Marriage Monday

Went to the Airport on Saturday and picked up my wonderful, awesome hubby and our son Caleb after a week in Chihuahua, Mexico on a missions trip with 14 guys. God is amazing. God is at work in the hearts of men, women and children there.

Yesterday was a really really huge blessing to our Church family. Each of the twelve men (two were not there, Juan and Rich) shared a 'snapshot' of what God did in their life during the week. It was amazing.....I cried through it all out of happiness! The Spirit was really present. It is hard to put into words of the blessing of it all.

My heart is full. I am so thankful. I am overflowing with gratefulness and happiness to be envied. Because God is good, so good. He has a plan and it is for our good and for HIS glory!

Since today is Marriage Monday I am sharing a link. It is about intimacy in your marriage. Taking the initiative in your physical union. Sheila says it well and I agree 100% with this one blog.

I don't usually read many blogs other than Pioneer Woman (recipes--yummy) http://thepioneerwoman.com/ and Girltalk http://www.girltalkhome.com/.

Yet, I think this is one very good post from Sheila. She says it well. If this is a struggle for you (tired, worn out etc.), I would say, pray and ask the LORD to give you a willing heart. He will! I know, because HE has done it for me!

http://internetcafedevotions.com/2011/01/a-new-years-resolution-lets-initiate/

Bless your hubby soon by taking the initiative! If you love him you will care about this too!

My cup runneth over, Lynette

Men......

I love this picture! There are 2 thousand words in this picture!

This is Caleb talking to his nephew Joschua, who is two. Caleb loves little people. He loves babies, he loves toddlers. He loves kids. You can see it in his face. Can't you just see how Joschua responds to his Uncle?

HE knows Caleb loves him.

He loves Caleb too.

They love each other.

I love it!

This one gets framed soon!

Loving my men, Lynette

10 Ways

I love lists. I am a list maker. I have a book of lists. I make lists in my journal. I often make 'to do' lists. I like lists a lot.

I recently came across this short list of "Ten Ways to Love Your Children".

"How Can You Love Your Children Today?"

1. Leave the dishes in the sink and tuck them in bed with a short prayer.

2. Turn your computer off and look at your children.

3. Turn your phone off and listen to your children.

4. Stop what you are doing and go sit by your children.

5. Walk across the rug and hug your children....more than once!

6. Kiss them at the door when they get home. Kiss them at the door as they leave.

7. Never leave an argument without saying "I love you".

8. When they ask you to play with them, say "yes" , instead of "in a minute".

9. Try to understand them; see the world through their eyes. Remember when you were their age.

10. Don't let a day go by without giving them a kind word. (Or two, or three, or four --added by me)

Food for thought, don't you agree?

With a grateful heart ~ Lynette

Keep Your Heart

"Keep your heart with all diligence." Proverbs 4:23

As we think about marriage today, since it is 'Marriage Monday' this verse comes to my mind. Why? Because in order to cultivate and keep a tender love for my husband I must guard my heart against sin.

When my emotions roar up, as they did this week, and I feel less loving towards my hubby, a blinking red light in my mind should warn me. I can ignore it if I so desire. Yet, I don't want to ignore it because I desire to desire the truth. I have learned to 'fight' the good fight. How easily I can fall into sin and not tell myself the truth!

I keep a copy of one of Jonathan Edwards resolutions in my journal. He wrote: "Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination."

When that alarm goes off, I must examine my heart and repent of any sin. I run to the Cross. This is the way to maintain a tender love for our husband. When we agree with the diagnosis of Scripture as seen in Romans 3:23 , we can also receive the remedy. The forgiveness of Christ becomes ours and the power to change right along with it.

Charles Spurgeon wrote this:

"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it." (Sermon "Ripe Fruit" #945)

I remember my husband is a sinner. BUT I AM TOO ~ my sins are great...who am I to point out the speck in his eye when I have a 'boulder of a log' in my eye? God's truth sets us free. He always tells us the truth ~ that to first take the log out of my eye and then gently attend to the speck in his. Often as I remove the log from my own eye....the speck disappears! Amazing! What great affection I have for the love of my life although I do not always show it. How easily my sin blinds me to my own heart condition.

So my thought today is "Keep watch on your heart ~ for out of the heart flow the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

Easy? No.

Good? Yes.

Worth it? Always.

Fighting the good fight this week, though not me, but HE...who is faithful...on my behalf ~ Lynette

Be Affectionate~

We are told over and over again to 'love one another' ! What does that mean? A piece of it means we are to be affectionate. It comes easy to some of us. It comes with work for others of us. Nevertheless we are to express love to those around us. Why? Because we do as our Father does. God is love. He is my Father....I want to be like HIM. Sooooooo............here are some ideas I enjoy~

Kiss your husband in a place that you don't normally kiss him. Perhaps the tip of his ear, his elbow, wherever. And, of course, more than one kiss is good too. Be spontaneous ~ he will love it!

Happiness is like a kiss - it feels best when you give it to someone else. Author Unknown

When your husband is sitting with his back to you, sneak up and give him a kiss on the back of his neck. Just do it!

Now a soft kiss - Aye, by the kiss, I vow an endless bliss. John Keats

Pray for a sense of play, humor and fun in your marriage. Being serious all the time makes everyone a bit cranky, so ask the Lord to infuse your marriage with fun and laughter.

Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it. Henry Ward Beecher

Laugh at yourself today, and tomorrow! Tell a joke even if it falls flat. My kids laugh at my flat jokes! Ask the LORD to help you lighten up! Smile more!

There is no remedy for love but to love more. Henry David Thoreau

Hug a child, smile at a teen ager, laugh out loud at something funny, pat an elderly friend on the back. Give yourself away. You will make a difference in life.

Tell your family and friends 'why' you love them ~ think ~ then 'say' it! We are told over and over again in the Bible to 'love one another'.....just do it!

Grateful to be HIS, Lynette