Happy Saturday

Yesterday, after a mentally exhausting day, there was nothing better than having my hubby come home and wrap his arms around me and tell me he loves me, especially after his own mentally exhausting day. No questions to answer. No fires to put out. Just a sweet smile, a simple hug and three little words, "I love you", that seem to make everything better!

After almost 22 years of marriage, I love that we can finish each other's sentences, laugh at each other's corny jokes (even when no one else does), and realize when advice doesn't need to be shared, just a good hug, a listening ear, and a compassionate heart. My husband is my biggest encourager and I am his, and for this, I am so thankful!

Today, I look forward to immersing myself in the Word of God for wisdom and guidance, drawing on strength from my God, and tending to the needs of my family. Blessings await!

Happy Saturday everyone!

"But David found strength in the Lord his God."

1 Samuel 30:6b (NLT)

"Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting."

James 1:5-6a (HCSB)

"She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness."

Proverbs 31:27 (NLT)

~ Encouragement for a Sleepy Morning ~

Even though I am a morning person, I would be lying if I said that getting up these past few days after Christmas break was easy. Haha! Wow! That 4:45 wake up call has not been music to my ears. Christmas break we enjoyed no alarms and had the pleasure of getting up when our bodies awakened from a nice long sleep. These past few mornings my body was not thrilled to be awakened from its nice sleep and even tried to rebel at some points wanting to roll over and forget about work and school. Even my dog, Louie, looked at me like I was crazy and rolled back over on the floor to return to his slumber. Lol! Needless to say, my heart won out because I knew that what awaited me was my morning rendezvous with Jesus! Quiet time with him before the family arises and even the sun, as a matter of fact!

This morning, through my sleepy eyes, I praise my Jesus! I am alive and awake and get to spend time with the Creator of the universe! He pauses for me and spends his undivided attention on ME! If that's not enough to make you shout, "Hallelujah" then you may want to check your pulse. At this moment, it's all about our time together. He teaches me from his Word and I listen intently on all that he is telling me. He wraps his big fatherly arms around me and gives me comfort for the day. He lets me know that I will not be alone to go into the this world today because he never leaves me. He equips me with promises from his Word before I go out the door into the battlefield. He comforts me with letting me know how much he loves me. He listens as I share my heart and lift up my husband and children. He promises to provide my needs and gives me strength for the journey ahead. Precious time!

I don't know what your mornings look like. Maybe similar to mine, maybe a lot different. But know that your God is waiting to spend time with you. He will take you right where you're at, sleepy eyes and all. Let him pause for you and shower you with his presence! You will NEVER regret it and you will be EMPOWERED because of it!

Encouragement for you from the Psalms today and I pray your day is filled with blessings!

"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you."

Psalms 143:8 (NLT)

"Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."

Psalms 5:3 (NLT)

"Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives."

Psalms 90:14 (NLT)

"If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me."

Psalms 139:9-10 (NLT)

Homeschool Mornings!

Love these 3 kiddos! I'm so blessed to be their mom!

~ It's Monday...and It's Going To Be Great! ~

Good morning! It was a wonderful weekend with my family soaking in every last second of our Christmas break. I love those precious souls God has blessed me with. Now it's time to get back to it....work, school, sports, etc. 

Today, we get the opportunity to set the tone for the week. By that, what I mean is, we get to wake up and decide how this week will be started off. Will we wake up grumbling that, "It is Monday and it is a full work/school week." Or will we wake up and declare that "It is Monday and I look forward to new opportunities ahead to serve my God!"?

It really is up to us how we start this first full week of the year. I love to be around happy people! Their spirit of joy is contagious and makes for a pleasant encounter. Then there are the people that grumble and complain about everything. You know who you are ;) Lol! It not only hurts my ears but makes me want to run away as fast as I can. Haha! Now, there is a difference between someone who is burdened and needs encouragement and someone who is just downright grumpy and needs a good dose of "lighten up". Life is too short to focus on the negative. God has given us the greatest gift we could ever receive and it is the gift of eternal life through his son, Jesus. That should well up in us a joy that can't be contained. That should trump any bad mood over trivial things and cause us to shout for joy!

"I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me."

Psalms 71:23 (NLT)

"Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love! Then we will shout for joy and be happy all our days!"

Psalms 90:14 (NET)

Make today a wonderful day by focusing on our great God! Choose this day to throw off the negative talk and speak of the goodness of God. Begin this week on a positive note of thanksgiving for all that He has done for you. Be a light around others! Choose to lift others up instead of turning them away with your negative attitude. Choose to BELIEVE God today! BELIEVE his Word and walk in his ways! What a wonderful day it will be!

"Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing."

Philippians 2:14-16 (MSG)

Building Godly Marriages in 2014

Matt and I will celebrate 22 years of marriage next month! I'm so thankful for him and our marriage! But as great as our marriage is, believe me it is not perfect! Lol! One thing I have learned throughout these 22 years is that I've done a lot of things wrong (and will as the years go on). I have also seen what works and how a marriage grounded in God's Word is beautiful and everything God designed it to be. We strive daily to commit ourselves and our marriage to God and allow HIM to be our center. I love my husband so much. He is truly a gift from God! 

 I have seen so many marriages crumble around me and many this past year that have truly been on the verge of disaster. My desire is to see couples return to a godly design for marriage and see them put each other back as a priority.

I'm calling on married women all around to commit to building stronger marriages this year. For those ladies that are not married yet, go ahead a commit your future marriage to the Lord and to prayer now. 

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

Proverbs 31:10-11 (NIV)

Throughout the year I will be sharing some things I have learned in my own marriage. I am no expert...far from it. Lol!  These are some things that I know have worked and things that didn't (so you can steer clear ;). I desire to see marriages grow stronger in Christ this year. Whether you've been married one year or sixty years, whether you are engaged or just dating, marriage takes work. Granted, the work is not all hard, and believe me, can be quite enjoyable, but you have to make it a priority. 

Marriage was designed by God, which I would say is pretty important, so let's give it all we've got and commit it to God for HIS glory. 

Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Genesis 2:22-24 (NIV)

Today I will share some basic "dos and don'ts" that I have learned along the way as a wife:

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Here are the "Dos":

Tell him you love him often and at times he wouldn't necessarily expect it. 

Greet him at the door with a hug and smile when he gets home from work. 

Reserve the first hug and kiss for him when you get home (not the children). 

Cut the cord from your own parents and rely on him now. 

Tell him your proud of him. 

Offer grace frequently!

Forgive. 

Show him respect. 

Let him know you appreciate all he does for you and the family. 

Serve him before your children. 

Hold his hand in public. 

Pray for him. 

Pray over him. 

Read the Bible with him. 

Leave him love notes or texts messages throughout the day. (That can be fun! ;)

Hug him in front of your children (even a sweet kiss). 

Encourage him. 

Publicly praise him. 

Plan a spontaneous date for him without children. (Doesn't have to cost money...get creative!)

Serve him breakfast in bed on occasion. 

Laugh together. 

Dream together. 

Pray that God would make your heart and your marriage honorable before him. 

Tell him you would say "I Do" all over again!

And here are the "Don'ts":

Don't dote on your children more than your husband. 

Don't run to your parents (or someone else) for everything. 

Don't go to bed angry. 

Don't tell your friends private things that are between you and your husband. 

Don't keep a record of wrongs. 

Don't always share your bed with your children. (They have their own bed!)

Don't turn down a date offer from him to do something else. 

Don't talk about or "ooh and ahh" over other men (even celebrities). 

Don't put him down in front of your children or other people (even in a joking way).

Don't belittle him about the finances. 

Don't text or call other men friends.

Don't always go on double-date with other couples. You need one-on-one time with your hubby too. 

Don't nag him about the honey-do list. 

Don't override his say-so in front of your kids. Discuss matters privately. 

Don't give up! Marriage is a gift. 

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These are just the beginning. There may be many more that come to mind. Let's put them into practice this year. 

Strong and godly marriages in 2014!!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)

Obedience Is a Long-Term Commitment

Reading about Noah this morning!

A story I have read and heard many times throughout my 40 years of life but still, his obedience to God resonates in my soul. He was a man of great faith, though not without faults, as he obeyed God when nothing made sense to him or those around him. He is forever remembered in the great "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 and what an incredible man he was! What strikes me of his life this morning is this:

Obedience is a long-term commitment.

Noah proved he was in it for the long haul. He constructed the ark over all those years as naysayers looked on thinking he was crazy. He took his family and herds of animals on a boat and stayed for a year until God showed him it was safe to depart. He portrayed patience and such obedience even though it was hard. Wow!

"So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him."

Genesis 6:22 (NLT)

Obedience

Am I in it for the long haul like Noah? When I am called to obey and it is not a quick process will I remain faithful and obedient to God through it all?

A lot to ponder this morning. Taking it to The Lord!

2014...A New Page Turned

The page has been turned and a new blank novel awaits all the beautiful stories that God will write about your life this year! As God begins to pen those pages, allow HIM to bring out the storyline because HIStory is so much better than any story we could write on our own. Let the Author work! Feel his Spirit move through you this year and heed the call to live that full and abundant life that he has promised.

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

John 10:10 (NKJV)

Through hardships...rest in HIM! Matthew 11:28-30

Through silence...be still in HIM! Psalm 46:10

Through valleys...trust in HIM! Proverbs 3:5-6

Through failures...obey HIM! John 14:15

Through victories...praise HIM! Psalm 150:6

In ALL ways...serve HIM! Psalm 100:2

Every day...worship HIM! John 4:24

At ALL times...love HIM! Mark 12:30

In everything...BELIEVE HIM! Ephesians 3:20

This is the year of our LORD, 2014! Let him move through you and make this the best year yet! A novel is penned today and YOU are his prized subject!

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

1 John 3:1a (NIV)

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)