Tag: Jesus

Setting a Foundation In Our Marriage

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I feel lighter. My burdens don’t feel as heavy anymore. I have a new pep in my step.

I have prayed so much for a change in my marriage. I have asked God to help us make Him the foundation for our marriage and family. I prayerfully asked the Holy Spirit to reveal my faults and what I need to do to change and become a better wife. I prayed for my husband that same prayer…

..and it is working!

Our attitudes and how we handle struggles are changing. We are learning to think before we speak (still a work in progress!) and slow to become angry.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

James 1:19

We have begun doing Bible Studies together, even though making time in-between ball practices can be trying, it is vital in order to put Jesus first in our marriage. The best choice we have made in helping our marriage grow in faith is attending church again. We think we may have found a church home where we feel like God is speaking directly to us. It happens to be the church I grew up in and was baptized. I feel like I’ve come home. It is important to have a church family and worship the Lord with other believers.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

*** I wrote the above a few days ago. Since that time, my husband and I had an argument. I am telling you this to show you that the road isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Marriage is difficult and sometimes we fail when we allow our own selfishness to supersede the fruits of the Spirit. Self-control is difficult sometimes when you are in the throws of an argument. Ephesians 4:31-32 perfectly states how we should not only treat one another, but especially our spouse.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Although we fought, we did come together and talk it out. Those conversations can be difficult. We have to actively listen to one another and extend forgiveness. Sometimes we even need to admit when we are wrong, and that is what we did.

I pray this post encourages you in your marriage. Remember we are not perfect and will make mistakes. It is what we do with those tough lessons that determines what direction our marriage will go.

Living by Grace,

Misty

Choosing Passion

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O dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

Passion. I asked myself recently, What am I passionate about? I know I’m passionate about writing, being a mom/stepmom, helping others in their walk of faith, and bringing others to Christ. All good things, but rather useless if I never pursue them. Which brings me to the next question I have asked myself, What is keeping me from pursuing my passions?

I have narrowed down four “passion slayers” that are preventing me from pursuing my passions:

  1. Relational strife
  2. Fear
  3. Failure
  4. Opposition

Relationship strife. This is in my own home and those outside my home. What if they don’t like what I say, think I share too much, or in all honesty, think I’m being a hypocrite who doesn’t even do what she is preaching about?

Fear. I am scared that others will turn against me or question me based on my beliefs and my actions that haven’t been Christ like. I am afraid of not having all the answers when asked about scripture and God. What if I will stammer and not say the right thing?

Failure. I have the fear of failing as a mother, but more so as a step mother. It has been so difficult finding the right type of relationship to have with the children. Sometimes I think they like me and other times I feel like they think I am the worst person in the entire world.

Opposition. Am I equipped to handle those who have opposing beliefs? What about facing opposition from my children, biological and bonus?

How can I block these passion slayers from keeping me from moving forward? By opening my heart to receiving God’s love and teachings.

When love invades our hearts, we suddenly become unstoppable in pursuit of what we are so passionate about..Passion enables us to do what we would never do if we didn’t have it.

Christine Caine

What are five ways to keep passion alive?

  1. Pursue your passions with joy rather than obligation
  2. Tell God I love him daily
  3. Read God’s word daily
  4. Give thanks to the Lord and praise Him daily
  5. Bring healing to others

Remember that through this journey that nothing can ever separate you from the love of our Father. He will be with you to guide you, give you strength, and equip you in pursuing your passions. So during this time, behave like His children, love the Lord, and let nothing separate God from your love too.

Lastly, passion is a choice, not a feeling. Feelings can come and go, but decisions and actions fuel your passion. (Christine Caine)

May God bless you through this race that you are on, and may your passions leave the kingdom better than it was before.

Living By Grace,

Misty

The Hypocritical Christian

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For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..

Romans 3:23

I think that Christians are often described as hypocritical. Their lives may not add up all the time to their actions. The expectation is that Christians should be perfect and without flaw. The truth is, that is impossible.

Why? Because we all are human. We all are flawed, make mistakes, and fall short of the glory of God. There is only one person who walked this earth blameless and without sin, Jesus Christ.

It becomes discouraging when fellow Christians cast judgement in the same way. This can cause us to step back and allow shame to overtake the truths of what God says about us. We may feel that the Church isn’t all it says it is and we stop attending; and that eventually leads us to start separating from God. Our hearts may grow bitter and we question if those relationships we made were even real.

We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Have you ever been let down by someone who you thought was a good Christian friend? I have. I found myself in a place where my actions did not line up to my faith that I proclaimed. I felt incredible shame, guilt, and confusion and didn’t reach out to those same friends. So I guess in part it was my fault. At the same time, I expected them to still be there for me. I expected forgiveness, grace, and love. I expected them to be perfect, when in reality, they were just as capable of making mistakes too. I miss those friendships, but I also learned a great deal about them. I saw how I needed to change in my relationships and that I too was incredibly judgmental. My expectations couldn’t be met by an imperfect person.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8

If we could be perfect then their wouldn’t have been a need for a Savior. What would be the point? God sent His son to die for our sins because we were failing. We were unable to keep the law and God saw this. In order for any of us to spend eternity with Him, there had to be a final sacrifice.

Our God knew then and knows now that we will always fall short. Falling short comes in many forms. I think sometimes we only focus on what some call “major sins”: murder, adultery, etc. While those are definitely sins, there are others that we tend to overlook, and maybe we overlook them because we don’t want to admit we all sin. Some examples are : drunkenness, lying, gossiping, pornography, greed, divorce, etc. The hard truth is that there is no sin greater than the other. I believe this because our Heavenly Father forgives us of each sin, no matter the severity, as long as we ask for forgiveness and truly repent. The Lord says,

I, I am he, who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 43:25

I am a hypocritical Christian. I will no longer feel shame and guilt when I am labeled that. I can walk in boldness, courage, and forgiveness because of what Christ did for me on that cross.

Let us all remember that we are in need of a Savior, and it is because of Him that we can walk freely in His grace alongside of Him.

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.

C. S. Lewis

Living by grace,

Misty