Being Lured Away

Okay. I've been reading this book called "Captivating" Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul 

It has been revolutionary for my life.  What I write in this blog may be from the book and other things, my own thoughts- (no plagiarism or copyright infringement is meant)

In the book the writer broke down the scripture in Isaiah as below:

 Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

 ²To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

 ³To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

So here's how God put it for my "HEART" to really get it and be healed - I'm not sure which translation this is or if this is just from the book:

God has sent me on a mission
I have some great news for you.
God has sent me to restore and release something.
And that something is you. 
I am here to give you back your heart and set you free.
I am furious at the Enemy who did this to you, and I will
fight against him.
Let me comfort you.
For, dear one, I will bestow beauty upon you
where you have known only devastation.
Joy, in the places of your deep sorrow.
And I will robe your heart in thankful praise
in exchange for your resignation and despair.

That was the flood gate opening for me. That God wanted to restore and release ME!  So that had to mean I was broken (in need of repair) and in chains (needing to be released)

 then I was reading HOSEA 2:6-7  and then HOSEA 2:14 

 Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; 
   I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. ⁷ She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
   she will look for them but not find them.
Then she will say,
   ‘I will go back to my husband as at first,
   for then I was better off than now.’

Hosea 2:14
Therefore I am now going to allure her;  I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.

Ok.. so God put a hedge of thorns around her  and built a wall so she couldn't find her way! 

The reason, so she would turn and go back to her husband.  Something happened in our hearts when the fall happened. That's where the ROOT of things began. In some way it's where Eve -  but even OUR mistrust of God began. We begin to live life on our own terms, based on our fallen condition. 

So in love, God blocks our attempts to go about life our own way. Even while  wounded and hurting, he blocks us in until we turn to HIM and HIM alone for the rescue of.... our HEARTS! It reminds me of my life so much. that's why it hit my spirit so hard. 

He blocks us in so we can't HIDE anymore. We turn to Him for "salvation" we turn to Him in our "church duties" but inside SOOOOO many hearts remain broken and captive and far from the one who can help us (that's where I was)

Saved, doing a great work for the Lord, but captive!! 

God is hemming her in.. HE will make  once great Job (miserable) IF in her career she finds stability. He'll even bring hardship in marriage IF that's where she looked for salvation ( AMEN... that was ME)   Seeking to be saved from not having a daddy. 

We construct a life of safety without even knowing it (I won't be vulnerable there)  (I'm being really guarded with sister or brother so in so)  But why??  Because of hurts and because we haven't turned back to our husband.... we still think WE can protect ourselves! 

Then HOSEA 2:14 comes.

Therefore I am now going to allure her, I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.

So even after we have chased our lovers (lived within hurts, rejections, false walls etc) He then lures us in the DESERT!!!   (Dry place) but not to beat us up or condemn us for our sin... but to speak tenderly to us... to tell us He loves us, he accepts us, and He wants us to come back to him!  

This is where I was January- August  (The DESERT)  haa... and it wasn't until I read this that I realized GOD himself lured me there, so he could heal me! (How many times do we blame the dry place or season on the enemy or PRAY we get out quick??   NOPE... There's a Work in the Desert... there's healing and restoration in the Desert. and how can you go thirsty in the desert with the LIVING WATER with you?? It's only if you don't drink of Him while there. If we don't receive the healing and the wholeness, the words of life. 

Is God wanting to lure you away?  Are you afraid?  It's not to harm you, but to save you. To make you whole. You just have to trust Him. 

Now, I look forward to the times when God is calling for me to come away with him. It's in that place (wherever He takes me) that I know He's got words of life to speak to me, and healing to provide for me. 

It says a little further down in Hosea 2: 23 that we will say HE IS OUR GOD!   (wooo hooo)   which to me, meant Renouncing the Agreements I made with my hurts. Every wound brings a message (you're ugly) (you're worthless) (you're stupid) (you're not wanted)  And in my heart that seemed SO true that I embraced those things as the verdict on my life! 

He is our God.  He put a hedge of thorns around us to save us. He lured us into a dry place to speak life into us, and our job is to accept Him and the healing. 

  I am now allowing God to father me. I always spoke "I don't have a dad"  (do you know how that made God feel??)  To hear me say that?? 

He is a loving father, a dad beyond dad's a man above men. He is truly molding me and making me into HIS image.  I no longer allow my wounds to make me something I'm not. He's a Healer!

Being Lured Away!

Alisa

Just Joking

I witnessed something a few weeks ago that truly bothered me, and at the moment I didn't understand why it bothered me so much, and as a weeks have passed it stayed on my mind, so I decided to study and blog about it.  What I witnessed was Sarcasm.  

Sarcasm, in and of itself seems like a harmless thing... "jokes" between friends, a slam between siblings, a "funny" remark to a colleague,  but as I studied it further I realize why it bothered me, and I pray the insights will if nothing else, inform you or help you to change if you need to as it has helped me.

One principle I have come to learn is this:  If we look at others' behaviors, we can learn to see ourselves.

Sarcasm- NOUN   in Latin: sarcasmus, Greek:  sarkasmos, a bitter laugh, sarkazo, to tear flesh like dogs, to speak bitterly,  sarx, sarkos, flesh.  A bitter, cutting expression; a caustic remark; a gibe; a taunt; the employment of ironical or satirical language."


Sarcasm definition in the Webster's Dicitionary is this: A Harsh or Bitter Comment.

When I consistently witnessed someone making sarcastic remarks to another, and even laughing after causing an embarrassing situation to happen to the other, I immediately thought to myself, "Why is this person always so sarcastic?"  And I truly felt the Lord say: Because of insecurities and hurts.

Sarcasm is a branch that gets it root from Bitterness-  and if not dealt with, will eventually defile the person who is sarcastic and ruin relationships.

Sarcasm for the most part can be considered rude, is often mean spirited and almost always done at someone else’s expense.
This is not the testimony we want to have in operation in our lives. We do not want our words to be divisive, hurtful or purposely said to bring harm to others.
Colossians 4:6 says; we are to let our speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how we ought to answer everyone


The Bible also says a soft answer turns away wrath but harsh words stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1 Sarcasm, is not gracious neither is it soft,



The Latin root of sarcasm is sarco which means tearing of the flesh. Looking further into this we found that sarcasm stemmed from sarcasmos or sarkazein which again means ripping or tearing away of the flesh.
Both sarcasmos and sarkazein were a form of torture used in ancient medieval times.

The torture was done with tools and devices designed to slowly and methodically tear or rip the flesh away from the victim being tortured. A simple rip or tear did not inflict death however repeated ripping would bring about a very deliberate and painful death.  WOW!


The bible is clear when it says in Proverbs 12:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 


You can also read in Matthew 12:34-37 “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” reading on in 12:33-37 it says: But I say to you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned 


For those of you who find yourself to be sarcastic, ask yourself why?  Why do you feel the need to make sharp remarks, and embarrassing comments to and about others?  


A sharp tongue has no place among the  fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) It does not express love, spread joy or promote peace. It shows no patience, kindness or goodness in its words. It betrays faithfulness and gentleness, and most of all, it shows no measure of self-control.


Are we teasing and boasting to another's pleasure or his discomfort? Is it true and factual? If it is not, it is a lie, and no matter how funny it is, it is SIN Sarcasm belongs in the same category: If it is not true, it is a lie. Even if it is true, how are we expressing it?

Naturally speaking: The only reason a person would need to make someone else look small is because they feel small within themselves. Sarcasm becomes a defense mechanism as well as a coping mechanism for their own personal insecurities and hurts. God is NOT in sarcasm.   God says be slow to speak. Sarcastic people are quick to speak and the words they speak are not encouraging or uplifting.   They're demeaning and belittling. 
Most often "after " they have spoken a sarcastic remark about someone they will cover it with the infamous words:  "I was just joking"    


I pray that if you find yourself being sarcastic towards people or even certain individuals that you will allow God to heal the hurts, and cut off the root of bitterness. That you will find your self worth and assurance in Him.  That you will use your words to speak life and not death. And I pray always that we will all,  as Christ's followers live out the words of Psalm 19:14  


May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,  LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.


Blessings and Favor,

Alisa

Stewardship vs. Ownership- The Word that Changed My Life!

Let's just jump right in.  I'm so overwhelmed with excitement about this word that I can hardly contain it.

Notes that I took from a sermon preached on July 3rd 2011 by Pastor Jim Dipalma (World Overcomer's Church in Bartlett, IL)

Stewardship- Taking the responsibility of managing wisely what God has entrusted to you, Baring much Fruit.   God makes the provision*** God takes the responsibility***

When we're good stewards, God makes the provision. It's simply our job to be good "managers" of what ever it is He gives to us. 

Ownership-  Taking full responsibility (It's all on me) *To be held legally responsible (like if you own a home)   Guarantee that YOU will make it happen**   (If you own a home but rent it out.. the mortgage company cares about the payment being made, so if the tenant doesn't make the payment.. it's on YOU as the owner to make that payment no matter what) and if the payment isn't made.. the mortgage company is coming after YOU.. not the tenant!

God  has never given us ownership to anything!  (BOLD STATEMENT)   WE through our choices and  human nature have taken ownership of things that God has intended  us to be STEWARDS over.

Genesis 2:15- The result of Adam taking Ownership rather than stewardship in the Garden of Eden resulted in SIN... which we still pay for today.

1 Corinthians 4: Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.  (Be faithful with the things of God)

Matthew 25:14-30  The Parable of the Talents.  (read all 16 verses) 

READ VERSE 29 and 30!    

For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

umm...   Did the one who didn't multiply his seed get sent to Hell??   and did he say that he would take the little that the unfaithful steward had from him?


Well, this should show us how important it is for us to be good stewards of the things that God gives us. 
When you have an ownership mentality- it says "this is MINE so I can do whatever I want with it"   But when you're a steward you seek GOD for guidance.


This isn't just about Money..  Your kids.. are NOT your own.  Our job is to be good stewards over them and help them multiply in the things of God.  Train a child in the way he should go, so when he is old he will not part from it. (Proverbs 22:6)


Your time is NOT your own... We should daily seek the Lord on how HE would have us manage our time.  Why do you think so many people have stress, anxiety, depression in life??  Because they have taken on an ownership thinking rather than stewardship.  In Stewardship.. GOD is in control  so I don't have to have worry, fear, anxiety.. cause It's not ME driving - it's the Lord


Your gifts are NOT your own. I was challenged to truly step out and become a better steward of the gifts God has given me. I don't have a right to burry my gift (like the unfaithful servant) and only use them when I "feel" like it.. or even based on when "man" says it's okay.   


Your spouse is NOT your own.. I am to be a good steward over my husband and He me.  To manage WISELY and bare fruit in my relationship with him. So the things he's been asking for me to grow and become better in.. it's my job to be a good steward over those things, but in "ownership" I  can carry an "I change or not change, grow or not grow"  attitude and NEVER see fruit being bore in my relationship...  Why do you think so many couples find themselves walking in circles... jumping over a hurdle only to find themselves coming back to that very same hurdle?   Because  pride and selfishness is at work, and when we own "selves" then we feel justified to not to have to conform for any one else or under anyone else's terms or expectations.


Your emotions are NOT your own.  When we "own" our emotions we walk by "feelings"  We allow ourselves to be guided by our emotions. People can easily upset or hurt us. We find ourselves consistently offended. But God gave us our emotions (let's call them our HEART) and we are called to be good stewards of our heart/emotions that's why in Provers 4:23  it says: "GUARD YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILLIGENCE"  (we are called to guard.. protect.. and tend to the emotions God gave us, not just let then run us rampid.  (the word DILIGENCE) in the dictionary means: Careful and persistent work or effort.  


I believe this is why the servant in the parable was called an unfaithful one.. because while the other  2 servants went out.. persistently working to add to the talent their Master gave.. this one decided to just "chill" and do nothing.  The master said, it would have been better if he would have taken the talents to the bank instead of burying it... at least in the bank it would have accrued some interest.


What things in your life do we have ownership of?  What things do we ned to relinquish ownership of?  This message truly called me to repentance. I OWN nothing!!!  My life is not my own. I belong to God. and the things He has given me are ALL gifts that I am responsible to be a good steward over.  Once I release them to God, I truly have peace and freedom. That's how you can be "Anxious for NOTHING, but in ALL things by prayer and supplication make your requests known to God and then bask in His peace that surpasses all understanding, because it guards YOUR heart and mind. (Phillipians 4:6)


Isn't that something?  When we take care of God's things.. He takes care of us!


Love and Blessings.


Alisa

Declaring War On Ungratefulness and Grumbling

This was SO Good- I had to share.  This is by one of my FAVORITE christian authors: Francis Frangipane.  Take 3 minutes and read this: It is LIFE!

From my earliest Christian years I've heard questions about Jesus' comment concerning Judas Iscariot: "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" (John 6:70).

What did Jesus mean? Was Judas genetically a devil and not a man? (Jesus didn't say Judas had a devil; He said he was a devil). Can a devil actually live among people as a human? While I am no scholar in ancient Greek, I think truth is better served reading the literal translation of this verse. The word translated as "devil," diabolos, is the same word translated elsewhere in the New Testament as "slanderer" or "malicious gossip" (see 1 Tim. 3:11; 2 Tim. 3:3).

When Jesus says that Judas is a devil, He is saying one of you is a "false accuser," a "slanderer," a "malicious gossip." Judas could not keep his negative perspective to himself.

Remember, just before Judas delivered Jesus to the Pharisees, he was offended that Jesus allowed a expensive ointment to be poured upon His hair. Judas indignantly complained: "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to poor people?" (John 12:5). His words spread strife among the other apostles as well (Matt. 26:8).

Judas said, in effect, Who permitted this thoughtless luxury? Well, it was Jesus. The woman had anointed Him for His burial. Yet, to Judas this was an extravagance that Jesus shouldn't have taken. In the angry mind of Judas Iscariot, here was justification to go to the chief priests. He had grounds to break ranks with Christ (Matt. 26:14-15).

God Has a Problem With Grumblers

Betrayal is never a sudden thing; rather, it is an accumulative response to the unresolved anger and disappointment one feels toward another. The offenses we do not transfer to God in surrendered prayer inevitably decay and become a venom we transfer to others through gossip. In the process, we embrace slander, but we feel justified. We become malicious gossips, but in our minds we're only communicating a "truth," a character flaw, that we self-righteously "discerned."

To understand Judas' betrayal of Christ, we must unearth its source: Judas Iscariot was a grumbler. When we lose sight of the many things for which we should be thankful, we become murmurers and complainers, increasingly darkened by a thought-life engendered by hell.

Beware when your anger toward another Christian has led you to gossip about him or her, especially if you are embittered and are now sowing criticisms about him to others. Yes, beware: you are no longer being conformed to Christ, but are actually becoming more like Judas than Jesus.

Grumblers Everywhere

Of course, this grumbling attitude was not isolated to Judas' betrayal of Jesus. Many would-be disciples and Jewish leaders were also infected with murmuring. Consider: there were miracles everywhere and Christ had just fed the 5000 when a very large crowd of His disciples began to find fault. Yet, even though Jesus warned, "Do not grumble among yourselves" (John 6:43), still the crowd persisted. Remember, these were Christ's disciples, and they were not grumbling at a sinner, but the only sinless man who ever lived.

"But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this," asked, "Does this cause you to stumble?" (John 6:61). And then, the grumbling spirit continued until "many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore" (John 6:66). Incredibly, Jesus Himself suffered a type of "church split."

Grumbling caused people to stop seeing and appreciating miracles. It caused disciples to be offended by Jesus' teachings and stop walking with Him.

As it was then, so it is today. Grumbling will ultimately cause you to stop walking with Jesus. It is a killer. You see, not only were the Pharisees and Judas Iscariot critical of Jesus, even His closest apostles grumbled at times. Heaven itself was manifest in their midst, yet all they saw was what they perceived was wrong. That's what a grumbling attitude can do.

This poison of ingratitude is prevalent in the church today. Paul warned that "in the last days . . . men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips" (2 Tim. 3:1-9). You get the point: "men will be . . . malicious gossips" or devils. They will be given to destroying one another with their words.

The Thankful Heart

Personally, I've declared war on grumbling. An unthankful heart is an enemy to God's will. Can you join me in this? Can you crucify a murmuring spirit? We have received too much from God to allow ourselves opportunities for ingratitude and unbelief! We have received too many gifts and privileges to allow grumbling to disqualify us from our destiny.

The thankful heart sees the best part of every situation. It sees problems and weaknesses as opportunities to grow. My prayer is for each of us to possess the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. I want to drive that little, ugly, grumbling demon away from our hearts and replace it with a living awareness of the goodness of God!

Paul warned,"Nor let us . . . grumble, as [Israel] did, and were destroyed by the destroyer" (1 Cor. 10:9-10). The "destroyer" (called Abaddon in the Hebrew and Apollyon in the Greek) is actually the prince over the bottomless pit of hell (see Rev. 9). Listen well: the moment we open ourselves to grumbling, we simultaneously open up to destruction.

  

Thus, Paul tells us to fix our minds on the things above (Col. 3:1). Elsewhere he says,

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable . . . is right, whatever is pure . . . lovely . . . of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil 4:8)

Remember, Paul was writing to people in the ancient Roman world. It was full of evil, full of injustice, full of reasons to grumble and be upset; but instead, God calls His people to a higher realm, where we dwell on the things that are above.

You say, "Who then will point out all the things that are wrong with life?"

Oh, there are plenty of volunteers for that task. Better to ask, "How can I attain the blessed life Jesus came to give me?"

You say, "But the world is wicked. We need to decry and defeat evil." Yes, and I totally agree. I often decry evil myself. But I must live and offer a better life if I am going to defeat evil. God doesn't want His people to be grumbling about the difficult conditions of existence. He wants us to be mercy-motivated, redemption-orientated, prayer-empowered ambassadors of Heaven.

If we are merely complaining about what's wrong with the people around us, we should beware: we may actually be more like followers of Judas rather than Jesus.

Love and Blessings

Alisa

Build Up Your Spouse 30 day challenge Husbands and Wives

We all know how easy it is to tear down. You could spend one hour building a sandcastle and It can be destroyed with one swift kick.

It is easy to see the dust in someone else’s eye and overlook the plank in your own. In this message on Christian marriage I really just want you to look at half of it. The tendency will be to look at the wrong half.

If you are a wife I want you to look at what Peter says to the wives. If you are a husband I want you to look at what Peter says to the husbands. The normal tendency is to hear the Biblical admonition for your spouse and miss the part that is your own responsibility. The idea is to be a builder-upper, not a tear-downer.

When couples are engaged they see each other in the best light. They see the strengths and overlook the faults. But what destroys marriages is when the focus shifts. Now they become blind to the strengths and see the faults like a flashing billboard.

Christianity is a call to be selfless. To think of others needs more highly than yourself. In Christian marriage we are called to think of our spouses needs before our own needs. Don’t think Ah-ha, he or she is not doing that! Approach this with how you can apply this and build up your spouse.

It's amazing the grace we can give to friends. how we'll go out of your way to send a tex of encouragement, mail a card to say hello.. but we take the "he already knows it" attitude with our spouse. 

1 Peter 3:1-71 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Wives: Build up your husbands

Nagging and criticizing your husband is the tear-downer. It does not have a place for the wife that desires to honor Christ. A healthy marriage is about building up your spouse. Unselfishness motivates the wife to seek the good of the husband and to delight in it.  Ladies, your husband has a lot on his plate. Being a provider, head of the home, spiritual leader, father. He's not perfect (and He KNOWS it)  so he doesn't need your constant reminders of his short comings and failures.. Instead make a decision for 30 days.. to BUILD HIM UP!    

If you read that and thought (wow.. that's a hard thing) than maybe you are the one who really needs to accept the challenge.  Ask yourself "how many times in a day do I encourage my husband vs. discourage?   

Ask your spouse to write down all of the things he hears you compliment him about on one side of a paper and then all of the things you criticize him about on the other ( Weigh the differences)

I'm not saying we don't have expectations of our spouse, but for 30 days.. lay them aside and encourage him. speak life into him, say NOTHING when he forgets to pay the bill, or leaves the dishes in the sink. say nothing! (hmmm can you do it?)   

You'll be surprised how YOU will change when you decide to take on the life of an encourager and a lifter.  When you learn to quiet yourself and your personal expectations you'll get a chance to see times you would totally "snap" or "dig into your spouse" I believe God will help you change and grow to become selfless instead of selfish in your expectations. 

Husbands CONSIDER the Girl!

Husbands are called to consideration in the same way (as the wives). You are to have understanding for your wife. To have consideration and understanding you need to give attention to the needs of your wife. This is the way you become a builder-upper.

A husband who works all the time to meet the financial needs of the family has missed the understanding part. Husbands need to understand their wives need intimacy and communication. Husbands you should take time to find out what makes your wives tick.

There is listening and interacting with your wife. Sharing your thoughts and dreams. Watching sports on television is probably not the thing that meets your wife’s need. Husband as the head of the household you are called to be a servant leader. That means meeting your wife’s need for togetherness.

It takes an effort on your part husband to share your feelings with your wife, but the Bible says be considerate of your wife. In the Christian household the man is the head of the household yes, but not to bark orders, but to nurture his wife out of love. Communication, relationship intimacy are what is needed to be considerate of your wife.

Challenge: Have your wife write 5 major things you an do to be considerate towards her and for the next 30 days.. be consistent at it. Also, YOU plan a date night ever week for the next month. If you have small kids, YOU plan the sitter, YOU set the time and place... As wives, mom's, teachers, workers, wives need to feel like "something" is taken care of that she herself is not responsible for. So husbands... take charge and Date your wife! 

Respect as weaker partner.

Peter says that your wife is the weaker partner. This does not have anything to do with their value as a person. Husbands and wives are joint heirs together of the grace of God. If my husband challenged me to an arm wrestling match he would win. But he's  called to honor me

The more valuable things are often more delicate. Our best china doesn’t go in the dishwasher. It is too valuable and delicate. It is washed by hand to be gentler.

Husbands respect, honor your wife, cherish her and make your relationship with her your top priority. Let there be nothing, except the Lord more valuable and precious to you than your wife. Treat her with honor and respect.Men and women are “co-heirs” of the gracious gift of life. Husbands and wives experience the grace of God equally. And the husband when understanding his wife should seek a spiritual intimacy. Husband you should take the lead in spiritual matter. Like Joshua say, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)

Hinder Prayer life
There is a warning here. When a husband does not respect, honor, cherish love and nurture his wife it will hinder his prayers. Selfishness in marriage hinders your prayers. It mars your relationship with God.
Harmony in the home promotes spirituality. A good marriage and spirituality are related. Build up your spouse. Make it your goal to build up your spouse.

BLESSINGS AND FAVOR

ALisa 

Fulfilled By People??

As long as you look to people to fulfill you.. you'll never be happy. You'll consistently find yourself going around & around the roller coaster of being "let down" & Hurt.  It's not until you find complete & total satisfaction in Christ that u can sincerely be Content. Not a lip service of "surrender but being made COMPLETE (lacking nothing) in HIM- He then will fill your life w/ the right relationships that will enrich you. (Not free from troubles) but your heart will be in such a place that you'll have balanced expectations of people so it lessens the ability for you to be hurt.

I know all too well the power we can give people (and it's not intentional)  we genuinely trust that people will care for, protect, and treasure our hearts, our emotions, our feelings (US) as much as WE value ourselves, but I've come to understand that God created us to have that longing for acceptance and love, but He never intended for us to have it fulfilled by "people"  HE wants to be the one to fulfill us to the utmost and overflowing.

Now don't get me wrong.. I'm married and my husband fulfills me, he blesses my socks off and he treats me delicately, however even he can not fulfill the deep ache in my heart, the longing for wholeness and completeness that we all desire because it was placed there on purpose and for a purpose... so that I would consistently see and "feel" the need for God .......and go after Him.

I'm reminded of Adam & Eve. Walking Freely (un-inhibited) in the garden. Able to be vulnerable, free, complete. (WOW) That's where that desire for honest and transparent relationships comes from, because it was the "perfect" plan of God for us.   But once sin entered into the picture the beauty of contentment and completeness was compromised and People have been crying out for it ever since.

We see it in the way our young girls are looking for love by giving up their virginity. In our young men who desire to find "meaning" in gangs. People run to alcohol & drugs to try and fill the emptiness. And even married people (christian people) run to pornography, television, adultery, over eating, etc.. to fulfill that ache.

We look to friends, spouses, boyfriends/girlfriends, to fulfill us. And when they fail... we are utterly disappointed and broken, forgetting or even (not realizing) that the person you're expecting to fulfill you is in need of the same fulfillment and so you'll almost always be disappointed.  Your true contentment, comfort, and peace can only be found in total surrender to Christ. Being made complete in HIM (complete means LACKING NOTHING)  How would you like to be able to truly say that.." I lack nothing"    

Does that mean you're perfect? Things and situations are perfect?  Absolutely not, but once you allow Jesus to fill those empty space you'll have a confidence like the Apostle Paul in
Phillipians 4: 11-13 (Amplified Bible)



Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

I LOVE that passage of scripture!  Paul is saying.. YES I have personal things I want but because Christ is my all and all.. I'm not in NEED of something or someone else to fulfill that.  If I NEVER have my personal wants fulfilled... CHRIST is enough!

And I believe that is the place God wants us all. Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. He will add all the other wonderful things to you. The friendships, man/woman/ lifestyle etc. He wants to bless us beyond our wildest imaginations.  We just have to desire HIM and look to HIM for our longings not people.

Blessings!


Alisa