I have never been a big Shirley Caesar fan, but this song got me through today.
There was so much going on and right in the midst of it all, this song just started playing in my mind. I started humming it whenever I felt stress peaking its ugly head. It really helped calm me down.
You see how God does?!! Awwww, ya'll ain't sayin' nothin'!
If you want to catch me when I am least motivated to do anything remotely productive, come see me on a Monday morning. Seriously, it is then that you will find me doing anything but what I should be doing. Today was a good example of that.
I met a friend of mine at the local McDonald's so that our kids could eat and play together in the indoor playground. Meanwhile, we enjoyed some kind of coffee drink and caught up. That's kind of productive, right? I mean, I was feeding my children and arranging opportunity for physical fitness and socialization, right?
Nevertheless, I thought afterwards that it is sure is good to have friends to get together with on a Monday morning, when you are looking for a way to avoid a good day of hard work:) Furthermore, it is sure is good to have friends, period! I'm convinced they come from God!
In fact, Hubby asked me some weeks ago how I deal with stress. I mean, serious- "I can't take this anymore" -"I'm about to lose my mind" - stress. At first, I told him the obvious; "I pray, I read the bible, I listen to Christian music, I get out the house, etc". But, after I thought more about it, I told him that after I have tried those things and I am really at the edge, I call my friends.
I told him I don't even see how I would have made this far in my Christian walk without girlfriends. Most times, I call them with no expectation of them solving my issues, at all. I find it helpful just to talk about my issues or to hear that they got issues too! I can hear their kids crying in the background and that their husband had to work late, again. Or that they are fishing for new ways to save money and I can say "Whew! Okay, thanks girl. Its not just me!"
Isn't it interesting how girlfriends can see the good in your life, even when you are momentarily in the fog? It takes them to remind you, "Didn't you just tell me..." Didn't God just answer your prayer regarding..." "Girl, God will work this out, he always does!"
In addition, I find that my girlfriends never cease to amaze me. I may not share all the same interest, hobbies, or strengths that they have, but I sure am impressed by theirs and they inspire me to perfect my own. They are also a great source of laughter. You can laugh with girlfriends over stuff that men "don't get." Its so nice to have someone who "sees it your way."
For all of the reasons mentioned above, I laughed SO hard when I found this clip of Nicole Johnson!
Nicole is a "motivational entertainer" and is known for her performances, books, and DVD's about the "challenges facing today’s mega-multi-tasking woman." You can check out more from her at: Fresh Brewed Life.
"We talk about a man needing respect and affirmation. Probably the most powerful way you affirm your husband and show respect to him is when you respond to him sexually.
I've said to Mary Ann; "You can affirm me all day long. You can say: 'You're smart. You're handsome. How did you do that? That's great!' and at night if I say, So you interested? and she goes 'Eh, not tonight.' I go: Then why were you lying to me all day?!"
This is a small excerpt from The Power of Respect, which is part 3 of Bob Lepine's message: What Husbands Wish Their Wives Knew About Men.
This was so good I had to email it to all of my married friends! You can hear and/or purchase the entire message here.
I don't think there is any marriage that couldn't use a little strengthening! I am praying that hubby and I can make it to the Family Life Today: Weekend to Remember Getaway in Schaumburg, IL next month!
You can check out Family Life Today to find out when a conference will be in your area! Your marriage is worth it!
Below is a small segment of an interview that Nancy Leigh De moss did with Carolyn McCulley in September 2009. The two ladies had a very candid discussion about feminism and its effects on how society views sexuality.
After Nancy asks Carolyn a question about how we, as Christian women should view our sexuality, Carolyn tells this story...
Carolyn: ...I’d mentioned earlier in the show about this 15-year-old girl who had no knowledge or understanding of godly sexual relationships. I had the opportunity to introduce her to a married couple where I knew the man would be very direct. I encouraged him to talk to her very candidly about what men think of women in their sexuality and the value of modesty, the value of women who are reserved.
He looked at her, and he said, “My wife cost me everything. You need to understand something about economics in social relationships.”
He said, “If a candy bar costs a dollar, you’re just going to pay one dollar for the candy bar. You’re not going to pay two.”
He said, “So whatever value you put on yourself and access to you as a woman is the price it goes for on the market place, if you’re following me.”
He said, “I looked at my wife, and I knew that in order to have her affection, her attention, her romance, and her sexuality, I had to be able to pay everything I had. Her price was everything I had, my whole commitment to her and then some, for the rest of my life.”
Nancy: As in the covenant of marriage.
Carolyn: The covenant of marriage. That was her standard, her price. “If you want access to me, you marry me. There isn’t anything lesser than that.”
He said, “So she was no one-dollar candy bar. She was an everything-I-have candy bar, and it was worth it.”
He said, “You need to understand the value that God has given you because of who He created you to be.”
I thought this part of the interview exemplifies a beautiful and powerful approach to explaining God's will when it comes to human sexuality and the covenant of marriage. It is a message that's not heard enough in our day.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;...
...So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church" (Ephesians 5:25-29).
We took these pictures a couple of weeks ago, since we all looked presentable this particular day:)
When I look at these pictures, I am amazed...
#1. ...at the fact we have 3 children. #2. ...at how fast the children have grown. #3. ...that Bella and Noah are the girl/boy version of each other. #4. ...that Noelle and Bella look so different and so much alike, at the same time. #5. ...that Noah and hubby make the same faces. #6. ...that in January there will be a new face in our pictures!
Yes, you read right. I, being the "fruitful vine" that I am, am expecting another "olive plant" round about my table!
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. ~Psalm 128:1-4
The song below is the song that caused me to fall in love with Third Day's music. I have seen so many comments under this song on You Tube of people describing how this song carried them through while they overcame addictions and/or went through hardships. Some even said that this song caused them to be a Christian!
I don't know about you, but there are plenty of decisions I have made as a Christian that I made simply by faith. I don't know if I would have chosen particular roads in and of my own desires. No, in fact, I KNOW there are some roads I would have NEVER chosen in and of my own desires.
Nevertheless, when faced with decisions, after you go down the line of "What does God think about this?" "What does the bible say about this?" "Which way does it seem like God is leading me based on my prayers and experience with him?" and/or seeking godly counsel, you have to make a decision. The decision can be based on faith in God or fear of failure.
So, I try my best to go the faith in God route, even though some of those decisions have been hard. Some of them, I have made and lived out, and am living out, while still fighting fear and doubt.
Still, even in the hardest of times, God has shown me that he is with me. So much so, that the wonder of it all makes it hard to even explain it. Have you been there?
The comfort of knowing that no matter what is going on, that my loving, all-powerful God is in it with me, is enough to help me stay on the road. And, the wonder of how God reveals this, even at the darkest of hours, is what this song makes me think about. I hope it does that for you too!
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4, NLT)
Hubby had some time off work last week, which meant lots of FUN to be had by all!
Among other things, we ended up spending two days in a row at the beach. This was the first time the kids really spent any length of time playing in the sand and in the water. They had a ball!
Here is Bella standing in a deep hole hubby dug in the sand.
Noelle wouldn't look up long enough for me to get her face. She didn't want to break her concentration. "Can't stop now...I'm digging!"
This guy took a while to get comfortable. Of course, once he tasted the sand, he was ready to get loose:)
Hubby and I look forward to the day when one of the children will be old enough to take pictures of us during family outings. Until then, we will continue our futile attempts to take a decent picture of ourselves by smashing our faces together and holding the camera backwards, arm's length away. Perhaps this is a skill we will perfect over time? Until then...
