PCA pastor's wife - Southern extrovert - the old ½ of
@thepresbygirls
- homeschool mom of 4 - I own way too many casserole dishes and never enough Crisco
I choked up this morning listening to our people sing.
Went acapella on the last stanza of Holy Holy Holy so that we could hear each other sing, and selfishly as the accompanist, so that I could sing.
Except I couldn't.
It was a joyful roar and I lost it. Heaven on earth.
Never underestimate the significance of corporate worship on your child.
My 6 year old was in tears through much of the whole Maundy Thursday service last night. Our service consisted of scripture reading, prayer, singing selected Psalms and various other crucifixion hymns.
*Watching Christian Twitter argue about Christian Nationalism*
*Sips coffee* *Changes diaper*
I ain't taking none of y'all seriously. If you have this much time for social media, you ain't founding no nation. 🤣😆🤦🏼♀️
Y'all. I woke up this morning defeated and drained. JUST FLAT OUT DONE. Mustered up the energy to throw the kids in the van for church this morning. And back again this evening.
It makes no sense, but I am now rested from a full Lord's day. Sabbath rest is real, and it is sweet.
"Just preach the gospel won't cut it anymore."
If these words ever come out of your mouth, you should be barred from ever entering a pulpit again.
"People want a solution."
Sounds familiar, right?
“Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” - Acts 1:6
Why is it always sandwiches?!? 😂
Do these guys suffer from lunch anxiety? Did no one ever give them pastrami as a child? Was it the American cheese? Did their mothers refuse to whimsically slice them into triangles?
It's good to be a man.
Unless you're in need of a sammich.🤣
Got a first look at this new little stinker this morning - heartbeat was perfect.
Lord willing, baby
#4
will arrive sometime around Aug 19th.
Mama's surviving on ginger ale, naps, and tacos. Seriously. All I want to eat are tacos. 🤣
@MrSeanGMorris
From a mom here:
My kids have 5 children's Bibles. They have Bible coloring pages and Scripture incorporated into evry pt of their schooling. They have SS and Wed pm lessons that teach them about God.
With no images of Christ.
It CAN be done. Don't pragmatize away obedience.
Horrible morning - lots of discipline -kids not obeying or listening - mom frustrated beyond measure - get to catechism in school and ask "How corrupt are you by nature?"
Do you know how satisfying it was to hear them recite: "I am corrupt in every part of my being."
🤣🤣🤣🤦🏼♀️
Overheard my son's SS teacher pray for his heart to be softened, convicted of sin, and led to take prayer seriously since he'd been goofing around during prayer time.
Y'all, I ❤️ that someone else is also praying for his hard heart to be repentant.
THIS is Christian community.
Do not give up.
For all of you who are faithfully and graciously holding to Biblical sexual ethics, you are not monsters, you are truth tellers in a world that loves lies.
Love people who are confused by this culture; love them and do not hate, but give them nothing but truth.
That said, I am deeply disappointed with David French's inclusion on this panel. My problem with French isn't primarily his politics or his more liberal theological views, it's how he has treated the Church and those with whom he has disagreed.
1. "How To Be Supportive of Your Pastor and Church Leaders in a Polarized Political Year" is a decent topic...for any place besides a General Assembly.
Pastors speaking to other pastors about how they need to be supportive of *checks notes* themselves comes across as tone deaf.
2. But sure, if we're going to talk about being supportive of church leadership, let's invite the guy who won his platform by the glorious Sabbatarian activity of posting hit pieces against the Bride of Christ, her ministers and lay people, and even the PCA every Lord's Day.
So. Yeah. About this. A🧵
I normally have enough sense not to wade into stuff like this, but I'm making an exception today against my better judgement.
So, apologies to all you fine people who tend to care what I think - that number may diminish after today. 😂
The
#PCAGA
assembly-wide seminar will take place on June 12 at 8 am. The topic will be “How to Be Supportive of Your Pastor and Church Leaders in a Polarized Political Year.” The panel of speakers will include RE Paul McNulty, TE David Coffin, RE Randy Hicks, and David French.
The church today desperately needs seminary-educated, self-controlled, classically reformed gentlemen to lead local congregations faithfully and quietly, but some appear to have no stomach for such a man, nor the attention span, and gobble up angry drivel from Twitter charlatans.
A short🧵
To y'all who are also struggling through family worship sessions full of distractions and wiggly children: keep doing what you're doing. 🥰
The Kingdom of God is most often advanced by the Christian's faithful plodding in many small things over years and years.
IT'S A BOY!
My older two boys are thrilled. Eleanor will secure her place as Daddy's only little girl.
Everything looks great - praise the Lord for another healthy baby. We really don't deserve His mercies. 💕
Due around Aug 19th or so.
The Christian Super Bowl Ad They SHOULD Have Made
A group known as 'He Gets Us' released an advert during the Super Bowl which, whilst perhaps well intentioned, failed to convey anything of the gospel to the hundreds of millions who saw it.
Here's my take on what they should
This is a lovely combination of ad hominem and tu quoque logical fallacies wrapped squarely in red herrings and dripping with sanctimonious appeals to emotion.
One who critiques you is not necessarily your opponent or an extremist. Your argument may just warrant critique...
The Evangelical far right is so broken. I've seen it excuse an insurrection. I've seen it turn a blind eye to child rape and sexual abuse in Christian institutions. But I write about trying to find a way that a diverse people can live together, and the fury is unleashed.
Gabe (4) soberly: I didn't cry. But I was sad. Is that ok?
----
Needless to say it was an unexpected and deep conversation with 4 and 6 year old boys who had struggled to sit still.
Bring them to church.
Bring them to worship.
Bring them to Jesus.
It seems to be an exercise in justifying our frustration with others who do not respect us in all the ways we'd prefer them to, and considering a self-congratulatory topic rather than a harder one like "Understanding Your Congregation's Choices In a Polarizing Political Year."
This morning our pastor gave thanks for the safe arrival of a new baby boy in our congregation.
Benjamin looked over at me and said, "Aw that's great. Just think, Mom, when he grows up, we'll have another friend!"
Love your church family like Benjamin loves his church family.
I do not believe him to be a fine example of someone who has a track record of good-faith, respectful disagreement. Frankly, I know few men who would be qualified to speak to this topic, but those who can are surely not paid by the NYT to drearily opine about "fundamentalists."
Thoughts on the
@gospelrefnet
conference:
The men in attendance were JOYFUL. I love them dearly.🥰 They are the brothers I never had, dorky dads, masters of puns, complete goofballs who give me hope for the PCA. They love Jesus, the Word, Christ's Bride, and they love to laugh.
Notice this guy doesn't talk about being a woman; he consistently refers to himself as a girl.
What this add says to our girls:
Not only can men be you and be better at being you than you can, but you can be turned into a mere fetish.
Your attributes and worth can be bought.
This is Jared.
Jared doesn't incessantly gripe about his church online.
He seeks to encourage the sheep.
Jared gives us premium content.
Be like Jared.
I love my denomination the PCA. Like any group, we have our outliers and blemishes, but I’ve found much gracious advice, firm correction, and Gospel comfort among fellow PCA ministers.
While many post their complaints online, I thank God for the PCA and her ministers.
#pcaga
Hey y'all - quick prayer request please:
Nearing 34 weeks and just found out baby has flipped around and is now in the breech position. 😑🤦🏼♀️
Gonna try all sorts of methods to flip him around, but I know prayer will be the most effective. Really trying to avoid a C-section.🤪
The "Psalm" my 6yo composed: he had one word suggestion from me; the rest is him.
Kids pay more attention in church than we think they do. Kids pick up on the Biblical language we expose them to.
Don't be shy about big words, big ideas, and big church for little hearts.🥰
Hey y'all - quick prayer request please:
Nearing 34 weeks and just found out baby has flipped around and is now in the breech position. 😑🤦🏼♀️
Gonna try all sorts of methods to flip him around, but I know prayer will be the most effective. Really trying to avoid a C-section.🤪
Women DO have a ministry to the church. It is different from a pastor's ministry or other ordained positions, but do not believe for a second that it is limited.
Girls - you are not less-than because you lack male roles. You are exactly who God designed you to be.
In sum:
I cannot support a theology that limits God's calling for women simply because they are women.
I cannot support a theology that centers men simply because they are men.
I cannot support a theology that ordains women to subordination simply because they are women.
The hero of LOTR is easily Samwise Gamgee. I know many pastors like that. I'm even married to one.
Not everyone is an Aragorn or a Gandalf, but I AM seeing a whole lot of Boromirs around these parts. 🤷
13 years
Marriage isn't a walk in the park, but it's way easier when you have a good sense of humor. Sean and I have too much fun bantering back and forth, teasing, and roasting each other until we're crying laughing.
Glad to be married to a man who can laugh with and at me.😆
Sent the 5yo over to the neighbor's house to apologize for throwing sticks over his fence into his yard.
He wanted me to come with him, but I told him if he was old enough to throw sticks, he was old enough to apologize by himself.
Little dude was terrified, but he did it! 👍
Weak men also use disordered women to appear as stronger men.
Masculinity is never masculine at the expense of your sisters. You may not agree with them, they may be shrill and annoying, but this man is unhealthy obsessed with assigning every evil to women.
Who hurt you?
Biggest takeaway:
How in the world does he control when his 3yo poops? I mean, honestly...impressive.
You might need therapy if:
You are so incredibly insecure that a power rant about how your tyranny of your kids' bowel movements is somehow a self-perceived win.
"A religion that has ceased
to set its face towards the celestial city, is bound sooner or later to discard also all supernatural resources in its endeavor to transform this present world."
--Geerhardus Vos, sermon excerpt from "Heavenly Mindedness"
And to the pour souls who decided French would be a stellar invite - I'm dreadfully sorry about your day today. I wish y'all no ill will, and I hope you have understood that my critique is of your decision and not of you personally, but honestly gentlemen, we can do much better.
This is why we, the laypeople, can be frustrated with some of the trajectories we see in PCA.
We love our denomination. There is not another in which we so easily fit.
So we WILL stay. And we'll continue to cheerfully and firmly push for ACTUAL subscription to our standards.
NAPARC pastors:
Many a man's ministry has been tarnished by a few unwise words said in haste on social media. Diamonds and screenshots are forever.
Maybe take your disagreements out back...like men.
Banning Dostoevsky because "Russia" means you haven't read Dostoevsky and it shows. Terribly.
Start with 'Notes from Underground' and get back to me about that terrible Russian propaganda...
Successfully got
@Presbydog95
and
@zoeschimke
hitched yesterday! 🤩
Y'all, their church family was incredible! Shout out to Redeemer PCA in McKinney, TX for being such an example of what practical Christian community looks like, and for loving both of them so well.
Major win.
@jordanbpeterson
"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." Romans 1:19-20
3. Finally, if you share my concern, for the sake of all that is holy PLEASE BE CIVIL!
Voicing your concern over his invitation is one thing, but embodying the knuckle-dragging conservative troglodyte he implies we all are just to lob a "based" tweet is petulant and moronic.
First date with just the two of us in almost 2 years!
Thank you to sweet friends who gave us a gift card, and my dad who kept all three kiddos for a couple hours.
This was fun. 🤩
#mamamocktail
Something I pray for a lot:
May the Lord give us more men who don't want the spotlight, who don't crave the approval of men, and who consider themselves unworthy servants.
Guys who desire to be well-known, respected, and influential seem to do the most damage to the Church.
Live quiet lives in all faithfulness.
Be a faithful nobody. Listen to and benefit from other faithful nobodies.
Be boring. Be local. Be decent and orderly.
Be Presbyterian.
All 4 of my children are safe, warm, fed, healthy, and sound asleep in their beds.
When I think about the state of the world, in comparison, my family is so blessed that it's almost obscene.
It's hitting me hard tonight. I don't deserve this.
#Grateful
Since everyone seems to be angry at the moment, it seems like a good time to pitch my Christian radio idea.
A 5 minute slot once a day to read through selected Psalms where I host:
"Your imprecatory moment"
pOsItIvE eNcOuRaGiNg K-LOVE!?
2000+ years of Christian doctrine, practice, history, and scholarship do not afford me the option of distinctive, individually-curated theological opinions.
There is nothing new under the sun.
In the realm of orthodoxy, theological pioneers have few seats of honor.
I don't care how long or short the sermon is:
The Lord in His kindness, mercy, and discretion has given me THIS pastor at this particular time in this specific church under whom it is my responsibility to sit, respect, and learn from-
-not to time sermon lengths like a moron.
I have become more conservative over the last 15 years due to
1. Having children
2. Theological education, both formal and informal
3. Marriage to a godly gentleman who both provides for me AND values my mind
It's been a great combination - highly recommend 👌
"I want you to keep talking, sit next to me in Systematic Theology, have me be nice to you, AND you make me dinner.
You’ve never debated anyone like me before…"
-
@MrSeanGMorris
, to me this morning, joking back and forth about the latest theobro brouhaha
I love him, y'all 😆
Every young man desires to be a hero.
Western culture has done much to erase male heroism from our society.
So many seek dragons in the online world, but until the young man understands that his greatest foe is his own sin, many vengeful distractions will take that place.
The restraint needed today to not feed the trolls is exorbitant.
Going to use my frustration to make buttermilk pies instead.
Feed the hubby, not the trolls.
#ThisIsTheWay
My country needs to wake up. NOW.
You don't burn our flag.
You can roll your eyes at me, tut-tut at my naive patriotism, opine about how love of country is so passé, tell me to roll over and accept "progress," but you can't radicalize me.
9/11 already did that. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
The kids and I were listening to a beautiful arrangement of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing sung by a huge choir with full orchestra. It brought me to tears. It finished, and I looked at the boys and said "Wasn't that amazing?"
Benjamin (6): "Ehhh, our church sings it better."
Amen to this! I've long been needing to write an essay entitled "In Defense of Baptists" 🥰🤣
But seriously, y'all - don't despise the smalltime earnest Bible-based culture some of us were raised in.
It sure as heck beats our ego maniacal acerbic Reformed outrage doomfest.
I grew up Southern Baptist. I am no longer a Baptist. But the older I get, the more I realize what a good job those folks did. Oceans of sincerity, care, faith, love for Scripture, and zeal for mission. People whose names I can't remember who pointed me straight. God bless them.
I've got to brag on my husband
@MrSeanGMorris
for a bit right now because he's too classy to draw attention to his projects himself.
But I will.
#sorrynotsorry
This is really cool! 🤩
Thank you for this.
I'm weary of men with platforms urging the church to be angry at God, to yell defiantly at the Lord, to rage at their Maker.
Brethren, we can be angry at evil, confused, and plead "Why, O Lord?" But shaking our fist at our Redeemer doesn't help us heal.
This is Covenant Presbyterian Church on the Sunday after three children and three adults were murdered on their campus.
Christ’s followers don’t raise their fists at heaven and say, “How could you?” They raise their voices to heaven and cry, “How long?”
"I want you to keep talking, sit next to me in Systematic Theology, have me be nice to you, AND you make me dinner.
You’ve never debated anyone like me before…"
-
@MrSeanGMorris
, to me this morning, joking back and forth about the latest theobro brouhaha
I love him, y'all 😆
There is a misconception that the "confessional side" are mean, nasty, spiteful people just waiting to pounce on every controversy. And there are people like that, but they wouldn't be welcome at the GRN.
These men want peace and purity in the church won with gracious behavior.
In 3 days of solo parenting, I have fixed a sink faucet, a dishwasher, figured out how to put a hitch on my van, took 3 kids on a 24hr trip to visit elderly relatives 3 hours away, shampooed all the carpets in the house, and currently the dog has explosive diarrhea.
Beer me. 😆
YES!
Many of us should not attempt to be a Titus 2 woman before our time. We have the responsibilities of children, husbands, and households now.
So we NEED those of you who are older and wiser and in different stages - young mothers ARE drowning and isolated.
#dontcheckout
7yo: You evil King Ahab! You have made the Israelites worship idols. You deserve death!
5yo: GO AWAY YOU STUPID PROPHET!!! I'll SEND MY BA'ALS AFTER YOU. *pronounced balls*
*boys continue to beat the ever loving snot out of each other*
Not me dying laughing in the kitchen. 🤣
I can't put into words how much I love our church. It's just not possible.
What an absolute JOY to be among the saints today. They are always a blessing and an encouragement. Always.
@CovPresPCA
people: I love y'all so much. Thank you for loving Jesus and my family. 💕
As a woman, what I left with was an amazement of how many good men I am privileged to know, and how the Lord continues to purify His people, calling men to righteousness amidst a wicked culture, and equipping them to serve and further His kingdom. May the Lord raise up many more.
To all you pastors drooling over each other's cool sermon notes, I present:
The Grocery List
There's more on the back. This is a look at the behind-the-scenes Easter Dinner™️ preparation your wives and mamas are all in the midst of.
Enjoy the feast, but
#Respect
the process 😂
I've done 7 hours of yard work so far this week.
I'm blissfully unaware of who is mad at who at this current moment.
I'm about to go mow and edge my backyard.
Some of you need a bit more manual labor to keep you busy and off this "latest outrage" app.
Admire my yard. 😆
"If I can just make it to Sunday."
From when I was a child, excited to see friends, to a college student, anxious about everything, to a seminary wife, soaking in good teaching like a sponge, to a sometimes weary mom of 4...
What a gift it is to make it to Sundays all my life.
"Those songs become one of the primary ways of connecting with God — rather than prayer or sacraments..."
When "connecting with God" becomes a capitalist endeavor, you get the lowest common denominator of "worship."
Pastors, feed your sheep.
via
@RNS
2yo prayed bedtime prayer tonight:
"Dearw Jesus tank you for dis day tank you for Mommy and Daddy and my bwothers and baby get good sleep."
*looks up with a grin*
"WE DID IT!!!"
It's not exactly an "Amen" but I kinda like it. 😂
Would that I be that pumped about praying. 💕
The boys were play-fighting this morning. The 7yo kept making up rules of combat which were all to his advantage, and made him feel quite superior.
Finally, the 5yo planted a well-placed kick, and then the 7yo proceeded to whine about it.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
The Wilsonite theobros and the liberal feminists are two of the most exceedingly irritating camps out there. And when they fight each other flaming piles of crap fall from the sky.
Yes, this is a subtweet.
Trans ideology:
Men can be women better than women can be women. Women can be men better than men can be men.
Both the attributes of men and women are destroyed in order to assuage the fetishes of the masses.
Self-expression is our Moloch.
If everyone is special, no one is.
The sexuality warriors are never sated with anything less than belly-up submission. No critiques allowed - no prisoners taken.
I'm a woman. I know a thing or two about authoritarian abuse, shaming, and gaslighting.
This is a prime example.
Do not give this ideology an inch.
As a thought experiment, imagine that the far right wing of the PCA is the drunk (GRN) dad, inebriated on legalism, while the PCA moderates are the mom who keeps hiding the liquor bottles and pleading with the (gay) kids to not make daddy mad. 7/8
I bounced the 7 week old in my lap during this entire podcast. 😂
Y'all, Terry is such a treasure and a gift to the church; I could sit and listen to him for ages. He is also such a kind gentleman; the church needs more pastors like him.
Have a listen!
Reading this article was like balm to my soul. I am so thankful for Dr. Clark's perspective:
"These women did not have a teaching office in the church, i.e., they were not ministers of Word and sacrament, but they unarguably had a significant role in the church."
Sean: It was sad. But it was necessary. We needed a savior. We needed someone who was perfect.
B: But it's still sad. Was it ok that I cried?
Me: Yeah buddy, it just means you have a tender heart, and that's good. Sometimes crying means you really understand why it's so sad.
*goes to check ingredients in fridge for pie*
*gets distracted by denominational articles*
*spends 30 minutes reading feverishly*
Does this happen to other people? Is this normal?
Asking for a friend...