sure, so we decided to pray again.  So, while daddy and the boys were in the bathroom and getting ready for bed, she and I prayed together, and she asked Jesus into her heart.  I told her afterward that we won't always feel happy, but that doesn't mean that Jesus isn't with us. 

I told her that it's a daily thing and she just needs to ask Him every day to forgive her sins, and help her to live for Him.  I guess what impressed me the most, is that she sat and watched that movie, and without us asking her anything, she decided all on her own, that it was important for her to have Jesus in her heart!  That movie spoke to my eight year old daughters heart THAT much!  I think I will write to the makers and let them know.  It was done by a baptist church with only 20000.00 and no training in making movies.  They just decided to do it, and they did!  And it made my daughter want Jesus in her heart!