planting seeds, pulling weeds

God's word is golden.  Meditate on it daily, and let the Holy Spirit heal you and your marriage.

Philippians 4:4-9 "Always be full of joy in the Lord.  I say it again--Rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Remember, the Lord is coming soon.  Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure,and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-- everything you heard from me and saw me doing.  Then the God of peace will be with you."

When we consider this as a command, begin to put into practice the choosing of joy, thankfulness, and meditating on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable (about our husband and our circumstances).  When we think about and praise God and have testimony on our lips, what an atmosphere shift.  This is what I want in my marriage.  In my home.  How about you?

Consider Hebrews.  Are you on the fence about following Jesus?  Are you not sure God is real?  Maybe you're thinking, "I believe, but I need to see... especially in my marriage."  Do not lose hope in prayer.  Be faithful.  Jesus experienced your frustration with people, God's word is all about learning to interact and influence those around you.  Live uprightly, not self-righteously, and you will see change around you.  

Hebrews 2:18 "Since He himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested."

Hebrews 3:5 consider that your faithfulness as a servant of God as a wife, mother, and in any other arena is a testimony of the truths that God can reveal to your husband, your children, and others.  You were created by God to have kingdom influence.  Every one of His children are.  Verse 6: we are God's house, whom Christ, God's Son, in charge of.  Keep your courage and remain confident in hope in Christ.  Listen, let this apply to you as you submit to God in your marriage to be faithful as the Holy Spirit works in you.  Hear His voice and don't harden your hearts, don't test God's patience with your impatience towards your husband!  Trust God!  His desire is that you will enter His place of rest in the land of the living- that's the here and now.  

Be Careful, dear sisters, that your hearts are not evil and unbelieving, do not let Satan get a foothold, turning you away from the living God who's desire is for you and for unity in your marriage; in your family.  Instead, speak encouragement, exhortation, and with love- warnings against being deceived by sin and hardened against God.  DO this with your sisters in Christ!  Don't let idleness or discouragement be the theme of your gatherings, but rather encouragement and exhortations.  And when it comes to your time with your husband, confirmations, encouragements for what God is unveiling, allowing you to see.  Confess to him as you learn and want to practice living differently!  IF we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, when we first said Yes to God, to our husband, we will in time share in all that belongs to Christ, and rest!