Colors, Markings, Mistakes, and Selfless Love

There is one book that I often feel as though I could highlight every word on the page.  What didn't jump out at me the first time I'd read through it would the second or third time through.  So in this book I have had to resort to more then one color in order to not end up with a solid yellow page.  What is this book you ask?  It is my Bible, and it is marked up with underlining, highlighting, circled words, and a few symbols.  It might look like a mess to the casual observer but these have all helped me tremendously.  I still remember the day I received my Bible as a gift from my husband.  The pages were crisp and white and I was afraid to make a mark on the pages. I feared making mistakes and marking something only to change my mind later.  I have long since gotten over my fear and yet I have made mistakes a long the way.  I have found myself studying when I was tired and actually put wrong symbols over words.  I've gotten a little to happy with the highlighter going into a sentence I didn't mean too.  I started circling words that I thought were key to the sentence then after doing it one way 1/4 of the way in my Bible I changed my mind about the key word:)  I've gotten quite creative trying to cover up my mistakes, lol.  Sometimes I don't even try to.  I'm sure if anyone else were to read through my Bible they'd struggle to make sense out of all my markings in it.  But that doesn't matter to me, what matters to me most is that when I pick it up and read through the pages I quickly see at a glance those things that have impacted me to the core of my being.  It is my style, it is eclectic, and it has brought depth and insight when studying.

I've shared all this with you because if you haven't started marking in your Bible already I want to encourage you to not be afraid to do so especially when a verse or word jumps out at you and grabs your attention or heart.  You may want to ask others how they mark theirs or if your brave you can peek at mine, and then just start doing it.  Don't worry about doing it perfectly, or do it perfectly if that's your nature but do it (just do it according to your learning style and if you refine what that is a long the way that's o.k.  That's what I'm continually doing).  It's your Bible and it's God's Word, it's powerful, living and sharper then a two edged sword...it is everything you need for life and godliness...it gives hope...renews your mind...transforms your thinking...points to Christ.  I can never get enough of it, never exhaust all there is to learn from it, and every time I pick it up I see something new in it.

Here are some suggestions of possible ways to mark your Bible (remember you should do whatever works best for you and your learning style, not someone elses). O.k.grab your Bible and let's get started open up to the gospels and start marking every time you see Jesus name or reference to Him with a cross (can be red or I just use black pen.  Precepts encourages you to use different colors and symbols when marking words but for my slightly ADD mind I find the colors too distracting)...or highlight Jesus words (if your Bible doesn't already), or highlight those verses or words that jump out at you and grab your attention such as references to grace.  But whatever method you choose to do make sure to observe Jesus, the words He speaks, the methods He uses to get truth across, the way He speaks to those who try to establish their righteousness from the law (pharisees), the way He speaks to sinners, His responses to those who are in need.  Don't get caught up in the method of study, but get caught up in the One you are studying about.

Take some time today reflecting on who you once were (dead in your sins, dust) and who you are now (still dust, but forgiven and loved) because of what Jesus has done for you (died in your place to pay your debt in full).  Jesus knows you through and through; He knows where you've been, He knows where you are today, and He knows what you will become.  He know you more then you know yourself and He loves you anyways.  His love is sure, His mercies new each day, and His grace is greater then your sin.  Run to Him who loves you purely precious daughters, and do not hide your faces, instead look into His radiant face and feel the warmth of His love envelop you.  Remember He knows all about you and He loves you anyways.  Sit in His presence today and thank Him for His selfless love and then share His love with others.

The Secret to Contentment in Marraige

What is the secret of being content in your marraige?  Is it possible to take two flawed and sinful human beings who come from completely different  family dynamics and have different ideas on what it means to be a family together and have peace, harmony, and contentment in the home? 

I believe it is possible!  The key to peace, harmony, and contentment is found in Christ and the gospel when they are in their rightful places in the home.  By this I mean that we wives are seeking Christ daily, spending time in His word, meditating on it and time in prayer.  This doesn't have to be a two hour time alone.  If you can that is awesome, but for those of you who can not get away for long periods of time each day have you considered taking what time you can squeeze of your schedule to pray, read a Scripture or two and as you go about your day chew on what that Scripture means?  Roll it around in your head, prayerfully reflecting on it asking God to help you to fully understand it and grasp it, even to memorize.  For mom's who are off and running with the first cry of an infant turning on the radio and listening to a Biblically grounded Pastor might be a solution or a Scripture tape.  Or having a Bible flip calendar with Scripture and a devotional thought where you will see it each day.  For those women who work another alternative might be listening to Scripture or an excellent sermon in your car on the way to work and back.  Taking every thought to God in prayer praying without ceasing is another way to find satisfaction and contentment in life and marraige.  Why?  Because we are spending time with the only One who truly satisfies, He Jesus Christ is the one who alone can meet all our needs.  When all our needs our met by Him then we will not put such a heavy burden on our husbands or children (if we have them) to meet those needs.  Then and only then will we be free to truly love those God has given us as our neighbors...our husbands and any children we may have and others that cross our paths. 

Some of you may know my story and some of you don't, I'm not going to go into the details here except to tell you I was once married to a man who hated God.  While in that marraige I heard a wise person say "you are not their Holy Spirit" "it is not your job to change them."  Wow, that freed me up. God is the one who does the changing not me.  I just need to do as 1 Peter 3:3-6 says, be subject to my husband, be gentle and quiet, working on my inner beauty, be pure in word and conduct all by the grace of God and the power of His Spirit. Not that I will do this perfectly but that I strive for it as to the Lord for He is our first Husband.  For I'm responsible for what I do, I stand before God for me alone and not for my husband and so do you Dear Sister.

I also do not want to neglect the spiritual benefits of spending time praising God.  Are you feeling blue, worn out, unappreciated, tired?  Consider turning on Christian radio or put in that praise CD that's collecting dust.  Soon you will find that your mind has gone from dwelling on all that's wrong in your life to the only One who is worthy of our praise and Adoration.  As you sing along you will be reminded of the unchangeable truths of God's Character and your flawed doubtful thoughts of God will be renewed and reminded that He does reign, He is Sovereign over all circumstance, and that you are "sinful and flawed but welcomed and loved."  Try it!


I've shared so much already and must go for now.  But before I do I want to share some excerpts from a book I've been reading called Counsel from the Cross By Elyse Fitzpatrick and Denis E. Johnson.  Spend some time chewing on these words today and ask God to show you the truth in them:


"Focusing on the obligations of Scripture without mentioning the declarations of the gospel has resulted in a works-oriented perspective in family relationships and idolatry of the family, and in despairing of self-righteous husband and wives and children who wonder why it's so hard to obey.  When we forget that Jesus is our Savior, seeing Him merely as our example, the motivation to love as He does eludes us."

"A wife who has forgotten the that she is sinful and flawed can be harsh and judgmental.  She finds it easy to point out her husband's failures, and she thinks that her growth in maturity is hindered because her husband isn't leading as he should.  When her husband prays, she criticizes his prayer in her heart.  When he watches television, she remembers all the hours she has spent in Bible study, comparing herself to him." 

"Because she has forgotten the gospel, she forgets that she already has a sinless Husband(Jesus).  But this sinless Husband married a polluted wife with no beauty in her, either before she was saved or after.  He loved her out of his pure, unmerited grace.  This wife has also forgotten that her growth in maturity isn't contingent upon her earthly husband's leadership.  Rather, it was purchased by the precious blood of her Savior, who bought her sanctification at the cost of His life."

Rubber-band Girl

Sorry, I haven't written in awhile!!! I'm still trying to get my bearings straight and recuperate from last week.  Like most of you I have a busy schedule and adding a college class into my schedule has stretched me thinner then ever.  Perhaps you have experienced this too, it's like when you know that if you were to add one more thing in your schedule you'd be stretched so thin that like a rubber-band  that is stretched beyond it's elasticity it breaks and stings the one who is closest and often the one holding it.  That was me last week, I had added another thing on top of my class and all my other things.  I was stretched beyond what I should have allowed and the resulting snap stung my youngest and myself.   Instead of responding in a nice but firm way to his growing requests for attention I sharply would snap at him "no, not now."   I had no patience for my little guys continual interruptions because I had no cushion in my schedule.  Once I had realized what I was doing I took him in my arms and apologized letting him know that it wasn't him but me.  That "mommy is just crabby because she has to many things to do and not enough time."  He forgave me, but then for an hour as only little ones can do he went on and on talking about my being crabby....lol!!! If that's no enough to aggravate an already overworked stressed out mom...lol.  For me though it broke the ice...I had to laugh at his comments and that released some of the tension in the air.  Though the tension was less, the weight of what I had yet to get done still weighed heavy on me.   I kept my eyes toward the goal of the end of the week when I could start anew, afresh with just the ordinary stress.  It was not until two days later that I finally was finished.

Lesson learned: Know my limits!!!!  Sometimes it's good to say no!!!!   I had added that one more thing into my schedule and I was stretched so thin I was unable to do my best in all the things I was responsible for and so most if not all suffered.  My family suffered for I was on edge and though physically with them I was not mentally.  Instead I was focused on the many things that were weighing on me.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."                                                              Philippians 3:13-15