How we can honor our husbands

First of all I have essentially have become the annoyance of the neighbor who leaves their Christmas tree lights on still a few weeks after Christmas... ha ~ yes I am aware that I have neglected to change my poor header for my blog... it's just so darn cute, but even I need the change... hopefully I can get to that this coming week some time ;o).

Today I want to talk about husbands... I am doing my best to devote a waking moment to God every morning not just in prayer but in scripture as well... and this week one was 1 Peter 3

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,

(NIV)

So today I wrote down 10 things I love about my husband . . . (you can follow join in too in your blog, fb notes, or comments wherever!)

1. I love how hard he works to provide for our family.

2. I love his eye's

3. I love how he love's to learn new things

4. I love how funny he is.

5. I love how he strives to become closer to the Lord.

6. I love the relationship he has with our children.

7. I love how his relationship with Jesus, has encouraged him to have better relationships with others.

8. I love that he prays for & with me.

9. I love how he makes new friendships with Godly men.

10. I love the fact that he has hung in there with me for almost 20 years now & our marriage is now more loving & stronger than ever!

Then I focused on something personal that could use some work ~> My patience to just sit & listen, not everything needs my input.

Sometimes we focus on how we can change our husbands, so that we have a "Happy Marriage" When it should be about how can I become the wife my husband needs me to be as well as how can I become the wife GOD wants me to be.

In my daily walk I need to remember Proverbs 31:12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Ladies most of want to be treat like Queens... in order to be treated that way we have to make our husbands feel like Kings-

So... I try to remind myself

Have I blessed my husband with goodness today? Or have I treated him poorly?

Am I an encouragement to him? Our men go out into the world daily and get bombarded with negativity, people who are not Christian, foul language, temptation, just things we are completely unaware of...

When he comes home is he faced with more of the same? Do I rebuke his efforts to provide a good life for our family by being disgruntled in the evening and having a woe is me attitude?

Paying attention to what I say, if I have a complaint about my day take it to the Lord in prayer... and not unload them on my husband... no one wants to come home to a list of unfortunate events... what impression are we giving our spouse if all we do is cry, pout, or complain about...

unruly children

this messy house

that you are lonely all day

the lack of material possessions you want

or commenting on how he should be making more money

harping on the honey do list...

Remember how you believed in him when you first got married? You believed he was great! He still is! Just we forget to romance and praise each other once comfort sets in... so we become sounding boards and nothing ever valued unless it suits our purpose or need... Our men when praised, honor, and respected as God commands us to do, often leaves our husbands wanting to honor us as his Queen...

This devotional was awesome and eye opening, making me MORE aware of my attitude and response, not laying my burdens on my husband daily also lends me more time to spend with Jesus!

http://proverbs31sisters.avirtuouswoman.org/group/fromchaostocalm2010 is where is am doing my current daily devotionals... I never leave without words of encouragement and being reminded on how I can make my home a happier, peaceful home for everyone.

Womens Support Group

Womens support group @ church was introduced to me a little over a year ago. I was a "baby" Christian @ the time eh who am I kidding - I still am ~ but I'm more in my toddler stage... Anyhow I never envisioned myself in any type of "support" group. My life was upside down, I was sad, I felt lost, hopeless - I was broken and I needed help redefining myself.

How I got to that state is a long story, but never the less I got there, we all have the potential for hitting rock bottom one way or another - was it pride that made me think I would never be in a support group? It's like to say I am in a women's support group, says I have female issues within myself or the outside world in general - you know I just got to a point where I didn't care what that meant I needed something and I grasped on to anything at that time.

Let me tell you what my women's group isn't about - judging, insulting, hurting, hateful, negative - pretty much anything negative... does not exist.

What it is....It's God driven and facilitated by a wonderful woman who genuinely cares about each of us, Loving, Supportive, Encouraging, Embracing, Accepting, Acknowledging, Caring, Prayerful, Comforting - I attended my first time, choking on tears, I didn't speak probably the first several visits - I knew if I did I would be a mess, and honestly I had little faith and trust ~ However for some reason I came back every Tuesday, I needed to be there ~ hearing other women talk, was comforting, women who have lost their spouse, a child, a parent or other loved one, women who were in abusive relationships whether it was substance, physical, emotional, women who were going through or have been divorced, affairs, stress, depression - we came in all walks but faced similar challenges - I was not alone in my experiences. I never was alone, but I didn't understand this until I accepted Christ and became to immerse myself in God's Love and Word. Through strength in Christ and the shared stories and discussion I felt like I was no longer suffocating in my everyday life, I felt the wanting to live again. I felt myself opening up and sharing... through this journey I have learned how to forgive, really forgive - to let go, for me to to hold a wrong doing by someone is prideful, it not only hurts me, but hurts everyone I come into contact with, it keeps me from building REAL relationships with everyone including my own family. So I learned to let go and let God and live. Man that feels so good to not only say it but feel it. We are to forgive as it is obedient to the Lord - it is a choice and a decision that we make, when we take it to heart and give this forgiving thing a vigilant shot, we learn that this command is in our best interest as our reward in forgiveness is Freedom.

Staying angry @ others honestly just impairs our own ability to love and trust. In the end we hurt ourselves.

I am so thankful for the women's group @ FBCM - we learn together, cry together, laugh together, pray together ~ if you are a local friend and want to come along with me, please let me know! If you are a long distance friend I would love to help you with prayer, support group locations, and with some of the things I have learned. Feel free to comment!

Bless!