Beautiful and powerful wedding prayer!

This amazing prayer was prayed at the beautiful and God-honoring wedding we were at Saturday of Gracie and David Powell!  There is so much truth to meditate on in this prayer!

~Posted By Breanna

O God of love, you have established marriage for the welfare and happiness of mankind. Yours was the plan, and only with you can we work it out with joy. You have said, “it is not good for a man to live alone. . . . I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now our joys are doubled, since the happiness of one is the happiness of the other; our burdens are halved, since, when we share them, we divide the load.

Bless this husband. Bless him as provider for the needs of those he loves. Sustain him in all his struggles in the contest of life. May his strength be her protection, his character be her joy and assurance. May he so live that she may find in him the haven for which the heart of a woman truly longs.

Bless this loving wife. Give her a tenderness that makes her great . . . a deep sense of understanding and a great faith in You. Give her that inner beauty of soul that never fades, eternal youth that is found in holding fast to the things that never age. May she so live that he may be pleased always to reverence and adore her.

May they never make the mistake of merely living for each other. Teach them that marriage is not living for each other. It is two uniting and joining hands to serve You, the living God. Give them a great spiritual purpose in life. May they seek first the kingdom that is yours, and its righteousness, so that all other things may be added unto them. Loving you best, they shall love each other all the more. And faithful unto You, faithful unto each other they will remain.

May they not expect that perfection of each other that belongs alone to You. May they minimize each other’s weaknesses, be swift to praise and magnify each other’s strengths and beauty, and see each other through a lover’s kind and patient eyes. Give them a little something to forgive each day, that they may grow in the grace of long-suffering and love. And may they be forbearing with each other’s omissions and commissions as You are with theirs. Make such assignments to them according to Your will as will bless them and develop their character as they walk together. Give them enough tears to keep them tender, enough hurts to keep them humane, enough of failure to keep their hands clenched tightly in Yours, and enough success to make them sure they belong to You. May they never take each other’s love for granted, but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims: “Out of all this world, you have chosen me!” Then when life is done, and the sun is setting, may they be found, then as now, still hand in hand, still so proud, thanking you so very much for each other. May they serve You happily, faithfully, together, until at least one shall lay the other in Your arms. This we ask through Jesus Christ, great lover of souls. Amen.

A wedding prayer as adapted by Dr. Ric Cannada, Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary. Another form of this prayer was published in Decision Magazine sometime before June 1971 and was attributed to Dr. Lewis Evans.

Absolute Assurance

He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

Several times in the Scriptures the Lord hath said this. He has often repeated it to make our assurance doubly sure. Let us never harbor a doubt about it. In itself the promise is specially emphatic. In the Greek it has five negatives, each one definitely shutting out the possibility of the Lord's ever leaving one of His people so that he can justly feel forsaken of his God. This priceless Scripture does not promise us exemption from trouble, but it does secure us against desertion. We may be called to traverse strange ways, but we shall always have our Lord's company, assistance, and provision. We need not covet money, for we shall always have our God, and God is better than gold; His favor is better than fortune.

We ought surely to be content with such things as we have, for he who has God has more than all the world besides. What can we have beyond the Infinite? What more can we desire than almighty Goodness.

Come, my heart; if God says He will never leave thee nor forsake thee, be thou much in prayer for grace that thou mayest never leave thy Lord, nor even for a moment forsake His ways.

- Charles Spurgeon, Faith's Checkbook, December 28th

~Brittany

Randomness from this week :-)

"You are God alone, from before time began You were on Your throne, You are God alone. And right now, in the good times and bad You are on Your throne, You are God alone."  The Lord is so faithful and so good to our family!  What a praise and mercy it is that He is on His throne, in control of and working in amazing ways in each of our lives!  One of the verses that I've been meditating on lately is Psalm 138:8a "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever." What a comforting thought to think that the Lord WILL fulfill His purposes for us!  So as I've been praying over different situations, I've been asking God to fulfill His purpose in it, whatever it may be, because it is best and should be our only hearts desire.  What an amazingly awesome and faithful God we serve, so worthy of all of our trust.  Life is good when the Lord is the One who is running it!  :-)  And as I look at my precious family, I see sooo much to thank God for every single day!  Here are some random pics from this week....

 Bell and Sarah sweetly at work with crayons, pens and paper.  

It has been a blessing to see Bell's heart to invest in and love on her younger siblings!

Bell loves to write and spends a good deal of time writing in her journal, writing letters or writing stories.  

 Beautiful Esther!  It 's been precious and exciting as we've been watching the Lord begin working in her heart lately.  Truly, there is no greater joy than to see their hearts being awakened to spiritual truths and to the Lord Himself.

 Three precious gals!  Brittany has such a tender heart for the little ones and serves them in such amazing ways!  Though perhaps not always noticed, she pours herself out in serving her family, exemplifying her beautiful heart.  She is my best friend in the truest sense and in every way!  I thank God for her!  And those little girlies melt our hearts...

 ...as you can see and tell why!  :D  This is what we like to call "Kissing Time!" And they're giving "double kisses", with one on each side!  LOL!  Yep, we definitely like our kisses!

 These, my friends, are fresh flowers that we picked and brought in.  And yes, it is December.  :-)  It truly has been different living here in Georgia, but this is certainly an enjoyable part of it.  We've enjoyed seeing the many wild beauties that just grow everywhere and in random places.  Truly, the earth displays the glory of the Lord!  May it's beauty point us to Him to praise His name and admire His beauty which is far greater than anything else imaginable!

Mama, Essie bear and me.  I am SOOO blessed!!!!

 Daddy and Ti hard at it! Titus LOVES to be with Dad!  As soon as Dad's home from work, Ti is his little sidekick.  I so love to see Titus just being with Dad, observing his godly character and example.  

Dad is an awesome example for any guy to observe! 

 I am so thankful for his wisdom and faithfulness in guiding our family!  

 A precious (and very cute) couple in red....

 and a precious (and also very cute) couple in black! :-)  Love them both!

"Faithful, forever You are faithful

Shelter for the fragile soul

You lift us up, You hold us all together

You are faithful, God

And I will sing to the maker of Heaven and Earth

God, You reign forever and Your love will endure

Faithful and true is the name of the Lord

You are faithful, God

You are there in every season of my soul

You are there, You're the anchor that will hold

You are there in the valley of the shadows

You are faithful, God"

~Faithful lyrics by Chris Tomlin

Amen and amen!

~Posted By Breanna

Psalm 127

Elizabeth singing Psalm 127.

 

 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
(Psa 127:1-5)

Thoughts at 21 . . .

This was the hymn that Breanna woke up with in her mind on her 21st birthday. 

Click here to hear Brittany and Breanna singing this hymn.

Another Year is Dawning

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

~Brittany

I just took this picture the other evening.  This passage was one that stood out to me this morning, and one that we've talked about before as a family.  We must be earnest in prayer and must have the faith and patience to wait for the Lord to reveal His hand as He promises to.

~Brittany

Sure Victory

Divine Expulsion

Thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. (Joshua 17:18)

It is a great encouragement to valor to be assured of victory, for then a man goes forth to war in confidence and ventures where else he had been afraid to go. Our warfare is with evil within us and around us, and we ought to be persuaded that we are able to get the victory and that we shall do so in the name of the Lord Jesus. We are not riding for a fall, but to win; and win we shall. The grace of God in its omnipotence is put forth for the overflow of evil in every form: hence the certainty of triumph.
Certain of our sins find chariots of iron in our constitution, our former habits, our associations, and our occupations. Nevertheless we must overcome them. They are very strong, and in reference to them we are very weak; yet in the name of God we must master them, and we will. If one sin has dominion of us we are not the Lord's free men. A man who is held by only one chain is still a captive. There is no going to heaven with one sin ruling within us, for of the saints it is said, "Sin shall not have dominion over you." Up, then, and slay every Canaanite, and break to shivers every chariot of iron! The Lord of hosts is with us, and who shall resist His sin-destroying power?
- Charles Spurgeon, Faith's Checkbook, December 16th
~Brittany

Encouraging Paul Washer Quotes

Paul Washer posted these two tweets on twitter today that blessed and encouraged me.  I hope you will be blessed as well by these godly reminders!

~The days are quickly passing. While it is day and while we have strength, let us give ourselves

 (heart, soul, mind, & strength) to His will! 

 

~All our trials have an eternal purpose.  The obstacles in our lives do not restrict us, they recreate us into the image of Christ

101 Household Tips for Every Room in your Home

This article was sooo neat!  Loved some of the ideas!  Here are a few of our favorites that they shared, but you'll definitely want to click the link to read them all!  :-)

http://www.glamumous.co.uk/2013/03/101-household-tips-for-every-room-in.html

~Brittany and Breanna :-)




Install a regular coat rack low down the wall to store shoes safely of the floor.


Repurpose a cereal canister as a trash can for the car.


Use a magnetic strip to store bobby pins on inside of a cupboard.


Cover paint trays with aluminium foil to make cleaning up afterwards a breeze.


Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when hard-boiling eggs to make the shells incredibly easy to peel off.


When hanging a picture frame, put a dab of toothpaste on the frame where you need the nails to be. Then simply press against the wall to leave marks (which can later be wiped) as guides for hammering in.


Re-purpose an old CD spindle to make a pretty small cake/biscuit holder.


To decorate a chocolate beautifully, lay a piece of lace over the cake and sprinkle icing sugar over the top.

To sharpen scissors, simply cut through sandpaper.

Store bed sheets inside their pillowcases for easy storage and access.

Place a few drops of essential oil on the cardboard tube of a toilet roll to make your bathroom smell wonderful.

A genius tip to help prevent paint spillage!

Use a rubber band to rescue a stripped screw.

Store matches in a mason jar and add a disc of sandpaper to the lid on which to strike them.

Yet another use for drinks can ringpulls! Use to create a hanging loop for picture frames by screwing into the back.

A life laid down..Ronnie Smith

This was truly a precious and touching story of a man who recently died, leaving a legacy of love and a life poured out for the good of others and the glory of Christ, shining His light where God had him.  Grieving for his wife and son, and yet rejoicing in the legacy he left behind him.  May we all live our lives with an urgent desire to touch the lives of those around us with the light of Christ wherever we are and with whomever we come in contact with!

~Breanna

WORLD article: Here's the link to the article- http://www.worldmag.com/2013/12/a_life_laid_down

Hours after assailants gunned down American teacher Ronnie Smith during his morning jog near the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Thursday, grieving friends on opposite sides of the globe remembered Smith, 33, as a devoted teacher, family man, and Christian.

It was a pleasant day in south Georgia today.  The high was 81 and the low is only suppose to be 64.  That is really different for us north Ohio folks. :-)  The "winter" down here is definitely pleasant. We are however, very much looking forward to going back up north to see some snow too. :-)

We've been busy with many different projects, but I'll save the details until we can post some pictures to make it more interesting. :-)

One thing I did want to share though is a picture that I took this afternoon...

It's not as close as I would have liked to get, but I could not resist grabbing the camera when I was out at the clothes line today.  The first time I saw these cows was just the other day.  Evening was coming on and I was walking back toward the house when I looked over and saw this large herd of cows coming around the corner of a field that we can see from our back yard.  Truly, it was one of the most beautiful, refreshing sights to me!  Our family was so use to living in our very rural, quiet area.  There wasn't much traffic, and in the evenings you could hear the quiet clip-clop of horses coming down the road from a mile away.  Now we live on a busy highway. :-)  The Lord was so gracious in giving us a beautiful view from our back yard though.  It is very peaceful.  You can watch the sun rise from the kitchen and dining room windows over a beautiful country field, which was filled with cotton this year.  When you're out back, the beauty somehow seems to block out the noise from the front yard.  We haven't seen a lot of animals out on pasture down here yet, so when I saw these cows the other day it gave me a serge of joy and peacefulness and I have been enjoying them ever since.  Maybe that sounds simple, but it was very significant to me.  Nature is such a beautiful thing; landscape and creatures alike.  The Lord's handiwork is truly amazing!

“He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength…Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”  – Job 9:4a,10

 “Marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”  – Psalm 139:14b

~Brittany

Scowling at the Angel~ A precious and inspiring story about true love and grace

Whether you're married or not, this story is so inspiring to have true love and to have Christ-like grace.  Though a little longer, it is well worth the read!

Scowling at the Angel

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." —Galatians 5:22-23

We sat together, just the two of us. The sun would be coming up any minute. We didn't say much. We couldn't. We were on the verge of bursting into tears, but neither did. What we did say was mostly of a lighthearted nature.

It was our 18th anniversary.

"In sickness and health," I joked.

"Yeah, well," she said, "it's only fair. You stuck with me through four labors and deliveries. It's the least I can do."

A man wearing black scrubs and carrying a clipboard entered the waiting area and barked, "Ramsey. Ramsey."

Together we stood and made our way to the shouting man who led us to the elevator.

"I'll be right out here," my wife said. "I'll see you just as soon as they're done."

I squeezed her hand, gave her a kiss, handed her my wedding ring, and then stepped into the elevator as it closed and carried me up and away.

Precious Blessings of Singing

Music is a powerful thing.  A precious brother and sister in the Lord, Thomas and Emily Smith; invited us to spend a weekend with them and go to their church with them a month or so ago.  What a blessing our time with them was; from the fellowship at their home, to visiting church with them.

Our family has always really enjoyed singing Psalms using the Psalter.  We have spent several years memorizing Psalm 119 using Susie Kimball's excellent arrangement that she did.   We have enjoyed Steve Green's scripture songs and learning many hymns over the years. 

As much as we have enjoyed singing God's Word through various ways, a few years ago we began to compromise in the music that we allowed to come into our home.  We thought we were being careful of content but when you hear your precious little ones singing lyrics to "clean" secular music, it does something to a parents heart.

The Lord gently continued to convict our hearts and also brought in some precious brothers and sisters that He also used to cause us to further be pricked in our hearts about the choices that we were allowing in our home.

How grateful we were when Uncle Thomas and Aunt Emily shared a CD of the scripture songs that they sing at their church.  For us, it was the concept of putting off and putting on.  We decided to put off the music that we had allowed to slowly creep in and put on singing the Word of God.

I can not tell you how blessed we are each time we hear little Sarah or Esther singing "wisdom is the principle thing" .  Pastor Lederman encouraged us several years ago to set a watch in areas that we are prone to fall in.  So we are seeking to learn a new scripture song each week as a family and I am using the songs as part of our schooling each week in the way of handwriting.  Then at the end of the week I am going to record the children and shared them on the blog as a little encouragement to the children and also as a bit of accountability for me. 

Hope you are encouraged by these sweet voices.  :-)

Another new picture.  This is an old photo from our home back in Ohio.  The Lord blessed us with a perfect view of His amazing sunsets.  I could have sat and watched the process from start to finish in complete awe.  This verse holds such promise.

~Brittany

I just did this picture this evening.  This passage has stood out to me for years.  As long as we know our vision we can run forward in faith, even though we don't know how the Lord is going to get us there.  As we take hold on the promises in His Word and stand on them in simple trust His strength is given and joy and peace are received.  May we each live by faith as we look to the vision of our Lord through His promises.

~Brittany

These verses spoke to me so much some time ago, and they still have very deep meaning each time I see this picture on my desktop.  My first scripture picture taken since our move to Georgia.  This summer it was such a peaceful delight getting to watch the sun rise through the fog over the cotton field out our kitchen and dining room windows.  To me, the verses could not have fit better with the mood of this sunrise.

~Brittany

3 Powerful Truths About Unleashing Your Feelings

What a powerful reminder by one of my favorite bloggers, Mr. Matthew Jacobson, that we are the masters of our emotions and feelings in Christ Jesus, not slaves to them.  Hope you are as challenged as I was!

~Breanna

   

You might say I’m gifted with the ill-timed comment. I’ve thought a lot about this and I don’t think it’s really my fault.

Like when Barbara came from out of state to visit Lisa. I was trying to do something nice for them, I really was. They were having tea on the couch in the family room, open to the kitchen. It was a “good husband” moment. I wanted them to be able to talk, uninterrupted, so the kids were in the backyard and I quietly listened while washing the dishes. That’s nice, isn’t it?

But, no sooner did I start scrubbing with this new-fangled scrubber that releases the soap as you wash and I got frustrated.

Peek behind the curtain: I hate (I know, Christians aren’t supposed to hate but, I do) I hate things that don’t work – especially if they’re new. I’m convinced there’s a special place in the netherworld for people who make and sell junk.

Anyway, after about three futile attempts at cleaning a pan, I said . . . loudly . . . Where did this worthless piece of junk come from?

Both ladies looked up. “What worthless piece of junk, honey?” Lisa asked with that cringing tone that says, I hope he doesn’t say what I think he’s going to say.

“This stupid thing,” I said, holding up the offending article as absolute proof that the world is falling apart.
“Oh, the new scrubber,” she said, “That is a gift, from Barbara.”

Awkward.

Okay, I’m not quite as guiltless as I first claimed. No one forced me to get all worked up and, I didn’t have to say anything derogatory.  But, I felt strongly about that scrubber and the villains who made it.

Ever felt strongly about something you were discussing with your spouse? When he/she had a different perspective than you? When no one’s giving in? How did that go?

One of the hardest things to believe about our own feelings is that we are completely in charge of them. More typically, we act as if they arrive on the scene as some separate, irresistible force that must be unleashed on the situation.

This is never true. Remember the last time you got fired-up? You expressed your frustration because . . . you expressed your frustration. We made a choice. We are in charge of our emotions. The Devil didn’t make you do it. Your spouse didn’t, either. You chose. I chose. We all choose.
Our feelings aren’t legitimate just because we have them. Do we want to be biblical Christians, walking in the Spirit? Then our feelings will have to submit to something before they do more damage: the Truth.
This is true even when we’re completely right (it was a piece of junk, okay!). God allows for legitimate anger. Ephesians 4:26 says . . . be angry but don’t sin. Even then, when we’re legitimately angry, the Bible teaches us to remain in control of our feelings.

A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11

Interesting, isn’t it? You can be right and still be a fool by unleashing your feelings on the moment.
God calls us to walk in the Spirit and in Truth. To do so, we need to take proper charge of our feelings and the responses that accompany them. What is the truth about emotions?

1)   When it comes to responding to circumstances or disagreements, you are not a victim. You are in charge. Feelings and responses are a choice.

2)   Feelings might be legitimate . . . but they might also be illegitimate. Truth decides, not the power of the emotions of the moment.

3)   Anger may be justified but don’t give “vent” to it. Be wise, restraining your anger.

Do we do this in our own strength? No, Galatians 5:16 says if you walk in the Spirit you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.  

How do we walk in the Spirit?

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Angry? Frustrated? It’s your move.

Matthew
www.matthewljacobson.com

What is Your Relation with Sin?

Cultivating Gratefulness

I, Karen, have been very blessed by Stacie Nelson's ebook that she wrote on cultivating gratefulness in our children.  Thought that, perhaps, someone else might be blessed by it as well.  Here is the link:
http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/kids/cultivating-thankfulness-in/
Information about the ebook is at the bottom of the page

The Gospel According To You

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU

There’s a sweet old story translated for me,
But writ in the long, long ago-
The Gospel according to Mark, Luke, and John-
Of Christ and His mission below.
You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day,
By deed that you do, by words that you say.
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true,
Say, what is the gospel according to you?
Men read and admire the gospel of Christ,
With its love so unfailing and true;
But what do they say, and what do they think
Of the gospel according to you?
‘Tis a wonderful story, the gospel of love,
As it shines in the Christ-life divine,
And oh, that its truth might be told again
In the story of your life and mine!
Unselfish mirrors in every scene,
Love blossoms on every sod,
And back from its vision the heart comes to tell
The wonderful goodness of God.
You are writing each day a letter to men;
Take care that the writing is true.
‘ Tis the only gospel some men will read,
That gospel according to you.

~Author Unknown~

My Ways Are Not Your Ways

I was reminded of this song while talking with a dear friend tonight.  A precious elder of ours shared this several years ago with us and it has since been a family favorite. 

::My Ways Are Not Your Ways::
1) Oft the way to the goal seems so weary and long,
Trials almost take away my song;
Then we sigh and we cry and we ask,
‘Father why does this life my wishes all deny?’

Chorus-
My ways, my child, are not your ways,
My thoughts are higher than thine.
Let me lead you each step of this long weary day,
Let me clasp thy trembling hand in mine.
2) It is my hearts desire to do His blessed will,
And to serve my Master every day;
But when things all go wrong and the world doubts me still,
Then, oh Lord, I can-not understand.
3) So I’ll leave all to  Him, He has promised to share
All my load and ev’ry care to bear.
There is joy in my heart and on my lips a song,
Even tho’, Lord, I don’t understand.

Big Problems and An Almighty God

I was so encouraged this morning when I read Matthew Jacobson's post.  I could so relate to what he wrote.  Life is not always just smooth going.  Right now, we Alexander's are feeling that way.  And yet . . .  is not our God bigger than any of our problems???

Here is the link over to the post by Matthew that was such a blessing to me and really helped me to have a right focus for today .
Matthrew Jacobson Post Big Problems And An Almighty God
I hope you will be encouraged and blessed as well.  ~Karen

Tony Konvalin posted this quote on his blog at What They Said that I thought went so nicely with Matthew's post.

"A Christian, for the sweet fruit he bears to God and men, is compared to the noblest of all plants, the vine.  Now as the most generous vine, if not pruned, runs out into many superfluous stems and grows at last weak and fruitless: so doth the best man, if he be not cut short of his desires and pruned with afflictions."

Joseph Hall

A future wife's meditions

Young Men:

They are:

Strong-Pro_20:29  The glory of young men is their strength:

Sober minded-Tit_2:6  Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 

Overcoming evil- I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.

Strong,Word abides in them, overcoming evil-I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 

They are to:

Cleanse their way by heading the Word- Psa_119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 

Seek wisdom and instruction because it will give him knowledge and discretion- Pro_1:4  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

Put away evil and the things of childhood and youth that are vanity and bring destruction- (Ecc 11:9-10) Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. 

Passages with lists of what godly men should be:

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 

(Tit 1:6-9)

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

(1Ti 3:1-13)

Pray for my future husband to be:

-Strong

-sober-minded

-overcoming evil and the evil one

-abiding in the Word and the Word abiding in him

 -cleansing evil from his life 

-avoiding evil by seeking the Word and obeying it 

-giving heed to instruction and seeking wisdom

-seeking wisdom to have knowledge and discretion

-putting away the foolish things of  childhood and youth that bring destruction

-blameless

-preparing to be a good and faithful husband to me

-preparing to be faithful in raising faithful and godly children

-not self-willed, but submissive and honoring to authority

-teachable

-not soon angry, but slow speak and slow to anger and patient

-self-controlled

-peaceable

-wise and controlled in his speech

-a lover of hospitality

-loving godly company and loving the brethren

-just

-holy

-temperate

-holding fast to the Word and sound in it

-vigilant

-upright in conduct, character and behavior, having a good reputation

-content, not covetous

-humble

-truthful and honest

-faithful in all things

-boldness in Christ and His ways

-able to instruct, lead and guide his family in the ways of righteousness and godliness

-kept as the apple of the Lord's eye and covered under His wings

-upheld in the arms of the Lord as God fulfills His purposes concerning him

A Meditation of Comfort

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”
- Isa_49:16
No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word “Behold,” is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence. Zion said, “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me.” How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief! What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God’s favoured people? The Lord’s loving word of rebuke should make us blush; he cries, “How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?” O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of his people. He keeps his promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt him. He never faileth; he is never a dry well; he is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert. “Behold,” is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marvelling. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written upon the palms of his hands. “I have graven thee.”It does not say, “Thy name.” The name is there, but that is not all: “I have graven thee.” See the fulness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when he has graven thee upon his own palms?

Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening Devotions November 7

Another encouraging post by Matthew Jacobson on marriage

The Lifelong Habit of Pursuing Friendship

Posted on October 29, 2013

Date night . . . there’s a place not far from our house, Diego’s ~ Spirited Kitchen, that Lisa and I find our way to on a semi-regular basis for a few moments away. We don’t often order much, maybe a little avocado salsa fresca, but we just love to spend time together.

It was a busy night at Diego’s a few weeks back. We couldn’t help noticing the couple – mid-sixties, maybe – who sat the entire evening, stone-faced, across from each other. Not a word passed between them – Date night. Hope they enjoyed the food – really sad. I don’t know their story but that didn’t keep me from wanting to take the guy by the lapels and say, “Can’t you see the vacant longing in your wife’s eyes? She’s begging to be loved by you!”
What was Lisa doing? I noticed something in her face as she discreetly looked their way – something in her eyes evaluated, wondered, analyzed.
“Do you think we’ll wind up like that twenty years down the road?” She said unexpectedly.
Now, she knew the answer. I know she did . . . but somehow she wanted the assurance of hearing me say it.
“Of course not – we’re going to be friends forever.”
But, didn’t the older couple start out with the same desire? Doesn’t everyone begin marriage with an expectation of friendship and closeness for the long-haul?
Then “Life” happens and The Book of Love sits neglected, collecting dust on some hidden shelf.
God designed us for so much more than that – for depth, for richness, for a highly fulfilling marriage, but it won’t happen automatically. To experience a marriage like that, we’ve got to do things God’s way and cultivate a lifestyle that places a priority on those things that will lead toward the relationship we so desire.
Let’s keep it real – it is impossible to have a fulfilling friendship with your spouse if there is no willingness on his/her part to do so. But, one thing is certain – If you don’t pursue the habit of friendship in your marriage, it will never happen. Even if your spouse is a little resistant due to the path you have walked, God can do miracles in a marriage where His ways are embraced and you choose to walk obediently.
So where do you start in pursuing friendship with your spouse?
When it comes to having a friendship, God says you need to initiate the process.  Proverbs 18:24 – if you’re going to have friends, you must be friendly (MLJV).
This verse is never more true than in the relationship between husband and wife. To experience friendship with your spouse, it’s got to start somewhere.  Initiate friendship by doing and saying those things that demonstrate your purpose to be your spouse’s good friend.
Here are 7 suggestions toward pursuing friendship with your spouse. Husband or Wife, these all apply equally to each:
1)    Dinner, coffee, a stroll through the park . . . pick a moment to tell her you want to      become her best friend and ask her, “How can I become a better friend to you?”
2)   What is she interested in? Ask her questions about those things.
3)   It’s Monday morning. Do you have priorities for the week? Discuss them with her and ask her what are her goals and priorities for the week.
4)   Pick a day (every week!) and do something for her that you know she’ll love.
5)   Tell her something about her personality, way of thinking, abilities, or contribution that you particularly love and appreciate.
6)   Build her up with your words in public. Do you like it when someone directly contradicts you in company? She/He doesn’t like it, either. It’s demeaning and disrespectful.
7)   Listen with genuine interest when she talks. Be interested in her opinions and perspective.
For most spouses, friendship with each other is like a ripe apple, just waiting to be picked and enjoyed. If you truly want friendship then initiate by doing the things with and for your spouse that demonstrate what a solid-gold friend you are. Pursue the habit of friendship and enjoy that highly fulfilling, rich marriage you desire and that God desires for you both.



*This post is one of The 7 Habits of a Highly Fulfilling Marriage series.

Happy 18th Birthday Tayte!!!!

Our sweet and wonderful fella turned 18 this month!  It's so hard to believe he's already 18!  And what a fine young man he's become...in my person opinion that is.  :-)  Just today I was so blessed as he had some running to do and let me come with him and we spent time talking together and he even took me out for lunch for the very first time ever!  It was such a precious time...special memories that I will not easily forget! It has been such a joy to watch him turn into the godly, responsible, pleasant and cheerful young man that he is!  I pray the Lord will continue to guide him and make him even more wonderful than he is now!  Okay, I'll stop bragging and share the pics from his birthday!  :-)

We did a surprise birthday party for him, or at least it was supposed to be.  He accidentally became away of it the morning of his birthday.  So hard to keep secrets around here!  Anyways, we were able to sneak him away from work for the evening and had a dear family over from church to celebrate with us.  We had just gotten a beautiful big new table that the Lord blessed us with and it was perfect for having company!  We fit two families around it!  Yay!  Here's the gang...

Embarrassing Tayte singing happy birthday to him! :-)  Love his smile!

He is a true country boy...loves his meat and potatoes!  lol!  The corn, rolls and root beer were an excellent compliment.  :-) 

After supper and dessert we had a wonderful time in the Word together and then retired to the living room for a great time of playing fun games together! 

Playing occupation...

Playing 4 on a couch here, only this particular couch seems a little crowded! It makes for the best times!  These dear folks from church are such blessings to us and so sweet!  What a delight it was to share this special day of celebrating the 18 years of our sweetie with them!

And here are just some random pics taken this week of him.  He's been so busy at work lately, which we are thankful for, but we cherish every minute with him when he's home!

Ti and Bell enjoying big brother!

Tayte and Mom doing what everyone enjoys doing with Mom...

enjoying the bestest of conversations!  :-)

And here he is again...wondering why on earth I keep taking pictures of him!  

Love this guy sooo much!

And thus he begins another year of life.  So much has happened in this past year, so many changes in him...I wonder what the Lord has for him in this year?   I am excited to see how the Lord uses this young man for His glory and works in his life for good according to His good and perfect will!  

~Posted by his adoring sis...Bree