Wow! How much better the day goes with a good dose of God’s Word. I’m probably repeating myself from yesterday but there is so much to gain by a few moments with God. The more time you spend in the Bible the more you want to devour more of it.
I’m doing a study of Hebrews and my husband and I are doing a study of Ecclesiastes. The study in Hebrews is teaching me to focus on faith and giving me reassurance that only through faith do we become closer to Christ. The Ecclesiastes study is teaching me to be happy where I am without worrying about tomorrow. Surprisingly they complement each other so easily. My next goal is to try to do a study of Deuteronomy with my husband and daughter. It will be family time well spent.
I take great comfort in my Lord’s words and know that they will see me through the toughest time. My marriage is better because I understand God’s plan for a husband and wife. If I had never opened the Bible I would still be struggling against the nature of God.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Day #20 - Love is Jesus Christ
How can I compare my love with the love God has for me by giving His only son to die a horrible death to ensure my future, but that’s what He did for me. Even though I’ve been a Christian a very long time I still need to be reminded from time to time that a great sacrifice was made to save me from certain death. The only way to be reminded of that fact is to get into the Word of God.
I know from experience that my days go much better when I take the time to read and study God’s word. There’s so much to learn and I am constantly learning about something new or a different way of looking at things. I enjoy bible studies because they help me be consistent about study but sometimes it is just opening the Bible and reading. It’s a great time to go over things and put my life in perspective. It certainly helps me focus on what’s important.
This was an easy dare but one that I appreciate being reminded to do.
I know from experience that my days go much better when I take the time to read and study God’s word. There’s so much to learn and I am constantly learning about something new or a different way of looking at things. I enjoy bible studies because they help me be consistent about study but sometimes it is just opening the Bible and reading. It’s a great time to go over things and put my life in perspective. It certainly helps me focus on what’s important.
This was an easy dare but one that I appreciate being reminded to do.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Day #19 - Love is Impossible
Over the past few years my walk with the Lord has become stronger and stronger but I wasn’t always in the right place with the Lord. It’s so easy to have outside influences take over your mind and heart. Once I recognized my weaknesses I had to commit to moving in a different direction. Things didn’t change overnight and it wasn’t easy. Of course it’s never on my time schedule but on God’s.
Twelve years ago I was convinced that I was not in love with my husband anymore. I prayed for God help me get away from this person. Fortunately I talked to a strong Christian friend who reassured me that God could do anything. So instead of focusing on how I could get out of my marriage I prayed for God to work on my heart. I told Him I had nothing to give so if God wanted me to stay in this marriage it would take some major changes in me.
Surprise, surprise, I can’t tell you when things changed but slowly they did and I must admit that I love my husband more today than the day we got married. I know that God put us together and now I have no regrets. And yes I have moments when I would like to deck him for some mean or ridiculous thing he may say or do but I love him and wouldn’t give him up for the world.
Twelve years ago I was convinced that I was not in love with my husband anymore. I prayed for God help me get away from this person. Fortunately I talked to a strong Christian friend who reassured me that God could do anything. So instead of focusing on how I could get out of my marriage I prayed for God to work on my heart. I told Him I had nothing to give so if God wanted me to stay in this marriage it would take some major changes in me.
Surprise, surprise, I can’t tell you when things changed but slowly they did and I must admit that I love my husband more today than the day we got married. I know that God put us together and now I have no regrets. And yes I have moments when I would like to deck him for some mean or ridiculous thing he may say or do but I love him and wouldn’t give him up for the world.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Day #18 - Love seeks to understand
Getting my husband to focus on dinner for just the two of us is tough. It took me a week to get him to commit to a night and time. Our daughter had a sleep over so we had plenty of time to spend together. Talking is something he struggles with and to share his own personal thoughts are very rare. Sometimes its not what you say but how you listen to others that count the most.
The food was great and my husband was delighted that I put so much effort into it. The fun part was just being able to talk about silly things. I didn't learn a lot of new things about him but I did have fun just talking about our daughter, his childhood (which he normally never talks about) and especially things we could do together. I learned that little boys have different issues growing up than girls do. Even with two brothers I learned things about guys I never knew. We could laugh and relax just being together.
We will definitely plan an evening just the two of us again. We decided it was worth it because our daughter will not be with us forever and soon we'll have lots of time to talk so we better practice now. I think the dinner helped me understand that if I listen I'll discover a lot more about my husband than I thought I knew. Sometimes you need it to be very quiet to hear the music in your heart.
The food was great and my husband was delighted that I put so much effort into it. The fun part was just being able to talk about silly things. I didn't learn a lot of new things about him but I did have fun just talking about our daughter, his childhood (which he normally never talks about) and especially things we could do together. I learned that little boys have different issues growing up than girls do. Even with two brothers I learned things about guys I never knew. We could laugh and relax just being together.
We will definitely plan an evening just the two of us again. We decided it was worth it because our daughter will not be with us forever and soon we'll have lots of time to talk so we better practice now. I think the dinner helped me understand that if I listen I'll discover a lot more about my husband than I thought I knew. Sometimes you need it to be very quiet to hear the music in your heart.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Day #17 - Love promotes intimacy
Sometimes my husband just doesn’t get me. After all he’s a guy and guys just aren’t usually in to sharing extremely personal thoughts. I like to talk about the important things (in my opinion) like how I feel or what I want to accomplish in my life. My husband isn’t much for talking to begin with so sharing is always difficult. If it’s sports then he is all talk. Anything deeper than what our next vacation is going to be is the limit.
I do know what makes my husband cry (he’s done it three times since we’ve been married) and I know what he fears the most (I’ll go to my grave holding on to that secret). But sometimes it’s healthy even in a good marriage to take time to review the hopes, fears and dreams of your spouse which is what I chose to do. What surprised me was how he reacted. He actually shared some things that told me he truly trusts me. I reassured him I was his most vocal cheerleader. I even made him laugh.
I’m beginning to understand how a husband and wife can become one mind. Not because I don’t have my own opinions but because his concerns are my concerns and his successes become my successes. He is my most vocal cheerleader. Some of things I complain about the most have become a lot less important as long as we can continue to communicate.
I do know what makes my husband cry (he’s done it three times since we’ve been married) and I know what he fears the most (I’ll go to my grave holding on to that secret). But sometimes it’s healthy even in a good marriage to take time to review the hopes, fears and dreams of your spouse which is what I chose to do. What surprised me was how he reacted. He actually shared some things that told me he truly trusts me. I reassured him I was his most vocal cheerleader. I even made him laugh.
I’m beginning to understand how a husband and wife can become one mind. Not because I don’t have my own opinions but because his concerns are my concerns and his successes become my successes. He is my most vocal cheerleader. Some of things I complain about the most have become a lot less important as long as we can continue to communicate.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Day #16 - Love intercedes
There is no greater tool God gives us than prayer. I wish I could say I pray for my husband everyday but I don’t but I do pray for him regularly. Since we had marital issues I have prayed for him. Most of the time it’s for strength to lead our family. Sometimes I pray for wisdom for him and me. Sometimes it can be as simple as Dear Lord, help my husband see that I need him. Most of all I pray to lead us both to a stronger marriage.
Our next step is to try to pray together. My husband was raised in the Catholic Church so outward show of spirituality is very foreign to him. He knows how important prayer is. In fact, when I have a difficult issue to deal with I ask him to pray for me. So it seems only natural that we should pray together. He’s willing but it takes setting aside some quiet, private time for us to do that.
It’s been fun seeing how much my husband has grown in his walk with the Lord. I know that prayer for him helps the process. Hopefully we can continue to grow as prayer partners because I know that will make our marriage stronger.
Our next step is to try to pray together. My husband was raised in the Catholic Church so outward show of spirituality is very foreign to him. He knows how important prayer is. In fact, when I have a difficult issue to deal with I ask him to pray for me. So it seems only natural that we should pray together. He’s willing but it takes setting aside some quiet, private time for us to do that.
It’s been fun seeing how much my husband has grown in his walk with the Lord. I know that prayer for him helps the process. Hopefully we can continue to grow as prayer partners because I know that will make our marriage stronger.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Day #15 - Love is honorable
Kids complicate everything! My husband and I would live a pretty simple life without our daughter. However, I can’t thing of a greater joy in life than sharing life with a child. I know this is an odd start to a dare about honor but it was the best way to show my husband respect and honor.
My daughter is always testing the limits of our patience. She knows how to maneuver around us to get what she wants. Sometimes this backfires. Today she wanted to go have fun with some friends but she hadn’t been honest about homework. I immediately cancelled the fun and took her cell phone away. I told my husband as he was heading home what she had done but didn’t tell him I already punished her. Unfortunately, he came in and immediately let her have it.
She told her dad that I had already punished her. My husband was very upset he had given her double doses of what I had already given. I had to apologize for my error. I admitted to him that I had dishonored him by not consulting him before I took action. I told our daughter that Dad was the head of this house and my husband who I honor with obedience. I made a mistake by not giving him all the information he needed to deal with the situation. He was so impressed that I would point that out to our daughter. It may be an indirect way of showing honor but the message came through loud and clear.
My daughter is always testing the limits of our patience. She knows how to maneuver around us to get what she wants. Sometimes this backfires. Today she wanted to go have fun with some friends but she hadn’t been honest about homework. I immediately cancelled the fun and took her cell phone away. I told my husband as he was heading home what she had done but didn’t tell him I already punished her. Unfortunately, he came in and immediately let her have it.
She told her dad that I had already punished her. My husband was very upset he had given her double doses of what I had already given. I had to apologize for my error. I admitted to him that I had dishonored him by not consulting him before I took action. I told our daughter that Dad was the head of this house and my husband who I honor with obedience. I made a mistake by not giving him all the information he needed to deal with the situation. He was so impressed that I would point that out to our daughter. It may be an indirect way of showing honor but the message came through loud and clear.
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