Colossians really rocked me today. Sometimes I wonder if God is just shaking His mighty head thinking when will they ever get it. It would be like us watching our precious children continuously running into a wall, crying and begging us to help them. We would look at them and say "I've already told you a hundred times, just don't run into the wall, sweetie."
God made peace with everything in heaven and on the earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross, including us; yet, somehow we constantly drift away from Him. We don't take the time to worship Him, we rush through our days relying on ourselves and not on Him (well of course, unless something bad happens, then we go to Him), we spend our money the way we want without first asking God how it would be better used to further His Kingdom, we speak to our spouse the way we want with whatever words we blurt out, rather than asking God to guide our words and actions so that our husband will see Christ in us.... You get the picture.... Then we wonder why we are in the mess we are in.
God tells us "in Him lay hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Yet, we go about seeking wisdom from the world and knowledge through our own ways. He has given us His Word and in America we have the freedom to have an hundred Bibles if we so choose, we can read it at work, in the car, at the public park, wherever, but we so often don't even take the time to read and meditate on His Word that will unveil true wisdom and knowledge to each of us.
If only I could/would read Colossians 3 every day, even memorize the whole thing, maybe I could find true peace in my life. We are raised to new life in Jesus. We don't have to be stuck where we are, we are NEW with Christ. We should be thinking about the things of Heaven not Earth. How many countless minutes do I spend worrying about the things of this world. If only I would keep my eyes up and not on what's all around me, I could save a lifetime of stress. If only I would put on my new nature every day and allow myself to be renewed without dwelling on the hurts of yesterday or the tasks left undone, then (and only then) could I truly clothe myself with tenderhearted mercy (think of a marriage where when things are going sideways you have mercy rather than discord or defensiveness), kindness (think about a marriage that repays hurt with loving kindness), humility (think of a marriage where we are more concerned about being humble before our husband rather being justified), gentleness (think of a marriage that we only are gentle, always, no matter what the circumstance) and patience (think of a marriage when despite the fact that we've asked 3 times to take out the garbage, we instead have the patience to just leave it there and trust God that if it is really that important our spouse will take it out). And then above all else, if I would just clothe myself with true, unconditional love each and every moment of each and every day, then (and only then) will we have the peace that comes from Christ ruling in our heart.
I give thanks to God, our Father, who gives us His Word each and every day. It truly is new every morning. I've read these scriptures a good hundred times before now, but today God spoke new wisdom and understanding to me. Until I can wrap my arms around these principles and unconsciously portray each of these attributes, I will not be where God wants me, thus my marriage will not be where I want it to be.
Take heart, God is HERE, He is speaking to each of us and He so desperately desires we just put our trust and hope in Him, and not the world.
Serving Him today.....

Day 2 of this thing that is so not me, but I feel God calling me to do sooooo I'm hoping He'll write through my fingers. A Day in the Life is meant to encourage us married ladies. I know 99% of us are all going through, have been ,or will go through pretty much the same craziness in our marriages and I so badly want women to know they are not alone and their marriage is NOT over just because you aren't getting along. A friend of mine the other day told me her husband told her he didn't love her anymore. My first worldly thought is "What a jerk!!! How could you be so blind, don't you see how beautiful she is. You are one lucky jerk!", then I caught myself and remembered all of the times God has gently spoken to me and said "He doesn't mean it, that is his hurt speaking, or his pride, or his insecurities, etc." When I can get past my worldly self and get back to where God can whisper into my ear, I can so often get back to that place where God has called each of us wives, which is a place of respect. We all think, "How can I possibly respect my husband who just told me he doesn't love me?". I'm here to tell you, "WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!!" I so vividly remember one day my husband had said something so ugly to me, I didn't know how to respond, so I just ran. When I finally came to my senses and realized I couldn't keep running forever (though I tried for a very long time-mentally obviusly not physically), I fell to my knees and asked God to please show me how to respect my husband.

I find it so interesting that God doesn't tell us women to LOVE our husbands. He tells us to RESPECT them. I think He tells us that because He knows we will always love even the unlovable thing/person, it is in our God given nature, to love and nurture. But, it is not so easy for us women to RESPECT. There are days I have to go back and google the word so I can remember what it means. Wikipedia says respect is "Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person or other entity (such as a nation or a religion), and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected (e.g., "I have great respect for her judgment"). It can also be conduct in accord with a specific ethic of respect. Rude conduct is usually considered to indicate a lack of respect, whereas actions that honor somebody or something indicate respect." Notice here that is says there is a specific action or conduct that represent the positive feeling/esteem. So it goes back, how we act towards our husband that reflects how we respect him.

Just the other night my husband was working on a project with my son. I knew he had not read the specific instructions for the project, however it was our fourth or fifth year doing the same project. I prayed that I would stay out of it, knowing full well that if I butted in it would show disrespect for my husband. I did really well for about 70% of the time. But, guess what?! I BLEW IT!!!! I meandered into the kitchen, listening to what they were doing and just couldn't hold my tongue. I blurted out "That's not how you do it. The instructions say........" Even now, 4 days later, I am still baffled at myself. I knew I shouldn't say anything, yet I did it anyway. What was the outcome, you say? Well, he stormed off, saying "If you want it done your way, you do it". I must say a part of me (that worldly part again) thought "well good, now I get to do it my way", but my real self was crushed. Why did I do that? Why didn't I hold my tongue? Why did I go into the kitchen? Long story-short. I came back and profusely apologized, acknowledging what I did was wrong and reminded him that I love him and was so thankful he was willing to help. Now, I'm still on the road to asking God to guide my every word, my every facial expression, my every gesture. I so deeply want to portray a spirit of respect for my husband, yet I let myself get in God's way time and time again.

Ladies, we will keep taking one day at a time. But I encourage you today, no matter where you are in your relationship. Pray for wisdom and for God to help you with those specific actions that reflect the respect that you have (or will have with God's grace) for your husband.

In His Service,

Me

Just a thought

Wow!!! I really feel that God is doing something here. He has brought me to such an amazing place in my life and I'm looking forward to sharing it here. Hopefully anyone who reads will be blessed, encouraged and their Faith will increase.
Today it the beginning of something great.