A Sign By Shanna Dietz

Zach and I both knew God was calling Zach to lead worship for a church almost a year before he got his first full-time job as a worship pastor. Zach posted his resume online on a few websites and had opportunities come up. He had been going through the process of exchanging emails and phone calls with several churches. The process would get more serious when he would go to visit the church and lead worship.

The idea of packing up our family and moving kind of freaked me out, so a whole lot of prayer went into every contact he made. Because I was anxious about all of it, I had prayed so much for direction and wisdom from God for us. One day during my quiet time I read Isaiah 7:10-11 and felt like God was speaking to me directly. It says:  "Not too long after this, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: "Ask me for a sign, Ahaz, to prove that I will crush your enemies as I have promised. Ask for anything you like, and make it as difficult as you want."

I heard God tell me that Zach and I could ask for confirmations from Him for our decisions. This idea also lined up with a concept that Becky and Andy (Zach's parents) have used. When they make big decisions, they ask God for 3 different confirmations to know they're doing the right thing.

I got really excited about it and talked to Zach about what I had heard. Because he'd already talked to a handful of churches and had even gone to lead worship at several, we had an idea of what we did or didn't like in those experiences. We both prayed about what to ask God for and we had 5 specific things we asked God to show us when we found the church He was calling us to.

Well, after about 9 months into the job hunt we had 2 very promising opportunities. Zach had already led worship for one of the churches when we went to interview in Dalhart. We had supper with the pastor and his wife and did an official interview at the church office after that. When we drove to our hotel that night, Zach looked at me and said, "I think this is it." It threw me for a loop but when he pointed out that God had confirmed all 5 of our things it all made sense. We prayed a lot on that Saturday night and Zach led worship the next morning. He had to be at the church early for practice so I hung out at the hotel a little longer that morning. I had a pretty emotional quiet time. I cried out to God about how I would miss my friends so much but that I trusted Him. I asked boldly  for one more confirmation. I asked if this was the place for us for Him to show me a girl who could be my friend. I know that sounds so silly, but it's what I needed.

The worship service went great that day and afterward, while Zach was packing up his guitar, the sanctuary cleared out and I began to think I wouldn't have a friend shown to me. Before we turned to go, a cute, young mom came and said, "Hi! I'm Mandi and just wanted to come meet you!" I almost cried. We talked for a few minutes and then said goodbye. Zach and I walked to the car alone and I told him we needed to look for a place to live. God had almost written it in the sky for us. He told me I could ask Him for a sign--as hard of a sign as I wanted. I did and He was faithful to speak to us.

We moved to Dalhart about a month later and were completely confident it was where God was calling us. It was still sad to leave everything we had known but easier having heard from God so specifically. In fact, when I would tell people our story I talked about how much favor I felt that God would speak to us in such a way. He is so kind to meet us where we are with what we need.  We served at that church for a little over and year and a half and loved our time at Newlife. Mandi and I became very close and she is still one of my dearest friends. I believe God handpicked her to be my friend and several other girls in Dalhart and I'm so thankful for the time we spent there.

Shanna, Gus, Zach, & Dax

Shanna has the joy of staying home full time with her two young boys. Her husband is the worship pastor at Evergreen Church in Tulsa, OK. She loves chocolate, coffee and connecting with other women. Her days are usually spent playing cars, singing silly songs, and baking sweets.

Freedom from Addiction; the Life of a Pastor's Wife...by Kim Dietz

Kim Dietz, a pastor's wife in Katy, TX, shared this video on Facebook about her release from an addiction and I asked her if I could share it here.  I think it will bless you...and may even help you.  

The Dietz family is Jeff and Kim and Max (11), Joshua (10) and Tate (8). Above all, we are lovers of Jesus. We moved to Katy, TX in 2013 to start a church in a part of town that was being quickly forgotten. Grace Fellowship North/Norte is an English and Spanish church where God is bringing the nations to hear the beautiful news of Jesus. We have 40 nations represented in our 2 yr old church, which was our dream when we came, but a dream only God could fulfill. He's continuing to pour out His presence in our lives and ministry and we are loving watching Him do things in our day that we wouldn't have believed even if we had been told about them.

The Gift of Laughter by Becky Dietz

My Grandsons, Gus & Dax

Do you know what I've realized lately?  I've begun laughing again.  I honestly didn't realize I'd stopped.  And I'm actually quite famous for my laugh.  It's loud.  And can be very obnoxious.  Of course, I hadn't stopped laughing altogether.  I could be around these two little guys or any of my other eight grandchildren and laugh hysterically over the cute things they do.  But the joy had been stolen from my heart.  Thankfully...it's back!

I think it's easy to lose your laughter as you lead a church.  There are stresses in the church which don't exist in other work places.  Satan has an agenda to destroy the church and its leaders.  And if our husbands are being attacked, we take it personally and our joy can be stolen.  Or we can become the enemy...

About the middle of last year, I realized I'd become negative towards my husband.  I was nitpicking and fearing man. (Specifically, other people's response towards my husband--so I was trying to "fix" him.)  After confessing to my prayer partners what I was doing, they made some very practical suggestions--but basically gave me a swift kick in the rear and told me to quit!  I knew from experience that I couldn't just quit...I had to replace it with something.  And that something was to remember everything I loved about my husband, to praise him, and to laugh with him.  

And the joy came back.  And with the joy came the laughter.

"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."  Proverbs 17:22

Bearing Burdens by Becky Dietz

 "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2

Although my husband has been on church staff for the past 35 years, I've just finished my first year of being a senior pastor's wife.  Although we love where we are and love the people, it's been a tough year!  (I talked about our new church here.)

When we'd been here about a month, we had an older man in our church involved in a serious auto accident.  He ended up in the hospital in a halo for about 6 months.  Then he moved from rehab to rehab to hospital to nursing home to hospice for the next 6 months.  Two months after this gentleman's accident, we found out a prominent man in our church had lung cancer.  He began an intense chemo treatment.  A month later, I found out my brother had cancer and was dying.  A month after that, the lady with the sunniest disposition in our church found out she had two blood disorders (which later turned into leukemia) and within two months was going to the hospital and cancer center every single day for months.  I volunteered to organize her rides and filled in as often as I could as driver.  My sister was involved in a car accident in July and had her neck Xrayed because it was hurt and they found an abnormal thyroid.  Within a month, she knew she had thyroid cancer.  Those were just the serious things which happened.  My kids were also in a car accident, a grandson was diagnosed with a staph infection, another grandson had a mysterious limp and ended up in the ER.  My sister-in-law was diagnosed with macular degeneration and I began taking her to her doctor's appointments every other week.  Honestly, I can't even remember everything that happened this past year. I just know it was an intense year...a burden-bearing year.

The gentleman in the car accident died.  Andy & I had gone to visit him once a week and I'd fallen in love with him.  I was broken over his failing health and then his death.  The  lady with the sunny disposition died.  I'd spent hours and hours with her.  I'd even spent a week visiting her at the hospital in Dallas.  We were so bonded, she asked me to tell her story after her death.  And my brother died.  My older brother whom I adored...and couldn't help.  I was devastated.  And in the process of my brother dying and my sister having surgery, my mom was an emotional wreck, so I was trying to be there for her.

Everything came to a grinding halt this past week.  I was exhausted.  I'd carried all I could carry.  I just had to stop.  I mean...I literally could not go on physically, emotionally or spiritually.  It usually takes something drastic for me to stop and realize what's wrong.  And I realized I'd carried some burdens I wasn't meant to carry.  We've been commissioned to carry one another's burdens but there's a fine line between that and having a false sense of responsibility.  Sometimes it's so hard to differentiate between the two.  Yes, we're to carry burdens but we're not to be the savior.  There's only one of those...and it ain't us!  I also realized it had been a long time since I'd taken my heavy burdens and laid them at Jesus' feet--and exchanged my heavy burden for his light burden.

 If you're carrying some heavy burdens (and who isn't?), I encourage you to stop and examine what you're doing.  Is it a burden God has called you to?  Or are you carrying a false sense of responsibility?  Or do you have a savior complex?    

I found that when my brother was dying and I longed for a burden-bearer, I just wanted someone to talk to, someone to send me a text of encouragement, someone to call and pray with me, someone to send me a note.  I didn't need someone with me 24-hours a day...I just needed to know someone cared and wanted to help me through such a tough time.  That's what most people want in a burden-bearer...someone who just keeps up with you, who's concerned, who will pray and encourage.

2014 was a tough year.  But 2015 has gotten off to a good start.  God stopped me and pulled me aside and spoke to my heart.  I had to give up some false responsibility.  I had to confess I had tried to be a savior.  And I'm still committed to being a burden-bearer and caring and just doing some simple things to encourage those walking through hard things.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:28-29

Saying Those Things by Becky Dietz

Have you ever had words of praise for your husband come to your mind...and yet, you didn't speak them?  I believe God is constantly putting words of encouragement in our minds.  We may even think on them a bit.  But what holds us back from actually saying them?

We may think that it will give him the big head.  I had a mentor tell me one time that most pastors have a pretty big ego.  I contend they mostly try to appear confident...to be a leader.  I think most are really little boys on the inside needing lots of encouragement.  They fear failure.  And they really need our love, respect, and encouragement.

I challenge you to begin noticing when those thoughts come into your mind and then begin putting those thoughts into words.  I believe it's the work of the Holy Spirit.  His intent is for you to build up your husband.  We may think we're doing well just thinking nice things about our pastor-husbands.  But they need encouragement.  And the best person to build them up is you.  Let those encouraging words loose--and watch the building-up begin!!

The spirit of antichrist

"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour."  I John 2:18

I've been reading a really good book this week, "When Heaven Invades Earth" by Bill Johnson.  In chapter 7, he talks about "The Anointing and the Antichrist Spirit."  In it, he explains that the word "anointing" means "to smear."  The Holy Spirit is the oil of God that was smeared all over Jesus at his water baptism.  He was anointed for the ministry which began at that point.

 Why is the AntiChrist called Anti-Christ and not Anti-Jesus?  Jesus has been proven to be an historical figure...even if some religions don't accept him as the son of the one True God.   But...the spirit is called Anti-Christ.  Why?  Because "Christ" means "The Anointed One."  The antichrist spirit is against the anointing because without the anointing, mankind is no threat to their dominion.

I've been thinking on this.  And then I had a conversation with a pastor's wife last night about it.  I wondered how many of us, as pastor's wives, are working in partnership with the antichrist spirit?  If our husbands are anointed and we think, speak or act against what our husbands are doing...we are partnering with the antichrist spirit.  That is frightening to think about!

You may have seen her.  After her husband has preached numerous sermons on being kind, not gossiping, and not causing offenses...she gossips about someone in the church.  That pastor's wife is working in opposition to what her husband is trying to accomplish.  Or the pastor has reiterated over and over the mission of your church--to love God and love others.  And yet his wife never steps out of her comfort zone to actively love anyone.  Or your pastor may not be the most learned man, but he is anointed and knows how to lead and love others.  But because his wife knows more scripture, she's constantly finding fault with him.  These women have joined ranks with the spirit of antichrist to actively destroy the anointing under which their husbands minister.

I've done it myself.  May we be pastor's wives who recognize the anointing of our husbands, pray for them passionately, and partner with our God who has called, qualified, and anointed these special men!

New Beginnings by Becky Dietz

New beginnings.  Don't we all love them?  It's a fresh start.  A do-over.  Another chance.  It's the promise that things can be different.

But a new beginning also suggests you know how to break out of the old patterns.  And some people lose their way.  For instance, one of my son's friends came to Andy & I with deep grief.  He'd lost his way.  He had entered a profession that was fast-paced and came with lots of temptations.  And he'd succumbed to those temptations.  He'd become a prodigal and he didn't know how to find his way back home.  I think it was the first time I realized how badly the enemy deceives us when we lose our way.  We sat with him, cried with him, put our arms around him and showed him all it takes is asking God to forgive us to find our way home.  He confessed his sin to God, asked for forgiveness and a ton of weight fell off of our friend that day!  He was safely back in the Father's arms.  Of course, then he had to learn how to forgive himself and close the doors to those temptations---and run towards God!!

A new beginning can be just for you.  You may have lost your way.  Or you may have been wounded by those around you.  Both situations require forgiveness.  Asking God to forgive you...and forgiving others.  I long for that weight to fall off of your shoulders today.  It may not be easy...but it's simple.  Ask God to forgive you for anything standing between you and Him--anything hindering your relationship.  And then choose to forgive others.  They may have wounded you deeply, accused you, or tried to ruin your reputation publicly.  To carry unforgiveness not only hinders your relationship with that person, but it will affect your relationship with God.  And not only will it affect those relationships, it will affect you mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically.  I'm convinced it becomes a cancer that eats at us.

A new beginning can be for your church.  As the leaders of your church, you can encourage and help your members to start over by seeking forgiveness from God and one another. Of course, we know the Spirit of God will have to be involved for the whole church to be affected.  It's easy when we can choose for ourselves our own outcome.  But we can't force it on others.  I'm convinced that when we become honest, open, transparent and lead by example...it can affect an entire church.  And we should pray that way!  We need to be asking God to redeem us, restore us, to give us a new beginning. It may not happen all at once.  But slowly...step by step...restoration can take place.  And it's a beautiful thing to see!

Let's pray for new beginnings...for ourselves and our churches.  I know nothing would bless the heart of God more than to see His children walking together with Him in unity.

May your year be blessed with New Beginnings!