Busy...or busy?

So...here lately I have felt like it's impossible to find a minute to take a breath! Good news is, I've heard that I'm not the only one. Call me crazy, but I used to think I was the 'always on top of it' type but if you could take a look into my life for a day you'd see that it's not true at all! I'm learning that chaos can be a good thing. A break in routine doesn't have to be a stressful thing. Yes, the dishes will still be there and no, there is nota time limit on how long us wives/mothers can sit down and rest. Life is too short and it will pass by, regardless if your always on top of it or anxiously climbing your way back up! So as for me, I'm going to avoid running myselfinto the ground and missing out on family time. You can still live if your to-dos arent current. So, smile, take a break and prepare to enjoy life and all the loving people you have in it! That's what I'll be doing! :)

Learning Submission

Okay, so normally I would be the LAST person to share my mistakes with anyone other than the Lord Himself, but I think I'm feeling quite humble today. So enjoy as you take this free trip through "my lesson learned and never to be forgotten" lane.

Before I met my wonderful husband I was going to college, had a job and was living alone. I didn't have to ask someone else where they wanted to to go eat, which show out of lifetime or ABC did they want to watch, if I could borrow their toothpaste, etc...so technically, it was all about me and what I wanted. I-made-the-decisions. (Even before these glorious times, I am the youngest child and only daughter...which can bring along a 'spoiled' type of childhood) And well, yes, I did grow comfortble with that.

Then I met him.

The absolute love of my life. The soon-to-be "leader" (whatever that was) of the family. Let's just be honest...nobody (especially a woman) REALLY thinks about the responsibilities of the male and female role in a marriage up until the first day of marriage when they suddenly awaken from this zone of excitement and newness and think..."Okay...what now?" (chuckles) 

Of course the first couple of months seem to be perfection and bliss..until, the AC goes out or the car breaks down...or......you forget to pay a bill, one of you uses up all the hot water, someone breaks a bone, and so on and suddenly you find yourself shocked that this person you married isn't perfect! You may even think to yourself, "who is this person..." at the first sight of a lost temper or a raising of the voice. Don't be alarmed. This is only a sign. A sign that the honeymoon stage is over and the person you married is only a human being. Just. Like. You. 

It's funny how you begin to find the faults in your spouse, never really thinking of your own. How could you think you had any faults?  We are all perfect when we look in the mirror, right? Of course. Nobody likes to hear the negative side of theirself. And yes, we all have one. We can ONLY be shown that side of ourself when we pray and ask God to show it to us AND be willing to let Him. You have to have your heart set on overcoming issues in your life in order for the Lord to reveal your faults to you. It's almost like...
(Ex) When your tired and busy and the last thing on your mind is loving up on your husband....and here he comes. He puts his arms around you and hugs you tight, and rubs on your back and you say.."Hunnie, not now. I am soooo busy." And he says, "all I wanted was a kiss..." Then you respond, "Oh, well come here then and I'll give you a kiss." (not sounding very eager) He feels like it's more a chore for you to kiss him in your busy moments and he will probably think twice before he ever initiates a kiss while your busy again. 

Well, the Lord feels the same way. We ask Him to do this and do that, but yet our actions are not reflecting our requests. We aren't showing Him that we REALLY are capable of accepting and working on our faults when we ask to see them, therefore, it's hard for Him to believe we can handle it. 

I am guilty of this. 

I went to my husband about a year ago and asked for advice on something. His advice was not what I wanted to hear. As I sat there listening to what he thought, I thought he just didn't want me to be happy. (same feeling we would get as children when our parents said "no" about something) I thought he was being selfish and only thinking of himself and it hurt my feelings. Out of anger and a "prove him wrong" attitude, I went against his word and did what I thought was best.....only to find out later.........it wasn't. 

Honestly, when I went to him for advice in the beginning, I don't think I really cared what he thought. I had my mind made up before I ever talked with him that I was going to do what I wanted to do. I think Eve could relate to the way I felt that day. I had a choice, yet I took the road most traveled by women then being one of the few who fell under submission, put on their big girl pants and dealt with the two letter word that we all hate being told..."no."

Today, I am still learning from that mistake. The Lord isn't finished teaching me the consequences of disobedience. I am proud to say I havn't made the same mistake twice, but I think He's making sure I don't. And, that's okay. I am eager to learn from a mistake that could have been prevented.

You see, a consequence isn't just an act of paying someone back for a mistake, it's a learning process that you will remember far after the act is gone. It's the "What you should of done" side of a mistake.

I have learned in my 4 years of marriage that if I can't be obedient to my husband and submit to his leadership, how can I obey Christ? And that it's okay if my husband ends up being wrong in the end...my submission is done out of obedience to God. What God said to be, no matter the outcome. Every household could be ran easily and/or better than it is if there were more submissive wives. We shouldn't make our husbands work overtime trying to get their wives under control so they can run a Godly household. It's not Biblical. Being in order is such an important topic and a much needed lesson for everyone to learn. Your children can even benefit from order in the home.

I am nowhere near being a completed submitted wife, but Lord knows I'm learning the importance of my role as a 'help meet.' Is it easy? No. Is it always fun? No. Is it rewarding? In more ways than you know!

We will make mistakes, but TRYING is better than nothing. Keep trying...He will show favor. Ask Him to show you what areas you could work on. But, work on only you. Pray the Lord shows your husband what areas he could work on. But it's not our responsibility to tell our husbands what to work on, only God knows.

So, why not...why not be the wife God intends you to be? It's hard! It's work! But theres a Joy unspeakable and full of Glory in the process!

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord!
Ephesians 5:22


 

A New Beginning!

I am so glad the Lord makes each day NEW! The mistakes of today, the regrets of yesterday, the longing to start over tomorrow...It's wonderful to know the Lord casts our sins as far as the east is to the west. The Joy of knowing He loves me even though I wasn't my best today..or I didn't play the right hand that was dealt to me is really what keeps me going. I can feel His pull in my life. He wants me to serve Him more each day. Thriving on today's decisions, good or bad, the what if's that haunt us when we lay our head at night, and the "planning" of the next day (that we aren't promised) can keep us from fully comprehending His purpose for us, or even just a simple blessing we may have missed because we were too busy focusing on 'ourselves' and what 'we' did or didn't do. He is so merciful, and I am so unworthy. Yet, He loves me.

I couldn't help but keep singing a song today that has a true living meaning that relates to everyday. It's called, "Here I am, Lord."
Really, all we have to do is let Him know we are here, we surrender all. YOUR will Lord, not mine. And let Him live through you...to help you overcome this world and all the fleshly desires that can be so infectious.
He touched me, healed my mind, gave me a vision, and gave me a chance! PLUS, He forgives and forgives and shows mercy and shows mercy and by His grace alone, here I am Lord.

I want to live for Him MORE each day. Give a little more, take all I can get and grow in love and truth! The best part is that He can help me with it! And though you and I may fail, His mercy endures forever and we can start over.

Everyday is made New....Everyday is a New Beginning. Never give up!

More of You, Lord....

The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup. Right? Wrong.
Although coffee can be, in many ways, fulfilling to a drowsy person, I'm a firm believer of waking up with the Lord on your mind. It's joyous, and brings about a humbling morning experience. But, while I've got you thinking about coffee AND Jesus, let's compare the two. 
***Coffee                                                  
Very thought of coffee can get you out of bed

Coffee can wake your senses when you're tired & weak.

It's usually the first thing you do, drink coffee, in the morning.
Becomes a habit or comfort.

Requires money.

***Jesus 
You have something worth living for, to get you out of bed.              
     
Come now, those who are weak and heavy laiden, I will be
your rest. Learning to cast your cares upon the Lord shows
you're dependent upon Him. You need Him. Without realizing
it, you have humbled yourself to the Lord and He can bless you.

Reading the Word first thing in the morning slowly starts to damage 
your carnal mind, making it more spiritual, which will protect your
negative thoughts/emotions from quick responses. Practicing this
on a day to day basis will further result in a spirit led walk with the
Lord.

Requires your life. (For whosoever will lose their life for my 
sake, shall find it.) Making good choices, practicing His word,
being a good example, not partaking worldy pleasures. Who
wouldn't naturally want to do good?

And I'm sure there are many more examples...Can you think of any??

Just some of these were on my mind today. Worldy pleasures (yes, coffee can be considered a worldly pleasure....and yes, I am a coffee drinker...haha) over Godly principals. It's actually kind of fun to relate your spiritual walk with natural things and see what you come up with. You can always find the Lord if you are seeking for Him, in anything you do.
Lately, at church we have heard an analogy of purification told like this..
How do you get the bad stuff out of a glass of water? Just keep filling it up with water until it has washed the bad out itself.
To get rid of the "bad" (carnal thoughts, actions) we must continually be cleansed by the washing of His word until we have allowed His Spirit to flow through us, where all we long to do is please Him and do what's right.

We can never have too much of His wonderful love. I thank Him for His grace and mercy in my life.

More of you, Lord...that's what I want.



           





             

Who Am I again?

Something I've learned...
In life, we tend to get comfortable with the "same ole' same ole' " routine. This, to certain extents, can be quite easy to do. But, somewhere along the way we can lose our identity as a Woman and simply become "Lucy's Mom" or "Bill's Wife." The first year or so of marriage or parenting, those phrases are cute and exciting! Then after a while, it's a repetitive thing and you notice that even YOU are labeling yourself that way. For example, it's 'Meet the Teacher' day and everyone is so excited. It's a new opportunity to meet other people and expand your child's social skills. The teacher walks up to you and introduces herself, while you say, "Oh Hi, it's nice to meet you Mrs. Jones, I'm Lucy's Mom."
Wait---what? You don't have a name anymore? Ohhhhh yes ma'am you do! Don't get me wrong...there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with being "Lucy's Mom" or "Bill's Wife." But, saying, "Hi there, my name is CINDY, I'm Lucy's Mom!" or "It's so nice to finally meet you, I'm CINDY, Bill's wife," sounds so much more like you are an actual human being, a living person, somebody in this world.
Getting married or having children doesn't replace who you are. It simply adds to it. Take a flower arrangement for example...you don't just buy flowers and glue the stems to the table. You buy a vase first...then ADD to the vase flowers. Think of yourself as the vase. The flowers are all the details in your life that the Lord blesses you with! Flowers need a vase in order to stand. But most importantly, they need water (The Lord) to live... let Him fill up your life, so that you can be a living vessel for your details in life!
And remember...YOU are somebody!

God Bless You..