Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Marriage is a Commitment!

Titus 2: 1-5 Read now..... "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"

As wives and moms we are taught to love our husbands and children. In Ephesians 5:22-28 we are told in one verse "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it:" As you read the 2 passages given today you'll see they are familiar in one respect. Titus 2 says that the wife if to love the husband, then in Ephesians 5 the husband is told to love the wife.

Now my question is do you have Agape love as is spoken of in Ephesians or Phileo love as is spoke of in Titus? Here's 6 truths regarding Phileo and Agape love.

1. Man most wants phileo love or affection from his wife; woman most wants agape  love or deep, abiding love from her husband.

2. Phileo love or affection from a woman will stir agape love or a deep, abiding love from a man; agape love from a man will stir phileo love in a woman.

3. There is less of a need to command a woman to have agape love than there is in a man, and there is less of a need to command a man to have phileo love than there is in a woman.

4.There is no place in the Bible where a woman is commanded to have agape love nor is there a single place in the Bible where a man is commanded to have phileo love.

We are commanded to give not what we want or need, but what the other wants and needs.

5. We should not try to be a good wife or a good husband, and we should not expect to receive the exact love that we give.

6. A man needs to feel needed and attractive; a lady needs to feel protected, loved, and cherished.

Do you agape or phileo your wife/husband?

Monday, November 21, 2011

Marriage is a Commitment!

Read Ephesians 5:21-19 How are you enjoying the lessons. I did forget mention that my points are coming from a booklet Dr Jack Hyles wrote. I believe that in today's world we occasionally need a reminder of how our marriages should be. So many think homosexuals, lesbians are acceptable. I may be sticking my neck out by saying its WRONG but if we don't take a stand for right, who will?!

Here's the last 5 points to our first part of Marriage is a commitment not an agreement.

16. Go out on a weekly date with your spouse. I've been married for 20 yrs and I could probably count on one hand the number of times we didn't have our weekly date! Those date nights are so very crucial for a marriage. There has been times that the date night was a life saver, as well as refreshing spending time with my husband without the children.
Don't be afraid to get a sitter for your children you will be grateful you did this!

17. One of the marriage partners should care for the couples finances, and the other should live on an allowance.

18. Do not have joint bank accounts.

19. Do not try to be a good mate; try to give your spouse what he or she needs.

20. Apply to your spouse all Bible verses about the treatment of others.

The last 4 I've not touched on as much an they must be something that you do after prayer and talking with your spouse about changes.

These are very simple principles which has been taught to many many couples. If you will follow them they will work! I pray that your marriage will see changes because of these 20 steps.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Marriage is a Commitment!

Read Ephesians 5:21-29 I realize I'm using the same passage each time, but this passage hits it right on the nail for our marriages.

If you are just coming in on this topic the 2 post before this will take you the beginning. I pray that if you are engaged, newly married or married for 20 yrs as my hubby and I are, that you will take a look at your relationship and make the changes needed.

11. Do not run with single people of either sex. You say, but I'm married there's nothing to worry about. Stop right there.... IT CAN BE DANGEROUS!!! A marriage will be ruined because one or both people of the marriage want the joys of marriage and the joys of their single life! You can't have both "worlds" when you say, "I Do" you have left the single world and entered the world of marriage. You say duh.... I know that! Well, then be ware hanging around with the old boyfriend/girlfriend is very UNHEALTHY!!!

12. Put your mate before your children. When you married it was you and your spouse. After the children come it's still you and your mate with the blessing of a child(ren). Once they grow up and move out it's again ONLY you and your spouse!
Keep this order in your marriage and you will go far
1. God
2. Your spouse
3. Your children

13. Put your mate before your parents. As a parent who has a daughter really close to marring age, I would hate for her to put me first. When she marries the one who is first in her life is God then her husband then her father and I.

14. Never criticize your in-laws. I have seen this in many marriages where the in-laws are criticized. Stop, Think and realize you wouldn't have your spouse if his/her parents hadn't of married and had her/him. They are just as special and important as your own parents!

15. Keep the mystique in your marriage. This is a series of lessons in itself. However we will touch a little here. Make sure that you keep that mystique in your marriage. As a married coupled we should still treat each other with reserve and formality. We need to keep the mystique in our marriage all the way through!!!

Remember marriage is commitment not an agreement!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Marriage is a Commitment!

Marriage is a commitment! Read Ephesians 5:21-29
6. Do not interfere with your mate's discipline of the children. This is very important, that you do this because the children NEED to see a united front between you and your spouse.
7. Remember, marriage is not an agreement; it is a commitment. When you said I do it wasn't if you do I will. It is I will even if you won't. When You said your vows, hold to what you committed to.
8. Never spurn your mate's affection or desire for affection. I Corinthians 7:1-5 The Bible is very clear here in this regard. If you don't allow the intimate part of your marriage it can destroy your marriage.
9. Let your children go, according to the plan.
Age                                   % Dependence                              % Independence
Birth                                      100%                                             0%
3                                              90%                                            10%
7                                              75%                                            25%
10                                            50%                                            50%
13                                            25%                                            75%
16                                            10%                                            90%
18                                              0%                                          100%

If you notice the %'s change as they get older! Many parents resent the change.
As a mom of a 19 yr old I will admit that letting go is hard!!! My children are between the ages 10 and 18 for my boys and it is not easy but you will realize if you let go a little more at each stage it will be better for you and the child.
10. Do not get to close to another couple. You can destroy not only your marriage but the other couples marriage if you spend to much time together!

Remember that every time you do right by your spouse you are doing right by Jesus!
Keep your marriage, exciting and fun!!!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Marriage is a Commitment!

Dr Jack Hyles - Marriage is not an agreement; marriage is a commitment.
The 4 causes of Divorce : 1. Finances
                                          2. Discipline of Children
                                          3. Problems with love life
                                          4. In-laws

*Every time we do right to our spouses we are doing right to Jesus!
*The I Do's and the I Don'ts of marriage

Read Ephesians 5:21-29
There will be 20 suggestions for you to read and think on, then act on.
1. Never speak disagreement. If something your spouse says you disagree with Don't say anything!!!
2. Divide areas of choice. Have area's you make decisions in and area's your spouse makes decisions in. Then have area's that you make decisions together in.
3.Share interests but no decisions. Having a mutual interest is good for a couple to have. However mutual decision making isn't good.
4. Have some time and activity apart from one another. You need your alone time just as you time together. Having separate interest makes life for a couple alot more interesting!
5. Realize tat you are married to Jesus. Matthew 25:34-40 Did you know you need to God and serve People??? If we don't serve people how can we serve God? If you cloth a person, you cloth Jesus, you feed the hungry, you feed Jesus. The way you treat people is the way you treat Jesus!!!

Come back tomorrow for 5 more points....

Try applying these 5 things to marriage today and see how it helps :) Marriage is made of God if we do as he says you will have a much better marriage. DO I always follow these steps, no because I'm human, but I do my best to follow and I ask the Lord to help me to follow his steps.

Have a great day friend!!!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Are you a Teacher or just a voice?

Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus."

Do you have the mind of Christ when you teach your school class, your children at home, your Sunday School class? Or do you go life blindly not having the right kind of thoughts?

As a wife, mom and teacher my goal and prayer would be that Phil. 2:5 would be my thought.
Do I mess up? yes Do I go into my school days thinking as Christ would? Not always, because I am human. I was thinking back to this past wk. We were running late, things weren't going as they should for the day, as scheduled. We sat down and I just started teaching, Bible went ok, English was rough and I became very upset with my children. Not because I wasn't prepared but because I didn't go into school with the mind of Christ.

As we were about done with English I ask my boys. What did we forget today? They looked at each other an all said, "we didn't pray before starting and we didn't ask God to be in control of our school day." I've told you this because when we teach are we just a voice that the children hear as blah blah blah or do they hear what you are saying because you are in touch with the Lord and because you have said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

Here's a few tips to make sure your prepared for the class:
1. Read through your material
2. Write down ideas
3. Make notes of any items you need to purchase or have for class.
4. Plan ideas that will help your students.
5. Have helpers for your lessons.
6. Know your time limit.

This can applied to teaching your children home whether in school or just teaching them as toddlers, for a classroom in church or school.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Day 10 and 11 of Thankfulness....

Day 10 that we have doctors who know how to help and what to tell us to do when there's a problem.

*Please pray for my son, Caleb, we'll be taking him for an MRI in the next wk or so.

Day 11/11/11 (that's so cool 11/11/11) today for those Men and Women who have served or are serving in the Air  Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and Army. Sorry if I missed one. I'm proud to say I'm an American and that I live in North America in the GREAT US of A!!!!

Little thought for the day: I John 3:22 "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, do those things that are pleasing in his sight."

Are you a people pleaser or person pleaser? Who is more important to Please?
It's good that we want to please our parents, our teachers, our Pastor, our spouses. However, we should want to please God first and foremost!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Take a Stand...

Ephesians 6:10-18
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness."

Do you take stand for what is right?
Do you stand behind our Soilders who are out there to help keep our freedom?
Do you take stand for the Lord Jesus, who gave us freedom from sin and hell?

These are just a few important things we should take a stand for. Taking a stand IS NOT easy! As a matter of fact sometimes taking a stand can be VERY hard.

As day 9 of Thankfulness: I want to say, I'm thankful the Lord gave me Life for which I can take a stand for him.

I love this song:
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soilders of the cross,
Lift high His royal banner;
It must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory,
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.


Why not today, decide to take a stand. For what, you ask. Jesus, the Bible, The cross, for what is right, for your country, for the soilder who has died or is now serving our Country!




Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Do you have something New your facing?

I enjoy reading and recently I've been reading a book Authored by Dr Jack Hyles (my former Pastor).
.I have several things come into my life that is requiring facing some new task and changes. Well, In Psalm 72 the Author is Solomon, now he had just become King. God gave him one request.
Read I Kings 3:5-12
God gave Solomon one request. Solomon replied to God that he was but like a child and he knew not how to come out and go in. His request was that God give him wisdom and an understanding heart so he would know how to judge properly. It was here that Solomon probably wrote the 72nd Psalm.
Read Psalm 72:1-4
Verse 1 especially bears out Solomons request when he says, "Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son."
Solomon was both the king and the king's son, and here he asking in song what he had asked in I Kings 3:5-12

Just a thought from a great man of God in the book he wrote "The Story Behind The Psalms" and the Bible!

Who's thankful for heat this morning???

11/8 - I was thinking how grateful I am that we have heat! It was a little cool in the house but in a matter of minutes it was nice an toasty warm :) Thank you Lord, that we can be warm on a cool beautiful day!


Monday, November 7, 2011

Thank you Lord for:

11/7 - I'm thankful for songs we can sing in praise and worship to our Lord.

Thank you Lord for saving my soul
Thank you Lord for making me whole
Thank you Lord for giving to me Thy great Salvation so rich and free.

Praise ye the Lord Alleluia
Praise ye the Lord Alleluia
Praise ye the Lord Alleluia
Praise ye the Lord!!!

God is so good!
God is so Good!
God is so good, He's so good to me!

He Loves me so!
HE loves me so!
He loves me so, He's so good to me!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

What are you Thankful for?? Day 5 and 6

Sorry I missed yesterday, my husband, one of our boys an myself have been so sick. Attempted to go to church this morning and yes, we made it through but had to stay home for the evening. My day 6 is I'm thankful that 3 of my boys are not sick!!

The day 5 that I missed is: That we have a home in which to live, food to eat and place to lay our heads at night! God has been so good to us to give us this place 3 months ago. We've had to do a little work on it, but that is ok. My family has house to call home! :) Thank you Lord.

Friday, November 4, 2011

What are you Thankful for, day 4.

Today thankfulness is also a prayer request!
I'm very thankful for my Daughter, Tabitha! She is such a wonderful young lady and serving the Lord will at college and when at home!

The prayer request is for my daughter. She had a doc appointment and is waiting to hear back what some test results are. Thank you in advance for praying for her.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

What are you Thankful for today?

11/3 - I'm very thankful for my husband! He has been the greatest husband of 20 yrs ever. He's an awesome dad to our children and I love him dearly.

Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it"
Even though this verses tells the husband to love his wife. We should love, honour, obey our husbands! I don't understand, when I hear a woman say, "I will love him but that is it!" What?? In verse 22 of this same passage we are told to submit to our husband. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." We submit to what God ask, or at least we should if your not. Then if you love the Lord and you do as he commands us to do. We also are to submit to our husband!

So what are you thankful for about your husband on Nov 3, 2011???? Just a little thought for the day.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A Challenge for you!

I would love to see lots of comments on this post.
I have done this on my own for several years and started it yesterday, but thought why can't I share this here. We are to be thankful for all things so in the month of November we do a 30 day of thankfulness.

Yesterday was 11/1 - My Salvation
11/2 - for my awesome parents who have been married for over 40 yrs and are still together!! Also for their love for me their only daughter. I love them GREATLY!!!

I'd love to see post on what you are thankful for? Each day I'll post a new post with what I'm thankful for.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Cleaning up the inside....

What brought this topic up was, the past 5 wks we have been cleaning up our house. Painting, fixing things that are broken and making it where we can be comfortable and live here unashamed. Yesterday as we were painting the master bedroom I thought I am taking much pride in this room! It really is looking sharp!

 This is the master bedroom before... paint on the floor plain walls (you can't tell but dirty needs to be cleaned).
 This is yesterday after we finished painting and putting things back in. It's bright and pretty very presentable.

Now as we look at these pictures. The first one isn't so pretty, but the other two are very nice. What is our heart like? Is it like the one picture where the floors all nasty and the walls dirty? Or is it clean where the Holy Spirit wouldn't feel cramped and as though he can't touch anything? Are we good house keepers of our bodies or bad house keepers?

Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
II Chronicles 30:19 "That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary"

Do you bring in good through what you watch, listen to, do, go to? Do you allow bad in your heart and mind through the TV, radio, movies or even friends. We should always be seeking for God to create in us a clean heart.

We have TV but we are very picky about what comes into our home through it. Our children who are now teens are very aware of what is on, and commercials are always muted, and I can say 90% of the time if music isn't right on a show they mute it. Now my children are not perfect, believe me if they were we wouldn't of gotten in trouble earlier in school :) Anyway, we as Christians NEED to Keep the home of the Holy Spirit clean, just as you would keep your home clean.

Just as we are going through and putting hours of work into our house that we live in. We should put just as much or more into our hearts to keep our lives clean, pure, and ready to serve!