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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Marriage Monday~The Glue That Holds Us Together

The Glue That Holds Us Together

Malachi 2:14-16

Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

1.) God takes our marriage vows very seriously. 

Ecclesiastes 5:4

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

2.) We should make our serious commitments, or vows, to God in the presence of his people, in courts of the Lord's House.

Psalm 116:18-19

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

3.) Of all the things we could ever do for God or sacrifice for God, none pleases Him more than loving Him and loving others.

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Mark 12:29-33

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandmentsis, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

4.) A wife is to love her husband and give of herself in the same way Jesus did for her.

1 John 3:16

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

5.) When a wife is actively seeking to love her husband, she is able to overlook many sins.

1 Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Happily Married- Debi Pryde