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Thankful Thursday ~ Marriage

“…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…
~ Ephesians 5:20-24 (ESV – emphasis mine)

The above passages I really had to pick apart to understand the way they should be (the submission part especially). Oh, it was so worth it, girls.

My beloved and I are celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary today (May 20th). I think that during the first 22 years of our marriage I was still dreaming that I could change my husband somehow. Ha – only in my dreams. I wanted Mark to be more romantic; you know little gifts here and there (like flowers, dinner…). Hm, but that was not him.

5 years ago I read Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’ book “Love & Respect” – oh how that changed my perspective. If you believe it or not, but my hubby is romantic – in his own way. See the photo? That is him fixing our Evap cooler this month. He ran around town to find a pump to make it work. It works so good  I have to wear a heavy bathrobe at night 😀 . He made sure that we didn’t have to give up our savings for a new cooler. How romantic is that?

You see, it might take some time to get used to each other, but girls, it is so worth it. Don’t get me wrong – our marriage is not all smiles and happy-happy, but I am so in love with my man. Sure, we still have differences, but it is not worth to get all worked up about it and walk out (almost been there couple times).

I am thankful for Mark; his love, his devotion, his hugs. I couldn’t image life without him (and I don’t want to either). Happy anniversary, sweetheart!!!! I would take the plunge in all over again with you!

What are you thankful for this week? Please visit my friend Laurie at “Women Taking A Stand” to link up with other TT bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by today. Remember: marriage is not easier, but it is well worth staying together for a life-time.

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Thankful Thursday ~ Love

‘No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ ~ Romans 8:37-39 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)

What a powerful statement by Paul, don’t you agree? Absolutely nothing – nada, zip, sulch…nothing can separate us from His love. I find this very comforting.

I used to use the word ‘love’ very loosely in the past; I love the dress, I love the music…you know what I mean. These days I really try to be more selective using the word ‘love’ — more for people, relationships (oh, I hope I make sense).

I truly believe that there is just ONE perfect love. The love Paul describes in the letter to the Romans – the love of Christ. Oh, I know that I am loved by my husband, by friends. BUT He is the only One that loves me with a pure and perfect affection. His love is tender. He loved me before I loved Him. I wish that I could love like Christ.

So this week I am very, very thankful for this love that I was given by Him – His love that ended on the cross for Him, but meant freedom for me.

What are you thankful for this week? Please link up below with your Thankful Thursday post. I hope you will be able to visit with a couple of other participants this upcoming week.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: There is One who loves you without any conditions – it is a perfect love. Happy Valentine’s Day…

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Pia
2. Lynn (Spiritually Unequal Marriage)
3. gemini
4. Tammy
5. monkeymommy08
6. Debbie @The Way We Are
7. Rocks @ Made To Worship
8. bp
9. Chris
10. Melanie
11. Rita @Following 31
12. Karen @ Living Life
13. Holly @brokenforgod
14. Joan @ Reflections
15. It Feels Like Chaos
16. LeAnn @ See Great Things
17. Adventure Mom Janna- Truly Grateful
18. debi @ Who Says 8 is Enough?
19. Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand		 20. jo.attalife
21. Collette@Jesus loves mums
22. Debbie @ Heart Choices
23. Ann
24. Julie
25. Paula
26. SusanD
27. Training Happy Hearts (with 5 books for pro-life preschoolers)
28. Heather @ Young, Sweet Life
29. Denise
30. Erica
31. Susan@Daily Coping Skills
32. Kimberly
33. Nancy @ Homemade Blessings
34. Heather @ A Day In My Life
35. annies home –
36. Carol Gomer
37. Jen S.
38. Linda @ Seasons of Life		 39. Irene
40. Katrina @ Proverbs 31 Mom & Wife
41. K @ In The Lord’s Path
42. The Snoring Queen
43. Lisa
44. Janet
45. Yoli ~ Apron Senorita
46. Saleslady371
47. Looking Up
48. Susan @ one day at a time
49. By Grace Alone
50. Jean Stockdale
51. Wendy @ Faith’s Firm Foundation
52. Marsha
53. Marsha ~ Corrected link
54. Crystal @ A Perplexing Journey
55. Sandy @ The Tablet of My Heart
56. JennyV
57. Arlene – Accepting Change

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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Pursuing Love ~ Love is Patient

Pursuing Love

Click on the link above to take you directly to the hostess of the series, Marsha at Marsha’s Musings.

“Love is patient…” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)

PATIENCE: An active endurance of opposition, not a passive resignation… Patience is endurance, steadfastness, long-suffering, and forbearance. ~ Holman Dictionary (emphasis mine)

My husband and I are absolute opposites when it comes to sleep. I am totally a morning person – always have been. My dad used to wake us up with a cheery call “rise and shine”. I guess it is just ingrained in me – I still “rise and shine” (except my bones take a little longer to get in gear these days 😉 )…My husband is the total opposite. He comes to life when the sun sets…and likes to stay up late — really late.

There was a time in our marriage when we went to bed at different times. Believe me when I tell you – that was not good. Some nights my husband didn’t get to bed until 2am. There were nights when I waited and waited (not very patiently)…Looking back, it still pains me (just a little).

What do you do in a marriage when you are not on the same page? It took me a very long time to get where I am today.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
~ Psalm 40:1 (ESV)

Through praying and staying in His word, God heard my cry; not changing my husband — but working on my heart first. You see love, patience, respect all go hand-in-hand. I have learned that I can not change my husband (and should not). But I can ask God to make things clear to me, to change me, to help me see others like God sees them.

Working through the process in my marriage, helped me to also become more patient with others outside my marriage/family. I do still have impatient days, but they become less and less. Being patient brings peace and things seem to work smoother.

As for bed-time? We have compromised…we go to bed between my husbands and my time. I still rise early (I need a little quiet time in the morning before my day starts), but I wouldn’t want to give up the cuddle time before falling asleep for anything in the world…I just sleep less 😉 …

Thank you for stopping by today. Make sure to stop at Marsha’s blog “Marsha’s Musing” to link up and read other posts about “Love is Patient”. Remember: ask God to change your heart first before you ask God to change someone else.

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Living Fearlessly in 2010 – The ‘What Ifs…’

“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” ~ Matthew 8:23-26 (ESV)

‘Imagine your life wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, and doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, absent the dread of failure, rejection, and calamity. Can you imagine a life with no fear?’ ~ Max Lucado

Can I imagine a life without fear? Can you? Oh how I pray that my head would follow my heart at all times. Let me share something with you that I never shared publicly on my blog…

You do know that my marriage was rocky about 5 years ago. It was so rocky that I wanted to get out – out of the boat because I didn’t wanted to get soaked. I was ready to walk out — twice. You see, I always battled insecurity (some days I still do – just not to that extend).

I guess when women reach a certain age, they believe some lies that the enemy likes to put into our head…

Our son was close to the end of his studies at that time. What if my husband and I grew too much apart? What if my beloved would no longer desire me as his wife? What if my husband finds a younger, more beautiful woman…

Oh, all the what ifs that came to mind and made me fearful of the future. I was so fearful my husband would leave that I truly entertained the idea of moving back to Germany — after 22 years of marriage. The storm was the worst in our marriage. After tearful months and inner turmoil, I could only hold on to the One who could calm the storms — Jesus. I had faith that He could see us through this really, really rough spot. And He did!

Are you battling any “what ifs…” right now? Would you be open to share them with us on your blog or here in the comments? You see, the enemy likes to use those “what ifs…” to make us fearful of the future. Yes, these “what ifs…” make us do things that are not very rational — we panic (I did — almost ending my marriage). Remember: cast your ‘what ifs…” on Him — He is with you in every storm and has the power to calm it.