ABC's of Marriage-"C" is for Choose

I have been debating back and forth about what I wanted to do for the letter "C" in this series of devotionals for ladies/wives.  I had an outline all ready to type up, but for some reason the Lord kept bringing this particular thought to mind.  Have you ever heard the saying that "life is the sum total of all the decisions that we make?"  There is so much truth there because at the end of our lives that is exactly what we will be left with...the outcome of all the choices that we have made in life.  The most important choice one can make is turning to Christ for Salvation.  Maybe next in line would be whom you will marry, how many children you'll have, what kind of job/career you might choose...all these are choices that we make.  From the time we get out of bed in the morning to the time we get back in at night we make choice after choice after choice.  So as we make choices in life we should make sure that God is in all our thoughts because the alternative (leaving Him out) could be the difference between a life of peace or a life of regret and stress.  Having said that...the wonderful thing about our AMAZING God is that even when we've made the wrong choices, even when we have left Him out of our thoughts...He is always willing to help us pick up the broken pieces and get us back on track.  I don't get it and I don't have too, but I know from personal experience that this is so true.  So as we think specifically of a wife's role in marriage (certainly some of these things relate to the husband as well) some thoughts came to mind about some "little" choices we can make everyday to make our marriage better than the day before...because in the end, all the things you thought were just "little" really were the most important after all.

~Choose to forget that little "misunderstanding" you had yesterday.

~Choose to not go to bed until that argument is resolved.

~Choose to tell your husband that you love him everyday...even if you don't "feel" like it.

~Choose to focus on your husband's strength's and not all the things that you "wish he would be."

~Choose to never forget that you aren't perfect...marriage is a union of two sinners, saved by God's Grace.

~Choose to remember your husband's favorite things.

~Choose to make yourself attractive for your husband.

~Choose to be Godly, and devoted to the Lord everyday...this will make you beautiful inside!

~Choose to consider you husband before yourself...just as Christ did for you when He went to the cross.

~Choose to make your marriage a success, even if you think all hope is lost (that may mean getting help if that is the case).

~Choose to be quiet when you feel like saying that thing that doesn't really need to be said....is it lovely, pure, just, of good report?

~Choose to be like Christ....humble and meek.

~Choose to hug, kiss and dote on your husband...everybody wants to feel loved.

~Choose to always guard your heart by never putting yourself into a compromising situation or any situation that makes your husband feel uncomfortable.

~Choose to give your marriage to the Lord from now until eternity...He can do wonders with it.

This is most definitely not an extensive list...just what came to mind.  We all would do well (myself included) to choose wisely each day of our married life!  Blessings:)

Something From Nothing

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

Something from nothing.  That is what we have here in this verse. The Bible clearly states that God created (from no previously existing matter, I might add) the heavens and the earth.  He spoke and the world and all things contained in it came to be.   Awesome!  Let me say it again...Awesome!  The God we serve specializes in bringing about "something" from "nothing." What does this mean to you and I, you might ask?  Allow me to elaborate.  As a Mom and Wife do you sometimes feel like you are running on empty?  Do you feel like the apostle Paul when he said (and I'm not quoting exactly),"The things that I hate, those are the things I find myself doing?"  The Bible says we have put on the new man who is the very image of Christ.  Along with this the fruit of the spirit should be manifest in our lives (love, joy, peace, long suffering, temperance etc...).  Let me tell you, there are days when I feel like my "fruit of the Spirit" are like fruit salad gone wrong...very wrong.  Upon closer examination it may even look like something you forgot to dispose of in the back of your fridge...moldy and smelly.  The only thing to do is to throw it out.  Where there should be peace, there is trouble and worry.  Where there should be patience, I find shortness and the bitter fruit of impatience.  Have you been there?  I pray about these things daily and even still they are a struggle.  It is always easier to please the flesh then to walk in the spirit.  Do you find this to be true?  Don't be discouraged Wife and Mom...there is victory to be had!

Let's go back to our verse (Gen. 1:1).  If God can create the worlds from complete and utter nothingness don't you think that God can do the very same for us and in us?  We may feel like we have nothing to offer or that all our efforts just aren't yielding the results we think they should.  This is where God comes in.  We sometimes as humans try in our own strength to bring about things that only the Holy Spirit can bring about in our lives.  Unless there is some magic cure for impatience, lack of joy etc.. that I don't know about, we seriously need a spiritual "fill up."  God can take all your nothingness, failures and defeat and fill you up with so many spiritual blessings you will overflow.  Spiritually speaking, coming to the Lord completely empty  of ourselves, our desires and self effort...is a very good thing.  It's what He desires.  The Lord wants you to throw your hands up and cry out..."Lord, I can't do this without You."  This is when the Holy Spirit has free reign and can give you all the things you lack.  Let's remember one thing;  the fruits of the spirit are exactly that...only the Holy Spirit can give them to us.  We can't find them within ourselves or within the pages of some self help book.  Stop trying on your own to be what God wants you to be...it's just not going to work. 

Do you recall the "I Love Lucy" episode where she did the vitameatavegemin commercial?  It went something like this..."Are you tired, worn out, listless?  Do you poop out at parties?  Are you unpopular?  Then the answer to all your problems is in this little bottle..."  Well Mom and wife, are YOU tired, worn out,listless?  The answer to ALL your problems is in the Word of God.  If you're feeling empty, "pull up" close to the throne in prayer.  Pour out your heart (don't forget confession of sin) and ask God to fill you up.  The Word of God is living, breathing and powerful...let the Bible work It's power in your life.  Fill up every day on the Word.  When we see ourselves as nothing...that's when we see that Jesus Christ is everything, and HE is all we need.

"Fill my cup, Lord.  I lift it up, Lord.  Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.  Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more..here's my cup, fill it up and make me whole."

Philippians 1:6...Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Investments!

Lately there has been a lot of talk about investments.  Some say invest in gold others say commodities.  Don't ask me because I'm pretty sure that I couldn't give you an answer either way.  While I'll admit that I don't know a lot about what is good for you to invest your money into, I can tell you a few things beyond a doubt that are worth investing in.  Your walk with the Lord, your family and your church.  It may sound so elementary, but if that was the case then we would see Godlier Christians, Godlier familes and churches growing and abounding in the Lord.  But as the focus of this devotional, I want to speak specifically to Moms and wives.  I know that at some point all of us have thrown up our hands and said in the flesh..."Is this all worth it?"  This past week we all have been sick.  Vomit was flowing (not to sound sick) and everyone was feeling knid of cranky.  It took me at least four loads (my usual is one a day) to get rid of all things soiled by this last bought of the stomach bug.  I know I don't have to tell you this, but I was singing hymns and thanking God for the stomach bug during the whole ordeal. Ahem....Okay I have to be honest, I was feeling kind of grumbly about the whole situation, mostly because I wasn't feeling to great myself.  I'm not trying to sound sarcastic, but only trying to make the point that amid the daily pressures of life as wife and Mom we often may find ourselves feeling kind of unimportant or robotic, if you will, in carrying out our tasks. 

This isn't the first time that God has reminded me and I KNOW it won't be the last, that all the little things are just investments into something I won't see the full return on until I get to heaven.  You might be thinking, how is cleaning up vomit, and cleaning toliets and whatever other soiled thing an investment into anything?  Well consider this...think of all the kids all over the world who have parents who neglect them and don't care for them and meet these most basic needs.  I guarantee you that  someday those parents are going to get a return on their "lack of investment" and it's not going to be what they expected.

You see every little thing you do, not matter how insignificant...it all is an investment into something that will give you a sure return.  That's why it makes me so mad when people try to talk down being a wife and mother as if it is some lesser position...don't get me started on this.  A Godly Mom and wife is such a precious thing and not one to be taken lightly or overlooked.  Just like being in a race (which reminds me..I need to use my treadmill) it takes endurance and preparation.  If your in it for the long hull, grab your Bible, immerse yourself in the Word of God and go, go go!  On days when your covered in vomit and your hair is a mess and your still trying to get caught up on the growing mound of laundry, you're going to need the Living Word of God to pull you through. On days when you can't find your cell phone, your socks,one of your children or that little bubble gum wrapper that your husband had an important phone number written on...don't look back....just keep going.  When your kitchen floor looks like a test lab for coffee, banana's, dog hair and some other unidentifiable substance...keep going.  Ask God to give you a happy heart (I do it all the time) as you serve your family.  Think of your home and family as your greatest investment!  A happy hubby, happy children...these are proofs that your investment is a good one.  "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands (Prov. 14:1).  One of the best ways to build your house is to have a joyous heart in serving.  On the contrary, one of the quickest ways to wreck your home is to have a cranky attitude and acting like every thing is drudgery.  No...this isn't always easy.  It takes being spiritual and relying on the Lord...everyday.

Just a quick note before I close...as I wrote this my sweet Meg just threw up...again.  No joke.  Just as I was writing about throw-up...time to make an investment.  The blankets and clothes went into the washer and once again I'm reminded that not all investments are of monetary nature.  Some may be covered in silver or gold, others wrapped in precious jewels.  My greatest investments are straight from the hand of God, woven in my womb and given to me to care and love.  For me...my family is worth the investment!

Hebrews 12:1-Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Remember...part of our "race" involves being Mom and wife.  How are we running it? 

Blessings!

The Attitude of Gratitude Challenge!

I was just thinking to myself this past week how easy it is to complain.  It doesn't take any special talent, skill or education to do it.  It just comes natural...and all to frequently for most of us!  Next I was thinking of people I know who are NOT complainers.  The first person to come to mind was my mother.  I have never known my Mom to complain about anything to anyone.  Even though I know at times she wanted to complain (and believe me...in an earthly sense there was a lot to complain about) she kept it to herself.  What a great testimony...and one I will never forget. So on that note, I have felt really convicted to take the time to give thanks more and complain less.  In second Thessalonians we are told to "give thanks for everything."  So really it's a command not a suggestion.  Maybe we need to hear this because 1)  It's not part of human nature to give thanks and 2)  because giving thanks makes whatever we may be going through a lot easier to bear.  It is always easier to do what comes natural, but not so easy to do what is needful...like being thankful.  What do you complain about?  Not having enough money?  Your spouse?  Your friends?  Your house?  You fill in the blank for yourself...I've already done mine.  I'm a quote fanatic so here are some quotes I found on being thankful.

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer


When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~G.K. Chesterton


If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get. ~Frank A. Clark


The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher


Gratitude is the best attitude. ~Author Unknown


If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily. ~Gerald Good


Gratitude is the least of the virtues, but ingratitude is the worst of vices. ~Thomas Fuller


The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. ~Eric Hoffer, Reflections On The Human Condition


Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. ~Author Unknown

If your life feels like a sinking ship, then gratitude and thanksgiving to Jesus Christ is the lifeboat you've been waiting for. -Victoria Mitchel

Phillipians 4:6&7-Be Careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be mae known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Are you going through a hard time?  Don't be anxious.  Pour your heart out to the Lord  with....Thanksgiving.  It may be what pulls you through.  We may not understand how, but it works.  Think of all the things you have to be thankful for and thank God for them.  Write them down if you need to.  Somehow it really helps to keep problems and trials in their proper perspectives.  You will find it's harder to complain when you think or all the things you have to be thankful for.  I've been doing it and want to keep doing it.  It really is like a great medicine for the spirit.  Being thankful uplifts the soul in a way our human minds can't understand.  I speak to myself when I write this...it is so damaging to the cause of Christ  when we grumble, grumble, grumble.  If Christ is in our hearts then there is no room for ingratitude. 

So THIS is my challange to you and myself.  Will you join me this week or month, whatever the case may be, and really make an all out effort to be more thankful to the Lord?  He has done so much for us.  Psalm 68:19 says,"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.  Selah.  Did you get that...he doesn't just weekly give us one or two things....he DAILY LOADETH us with benefits.  And one more verse...Psalm 40:5..."Many, O LORD my God, are they wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward:  they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:  if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.  So according to the Bible...there should be no end to our thanksgiving.  Let this be a personal thing between you and the Lord, but I would love to hear any blessings you receive from having an attitude of Gratitude.

Joy in Serving!

Has anyone seen my JOY?  JOY....where are you?  I've looked everywhere and can't seem to find it. 

Do you ever feel like this?  I've felt this way on and off for a few weeks now.  I love the Lord, I love His word but sometimes I find myself doing my ministry work grudgingly.  Without going into a great amound of detail, my husband and I serve in a very small church.  We live in a rural area and that in and of itself poses certain obstacles to overcome.  My hubby also works a fulll time job and there are certain pressures that somone who is fortunate enough to  be in full-time minstry,might not understand.  It is very hard to extend yourself physically (and my hubbies job is physical) and then also try to be an associate pastor.  It just gets tough sometimes, especially when you don't always see a lot of fruit for your labor.  But again all this is okay.  God isn't under any obligation to give us what we THINK we deserve.  He knows what's best and what is needful to turn us into the people He wants us to be.  So on this note...the Lord showed me that I forgot WHO I was serving.  I have been to focused on the negative things and they have robbed me of the joy of serving my Lord.  Every bulletin I type and fold, every time I play the piano, everytime I teach a class, everytime I paint a room, everytime I do something that no one else sees....the LORD sees. And he won't forget my labor.  It isn't in vain.  I don't do my labor as unto the people of my church...I do it as unto the Lord.  How oft we forget that taking our eyes off the Lord for just one brief moment can give Satan just the opening he needs to bring discouragement, bitterness and spiritual apathy into our lives.  I don't want these things.  I want the JOY of the LORD.  I want HIS peace.  I want HIS approval.  I want HIS reward.  I've had to confess this attitude and ask the Lord to help me keep my focus on HIM and HIM ALONE.  If my Lord could carry an old rugged cross on his battered body and stretch out His arms for me, then surely I can bear whatever "light affliction" comes my way.  Christ was so humble... and sometimes in light of His humbleness I just feel like a whiny little kid crying because I can't have my way. 

 So turns out that my Joy really was never lost at all because my joy is CHRIST and He is right where He always has been...patiently waiting for me to see my error and come back to where I should be.

I Cor. 15:58..."Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 

Are we abounding or floundering?  Remember the Lord...He is who we work for!

Spiritual Health for this New Year!

As we begin a new year I know that many of us have made getting in shape or losing weight one of our main goals.  Don't get me wrong...this is a great goal and one we should make a priority everyday but how many of us have given our spiritual lives any thought.  The Bible says that as the years go by we should be growing in grace and "feasting" on the deeper things of God.  We shouldn't find ourselves in the same place we were when we first got saved or even a year ago.  We should be growing day by day. And as the Psalmist says in chapeter 1 we should be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bring forth fruit.  A tree's roots as it ages go deeper and deeper into the ground.  This in turn makes that tree strong, unmovable.  Likewise as Christians, the longer we have been saved the deeper our roots should be making us strong in the Lord, wise in His Word, grounded in our faith and focused on the race before us.  Here are some verses that I believe our like a spiritual prescription for our life...and I quote..."My son, attend to my words:  Incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh"  Proverbs 4:20-22.   Also...verse 23 of that same chapter..."Keep they heart with all dilligence; for out of it are the issues of life."  So our spiritual heart health if of the utmost importance.  Below I've listed some heart attitudes that we must have in our spiritual lives.  If we find areas where we lack...let's work on them.  I know mine and it would be of the utmost benefit for each of us to know our areas of weakness.

1)The regenerated heart-Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature:  old things are passed away:  behold, all things are become new ( II Cor. 5:17).  Has your heart been regenerated?  If it has are you living your life in such a way that says "Behold,"  All things are new...I'm not the same man or woman I used to be.

2)A merry heart-A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones, (Prov.17:22).  Are you merry?  There sure is an awful lot to be merry about.  The thing that makes the Christian heart merry is Christ's presence there.  If Christ is in our heart, we can certainly find something to be merry about.  Christ, himself, is the very essence of joy and true happiness.

3)A sound heart-Let my heart be sound in thy stautes; that I be not ashamed, (Psalm 119:80).  The word "sound" hear means blameless.  I think it is safe to assume that they way to have a sound heart is to have our sins confessed and to not be harboring any secret sins.  Guilt has a way of making us not have a sound mind, Christ on the other hand frees us from that guilt.  So if you want a sound heart, keep your sins confessed and keep your mind clean.  I have found from personal experience that confessing my sins and be very careful of what comes into my mind makes me have a sound heart and mind.  A sound heart is a happy heart.  "A sound heart is the life of the flesh," Prov. 14:30a.

4)A humble heart-"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD," (Prov.14:5a). Being humble isn't always easy.  For some reason we humans just can't grasp the fact that in being humble we are lifted up.  Who is the most humble person you know?  I think of Christ.  Who has ever been more humble?  He was God in flesh yet he was born in a lowly stable.  He was the Son of God, but on earth he was the son of a carpenter.  In heaven he was adored, on earth he was despised.  In heaven he was rich, on earth he was poor.  In heaven angels were at his beckon call, on earth he had to carry his own cross on which he was to be crucifed.  In heaven he was robed with glory, on the cross he hung in nakedness.  In heaven he was the Light, on earth he became the blackness of sin.  Are we more humble than that?  And this he did all for us...people who were sinners.  We might sometimes feel like we don't get recognized for things we do in the church or for people (I know I have), but let's remember Christ.  There has never been one who was more humble...and now He is lifted up!  Let's serve with humility.  "Let this mind be in you , which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name,"  Phil. 2:5-9.

This is all I'm going to post for today, I'll try and finish up tomorrow.

Christians are like Christmas Lights....WHAT!

So this year like every other year I pulled out the Christmas Lights and low and behold they were all arranged neatly and I was able to quickly get them up... and then I woke up from this wonderful dream and found myself holding a jumbled up mess that resembled something close to an explosion at a Christmas light factory. So this year like every other year I sat down to work on getting them in order only to find that they didn't work. I really love when that happens...makes me want to sing the Hallelujah Chorus! So leave it to my wonderful hubby to come up with an analogy about how Christians resemble Christmas lights. We ended up talking on the subject at length and I thought I would blog about it. So here I am and here you are reading what I decided to write...got that...OK then...lets move on.

So here are some facts about Christmas lights:

1)They tend to always find themselves in a jumbled up mess.

2)They are much prettier when they are lit. You have to admit that lights really don't look that great when they are off during the day, but when you light those babies up they take on a whole new appearance.

3)One broken light affects all the rest. I had this happen to me two separate times this year. I put the lights on the tree, everything was looking good and then one day I noticed a whole section of my tree was not lit. Of course it was in the middle of the tree so my tree technically got trimmed three times this year if you count all the lights I had to fix and all the decorations I had to remove and replace to do it. Try it sometime...it's a lot of fun. Let's move on shall we.

4)One single light is okay, but hundreds, thousands, millions...even better.

So now that we've established these simple facts...keep reading.

Christians like lights often times find themselves in a jumbled mess. Technically speaking...we all are a jumbled mess, but for the Grace of God and salvation in Christ. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are a direct result of choices we have made. Other times we may be going through trials and it is no fault of our own, just God's greater purpose. Point is...you can't do anything with tangled up lights and as Christians we need to do our best to be "untangled" from the world. God can't use someone who is entangled with this life and the world's system and ways. Somewhere along the way you have to make the choice to keep yourself "untangled" from the world. I could give you a ton of quotes here, but what better quote than a verse. "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a solider," II Timothy 2:4. Just about says it all don't you think.

Just like Christmas lights are much prettier when lit, Christians are much more attractive when they are "shining" with good works. Jesus was the Light of the World. He shined through the darkness and brought salvation to man. The sky turned black when he took man's sin upon him, but now heaven shines with his presence. He shined through the darkness in our hearts and gave us the light of the Gospel. You see...lights are always better when lit. How about me? How about you? Is our light shining for Christ or is it hiding behind a bushel? Christmas like no other time reminds us that time goes fast and life is a vapor...it's here...then gone. Let's redeem the time and shine for Christ. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven," Matthew 5:16.

When one Christmas light isn't working it affects the rest, likewise when one Christian isn't "working" right it affects the rest. I really believe some people who call themselves Christians have just sort of "checked out." They have either lost all interest in the things of God or they are acting like broken lights. When people fall away or are involved in blatant sin, it is going to affect somebody. It always does. No man is an island unto himself. If you think for one minute that your choices in life don't affect anyone but you, you are sadly mistaken. On that note if we see a brother or sister in need or having a hard time let's help them. Let's admonish, encourage and pray for them to get back where they need to be. We all have been there at some time and somewhere there was someone praying for us or giving us words of wisdom and strength. Let's do the same. There is no competition...it's not about who's "light" is more effective or shines before the most people. Just shine! Lights are meant to shine.

Consider this...what if all the people who call themselves "born-again" Christians really let their light shine? This world would certainly be a lot different. What if all of us overflowed with good works? What if we all gave out the Gospel? What if we all helped to hold each other up? What if we all actually were different (not odd)than the world? What if we all really lived the things we speak about? What if when people talked to us they really didn't see us at all...what if they only saw Christ? What if we all really lived like the Light of the World is living in our hearts. What if??? What if??? What if???

Hey Mom and Wife...how are ya? Let me ask you a question...and be honest with yourself. When was the last time you felt like you weren't good enough? When was the last time you compared yourself to some other lady? When was the last time you criticized your looks or compared yourself to some other woman who was "prettier?" When was the last time you compared your situation to someone else's and felt "jealous?" If we're honest....we all do, and in fact I was guilty of it just last night. Seems so "high school" right??? Well let's face it...we women can be a bundle of emotions sometimes! Our poor husbands need a road map to work their way through our complicated emotions so they don't make a wrong turn! Two things on this point...our emotions can be really great at times. It's what makes a Mom want to fix a boo-boo, fix a great meal, hug a friend in need, kiss our hubby or just do something really unexpected and thoughtful...just "because." On the other hand they can be deceiving, conniving, inconsiderate, selfish, overly emotional and at times just flat out "neurotic." These are all TOXIC emotions and not unlike a container of poisonous chemicals they should have a hazard sign on them. They should be avoided at all cost. A quote I once read said something like this..."Acid does more damage in the vessel in which it's stored then to the vessel on which it is poured." Let's face it...when we don't keep our emotions in the right place it affects everyone....starting with you and working right down the line to all the people in your life. They are like a poison poured out on the ones you love! Sounds really gross and scary doesn't it. Just trying to keep things in perspective. Having said that, I want to share with you some thoughts on some of the emotions that trouble all of us women at some time or another. I will always point you back to the Bible, because I believe with all my heart that every answer to our problems can be found within it's pages. It never changes...UNLIKE our emotions. Put on your gas mask and follow me for a few minutes as we explore some of the "toxic emotions" that plague all of us at times...watch out....this "ain't" gonna be pretty!

1) Jealousy-No...not the "J" word! If you're a woman...I know you've had to battle this ugly emotion. It often rears it ugly head at the worst and most inopportune times. One minute your fine the next minute your examining your every flaw with a high-powered microscope. Suddenly how you look isn't right, what you do isn't good enough and on and on it goes. Let's grow up shall we? Myself included. First of all Psalms 139 says "We are fearfully and wonderfully made." Now which one of you reading this has the guts or audacity to look at God and say...."What were you thinking? Why have you made me thus (remember Job said that)? Do we really think that we know better than God how we should have been made? Obviously, unequivocally NO! I'm not going to give you or myself a bunch of "fluff" here. God knew exactly what he was doing when He made you and I...and let's not forget that He did it with a purpose and plan in mind. For you and I to get so caught up in silly things like looks or lots in life is nothing more than foolish. Consider Christ....God in flesh....come down to live among sinful men and he didn't even have "place to lay his head." He was born in a manger among smelly cattle and died on a rugged cross among two thieves. Now if anyone ever had a right to complain it certainly could have been our Lord, but He was always more concerned with others than himself. If we are becoming to preoccupied with comparing ourselves to others and what we have or don't have...consider Christ and get more concerned for others. "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package." That's free and I can't even remember who said it...but they were right. Let's have the right attitude! When we find ourself all distressed about things that don't mean a thing on this earth anyway....Consider! Not What...but whom....and that is Christ.

2) Insignificance-All of us want to feel important. Nothing wrong with that...in the right perspective. We all want to be commended for a job well done or congratulated when we accomplish something. However, like most emotions when not kept in check we will always find ourselves feeling like we are a failure. Now from a worldly perspective this is completely understandable. There is always someone who does something better, faster, smarter etc...than us. However if we are children of God our perspective should be "out of this world." We are not looking for the praise of men...in fact many times this leads people up the ladder of vanity...only to fall. We are looking for the Lord's approval! Consider this...God doesn't look on the pastor of the biggest church with more favor than the pastor of a congregation of 10. He looks at the heart! Yes, he may give some a bigger sphere of influence, but God is looking for quality of work not quantity. He sees a faithful and willing heart...and he will reward you thusly. Maybe sometimes you feel like all you do is chase kids, fill cups, change diapers, break up fights, play judge and jury to sibling disagreements...but it's not insignificant! Being a Mom and wife is the most rewarding job there is and far to many ladies don't give themselves the credit they deserve. Now this doesn't mean there aren't things we all need to work on...I know mine! Don't spend all your time looking for worldly approval...seek the Lord's approval and spend your time making yourself "spiritually" significant.

3) Bitterness-Now here's an emotion everyone has had battle with at one time or another. We all have been wronged at some time. Maybe we have had a bad life growing up or disagreements with those around us. Bitterness is sometimes one of those things that can settle in and make itself at home, before we ever realize it came in the front door. Bitterness is like putting on a pair of glasses with the lenses painted black to read a book. You won't be able to see anything properly and after a while it's going to really mess up your point of view. That's what bitterness does. It makes everything in life distorted and after a while everything in life is seen through that distortion. The only sure cure for this is...1) Confess your sin of bitterness and 2) forgive and make things right. Now I know that sounds easy, but it's not easy to do...and you know it. Forgiveness is necessary and it is the first step in getting bitterness out the door. Now if you really want to give bitterness the boot, take whatever it is that you can't change and leave it at the Lord's feet. Let Him deal with the mess...He'll do much better than you! Don't try to pick up again all the things you can't possibly understand with your earthly mind...let God deal with it for you.

So that's it ladies. Some simple things to ponder and consider. Don't live a defeated life held captive by toxic emotions! There is a great freedom in the truth of God's word!

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." II Corinthians 10:5

Just some thoughts

Lamentations 3:22-26
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."

These have always been some of my favorite verses. I'm not sure why but when I read them I just get this overwhelming sense of peace. It kind of reminds me of my place in life...just hanging on by God's Mercy...nothing else. If it wasn't so sad it would be almost humorous the way some people exalt themselves in life. If they only knew how truly lost they were and how utterly insignificant they are in comparison to our Lord. I think of the words to that song we sing so often...Great is they faithfulness, O God, my father...there is no shadow of turning of turning with thee...thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not, as thou hast been thou forever will be."

On that note I was also thinking about how the Bible is a book of opposites...think about this...In losing your life, you find it; in humbling yourself, you're lifted up; In coming to the Lord empty, you leave filled...if that isn't the complete opposite of the world's philosophy I don't know what is. The world says,"It's all about ME and fulfilling all MY dreams and MY desires." and God says, "put your life on the altar of MY will and lose yourself in me. Put your own wants and desires aside to follow me." Ironically enough the Christian who does that will find a peace and joy the world can never know. Not that I've "arrived" when it comes to these things. Sometimes I find myself "crawling" off the altar of God's will just to kind of take things in my own hands. We all do.. if we're honest. When we aren't getting the answers we are looking for...we start sneaking off the altar...when we don't understand why things are working out the way they are...we crawl off the altar. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to just wait...quietly wait for the Lord to show himself mighty on our behalf.

We are small...God is great. We have finite minds...God is omnipotent. We own a few earthly possessions...God owns it ALL! We are dust...God is the one who made the dust a "living soul." We are sinners...He is the Saviour! We can't see into the next minute...God sees into eternity. Let's read our verse again..."It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed...because his compassions fail not. If you have days when you feel like your barely hanging on...remember that you're only EVER hanging on by God's mercies.