Well, that’s not really a T4G event proper, but it was organized in coordination with T4G.  Mrs. Mary Mohler led a panel of pastors’ wives in a discussion with wives at Southern Seminary.  My darling wife had opportunity to contribute to the conversation along with Jani Ortlund, Lauren Chandler, and two “p.k’s,” Katie Mohler and Ashley Smith.  Obviously, I wasn’t invited to attend.  I’m not bitter, really.  But I did hear it was a great discussion.  You can listen in to both part 1 and part 2.  I pray it blesses.

I know that blogs can be too voyeuristic and can put personal lives on exhibit too often.  But I receive great encouragement from my wife’s prayers.  She writes to me most days to let me know that she is praying for me.  It’s always an encouragement to receive her notes.  She’s my beloved, and her prayers remind me that I am hers.  I especially appreciate the prayers she sends me when she prays for my preaching.  The Lord has a way of making them to be just the right encouragement.  For example, I found great help this morning in this prayer she sent to me:

I’m praying for your sermon preparation and hope you have a fruitful time in the Word and prayer.

I was just looking for a verse to encourage you as you prepare to preach, and found it interesting to look at how “preach” is used in the old and new testaments. In the OT, most often preaching is against a city or rebellion of some sort. In the NT, preaching is often mentioned in the context of preaching the good news, preaching throughout the whole world, preaching to the poor, preaching the kingdom of God, preaching repentance, preaching the gospel, preaching in particular places, preaching Christ (and His unsearchable riches), and preaching to particular people.

So…I pray that you would preach in all these ways, against sin and rebellion toward God, and that you would preach the unsearchable riches of Christ in the gospel, which is good news for all who believe in Him, and which has power to save all those throughout the whole world who repent of their sin and trust in Him. I pray that you would do this boldly and fearlessly, as you should and as the Spirit enables.

Loving you!

Shorty

That’s my “Shorty”!  I am grateful to God that she is my wife.  I have no doubt that whatever power exists in my preaching ministry comes from God’s faithful answers to such prayers.  My wife has been a faithful partner in the gospel from the first day until now, and I love her for it.  I see you in my eyes, Babe.

How does your wife encourage you in life and ministry?

Challies quotes from a section of Iain Murray’s forthcoming biography of John MacArthur. I couldn’t agree with these words more, and I can’t praise my wife enough for embodying every virtue mentioned!  That’s why I put her picture next to this quote!

Murray writes:

If whom we marry is the next most important thing to conversion itself, it is doubly so for every pastor. John Watson, advising students for the ministry at this point, warned that of all men “they ought to be most careful in the choice of a wife, for she may be either a help or a hindrance not merely to his comfort but to his work.” A good wife, he continued,

advises her husband on every important matter, and often restrains him from hasty speech … receives him weary, discouraged, irritable, and sends him out again strong, hopeful, sweet-tempered. The woman is in the shadow and the man stands in the open, and it is not until the woman dies and the man is left alone that the people or he himself knows what she has been.

MacArthur would have no doubt about the truthfulness of Watson’s words. He would go further and say with Spurgeon,

A true wife is the husband’s better half, his flower of beauty, and his heart’s treasure. In her company he finds his earthly heaven; she is the light of his home, the comfort of his soul.

Amen!  Thank you, love.  I’m grateful to God for you.

9Marks eJournal

The new 9Marks ejournal is just out.  This issue focuses on the important topic of pastoring women.  Ladies, be sure to forward the link to your pastors along with a note of appreciation, encouragement, or prayer for the Lord’s use of them to care for you and other ladies. Here are the contents:

Our man in Philly strikes back. Lance has given us another reason for Reformed African Americans to grow in media savvy and to write–The Baal Network. I’m loving that new name! (HT: Carter).

Colin calls on Spurgeon who reminds us to preach the gospel more than ever! After hearing of the atrocities at The Baal Network, this quote from Spurgeon is encouragement indeed.

My brother, Juan Sanchez, Teaching Pastor at High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, TX, forwarded links to a collection of talks from the Sovereign Grace leadership conference. Excellent stuff for pastors and their wives.

General-session titles and speakers
The Holiness of God (R.C. Sproul)
The Holiness of Christ (R.C. Sproul)
In the Last Analysis: Look Out for Introspection (David Powlison)
Trinitarian Pastoral Ministry (C.J. Mahaney)

Men’s seminar titles and speakers
Watch Your Planning: The Strategic Role of Personal Retreats (Mike Bullmore)
Watch Your Preaching: Effective Sermon Preparation (Mike Bullmore)
Watch the Spirit Work: Serving Cessationists in Their Pursuit of the Spirit (Craig Cabaniss)
Watch Your Church Calendar: The Importance of Administration in the Local Church (Brent Detwiler)
Watch the Past: Living Lessons from Dead Theologians (Mark Dever)
Watch Your Preaching: The Priority of Proclamation in the Local Church (Mark Dever)
Watch Your Devotional Life: The Pastor’s Communion with God (Rick Gamache)
Watch Your Mission: To Be, or Not to Be, ‘Missional’ (Dave Harvey)
Watch Your Sunday Meeting: Planning the Most Important Moment of the Week (Joshua Harris and Bob Kauflin)
Watch Your Leisure: Learning to Rest with a Full Inbox (John Loftness)
Watch Your Bible Reading: Making Personal Application (David Powlison)
Watch the Sacraments: Recapturing Vital Elements in the Life of the Church (Jeff Purswell)
Watch Your Reading: Developing Breadth and Depth in the Pastor’s Life and Ministry (Phil Sasser)
Watch Your Marriage: Loving and Leading Our Wives (Steve Shank)

Ladies’ seminar titles and speakers
Watch Your Man (Carolyn Mahaney)
Watch Your Priorities (Panel)