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

Hi Readers! 

I am enjoying Christmas break with my family… see you next year!

I met an interesting woman at the gym.  She had only recently moved to America from Liberia.  Somehow we got to talking and she boldly told me she was a Christian and was very disillusioned by American medicine. 

Shortly after moving to the states this woman developed some digestive issues, tension in her neck and headaches.  She went to a doctor who told diagnosed her condition as depression and prescribed some anti-depressant meds.  The medication made her sick so she returned to the doctor who prescribed more medication.  Her condition only worsened.

The Liberian began reading her Bible.  God revealed to her that she had “an issue with forgiveness.”  She went on to tell me that there were people in her life who had mistreated her and she realized that she needed to forgive them.  The Holy Spirit has a funny way of convicting us of our sins when we listen… at least I can say I have experienced this very conviction myself… when I’ve listened.

The Liberia called the American drugs the Devil’s Agent.  She said the doctor’s drugs attempted to distract her from hearing God’s solution to her problems.

Now, I don’t think all drugs are the “Devil’s Agents,” but the Liberian’s words caused me to think about my own distractions which keep me from hearing God’s words of counsel and guidance. 

Are there “devil’s agents” interupting God’s best for your life?  Why not grab a Bible and learn God’s solutions for your problems?  You’ll be blessed from reading His Word and from responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  And you’ll be off to a great start to the New Year!

Thank you Southbrook, for your many cards, gifts and Christmas wishes!  We are overwhelmed by your love and kindness to our family.  And we are truly blessed to be serving at Southbrook Church.  I don’t think it is possible to be at a church where there is more love… Love for Jesus and for people.  You all are amazing! 

May God return many blessing to you as you celebrate the Jesus’ birthday!

For my blog readers who do ot attend Southbrook, we’d love for you to join us.  Come celebrate Christmas with me and my family and a lot of other really nice people at Southbrook (www.southbrookchurch.com)  on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas!

Love, 

The Singletons ~ Pastor Rob, Michelle, Nathan & Juliana

That’s me… the Biggest Loser… at least on family game night.  Nathan, Juliana and I chose 3 games:  Jenga, Chinese Checkers and Zitternix.  And yes, I came in dead last in all of them.  One of the kids asked, “Mom, why do you like to play so much when you always lose?” 

It really is a valid question.  I am very competitive by nature.  But not with my kids.  I would choose to lose every game for the sake of family fun and “togetherness.”  And when I have a game night with the kids, I actually win.  Really, what better prize could I get than a night at home with my kids?  Just in case you didn’t catch the answer, there is no better win for me!

I love for cold winter nights, fireside family games and yes, hot chocolate ~ especially during the holidays!  May God bless you with some family “wins” this Christmas season!

This wonderful Christmas season is probably the toughest time of the year for pastors and their families.  A lot goes down during the holidays: parties, baking, caroling, shopping, gift giving, Christmas light shows, visiting family and friends, special church activities, children’s pageants, all sorts of festive celebrations not to mention keeping up with daily life. 

The flip side of all the “good stuff” is the reality check of real life: financial stress, pressure to have the “perfect” family (which doesn’t exist) and pressure to buy the perfect gift with money that isn’t in the bank account, too much to do and not enough hours in the day, poor health, addiction, depression which shoots up higher than average in December, “perfect” expectations let us down, family disappoints, friends are not always available… but perhaps the hardest is dealing with all of that and receiving a life threatening diagnosis or even losing a family member or close friend during the holidays.  Pastors deal with the good stuff and the real life stuff.  (Read from Southbrook’s Monroe Campus Pastor Geoffrey’s December 18th blog click here.)

Life is tough ~ really tough ~ for everyone.  There has to be more to this life.  The only thing that does make sense is the eternal hope that Jesus Christ brings.  This is the reason for the season.  The hope Jesus offers is for you and for me.  It is a free gift God has given us and He made it so simple to receive.  John 3:16 tells us, 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Believing in Jesus, the baby in the manger, who later died on the cross so that we may be forgiven from our sins is what Christmas is all about.  Accepting God’s free gift of salvation, hope and eternal life is the best Christmas gift we’ll ever receive.

Take time today to thank God for sending Jesus ~ the perfect gift of all!

Now that my kids are in Middle School, I will occassionally leave them home while I run a quick errand.  For my oldest son Nathan, it is a welcomed opportunity to demonstrate his responsibility and independence.  But Juliana usually opts to come with me.  However, last night Juliana made the decision to stay home with her big brother. 

I gave the kids all the standard instructions:  keep the door locked, answer my phone calls and no one elses, no cooking… and be nice to each other.  Call me, the neighbor, or 911 if you have any trouble.  I’m just a minute away.

I had been gone for about 5 minutes when my cell phone rang.  It was Juliana.  “Mom, just in case anything happens — and I’m not expecting anything to happen but just in case — I want you to know that I love you with my whole heart.  You are the best Mom ever!”

Of course, my eyes welled up with tears.  This was not something I had never heard before.  Juliana tells me that she loves me everyday.  In our home, we all tell each other how we love each person every single day. 

It just makes sense.  It also makes a family strong and a home a safe and secure refuge.  Funny how kids get this.

Is there someone you need to tell that you love them?

I dropped the kids off at school and headed to Firestone to check out a recurrent flat tire.  After careful inspection, the verdict was I needed 4 new tires.  Bill, the service manager, said I was driving on dry-rot!  That didn’t sound too good or even safe, so I signed up for the “deluxe tire package.”

I hadn’t planned to get new tires today, but Bill promised he’d have my car ready to roll in one hour flat.  And that included the alignment, an oil change and whatever else they found my car was in need of.  I headed across the street to do a little Christmas shopping and pass the time. 

I pushed my shopping cart to the cash register to pay, but I couldn’t find my cash.  I searched my wallet and purse again.  No luck!  I had just gone to the bank and took out a wad of money.  It was in a bank envelope and included my employees’ Christmas bonus money so there was well over $2000.00 in big bills missing.  I know.  I know.  Not real smart to carry that much cash around. 

I frantically went through my purse yet again.  Nothing. 

My car was ready so I paid by credit card and drove away.  My head was still spinning over the loss of the money.  Ugh! 

As I came to a redlight, I glanced over at the passenger seat.  There it was in plain sight ~ the bank envelope.  I shuttered at the thought of what I would find (or not find) in the envelope.  All the cash was there… not one penny missing.  I was estatic!

Immediately I drove back to Firestone and thanked Bill for his terrific service and honest employees.  I even called corporate headquarters and notified them of this great event! 

It thrills me to know God places honest people in our everyday path.  May you run into them today as well! 

The annual Southbrook Staff Christmas Party is an event I look forward to each year.  Get a room full of dynamic Christian leaders and anything goes… expect the unexpected… guarenteed tremendous fun! 

This year’s #1 gift was an exclusive copy of the magazine cover  “Stud Muffin” and our very own Cover Boy.  Take a look:

Total devotion?

Eggstractor… For Real!

Josh’s Christmas Look

Our own Snuggie Angel

Ahhhh!

Deliverance….

Lover’s delight…

The dark side…

Fashion Divas… JT is that you?

Fireside

Should have been in sales…

Party Hearty

Merry Christmas!

I found myself eavesdropping.  I couldn’t help it.  I was sitting in the hair salon waiting for my appointment.  Two moms were talking about their Christmas preparation.  One mom said, “I don’t have to worry over all that Santa stuff.  I told my son when he turned three that there is no Santa.”  The other mom said, “Really, that seems so young to take away his fantasy and fun.”  Mrs. Ain’t-No-Santa replied, “I didn’t want to lie to him.  Besides, if I am buying the gifts, I want all the credit.”

Interesting!  I am a mom who has always loved the whole Santa Scene.  In fact, I still encourage my kids (they’re in Middle School) to never stop believing and they know that as long as they do believe (or at least play along), Santa will come!  I still believe… and every year I hang my stocking… on Christmas morning, my stocking is full… without fail.  I’d be crazy not to believe! 

One of my favorite times of the year is filming the kids at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning.  And then the squeals of delight as they run down the stairs to get to the Christmas tree to see what Santa has left for them.  Where can you match that level of excitement and fun?

Back to Mrs. Ain’t-No-Santa.  I think she may be robbing herself of some Christmas joy.  Besides that, the Bible tells us that “a gift given in secret soothes anger…” Proverbs 21:14 (NIV).  The power to soothe anger is certainly one worth developing.  And what better time of the year than at Christmas when we are celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace!

So you better watch out… Santa Claus is still coming to town ~ at least to the Singleton house!

PJ Pick-Up is fun any time of the year but especially during December.  

Here is how it works:

Have your kids put their PJs on… Make hot chocolate… Call their friends… Ask them to put their PJs on… Pile in the car (remember you’ve already “Decked the Car”)… Crank the Christmas tunes… Pick up their friends… Drive around looking at Christmas Lights and Sipping Hot Cocoa… Vote for the Best Light Show… Return the Friends home… So much FUN!

Take a Look: