WAVES OF LIFE

Do you ever think of your life as a small boat floating in the middle of the ocean headed toward some destination that you have no clue where you are going or how long it will take you to get there?

We think we can control the direction of our lives, but due to storms and other choices that we make, how we get there may not be totally up to us, we will be forced to make changes along the way and adapt to the plan.

The same goes with life. Sometimes the ocean throws us a wave or two, but we learn to ride them as they come and continue to live life accordingly. The trip is generally enjoyable. Sometimes the wave we have to ride is not so enjoyable, we may even get wet, but usually we get back on the raft, dry off and continue.

What do you do when you see someone hit the wave, get knocked off, and can’t seem to shake it off and want to give up the ride? What can we as Christian do?

I have found it very hard to speak to some people personally about our Savior, especially if they are going through a tough time or are non-Christian. I have found though, that the best thing I can do is pray! Prayer is a very powerful tool for all of us! When I pray I ask God to lead my words and my actions, so that I can be a light to them.  

God is the way, the only way to be able to ride the waves of life.

Have a great weekend everyone and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Colorado that has been affected by the fires.

Blessings!

Kelly

The Making of a Marriage - Trust Me

The Making of a Marriage - Trust Me, is written by one of my most favorite girlfriends in the world, Stephanie Shott. Stephanie is crazy in love with her Savior and isn't shy about letting others know how great He is. She is a popular and passionate Bible teacher, speaker and author who lives to proclaim the truth that God is real in real life - that He is who He says He is and He can be trusted to do what He says He will do.

Hope you enjoy this post as much as I did!

I remember reading Proverbs 31 in preparation for a message I was sharing at conference when verses 10 and 11 jumped off the page as if I had just read them for the first time.

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

While I love the way the King James reads, I was stunned by words I had read umpteen times. Confronted by my life as a wife and burdened for the hundreds of women I would be speaking to in the coming week, I began to dig deep to try to discover the depth of those words.

"Her husband safely trusts in her" echoed in my heart and I was afraid this passage was much more powerful than I had ever realized.

Did my husband 'safely' trust in me? Could he?

After all, there were those times when I went to the store and bought something I conveniently hid in the closet long enough to honestly say, "This old thing? I've had it for months!"

Isn't it funny how we can fool ourselves into thinking we're being honest by manipulating the circumstances so we can appear honest when our hearts are obviously deceitfully wicked?

That was several years ago and as I used those verses as a mirror to reflect where I was in light of where God's Word called me to be, I knew it was time to  get honest with myself and deal with my own heart.

Today, I want to share with you some things we should consider in order to live our lives in such a way that those words can be said of us... Her husband does safely trust in her.

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF ABOUT WHERE YOU REALLY RATE ON THE TRUSTWORTHY SCALE:

1. Can my husband trust me with my heart? Many women may consider themselves trustworthy but their hearts often wander far from home when the going gets tough or when they feel frustrated or forgotten. Can your husband trust you to NOT be a flirt with his friends? Does he know that you will be loyal to him whether your together or apart? Does he know that you LOVE him and have his best interest at heart?

2. Can my husband trust me with the credit cards? Financial problems are one of the main sources of contention in a home, yet oftentimes wives will spend enormous amounts of money on things they don't need. I realize some men do the same things, but we can't change them. We can only live lives that honor God regardless of what our husbands do. Can your husband trust you with your credit cards?

3. Can my husband trust me with the checkbook? Yes. I know we're still talking about finances here but credit cards get you in debt while the checkbook can immediately put you in the red. Look at it like this - Credit cards are a slow death. Writing bad checks is a quick one. Don't let finances be the death of your husband's trust, sweet friend. Can your husband trust you with the checkbook?

4. Can my husband trust me with your words? We talked a little about words earlier in this series, but words wield some mighty power. Does your husband know that even if you're mad as can possibly be at him that you won't wound his reputation with your words? Can he trust you not to slice and dice him with the words you say in front of his friends? Does he know you will speak life to him and about him and not death? Can he trust that you won't say something you shouldn't say in front of others... that you won't embarrass him with your words or argue with him in front of others? Are your words an ornament of grace or like a ring in a pig's snout?

5. Can my husband trust you with my work? Does your husband know that you are the manager of the home and that you will do it well? Can he trust you to take care of your home, the business aspects of your home (if he doesn't do that) and the things that will keep your home running smoothly? I realize there are many women who work and husbands and wives may both be pulling the load around the house and that's good if they both work... but if a woman stays home while her husband works then she can focus much more attention on taking care of the home front while he is bringing home the bacon. Can your husband trust you to do that?

The heart of her husband does safely trust in her... can your husband say that about you?

Thank you Stephanie! God Bless!

Kelly

Love Conquers All

When we are able to choose to act out of love instead of choosing to act out of whatever emotions we may be feeling at the time in certain moments, we are choosing to make the best choice. When we act out of love despite how others are acting around us, we will be taken much further in our lives than if we just chose to act off of our impulses.

For example, there are situations in our lives in which we will be angered by our situations, and by others who are in our lives. Instead of acting like an angry person normally would, if we choose to walk in love, we are choosing to be the bigger person, and we are also showing others how easily rough periods in our lives can be made easier by just doing what we know in our hearts is the most moral thing to do.

By J. Johnson, picture courtesy of mishhyyy-dreambigdreams

Championship Win!!