Week two has come and gone...

This last week has had it's ups and downs but I count it all blessing because in it God is teaching me each day how to love.  Mike and I have been reading our devotional more regularly this last week and have been attending church together (when work doesn't interfere).  Last week we even let Sarah go in the childrens room for 2 year olds during the service and we got to sit next to each other.  And while the service was meaty and addressed the issue of financial stewardship, I was so blessed to be able to actually sit next to my husband that I felt like we were out on a date!  I thoroughly enjoyed church and when we left church that day I could tell that God had touched my husbands heart on the subject of tithing and obeying God's word and order as he made the decision then and there that we have not been doing our part and that it is time for a change in this area.

There is so much that has changed in the last month, we have lost 1/2 of our income when I quit my job, but we gained so much more than money can buy.  Both Mike and I have felt a strong draw from the Lord to make Him first in our lives again and to follow his order in all area's of our lives.  Does this mean that we know what we are doing? Absolutely not.  But I know that God will show us the path each moment as we seek Him and ask Him each day what he wants us to be doing.

One area God is working with me on is being a wife after God's heart.  There are so many things that a wife has to do in a day but I so desperately want to be the wife that God sees in me.  I want to love my husband in ways that only God can.  I mentioned in last weeks blog that I have been reading "The power of a praying wife"  and I am learning that while taking care of the home, preparing meals and taking care of the children are all daily chores and responsibilities they are some of the ways that I can show love to my husband.  I was also chastened in the area of my health in my reading and studies last week. The idea that we are to keep ourselves attractive for our spouse is something that I never considered in the past and I over the years have allowed my health and body to go down hill.  I have for a long time wanted to lose weight and be healthy but never have I felt that this was a command from God until this week when He touched my heart with it.

This weeks goal for me is to continue to spend time in the word and in prayer each day and to follow God's lead as he directs me.  I have faith that God will show me how to live and what changes I need to make as I continue to seek Him each day.

I will end this weeks post in prayer.

I pray Lord, that you will change me, make me the wife and woman you see in me, please bless my husband and continue to work in his heart.  I thank you God for the church you have lead us to and pray that you would continue to work through Pastor Grant each week as Your word is poured out to the people, bless Pastor Grant this week as you see fit and help him to recover quickly from the flu.  I thank you Lord for the blessings you have given us, for the job you have provided for Michael, for the children you have blessed our home with and ask that you fill our hearts with love for one another.  Lead me oh Lord to live as you desire and make me a usable vessel for your hand to guide.  Let your light shine through to touch the lives of the people around me.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Devotional time .... week one

A week has flown by and Michael and I have only read up to day 3 in our devotional.  It seems that setting aside time to spend together in prayer and devotion to God is more challenging than I would have thought.  Having not been diligent over the years in setting aside time to spend with God each day as a couple this is not second hand to us, but I am sure with time and persistence, eventually it will be.

This week I prayed that God would teach me what love is and to make me a more loving person.  I don't feel like any great change has occurred inside but know that God is faithful to hear our prayers and will answer them in His time and as He sees fit.  I find that love is a choice and one that we choose each day, moment by moment in what ever circumstances I may find myself in.

Thankfully those circumstances this week are not huge but even overcoming something as simple as choosing to submit to something my husband has asked of me because I chose to show him love instead of becoming frustrated or angry can be a challenge.  And even now as I write I cannot even remember what it was he had asked of me that made that a challenge.  I just know that there was a time this week when Michael asked me to do something and I looked at him wanting to say "Why don't you do it yourself?" and instead of giving into that feeling and line of thought chose instead to say "Sure, I can do that." and let go of what ever it was rising up in me that would have done nothing but create a rift in us at that moment.  Not only out of submissiveness to him but to God and God's order, I was reminded that I show God's love to Michael through how I treat and respond to him and that when I honor God's order in our home then He will work that same love in my heart.

I have also in my personal time started to read "The Power of a Praying Wife" as well.  There was a time when I prayed multiple times a day and felt that I was called to intercessory prayer.  But over time I have allowed anger and unhealed hurts to cloud my heart, as that happened I prayed less and less each day.  Now I feel as if I have to begin my walk all over again in some area's and prayer is one of them.  I am reminding myself of the power prayer has and all the reasons that prayer is important in my life by beginning with praying for my husband, our marriage and personal walks with God.  I know from experience that if my prayer life is in order, God will be able to meet me and use me more.  This has also be a challenge this week for me to maintain.

If I am completely honest, which is the whole point of this blog, I admit that I have allowed the day to day responsibilities to come before time with God.  This next week, I am setting a goal to have 30 min. a day of quiet time with the Lord.  Whether that time is first thing in the morning, during Sarah's nap or in the evening before bed is not the issue.  Just that I do it.

Until next time...

God BlessYou