Parental Discouragement

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NKJV)

 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,...

~Prayer~

Ask the Lord, to help you and your mate to allow yourselves the freedom to fail  as parents, and to teach you how to handle those times when you feel like fail....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

Discouragement and raising a family. How does it impact you? How can you come alongside your spouse? 

Trust In A Sovereign God

Romans 9:20-21 (NKJV)

 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”  Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

~Prayer~

That God will give you the ability to trust Him in any situation..,,,,,~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

For what situations are you asking God, "Why?" Has He given yo a reply?

HELLFIRE AND BRIMSTONE PT. 2

Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) 

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;

Pride and arrogance and the evil way

And the perverse mouth I hate.

~Prayer~

Thank You God that He has rescued you from spending on eternity in hell. Ask Him to give you boldness in the proclaiming that good new to others....~Amen~ 


~Something To Ponder~

Together as a couple, take about your burden (or lack of burden) for reaching your family and neighborhood for Christ. What is one action point you can make?

HELLFIRE & BRIMSTONE PT. 1

Psalm 119:137 (NKJV)

Righteous are You, O Lord,

And upright are Your judgments.

~Prayer~

That God will give you a holy fear of Him....~Amen~

Fear- 

reverence of who Jesus is in your life.

~Something To Ponder~

 

Think back to your life before you become a Christian. What was it like? What sins did Jesus die for?

The Affair With Careerism

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

~Prayer~

That God will help you remain true to the priority of your spouse and  family, and that yo will experience satisfaction there and not seek it elsewhere....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

Based upon your calendar, what are you giving your life to? What are you stated values? your real values? What does God want you to do about any contradictions?

Christ In Every Room

Luke 10:27 (NKJV)

Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind....

~Prayer~

For the kind of openness, vulnerability and commitment is takes to truly invite Jesus to be Lord over every aspect of your daily life.

~Something To Ponder~

Have you every given Jesus Christ access to every room in your heart? Does He still have the unhindered access today?  Is there one of the three rooms that is off limits to Him? Focus on one of the "rooms" below and suggest practical ways Christ can be invited in, and clean it up

Rooms:

* Allow Christ to rule the room where your keep your Ego.

* Open to Christ the room of Expectations.

* Let Christ in the room of Relationships with your Family.

Being Different Together

Ruth 1:16 (NKJV)

Entreat me not to leave you,

Or to turn back from following after you;

For wherever you go, I will go;

And wherever you lodge, I will lodge...

~Prayer~

Individually for your spouse and each member of your family, asking God that they will accept the others and be accepted in their differences....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

What are the major differences  between you and your mate? Among other members of the family? Are then usually worked out happily? 

Marriage Is A Three-Legged Race

Amos 3:3 (NKJV)

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

~Prayer~

That God will show you, as a couple, the race He wants you to run, the direction He wants you to face and the pace for the race.

~Something To Ponder~

Do you sometime fell you and your mate are not always moving in the same direction? In what way? Be specific and share with your mate.

Tend To Your Riches

Proverbs 27:23-24  (NKJV)

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,

And attend to your herds;  For riches are not forever...

~Prayer~

That God will give you a heart to appreciate the material means He has given you, and the discipline to manage your resources responsibly....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

Are budgeting and spending issues a common source of disharmony in your family? Think about materialism-to what degree does it have a grip on you and your family?

A Fellow Heir

1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)

 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

~Prayer~

That God would give you the courage as a man to give your wife even greater access to your life, and that He would use you as a team to be more effective than you would be individually.

~Something To Ponder~

Discuss this concept of partnership. Does you wife feel she is a part of your life? What adjustments can you make to make her your partner?

"Me First!!" --Crowding In

Romans 12:9-10 (NKJV)

 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another...

~Prayer~

For God to give all members of your family the desire to serve one another and that they would feel no compulsion to compete to be "first in line."

~Something To Ponder~

How can you show preference to your spouse? Think of 10 ways and do one of them!

The Thump Test

What's In Your Heart?

Luke 6:45 (NKJV)

 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

~Prayer~

Is your mate or a children in a "thump slump" right now? Go and pray with him or her that God's grace and love will be real in there lives. Then hug him or her, tell them how much you love them and how special they are to you  then go get an ice-cream cone or there favorite thing to do and spend some we-time!!

~Something To Ponder~

What kind of "thump" tend to discourage you

most? What are the "thump slump" times in your spouse life? Ask your spouse how you can be sensitive during such times....Amen~

The Law of Giving

Luke 6:38 (NKJV)

 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

~Prayer~

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me make daily choices to put aside my own selfish desires and have a giving heart.....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

How can you begin applying the "Law of Giving" in your marriage this week? Write down two or three ways.

How Many Hats Do You Wear?

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV)

 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

~Prayer~

That God will make you equal to the variety of tasks you shoulder and give you discernment regarding priorities, your mate and family....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

In addition to your responsibility to God, what other "hats" do you wear? Help one another by regularly tossing "hats" that are keep you from being the best at your essential responsibilities.

Reality Checks For Confrontations

Matthew 7:3 (NKJV)

 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

~Prayer~

Dear Heavenly Father, give me the courage to confront and the love and self-awareness to keep such episodes as positive contributors to intimacy in your home.... ~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

Think back to a confrontation that didn't go especially well. Can you determine whether more attention to your motives, your attitude or the circumstances?  Please remember to be ready to take it as well as to dish it out.... What would you do to make the confrontation better?

An Agonizing Decision

James 1:5 (NKJV)

 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

~Prayer~

Ask God for His favor as you seek to raise children that will be "living messages of hope" to the next generation....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

What is your vision for the type of people your children will become? Why not consider listing the qualities you want to see in your children and pray over the list....~Amen~

Yielding To God

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

~Prayer~

Pray with your mate that God would guard your hearts with

 His peace as you yield your lives to Him...~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

How are your fears affecting you? How are they driving you away from God?

 How could you apply the truth from Philippians 4:6-7 in your life right now?

Complacency vs. Commitment

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV)

 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

~Prayer~

Form a "til death do us part" bond with your mate. And keep praying with me that God will purge our land of divorce.....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

Do you know any couples who are struggling in their marriage? What can you do to encourage them?

Sowing Words of Praise

Proverbs 15:4 (NKJV)

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, 

But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

~Prayer~

That God would give you creative ideas on how to praise your mate. And if you haven't ever done it, take a few minutes in prayer and praise God for who He is and what He has done in your life.....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

 When was the last time you made an effort to praise your mate? Praise your mate three times before you go to sleep tonight...~Amen~

Woman 2 Woman's Blog 

Monday - Saturday 

To Spank or Not To Spank?

To Spank or Not To Spank?

Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV)

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

~Prayer~

Ask God to give you the courage to follow the Scriptures in your family. Ask Him to help you achieve that blend of authority and love that tells your children that you really care about them...~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

Are you and your spouse in agreement when it comes to disciplining your child? What are your boundaries and the penalties for crossing them?

Guilty As Charged

Nehemiah 8:10 b (NKJV)

 

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

~Prayer~

Ask God to help you make memories of laughter with your family...~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

When was the last time you had some fun with your mate, or your family? Plan a creative time of fun for tonight.

Living Fearlessly

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) 

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear...

~Prayer~

 

That just as you want your faith and trust in God to grow, you can grow as a couple to trust each other completely and feel safe with each other.....~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

 How are you different from your mate? How can these difference be handled in a way that makes your relationship a totally safe "environment" for each other?

 

Is There A Minister In The House?

Titus 1:6 (NKJV)

  If a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

~Prayer~

Pray that you will be able to embody the essentials of being a minster, especially "being there," in your family life.

~Something To Ponder"

As the Head of the Household (The Covering), do you find it difficult to discuss spiritual matters with your family? In what other ways can you "minister" to your family? How you found a good time, such as bedtime for having an heart-to-heart conversation?

The Greatest Gift

Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled.......

~Prayer~

Ask god to preserve your legacy by protecting your marriage. Ask Him for His favor on your marriage.

~Something To Ponder~

How much time do you spend time with your mate on a daily and weekly basis?  When was the last time you did something to cultivate your relationship?

He Was A Good Man

Acts 11:23-24 (NKJV)

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.  For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

~Prayer~

That God will give you the strength and wisdom to be a godly parents...Amen

~Something To Ponder~

In what specific ways do you hope to influence your children? How does your life match up to the ideals and values of Scriptures?

In Everything Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

~Prayer~

That Go will put a smile on your lips and joy in your heart despite circumstances that may rest your faith...~Amen~

~Something To Ponder~

What events in your own family have tested your faith? Did these events eventually spur certain areas of growth or others blessings for what you can now give thanks?