30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives DAY 1

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenge/

 

 

By Nancy Leigh DeMoss


We're so glad you've decided to accept the "30-Day Encouragement Challenge" to
encourage your husband! Your decision means that you truly want to be a blessing in
your home. This challenge will also result in spiritual growth in your own life.
We'd like to encourage you to keep track of what God does in your marriage over this
next month. We hope you'll take time to share what God does in your home as you
bless and encourage your spouse.
Day One:
"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does
him good and not evil all the days of her life." Prov. 31:11-12
To refresh your memory...here's the 30-Day Encouragement Challenge...for the next 30
days:
* You can't say anything negative about your husband ...to your husband...or to anyone
else, about your husband.
* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your
husband...and to someone else, about your husband!
To help you get started, have you ever thanked your husband for "choosing you" above
all other women? He found you attractive as a person, and appreciated you. Though
many circumstances in your marriage may have changed, let your husband know that
you are glad God led you together, and that you want to be a blessing to him for the rest
of your marriage. Let him know that he can trust you to be in his corner.
One of the best opportunities to express your gratitude is first thing in the morning. How
do you greet your husband each morning? Is he confident in your love? Give him a
"wake up call" that he'll never forget-a big "I love you" and an "I'm so glad I'm your wife!"

As I sit here, the morning of my Danny's 10th birthday...

I can't help but think of not only the last month or so, but the last 10 years...how about the last almost 15 years since I've been married.  So much is happening it seems and some days I just don't think I do enough.  But those are thoughts for another day!

5 days ago my Greg turned 13 and today Danny is 10.  When I think back, there were some really tough years....it's not easy raising boys when you know nothing about them and two very strong willed, passionate boys at that.  Greg is full of confidence....he even exudes it and sometimes comes out as arrogance.  I do pray that as he goes through his teen years that that part of him will curb some,( the arrogance I mean). He has been extremely confident and independent since he was 3...since his first year in speech therapy.  That year was an amazing year for him.  I'll never forget it and the change in him.  Praise the Lord.

Danny is a little more cautious though you wouldn't know it if you knew him well.  lol  He's a little shier.  While Greg will walk into ANYTHING and not be nervous at all....Danny will not.  Danny will walk in with mom and/or dad and it will take him a while to feel comfortable.  That's okay.  He's very much like his mom that way.  I'll never forget the first time I saw him freak out in a crowded room.  It was at Wally's parents' 50th Anniv celebration.  He was NOT going into the kitchen when the whole family was in there.  Interesting.

The only similar things between Greg and Danny are the fact that they have the same parents and they are both boys.  I love their individuality though I still don't understand boys and the way they think.  I guess it will always be that way.

I'm so thankful that God entrusted me to these two wonderful boys.  When I think of the miscarriages I had, I can see God's plan that I was suppose to have these two boys after all, if they hadn't happened, Greg and Danny would not be here today.  My way of thinking and Wally's is that God chose to take our mild little mannered daughters to Heaven to live with Him and He entrusted to us these two rambunctious wild  boys.  I can live with that...one day we will all be reunited and be a big happy family, but in the meantime, YES...I can live with that.  Thank you God!!!!!

Verse of the year and God's answer to Prayer

 Check it out to hear the song.

I usually have one and usually have one by just before the New Year starts.  This year I didn't.  I was at my ladies' Bible Study and we were talking about it and I mentioned this and how weird it was for me.  On the way home God brought a song to mind and then a Pslam.  I got home and looked it up...Pslam 42: 1 and 2a   As the deer longs for streams of water,so I long for you, O God  ² I thirst for God, the living God.    I told god how weird I though this was.  He knew that I liked more "instructional" verses.  A verse that 'tells' me what to do.  Surely this isn't what you mean to be my verse for the year.  How do I follow it?  I've struggled with it for a couple weeks now.  I told my friend Diane about it and during that same visit she said we were up for leading worship in a couple weeks....did I have any songs I wanted us to sing so I requested " Like a Deer."  Yesterday was our worship day and I praise God for answering prayer.  What an amazing service.  Our Pastor even used this song in his sermon...He asked, when we were singing it....did we really believe it or were we just singing for the sake of singing?  Do we look to God alone for our strength?  Do we truly long for Him?  Is He alone our hearts desire?  Do we love Him the most, more than any other?  " You alone are the real joygiver...the apple of my eye. "   I get it God!  What a great verse with a great song to go with...what a wonderful one to meditate on all year, to be reminded of daily....to make sure the motivations of my life are for His glory only and to make sure He remains the desire of my heart and life.  Praise the Lord!  God is Good!!!!!

AS THE DEER

Lyrics: As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship thee

Chorus
You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship thee

You're my friend and You are my brother,
Even though you are a king.
I love you more thank any other,
So much more than anything.

I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy Giver,
And the apple of my eye.

It's 11pm....I'm exhausted

but TOTALLY strung out on coffee.  Oh, but it was good coffee.  lol  We had our Bible Study Christmas Party tonight.  It was a yummy potluck and we did the Elephant exchange...Chinese Auction if you will.  It was fun...the kids loved it.  We got home at 10pm and then Wally's phone rang and well, he's at work poor guy.  I'm bagged!!!!

The kids had their first Tues night bball tonight.  So I watched for two hours...actually I brought a book.  The kids both worked really hard and really enjoyed it.

So, I have some major issues.  I won't go into any detail and no, they aren't life threatening or anything.  God is answering some prayer in my life right now and the journey is a tough one.  I have so many questions.  I know I won't be able to do this on my own.  Luckily I have some good friends and some wise council in my life and I think I will be calling on them.  I prayed for this and I knew it would happen.  I know it will get worse before it will get better but I also know that God is in control and in the end...and during this journey......God will be glorified.

I just came across this quote.  I was looking for one to leave here and I came across this one"  Every person's life is a fairy tale written by God' fingers.....  Hans Christian Andersen.....hmmmm it's my life story that's giving me grief...lol, well, actually it's the trying to remember it and it's the second thoughts that come into my head when my soul cries out "STOP!"  And yet, what do I do?  I want to remember the emotions that went with my actions.  I'd like to even know the whys...but I know I probably won't.  Fairy tale?  No...not really, I'm thinking there might be a nightmare or two in there.

God's promises to love me all day & sing songs all though the night!  My life is God's Prayer ( that is my desire...ap)  Psalm 42:8

Yay for the weekend

This is from a crazy momma and a homeschool momma.  It's been a really great week, it really has.  I've been able to stay caught up with laundry...even during a week of the month that I usually get behind.  Yes.....it is possible!!!  YEEHAW!!!!  School went really good this week and the kids were so good.  Wally worked really hard and we hardly saw him.  That's pretty much the way it is anyway.  He is working part of the weekend too.

The kids start basketball this weekend.  There goes my Sunday naps for the next three months.  Danny is 1:30-3 and Greg is 4-4:30 and then Tuesdays... Danny is 4:45-5:45 and Greg is 5:45-6:45.  Still plenty of time to get home and get ready for Bible Study BACK in Lacombe at 7:30.  Yip...only three months to go.  lol  The kids are really looking forward to it though so it's all worth it...PLUS...we get reimbursed for it through our Homeschool because it is considered physed.  Bonus for us!

I started my stories yesterday.  I only got one done so far but I really need a good block of time alone to get a bunch of them done.  I was surprised at how much I don't remember and that made me sad.  Maybe there are things God doesn't want me to remember at this point, but I've been praying that I WILL remember the details that hurt the most.  YES...I'm a glutton for punishment but I'm such a believer in the mercy of God and I see it so clearly in my life and that's why I want to remember.  Kapeesh????

It is heartbreaking reading the news and hearing about Haiti.  A person just feels so hopeless and I'm just so thankful that there are so many groups...Christian and nochristian that are rallying for Haiti and it's beautiful people.  I hear so much about what certain Christian leaders say...one in particular, and it just makes me so thankful that I serve my amazing God, rather than man who sometimes just doesn't think.  Timing is everything and some people just don't know that NOW is the time to love, not try and explain things.  Oh God, have mercy on the beautiful people of Haiti and have mercy on us no good sinners.

The Time is Right...

and I'm scared to death but I'm starting to write some stories.  Some stories of my life that I need to remember, that I need to have on hand to share.  Some stories of incidents that many people won't see, but maybe one day they will if God wills them to come out.  Private stories that are for viewing for the select people that God brings into my life.  It scares me to become vulnerable and yet I'm excited.  These are things in my life that God has allowed to happen that He is now starting to use so that He can be glorified.  I love to be able to see this, know it and share it.  What God brings us to, He brings us through and HE will be glorified.  I'm starting my journey today....  toodles!!!

Yes, I get puzzled daily....

and that's okay.  It keeps my mind working and my heart pumping!  I want to share my latest "puzzlement" with you.  I don't look for answers when I blog...I share my life, my experiences.  I may question what God does in my life, but I accept in and no doubt know He will be glorified.

Every new year I have a List of the Year, a Song of the Year and usually a Verse of the Year.  the List came quickly, the other two did not.  I wait on God' timing for these.  Last night our ladies Bible Study group got together again after a long time apart.  Three of us were there and I'm sharing my list and have several discussion questions.  It's really quite cool how not seeing and talking for a while, just how the same wave length the three of us are on.  During the course of the dicussion before we started, we were talking about a verse of the year.  One of the gals had been praying for one and this last Sunday god directed her to it.  I had said God hadn't brought mine to light yet.  By the next day ( today) I can say He has and let me tell you not one I expected.

On my way home I was listening to a Praise and Worship CD really loud and when one song came on I heard God..." your verse."  huh???  I came in the house and asked Wally about the song and he said, oh, the Psalm?  I didn't realize it was a Psalm.  I knew it was in the Bible but didn't know where.  So, he got on Gateway Bible and looked for it.  I opened my Bible and the first page I opened to, there t was.  Here is my verse of the year: 
As the deer pants for streams of water,   so my soul pants for you, O God.  ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.      Psalm 42: 1-2a

So, this is why I'm puzzled.  I'm used to an instructional verse.  This one seems so general to me and yet when I think of wanting to be a "woman after God's own heart"  does that not mean I pant for him...I thirst for God.  This is something I'll have to study more and look into.  I sure do love the song though and can I just say, I'm looking forward to singing it at church Jan 24th.  :)

I have high expectations for myself and my obedience to God.  I so want Him to be happy with me.  I want him to look at me with His soft eyes, with a glad heart and tell me that I did good.  I will strive for this.

Oh Lord, as I look into my heart it's so hard to put it into words.  My desire is to do all things for you.  I desire to follow you and do your work and be, Jesus in skin to those here on earth who need you so bad.  Oh Lord, help me to have the courage to follow only you.  To not be concerned about what others think and say...in all things.  Oh Lord, my soul longs for you, pants for you...My soul thirst for You, the living God.  Thank you for this verse, I can see why you pointed it to me.  I pray this in Jesus name...AMEN

WooHoo..we are complete!

Yip, Wally got home last night.  We had to celebrate by firing off some fireworks and the boys got to watch their "Testosterone Flick."  It is so nice.  You know, unless your spouse goes away for a while, you sometimes don't know what you are missing until they are gone for good.  I was pretty upset getting closer and closer to Wally leaving but while he was gone I decided, why would I deny Wally's right to do something that he loves, something that he considers His ministry.  Who am I to stand in his way.  I also have to encourage him, as he must encourage me, where our ministry actually begins which is with our family...after our relationship with Christ.

We are sort of in the swing of school.  I'm looking forward to our new science curriculum...see my homeschool blog to see what it is.  Awana starts up tonight.  I'm so excited about it...not only that, the local electronic store got in my printer ink I ordered AND I think my parcel of books should be in too...at least according to the tracking.  WOOHOO...either today or tomorrow. 

I'm enjoying my daily Bible readings and so far have been up to date on my blog.  On some cases I do it in my journal here at home and copy it onto my blog and in some cases I do it right online the first time.  Both work for me.  the studying for Bible Study has begun slowly...I sure hope it comes together by Monday!  :)   Yes, life is good and God is even Gooder!!!!

 All that's worth cherishing begins in the heart. "  Suzann Chapin

Sunday night...

The house is quiet.  The kids have been going to bed good and usually asleep as well.  My Christmas decorations and Christmas tree are still up and I'm really enjoying them.  I'm not sure if Wally will want them down or not when he gets home but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.  It's been nice being in contact with Wally.  He's been emailing me in the mornings and depending what is happening, phoning me at night.  He won't tonight though.  He is on the road and driving to Kansas I think.  I don't really have the destinations sorted out but I do know he will be home Tuesday night.  YAY!!!!

Tomorrow we will start school.  I'll be posting at my homeschool blog about that right after this post. If you want to check out my Bible Study blog... feel free to do that too.  I'm reading the Bible through and sharing some insights etc.  All in all, I really can't complain about the holidays.  They were relaxing for the most part and I really did get to spend some extra quality times with my boys while Wally has been gone.  The mom hat is quite a bit different than the teacher hat at times, though sometimes, they are no different because as moms, we are always teaching our children anyways...or we should be.

This week AWANA starts up and a Women's Ministry Executive Meeting.  Next week I add to that 2 Bible Studies.  Yip...back to being out every night.  It's a good think I'm well rested.  I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my friends and committees and seeing where the Lord takes us in this new decade.  Never mind that....in 32 days I will have a teenager in the house and 5 days after that a ten year old.  We will be out of the single digit ages.  Wow....where has the time flown.  Oh, the kids have big dreams for their birthdays...big dreams that cost way too much money.... they do every year but by the time in comes, they are happy with what they get.  All in all, my boys are pretty content with their lives.  Sure, like all kids they have dreams of bigger, of more...but really as adults, don't we sometimes dream that as well.

Oh how I pray my boys will latch on to God and His amazing grace, in a way that is life altering.  I pray for Greg this year that he will find his own faith, his own belief in our God.  He is going to Mexico with Wally this year and is pretty excited.  I am praying He will meet God there is a way he hasn't yet, to follow God on his own merit.  I've always felt that my boys will have amazing relationships with Christ and do amazing things for Him..  I just pray that I am doing my job, that me and Wally are doing our jobs in making that a reality.

Philippians 4:13 for Pete's sake!!!

I'm sitting here wondering how in the world....

I will get back into "real life."  School is back in on Monday and I still have to get everything ready for the kids and caught up on marking etc. and their weekly schedule out.  No more video games until 4 pm on school days.  That will be a tough one for all of us...I will have two unhappy boys therefore one unhappy mom.  I want to get started on some Bible Reading with the boys too.  I'd like to start off school that way and since they both got new Bibles for Christmas....maybe we can do this.  I'd also like to encourage Greg to start his own devotions.  To start delving into the Word and figuring it out for himself.  I have dreams...but I'm having a really hard time even considering they will look good until we are done the next two weeks or so...as my friend says....oy vey.

Another aspect of real life is not sleeping in.  Once Wally is home we will go back to the usual routine of me waking at 6:30 or 6:45 to make him coffee and get him up at 7.  That to me sounds even worse than my homeschooling dilemma .  lol

I will close by saying that I have 4 words that give me hope for all of this...for getting back in to real life and it is one of Father Tim's quotes from the Mitford Series....  " Philippians 4:13 for Pete's sake!" 

God Bless You my friends.  Have a blessed Sonday!!!