Random Dozen

Time to share a bit about myself by linking up with Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen. I really love participating in this meme. The questions are fun (although sometimes the answers can be tough) and it's great to read how others think about the same things.

Click here to join us!!

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?

Yuck!!!! Yuck!!!! Yuck!!!!

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?

Honestly...I'm a pacer. If I'm home, I'll clean.

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?

Not where I live...they usually bring tornadoes!!!

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?

My Mommaw. She was the first person to ever show me Jesus and one of my best friends.

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?

Neither!! But since I have to pick, a tattoo.

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?

We are going to go to my Mom's for dinner. It will be the first time in a long time that my entire side of the family will be together.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?

Reeses. I'm a fanatic!!!!!!!!!!!

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?

Myself. Is that vain or what???

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?

Woman to Woman by Joyce Meyer

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?

Taking down and rehanging the stinkin' curtains. I'm in the middle of that now!

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?

Ummm....not as many as DD but 6 or 7.

12. Which color makes you happiest?

Orange!

I Really Would LOVE Your Opinion!!

I'd like to get your opinion about something....There is a debate of sorts going on in my home.

Four people have four different opinions and I'd really like to know what my readers think.

I've been a stay-at-home, homeschooling Mom for over 18 years. After salvation, my husband and I agreed that the place for me to be was at home raising our children.

Together we made the decision to homeschool and we have been thoroughly blessed over the years. We have no regrets.

Our youngest graduates in May and our oldest works full time. I may have the opportunity to go back to work. Since I've been out of the workforce for over 18 years I realize that I'm not skilled for many jobs and this opportunity would be something I would really enjoy.

Our finances are such that we don't have to have the extra money, but it would be used to become debt free quicker, to build savings/retirement up and yes, to enjoy.

DH is all for it since we no longer have "school-age" children that need my full attention. DD is adamantly opposed, believing whole-heartedly that women are to be at home---period. DS is okay whatever decision is made. Me? I'm torn. I'm not against going back to work, but I am struggling with the aspect of being a keeper of my home.

Ultimately, I will be in obedience to my husband, because I fully believe that I am in submission to him and I fully trust that he loves me as Christ loves the Church.

What do you think?? Should I go back to work? Should I stay home? What are my options??

Waiting to hear from all of you........

Is a Dollar Worth Lying For??

I need a moment to vent....

In my earlier days of blogging, I often posted about my use of coupons and the great deals I would score when I went shopping. I still do those things and God still blesses with great deals, but in my quest to post how God leads me, I'm not doing coupon and saving posts as much---maybe again soon, but not now.

Anyhow.....

I'm all about keeping up with the different stores and their couponing policies. I'm all about printing coupons off the internet and using them...you can get some really high dollar coupons off the 'net...but....

I have major problems when I read a post about someone who says something to the effect of.."you can score this mighty, mighty coupon. Just go here and type in this zip code to score this mighty, mighty coupon"...

Wouldn't that be considered...lying??

I don't live in zip code _ _ _ _ _, home of the mighty, mighty coupon!

Is your financial situation so dire that you must lie in order to save 50¢ or $1?? Are you that competitive that you need to lie just to get the bragging rights for a week??

Mmmm...nope, not gonna lie to save a buck. Think I'll just keep trusting God to lead me to the truthful coupons and the sales that will give me the most bang for my buck.

Just so ya know...

Am I Available?

In a very short time she has come to love this place. God has brought her out of her shell and put her in positions that she has had to step up and stretch the confines of her box.

Reading before a group of very godly women, visiting the shut ins and making conversation, driving to places she has no idea where she's going just to deliver a meal to a needy family--all things that she has a hard time doing, yet God has called her to do these things.

He also called her back into teaching. She wasn't thrilled about this and told God so. It didn't much matter to Him whether or not she was excited about the calling, just that she was willing to do so.

Like a child who is dragging their feet to get to the bathtub after a wonderful day of playing outdoors, she found herself giving Him a dragging "Okay...I'll do it....."

He would have liked enthusiasm and excitement, but He can work with what little she offers.

And He did.

She began teaching those sweet faces on Wednesday nights almost 4 months ago and she has never regretted it for a minute. God has richly blessed her availability with the biggest blessing of all; the fact that she can't wait to see those girls each week. If one is missing, her heart does a drop and she prays that they are okay.

You see, several of those girls ride the van and their home-life is....strained, at best.

She's fallen in love and she owes so much to God.

This day had found her at the church cleaning. Things had gotten so neglected in her classroom and since Pastor had declared a church cleaning day for Saturday, she couldn't wait to get started weeding and deep cleaning.

Pastor had even gotten paint so she could paint the walls and make it all fresh and new!! She was so excited about how beautiful God's house was going to look when they all got finished.

Some were planting plants others were washing walls. Dusting woodwork, washing windows...oh this was a fine thing that was going on for God!!

Something bothered her though. Something deep inside her.

Where was everybody??

The best she could estimate, only 20 or so people showed up. Out of what??......150 or so!!??

Why?

Given the obvious that some had to work and some had prior commitments but where was everybody at?

She tried to just let it roll off her back, but she found herself saddened by the fact that so few found joy in cleaning God's "house". The place they all came together to worship Him. The place they all came together to cry and laugh, to praise and pray.

Have we allowed satan to keep us so busy that we can't be bothered with the things of God. Whether it's sharing the Gospel or cleaning a toilet in His name, are we so consumed with ourselves that we just can't carve out more than a couple of hours on a Sunday or an hour on a Wednesday to give to Him??

She is guilty of this sin called busy-ness too. How many times has she walked by someone just needing some encouragement. How many times could she have reached out, but in her haste "didn't have the time"?

Oh satan is cunning, for sure. How easily he slithers in and robs us of so many blessings.

She finds herself bowing before Him, asking Him to forgive her and to make her even more sensitive to the importance of the things of His Kingdom. No matter the calling..whether man deems it as big or small...obedience to Him. Thankfulness to Him. Gratitude to Him. Living...for Him.

Does He deserve any less?

Worship Him

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion Who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up."
Hebrews 12:1-3, NLT

Gray Skies...Inside and Out

Getting out of bed, she made her way through the house to the kitchen. As she reached for the coffee pot, she looked out the window.

"Raining again."

Gray skies and the distant rumble of thunder matched her mood: sad, depressed...just plain ole' down and out.

The weather had matched her mood for more days than she could count. She couldn't remember when it had been dark for so long or rained so much. Inside or out......

She was a Christian. Had been for many years now, but for some reason, no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't seem to connect with God one on One lately.

She did everything she knew to do. She prayed, read the Word, listened to praise and worship music and watched a couple of the good evangelists on tv..but to no avail...she just couldn't seem to shake this oppression she was in.

Oh, well...maybe today would turn out better than yesterday.

After a couple cups of coffee, she made the bed, emptied the dishwasher. She'd tried sitting down right away to spend time with God, but always felt so sleepy. In her mind, a little physical activity would wake her up and she'd be better able to concentrate and focus on Him.

Of course, before she knew it, the kids were rambling around and there were errands to run.

Could it be 4 o'clock already??!! Time to start supper for her wonderful, patient husband would soon be home and he so deserved a hot meal waiting on him when he walked in the door.

Then of course it was 10:30 and the day was shot all to pieces. She'd accomplished nothing and she had pushed Jesus to the back of the shelf again.

This had been happening day after day for quite a few weeks now. Honestly, she couldn't remember the last time her mind felt refreshed, renewed..alive. She couldn't remember the last time that she felt Jesus was pleased with her..or even interested in what was going on with her.

On this day though, she made a dogged determination within herself to change things. She still took about an hour to wake up, but then she opened her Bible and read. She opened her devotional and read. She wrote in her journal...pouring her heart out and begging God to let her know that He was still there. Even with His silence, even with the dark skies and the dark within her, she needed to be reassured He was still there...but all she was met with was silence.

Figures. Even God can't handle her bummed out mood.

Determined to make God talk to her, she flipped on the television and found her favorite preacher (on tv) was on. This preacher was on her game today, she was fired up and she was telling all who would listen that if we allowed satan to control our mind, he controlled us. The preacher was right, you know...but somehow it just isn't getting through. Somehow, it's as if all of her "God-waves" had been blocked and couldn't be received.

So for today, she's made the decision to focus on Isaiah 55:8-9,

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."

She's just going to hold on to the fact that whatever satan is trying to feed her mind, really doesn't matter because God's thoughts of her and for her are His own...and even with the rain and the gray skies, it will bring a ray of sunshine to her clouded soul.....

Random Dozen

Time to share a bit about myself by linking up with Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen. I really love participating in this meme. The questions are fun (although sometimes the answers can be tough) and it's great to read how others think about the same things.

This week we have "South Lakes Mom" from "I Didn't Know THAT!" hosting our Random Dozen!

Click here to join us!!

1. What is your favorite sign of Spring?

Waking up in the mornings to the sound of the different birds singing their songs, welcoming the day!

2. Did you remember to spring forward on March 14? If not, how did it impact your day?

Yep. Sure did.

3. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year?

Actually, we do plant a garden and there are a few "must haves": tomatoes, cucumbers and crook-necked squash.

4. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant?

Pineapple....LOTS of pineapple!!!

5. What is your least favorite insect?

Name it. I'm NOT a bug fan at all. (DD is worse than I am!!)

6. March 22 was World Water Day. To celebrate, here are some water questions. Do you drink bottled water? If so, what brand?

Occasionally. Whatever is cheapest.

7. Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that?

Nope.

8. How many glasses of water do you drink per day?

It all depends. Could be none. Could be 10 or more or anything in between.

9. March 24 is the birthday of Harry Houdini. Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share.

Nope.

10. Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)?

Nope.

11. March 24 is also the birthday of Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies? If so, what is your favorite?

Don't like 'em. My dad was a western fanatic and burned me out on them years ago!

12. (Really random) What U.S. state that you've never visited would you like to visit someday?

Hawaii...hands down.

It's Just Been Crazy!!!!

Has anyone noticed over the last few weeks that my posting has been sporadic at best?? Have you noticed that I just haven't been....on my game..so to speak??

Let me just say it has been crazy around here!!!!! DD is doing great, but we've been at the doctor's office once or twice a week every week!! Then there has been mine and DS's eye exams, and my own "routine" doctor visits...(if you get my drift) and here in a little more than an hour it will be time to shed my shirt and have my boobs compacted (if you get my drift..)

DD has had paperwork to take care concerning her leave, driver's license to renew...it just seems as if something has been going on everyday!!...and it pretty much has!!

However....if it sounds like I'm complaining...I'm really not. I'm happy to be here to help my daughter and baby her and take care of her. I'm so blessed to have the abilities to do all of this running around and more than that, blessed to have a family to run a million places for!!

I just wanted to check in with all of you and let you know that I love you and I miss you and I'm going to do my best to get back into some sort of 'normal' in the next couple of days!

Don't give up on me!!! I'm not AWOL...I just got captured by the Keepin' You Busy police and I'm fighting my way back!!! :o)

Worship Him

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
Romans 12:2, NLT

Studying...Created to Be His Help Meet

With today's post, we will have completed our study of Created to Be His Help Meet. Even though I've read through and studied this book before, I have gleaned new things and reinforced old ideas. I pray it's made me a better help meet to the man I've been blessed with.
I hope you've enjoyed this study and that you, too, have a better understanding of why God gave us this most wonderful calling on our lives.....Help Meet.

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/
Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

Part 2: Titus 2

Chapter 24: Heirs Together in the Grace of Life

Think about Sarah. Abraham's wife. Do you recall that twice in the Bible we are told that Abraham lied and put Sarah in a situation that he told her to lie as well. Lying is as wrong as wrong can be..we know this and no one will argue that point. Sarah knew it was wrong as well, but still she obeyed her husband.

Abraham did this not once, but twice...and Sarah obeyed him.

Tough stuff.

But Abraham was God's man, though not a perfect man, and he and Sarah are recognized in Hebrews 11 as great examples of faith.

"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep His promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them."
Hebrews 11:8-12, NLT

Our husbands are imperfect men married to imperfect women. This we know and understand.

But there are seven tools listed on page 286 that will allow us to enjoy our marriage and our husbands:

Joy, Thankfulness, Contentment, Reverence, Submission, Prayer, Believing God's Word.

Putting these things into practice may not give every wife her idea of a perfect marriage, but I truly believe it will give her God's idea of a godly marriage...and wasn't that the point of this study anyway??

"The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord."
Proverbs 18:22, NLT

Sharing From My Inbox

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance.." God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you on this day and every day. May you abide in God, as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

Random Dozen

Time to share a bit about myself by linking up with Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen. I really love participating in this meme. The questions are fun (although sometimes the answers can be tough) and it's great to read how others think about the same things.

Click here to join us!!

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?

0. I actually refer to them as "stupidstitions"!!

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?

Well...I truly don't want to take anything away from the blessings God has provided...so I will say that I met, through the grace of God, the challenges, frustrations and tears for over 5 years with fertility treatments. The result--2 beautiful children!!

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?

Most likely it would be between 7 and 9 AM. Right after DH leaves for work and before my teens get out of bed.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?

Not anything I can think of. I'm almost anal about being on time for everything!!

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?

Sunshine!!!!!! This has been the cloudiest winter I've known for quite a long time!!

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?

I did when I was in school and when I worked outside my home....oh! and when the kids were little..but not so much anymore.

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?

My husband's job. He is over maintenance at our local hospital and what he tells me about in his day, for the most part, just flies right over my head!!

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?

The weather is calm, but rainy and cloudy....so would that be a dirty lamb or a soaked lion??

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?

I'd like to think I'd get more accomplished, but if I'm already busy wasting the time I have, I'd probably end up wasting that hour too.

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?

Oh man...I try so hard to fight the battle of materialism.....but you say I have to pick something.....my dream kitchen...

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.

The time I spend with my husband and children. I try not to take it for granted, but so often I let life get in my way and I put blinders on my eyes and before I know it...so much time has passed by and I don't even remember it.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!

"Ciara O'Brien"

Worship Him

"Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of Your presence, Lord. They rejoice all day long in Your wonderful reputation. They exult in Your righteousness. You are their glorious strength. It pleases You to make us strong. Yes, our protection comes from the Lord..."
Psalm 89:15-18a, NLT

Studying...Created to be His Help Meet

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/ Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

I realize that in studying Created to be His Help Meet at the rate of one chapter per week, we will be doing this study for approximately 24 weeks. We could go at this at a much faster rate, but I believe that if we truly want to change and fill our God given rolls as help meet to our husbands, then we need to take things slower and put into practice what we are learning. I hope you agree and stay the course with me as we become better help meets together.

Part 2: Titus 2

Chapter 23: To Obey or Not To Obey

We have well covered in previous chapters that even when a wife knows her husband is wrong, even when everything in her knows a bad decision is being made, that we are to be obedient, faithful help meets to our husbands. Why? Because the calling on our lives is to be a proper help meet to our husband...not to point out his faults or bad mistakes. He will answer to God for how he led his family and treated them, just as we will stand before God and answer for how we lived out our role as help meet.

However, there are a few instances when obeying our husbands will be met with a no.
Jesus made it very clear in Matthew 22: 21b “...give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” (NLT)

We are to obey the laws of the land whether we like it or not. However, if the law goes steps out of it's sphere of authority...for example, requiring that we teach our children that homosexuality is not a sin, then we are allowed to disobey.

In talking about our husband's sphere of authority the same can be said, "Render therefore unto your husband that which is your husband's and unto God the things that are God's" (This is stated by Mrs. Pearl's husband, Michael) In other words, your husband will ask things of you, as I said above, that you know may be a wrong decision. Or he may do things that you don't agree that is for the best, your role as help meet is to be a godly example before him even when he is wrong. However, if he asks you to have unnatural sexual relations, you are to turn him down. If he asks you to watch pornography with him or asks others to engage in sexual relations with you, you are to turn him down.

If he asks you to commit a crime, no matter if it's "small" or "big" you are to turn him down.

If he is abusive, towards you or your children, turn him in.

The Pearls encourage women who live or have lived in these type situations to take the proper steps and notify the authorities when necessary, but they also encourage wives to continue to be a help meet to those same men in hopes that 1Peter 3:1 may give birth, "In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives."

In other words, after notifying the authorities, continue to be a godly wife to your husband showing him love and support, edifying him to his children so that he may be won to God.

I am so blessed and cannot imagine living in an above situation, but if the above describes you, please feel free to e-mail me. I would love to pray with and encourage you.

Next week: Heirs Together in the Grace of Life

Sharing From My Inbox

Baptizing A Drunk


A man is stumbling through the woods totally drunk when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river.

The drunk walks into the water and bumps into the preacher.

The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of booze.

Whereupon he asks the drunk, 'Are you ready to find Jesus?'

'Yes I am' replies the drunk, so the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the river.

He pulls him up and asks the drunk, 'Brother have you found Jesus?'

The drunk replies, 'No, I haven't.' The preacher, shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again, but for a bit longer this time.

He pulls him out of the water and asks again, 'Have you found Jesus, my brother?'

The drunk again answers, 'No, I have not found Jesus.'

By this time the preacher is at his wits end so he dunks the drunk in the water again, but this time he holds him down for about 30 seconds.

When the drunk begins kicking his arms and legs, the preacher pulls him up.

The preacher asks the drunk again, ‘For the love of God, have you found Jesus?’

The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher,


‘Are you sure this is where he fell in?’

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!!

Thank you so much for your prayers for Beth!! She came through surgery fine with the added blessing of no problems with her heart! (For those who didn't know, she has a heart condition--which added to my concerns of surgery...)

The doctor was able to get all of the cyst and he is comfortable that there is nothing more to be concerned about.

She was a trooper and actually did quite well waking up from anesthesia.

We were able to come home last night and that made for a much more restful night's sleep!!

Again, thank you so much for you kindness, encouragement and prayers!

Asking for Your Prayers

Look at this beautiful face. She is one of the two most precious gifts that God blessed me and DH with and today she is having surgery.



Please pray for Beth today as she has a cyst removed. Pray for the wisdom of her doctors and all involved in her surgery and care.







Also....


I will be trying my best to get my post out for At the Well later this week. With everything involved in getting ready for today, I just didn't have the time to write a post in the way I believe God wanted it written.

Thank you so much for being such a blessing to me!!

Worship Him

"But then I recall all You have done, O LORD; I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works."
Psalm 77:11-12, NLT

Studying...Created to be His Help Meet

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/ Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

I realize that in studying Created to be His Help Meet at the rate of one chapter per week, we will be doing this study for approximately 24 weeks. We could go at this at a much faster rate, but I believe that if we truly want to change and fill our God given rolls as help meet to our husbands, then we need to take things slower and put into practice what we are learning. I hope you agree and stay the course with me as we become better help meets together.

Part 2: Titus 2

Chapter 22: Obedient to Their Own Husbands

I want to begin by echoing a comment made by Mrs. Pearl in this chapter. She has been accused of having it easy to be an obedient wife, because she has this amazing husband. She agreed. She does have an amazing husband, but he is not perfect. He can have a temper and can be quick to jump irrationally. He's not always a joy to be around. My man is the same way. I'm very blessed to be married to a very gentle soul, but let me be the first to tell you that he's not perfect. I've seen tools go sailing through the air because they weren't helping accomplish his goal. I've heard him bellow from the gut when something isn't going the way he needs it to. I've seen him be short with the kids because they were louder than he thought they should be----and you know what....I'm guilty of those same things.

Quite honestly, this subject of being obedient to our husbands could go in a million different directions. It's my desire that you understand what God's Word says about this.

" For wives, this means submit your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything."
Ephesians 5:22-24, NLT

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord."
Colossians 3:18, NLT

"But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God"
1 Corinthians 11:3, NLT

There are many more verses, but it's plainly clear that our husbands are the head and we are to be in obedience to them. We cannot argue with the Word.

What if your husband isn't saved? God addressed that as well...

"In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do."
1 Peter 3:1-6, NLT

You see, obedience to our husband is of the utmost importance whether or not he is a believer.

Next week's lesson will be very important to those who are living in a situation that makes obedience totally impossible. We will address when, as wives, we are not to be in obedience to our husbands.

Next week: To Obey or Not To Obey

I'm At the Well!!

I just want to say thank you to all of you who follow, visit, comment, hang out here at my blog. It really does bless me that you take the time.

Today I'm posting over At the Well, so just hop on over there to say hi!!

I'm talking about "Making the Right Choice".

See you there!

Random Dozen

Time to share a bit about myself by linking up with Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen. I really love participating in this meme. The questions are fun (although sometimes the answers can be tough) and it's great to read how others think about the same things.

Click here to join us!!

1. Do you prefer even or odd numbers? Any particular reason?

Umm..well, hadn't thought about it, although I do like to keep my stereo in my car on a volume number that ends in 0 or 5...but then, wouldn't that make me a lover of all numbers????

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "not at all" and 10 being Carly Simon-worthy, how vain are you?

2. Maybe...

3. Among these Irish stereotypes, with which do you identify most closely? Talkative, Proud, Inquisitive, Love to party, Hot-tempered

Hot-tempered. Not only hot-tempered, but quick tempered. Not as bad as I used to be though....something to be said for getting older I guess..

4. How lucky do you consider yourself?

Never lucky. Don't believe in luck. Always blessed.

5. What is the subject of your favorite post that you've written?

Seriously?? Wow. Since I'm my own worst critic this is tough!! Anyway, my favorite post would have to be "Power Outages" and if you read it, you'll find out Who my subject is!!! :o)

6. Describe March weather where you live in three words.

Unpredictably yucky nice. (Yup. That 'bout sums it up!!)

7. How apt are you at detecting blarney when you hear it? (Smooth talk, flattery)

From a mile away!! One of my spiritual gifts is discernment, and it's one that God has honed very well!!

8. How "green" are you, environmentally speaking?

Oh...round about the 50-50 mark. Always learning. Always trying.

9. What is your favorite song this week?

I bought a new Kutless cd and it's their worship album. There is a song on there called "Redeemer" and I have went to sleep singing it (in my heart) and woke up singing it (in my heart) and I've sung it everywhere I've went (out loud...not everyone has appreciated that!! :o) )

10. You are walking along and see a coin on the ground. What denomination does it have to be before you will stop to pick it up?

I usually pick up everyone one I see although I have occasionally walked past a penny...

11. Complete the sentence: "Every time I look outside my window ...."

I watch the birds eating and jumping and enjoying around the feeders.

12. What was the #1 song on the day you were born? See this site to find out.

"A Hard Day's Night" by the Beatles. I'm not a big Beatles fan but I do like this song...and now IT'S stuck in my head!!!

Bible Study At the Well

Wow! Am I late getting out my post today!!!!

This morning DS and I had appointments with the eye doctor. I had one other errand to run, and we should have been home by noon...BUT...that didn't happen and we ended up not getting home till almost 4!!! So.......while my guys are outside pruning some bushes I wanted to join up with the other ladies over At the Well for our weekly Bible study!

It's not too late to join in and delve into God's Word for our lives. Click here to share and learn with us!

This week's discussion is:

Who is master of your life? Who are you allowing to rule over you? Your job? Baggage from the past? Unforgiveness? Hatred? Anger? Unhappiness? Your children?

Oh, boy. A discussion like this after a day like today.

Too bad the wording wasn't "Who do you want to be master of your life?" Easy.God. Moving on. But this requires self examination and much transparency.

Who is master of my life? Who rules over me?

Well, honestly...there is a list.

I do try hard (some days) to allow God His rightful position as Master of my life. But if you spent just a short time with me, this is most likely what you'd see:

There would be my spending. I fight the fight daily to keep my spending in check. Financially, we are blessed. We are comfortable with an emergency cushion and bills paid up to date. As a matter of fact, if God continues to bless, we will pay off one of those demonic credit cards in the next month. But spending...I love to shop. Now, albeit I bargain shop, but do you realize how even bargain shopping can ruin you??

Then there would be my house. I'm anal about cleaning my house and keeping it clean. I can obsess about it and like the spending, it's a daily fight to walk by a speck of dirt on my white kitchen floor.

Then there is this computer/blog. Yep. I've shared with you recently how I've had to make a conscious effort to let God run this thing because it had drawn me in hook, line and sinker. I couldn't walk past this computer without taking "just a moment" to check things out. My moments had turn into hours and obsession.

I am so thankful though that God has brought me to the place that He is more easily able to reign me in and get my attention. He doesn't have to yank at me near as hard or half as long. I've come a long way, but oh, I've got such a long way to go.

I am striving for the day when I've thrown down these chains and turned over this body of clay to the Master Potter to do with what He will and I can boldly and proudly say, "He, Jesus Christ, is fully Master of my life!!"