Guest Blogger: Nan Jones, @NanJonesAuthor
with Marcie Bridges, @Marcie_Bridges
It’s Pastor Appreciation Month and my absolute pleasure to welcome Nan Jones to Heart Thoughts this week. Nan ministered alongside her husband in ministry for 31 years and knowing the struggles that pastor’s wives have, she has written a memoir to encourage them in ministry with their husbands. This book not only ministers to pastor’s wives, it ministers to all women. My dearest friend, sister, mentor…
WELCOME TO HEART THOUGHTS NAN!
“When His
lamp shone upon my head,
lamp shone upon my head,
by His light I
walked through darkness.”
walked through darkness.”
Job 29:2
By His Light I Walk Through Darkness
by Nan Jones
Marshmallow clouds melted into a frothy veil of fog along the mountain ridge. The thick white blanket settled softly, blurring the line between heaven and earth. Like dandelion wisps blowing on the breeze, wisps of foggy vapor moved in and out of the forest’s edge — the contrast of light and darkness exaggerated. Spotlighted. Understood.
Indeed, there is a contrast …
… this mystery of light and darkness.
The Light of God settles softly upon His child, blurring
the line between heaven and earth. Gentle wisps of His love move in and
out of our lives, contrasting the darkness, exaggerating His presence.
Like the mountain forest wrapped in vapors of foggy light, we walk in
the veil of His glory, wrapped in the beauty of His love.
the line between heaven and earth. Gentle wisps of His love move in and
out of our lives, contrasting the darkness, exaggerating His presence.
Like the mountain forest wrapped in vapors of foggy light, we walk in
the veil of His glory, wrapped in the beauty of His love.
And I understand.
At last, I understand.
From Our Hearts to Yours,
Nan & Marcie
Nan
Jones is an author/speaker who uses the words of her heart to assist fellow
Christians in discovering the Presence of God in their darkest hour. She is a
monthly contributor to Inspire a Fire and PW Connections, a blog and forum to
encourage pastors’ wives. Her debut book, The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife
released June 30, 2015 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. This memoir
was a 2016 Selah finalist. When Nan isn’t writing, she enjoys leading prayer
retreats, bible studies or sharing God’s faithfulness as keynote speaker for
special events. You may visit Nan at her website: www.NanJones.com or her Facebook
ministry page, Seeing BeyondThe Veil. For personal communication you may email Nan at nan@nanjones.com
Jones is an author/speaker who uses the words of her heart to assist fellow
Christians in discovering the Presence of God in their darkest hour. She is a
monthly contributor to Inspire a Fire and PW Connections, a blog and forum to
encourage pastors’ wives. Her debut book, The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife
released June 30, 2015 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. This memoir
was a 2016 Selah finalist. When Nan isn’t writing, she enjoys leading prayer
retreats, bible studies or sharing God’s faithfulness as keynote speaker for
special events. You may visit Nan at her website: www.NanJones.com or her Facebook
ministry page, Seeing BeyondThe Veil. For personal communication you may email Nan at nan@nanjones.com
Have you been hurt by the church? Have you felt abandoned by God inthe lonely fires of ministry? The Perils
of A Pastor’s Wife will speak to your deepest wounds and help you find
God’s Presence through it all. Sweet Sister—somewhere, somehow, somebody knows.
You are not alone.
CHAPTER
ONE
ONE
AFTER
THE FIRE,
THE FIRE,
A
GENTLE WHISPER
GENTLE WHISPER
ONLY GOD
KNEW where my husband was. I had run from the
business meeting before its completion. Tempers flared.
Tongues were unleashed, and nearly three years of
fruitful ministry were all but destroyed. My heart beat madly
within my chest, fighting desperately not to break from
the pain of rejection. Angry tears stung my cheeks as
I bolted from the sanctuary. I didn’t know if I could continue
in this thing called ministry. God was asking too much
of me.
KNEW where my husband was. I had run from the
business meeting before its completion. Tempers flared.
Tongues were unleashed, and nearly three years of
fruitful ministry were all but destroyed. My heart beat madly
within my chest, fighting desperately not to break from
the pain of rejection. Angry tears stung my cheeks as
I bolted from the sanctuary. I didn’t know if I could continue
in this thing called ministry. God was asking too much
of me.
My
husband, David, and I had been ministering in the small
rural church for three years. Under his leadership and
the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the church had experienced exponential
growth. God’s mercy and grace flowed into the
lives of our people. Church had become a place of joy, restoration,
and refuge.
husband, David, and I had been ministering in the small
rural church for three years. Under his leadership and
the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the church had experienced exponential
growth. God’s mercy and grace flowed into the
lives of our people. Church had become a place of joy, restoration,
and refuge.
Then evil
reared its ugly head.
reared its ugly head.
This book is a must read for pastors and pastor's wives. However, it will reach the heart of any woman whose husband is in Christian service. Nan Jones has been through the Fire. Let her take your hand.
Thank you for your kind words, Norma. That means so much to me 🙂
Thank you, Marcie, for introducing us to Nan. She writes beautifully – I must get that book as well as yours soon!
Blessings!
How sweet of you, Martha Jane. Thank you. I would love for you to read my book. I pray daily that the Lord will place it into the hands of those who need to read it and be encouraged from the things He has taught me. And you will LOVE Marcie's book. Isn't her poetry exquisite?
Marcie, thank you for having me as a guest today. I am so honored by your love and support. Bless you my sweet friend.
I'm so happy we got to do this. You have truly blessed my heart with this devotion and many others. Thank you.