Monday, September 23, 2013

Marriage Maintenance

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Marriage requires maintenance.

Marriage is to be the most intimate and committed relationship. In order to keep that noble position, a marriage must be continually groomed and maintained.

As life progresses, so do people. We change (hopefully for the better), and so do our spouses. My husband and I have been married for sixteen years, and we are not the same people we were on our wedding day. Sometimes this helps our marriage, and sometimes this makes things more challenging.

A husband and wife are two, intricate creatures who have joined themselves together. They have become one, yet they are still individuals. A husband and a wife may have different interests, personalities, opinions, and goals. In addition to that, a husband and wife are human. They have the potential to sin – to say and do things that will hurt their spouse.

Offenses come.

Distance comes.

Division comes.

Usually the degrading of a marriage comes
through the little sins we commit everyday.

Solomon 2:15
Catch us the foxes,
the little foxes that spoil the vines,
For our vines have tender grapes.

This is how we need to think! We need to catch the little foxes that are spoiling our marriages so we can preserve our most valuable relationship!

Each day we must be seeking to maintain our marriages. We need to watch for the little arguments and differences that seek to place a wedge between us and our spouses and deal with them.

We must forgive.
We must be gracious.
We must seek to love our spouses more than ourselves.

When we do this, our marriages will thrive and be the testimony they are supposed to be.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Rejuvenate. Relax. Regroup.



I am currently on a weekend getaway with my husband, a much-needed vacation for just the two of us. Even as I break away from my full life's demands and schedule, it is easy for my soul to fall into hurry mode. 

Hurry. Run. Jump.

In my normal, everyday life I am working hard to undo that rush-around feeling. This weekend is perfect practice. On this getaway, there are no demands, no schedule, and no real pressure. All of time presents a clean slate. This is my great opportunity for rest, rejuvenation, relaxation, and regrouping. All of those important R words are vital to our health. It is important to have blank spots on our calendar and breathing breaks in our lives when we can just *BE*.

This weekend I am trying to do just that. I am trying to enjoy every moment, to stay calm, and to let this weekend do its work in the depths of my soul.

Have you made time for the R's lately?

Have you had adequate alone time?

Have you been able to evaluate your course of life and refresh your vision?

Have you been able to bond with your spouse, children, and other loved ones?

Rest. Rejuvenate. Relax. Regroup.

It's essential to your well-being!

Monday, September 9, 2013

Segmenting Life–Dealing with Life’s Busyness.

Live!

Soccer. Homeschooling. Church. Piano lessons. Violin lessons. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. My husband's needs. Church leadership. Ballet. Social engagements. My children’s needs. My blog ...

On any given day, these things occupy my brain and my time. Life is continual. Life is busy. Life is moving fast.

Our fall schedule is revving up, but the priorities of my life remain the same.

I want to live a full and joyful life, accomplishing God's will, remaining calm and thankful.

Sometimes we do need to focus on how we should simplify our lives and be less busy. However, there is a stark reality for many of us that our lives are going to be busy. I don’t think that is bad actually. We are meant to be busy – busy, but not overwhelmed, maxed out, and left for dead.

How can we experience more
victory in the midst of busyness?

Segment life.

The Lord has graciously been helping me learn this valuable lesson of segmenting life. I tend to be a “big picture” kind-of-girl and think about too many things at once. My mind spins and whirls and ends up paralyzing me (or at least slowing me down) rather than fueling me into greatness. Too much thought brings too much worry and doesn’t allow me to focus my energies on the real needs of THE MOMENT.

How can we segment life?

  • Do your best to THINK ABOUT TODAY, only.
  • Better yet, THINK ABOUT NOW. What is going on right NOW in your life that needs your full attention?
  • Don't focus on what is coming up, even later today, unless you have to prep for it.
  • Allow your mind and emotions to be fixated on the life experiences God has for you TODAY.

Worrying about the future, even hours from now,
simply robs us of serenity.

Feeling busy? Do your best to take each day (each moment) one-at-a-time.

Go to that soccer game and enjoy it.
Drive your child to the piano lesson and remember it is a blessing for your family.
Do that next load of laundry and be thankful you have a washing machine.
Do the dishes and listen to some pretty music.
Postpone something so you can spend more time with your loved ones right now.

Ask God to help you focus on now. Don’t get caught up with the scheduled events of your life and miss life itself. 

Live fully, calmly, and joyfully
with God’s help.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Chicken Shawarma

Chicken Shawarma Collage

For some reason, I got myself in the mood to make Middle Eastern food.  Chicken Shawarma got into my brain, and I couldn’t get it out.  I searched the internet for recipes and found a couple that inspired me.

I started off using Rachael Ray’s recipe. That was my inspiration. I basically used her spice mix for the chicken, sautéed some peppers and onions, and grilled the Naan, just as she does.

I also cut some cucumbers into thin strips and diced some tomatoes.

Then, I made my own custom sauce – 1/2 cup of plain yogurt, 1 heaping tablespoon of hummus, and 1 clove of garlic, pressed.

Finally, I assembled it all together, and it was better than good! 

A layer of the sauce, chicken, peppers, onions, cukes, and tomatoes, all inside a nicely-warmed slice of Naan bread.  Delish!

Chicken Shawarma
serves 4 to 6
printable version

1 T coriander
1 T cumin
1 T cardamom
1 T chili powder (or less if your chili powder is spicy)
1 T paprika
1 T grill seasoning
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large garlic clove, pressed
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

2 bell peppers, sliced (I used orange)
2 onions, sliced

1 large cucumber, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 tomatoes, diced

Yogurt Sauce:  1/2 cup of plain yogurt, 1 heaping tablespoon of hummus, and 1 clove of garlic, pressed.

6 slices of Naan bread

Combine spices, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic in a shallow platter. Coat both sides of chicken with spice mix. Marinate for about 15 minutes. Grill, until the chicken is completely cooked.

Grill peppers and onions in olive oil.

Grill Naan, until warmed and charred a bit.

Layer yogurt sauce, chicken, peppers, onions, cukes, and tomatoes inside of Naan bread!  YUM!  A meal the whole family will love!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sow to the Spirit, Reap from the Spirit

Sow to the Spirit

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Usually when I think about this verse, I think about the man who is reaping to the flesh, the foolish man who follows folly, chooses wrong, and chases after the world and its ways. I think of someone who is making poor decisions and think, “A man reaps what he sows”.

However, I read this verse again recently and God prompted me with the other part of this verse:

“He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life”.

The Bible is clear that the man who follows wisdom and chooses God’s ways prospers – just read the book of Proverbs. The man who sows to the Spirit WILL reap from the Spirit! There is a guarantee.

Just after the Bible lays out the law of sowing and reaping, the following verse, Galatians 6:9, states: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Are you losing heart?  Do you feel like your labors in the Spirit are to no avail? 

Don’t give up!

If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap!

Pray.
Think pure things.
Flood yourself with good influences.
Read your Bible.
Read uplifting books.
Choose godly friends.
Worship.
Attend church regularly and become an integral part of the Body of Christ.
Keep trusting God.
Don’t. Give. Up!

Psalm 1 gives a beautiful picture of the man who goes against the grain to delight in God’s ways.

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Want to prosper? Sow to the Spirit and reap His fruit!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Take Time to Smell the Roses

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In this day and age of technology and machines, our lives are supposed to be better . . . simpler.

In some ways, that is true, but in other ways, that isn’t so true.

We are hurried.
We are stressed.
We live in a frenzy.
Our calendars are extremely full.
We barely have enough emotional margin for life to require something extra.

Today, in the midst of your hustle and bustle,
take time to smell the roses.

Calm your pace.
Enjoy life.
Smile.
Hug your family.
Call a friend.
Light a candle.
Pour a cup of tea or coffee and drink it s-l-o-w-l-y.
Read a book in peace.
Unplug from the TV, computer, and phone and just be ALIVE in your moments.
Draw.
Sew.
Sit on your porch.
Appreciate your toddler’s cuteness.
Place your growing child on your lap.
Hang out with your older child.
Snuggle your husband.

Relish the beauty of life that exists
within your grasp every day.

Take time to smell the roses.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

To the Mom of a Wayward Child

Wayward

As a mom, you pour into your children, hoping they will succeed.  You hope they will grab the torch you passed to them and run with endurance, shining Jesus' light and carrying it to the next generation.

What happens though when your child grows up and rejects the truths you taught him? 

Pain.
Sorrow.
Heaviness.
Tears.
More pain.
Worry.
Fear.
Discouragement.

These monsters want to plant themselves in your soul and weigh you down, making you ineffective.

When your child grows up and rejects everything you taught him, it feels like pure death, BUT God has hope for YOU.

God has a plan for you, apart from the choices your child is making.

  • He wants you to be productive.
  • He wants you to be an integral part of His community of believers.
  • He wants you to live a life of freedom and joy.

Mother of a wayward child, I see you.  I feel your pain, for it can be overwhelming at times.

However, don't let the enemy keep you there, in a pit of pain.

Fix your eyes on God and the purposes he has for YOU.

  • Make goals for yourself.
  • Seek productivity rather than passivity.
  • Surround yourself with godly people always.

Keep going.  Keep serving.

And in the midst of it all, keep praying for your wayward child.

Sending you a virtual hug today!