KNOWING WHICH HAT TO WEAR

 

I became a pastor’s wife at the age of seventeen, at which time Steve, my husband took his first church on an Indian Reservation in Ignacio Colorado.

Steve was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Ignacio which had a mission church to the Southern Ute people. At the age of seventeen, I soon found a pastor's wife must wear many hats or so I thought I had to.

Ø  The first hats I started wearing were of a Sunday School teacher, a Five Day Club leader, Nursery worker, and well as adjusting to having a newborn.

Ø  Our second church there were new hats to wear; Vacation Bible School Director, Pianist, Youth Leader and by this time we had three small children.

Ø  The third church there were even more hats; Hospital Ministry, Fund Raisers, Youth Leader, Vacation Bible School Director, raising my three children and by this time we had taken custody of two teenage girls.

Ø  The Fourth church there seemed to be more hats than my closet could hold. Baptist Student Ministries Secretary, Pianist, Vacation Bible School Director, Fund Raisers, Hospital Visits, Youth Leader, and Church Secretary, along with the five children. I soon felt I was switching hats every hour on the hour.

Ø  The fifth church slowed down to a Baptist Student Ministry Secretary, Mother, and Pianist, Hospital Visits, Vacation Bible School Director and back to three children at home.

I was asked to lead a ladies tea and the Lord placed on my heart to have ladies display all of these hats. I did as the Lord placed on my heart and collected about twelve

different styles of beautiful hats, thanks to Teena Calley, who graciously provided them for our use.

I gathered all my models up and everything being set to go except for one thing. I still didn't have any idea why the Lord had laid the hats on my heart and I didn't know what I was going to say.

This is a very awkward feeling knowing I would be speaking and I was supposed to have all the ladies model the hats. Knowing the Lord wanted me to share all the positions I had filled but the thought kept surfacing, "This will be some useless ladies tea if that is all I do."

As the days passed I kept telling the Lord I didn’t understand. A few days before I was to speak I told the Lord one morning at five a.m. I still do not understand why I am doing this topic. As I opened my bible and started to read Ephesians 6:11 the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "You have been wearing all those hats that made you look better. The hats that made others notice who you are. Those hats really do not matter. This is the hat I want you to wear!"

I was thinking ok Lord; I think I got that one. Wow it's amazing how the Lord just opens your eyes to the truth of his word in such an amazing fashion.

The Lord knows I am a visual learner so he has to really lay it out there for me. I believe he did on this one.

This hat isn't attractive in any way but it is the hat we need to wear daily.

Put on the whole armor of God, That you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me ,that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.(Ephesians 6:17-20)