Praise him?

If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river...
Isaiah 48:18

A precious friend, newly married, called me last night needing prayer for her and her husband.  They'd had a fight, one of several in recent days, it turns out.  Through tears, she spilled out a few pertinent details.   I, too, with memories of being a new bride, teared up and immediately, knowing there was no thing I could do to make things better, began praying aloud with her.  By God's good grace, we were "hoping patiently for what [she] does not yet have [Romans 8:25], " a peaceful marriage.

The Lord pressed their needs on my heart several times last night and early this morning.  So I lifted them and their marriage up to Him hopefully.  

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  [Romans 5:5]

Later, as I ate my cereal and fresh blueberries, I opened the Day 12 email from Revive Our Hearts:  30 Days of Encouraging Your Husband.  [Click on the link to sign up for the challenge.]

Again, the Lord reminded me of  my friend and her husband.  I began composing an email to forward to her today's challenge about a wife's own heart attitude as she struggles to find something praiseworthy in her husband.  Because I know she and I aren't the only wives who are challenged in these areas, I decided to share my thoughts with you, too.

Hi, ***

As I was lifting you in prayer this morning, Colossians 3:23,24 came to mind:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
People who marry, marry sinners.  Because of sin, Jesus chose to be sacrificed for His Bride, the Church.  In so doing, we have the gracious privilege of having intimacy with the Maker, Savior, and Comforter of the human race!  
So, marriage means sacrifice.  Moment by moment, dying to self.  Begin the discipline of habitually praising Jesus by praising, esteeming your husband.  Such praise begins in a heart that is repentant and submitted to Jesus first. That kind of praise will rise to heaven as a fragrant offering on the altar of your marriage.  Such an aroma is pleasing to our Heavenly Father, our husbands, and to everyone around us.   
"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."  2 Corinthians 2:15 

I promise you that you will be rewarded by God for your efforts.

And peace like a river will flow into your hurting heart.

Love, Karen 

Linking up with
Free Pretty Things for You for Whatever You Want Wednesday

 

Katie Lloyd Photography for Scripture & Snapshot

Time-Warp Wife

the Internet Cafe for Word-Filled Wednesday

Women Living Well Wednesdays

A New Old Friend

Her smile hasn't changed a bit!

"A friend loves at all times..."

Proverbs 17:17

We graduated from high school 41 years ago.  We had a few classes together and I remember a quiet sweetness about her. She had a warm, sincere smile for me. But we ran with different crowds and didn't hang out much. I was excruciatingly shy, so I didn't pursue a closer relationship with her.

And yet, last summer, before our high school's 40th class reunion, she took the trouble to seek me out on Facebook and invite me to come.  I was thrilled to be remembered, but, alas, unable to attend.

Fast forward to a month ago.  She emailed me that she and her husband would be camping about an hour's drive from us and would we like to meet up?

Again, that heart-thrill of being remembered.

We drove to their campsite on the Oregon coast.  We'd agreed to go to a local place for lunch, but as soon as we got to their trailer site, they welcomed us heartily and we all sat down to talk.  The heck with going to a restaurant!  We were having such a wonderful visit, we didn't want to risk losing the warmth by getting in the car.  I don't know how much time passed, but it wasn't long before she made guacamole and broke out the chips, fruit, and a bottle of wine.

Even though it's July we needed a campfire!

Didn't take long and we were all sharing about our faith in Christ.  We were able to relate on a heart-level that transcends time and doesn't depend on what happened in high school.  Turns out, we are among the few who remained married to the spouses of our youth, and agreed it was by God's grace.

Just so no one thinks we starved, our new old friends graciously invited us to share a yummy supper of BBQ'd ribs.  And for the grand finale, we got to make S'mores around their campfire!

You know what brought this visit to mind?  My friend sent me a picture of the two of us from that day, thanking me for our visit.  Is that thoughtful or what?  Of course, I'd been meaning to do that ever since the day after we got home.  

Lessons learned from my new old friend, so far:

Don't procrastinate when you have the chance to bless others.

Make the effort to remember and connect with someone.

What are some lessons your friends have taught you?

God bless your week!

Love,

Playing along with

Beverly at How Sweet The Sound
for Pink Saturday.

(The Bible verse is in pink!)

and Ginger & Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Please check out their blog this week to read about the Miracle Makeover Blog Party.

A Grande Life

"Monday, Monday...

so good to me.
Monday, Monday,
it was all I hoped it would be.

Actually, it was Friday and Saturday that were all I hoped they'd be.
One of my goals for Project 2011 was accomplished:
Make plans with my husband to improve our marriage.
On Friday evening and Saturday all day,
we attended this marriage conference at our church:
Cultivating A Thriving Marriage
I should mention that growing together, instead of apart,
is a mutual interest.
I didn't have to twist his arm.
God is answering 20 years' worth of prayers  
as He begins a new work in us
in our empty nest season,
just before grandparenthood.
He is teaching us a deeper meaning of
what it means to be one flesh.
Remember that term from your wedding vows?
Seems so long ago.
Jeepers, it was long ago!

On Friday evening, we sat with 2 other couples, and, over dinner, 

chatted about our first dates, honeymoons and favorite vacations.

.

Did I mention the meal was catered? 

I didn't have to plan it or cook it.  

I wasn't on the committee to set up, serve, or clean up, 

(The youth group did that!)

and there were lemon bars for dessert.

I passed up brownies for lemon bars.

I know!  Crazy me!

Which would you rather have?

My Knight in Shining Armor,

was at my side.

Throw in friends and good food.

The weekend was shaping up to be 

one of the best we've had as a couple 

for a mighty long time.

After dinner, 

Ben and Janet Burns, national speakers at 

Family Life's Weekend to Remember marriage conferences, 

were introduced and spoke with humor and sensitivity about 

the differences between men and women.

Her thoughts:  "Where is our relationship headed?"

His thoughts:  "The car needs and oil change."

I'm certain about this:  
Everyone who reads this has noticed 

this apparent disconnect between the sexes, right?

Right??

Since Friday night was supposed to be a date night,

there was another special treat in store for us:

A local Christian couple, married for 35 years,

Mark Hanson, a Grammy-award winning guitarist,

and his wife, Greta Pedersen, the 2009 Artist of the Year for Young Audiences,

 performed for us.

(You can check out Mark's videos on youtube, too.  I've only linked to one here.)

On Saturday morning, Ben reminded us,

as is usual at each one of the Family Life Conferences we've attended, 

to make these our priorities:
 God first-Vertical relationship
Spouse second-Horizontal relationship

He said he and Janet experience conflict in their marriage.

And so does every other married couple, Christian or not.

Another thing I feel certain about:  
This is not new news.
Is it?

Well, phew! 
The DH and I aren't the only couple in church 
who have some doozies conflict.

They equipped us with useful scripts and methods to use to
work through our conflicts

in God-honoring ways, with love and truth.
Yes, marriage is work.  Every.  Single.  Day.

Everything they shared can be used by newlyweds as well as folks who've been married for decades.

One of the best things about the conference was that many of our friends were there.

When we first met, 17 years ago, we were all raising teenagers

a trying time even if you have "good" kids.

Together, we went through the stops and starts of 

launching them,

only to experience the empty nest.

College/jobs/military service, weddings and/or out-of-wedlock pregnancies, 

and grandparent-hood were next.

By God's grace, we are all still married to the partners of our youth.

It's so encouraging to know that these dear friends 

are still committed to their marriages 

and that they rely on Godly instruction to thrive, together, till death parts them.

Several times during the weekend I wondered,

"How do people get through married life 

without God

and a church family?!"

Thank You, Lord, for the tools we came away with this weekend.

We're so grateful that You will help us learn to use them.

Thanks, too, for our church family with whom we get to share 

the mountain tops and valleys of life here on earth.

Not by might, nor by power,
but by My Spirit, says the LORD...
Who despises the day of small things?
Zechariah 4:6, 10

My God shower His grace, mercy, and peace on you today!

Love, 

Linking up with

Cate at Moments of Whimsy

and for the first time with Drowsy Monkey for

and Danielle for

and Darcy for

and Katie for

and the Latte Lady, Janet for

My Life...A Worthy Project

I've never been one to make resolutions.
I think it's cuz I'm afraid I won't have enough self-discipline
to follow through and keep them.

When I read about Cate's Project 2011 at Moments of Whimsy
last weekend I realized this:
I DO have some goals I want to work toward.

The thing that really struck a chord in me
was what Cate said:
"I need to treat my life as a project-
a project that is worth putting
some time and effort into."

Since I am a daughter of the
King of the Universe,
created in His image,
and saved by faith in His Son,
Jesus Christ,
I need to live as though that makes a difference.
People in my family, at work, and in my community
need to see Christ in me,
experience His love, joy, hope, and peace
when they are around me.

These are the goals I think are worth pursuing:
re-institute my daily quiet time with Him,
achieve my weight loss goal and maintain it,
move more!
pray for reconciliation & harmony within my family,
make plans with my husband to improve our marriage,
learn to be a grandma,
make a quilt for my first grandbaby, due in May,
buy & learn to use a macros lens for my camera,
work at taking better photographs,
grow more veggies this spring and summer,
eat more veggies,
initiate and plan girlfriend time,
call my family & friends more often,
grow into my role as mentor,
post weekly photos for the mcp project 52 flickr group,
post weekly updates-or lack thereof-for Project 2011
about what I've done to accomplish my goals.

Achievement begins with movement toward a goal.
I can move confidently in the direction of my dreams
and make a difference for Jesus as I do so.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Therefore, as God's chosen people...clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience....Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...And be thankful...Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...
Colossians 3:12-16
What ever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...it is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24


May God grant you grace, peace, and mercy today!
Love,

Linking with
Cate's Project 2011 @ Moments of Whimsy

and Java @ Never Growing Old

and Mama To Four Blessings

My Marriage

Thank you, Lord, for my marriage

to the man that You knew,

from eternity past,

would be my perfect mate.

No, my Dear Husband is not perfect.

As Elisabeth Elliot says, "We marry sinners."

That means I am not perfect either.

But by God's grace,

because He first loved us

by sacrificing His Son, Jesus,

to die for our sins, 

He enables us to face the challenges of married life

together

with joy.

Joy is happiness

because of God's love, provision, and protection, 

no matter what

our circumstances are.

I can't even take that all in.

It will take me the rest of my life

to begin to plumb the depths of Love like that!

And thank You for my Dear Husband

who loves me

no matter what;

who fights for our love

against the temptations to walk away

when the going gets tough.

I don't deserve him!

Lord, I pray that You would give me grace to use EVERY interaction with him

to show my love for him

and You.

I want to credit Casondra at Pieces of My Heaven on Earth

for the idea in the paragraph above

and for sharing this song on her website.

God is love...

We love because He first loved us.

1 John 4:16, 19

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm;

for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.

If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love,

it would be utterly scorned.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (NIV)

Joining with Janet @ Homeward Bound

with Emma @ Toddler Awesome

with Melissa & Tiffany @ Home Grown Families

for their fabulous Friday blog hops.

Hop on over and make some new friends!

Have a blessed day, my friends.

Love, Karen