Thursday, October 28, 2010

Got Marriage????

Ok… For those of you that say marriage is just a piece of paper…Your being deceived by satan…Think about it, God made marriage and anything that is against what GOD intends, is from the devil himself…He hates marriage…
I just went out for my anniversary…What an amazing, amazing night!  My husband is the sweetest man alive…First off, we have not money…Ha! But my sweet in-laws gave us money to go out for a nice dinner...We went on this website and got a sweet deal to the restaurant we ate at the other night…We were able to eat filet mignon, halibut for the entrĂ©e, and more…Just for the halibut!! LOL…Got that line from a friend…I know her so well, and I know she wouldn’t want me to put her name to it…

So, we were the only couple in the restaurant with the exception of one other… Our waitress was real nice and personable…As always I was trying to stir the conversation to talk about the Lord, because I always want to know if people believe in JESUS, and if they don’t, I like to ask why (if I get the opportunity).
She was married for 3 years, but didn’t seem to value her marriage much…She talked about how she always wants to punch her husband, how big their house is so they can have their time away from each other if needed, and how she seemed OK to have different days off than he did…Now don’t get me wrong sometimes I want to punch my husband, and need alone time, but hardly ever…I love my husband’s days off…The kids and I long for those days to come each week so we can just love on each other… I didn’t get a chance to ask her if she had a relationship with JESUS, but sometimes you can actually figure it out by their vocabulary or their worldly perspective on things…I could be wrong, I don’t know her heart and it’s not up to me anyway…I just deliver the message...
Which I didn’t get a chance to…Darn it!

We are cracking up in this restaurant having the time of our lives, loving on each other and just being goofy…We’re normally like that anyway, but it was different because we were in awe of what the LORD joined together 9 years ago…It has been the best years of my life…If it wasn’t for the LORD opening my eyes to HIS truth, we would have been divorced…Remember I told you how I wanted it always to be about me in my previous blog post…Marriage is:  GOD first, husband, and then wife, in that order...If it’s any other way, I can promise you this, it will eventually fail, and/or you will not experience the fullness of marriage itself …How can I say that? Oh, I can, and did, because after salvation for me, everything changed…For the better…See, now I get to experience my marriage in a way you cannot understand, or enjoy because it becomes different when JESUS is the center of your marriage…You know what I'm talking about, if HE is...I tell people after I gave my life to CHRIST, I feel in love with my husband even more, and continue to everyday…I praise JESUS for allowing me the privilege to receive HIM as my SAVIOR…HE pulled me from the world, and is transforming me into HIS image…I’m transforming day by day as I spend time in HIS word to live a holy life pleasing to HIM…That’s the focus, JESUS CHRIST…Pleasing HIM first is the key to life…If JESUS didn’t become the center of my life, we would have gotten a divorce…Trust me, it’s true…You see, HIS word never comes back void, because HE says what HE means, if we're obedient...

There are so many different types of marriages out there…Failing marriages, boring marriages, same ol’thing marriages, selfish marriages, disrespectful marriages, routine marriages, just getting by marriages, oblivious marriages, you know what I mean…The fullness and growth is missing, JESUS is missing…HIS word is missing in your marriage…How about those marriages that are hitting the 20 year mark of a pretty awesome marriage…Praise the LORD if you have an awesome marriage! I know the LORD has something to do with it, because HE made you in HIS image and HIS word is written on all of our hearts…That’s why you know the difference between right and wrong…So what am I saying?  I’m saying when trouble comes into your  marriage things change, and that is when the enemy can come into your marriage, and make things worse, and possibly end in divorce…I have seen Christians that love the LORD, have trouble in their marriage, and get a divorce…I have seen Christians that love the LORD, have trouble in their marriage, and stay together…My point is when we renew our minds with GODS word, and continue to be obedient in HIS word, we are striving to be more like JESUS…It is more likely that your marriage will continue to grow, strengthen, and be filled in a way that is different from the worlds view of marriage…GOD can save any marriage if you let HIM… Get in HIS word and see what HE says about it…I have seen him restore, reinforce & shape broken marriages to flourish beyond your imagination, and theirs…
Think about it…We are striving to be like CHRIST!  What other example could you possibly want to follow? HE’Sperfection!
 
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, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 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….1 Peter 3:1-4

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….1 Peter 3:7

365-20, 21, 22, 23




Monday, October 25, 2010

It's your duty!!


As I mentioned in previous posts, I try not to give my opinions if I have not been through the experience…So I come  to tell you that GODS Word is a lamp unto my feet... 
(Psalm 119:105)  I now walk by HIS standards, and none of my own…I am washed clean as to the mistakes I’ve made in the past, and the ones to come…That is how precious and powerful the blood of JESUS CHRIST is!!  I get to die knowing when I enter into my final resting place, JESUS Himself will see me pure and as white as snow, because of His blood…So anything that I have done...Cleaned…Anything that I do in the future & repent of it...Cleaned…

My prayer for anyone that reads this is that since voting has started to please know what the Word of GOD says before you vote…Remember, it’s not up to you, it’s not up to your point of view, it’s not up to your opinions, and it’s not to your standards…You will have to answer to the Lord one day, and be accountable for everything you have done 
(Romans 14:12)
The world has taken the precious Words of GOD and defiled them into their own beliefs & reasonings…It saddens me when I see my loved ones conformed to this world, and not standing on the power of the One to come…So please be careful as to who you vote for and what they stand for… I love you all!

Psalm 139:16  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Matthew 19:4-6  "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Galatians 5:1  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

MMMM….What to say?

Well, I almost hesitated to write this blog because of my pride…But here it goes...For the past 2 days I have missed my quiet time…Some people might think, eh,it’s ok, GOD forgives you.....Ummm, yeah, I know that…His blood covers every stinkin thing about me!! That’s not the point, I feel empty, lost, disconnected, and detached from Him, soon as I stop being busy…Don’t get me wrong, I continue to pray daily, I talk to the LORD daily, I pray over my kids daily, I pray for my husband daily, talk about His word daily, etc. etc…That is normal everyday stuff that just happens automatically when you love JESUS…
He transforms you into His image the more you spend time with Him, you can't help but want to pray, talk and feel His presence in your life...

It’s that time alone with the LORD…Just me and Him…When I come to His throne room, I come vulnerable, innocent, separated from the world…I know He is waiting, always waiting to hear from His children…I know tomorrow during worship, I’m going to loose it…I know when I hear the sweet words being sung to the LORD I’m going to break down…Those are usually the best worship moments I have with the LORD…I feel like I’m in His presence singing to Him and it humbles me…To know that my King loves me so much, waits for me as if I never left, then pours His liquid love on me to tell me it's OK...I pray that the LORD would never allow me to get comfortable in not spending time with him, that I would feel empty, lost, disconnected, and detached when I am not with Him…Thank you for loving me!
Give us today our daily bread….Matthew 6:11

Friday, October 22, 2010

When is it a good time?


  So for a while now, I've said the words, "When is it a good time for my boys to start their own quiet time with the LORD"?  My boys are pretty good readers, but I've been thinking, and picturing even before they learned how to read, what their quiet time would look like...I remember doing my quiet time one morning, and Mikey (was 4 at the time) said, "Mom, can I stay here with you"?  "Well, you can if your quiet, cause Mommy is reading GODS word. "Why don't you grab your Bible, and have your own quiet time with JESUS"? "OK, Mommy"...So after we were done I asked him what the LORD showed him...He said, "Day and night" (in his cute little 4 yr. old voice)...Sooo sweet! I'll never forget that day..

So,when is it a good time? ANYTIME!!! Even though my son was not reading he can still look at pictures, and GOD can reveal Himself at any age...Remember John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb (Luke 1:41)  I only wish I would have keep it more consistent...And here I am still thinking about it, 3 years later...

My best fab friend Rachel has a sweet son Josh who was afraid when he went to sleep...When I first met her she told me about this struggle, and up until just recently still struggled with it...Her sleep schedule was being messed with because of her new baby (of course) so on top of not getting sleep with the "bay-be", and her son, was a challenge...
One night before leaving for an early morning road trip she had the "worst night of her life", as she plainly put it....Everyone NEEDED her!!! The husband, the son, the daughter (not so much) the BAY-BEEEEE!!! They all wanted something, and all she wanted was sleep!! Soooo, what's a women to do....She took care of husband :) hee-hee, took care of daughter, took care of bay-be and last but not least handed the Bible to her son and said, "read GODS word"...And that's just what he did....Rachel checked on him after a while, she said he had a peace about him.....He said he felt the LORD touch his heart, and he didn't feel afraid...Only the words of the LORD could work such miracles..The LORD Himself meet Josh where he was at; vulnerable, humble, and desperate not to feel afraid..He put his faith in the word of GOD, and as always GOD came through..

Humbling isn't it?? Now her kids have continued that, and love spending time with the LORD before bedtime...So there it is, tonight is the night my kids will do the same...I explained what was happening tonight before bedtime and I received an exciting OK!!
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4 "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Want it to be about you?…Listen to how!!


Before I gave my life to the LORD, it was obvious to see that life was all about Denise, and then, Denise, and then, Denise, Oh and then of course, Denise….I remember when I got married (unsaved) and my husband and I were arguing about something, and he said, “It’s not always about you, honey”…I replied loudly with, “WHY NOT!?!?  It bugged the crap out of me when he would say that…I never understood why he was so persistent about not seeing it my way…If you know my husband he has a humbling heart,  and is more of a peacemaker and not a troublemaker like me :)  Our marriage is not the kind of relationship where he would be up for a fight…He will not fight with me till this day….I would say things like, ”I’m your wife and this is the way I feel, so you should understand and accept that”…. Well he didn’t, and it got me thinking…I knew he was not “out to get me” so why doesn’t he see it my way”? I soon found out, after giving my life up for JESUS that it really is not about me, or get this, about the “feelings” that I was feeling...The enemy is very crafty…A lot of the “feelings” I was having, were for selfish reasons…Not everything I was that I was feeling, but most of them…The more I read GODS word, the more I was convicted, and still convicted that it’s not about me…The real reason for my life, is to glorify HIS name…Period end of  story…

What a transformation from that life to this…I praise GOD  when I think about the times I wasted thinking of myself and sooo many other things that doesn’t bring HIM glory…Don’t get me wrong I still think of myself, and still don't always bring HIM glory, but my life’s priority is JESUS, the Kingdom to come, and that HE made me for HIS purpose, not my own…One of the great things about this walk, is JESUS wants to know every “feeling” and detail of Denise’s life…With JESUS, I can have it all about me, me, me…I’m crazy right? To think that the Holy, Righteous, Magnificent GOD of the universe cares a bit about my life and my feelings….Oh yea, baby!! HE does…
You can’t debate me about it either, if you don’t know JESUS… So I challenge you, if you think you can prove me wrong, I would love to hear what you have to say about it….I can say without a doubt in my mind that HE cares about the way, I feel,  when my feelings get hurt, my thoughts, when I want to punch my husband, when I want to scream, my insecurities…That’s a big one for me….I could keep typing until I die with how many details of my life there is…You get the point…HE wants to spend time with me and hear what I have to say...Amazing!!

I try not to have opinions on things I have no experience in, so if your upset with me, please don’t be, contact me instead….I’ve experience being on the fence about living a life for CHRIST so I know the struggle, and what it’s like to let go of the world…When you’re on this side of the fence my friends you see the world in a whole new light…The light of JESUS that is…

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;  I appointed you as a prophet to the nations…… Jeremiah 1:5