michellesingleton.com // Confessions of the Preacher’s Wife

When Rob and I go out, my biggest delimma is not what clothes I will wear, but what shoes I will wear.  The deciding factor for me is always, “Are we going to walk?”  I have ugly, painful feet.  It is true.  After years of running and exercise and the fact that I was blessed with a hereditary bunion, I have become a comfort shoe seeker rather than a style seeker.  I certainly don’t want a shoe that fits too tight or too snug.

There is a saying:  “Don’t let the shoe tell the foot how big it can become.”  In other words, “Get a bigger shoe.”

We are so blessed at Southbrook to have a bigger shoe being built.  Have you seen it?  Our new building is well under way.  The changes we have seen at Southbrook have taken us from a small group that met in our family room … to a swim club … to a elementary school all-purpose room … (there was a theater somewhere along the way) … to a high school … to our present building … and now this … with video campuses popping up everywhere … Wow!  The change was been quick and drastic!  “GO GOD!”

God trusts us to take care of His blessings.

More people are alive today without the hope of Jesus Christ than at any other time in history.  “How can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in him?  And how can they believe if they have never heard about Him?”  Romans 10:14, NLT

There is no greater work we can do than to tell others about the love of God through Jesus Christ.

I promise to take on Rob’s Sunday Challenge.  How about you?  Join me in bringing our friends to Southbrook … let them catch our excitement!  A bigger shoe is on the way!

Blessings,

Michelle

The changes over the last 100 years have been quick and drastic to say the least.  But they are nothing compared to the most amazing changes I see each week at Southbrook. 

Not a week goes by when someone doesn’t put their trust in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing like it! God takes a life that was headed toward eternal separation from Him and places that person within His very own family to spend forever with Him.  This is drastic.  And the change is instantaneous from the time a person puts their trust in Jesus.

If one measurement of success is “progress” or change, then salvation is spiritual success.  And it is available to everyone.  But the price tag of eternal life is not payable on our own.  Only Jesus could pay the price for us.  He did!  And that is worth celebrating ~ just a thought!

Do you know someone who is desperate for spiritual success?  Change?  Bring them to Southbrook this week-end.   And let them meet God’s amazing grace…….

Blessings,

Michelle

This is a continuation of yesterday’s post where we looked at normal in 1908.  Today, let’s take a look at “normal” in 2008.

*  Population of America is 300 million.

*  136 million vehicles in America ~ wow!  One for every 2.2 people!

*  There are 5.7 million miles of paved highway in America.

*  The top 10 major airline carriers offer 17,000 scheduled passenger flights each day!  This number doesn’t include commercial flights, recreational or commuter flights.

*  99.9% of the homes in America have electricity…and indoor plumbing!  Have you used an outhouse lately?

 *  As for TVs ~ I can’t count that high?  Do you know anyone without at least one TV in their home?

*  Radio is everywhere:  cars, homes, elevators, offices, and the Top 40 sure beats Morse Code.

*  Average work week is 40 hours.

*  Divorce rate is 50%.

*  Life expectancy for a white man is 79 years, 73 years for a black man.

*  Top causes for death are heart disease and cancer.

*  And what about telephones?  Do you know anyone without a mobile phone.  And phones today take pictures, text, and keep your daily life in order!

Compare “normal” in 1908 for our Grandparents to “normal” in 2008 for us:  Our Grandparents could not even imagine what life would be like today!

Yet when you think about the duration of civilization, 100 years is a relatively short period of time.  And look how far we’ve come!  The point is change can come quickly and it can be drastic!

Has anyone seen change in their lives?  Does anyone want to?  I’ll continue this post tomorrow.

Blessings in the Change,

Michelle

Last week I attended a business conference on management and leadership.  One speaker spoke about “change” and how very possible change can be.  I found myself applying his ideas for change to many areas of my life including my spiritual life, my family and home life and of course in my Chiropractic practice click here . 

The speaker pointed out what normal life looked like for our Grandparents and for some of us, our Great Grandparents.  Take a look at “normal” in 1908 (the turn of the century):

*  The population of America was 87 million.

*  There were 200,000 cars (no air conditioning, seat warmers, GPS system).  Henry Ford introduced his Model T (cost was $850 brand new).

*  Of the 2 million miles of rural public roads, fewer than 160,000 miles were “surfaced” — with either gravel, stones or crude paving materials.

*  The Wright Brothers were still taking “trial” flights (traveling at an altitude of 200–400 feet at 40 mph).

*  Indoor plumbing was still a “pipe dream” for most people.

*  7% of Americans had electricity in their homes.

*  No TV yet ~ what did they do?

*  Major use of radio was on ships for navigation using Morse Code.

*  Average work week was 60 hours.

*  Divorce rate was 10%.

*  Life expectancy for a white man was 49 years, 35 years for a black man.

*  Top causes for death were pneumonia and tuberculosis.

*  And what about telephones?  Multiple party lines — no mobile phones.

Check in tomorrow for a comparative look at how far we’ve come in a short 100 years!

Blessings in Progress,

Michelle

Two weeks ago Rob was not scheduled to preach so we took the opportunity to travel to Atlanta.  If you’ve been keeping up with his blog click here , then you know that we had a ball at the Georgia Aquarium celebrating Nathan’s birthday.  We also spent Sunday visiting NorthPoint Church click here .

It was an amazing visit.  As we met with their staff and talked with volunteers, we saw that their hearts were sold out to Jesus and being involved in His Kingdom work.  They were completely united and commited to serving Christ by following their pastor and his vision for their church.  And they worked with such excellence, my socks were bown off! 

 Seriously! 

It was obvious they took Colossians 3 to heart:  Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.  (Message)

It was inspiring and motivating for me and Rob was encouraged as well. 

We were told several times that God is ready to do even bigger things through Southbrook as we follow Pastor Rob and the vision God has given him. 

With our construction moving right along and the changes this will bring, I can hardly wait to see all that God has in store for Southbrook.

Get ready to have your socks blown off!

Blessings,

Michelle

My kids are growing up way too fast.  Last week, Rob confessed to Juliana that we actually help the Tooth Fairy out.  She can get just about anything out of him.  Juliana has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. 

This confession upset me.  Not so much that Rob spilled the beans, but that another magical childhood chapter in Juliana’s life was coming to a close.  Each stage of my children’s lives seems to get even better than the one before ~ just how is that possible? 

I don’t know, but they do.  So why am I always a bit sad when they move on?

This confession brought tears to my eyes and I could barely get the words out as I prayed for them before school in the parking lot.  Go ahead.  Call me a wimp if you will!  Sign me up for counseling!

I admit it.  Looking back, it must have been quite a sight.  But Nathan and Juliana were sensitive to their mother falling apart over the fairy.  “Now the Tooth Fairy won’t come if you don’t believe,” I sobbed.  

Nathan put his arms around me and gave me a big hug.  Juliana tenderly looked me in the eyes, “I still believe in you, Mom.  You can still come.”  

That was all I needed.  Nathan’s hug and Juliana’s sweet words.

My prayer for all you readers is that God will bless you with someone who believes in you.  And even if no one will, that God will show you a person who needs to know you believe in them!

Blessings,

Michelle

P.S.  The Tooth Fairy will still come to the Singleton house.  By the way, what is the going rate for a cavity free tooth?

Juliana, our 9 year old, is a very loving little girl.  She tells me how much she loves me countless times each day ~ I could never doubt her love. 

Juliana announced yesterday that she wanted to live with me forever!  Of course I told her that would be absolutely wonderful but …… I added that in my heart, I know she will someday grow up, marry and then have grandchildren for me to spoil.  She liked that idea!

I suggested that I could buy her the adjacent vacant lot so she and her family could build a house and then we’d be next door neighbors.  We both loved that one.

Nathan, who just turned 11 last week, was quietly listening to our conversation.  “Mom, don’t buy me a lot.” 

I was taken back, “Why not Nathan?”

“I don’t know where God is going to send me.  I’d hate for you to waste your money!”

Nathan has a heart to serve Jesus.  He always has.  And I pray he always will.  I would love to pray that Nathan would build a house next door.  In fact, I think I have prayed that.  There could be no better neighbors than my children.

But a better prayer for Nathan (Juliana too) will be that he continue to seek after God, always listening for God’s direction, and responding to His call ~ wherever God’s call may lead.  And my job as a mother is to encourage Nathan to not only listen to God’s voice, but also to respond to His call obediently.

Nathan will do just fine.  He will go where God leads.  It is me that I worry about.  I will need a lot of prayers if God calls him to a faraway land! 

Why not encourage your children to listen to God’s voice?  And your spouse too?  And how about your Southbrook friends?  We all need reminders now and then.  Imagine the mighty things God will continue to do with a church who cries out, “Send me!”

Blessings in the Journey,

Michelle 

Often I am reminded how precious is the time we spend with our kids, especially the time we spend talking, listening and just “hanging out.”

Yesterday I was driving with Nathan and Juliana on a long day of errands that took us from Monroe to Waxhaw to Charlotte to Matthews to Indian Trail then finally back home to Monroe.  It tires me out just typing every town we stopped in.

I was determined to make our journey a worthy mother/kids bonding time.  It helped that we stopped for lunch at Chik-Fil-A.  Have you ever had their hand spun milk shakes?  Yummy!

We got to talking about our family and funny things we’ve done and said.  Each of us took turns sharing our favorite funny family memories.  There was no one thing in particular that stood out, but each memory shared seemed to get funnier than the last.  We were cracking up and I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard!

As we pulled into our neighborhood Nathan said,  “Mom, some of our best times are driving in the car!”

That showed me that quality family time can happen anywhere!

May God bless you today with precious family time!

Michelle

This is a followup to yesterday’s post and I’ve taken the information from a devotional I read by David Jeremiah.

Ryan Clark Crocker is the United States’ ambassador to Iraq, nominated to that position in January 2007.  In 2004, President Bush conferred on Crocker the title of Career Ambassador which I’ve learned is the highest rank given to any member of the American Foreign Service.  As ambassador, Crocker has plenipotentiary (full power) authority to represent the United States.

How hard it would be for foreign nations to communicate with our government if we did not have ambassadors in their land.  Our president would spend all his time traveling.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, the apostle Paul says we are “ambassadors for Christ,” speaking and acting for Him to those who do not know Him.  He does not appear to those who need Him — instead, He sends us.  We are His head (His mind), His hands (His works), and His heart (His love) to those who need Him.

The question is:  Have we accepted our role (or duty) as ambassadors of Christ?

I believe this is what Martin Luther meant when he said, “It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.”

Where did you go today?  Better, where were you sent by the King as His ambassador?  How did you represent Him?  What impression of His head, hands and heart did you leave?

This sure does give me a lot to think about.

Blessings in the Line of Duty,

Michelle

This is one of my favorite quotes.  It dates back to the early 1500s and it is still relevant today:

It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.  Martin Luther

Duty is a word we don’t often use or hear much these days. Wester defines duty as obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one’s position (as in life or in a group). 

Because of our position (being children of  God), God has given us (His followers aka His children) duties or responsibilities.  But we are living in a time where many people don’t want to accept responsibilities from anyone, including God, that don’t directly benefit them.  We’ve become a generation that demands our own rights prefering that others serve us rather than giving up our rights and serving others. 

Perhaps that is why “duty” is not a commonly used word.  We don’t like it.  And we don’t naturally like the idea of  putting ourselves last.

So just what did Martin Luther mean that we  are to “be Christ” to our neighbors?

I’ll share more thoughts on this tomorrow.

Blessings,

Michelle