He is the vine; we are the branches!

On this day of rest and worship, rejoice in the fact that as a child of God, you are a branch of the vine of Christ. He creates these fruits in your life:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Galatians 5:22-23

Take joy in this today, friends!

"Aha" moments in Scripture reading

My husband and I use Portals of Prayer for our daily devotions each morning. Each devotion has a Scripture passage, a short message, and a prayer--it's been a great way for us to get into the habit of being in the Word every day. (If you're looking for an easy reminder to be in the Word daily, I also recommend subscribing to Lutheran Hour Ministries' devotions, delivered via email.)

The other day the passage was from Luke 12, verses 13-21: The parable of the "Rich Fool." Summed up, this is a story Jesus told about a young man who had earned a lot of money, had a big crop, and a lot of wealth stored up, so he decided to take life easy and enjoy what he had. The story continues, however, "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Right after this story is the "Do Not Worry" passage. Verse 22 read, "Then Jesus said to his disciples: 'Therefore...'"
One thing my mom taught me about Bible reading is that when you come across a "Therefore," see what it's "there for" (haha). In other words, look at the context--what came before the "therefore"?

In my personal Bible reading lately I've been working through some Old Testament books, including Nehemiah and Ecclesiastes. There is value in reading a short passage and doing deep study on it, but I've also discovered the benefit of reading large sections of Scripture at once--several chapters or a whole small book in one sitting (I got through Esther in two days). It's much easier to see the "big picture" when you look at a book as a whole, instead of individual verses. I've often read the "Do Not Worry" passage, especially in Matthew, because it's a reminder I need regularly. But I haven't often looked at it in Luke, and I definitely haven't looked at it much in its context.

Here's what I see these passages saying:

Don't put stock in physical possessions or in the amount of money you have saved up. You might be able to enjoy it now, but what's going to happen when you die? All that will be worthless. (See Ecclesiastes for more on this.)
Physical possessions aren't what you should be spending all your time and thought on. You shouldn't be worrying about those things--food and clothes. They're temporal things, and besides, God knows you need them. Look at how he takes care of animals! They're never without food, protection, and shelter. If God takes care of animals that way, you can trust that he'll provide for your needs, too.
No, it's the unbelievers who spend their lives worrying about their physical needs and stocking up possessions, because they don't have any purpose beyond this life. But you know that eternity in heaven is waiting for you--so spend your life focusing on that. Seek spiritual treasures, those things that you can't lose, and God will provide physical blessings to you as well.
He has given you the ultimate gifts--salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life. Don't worry about anything else.

What I find awesome is that this whole section-- twenty-one verses--is all connected and flows together logically. (Duh. It was written by God.) I really hope I'm not the first one to take so long to notice this.

Reading this whole passage together was so encouraging for me. What "aha" moments have you had in your Scripture reading lately?

Linking today with Upward Not Inward, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers, Exceptionalistic, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Encouraging your man to BE a man

I married a man.

A Jesus-trusting, Bible-reading, Dr. Pepper-drinking, holey-t-shirt-wearing, meat-and-potatoes-loving, video-game-playing, hard-working MAN.

And I love that.

Maybe your man is a neat freak (like my dad!).  Maybe his hands are constantly stained with grease from working on your car (and other peoples').  Maybe he spends more time in the kitchen than you do.  Maybe he works from home while you work outside the home.  Maybe he presses his own pants and wears a tie every day.

Every man is unique.

Do you encourage your man in his own particular brand of manliness?

Do you admire the muscles he's built up from a physically demanding job?
Do you listen to the crazy stories he has from his job as a lawyer/med student/photographer/whatever?
Do you thank him for working to support you, in whatever work he does?
Do you thank him when he helps you with your work, be it with your children or around the house?

Does your man know you appreciate him for just the man he is?

And are you the kind of wife who motivates her man to BE a man?

I pray that I'm that kind of wife.  I work at these things, but I don't get them right all the time, or even most of the time.

But I am working at being the kind of wife who appreciates her man for the man he is, loves him the way he is, and encourages him to keep  becoming the man God's created him to be.

After all, I'm a work in progress too!

What kind of man do you have?  What's one way you can encourage him in his manliness?  Share in the comments!

Linking with: Exceptionalistic, Yes They're All Ours, A Proverbs 31 Wife, The Alabaster Jar, The Better Mom  , The Modest Mom

How to Use Words for Good in Your Marriage

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."  Ah, the bravado rhyme heard in schoolyards across America.
Or was that just when I was in first grade?

Anyway, we've all heard it...and if we have any life experience at all, we know it's not true.
Words are incredibly powerful.  They have the ability to encourage, lift up, relieve, restore-- or break down, sadden, anger, and injure.

Have you ever thought about how your use of words can make a difference, for better or for worse, in your marriage?

Some of the most important words we've ever said to each other--our wedding vows!

Ladies, let me share a little secret with you: men often have very fragile egos.  Most of them won't admit this, but it's true, unless your man is blessed with extraordinary self-confidence.

What does this mean?  Well, men are usually the ones with the job of financially providing for their family.  If they feel that they don't do this as well as they think they should, it will be a touchy subject, and they need to hear your encouragement that they do work hard and do a good job providing.

Men sometimes have insecurities about their physical appearance.  This isn't true for all guys, but no matter how your husband feels about himself, he will appreciate being told how hot you think he is. ;)

Probably the area in which men can sometimes have the least self-confidence is their sexuality.  Ladies, our husband want to know that we need, want and desire them sexually.  When we initiate, they take that as a huge compliment, because it means we actually like them and like sex with them.  If a man knows he's able to please his wife sexually, it'll increase his confidence in all other areas of his life!

Now, these are meant to be generalizations.  Not all men think the same, not all men need the same encouragement, and not all men have the same insecurities.  But these are the biggies for most guys.  Talk to your husband, or just observe him and pay close attention to what he says, and try to determine those areas of his life in which he struggles with confidence.

Then, learn how to encourage him, build him up, and strengthen his confidence in himself!

Use words for good in your marriage.  Avoid making comments that may hurt him, even if you don't mean them to be hurtful, and don't intentionally insult him or anything that makes him who he is.  I have shoved my foot in my mouth more than once by making a stupid comment that I didn't intend to mean much, but that hurt my husband considerably.  I felt horrible.  And it's a lot harder to make up for something you shouldn't have said than it is to just avoid saying it in the first place.

When you start looking for ways to build your husband up with your words, watch his attitude change.  A husband wants approval from his wife, and when he gets it, he feels like he can do anything.  Knowing that you, his wife, think he's great, will make your husband feel like he's on top of the world.

(And when he's happy, just watch how your own mood improves!)

So tell me, ladies, how do you use words to encourage and strengthen your husband?  Gentlemen, how do you encourage your wives verbally?  Any ideas or advice for me?

Linking with: Deep Roots at Home, To Love, Honor and Vacuum , We are THAT Family, Raising Homemakers, Messy Marriage, Yes They're All Ours

My Husband's Biggest Fan

If there's anything I've learned in going-on-two-years of marriage, it's the importance of being my husband's biggest supporter and encourager, and his best friend--his own personal cheerleader, if you will. :)  That manifests itself in many ways, and sometimes it seems like it's hard to remember to do the little things--thanking him for helping carry groceries up our 22 stairs, flirting with him throughout the day, and acknowledging how much and how hard he works to support us.  But it's these little things that really make a difference.

As a reminder to myself, and an encouragement to you married ladies out there (and even if you're single, many of these things you can do to support your dad, brothers, and male friends, although I'd recommend ignoring the ones in the "Relational" section!), here are some suggestions for becoming your hubby's biggest fan.

This might seem like a lot.  It really isn't.  It's just little things, that take almost no effort and very little thought.  I hope this is encouraging for you!

Joshua and me on a camping trip, summer of 2011 (how we've changed!)

How to Become Your Husband's Biggest Fan

Verbally
Speak well of him to others (brag on him!)--including in front of him, to his family and friends, and to his face.  This is such an important thing, but I forget it so much of the time!  It will do your husband's self-esteem worlds of good to hear you tell other people how crazy you are about him.  It's also gratifying for his parents to hear how well they've done raising him!  Compliment him for his talents--notice the things he does well.

Thank him for everything he does (even the seemingly insignificant things).  I'm so bad at this.  I'll ask my husband to dry dishes, for example, and then completely neglect to thank him for it.  Yesterday I came home to find he'd cleaned the bathroom floor, and it wasn't until bedtime that I remembered to say thank you.  The more your husband feels appreciated, the more he'll be glad to help.

Acknowledge his hard work to support you and your family.  I realize that for a busy mother with several small children and a home to care for (especially if you also work outside the home!), it may feel like your husband doesn't do much to help.  But it's his job to work and earn money to support all of you, and he likes to feel appreciated for that as much as you like to feel appreciated for all you do.  It was helpful for me to visit my husband at his job a few times because that opened my eyes to how hard he really does work, and made me appreciate him even more.

Relationally
Make sure he knows he's your one and only.  Ladies, I can't stress how important this is!  It's fairly straight forward, but even comments like "Hon, you're the only one for me" can make him feel SO good.  Keep your eyes focused on your man!  This will be easier when you also appreciate his physical qualities.  Let him know how good-lookin' you think he is!

Avoid making comments about other guys--even if hubby doesn't care (guys think differently than we women do).  To women, this may not seem like a big deal.  We might see a guy and comment about how handsome he is.  But when men think about a woman being beautiful, it's harder for them to keep their thoughts pure.  Women's minds aren't usually like that.  It can be a blow for a man to hear his wife commenting about the good looks of another man, because he forgets that she doesn't think the same way he does.  So just keep your mouth shut, ladies.  It's not a sin to think that another man is attractive.  It IS a sin to let your mind wander or to act on that attraction.  Keep your thoughts, heart and words pure!

Flirt with him!  Whisper in his ear things for his hearing only.  This will help with the above bit of advice!  This might even turn up the heat in your romantic life. If anything, you'll get the satisfaction out of driving your husband crazy when you're in public and he can't do anything about it. ;)

Be his best friend.  Hang out with him when you both have any free time.  Go on dates together.  Play games.  Watch movies.  Does he like playing video games?  Play them with him!  (I just started doing this.  My husband thinks I'm awesome. :) )  Look for ways that the two of you can have fun together.  And just be there for him!  You're his God-designed helper. :)

Make him happy to come home and be home.  This is one I struggle with so much.  I tend to have a critical, complaining attitude, and sometimes it's exhausting for my husband to come home and put up with my negativity.  That should not be.  Home needs to be a restful place for your whole family, including you!  Cultivate a cheerful attitude, take pride in taking care of your home, and delight in your husband's being there.

Spiritually
Think well of him--your thoughts lead to feelings/actions/words.  This is fairly straight-forward.  For me, it's mainly about not assuming the worst about my husband, but always the best.

Pray for him.  I can't emphasize the importance of this enough!  More than anything else you can do, praying for him will bless him so much.  Instead of telling girlfriends what frustrates you about your husband (because things do, I know), tell God instead.  Thank God for the blessing your husband is.  Take worries about your husband to the Lord.  Ask God to shape your husband into the man God's created him to be.  Remember that your husband is a child of God just like you are.  Ask to have the kind of unconditional love for your husband that God does.  And know that God answers prayers.


My dear sister, marriage is such an amazing thing.  It's not always easy but oh, it is filled with such good things!  God blesses us so much in this relationship he's designed.  And I want you to always remember that you're not in this alone.  In your struggles, God is there.  He is with you in your joys.  He loves you more than you can imagine.  And he wants your marriage to succeed!  Ask him to help you become the woman he's created you to be.  He will, because he wants the very best for you, your husband and your marriage!


Do you have any ideas or advice to help me and other wives become our husband's biggest fan?

Linking today with: A Proverbs 31 Wife, What Joy is Mine, The Modest Mom, The Better Mom, Raising Arrows,  The Alabaster Jar, Countrified Hicks

When You Need a Little Help

This week is shaping up to be kind of crazy:
lots of homework due
helping with hair and makeup for a play this weekend
laundry to get done
spending time with my hubby (that's at the top of the priority list!!)

I got kind of overwhelmed yesterday, just at the thought of all I had to do.  Joshua looked at me and asked, "Do you need a hug?  It looks like you need a hug."  He just held me, and it helped so much.  Today he ordered a pizza so I didn't have to cook supper.  He's been wonderfully encouraging, even when I'm so stressed and tired.  I'm thankful that this isn't how life is all the time!

But I know it's not just me.  We all get tired, stressed, and burned out at times.  So what do we do at times like that?

Image Credit: FrameAngel via Freedigitalphotos.net

Take care of yourself.
What helps you relax?  What makes you feel good?  For me, it's a hot shower, a mug of tea, and plenty of sleep.  And lots of time with my husband. :)

Do you like to cook to relax?  Spend a couple hours reading a good book uninterrupted?  Get away with some friends with a couple hours?  Whatever it is that helps you refresh your body and spirit, if you're feeling stressed and burned out, make time to do those things that will lift your spirits and help you be physically prepared to do your best in everything.

Ask for help.
No one should expect you to always be able to take care of everything on your own!  Can you delegate some of your tasks at work to a coworker?  Readjust your schedule so you don't have so much on your plate in the immediate future?  Enlist your spouse and/or children for help at home?  You are not alone.

Take it to God in prayer.
This is the BEST thing you can do when you're stressed/exhausted/worried/whatever!  God is always there for you, and he loves you more than you can imagine. That's something I need to remind myself of a LOT.  Prayer is more powerful than I think we know, and the Holy Spirit promises to always be with us.  God gives us peace that surpasses all human understanding--don't ever forget that.

So if you're like me this week--if you're tired, stressed, busy, worn out-- make sure you're taking care of yourself, asking for help, and daily lifting up your life to the Lord.  He loves you so much.  Always remember that!

What is your best advice for de-stressing when life gets crazy?

Book Launch: "Single Girl" by Ashley Schnarr (and GIVEAWAY announcement!)

I'm so excited, honored and proud to announce that my friend Ashley has just released a new eBook:

"Single Girl:

the single woman's guide to life, liberty and the pursuit of godliness"!!

Ashley’s book is full of wise, Scriptural encouragement for the single woman.  She dispels commonly-held myths about singleness, but her message isn’t “I’m so sorry you’re not married, let’s all feel bad for ourselves.”  Neither is it “Singleness is the best thing ever!  Never get married!  Who needs husbands?!”  She honestly says, 

“I don’t pretend to pray that I remain single for the rest of my life either.  Marriage and family is something I deeply desire and want very much.  Like every girl, I long for the companionship and security of a marriage.  And yes, I’m one of those hopeless romantics that’s been dreaming about my wedding since I was five.

So why am I writing this book?  It’s not because I’ve got everything figured out but rather the Lord has brought me through some trials and taught me a few things in the middle of it all.”

Ashley is a young woman who has done a lot of learning already in her life.  She’s a stay-at-home daughter and is busy preparing to be a wife and mother herself someday.  But that does not mean she fails to look for ways that she can serve God by serving others as a single person.  She has practical tips in this book for skills a single girl can learn, ways to make money and have a job without going to college, alternatives for gaining education without going to college, ideas for ways to volunteer and serve in one’s church and community, and fun and helpful tips on beauty, modesty, and relationships with guys.  More importantly, she has suggestions and encouragement for young women on how to grow in their relationship with Christ.  Ashley is passionate about the Lord, and she wants to share that with those who read her book.

This book is Ashley’s gift to other young, single women.  She’s sharing with them what she has learned.  This is her testimony to how God has worked in her life, it’s her witness to her faith in him, and it’s her call to other young single women to be all that they can be, and embrace their life just as it is.  She writes, “I firmly believe that if the Lord is gracious enough to teach you something, you should be thankful enough to share it with someone else.  So that’s what this book is all about, me sharing some of the lessons I’ve learned, and continue to learn, during this journey of singleness.”

I highly recommend this book to any and all single women, no matter what your age.  This book is also excellent reading for anyone who is friends with or ministers to a single woman (e.g., pastors, teachers, youth ministers, counselors, and parents, just to name a few).  If you are in any of these categories I encourage you to get this book and use it for your own edification and to enable yourself to better encourage and instruct the single women in your life.

As a special gift to her readers during the book's launch week this week, Ashley is also hosting a giveaway of a fantastic set of beauty products!

Head over to Ashley's blog to enter the giveaway and buy the eBook--only $4.95 for a pdf version, OR you can get it on your kindle or nook!

Also, I'm excited to announce that next week I'll be giving away a copy of Single Girl right here at Living in the Light!  Ashley has graciously offered one of my readers a copy of her book.  So if the giveaway last month, for married people only, wasn't for you--this just might be!  Stay tuned!

Abraham: Living by Faith

This week for my Bible study I've been reading in Genesis, chapters 12-22.  These are the ones about Abraham and Sarah.  I haven't really pondered their journey recently, and reading this story anew brought things to light that I hadn't thought about before.

First, Abram and Sarai (their original names) traveled with Abram's father and family from Ur to Haran-- quite a long way.  Then when Abram was seventy-five and his wife was sixty-five, God called them to leave their family behind and move again, this time all the way to Canaan.  (Click on this link to see a map of their journey.)

God made a promise to Abram before they left Haran:
^{2 "}And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3

Shortly after their arrival in Canaan they traveled to Egypt to escape a famine (Gen. 12:10-20). Pharaoh tried to make Sarai part of his harem because Abram lied and said she was his sister (see 20:12).  Pharaoh found out and was not happy, but gave them riches and servants anyway and sent them on their way.

They went back to Canaan where Abram parted ways with his nephew Lot, who had been traveling with them.  Lot got into trouble with local kings and Abram had to rescue him (Gen. 13-14).  Abram and Lot were successful, and once again God blessed them through their enemies.  God renewed his covenant with Abram, promising him the land in which he lived would belong to his descendants, of which there would be more than there were stars in the sky (Gen 15).

However, Abram and Sarai were getting old, and Sarai doubted that she would be able to have a child.  So she gave her servant Hagar to Abram to conceive a child, which Hagar did, bearing Ishmael.  Unfortunately, as soon as Hagar became pregnant, Sarai was jealous of her and treated her poorly (Gen 16).

Not long after that, God and three angels appeared to Abraham (whose name God had changed) in the form of human men.  They told Abraham that in a year's time, his wife would bear a son.  God had already informed Abraham of this (17:15-22), but this time it was in Sarah's hearing (18:1-15).  Her response was the same as Abraham's when he heard:  She laughed.

Later, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot and his family were living.  Only Lot and his two daughters escaped, and they did not live God-pleasing lives (Gen. 19).

Another king, this time Abimelech king of Gerar, tried to make Sarah part of his harem and God spared him punishment (Gen 20).

Finally, Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac was born, fulfilling God's prophecy (Gen. 21).  Then when Isaac was in his teens, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.  Abraham was about to do it when God stopped him and provided a ram for the sacrifice instead, rewarding Abraham for his faith and obedience (22:1-19).

Isaac, of course, was the father of Jacob, who had twelve sons, who became the twelve tribes of Israel.  From Abraham the entire Jewish line was descended, and through his son Ishmael the Arabian tribes descended (Muslims trace their heritage back to Abraham as well as Jews and Christians).  But Abraham and Sarah couldn't see how God's promises would be fulfilled, hundreds and thousands of years into the future.  They both struggled to trust.  They lied, doubted, tried to do things their own way, and laughed at God's words.

Despite all of this, Abraham was praised by the writer of Hebrews as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:8-12).  This passage says that Abraham trusted God "by faith," and that even Sarah "considered [God] faithful who had made the promise."  And that was after Sarah had laughed at God's prediction of her conception!

In 1 Peter 3 we read that the holy women of the past used to make themselves beautiful with "the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:4).

⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. (3:5-6)

Abraham trusted and obeyed God, and Sarah trusted and obeyed her husband.  No, they did not do it perfectly.  They sinned.  They doubted sometimes.  But what does the writer of Hebrews tell us?  They had faith.

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9) 

The faith in God that Abraham and Sarah had did not make them perfect.  It did not make them impervious to fear and doubt.  But that faith was not something that they had by their own doing.  God blessed them with faith to trust in him.  He blessed them even when they faltered.  And God does the same with us.

I think too often we read the Genesis passage in light of the Hebrews one.  Abraham was a man of faith, so those things he did in Genesis weren't as bad as they really seem.  Well, they really were bad!  Abraham was a sinner, just like you and me.  But when we look at the Hebrews passage in light of the Genesis one, we see God's grace.  We see that God counted Abraham and Sarah righteous, and faithful, not by anything they had done, but because of God's grace and mercy--because of Jesus and what he did for them.

The same is true for us.  We are sinners, yes, but because of Jesus, God looks at us with love and grace.  He does not look at the sinful things we have done or count them against us, because Jesus has paid the price for those sins.  God looks at us as perfect and holy, because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross in our place.  He died for us and for all people who have ever lived (including Abraham and Sarah) so that we don't have to die eternally, but can look forward to eternity in heaven with Jesus.

Therefore, like Abraham, we may live by faith--by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. 

Can you relate at all with the struggles of Abraham? How do you see God's grace working in your life?  

Linking today with Upward Not Inward, Exceptionalistic

My Purpose for Writing and for Life

I was inspired today to reevaluate my purpose and goals for this blog, and for my writing in general.  Why am I writing?  About what am I writing?  For whom am I writing?

Bottom line, I'm writing to honor and glorify God.  I am writing so that you can know my Jesus--the Son of God who is Lord of all.

And within that, I'm writing to encourage, build up, and inspire you--those for whom I write.

I want to write about a lot of things: homemaking, marriage, cooking, life.  But I want the good news of Jesus Christ to be the common thread that runs through all of that.  God is all-pervading in my life; he's the reason I am alive and he gives me purpose for life.  I want my blog to reflect that.

I'm writing for you, and I'm writing for Jesus.

Maybe that sounds kind of corny.  But in this little space on the internet, I have a voice, and I can use that voice to serve him: to praise him for who he is and what he has done, and to talk about the good news of his life, death, and resurrection.

I want to share a lot of things with you.  I'm thankful for each of my readers, and yes, I hope my readership will grow.  But I want that mostly so that I can tell all of you who read these words of mine, that Jesus loves you.

I want you to know that:  Jesus loves you.  So much.  So much that he, the Son of God, came to earth as a human, lived, and died, and rose again, for you.    He did this so you can have a relationship with him, have faith in him as your Lord and Savior, and spend eternity in heaven with him.

As a sinful person, I won't always accomplish what I set out to do on this blog.  I might focus more on myself than my God.  When that happens, I ask that you graciously look past my faults to the perfect God who, by his grace, I do my best to serve.

He has done everything for me, and he has done everything for you.  Please rest in the knowledge today that the Creator and King of the universe--loves--you.


Linking with:  The Fontenot Four, black tag diaries, There's Just One Mommy, Loved and Lovely

Marriage: A Challenge and a Blessing

If you are married, you know that marriage isn't always a walk in the park.  It's hard work!  When two sinful (saved by grace, but still sinful) people merge their lives, there will be difficulties, no matter how compatible a couple is.

At the root of many marital difficulties is communication, or the lack thereof--communication about money, sex, in-laws, jobs, children, etc, etc.  Learning to communicate fully with one's spouse is a lifelong process, one for which I definitely do not have all the answers.  What I do know is that it is essential for each spouse to seek to understand the way their partner communicates, because, of course, men and women communicate in quite different ways.  When each spouse is willing to look at things with the other person's perspective, communication will be easier.

In my experience and in talking with married friends, I've noticed that as married couples, many of us are great at communicating with other people, but not necessarily with each other!  But then, we don’t live with other people, and therein lies the greatest difficulty and the greatest blessing in marriage.

I think God often give us the spouse he has because that person has something to teach us, or because something about them helps us realize our own weaknesses and strengths. That's definitely true for Joshua and me.  Marriage, I have learned, is one of the most effective ways God teaches us to be more like Jesus.  It requires us to be selfless, to give of ourselves for the good of the other person, to love someone even when they're driving us crazy.  It requires us to have tough love, and to keep the other person accountable to God's will and direction for their lives.  Making a lifetime commitment to another person, and sticking with that commitment, is one of the hardest things anyone could ever do--but it will be one of the greatest blessings they will ever experience.

One unfortunate thing that I have discovered in life, in relationships with my parents, siblings, and husbands, is that it is easiest to hurt and disagree with the people I love the most (partly because I'm with them so much, and know them better than I know anyone else).  This isn't a pleasant fact, but because we live in a sinful world, it's true.

I also know that God's love and forgiveness make up for the deficiencies in our own ability to love and forgive. Therefore, no matter what struggles we have, we have the strength of Christ to work through them and the love and the forgiveness from the Father to heal after the struggles are worked out.  This is the only way my marriage works, and it is the backbone of all the relationships I have: God's love and his forgiveness.

Marriage is by no means easy.  We have to fight against our sinful natures every day, but by God's grace he enables us to become more like him, and love our spouse the way God loves both of us.  Even when we do fail, God gives us a second chance (and a third, and a fourth...).  He constantly forgives us when we repent, and helps us try again.  And I, for one, am glad I have an entire lifetime with my husband to work on getting this marriage-thing right!

Linking today with:
Jolene @ The Alabaster Jar
Naomi @ What Joy is Mine
Ruth @ The Better Mom
Raising Arrows
Carissa @ lowercase letters
Exceptionalistic

Why I'm Voting for Romney/Ryan (and why I'm not)

My husband and I just finished watching the vice-presidential political debate.  We watched the presidential one a couple weeks ago.  Watching these debates, and all the other political discussion and ads on TV lately, has reminded me of something: I am NOT voting for either candidate because I agree with them on everything.  Neither of the candidates has a plan with which I completely agree.

That's not a bad thing.  It's also to be expected.  As my dad says, "You're not voting for a person so much as you are for a platform."  The Republican party is one I can stand with on MOST things.  And I feel that after four years of disappointment in what President Obama has done, it's time for the other party to have a go, again, at running the country.

Paul Ryan proved why I like his platform in the debate this evening.  The moderator asked the VP candidates, "You are both Catholic--something that hasn't happened in a presidential race in a long time.  Based on your religion, what are your opinions on abortion?"

The Catholic church's stance on abortion is that it is wrong (because they believe that life begins at conception), with, as Ryan said, the exceptions of rape, incest, and threat to the mother's life.  That is also the stance of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and although I don't agree with it entirely, I can accept it.  Ryan pointed this out, and stated firmly once again his belief that life begins at conception.  He did not back down on this at all.

When posed with the same question, Biden also noted the Catholic church's stance, but that he believed every woman should have the opportunity to choose whether or not she wants to have an abortion.  It's not the government's right, he said, to deny women that opportunity--that right--to do what they want with their own bodies.

(Yes, I am paraphrasing what the men said.)

What I appreciated about Ryan was that he did not back down from saying that abortion is wrong, period.  He didn't contradict what his faith believes about the life of unborn children.  And he did say that yes, in a case of clear right and wrong, it IS the government's right to dictate what people can and can't do.  It's wrong to kill an adult person in cold blood except in cases of self-defense.  The government dictates that and has laws that uphold that.  Abortion should be no different.

So I am voting for Romney and Ryan because they uphold what I believe is right.  I think their plans regarding foreign policy, the war(s) on terrorism, nuclear weapons, and taxes in the US will do a lot of good and are the wisest decisions that the government can make right now.  I have confidence in their character, as much as I can considering they're politicians, and more importantly, I have confidence that God is in control, period, no matter who is in the White House.

That, finally, is what it all comes down to for me.  God is in charge.  Not the President of the United States, technically the most powerful person in the world.  Not the people of the United States who vote that President into office.  Not terrorists who murder those people of the United States.

God is in control.  I have full confidence in that.  No matter what happens politically, in relation to other countries, or to the economy, the fact that God's in charge will not ever change.  I know he will always take care of me.  I know that nothing that happens in the world can affect my eternal salvation.  And I know that God will always give me opportunities to stand up for my faith in him.

God himself does not need defending.  What we can do, and should do, as Christians is to speak up for what is right and denounce what is wrong.  We need to make clear what is of God and his Word and what is not.  That's what matters eternally--not the person who will be in the White House for the next four years.

Rely on God, my friends...not politicians.


P.S.  I'm glad to be writing again.  I've missed it, and I hope to write a little more often starting now.  Thanks to those of you who are still sticking with me!  You are a blessing.

The To-Do List that Will Change Your Life

Are you ready?  Here it is:

To-Do Today

1) Love God.

2) Love others.

3) Love yourself.

That's it.  Really.  It's that simple.

Not convinced?  Jesus put it another way:

"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'  Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'" Matthew 22:34-40

Have you ever seen the acronym for the word "JOY"?
Jesus
Others
You
It is a little corny, but it's true.

When we have our priorities in the right order--in this order--good things will happen.  GREAT things will happen.  When God is first in our lives, everything else will fall into place.

How does this play out in our everyday lives?
My prayer every morning is, "God, let me honor and glorify you today, in everything I say, do and think."  Putting God first means doing everything for him.  It means making him the most important person in our lives.
Then comes everyone else.
And "everyone else" has to be prioritized, too.  If you're married, this means your husband (or wife) should come first after God.  Not your boss, your coworkers, your friends, your teachers, or your parents.  Your husband.  If you're a mother (or father), your children are next, after your spouse.  Then your family, friends, and everyone else.
Then you.  This doesn't mean that you neglect yourself entirely for the sake of other people.  I'm not suggesting or condoning that at all.  Of course you need to eat, bathe, and rest--and take time to do things for yourself.  Notice Jesus didn't say, "Love your neighbor just like you love God."  He wants all that love for himself. :)  No, he said "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Jesus doesn't want us to hate ourselves!  In fact, in Ephesians Paul wrote, "In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church..." (Ephesians 5:28-29).
We are to love everyone else just as much as we love ourselves: taking time for them, doing things for them, taking care of them, treating them with love, kindness and respect.

This will play out differently in each person's life.  My usual morning routine is, make breakfast for my husband, have devotions with him and pray together, and after he goes to work I do my writing and blogging for the day.

I don't keep this to-do list perfectly, of course.  I struggle every day with putting God first.  It's easy to remember that my husband needs clean clothes, good food, and time with me, but God doesn't have the same physical presence...so he's easier to forget, unfortunately.  But that's no excuse on my part.

The wonderful thing about all this is, God will and does bless us when we put him first.  And even when we fail, he still loves us, blesses us, and forgives us far more than we could ever ask or imagine.


Linking up with these lovely ladies today:
New Life Steward; Women Living Well; To Love, Honor and Vacuum; Deep Roots at Home; A Wise Woman Builds Her Home; Raising Homemakers; The Houtz House Party

Stretching My Spirit

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:::

Stretch…

Most mornings when I wake up, I stretch--my arms above my head, my back, my legs.  It's a way of readying my body for a new day, transitioning from sleeping to wakefulness.  It tells my body what my brain already knows: It's time to get up, start moving, start the things that need to be done today.

What if I stretched my spirit, too?

I confess, my spiritual habits have been lacking lately.  I do devotions with my husband every single morning--I read the Scripture passages, sometimes nearly a whole chapter, he reads the devotion, and we pray together.  But I haven't been reading my Bible on my own much recently.  And my first thoughts in the morning aren't always prayer.

This morning my husband and I both woke up feeling way better than we had when we went to sleep.  So my first thought was this morning, "Thank you, Jesus, for helping us feel better!"  I was singing the Doxology in my head when I went to make breakfast.

But it's not always that way.  I wish it were.

Exercise of the body takes discipline.

So does exercise of the mind--or of the spirit.

It will take discipline for me to remember to stretch myself spiritually each morning, and throughout each day.

But I know that's something God wants me to do.  So when I pray and ask for his strength, his courage, and his help to do so--I know he'll answer that prayer.  God wants me to be closer to him, and I know he'll help me as I seek to approach him more and in a deeper way.

Stretching my body feels so good every morning.  I know stretching my spirit will be even better.

Linking up today with:

Lisa-Jo Baker (of course, with FMF); Your Thriving Family; Consider the Lilies; finding joy; Susan Godfrey

The Privilege of Being His Witness

Joshua and I read in Matthew for our devotions this morning.  Part of the passage was the Great Commission in Matthew 28:

"Then Jesus came to [the disciples] and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"  

Matthew 28:18-20

The account of Jesus' ascension in Acts 1 adds some more insight:

"[Jesus] said to [the disciples]: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power then the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'" 

Acts 1:7-8

We are called to be Christ's witnesses, making disciples "of all nations."  For some Christians, that means going to faraway countries to preach the Gospel.  For others, that means witnessing for Jesus in our neighborhoods, workplaces and towns.  Jesus told the disciples they would be witnesses in Jerusalem--the city they were in at the time--and in Judea--the country where they were.

Being Christ's witnesses doesn't necessarily mean going to Africa or China or Russia to be a missionary.
It means sharing our faith in our daily lives, everywhere we go.

No believer has an excuse for NOT being a witness.

And no believer has to despair that they don't have the time, money or resources to become a missionary to a foreign country.

We are witnesses in the places and vocations in which God has placed us.

For me, that means I am a witness at home (yes, to my husband, even though he is a believer!), at school, at work, in my little town, and to my friends, acquaintances and others who read what I put on the internet every day.

(Have you ever thought of that?  Your Facebook posts, tweets, and blog posts are all part of your Christian witness!  How are you sharing the love of Christ through your online presence?)

These passages in Matthew and Acts are always a wake-up call for me.   It's a conviction: I need to be aware of how I'm witnessing Christ, and be intentional about it!  And it's also an encouragement: I have been given the incredible privilege of representing the God of the universe, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to every person I see each day.

How incredible is that?

My encouragement, to myself and to you, today is this:
Look for ways God has given you to witness him.
Be intentional at least once today about speaking the Gospel and the name of Jesus to someone you normally wouldn't.
Remember--God will give you the words to say, because His Holy Spirit is in your heart.


Linking up with these lovely ladies:
The Houtz House Party; New Life Steward; A Wise Woman Builds Her Home; Deep Roots at Home; Women Living Well

Strength Renewed

It's getting toward the end of the summer.  Many students and families are starting a new school year.  Joshua and I have less than two weeks until school begins again for us.

I'm ready for a new schedule, a change of pace, a different routine.  This summer has been wonderful, don't get me wrong--but I'm ready for some changes.

At the same time, I'm a little apprehensive.  With the new school year will come new challenges: juggling being a wife and homemaker with being a full-time student and working part-time and trying to spend some time with friends, too.  It's a bit overwhelming!  (If you're feeling like you have a lot on your plate--you are not alone!)

A verse from Isaiah came to mind this morning.  God said to Isaiah,

"I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:9b-10

God has chosen me to serve him.  He is always with me; he gives me strength and help.  I have nothing to fear or worry about.  And neither do you, no matter what your life looks like right now!

In the previous chapter of Isaiah, God spoke more comforting words:

"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.  But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  -Isaiah 41:28-31

Our strength does not come from ourselves.  Even youth (like me!) grow tired and weary.  But God never does.  Our God is everlasting--Creator of all that exists.  It is when we put our hope in him, not in our own "strength," that we become strong.  It is God who lifts us up.

I won't get through this coming school year on my own power.  It will be with the strength of God, by his grace and his will, that I will live each day to his glory.  I won't do that perfectly... but I can trust that God has forgiven me.  And he chose me to be his servant knowing that I'm imperfect, so I know he can and will use me for his will despite my imperfections.

I can't wait to see where his strength will take me this year... to what new heights I'll soar.  I wonder...where will God take you?

Linking up with these lovely ladies:
 Growing Home; Thankful Homemaker; Time-Warp Wife; Cornerstone Confessions; Lessons from Ivy

 

Trusting God's Promises

This is what I have been hearing from God the last few days:

I have chosen you; I have called you; you are Mine. (2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 1:4-6)


I know you're not perfect.  I've forgiven all your sins; just tell Me about them, and then we'll forget it.   (1 John 1:8-10)


No, you're not a failure.  I still want you to help carry out My purposes. (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 3:9)


I have a plan for you.  It's okay that you don't know all about it yet.  I do, and that's what matters.  (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 33:10-11)


I know your life is hard sometimes, and you don't always understand why things happen the way they do.  I do understand, and most importantly, I have control of everything.  Nothing happens without my permission.  (Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-7)


Trust me.  In everything.  I'm bigger than all your problems, and I will take care of you.  (1 Peter 5:6-7; Romans 8:35-39)

These promises of God are true for you, too.


Read those passages from His words to you.  Yes, God wrote the Scriptures with you in mind--and me, and everyone else who has ever lived.

Just trust in his promises.  Read these words of God, spoken through Paul to the Thessalonian believers:

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."  -1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Simple Faith

I recently read a book by Janette Oke called A Bride for Donnigan.  I won't give a full synopsis--it was just the end that really moved me yesterday.  (However, I would recommend this and all her books!)

By the end of the book, two parents are trying to raise their six young children as well as they can.  Neither parent was raised in a Christian family, but they believe there is a God, and that they should teach their children about Him.  Slowly, through much study of the Bible, they come to understand what God has done throughout history.  But there is something missing.  The husband and wife are both still burdened with anger and unforgiveness as a result of their past.  Finally, while talking with their children about Jesus, their little girl realized what they needed to do.  "I want to tell God sorry," she sobbed.  Her parents had not yet understood what it meant to pray--that they could just tell God anything--but their small daughter spoke simply to God, telling Him she was sorry for the bad things she had done, and asking Him to forgive her.  When she finished, she looked up at them with a smile full of joy and peace, knowing she was forgiven.

Her parents wanted that.  So, not long afterward, they each told God that they were sorry for what they had done wrong, asked Him to forgive them, and asked Him to help them live their lives in obedience to Him.

It was that simple.  They, too, felt the peace and joy that their little daughter had.

Now, I know this is a fictional story.  But Janette Oke is right.  The apostle John wrote in his first epistle,

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).

It's that simple.  When we confess our sinfulness, God forgives us and purifies us from the sin within us.

I've been a Christian all my life.  I was baptized when I was less than a month old, and I've had saving faith in Jesus Christ ever since.  I am thankful for this, but sometimes I make my faith more complicated than it needs to be.  Sometimes I'm fooled into thinking I actually have to do something to earn God's forgiveness...that I have to live a perfect life in order to please Him.

Well, I would have to live a perfect life to please God...if Jesus hadn't already done it for me.
There's nothing more I have to do.  Jesus has paid the price for my sins, taken them away on the cross, and provided the means necessary for my eternal forgiveness and salvation.

I don't have to try to impress God.  All He wants me to do is "tell Him sorry."
Thanks be to God for His immeasurable grace!!

Yesterday, as I closed this book, I was in tears.  I realized that I had been trying too hard.  I don't need a big, complicated faith.  Jesus encouraged His followers to have faith like a child--and that's what I need, too: a complete, unassuming faith that expects nothing of myself.  God doesn't expect me to be perfect.  He knows I can't be, and that I can't do anything good on my own.  He is the One who gives me the willpower, strength and ability to please and serve Him.  

So I asked Him for that.  I asked Him if this blog is really what He wants me to do--if it's pleasing and glorifying to Him.  I asked Him to help me be the best wife I can be to Joshua.  I asked God to help me honor, glorify, serve and praise Him in everything I do.

Then, last night, a friend messaged me on Facebook.  She said that my blog was a blessing to her, and even asked for help in coming up with an idea for a devotion.

A comment on yesterday's post suggested that I write devotions for women.

My husband reiterated once again that I am a great wife to him.

Now, it's not often that God answers my prayers quite this clearly.  Sometimes I'm not sure what His answer is.  Sometimes it's "No" or "I have something better for you."  But yesterday, the answer clearly was "Yes."  I am so very thankful to have been encouraged in this way.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins

and purify us from all unrighteousness."

When we pray, "God, please forgive me," that is a prayer He always answers with "Yes."

God keeps His promises.

Whenever we confess, He will forgive and cleanse us.

And it really is as simple as that--as simple as a child's faith.

God Calls the Unlikeliest of Servants

The book of Judges is one of the most exciting books of the Bible, in my opinion.  It's full of battles, bravery, and unlikely heroes.  And more importantly, it contains stories about God's righteous judgment, His mercy, and forgiveness.


Many chapters in the book begin with the phrase, "Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord..."  Over and over God's people turned away from Him and worshiped the false gods of the people in whose land they were living.  Over and over God gave the people over to their enemies because they had abandoned Him.  Again and again the people pleaded with God to rescue them, so He sent people to care for them, rescue them from their enemies, and lead them into victorious battles.


Only when God was in charge of the Israelites did they win those battles.  And God almost always chose the unlikeliest of people to lead Israel.  One of those people was Gideon.  He, his family and their people were in a desperate situation.  The Midianites had taken over their land, destroyed all their crops and livestock, and forced Israel to flee to caves and hideouts in the mountains for refuge.  Israel was so afraid of Midian that when Gideon, the youngest of his father's sons, was given the job of threshing wheat, he had to do it in a winepress in order to not be seen by the Midianites (Judges 6:1-11).


It was this man, who had lost almost everything and living in constant fear, who God called to lead His people.


Gideon was reluctant.  He protested that he was too young and weak.  He asked where God had been, why He had abandoned His people to Midian (Judges 6:13-15).


God was patient.  He reassured Gideon.  He gave him instructions, and God also gave Gideon proof and signs that God would do what He had promised.  He would save Israel.


And he did.  Gideon gathered thirty-two thousand men from the tribes of Israel.  In order to make clear that God would save them, not Gideon, God instructed Gideon to pare down the army from the thirty-two thousand, to twenty-two thousand, to three hundred men.  Those three hundred were the men God used to rescue Israel from the Midianites.


(The battle story is an exciting one.  To read the whole thing, go to Judges chapter seven!)


Gideon and the Israelites are not unlike many believers in God today.  We often ignore His laws, and then question God as to why He has abandoned us--when it is not He who has left us, but we who have left Him.  Then, when he calls us to serve him, we protest that we are unable, that we need more proof from God that this is really what he wants us to do.
This is exactly what Israel did, and it is exactly what I see myself doing.
I don't always obey God.  Then, when I have troubles, I wonder why He's not getting me out of them.  It's not that He's turned away from me.  It's I who have turned away from Him!
He is gracious, and He still calls me his child.  He still has work for me to do.  But I question whether or not I can do it.
I'm just a young woman.  I don't have much experience in anything.  I don't have money to travel anywhere to share the Gospel.  I'm not that good of a writer.  I fail all the time as a wife.
I protest and find excuses why I'm not qualified to serve God.


Why do I think it's all about me?
God doesn't need me.  He has chosen me to serve Him, and to help fulfill His purposes.
He doesn't rely on MY strength to fulfill His will.  He gives me HIS strength!
No, Gideon wasn't qualified.
I'm not either.
But that doesn't matter to God.  We don't get in His way.
He gives us jobs to do, and then He gives us the means to do them.
All He does is ask that we are obedient.  That we listen to Him, and follow His calling.

And we can have faith that He will do what He has promised.
God will take care of us.  He will provide for us.  It will not always be in the way we imagine.  But it will be in the way that God knows is best, and that will bring Him glory.


Have you ever heard this phrase:
"God doesn't call the equipped.  He equips those He calls."
That was true for Gideon.
It is true for me.
AND it is true for you.

God has a plan for you.  You are someone He has chosen to help carry out His purposes.  Whatever He calls you to do, He will enable you to do it.
He is big, almighty, eternal, and all-powerful.  We can trust that He will keep His promises...just like he did for Gideon.

Linking with:

To all Christian wives and mothers: I'm rooting for you.

I wrote this as a comment on a dear lady's blog, and then realized: she isn't alone.  So there are, most certainly, other women out there who need to hear the same thing!  This is me, as a young wife and (Lord willing) future mother, giving those of you with years more experience than I all the encouragement I can muster in one pep-talk of a blog post.

So, without further ado...

To all Christian wives and mothers:

First of all: YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE.

No, you’re not perfect, but for heaven’s sake, who is?!?

All those moms who seem to have it all together…THEY DON’T.  Not all the time.  They are not perfect.

Most of us bloggers put out our best, shining faces.  We post pictures of our {clean} homes.  We write about our {successful} recipes.  We talk about our {happy} days as wives and mothers.  What most of us don’t share is that 99% of the time, our house is not really all that clean.  We do not always make fantastic food that tastes and looks great.  We often have really sucky days when nothing seems to go right.

That’s NORMAL.  That’s to be EXPECTED.  We live in a SINFUL WORLD.  And—this isn’t the end of all things!  We have eternity, in heaven, with Jesus, to look forward to.

Plus—no matter how often you yell at your kids or refuse your husband or just plain lose it—Jesus has already taken away all that sin.  Kaput.  Done for.  Gone.  Outta here.

Don’t let it get you down, my dear.  I know, we all have THOSE days.  I hear ya.  Despite not having kids yet, I hear ya.

Way too true, eh?

photo credit

Don’t forget: you’re a sinner, but you’re a saint, too.  You have the Holy Spirit in your heart.  You are doing for your kids the bravest, best thing in the world: you are a stay-at-home mommy.

I am so proud of you.  So thankful, that you’re doing this for your kids, because not only are you raising them to be a blessing to the world, you are raising them to be godly women and men and they will have an impact on the world for Christ one day.

That is worth every dirty diaper, every temper tantrum, every crappy day you’ll ever have.

I know it doesn’t seem like it right now.  But you’re in this with millions of other mothers.  You all can do it.  Because you're not doing it alone.  Yes, your husband should be (hopefully is!) your partner and teammate and biggest fan.  But, dear sister in Christ, you have GOD on your side.  He's in this with you.  He can, will, and does give you the strength to get through even the toughest days.  He will make it all worth it in the end.  He is cheering for you even more than I am.  He loves you more than you can imagine.

So, dear wife, dear mother... Hang in there.  You're my hero.

Linking up:

Far Above Rubies; Growing Home; Thankful Homemaker; Time-Warp Wife; Call Me Blessed; Cornerstone Confessions; Raising Homemakers; A Wise Woman Builds Her Home; Deep Roots at Home; To Love, Honor and Vacuum; Women Living Well; Passionate and Creative Homemaking; The Fontenot Four; First Day of My Life; kate says stuff

what my friends teach me about God

"I have found that - amidst laughing, crying, sharing - it is in conversations with people I care about that God tends to reveal some of his most profound truths and realize his love most powerfully."

My friend Sara wrote that.  (She just started a new blog, and this is me giving her free advertising, because she's wonderful and a fantastic writer and you should follow her.)   She is so right.  She's one of the people with whom I have that kind of conversation, on a regular basis.  Our visit last week was like a three-day conversation of that type.  It was absolutely wonderful.

In the previous week or so, I've had talks with several lovely people that helped me realize some amazing truths about God and the way he works in our lives.
Emily.
Sara.
Brett and Ashton.
Lisa, and Nora.
Joshua.

Some things these people have helped me realize:

God gives us friends to help us know that we're not alone in this crazy thing called life.  No matter how unique our circumstances might be, there is always someone who understands something about us, and can relate and sympathize and comfort us.  We all have so much in common, if we just take the time to talk and figure it out.

Marriage, when done God's way, is one of the most glorious experiences this temporal life can offer.  It is a beautiful picture of the relationship God desires with his people, his Church.  It is never perfect because we are all sinful people, but God's forgiveness and love are life-changing, and life-giving to marriage.

God provides for us constantly, and in ways that we might not expect.  Sometimes he asks for our teamwork, like with a garden.  We plant, he grows, we reap, we give thanks.  Green things coming from seeds buried in damp dirt are a miracle.

It is good to always keep a glimmer of the little-girl in me.  That glimmer emerges when I have handmade Barbie clothes placed in my lap, and when I give the voice to a little-girl Barbie doll whose mother-doll is moved about by a five-year-old.

Why shouldn't I get as excited by little things in life as a small child?  Things like dolls and dinosaurs and rocks that are really dinosaur eggs and a butterfly garden all my own.  Thank you, Nora, for what you teach me.

I am not a failure.  We all sometimes feel like one.  Satan has dirt on all of us, that he waves in our face and accuses gleefully, "Look at all you've done wrong.  Look at all these roles you have that you haven't filled properly.  Look at all the ways you've messed up."  We can tell Satan off, because we don't have to listen to that junk.  My mother used to tell me, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."  That's in the Bible, I learned eventually, and it's not my mother's words.  It's GOD'S.  "I am baptized into Christ," Sara and I sang together while doing dishes last week.  I have the Holy Spirit living in my heart.  I am a saved, forgiven and loved child of God.  There's nothing Satan can hold against me, because Jesus destroyed all my sins on the cross.

In fact, I am beautiful.  I am a good wife.  My husband tells me this over and over; perhaps that will help me believe it better.  I am a good cook, thank you Jordan for reminding me of that last week.  Despite those rare instances when the lasagna has waxed paper on the bottom because I didn't have any tin foil to line the pan.  Thank you Brett and Ashton for being such good sports.  The lasagna tasted fantastic anyway.

Sara and Emily and a handful of precious others tell me I am a good friend.  I do try.  I think half the time I take over the conversation with my confounded habit of talking too much.  But I do hope I'm understanding, encouraging, and loving.  I'm working on being a better listener.  Stick with me, girls.  I'll get there.  Being a good friend to you is the least I can do for the incredible blessing you are to me.

My husband is the dearest man in the world.  This isn't something anyone has taught me, I'm just realizing it myself more and more every day.  I could go on and on about how wonderful he is, but I don't want to embarrass him.  He doesn't like the spotlight, and that's okay.  Suffice it to say that he is wise, caring, understanding, and loving, in a myriad of ways, and I am blown away by the blessing he is to me.


I hope I can have more "laughing, crying, sharing" conversations with people this week.  I hope you can, too.  How has God blessed you through the people in your life?