I am very grateful for the husband God has blessed me with. Sharon A. Hersh in her book Begin Again, Believe Again writes, "When we believe that we are loved even when we are good for nothing, we can rest from all our striving. That is freedom."
Wade has been faithful in showing me this principle. Believe me there have been times when I have been good for nothing. He is committed to love me regardless. I have experienced more freedom through our relationship than I ever have as he loves me with Christ's love.
Ephesians 5:25-28, 31-33
'Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself...
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.'
See I believe if we love and respect one another as God commands us, the blessings are incredulous. We also are right in the middle of His will when we do this.
John 15:12 says,' My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.'
One of my good for nothing things God is working out in me is my lack of compassion. Without a long history lesson, I always felt I needed to be strong for others, that it was weak to show weakness. This took me to the extreme end of the spectrum in that my first response to pain and suffering was always suck it up, or its not that bad. Empathy has not been my strong suit.
One of the ways God is refining me is through Wade. He struggles with a stricture in his esophagus, a recurring health issue.
As my love and trust deepen through God in our marriage, so does my compassion for Wade and others. It has not been an easy journey for either of us. There have been times when my first instinct is, Oh c'mon, but I am recognizing it sooner. God is giving me His sight for Wade.
We still continue to trust and pray for his healing. It is difficult to watch him struggle. My husband walks out his journey with integrity, trusting God for his best and loving me and our family with God's love.
I have heard it said, Preach all the time and if necessary use words! Wade's life is a testimony.
Please pray for him as he faces an invasive procedure tomorrow morning!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Choose Life
Isn't it an amazing concept that God chooses us? The God who created all things chose me to be His child! The flip side of this is that the God who created all things has given us free will. This used to be such a conundrum to me why God would allow weak, fallible humans the opportunity of choice. Why did He make it an option to choose Him?
This becomes less puzzling as I get to know Him better.
God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Now try reading it with God instead of love...
Always - all the time, continuously, forever!
I love my husband very much. Ten years ago when we met my thinking was still pretty unhealthy. I thought that I could force relationship with him. Thank God he had a little more wisdom than I and backed away for a time.
I am not saying that this was not a painful time but I shudder to think of the rotten fruit that would have been produced had he given in to my demands. We married 5 years ago on the solid rock of Christ and forgiveness. We chose each other in love and the fruit is intimacy and a deepening desire to know more of the other everyday.
In the same way, God does not want to force Himself on us or control our choices. His heart is for us and He desires for us to choose Him. He knows though that the intimacy comes from our desire for Him. It is our deliberate act of choice as we recognize our need for Him that creates relationship.
Deuteronomy 31:19,20a "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to Him. "
Are your choices creating life or death for you?
I want to dedicate this blog entry to my sister Kerri. 2 years ago today she chose life and has been clean and sober. She knows that without God she would not be where she is now and possibly not even alive. Bless you girl, I am proud of you and amazed at the miracles of our God! Keep on keeping on.
This becomes less puzzling as I get to know Him better.
God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Now try reading it with God instead of love...
Always - all the time, continuously, forever!
I love my husband very much. Ten years ago when we met my thinking was still pretty unhealthy. I thought that I could force relationship with him. Thank God he had a little more wisdom than I and backed away for a time.
I am not saying that this was not a painful time but I shudder to think of the rotten fruit that would have been produced had he given in to my demands. We married 5 years ago on the solid rock of Christ and forgiveness. We chose each other in love and the fruit is intimacy and a deepening desire to know more of the other everyday.
In the same way, God does not want to force Himself on us or control our choices. His heart is for us and He desires for us to choose Him. He knows though that the intimacy comes from our desire for Him. It is our deliberate act of choice as we recognize our need for Him that creates relationship.
Deuteronomy 31:19,20a "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to Him. "
Are your choices creating life or death for you?
I want to dedicate this blog entry to my sister Kerri. 2 years ago today she chose life and has been clean and sober. She knows that without God she would not be where she is now and possibly not even alive. Bless you girl, I am proud of you and amazed at the miracles of our God! Keep on keeping on.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Stinkin' Thinkin'
Deliberate according to Websters means; studied or intentional, careful or slow in deciding, slow and even; unhurried, to weigh in the mind;consider.
I believe that God is speaking to me about being deliberate. It is necessary to gain victory in my life.
I have been deliberate about getting on the treadmill everyday. I am also deliberate in doing things to improve my marriage. My husband Wade and I are taking a marriage course. We have been intentional about spending time going to it and in doing our homework together.
As I have sensed the conviction in these areas of my life, I realize more and more how unintentional or not deliberate I am in other ways as well.
How studied or intentional am I at learning God's word. How much do I consider in my mind to actually be obedient to it? How often do I allow my thoughts to just go on unhindered?
2 Corinthians 10:5 says, 'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.'
Being obedient is not a passive act. See the action needed in this one verse alone. Demolish...take captive....make it obedient....
I am guilty of passive thinking that ends up stinkin' thinkin' as its been said. A place where I follow my feelings and thoughts to a pit of untruth. When I am not deliberate about giving my thoughts to God, it can lead to disobedience.
For example, last year through a series of events I knew in my spirit God called me to write. Then just as easily thorough a series of doubt, I allowed myself to become discouraged and confused. It started by looking around me and comparing myself with others. I chose doubt instead of the truth.
Being deliberate is a decision. I am choosing to think about what I am thinking about. I need to arrest or take captive those thoughts that don't line me up with God's thoughts about me.
It is hard work! I have been passively thinking for many years. I cannot do it alone. This is where God comes in, I make the choices after He has prompted me, and He makes the changes.
'For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.' Hebrews 4:12
Thank you Lord for helping me be deliberate about you. Please renew my mind with your Word and Spirit.
What are you thinking about?
I believe that God is speaking to me about being deliberate. It is necessary to gain victory in my life.
I have been deliberate about getting on the treadmill everyday. I am also deliberate in doing things to improve my marriage. My husband Wade and I are taking a marriage course. We have been intentional about spending time going to it and in doing our homework together.
As I have sensed the conviction in these areas of my life, I realize more and more how unintentional or not deliberate I am in other ways as well.
How studied or intentional am I at learning God's word. How much do I consider in my mind to actually be obedient to it? How often do I allow my thoughts to just go on unhindered?
2 Corinthians 10:5 says, 'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.'
Being obedient is not a passive act. See the action needed in this one verse alone. Demolish...take captive....make it obedient....
I am guilty of passive thinking that ends up stinkin' thinkin' as its been said. A place where I follow my feelings and thoughts to a pit of untruth. When I am not deliberate about giving my thoughts to God, it can lead to disobedience.
For example, last year through a series of events I knew in my spirit God called me to write. Then just as easily thorough a series of doubt, I allowed myself to become discouraged and confused. It started by looking around me and comparing myself with others. I chose doubt instead of the truth.
Being deliberate is a decision. I am choosing to think about what I am thinking about. I need to arrest or take captive those thoughts that don't line me up with God's thoughts about me.
It is hard work! I have been passively thinking for many years. I cannot do it alone. This is where God comes in, I make the choices after He has prompted me, and He makes the changes.
'For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.' Hebrews 4:12
Thank you Lord for helping me be deliberate about you. Please renew my mind with your Word and Spirit.
What are you thinking about?
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