Suzanne Schaffer

As a pastor's wife the hardest thing for me in ministry has been observing the people around me in church and wondering why they are happy with a little, with just enough Jesus to get by. I see their potential. I see what more could do for them, but they're content.  Krista was one I'd watched for a while. I could see the pain in her eyes and could feel the longing in her for something more but I wasn't able to get it for her. She had to get there on her own. It was free. All she had to do was reach out. When I look at the above picture it makes me think of our walk with the Lord. A plate of decorated cookies and a cup of hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream. Yeah, I want all of that. Not just the whipped cream, I want more. Not just the pretty candies on the cookie, I want more. I want it all. A couple years ago I noticed a change in my friend Krista. Suddenly she went from being happy with just showing up at church each week to being e...

Announcing the release of my book, Simple Things .  We tend to complicate the Christian life. At it's heart it's loving God and loving people. The easiest way to do this is to be Christ-like in all we do. Simple Things explores how to do this in daily life, in our relationships, online interactions, and at home. Through wit and wisdom, Simple Things will nudge you closer to your creator.    All proceeds from Simple Things go directly to Convoy: Women, a division of Convoy of Hope that gives women around the world tools and training to make better lives for their families. For more information on Convoy of Hope please visit www.convoyofhope.org What people are saying about Simple Things : "What Suzanne has accomplished in writing Simple Things is nothing short of genius. She has taken several relevant topics within the circle of the Christian faith, and brought them to light with thoughtful prose and fun stories. What made reading this book particularly ...

I have a confession.   Sometimes I don't invite people to church. This sounds a little odd coming from the pastor's wife, but there have been situations in which it's best if I don't because I've learned from past experiences, and yesterday I didn't invite someone to church. I saw her glittery rhinestone, "I Love Jesus" pin perched on her shirt. I knew we were destined to be BFFs. When she got close to me I told her I liked it.  I mean, it was Jesus and it sparkled. What wasn't to like?   She was thrilled that someone noticed her pin. Her face lit up and she immediately began talking to me. After a few minutes I asked her where she went to church because a little of what she said lined up with my beliefs. She replied, "I don't go anywhere right now," and let loose into her entire testimony which was just enough to sound okay, but by listening closely I heard what she wasn't saying.   It was then I made my deci...

While walking my dog this morning my eyes caught the new growth on the evergreen tree. I snapped the above pictures and was struck by how noticeable the young part of the branches seemed. It occurred to me that this is how our lives as Christians should be. The new growth in us should be able to be witnessed by others as we mature in the Lord.  These trees not only grow in height each year but also in girth. While we don't notice the vertical change we are able to see the change in their shape due to the fresh color and the unmarred branches reaching in all directions. They haven't been weathered or pruned in any way.  Weathering happens when the world wears us down. Too many winds thrash us and we either push through the wind or let it keep us from moving forward.  Pruning happens when a piece of us needs trimmed in order to grow stronger and stand taller. We've a pear tree in our yard (that I wish was an apple tree because, ew ) that my husband prunes ea...

It started innocently. Chelsea found a summery fragrance that she loved. A little squirt here and there kept her happy all day. Soon she couldn't smell it on herself any longer so she added several more squirts. Within weeks she increased her daily spraying until she was fully covered in her favorite scent.  This is where we met. Chelsea greeted me with a hug and I complimented her on her fragrance. It smelled good. At first. Soon after our interaction I realized her scent was on me. It had saturated my clothing, hair, and skin. What smelled good at first soon became nauseating. I couldn't look over my shoulder without being nasally assaulted. As soon as I arrived home I scrubbed my shirt and my shoulder but I could still smell it. I realized it had seeped through two layers of clothes into my bra strap. My bra strap, people! This was a little too invasive and personal for me.  Though, being an introvert, the initial hug was a step outside my comfort zone.  But...

I've not spent a tremendous amount of time gardening. It's too messy for my liking. I prefer indoor work to yard work. I have given in to the idea of growing my own organic food and eating fresh from the garden but I also like the idea of driving to a local farmer's market and purchasing from someone else who has done the work. I'm not afraid to admit I don't enjoy working in the dirt, it messes with my fingernails. Buying local is much more attractive to me, and hey, my purchase helps support the local economy and we know that's very 2017. The time I have spent doing the dirty work has left me with some thoughts. Anyone who's spent time in a garden knows that a majority of the time is spent pulling weeds. Some have roots that grow deep and can't be pulled without the use of a spade or other gardening tool while others can be easily plucked from the earth. I've seen the same with trees in our yard. We moved into an overgrown plot of land and hav...

I could feel their eyes on me and as they huddled together I knew the sheepish glances my way included conversation. I tried to fill my mind with other things and not the assumptions that were multiplying and emptying me of any self worth I'd woken up with.  I felt less than . Dawn spent time with some close friends and as they tucked themselves into their hotel room she turned the lock on her own door. Alone. Wanting to be part of a couple. Knowing she'd been forgiven of two failed marriages yet letting the loneliness creep into her heart again. "My flesh haunts me. I feel like I've worked through it but sometimes, because I'm not married, I feel less than ." Jennifer compares herself to other people and even to past versions of herself. The comparison game makes her feel less than .  Jess married a little later than society expects and felt out of sorts over it. Even now, married just a few years and enjoying time with her spouse without having ...