I've had arthitis on and off since I was about 17. A few years ago I discovered that if I drink large amounts of lemon juice when I am having an episode of arthritis, the pain will usually be gone by the next day. For the past month or so, when I've been busy doing something, my oldest son Austin sneaks in the kitchen and makes lemon juice water for me. If I walk in the kitchen when he is making it, he gets so dissapointed because he loves giving it to me as a surprise. It's one of those things that is so precious to me.
If I had a personal chef, I would have them lightly grill me asparagus every night and bring me lemon water all day. I feel so blessed and spoiled every time he brings me the drink. Sometimes he'll juice limes or oranges and bring me the juice in cold water. So I just want to let the world know what a sweet son I have!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
A Gold Nugget on Marriage
A person panning for gold often works for hours or days or months to find that one valuable gold nugget. Life can be like that. I try to learn all I can, and sometimes I get blessed with a gold nugget—something I learn or remember that significantly helps my life. I want to add the gold nuggets I learn to this blog.
Today I want to start with a marriage gold nugget. This came courtesy of my husband’s instruction. He said to me, “Why don’t you ever make me a favorite meal to show me how much you appreciate my hard work?” Which is funny, because I only cook the foods he likes. And I try to regularly tell him thanks for working and to encourage him. But a lightbulb went on in my head: I can tie those things together for a double whammy. I can actually give more meaning to what I am already doing just by attaching a greater verbal reason to it. When I clean the house a little better than usual, I can say, “I cleaned the house extra good for you because you’ve been working so hard to provide for us.” Or, if I add candy to his lunch, I can say, “I added peanut butter cups to your lunch today as a treat for you because you are such a great father and you spend time with the kids everyday. So this is a reward.” Now, I was already putting the peanut butter cups in anyway, but this makes it more special for him. And I am doing it as a way to show love and appreciation, I just need to remember to tell him that.
Today I want to start with a marriage gold nugget. This came courtesy of my husband’s instruction. He said to me, “Why don’t you ever make me a favorite meal to show me how much you appreciate my hard work?” Which is funny, because I only cook the foods he likes. And I try to regularly tell him thanks for working and to encourage him. But a lightbulb went on in my head: I can tie those things together for a double whammy. I can actually give more meaning to what I am already doing just by attaching a greater verbal reason to it. When I clean the house a little better than usual, I can say, “I cleaned the house extra good for you because you’ve been working so hard to provide for us.” Or, if I add candy to his lunch, I can say, “I added peanut butter cups to your lunch today as a treat for you because you are such a great father and you spend time with the kids everyday. So this is a reward.” Now, I was already putting the peanut butter cups in anyway, but this makes it more special for him. And I am doing it as a way to show love and appreciation, I just need to remember to tell him that.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Time to War
"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--...A time for war..."Eccles. 3:1,8b
The last 3 months could definitely be in the running for the hardest 3 months of my life. When things are easy, I have a tendency to forget I am in a war. But when things become hard, those trials become the alarm clock that wake me up to reality. And the reality is, God has called me to battle.
I am called to be a soldier. A soldier is always ready for battle. I need to be armed and ready to fight for my family and all the saints in prayer; to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ; and to always remember I am not wrestling against flesh and blood but spiritual hosts of wickedness.
Because unforseen circumstances with our economy have hit us hard, I can easily find myself on the verge of really feeling sorry for myself. It's a horrid sin, and the absolute OPPOSITE of God's will for my life. God's will is that I would be thankful for our financial trials. Really, truly, genuinely thankful because I know and am CONVINCED that God is good and that these trials are producing in me a far greater and eternal weight of glory.
I also need to remember that God is using these difficult times to produce patience in me. As a woman, patience is a great virtue. I casually define patience as "being able to wait WITHOUT SINNING." This means that when things are really hard, my heart is just as content and joyful as if things were easy, because I am fully trusting in God and my eyes are fixed on eternity. I can rejoice because God is providing me with a great opportunit to increase my patience, to practice giving thanks in all circumstances, and to remember I am in a war as a soldier and my duty is to endure hardship faithfully.
"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:3
"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." 2 Corinthians 4:17
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3
The last 3 months could definitely be in the running for the hardest 3 months of my life. When things are easy, I have a tendency to forget I am in a war. But when things become hard, those trials become the alarm clock that wake me up to reality. And the reality is, God has called me to battle.
I am called to be a soldier. A soldier is always ready for battle. I need to be armed and ready to fight for my family and all the saints in prayer; to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ; and to always remember I am not wrestling against flesh and blood but spiritual hosts of wickedness.
Because unforseen circumstances with our economy have hit us hard, I can easily find myself on the verge of really feeling sorry for myself. It's a horrid sin, and the absolute OPPOSITE of God's will for my life. God's will is that I would be thankful for our financial trials. Really, truly, genuinely thankful because I know and am CONVINCED that God is good and that these trials are producing in me a far greater and eternal weight of glory.
I also need to remember that God is using these difficult times to produce patience in me. As a woman, patience is a great virtue. I casually define patience as "being able to wait WITHOUT SINNING." This means that when things are really hard, my heart is just as content and joyful as if things were easy, because I am fully trusting in God and my eyes are fixed on eternity. I can rejoice because God is providing me with a great opportunit to increase my patience, to practice giving thanks in all circumstances, and to remember I am in a war as a soldier and my duty is to endure hardship faithfully.
"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:3
"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." 2 Corinthians 4:17
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3
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