Tag Archive for faith

Working on “Us”

Posted on April 21, 2016 by

bookI’m about to share a very intimate moment that my husband and I had recently (with his permission of course). We started doing a book study on marriage together a few weeks ago to help reconnect us after having a new baby in the house. You parents know how a marriage can experience strain with the introduction of a child. The child gets most of the attention and well, spouses get very little from each other unless it is directly relating to the child. So we decided we needed to work on “us” again.

While studying one particular chapter on irreconcilable differences, I was reminded of how good a man my husband is and more importantly how godly he is. I admitted to him that at times in the past I have felt like he has put me on the back burner for other things like work and church. Of all the things I could complain about, there I was giving the man a hard time about two very important aspects of our lives. As I said it, I could hear how petty I sounded complaining about how he rushes out the door on his way to work (he has more than enough time to get there), which means that we don’t have time for the lingering goodbyes I’d prefer; and how adamant he is to get to church on time every Sunday that he doesn’t seem to mind if I miss breakfast in the process or leaving me behind to drive myself. Those things actually annoyed me until he shared some profound wisdom that made me feel extra foolish and extra proud to be his wife all at once.

“Being at church on time is important to me because I know that I need God’s help to take care of my family,” he said. “That’s where our blessings come from.”

It was simply put, but spoke volumes about his faith and the depths of his heart for me. His motivation is to be a provider for us, and he’s doing it by faith. As I’ve mentioned in Wait on God, I currently make more money than my husband does, but he is still a provider nonetheless. First and foremost, he is providing the spiritual covering that we need. As far as money goes, He knows that a job is just a resource, but God is THE source. He knows that the favor of God is worth more than any amount of money on a paycheck. He knows that he is accountable to God for the well-being of our family. He is standing on the promise that if we obey and serve Him we shall spend our days in prosperity and our years in pleasures, (Job 36:11) and that as the head of our family it starts with him. That also explained to me why he’s so determined to get to work early each day. He wants to insure that he honors God even on his job for the benefit of our family. And isn’t that what we want–a man who loves God more than he loves us, so that he can in fact love us the way the Father intends for us as wives to experience love according to Ephesians 5:25?

Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

So married ladies (especially those of us who are heavily involved in ministry), take it from me. Before you give your husband a hard time about his spiritual and natural convictions that you don’t understand, consider how those things communicate his commitment to and his sacrifice for you and your family. You just might be like me and fall in love all over again.

I’d like to hear from you. How have you and your spouse stayed emotionally connected after having children? Please share!

9 comments Posted in Marriage, Relationship with Others, Uncategorized

Alter Your Spiritual Taste Buds to Receive God’s Best

Posted on March 21, 2016 by

There’s a familiarbitter taste phrase that says “God has a way, and His way is mighty sweet.” David, the psalmist, was the first to share this insight in Psalms 119:103 when he compared God’s Word to honey.

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, but it makes me think. If God’s Word is so sweet then why do we get a bitter taste in our mouths when we are corrected by it or when our lifestyles are challenged by it’s commands?

Perhaps you’ve been there. You sit in church service listening to the Word and all of a sudden the pastor hits a subject that makes you squirm in the pew. Ordinarily you would jump for joy, run around the church or do a spiritual food dance, but for some reason this subject tasted like castor oil going down. Your flesh doesn’t like it, but you take it anyway because you know you need it.

Does an experience like that make the Word of God any less sweet? Absolutely not! As believers we do not walk or live by our senses anyway so the sweet quality of the Word has nothing to do with your taste buds or even how you feel about it. It has everything to do with its pleasant effect on your life when you put it into practice. Sweet in this context means agreeable, satisfying, gratifying, good, and acceptable. This description reminds me of Romans 12:2 part B.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If I use my spiritual translation it would read like this. That ye may prove what is that “sweet” and perfect will of God (God’s way). Yes, despite how challenging it may be to our flesh, God’s way is sweet because it benefits us in so many ways. We just have to do part A of that scripture–be transformed by renewing our minds–to truly taste and see it that way. Here are a few promises found in the Word that may encourage a shift in perspective and change your palate to prefer God’s way over any other way.

  • “When a man’s ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. “Proverbs 16:7
  • “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19
  • “Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33
  • “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
  • “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.” John 1:10

There are countless other benefits in this life and in the life to come, but that’s enough to shout about right there! Don’t be fooled either. These are far better than what Satan can offer as an alternative to following his way instead. Not doing the will of God may be the easy option and following God’s way may challenge you beyond where you think you can go, but trust me the bitter truth makes for a better you–one who can receive the SWEETEST and BEST that the blood of Christ has secured for you.

 

 

2 comments Posted in Relationship with God

Favor Ain’t Fair, But It’s Necessary

Posted on March 6, 2016 by

restaurant signHave you ever had a “favor ain’t fair, but it’s necessary” moment? Well, this past Valentine’s Day my husband and I did, and it made me smile.

We decided to go to Olive Garden in a nearby city for our date on the Friday before Valentine’s Day. I already knew it would be crowded since the big day was on a Sunday this year and most people would want to celebrate earlier. I wanted to beat the crowd. I tried to call and make reservations, but they told me they don’t reserve tables on the weekend. There went that plan to beat the crowd. Next I tried getting there early because the hostess told me on the phone that if we got there by 6:30 we would probably be served quicker. Well, that plan was a bust too. My hair was in desperate need of some TLC so I had to make it look as sexy as dirty hair can look for my date, which took quite a bit of time. It was about 7:00 when we finally left the house with a 45-minute drive ahead of us.

As we approached the restaurant our thoughts were confirmed. The parking lot was packed and we saw people waiting outside the front doors. I felt compelled to speak in faith at that moment.

“Watch and see. We won’t have to wait longer than ten minutes to get a table,” I said to my husband, knowing full well that this looked more like a 60-minute wait. Actually, we were told that it would be an hour and 15 minutes wait. Well, maybe we can hit up the mall across the street while we wait on our table I thought. Wrong! The hostess handed us the notification vibrating thingy and said that it wouldn’t work from that far away. She did tell us that we could wait at the bar which was first come first serve and get half off a glass of wine while we waited. Well seeing as how the lobby had standing room only, we made our way to the bar area in hopes that we could use that coupon for a non-alcoholic drink also and that maybe just maybe there would be two available seats. Wrong again. The bar was packed and the best we could do was huddle together between the bar crowd and the booth seating behind it.

That’s when God turned it.

A couple had just gotten up from the booth directly behind us. My husband thought it would be a good idea to just sit down at the booth while we waited. We intended to get up as soon as the rightful occupants came over. Besides, the table hadn’t even been cleaned off yet. The next thing we know, the waiter came over, wiped off the table, and asked us what we wanted to order. I believe in doing the right thing, so much so that I would refuse to lie about my age when I was younger just to get an under 12 discount. I gave him a not- so-sure look and was about to tell him that our buzzer thingy hadn’t gone off yet, but he interrupted saying, “You can either wait another hour or let me take your order.” We let him take our order.

We waited less than 10 minutes. We had a good time, a good meal, and were out of there in the time it would have taken us to get a table. I call that the favor of God. Numbers 6:25 of the Amplified Bible says…

The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor],
And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];

I realize how unfair that was to the people waiting their turn to be seated, but I also realize how necessary it is for God’s Word to be demonstrated in the lives of His children. He said in Mark 11:23 that if we have the God kind of faith, we can have whatever we say. I merely spoke what I wanted into the atmosphere (releasing faith) truly believing that God could move on our behalf and my faith worked. Yours can too! God is not a respecter of persons. When we do things His way, (by faith) He’s moved to honor our faith just like He did for Abraham who staggered not at the promise (to become the father of many nations) through unbelief. He’s just GOOD and FAITHFUL like that.

What is it that you need to release faith for? I dare you to take God at His Word and speak favor over your situation. It may take time to develop this kind of faith, but the more you practice this principle the more you will see the favor of God released through your positive confession.

I’m sure God has already honored your faith at some point before and made you smile as well, and I’d like to hear about it. In what ways has God shown you favor? Leave your comment here on my website in the box below.

 

 

2 comments Posted in Relationship with God
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