Joyfull Living

If you are a parent with more than one child, you can understand the dilema of "sharing". It seems I am alawys reminding my children to share with one another with not many good results. But, I have found one thing that they joyfully share with each other and anyone else near by...sickness! My darlings have this week brought home a little bug, fever, headache and cough etc., and shared it with each other and me. How sweet! Only Daddy has not caught it and we sure hope he doesn't as he has to work most of the weekend. But, it can always be worse, my sister in law has five children and they brought her home a nice, big stomach virus bug and shared it all around, even with Mom and Dad. They sure had a rough time this week. So, I guess this is the season for these type of things, so try to stay well!

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 3:10-12 The greatest good you can do for your husband is to pray for him.

Last post I shared about a daily prayer calendar with a prayer each day for husbands. I want to share just a few of these. These are from the first few days of January and are somewhat of an introduction with a great emphasis on the power of a wife's prayers. The first one gets our focus right. There are always just a few areas where those husbands could use some change. But, many times our wifely ideas don't work in making those changes! This page of the calendar begins by addressing that and encouraging us to allow God to do what only He can do: The power of a praying wife is not a means of gaining control over your husband...In fact, it is quite the opposite. It's laying down all claim to all power in and of yourself and relying on God's power to transform you, your husband, your circumstances and your marriage. The power of a praying wife is a way to invite God's power into your husband's life for his greatest blessing, which is ultimately yours, too...

A subject that I am mildly obsessed with(!), by reading and always seeking out about is how to be a good wife. Maybe that is because I need so much help in this area! I am so blessed with a husband who is a strong spiritual leader in our home, a wonderful father, considerate husband, hard worker, full of integrity and an all around great man. When we were first married, I carried on in marital bliss, enjoying "playing house". Then the children came and my attention was changed to mothering and the demands that came with it. Years later I began to hear teaching on areas in a woman's life in church and ways to be a better, wife, mother, woman etc. The wife part really touched my heart. I had not taken the time to devote to being a godly wife, I was so into myself and then my children, my husband did not get the fair share of attention he deserved. Through the years, the Lord has done a work in my heart and life. I realize the importance of a marriage and how much ...

I recently received a fantastic devotion called "Real Resolutions for Moms". It pretty much covered every area of a Christian woman's life! There were practical suggestions to obtaining these goals. Of course I'll be taking it step by step as I have a long way to go! But I wanted to share this and encourage you to come along with me and take simple steps in these areas. I will put my Bible before the television, the radio, the telephone, and even before good Christian books, for my children will know my priorities by the way they see me spend my free time. I will make my prayer requests known before God and my children, enlisting their help in the process and informing them of the outcome, for by letting them help when I petition our Lord will they learn of a living God who still answers prayer. When times of crisis, conflict or confusion arise, I will hit my knees before I hit the phone knowing that by my example my children will discover that although friends a...

This blogging adventure is so much fun! I have met several wonderful new friends who have blessed and encouraged me greatly and I hope that some of the readers here receive encouragement on this path we travel together as women. For the blog, I wanted to give a mix of inspiration along with everyday family life happenings. As I was pondering on what is going on in our life, things are kind of boring! But this week there has been several bumps, which are mere irritations in life, but I'm sure that you all can relate to. Car Trouble: The car I drive has a problem. The dashboard controls stopped working. This was nothing major and the first trouble we've had with the car, so we have someone who is working on it. We have been juggling activities and use of other vehicles and have been fine. I went to pick it up last weekend and as we were driving home - the controls went out again - on the new control panel- OUCH! So, it is still being worked on. Microwave: We had a grea...

Encouraging words are so powerful! It is a good habit to make a point to tell those around you something good about them. Of course there is a difference in flattery (which is fake) and a compliment (which is genuine). Everyone loves to hear something good about themselves. As powerful and encouraging compliments are, there are times when the Lord speaks to your heart and puts something there for you to share with someone. Recently I have been on the giving and receiving end of this. I use this example to share how the Lord works, I take no credit on my own, but was thrilled to share in the Lord's work. A wonderful lady at church has recently had several difficult circumstances come about in her life. Although she continued to carry herself with grace and dignity, I knew she was stressed and burdened with these issues. The Lord put it in my heart to write her a short note, just sharing what she meant to me. This was not difficult at all as she has been a godly influence th...

If there is one thing most women have in common, it is the desire to look and be beautiful. No matter what we have to start with, there is some way to improve on it. Just look at the commercials. If you need help, they have it. There are pills, creams, ointments, lotions to help you lose weight, tone up, hide wrinkles, gain renewed skin, hide your flaws, you name it...it is available. Probably only a handful of these really work. Lots of times, the natural approach works best. I'll share a few of my favorite beauty tips: Weight control - The absolute best solution is less eating and more exercise. ANYTHING is better than nothing. Look for ways to eat more fruit and vegetables. Add a serving of one or another to every meal. I heard a great illustration of exercise the other day. Since our bodies are made up mostly of water, picture a body that does not exercise as a pond with no water flowing. Eventually it turns green and yucky. Then picture a fountain which flows. With exercise yo...

Instead of drilling the point of how important it is to spend consistent, faithful, daily time in prayer and Bible reading, I want to share some practical ideas on how this can be done. It is so important because what we are on the outside has a direct link to what we are on the inside. Daily devotions should be done every day. Whether it is for 1 minute or 1 hour, that consistency is what is important. Some ideas to do are to begin with prayer, thank God for His blessings, ask Him to make you the woman He created you to be, pray for your husband and family. Read the Bible...I love to read either a Psalm or Proverb - 1 chapter each day. That is a great beginning. Pick (or pray about) somewhere else in the Bible to read. Here are a few pictures of what my quiet time looks like: This is my "spot". I come here every morning with my cup of coffee and sit in the rocking chair to begin my day. I like everything that I may need, close by. This is the table where everything ...

In the last post I shared a sample of priorities. These help me focus on what is truly important and things that need to follow what is truly important. Here again is the list that helps me. God: Without Him, I am nothing, with Him - "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Husband: He is my highest human priority. During mothering years,it is a challenge putting him first. But, I was a wife before I was a mother and when the children are on their own, I will again be a wife. So, he is way up there on the list!! Children: Children are a blessing from the Lord. He has given them to me and it is my duty to raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This is a high calling and their needs should be above other things that may need attention. Home: A home does not "just happen". It takes work, structure, order, love etc. And of course lots of time!! Church: After my family, my church family hold some of my dearest relationships. A chur...

I love New Year's Day!! I'm all about fresh starts, new chances, change etc!!! In the past and today will be no different, this day is spent taking down the Christmas tree, transferring birthdays and important dates to the new calendar and time spent reflecting on things I would like to change this year. To start the New Year off on an encouraging note, I wanted to write about the faithfulness of God. As women, we are designed to be caretakers, nurturers, helpers. As a woman of God, we are called to care for our families and keep our homes, creating a haven of rest for our families. This is no easy task. It requires dedication, selflessness, humility and organization. But the biggest thing it requires is an attitude in the heart - a love for our family and home which begins inside of us and projects in actions from us into the lives of others. Let me also be real here and say that this attitude of love, care, compassion does not come easy!!! It is a struggle against o...