I don't know that I would ever advise someone to walk the
road this woman has chosen in marriage, but by all accounts, it seems this is
where the Lord has called her and given her grace to walk. As I watched
her story unfold, I found myself challenged and convicted. I don't know
that I would have the courage and selflessness to love and serve Tim in this
way, if he were to have a life-changing accident of this magnitude NOW, much
less while we were dating, and then CHOOSE him/his weakness for the rest of my
life! (I only pray I would be strong enough, if ever given the chance).
But for today, the topic got me thinking... How much of my
time, attitude, and words are devoted to how Tim should be serving me (harder,
with excellence, with a better attitude, without me asking, etc.)? As
opposed to how I could/should be serving him?
If you are reading along, I imagine we have been fighting
similar battles: miscarriage, infertility, job insecurity/searches, general
frustrations with life/waiting/wanting, a tendency to see the negative and
maybe camp there a little too long, etc.
This is why I want to encourage you, me, us to SEIZE THIS
DAY!!! (Carpe Diem, if you will:)
We all to often forget, that Satan would love nothing more
than to seize this time for us; planting seeds of resentment, bitterness, and
isolation, which in time will produce an unwanted harvest... DON'T LET
HIM!!! (By the way, if you are single and reading this… don’t stop, this
DOES apply to you)!!!
I recently read an article written by a mother to her son,
one line read, "choose a wife carefully, for she will be the gatekeeper to
my relationship with you and my future grandchildren." I think this
statement holds true in more ways than one.
For instance ~ how are you holding the gate of your home closed against
Satan AND FOR YOUR FAMILY (or future family)?
For me, it is easy to forget the power I have in Christ and the charge
He has given me, not just for myself, but with Tim and for our home.
Proverbs 14:1
says, The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one
tears hers down.
Marriage is not about making sure another meets your needs
OR even making sure we meet all the needs of another. It is about coming
together as a united team and worshiping God as we hold the battle line hand in
hand!!!
How are we holding our spouses hands for battle? Are
we encouraging them or tearing them down? Are we serving them or seeking
to be served? Are we waking up in the
morning and seizing the day for our families and homes WITH CHRIST? If we
are single, are we sitting on the battlefield and refusing to fight until our
knight in shining armor arrives?
We need to get up, re-focus, and gear up for battle ~
SERVING EVERY DAY!
Today’s Focus:
Jesus Christ. He is my standard, He is my strength, He is
my grace!
“Because
of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never
fail. They are new every morning, and
great is HIS faithfulness.”
Lamentations
3:22-23
How may I serve YOU?
And
Jesus said, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you
must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must
be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
Fight as a Team ~ NO
Reserve, NO Retreat, NO Regret!!!
“So Joshua
fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top
of the hill. As long as
Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he
lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a
stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands
up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till
sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the
sword.” Exodus 17:10-13
