Not Just About the 1st Day

It’s not just about the first day. The first day is very important, yes. It will of course serve as a symbol of the journey that you will take together. If you take nothing else from this book, grab hold and don’t let go of the fact, yes, I said fact, that it is not just about the first day. As every other day, this day will come, and it will go. Of course, it should be special, because no matter if it is big, small, or somewhere in between, you will think of it often, sometimes with happiness, hope and great joy, sometimes with sadness, sometimes wistfully, and at other times with deep longing to return to when it was simpler, and you thought that you were invincible. There will be times when you will look to it as a source of strength that you will take with you through the rocky, dry, deserted, lonely places you will inevitably end up in. But know this, you do not have to stay there. Take all the strength you need and remember. Remember? you ask. Yes, remember. Remember how you looked at each other, the things that made you smile inside and out, how you couldn’t wait to tell each other what happened that day, the dreams of your hearts and the stepping stones you’d crossed that day to get closer to them. You must not forget! Trust me, the words for better or worse, sickness and health, richer or poorer are not just arbitrarily placed in your vows if you chose to recite traditional vows. They are there for a reason, because at some point, and it differs for all couples those times will come. They hardly ever announce that they are coming so you must be ready. Be ready to remember what you said on that first day, that you would be there that you would stay whether good or bad, whether they mess up or almost always get it right, whether healthy or sick and whether with more or with less. Words have power, and those may be some of the most powerful words in the vows. They are not simply words that are spoken before all your family and friends, but they are blueprints for your life together—words you will live. So, remember, it’s not just about the first day, it is really about each day that follows the first day.

Confused

Bruised

Confused

Dazed

Unfazed

By

What we see

By

What we know

By

What we want to really grow

We

Desire

But

Lack

While

Breaking

Our

Back

While

Wearing

Our

Smile

And

Laying down tile

Tending

The walk around

Our

Heart

Not

Seeking

And

Finding

Not

Knocking

And

Opening

But

Wandering

Circling

The

Web

Is

Confusing

Be Kind

I have been reading some quotes from Mother Teresa recently and have been both inspired and intrigued by the wisdom nestled in her words. One quote I would like to share today is:

In a world where you can be anything,

Be kind.

Being kind takes courage. Many foolishly believe that it is an indicator of weakness, but no, one of the toughest, most challenging things we can do is be kind. Will you accept the challenge today? I hope you will.

Tips for Godly Daily Living

·    Live blamelessly and righteously

·    Speak honestly from your heart

·    Slander no one

·    Do good to all

·    Honor those who fear our LORD God

·    Keep God’s commands even when it hurts

·    Lend without expecting it in return

·    Do good without expecting it in return

·    Refuse bribery

He who does these things will never be shaken. ~Psalm 15:5

*tips taken from Psalm 15

Thought for the Day

Perfect

God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the LORD?
Who but our solid rock?
God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.


Psalm 18:30-36

Brevity

 It’s no secret, life is short. During my quiet time with the LORD this week, I came across the scripture posted above was reminded of the brevity of life. The scripture advises us to seek wisdom for this reason. So that we may live our lives wisely and in doing so avoid the traps of squandering the precious time that we have been gifted with. In some ways, this verse was like a wakeup call. For some time now, it seems that I have been living in a fog—living, but not truly living, or should I say experiencing—experiencing the simple joys of daily life, the humility of the everyday routines, the pouring in to those who come behind us, those I have been entrusted with exclusively, teaching and exposing them to the world but opening their hearts most of all to the love and joy of our LORD, the small victories that slide by unnoticed and the gratefulness for the lessons learned in the battles and struggles which unexpectedly appear. I have gone through the motions but not really paid attention to my living. A concept I was introduced to in the book, She’s Still There, written by Chrystal Evans Hurst. It is time to pay attention. That’s right, it is time to start paying attention to my life. You may ask how do you live and not pay attention to your life. Well, it’s simple, I get busy. Busy taking care of others, things, tasks, favors, and assignments, that I forget or should I say lose sight of actually looking at why I am doing these things. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we shouldn’t do these things, we should, but we should also pay attention to why we are doing them. Is it simply because it is a good thing to do, or it is what is expected of me?  Is it because this is the thing God is calling and leading me to do? Because as it has been said by many people in many ways, a good thing isn’t always a God thing. Sometimes we are so busy doing good things that we completely miss what God has placed right in front of us to do or to be.  The verse above reminded me to not waste the time that God graciously gave me. It also reminded me to stop disregarding it by not even having the wherewithal to pay attention to it. I want to use the precious time he has given me wisely, to pursue and grow in wisdom. I want to live this life a little better every day. The only way that I will accomplish that is to pay attention to how I am living it every single day. He created me to live and to live an abundant life. I can do that when I seek Him, talk to Him, listen to Him, and follow Him. That being said, it is settled, I have decided that I am going to be more attentive to my life. What about you?

Prayer for Marriages

Marriage is a sacred covenant to be held in high esteem by all. That is what your word says, LORD. I thank you for marriage. I come to petition you to protect and help marriages today. Husbands and wives need you LORD God. Please help them to be committed to you, to seek you, to love you, to honor you and glorify you in all ways every day of their lives. Help them to remember to invite you in and make you a part of their daily lives. Help them to guard their hearts and to seek to have minds and attitudes like Christ Jesus. I pray that they will be of one mind and one purpose and unified in the bonds of peace. I pray that their units remain strong and faithful. I pray that marriages will be strong in the LORD and in the strength of your mighty power. I pray that husbands and wives will reflect your unity with the Father in their marriages daily. In your name, Jesus I pray. Amen.

Morsel of Inspiration

I shared this post last August and wanted to share this morsel again.

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

BE KIND ANYWAY.

If you are honest, people may cheat on you.

BE HONEST ANYWAY.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

The good you do may be forgotten tomorrow.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.

GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

~Mother Teresa

Prayer for Peace in My Life

The following prayer is taken from the Armor of God bible study by Priscilla Shirer. It is one that I find powerful and feel that it may help others as well. It is my hope and prayer that it will inspire you to seek to experience God's peace daily also.

God, help me to switch off the guilt induced, confrontation-avoidant recordings that play repeatedly in my mind. And then, let your peace do what your peace does in my life. Let your peace settle my heart as a woman who has received it and experiences it daily. Let your Spirit naturally guide me in living and sharing the blessings of your peace with those around me as I submit to your leadership and promptings. In your son, Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Thought for the Day

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(photo quote courtesy of YouVersion)

This Morning's Devotional Nugget

This morning's devotion was based upon 1 Samuel 18. This is the chapter that tells the story of David and Jonathan's friendship and Saul's growing jealousy of David. From the nuggets of wisdom in the devotion, the one that spoke to me was on comparison. The author, Wendy Blight stated, "Saul kept his eye on another. We cannot be who God created us to be when our eyes are on another." That got me to thinking of how often I am focused on what someone else is doing. I also thought about how often I compare what they are doing or in some cases, not doing to my own life? Either way, my focus is in the wrong direction and not on the LORD and things of the LORD when it is on someone else. When my focus is not on the LORD, I will not fulfill his plans and purposes for my life. So today, I surrender comparison to the LORD and ask the Holy Spirit to help me to keep my focus on our LORD instead of others. Thank you LORD for your revelations and your tender nudging that move me closer to you.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:5 NLT

Thought for the Day

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  

Colossians 3:14 NLT

Thought for the Day

Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the LORD forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Colossians 3:13 NLT