Energy from God~

Are you ever super super tired? Do you run out of gas some days? Do you struggle with your long 'to do' list?

I know I have at times. I have a little picture frame by my front door on the wall that states-- "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 It is the JOY of the LORD that gives us strength.

God gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. —Isaiah 40:29

The dictionary defines energy as the vigorous exertion of power. It has to do with effort, strength, potency, and might. Who has all these attributes? The Lord!

Scripture tells us that God not only has his own power and strength, but he’s given that same power to us. He enables us to have energy when we tap into HIS.

David says to God in Psalm 31:4, “You are my strength.” And again in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” What great verses! What comforting verses! God gives us all the energy we need.

When I’m exhausted and fall into bed at night, I often think I’ll never get up the next morning because I’m so tired. Or when I have no more strength to take care of a need or do the things that have been assigned to me, I have to force myself to remember my strength comes from God, not from inside me. There’s a vast difference.

So, remember—strength doesn’t come from exercise; strength comes from waiting on God. Tomorrow is another day, and God energizes us for it . . . no matter our age. Every day that I get older, his strength brings more comfort to my own life.

I have all the energy I need, Lynette

Love is......

The world tell us February is "LOVE" month. Yet, in God's economy everyday is "LOVE" day. He tells us the world will know we are Christians by the the love we have one for another.

What demonstration of love do you give those around you? More specifically how do you demonstrate love to your husband? Love is in the details. I have so many examples ~ times I have failed, times God's grace has enabled me to give.

Do I insist on my own way? THE restaurant I want to go to? THE movie I want to see? THE temperature in the house I want?

Do I keep quiet and listen rather than 'butt in' and start yapping? Do I pray asking God if I should speak or be quiet?

Am I willing to go the extra mile? Do the extra thing? Stay up an hour later to help out? Skip my nap so someone else can have one? Let the plans we had planned go, so someone else benefits. Little details that speak love.

Love is a strong witness to the world. Not the "mampy pamby" kind of love but true love. Love that gives and expects not in return. Love that sacrifices ones own desires. Love that reaches out to the unlovely. Love that forgives. Love that desires for another that which one wants for herself. Love that speaks the truth.

You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Free from you. Free from others. Free to love others you may not otherwise have an affinity for.

As I posted in earlier posts, we are studying Song of Songs in our Sunday School class on Sundays. It is an adult class of married couples. This week we were looking at Song of Solomon 8:1-7. In verses 6-7, we are introduced to seven different aspects of love. How many do you see in these verses? What are they?

*Personal ~ 'set me' as a seal upon your heart.

*Protected ~ his care for her and her care for him.

*Powerful ~ Love is strong as death.

*Possessive ~ Godly jealousy of intimacy. For one.

*Passionate ~ Love is full of fire.

*Perseveres ~ Love is going to endure.

*Priceless ~ cannot be purchased.

This week as I have continued to 'meditate' on these truths, I have asked myself many questions. Do I love like this? Am I the 'lover' God desires me to be to my honey. Is my love for Dave as strong as death? Do I persevere in love? Every day God has given me something to think about in light of these Scriptures. And to ask forgiveness for.

Food for thought.

Good for me. What about you? Do you love like God wants you to?

I may be married 40 years, yet I still have lots to learn and apply!

God's Grace is so evident to me today ~ how I thank HIM he doesn't give up on me~

Grateful Girl here, Lynette

Marriage Monday

Today is Marriage Monday!

Our Sunday School class always has homework. I like this kind of homework....smile! I like it because you don't have to do it alone. We get to do our homework together! Bonus!

As we studied Song of Songs yesterday in Sunday School we were looking at Chapter 6:11 through 7:10.

These are the most amorous verses in the Bible relating to intimacy in marriage.

Our Sunday School teacher began with some observations about men.

~ men are visual. They notice a pretty woman but this doesn't mean he prefers her over his wife.

~ men's minds file snap shots. God has wired them this way.

~ temptations and sin are different. He notices but lingering is sin.

~ wives are not to 'judge' their husband for noticing. She can help him avoid some images.

We discussed so many aspects of these verses. I will just note two.

!. Men are visual ~ wives are to be "visually generous" to their husbands. They are to fill up his mind of 'Rolodex' with images of his own wife. This is loving her husband.

2. Wives like words ~ husbands are to be "verbally generous" to their wives. She wants to hear his thoughts and words of love from his heart to her.

Also notice that these verses are descriptive, not prescriptive. This is a goal not a rule. We are not to 'demand' but to seek to minister to one another unselfishly in intimacy

Homework~

Husband to wife: How can I be more verbally generous to you? Do I speak enough during our times of intimacy?

Wife to husband: What are your favorite snapshots of me? Which ones do you recall most fondly? What can I do to be more visually generous with you?

Homework is good because it helps us to apply that which we are trying to learn and apply.

I love being married to Dave and I love "homework" too!

"I am my beloved's and he is mine", Lynette

Food for Thought:

As 2010 comes to a close and we begin 2011, we each should stop and consider some things to think about!

Everyday we make important decisions about how we live our Christian lives---decisions that concern our character, conduct, commitment, and contribution. These choices reflect who we are and who, by God's grace, we are becoming. Consider the following with me.

Character ~ who a person really is, even when no one else is watching or sees. God sees.

*(Gal. 5:22-26; 1 Peter 1:13-16) What character issues do I want God to help me work on in my life in the coming months?

Conduct ~ a person's actions that serve as an extension of her character. God sees.

*(Ephesians 4:23-43; 5:15-21) How would you like the Holy Spirit to help your conduct reflect more accurately who you really are in Jesus Christ? Are there specific actions that need to be put off or put on?

Commitment ~ the quality in a person that enables her to do what she said she will do, even if circumstances change or no one sees her actions. God sees.

*(Psalm 15:4; 2Timothy 2:2; Matthew 5:37) Where do I need help in aligning my priorities and commitments with His heart and ways?

Contribution ~ positive results that occur when a person uses her unique gifts to reflect Christ to unbelievers and serve the body of Christ.

*(1 Peter 2:9-12; Ephesians 4:11-16) In what areas do I want God to help me make more significant contributions in the lives of others?

Let's pray and seek the Lord as we close out 2010. If you journal like I do, just make a page for these items. Pray over them and 'dog ear' (I use a sticky tab) and check it once a week. Leave a page or two to write thoughts, things you notice and victories gained. It only takes a few minutes and think of the 'gain' in your walk with Christ!

So grateful to be a daughter of the KING! Sherry Lynette

Bible Study

I love Bible Study. We have Bible Study every Wednesday night at our Church. Pastor Dave leads the study. We happen to be in 1 Corinthians 9 right now. We have been in 1 Corinthians since September of 2009. We are taking it verse by verse, so we are learning much, discussing as we go.

I was sitting in Bible Study tonight musing about the valuable time spent doing this. Why? Because we have to? NO....always no! We do it because we love it! Always and ever. What investments we are making for eternity. To LOVE GOD more, to deepen our relationships with HIM. NOT to learn facts, or gain knowledge. To grow in our appreciation of who HE is, how HE works, what HE wants for us, and to learn to love HIS gospel more and more and more.

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no man may boast." Ephesians 2: 8-9

It was brought out tonight that knowledge puffs us up. If we feel we are 'better' because we read our Bibles more, we are wrong. If we think we are 'better' because we know more, we are wrong. If we think we are more spiritual because......you fill in the blank....we are wrong! It isn't grace plus something.... yet we act like it is! WRONG! It is a gift! Period. Pure GRACE! Yes, knowledge puffs up, yet LOVE edifies.

Thank you Lord for allowing me to be in Bible Study. YOU are so good, so generous, so kind! I still love Bible Study!

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette

Preaching to myself again!

I preach the GOSPEL to myself everyday of my life. I 'talk' to myself. This is what I say to myself. Why? Because I can't live without it! So how do I preach it to myself everyday? I remind myself what it is! What is the GOSPEL?

The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

1. God created us to have fellowship with him every moment of every day.

2. But like Adam and Eve, I am a sinner. Everyone knows this, whether they admit it or not. Even one lie proves it. So then I don't have fellowship with God.

3. Jesus came, lived a perfect sinless life and gave his life for ME, a sinner. The sinless (Jesus) one died on the cross for the sinful (me) one.

4. Jesus righteousness is accounted to my account. When God the Father looks at me, he sees Jesus blood and righteousness covering me.

5. All my sin is forgiven, past, present and future sins are in the deepest sea. I am different, a new creation in Christ.

6. Because I am forgiven, I forgive. My heart is forever aware of the sacrifice given for me. The Holy Spirit lives in me, bearing fruit unto righteousness, and providing fellowship with God who is my loving, heavenly Father.

7. I have JOY! Well, better said, HE is my JOY!

So everyday I preach the gospel to myself. HE loves me. When I am happy, when I am sad, I preach the gospel to myself. When someone 'hurts' me, I preach the gospel to myself. When I mess up, I preach the gospel to myself. When others do wrong, when my kids disobey, I preach the gospel to myself. When I am afraid, I preach the gospel to myself.

I love the GOSPEL because it is my only HOPE! You see~ the GOSPEL really really is the GOOD NEWS! The BEST NEWS ever told, so I tell myself everyday!

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette

Bible Study is wonderful.....

On Wednesday nights we have Bible Study at Church. We also have Pioneer Girls and Boys Stockade and Boys Battalion. It is a FAMILY NIGHT for us. Rebekah and I go to Bible Study, which my hubby teaches. Hannah goes to Explorers and spends 1 and half hours with 2 godly ladies teaching her and the other girls in High School. Caleb teaches young men in Battalion. We all make investments in other peoples lives. Our family aims to make biblical investments that count for eternity! It is all by God's grace. Others choose to stay home and watch TV or play with their kids or eat out or read a book. We all choose.

We studied 1 Corinthians 7 tonight. We did not finish the chapter, we just began, getting through verse 5. It was great! I am always surprised at how much I don't know. I have read 1 Corinthians many times before. Yet tonight I learned a bunch of new things. Important things. Paul was a great teacher. He was God's man for the hour. I love being married. I want to be the best wife I can be ! Thank you Lord for giving us YOUR WORD!

Thank you for Bible Study! I am soooo grateful! I can't wait til next week !

Signing off for now, hugs, Lynette