Ultimately, the one "thing" that I would want to change most in our relationship is:
Our relationship with God; individually and together.
I want us to be more faithful, more involved with things at our church. I want us to make a commitment to go to church each and every Sunday, and if we don't, then we should go that following Wednesday. This desire brews in my heart because I want us to lead by example. To be the Godly example to our daughter that God wants us to be. He has called us to be exactly that. But is this something that we are supposed to do individually first? How long before I should expect this to be something that we BOTH do? These are the times when Emalynn is most influential. These are the times when we all need to lean on God more...and to lead each other by example. I read the devotional to Emalynn each night, and teach her about God things. Jon comes in and joins in on our devotional time, and that blesses my heart. I bring God into our conversations A LOT! I guess it does boil down to getting your life right for yourself first...hmmmm...don't get me wrong, God is definitely in each of our lives. I struggle with making more time for God. I know that we (Jonathon and I), individually, do not make enough time for Him. And then we expect Him to do things in our lives at an instant? Thankfully we serve a gracious God, a God who knows the desires of our hearts.
Any suggestions? Any ideas? Or do I just continue to do what I do...and be a woman after God's on heart?
19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.
--Genesis 18:19 (NIV)
9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
--1 Chronicles 28:9 (NLT)
2 comments:
Well, for me and A., I found our church and commited myself (ha, sounds funny). first. If he didn't participate, I didn't care--I would save all of our souls. Let see, I started attend a church in July 2007 but it took a month to find the right church. The church that spoke to me, one that made it easy to understand--I'm a visual learner and they used a lot of props. I'm not sure when A. joined us, maybe early September? But the church spoke to him as well. As adults, we knew we were Christian but we weren't committed but once we found OUR church, we committed ourselves. It takes 21 days to make a habit and well, that's only 3 weeks, so that's only 3 services (not counting Wedensdays). We made it a priority and we still make it a priority. Sunday mornings are booked. I may not know our Pastors personally, but I hold them very dear to my hear and I MAKE time for them. They helped me turn my "baggage" over to God and seriously save my eternal life.
SOOOOO anyway, set a goal for yourself, 3 weekends in a row (REGARDLESS of what's going on...Superbowl, etc). Put sleep (I know how sleeping late is a treasure), but put sleep aside and wake up and go. Once Jon sees your committment, he will adopt it as well. God's love is contagious.
It took me about two months until I completely turned myself BACK over to God and let him deal with the mess I had gotten myself into. Once I was finally able to do that, life got easier, love got easier, money got easier, everything I struggled with my entire life got easier.
Okay, I know this is way more than you asked for, but I just felt like sharing.... Botton line = focus on yourself (spiritually) and then focus on your family.
PS: I love watch us grow spiritually. We so TOTALLY rock!
I too enjoy watching you guys grow in God's love and seeing all that He is doing in your lives. EVen when we are so far away. It makes me feel comfort knowing what you guys have been through, seeing where you were and then seeing the changes you allow God to make in your lives.
For me, having been raised under a church pew. Having gone through discipleship courses and being groomed for leadership early on, having biblical knowledge and history instilled in me from day one...you grow up knowing things but so few apply it wholly to their lives. I had memorized all the books of the Bible, I knew a multitude of in-depth scripture, and could quote the fundamentals of my church and Christianity by the time I was 12, but did I grow to live it, did I apply it at heart and to the places that needed it in my life as I grew older....?
I’m 26 now and it wasn’t until these last 3-4 years or so that I have really begun to seriously apply myself to my walk as a Christian. It’s been the same for both Joe and I. It was a decision we made together in our marriage. It had to be there. But first things first, it has to begin in the individual, in you.
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I have to say that this past year was the biggest lesson I have ever learned on total surrender. I can only urge you to experience that level of a relationship with God our father for yourself. It's indescribable. I can't begin to tell you what freedom comes with total surrender. If you want to see a real, firm, tangible, you can reach out and touch it and grab it and hold on to it and jump for joy because it's finally here type of change...you have to pray! It starts in your prayer life. And I'm not just talking bow my head, close my eyes, real quick little prayers when you think about it either. I mean self discipline, dedicated to trusting God, showing Him you're serious, locking yourself away in your prayer closet so to speak and daily, sometimes 3 and 4 times a day talking and walking with God. Be sitting at your desk and just talk to Him. When you're driving down the road, talk to Him. Develop your relationship with Him! When you pray, start by telling God your wants and desires. I kept a prayer journal, it’s been a huge blessing to refer back to. The huge thing is asking God to take those and turn them into a His will be done. Trusting Him to take you where you should be spiritually. Trusting He will take Jon where Jon needs to be spiritually. Pray for your husband. Samina, there is power in the words you speak. Speak goodness over your life and family. I encourage you to get a book of promises or research God's promises. It's a wonderful and an uplifting form of growth if you study it. Speak those scriptures daily over your life and your husband and your family. Proclaim the rights you have as a child of God. Speak God’s promises over your life! Pray and Develop your time with God! All the while you are doing what you should be, dying to self, putting aside the old you, letting go and letting God have His way. It's a hard process and it takes the commitment. But if you're hungry enough for the changes you want, you can do it! He's only waiting on you! While all those dreams and desires and questions and fears you have, all those things you want fixed in your life, in your marriage, in your family...God's shaping those things and putting them into place and getting YOU ready for what He is going to do in your life. And then one day all those prayers and trusting Him to do His work in your life will all fall into place. You'll wake up and realize, this is amazing! God can change hearts! He changes lives, He makes something out of nothing. He transforms and makes beautiful! He is Jehovah-jireh, our provider; Jehovah-Shalom, our peace; Jehovah-nissi, our banner and our guide; Jehovah-rapha, our healer; El Shaddai, Almighty God and our strength; Adonai, our Father and our master....He is Jehovah, Yahweh...I AM!
It all starts with prayer. That's the best advice I can give. Pray, seek him on your face Samina! Get in your bathroom and lock the door if you need a place to get away to and just put yourself before Him. Be steadfast, give yourself to Him, Trust Him to do what He needs to do and He will guide your life and your husbands life and your families future. Before you know it, your at a place that you never dreamed you would reach. He will change the unchangeable and fix the un fixable! And when your dreams and wants and desires are God’s dreams and wants and desires for you, then you can’t stray, you can’t go wrong!
I don't have the most elaborate words to tell you, just prayer changes things!
J. Velasquez sang "When I'm On My Knees"...an old song I know we've all heard many times. But it's simple truth. I love you!
There are days
When I feel
The best of me
Is ready to begin
Then there's days
When I feel
I'm letting go
And soaring on the wind
'Cause I've learned in Laughter or in pain
How to survive!
I get on my knees!
I get on my knees!
There I am before the Love
That changes me
See I don't know how
But there's power
When I'm on my knees
I can be
In a crowd
Or by myself
And almost anywhere
When I feel
There's a need
To talk with God
He is Emmanuel
When I close my eyes,
No darkness there
There's only light!
I get on my knees
I get on my knees
There I am before the Love That changes me!!
See I don't know how,
But there's power
In the blue skies,
In the midnight
When I'm on my knees
I get on my knees
I get on my knees
There I am before the Love
That changes me!!
See I don't know how,
But there's power
When I'm on my,
Oh, when I'm on my
When I'm on my knees!
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