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

Peace begins with a smile.  MOTHER TERESA

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.  MOTHER TERESA

One of my favorite Bible teachers is Kay Arthur.  She encouraged me really “dig deep” in God’s Word and to apply what I learned to my daily life.

Like many of us, Kay is troubled and distressed over the sin that is prevalent in our nation as our country collectively is unfaithful to God.  Kay is urging a grass-roots movement of prayer each Thursday at noon for America at the Crossroads; that He would bring another great awakening to salvation and righteousness as He did in the 1857 Fulton Street Revival in NYC.  That movement spread across our country bringing 500,000 to 1 million to faith in Jesus Christ.

She asks, “Does sin’s ruin, destruction and death agitate you and bring you to tears?  If so, your heart has touched the heart of God, and the two beat in unison.”

The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) … if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

I do love our country but like Kay, I am concerned over our nation’s disobedience and rebellion towards God.  I wonder what the impact will be on our future and our children.  How far will we go before we bottom out due to the consequences and destruction of sin?

I am joining Kay in her prayers for our nation.  And I am voting for the people who will represent what is honoring to God.  Will you join me?  For our children and their future?

Believing in His Forgiveness and Healing,

Michelle

Rob has always wanted a big, male chocolate lab.  I’ve been talking to Santa.  Santa agrees Rob has been really good this year. 

Take a look:

I am so excited I can hardly stand it!  I love to surprise Rob…sssshhhh!  Just hope I don’t slip before Santa comes!

I’ve been studying what some Bible teachers have taught on holiness.  Here are some quotes that have challenged me:

It is time for us Christians, to face up to our responsibility for holiness. Too often we say we are “defeated” by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated; we are simply disobedient. It might be well if we stopped using the terms victory and defeat to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms obedience and disobedience.  Jerry Bridges

The holy man is the most humble man you can meet.  Oswald Chambers 

The serene, silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the might of the Spirit of God.    Blaise Pascal

The old word for holy in the German language, heilig, also means healthy. And so heilbronn means holy-well, or healthy-well. You could not get any better definition of what holy really is than healthy—completely healthy. 

Thomas Carlyle

What health is to the heart, that holiness is to the soul.   John Flavel

Well, now you see what I’ve been thinking about over the past few days.  Here is one of my favorite “scriptural formulas” for holy living.  I first heard of this in college and while I haven’t mastered the “formula”, it has been of great value to me over the years:

When hesitant over a course of action, ask yourself:

Does this glorify God? (1Co 10:31)

Is this consistent with the lordship of Christ? (1Co 7:23)

Is this consistent with biblical examples? (1Co 11:1)

Is this lawful and beneficial for me—spiritually, mentally, physically? (1Co 6:9, 10, 11, 12)

Does this help others positively and not hurt others unnecessarily? (1Co 10:33; 8:13)

Let Scripture be your compass to guide you in cultivating holiness, in making life’s decisions, and in encountering the high waves of personal affliction.

May God bless you as you pursue holiness.

Michelle

You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies.

CORRIE TEN BOOM

Ashlyn is a friend of mine from the Y.  We’ve been working out together for several years now. 

Two months ago she felt a lump in her lower abdomen.  No real pain, just a lump.  She traveled to the west coast with her husband for a long week-end.  Ashlyn could almost feel the mysterious lump growing. 

Upon returning to Charlotte, she called her doctor who saw Ashlyn right away.  Turns out the lump was cancer ~ stage 3 ovarian cancer.  She had immediate surgery and has now undergone 3 of her 6 chemo treatments.  “I’m getting used to artificial hair!”

As I talked with Ashlyn yesterday, she is incredibly upbeat and positive.  And thankful!  What is she thankful for?  Here are the things she brought up in our very short conversation:  her relationship with the Lord, God’s provision in her life, her husband, her 2 daughters, the independence of her 2 1/2 year old, family, her church family, friends and neighbors, getting lost in her music ~ she plays some serious keyboard for her church, wonderful physicians caring for her, God’s hand moving in her life …

Ashlyn said it was OK with her if I shared what she is going through.  She gave me one stipulation:  Tell Everyone I’m Doing Well.

She wants everyone to know she is doing well.  How is it that she is doing so well?  Ashlyn’s faith is very strong.  She has confidence that God is in control and He is taking care of her and her family.

She is anxious to get back to the Y although her energy level is not quite where she needs it to be.  I miss our early morning workouts.  Right now Ashlyn needs rest.  But I look forward to the day when she is back and we are working out together again.

Until then, she continues to be an inspiration to me to walk by faith and not by sight.  Thank you Ashlyn!

Monday is her next scheduled chemo treatment.  Please pray for Ashlyn’s complete healing. 

Rob and I are so excited!  This is the first year we are both able to join Mr. Mike and Ms. Linda (two of my favorite people in this whole wide world) on Southbrook’s Annual Beach Trip.  Nathan and Juliana are in the 5^th and 4^th grades and qualify for the trip.  In fact, all kids in Grades 2 to 5 can join in on the fun….their parents too!

And there is so much fun to be had:  Polar Bear Club, Junk Food, Silly Smiles, Swimming, Hiking, Laughing, Pizza, Miniature Golf, Go Carts, Donuts, Movies, and more! 

Wanna be an Official Beach Bum?  Come join the Singletons on November 8 & 9 for Southbrook’s Annual Kids Fall Beach Blast!  

Check out the photos and videos online click here .

Call Mr. Mike for details and registration…….. 704.641.3881

See you at the Beach!

I love to have people over for dinner.  I love to host parties.  But I am embarrassed to admit, when us Singletons are getting ready for dinner Guests, our house is not a particularly peaceful place. 

It‘s usually me who disturbs the peace ~ something takes over and I become COMMAND CENTRAL:  “Nathan, pick up your shoes.  And the ball, son, someone’s gonna trip over the ball.  Juliana, your paints and papers are all over the floor.  Rob, can you please take out the trash?” 

And so we scurry and rush around tidying up a week’s worth of misplaced personal stuff and trash.  But when the doorbell rings, dingdong, the Singletons snap smiles on our faces, put our best feet forward, and we are ready to greet our Guests.     

Why? 

Because they are Guests.  Guests are Special.  And you treat Guests well by putting them first – giving them your best.

We’ve talked about this at our church, Southbrook Church (click here).  The Bible has something to say about treating guests too. 

Come, Be our Guest! 

Saturday, a friend gave me a gift.  She was the deliverer of a beautiful silver bracelet with a silver cross charm that a woman made.  This unknown woman asked my friend to give the bracelet to me.  But there is one catch:  The bracelet maker doesn’t want me to know who she is ~ she wants to remain unknown! 

It is her secret… and secrets are fun… I’d love to thank her… but I can’t…

Here is a great verse in the Message:

Proverbs 17:8  Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone;  any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

This beautiful woman has blessed me in a beautiful way.  Everytime I wear my bracelet, I am reminded of this woman’s secret kindness.  I hope to know her secret someday.  In the meantime, she has inspired me to seek out someone and bless them with a secret gift… what fun! 

And if you know the bracelet maker, please thank her for me…