YES, I am blessed!

November 2012~ Thankful List

I Choose to Bless~ Day 10

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Somethings to Ponder
*If someone asked you why you loved your husband, what would be your answer? Women would probably mention...his personality, his looks, his consistent character, or that he is a hard worker ect....
*What if over the years of your marriage your husbands stopped having theses Characteristics? Would you stop loving your husband? If it be true your basis for love is over.
* The only way love can last a lifetime is if it's unconditional. The Truth...... Love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosing to love. The name for this love is calledagape.
*There are other types of Love also: Phileo (friendship) and Eros(sexual love). Both friendship and sex have an important place in marriage.
*Phileo and Eros are more responsive in nature and can fluctuate based upon feelings. Agape love, on the other hand, is selfless and unconditional.
* Is you Love for your husband based on feelings or circumstances rather than commitment? The foundation in the marriage must beAgape!

* You ask why all these broken families, all the nasty divorces???? Because their LOVE was not based upon Agape Love, but ratherupon phileo, and eros.
* Agape, is God's kind of Love, He doesn't Love us because we arelovable but because He is so loving.....Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)
Love...."Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,endureth all things." (1 Corinthians 13:7 KJV)
This Love( Agape) does not come from within....IT COMES FROM GOD!
You must not say....I LOVE you because, but rather I Love Youperiod!!!
DARE TODAYDo something out of the ordinary for your husband~ Something that proves (to you and him) that your love is based upon your choice and nothing else! Be creative....Demonstrate LOVE to him for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.
Questions?
Has your love in the past been based on your spouses attributes and behavior, or your commitment? How can you continue to show love when it's not returned in a way you hoped for?

Prayer: When Expectations Cripple Marriage from Unveiledwife.com

Graphics~ The path of life

I Choose to Bless...Day 9

Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity~ 1 Peter 5:14

*You can tell a lot about the state of a couple's relationship from the way they greet one another.

*Do you stop to consider...the difference it would make in your husband's day if everything about you expresses the fact that you were really, really glad to see him?

* When you communicate that you are glad to see your husband, his personal self-worth increases, he feels valued. A good greetingset's the stage for positive and healthy interaction. Like Love, it puts wind in the sails.

* Remember Love is a choice. So choose to change your greeting. Choose Love.

Today's Dare

Question?

When and where did you choose to do your special greeting? How will you change your greetings from this point on?

-Love Dare

I Choose to Bless~ Day 8

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame. (Song of Songs 8:6 KJV)
Wrath [is] cruel, and anger [is] outrageous; but who [is] able to stand before envy? (Proverbs 27:4 KJV)
Jealousy is one of the strongest drives known to man. It comes from the root word zeal and means "to burn with intense fire."
Two Forms Of Jealousy~
Legitimate~ based upon love
Illegitimate~ based upon envy
Today's Dare
Determine to become your spouse's biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday's list on negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he recently enjoyed.

The Love Dare

I Choose to Bless - Day 7

There are 2 rooms in your heart

1. Appreciation Room

2. Depreciation Room

The Appreciation Room

*Where your thoughts go when you encounter positive and encouraging things about your spouse.
* You enjoy the visit to the Appreciation room.
*On the walls in the appreciation room are written words and phrases describing the good attributes of your mate. Example: honest, wonderful cook, intelligent,beautiful eyes, or hard worker. (they are things you have discovered about your husband that have embedded themselves in your memory.
* As you think on these things your appreciation for your spouse increases.

The Depreciation Room
* On the walls in this room is things that bother or irritate you about your spouse.
* These things were placed there out of frustration, hurt feelings, and disappointments of unmet expectations.
*This room is lined with the weaknesses and failures of your husband. (their bad habits)
*Here are written very hateful things about their mate.
* It is where ammunition is kept for the next fight. (bitterness is allowed to spread here)
* People fall out of love here.
* Divorces are plotted in this room.
*The more time you spend here, the more your heart devalues your spouse.

Love knows about the Depreciation Room and does not live in denial it exists. BUT Love chooses not to live there.
Love chooses to believe the best about people. It gives them the benefit of the doubt.
Love focuses on the positive.

The only reason you should glance in the door to the Depreciation Room is to know how to pray for your spouse. The only reason you should go into the room is to write "COVERED IN LOVE"
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
(1 Peter 4:8 KJV)
We must develop the habit of reining in your negative thoughts and focusing on the positive attributes of your mate.

Today's Dare
Get two sheets of paper~ On the first sheet, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with the negative things on the second sheet of paper. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your husband for having that characteristic.
Question
Which list was easier to make? what did this reveal about your thoughts? What attribute did you thank your spouse for having?


The Love Dare

I Choose to Bless....Day 6

He that is] slow to anger is better than the mighty;
and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
(Proverbs 16:32 KJV)
*Love is hard to offend and quick to forgive. How easily do you get irritated and offended?
*People who are irritated are locked, loaded, and ready to overreact.
* When under pressure Love doesn't turn sour.
* A loving wife is not overly sensetive or cranky but exercises emotional self-control.
*Ask yourself am I calm breeze or am I storm waiting to happen?
* Life is a marathon not a sprint.
* Love will lead you to forgive instead of holding a grudge.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; [13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. [14] And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Colossians 3:12-14 KJV)

Today's Dare
Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin making a list of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

Questions
Where do you need to add margin to your life? When have you recently overreacted? What was your real motivation behind it?

What decisions have you made today?

I Choose to Bless Day 5

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. (Proverbs 27:14 KJV) 

* Nothing irritates others as quickly as being rude.
* Rudeness is unnecessarily saying or doing things that are unpleasant for another person to be around.
* To be rude is to act unbecoming, embarrassing, or irritating.
* If you Love your husband you will desire to love, and purposefully avoid things that frustrate him, or cause him discomfort.
* Bottom Line~ Genuine love minds its manners.

[It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. (Proverbs 25:24 KJV) 

Test yourself
1.) How does your husband feel about the way you speak and act around them?
2.) How does your behavior affect your husbands sense of worth and self esteem?
3.) Would your husband say you're a blessing, or that you're condescending and embarrassing?

Guideline Principles To Practice
1.) Guard the golden rule. Treat your husband the same way you want to be treated (see Luke 6:31)
2.) No double standards. Be considerate to your spouse as you are to strangers or co workers.
3.) Honor request. Consider what your husband already asked you to do or not to do. If in doubt, then ask.

Today's Dare

Ask your husband to tell you three things that cause him to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking him or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.

Question At the end of the day

What things did your spouse point out about you that need your attention? How did you handle hearing it? What do you do to plan to do to improve these areas?

-The Love Dare-Day 5

Weekly Wrap Up...10/3/14

What a week! I have still been high on the pain scale this week but thankful for the good days and sunshine. We are going into week 5 on Monday. I am beginning to see Blake go through that fun  stage of puberty....difficult time. 
To ease into this new change we started with this book . I was very impressed and would highly recommend this for your tween boys.

For sports this year Blake is continuing to play Football. I was  pleased to get him on a great team with wonderful coaching. (This is always a concern when we transfer leagues). In the winter, we will try wrestling and see how that goes. He has been exited to meet two Christian boys on his team and another who homeschools.  For Bible we are doing the S.O.A.P. Study together. It is fun to read a chapter and then see what verses speak to us each day. Blake is filling up his Bible notebook with God's Word. Last night we had a camp-out in our front room together. I am going to cherish the moments he wants to spend with me because soon enough that will be gone... {sigh}.
And now....Off to a great weekend!

Throwback Thursday ~ 10/2/14

Wow! Time goes so fast! They are now 11 & 18.

Austen & Blake 2004

I Choose to Bless-Day 4

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! [If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. 

(Psalms 139:17-18 KJV) 

* Love Thinks
* If you don't learn to be thoughtful, you end up regretting missed opportunities to demonstrate love.
* Love requires thoughtfulness~ Built through the constructive combination of patience, kindness, and selflessness.

Todays's Dare

Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

Question after today's dare....

What did you learn about yourself or your spouse by doing this today? How could this become a more natural, routine, and genuinely helpful part of your lifestyle?

I Choose to Bless...Day 3

We live in a world that is enamored with "self".

The danger of this kind of thinking becomes painfully apparent once inside a marriage relationship.

Example: When a wife constantly complains about the time and energy she spends meeting the needs of her husband, that's a sign of selfishness.

1) True Love looks for ways to say "yes".

2) Love is never satisfied except in the welfare of others.

3) Love leads to inner joy.

4) Love covers a multitude of sins (Proverbs10:12)

Today's Dare

Buy your spouse something that reflect your love to them

I Choose to Bless my Marriage......Day 2

Love is Kind

Kindness in 4 Categories 

1. Gentleness~ Speak truth in Love

2.. Helpfulness~ Meeting the needs of the moment

3. Willingness~ Listen first rather than demand your way

4. Initiative ~ You see the need and then make the move first.

Today's Dare

In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

I Choose to Bless...My Marriage Day 1

For the pass few years I have really struggled in my marriage.

There was a time I worked hard to build my marriage up and glorify God through it. But, the past few years I lost focus and let things go. A couple month ago my son wanted to watch our wedding so I dug out the tape and we watched it. Watching it made me realize how far we have come(18 years). 

I am choosing to get my head back in the game and work at my marriage. Satan wants nothing more then to destroy this marriage. I pray the Lord would put a hedge of protection around us so that we can build it back up.

Everyday I will share a goal for each day. This will be based out of

 "The Love Dare"

I encourage you to come along with me on the journey.

Matthew 19:6

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder

Your Words

Your words reflect your heart.

Today practice on demonstrating patience.

Say nothing negative to your spouse at all.

If  the temptation arises, choose not to say anything.

It's better to hold your tongue than to say something

you'll regret.

Some verses to ponder

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Prov. 15:18

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Eph. 4:2

Prayer

Lord, Help me today to speak out of Love... To remember your Love for us, even when we weren't lovable. Keep watch over my tongue.

Help me be silent when I shouldn't speak and to Love when it isn't  deserved. Thank you for loving us and giving us HOPE when sometimes it feels hopeless.

Amen

Throw Back...

This is one of my favorites of Blake and Hunter.

Hunter loves his family.

Bible Reading Week 1 {9-20-14}

Rise & Fall Series

Genesis 1:6-25

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.And God made the firmament, and divided the waters whichwere under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.And the evening and the morning were the third day.And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 

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Sunday Sermon Notes 3-16-14

Exile VI Title:

  The Answer

Date: 3.16.14

 Text: 1 Peter 1:6­12 HI: God's answer to why? is Who.

Introduction:

Atheist Susan Jacoby states it this way: "The theodicy problem is the rock upon which all monotheism founders. How can the existence of an omnipotent, loving God be reconciled with the horrors he allows to be inflicted on his creations?"

READ 1 Peter 1:10­12

I. Where the prophets saw a silhouette, we see Jesus.

(PUT THESE NEXT TWO ON SAME SLIDE)

Genesis 3:15

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers­ it is to him you shall listen­

Psalm 22:1, 7­8

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 "He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"

Isaiah 53:3, 10­11

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not...Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.2

Hebrews 11:13­16

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

1. Theysearched 2. Theysuffered 3. Theypersevered 4. TheytrustedGodassovereign. 5. TheyservedHimfaithfully.

6. Theyservedothersfaithfully. 7. Theypavedthewayforthegospeltoberevealed.

READ 1 Peter 1:6­7a

II. God doesn't leave us in the fire, he leads us through the fire.

(let's make this on the "sticker" fomat) "Hi, My Trial Is..." Insert Trial Here ______.

Hebrews 12:1­2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

"While other worldviews lead us to sit in the midst of life’s joys, foreseeing the coming sorrows, Christianity empowers its people to sit in the midst of this world’s sorrows, tasting the coming joy.” Timothy Keller, Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering

"Tested genuineness" = "Genuineness as a result of a test, without alloy" “You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

3

Timothy Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering READ 1 Peter 1:7b

  III. The gospel of Jesus is our guarantee that we won't be left in the fire.

2 Corinthians 4:16­18: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

“Some suffering is given in order to chastise and correct a person for wrongful patterns of life (as in the case of Jonah imperiled by the storm), some suffering is given not to correct past wrongs but to prevent future ones (as in the case of Joseph sold into slavery), and some suffering has no purpose other than to lead a person to love God more ardently for himself alone and so discover the ultimate peace and freedom.” Timothy Keller Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering (47)

Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Edmund Clowney: "When Jesus Christ is revealed, the gold of our faith will shine to his praise. The whole nature of suffering is changed for the Christian when he realizes that his anguish brings honour to Christ."

READ 1 Peter 1:8­9

IV. Faith in Jesus is the soul's evidence that leads to our joy.

1. They searched 2. They suffered 3. They persevered 4. They trusted God as sovereign. 5. They served Him faithfully.

6. They served others faithfully. 7. They paved the way for the gospel to be revealed.

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