I know it's silly to say only after 3 1/2 days in a foreign country that you already have a favorite day, but this one will be hard to beat. If you know me, you know I am a "California girl", complete with an undeniable love affair with the beach. Well, we had the most wonderful afternoon at the Mediterranean seaside. Let me fill you in with all the details.
We woke up late, as Joe's mom informed us is the usual Spanish way, had a cafe con leche, a pastry and caught the Metro for a quick jaunt to the beach. It was sunny and in the low 60's, perfecto!! Dalton and Fielding immediately busied themselves with sand, rocks and water, filling each and every crevice of their bodies with sand, the finest and softest I had ever felt before. The sea was a deep blue and the waves were perfectly mellow, just the right setting for a peaceful prayer walk and some shell scouting.
Two of my other loves are pottery and antiques, so the next thing that happened truly delighted my soul. As I started to search for an unforgettable stone to bring home or some beach glass, instead I started to find ancient pottery shards. Oh my goodness, I was in heaven. I must have picked up a couple of pounds of the stuff, but it is beautiful and old and will always remind me of this perfect day.
After frolicking for a couple of hours, we took a nice walk along the sea and then stopped at a tapas restarant and had ensalada Valenciana, gambas fritas, papas fritas, hamburgesa, queso manchego and of course, cerveza. It was right on the beach too. AHHH my beach fix for now.
Yesterday was really special too, as Kathy's headmaster Sara had us over for a very special lunch complete with champagne, wine, and many special Spanish foods. She really spoiled us.
It's been heavenly so far...and if you're interested there is more to come. We love the culture of walking everywhere, taking it easy, enjoying eachother and savoring amazing foods. I feel like I am on a second honeymoon, Valencia is muy romantico!!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Spain 2011 Part 1
December 17
I am sitting on the bed in Kathy's (Joe's mom) apartment in Valencia, Spain. I am listening to the washing machine upstairs and the sounds of dinner cooking. The kids are peacefully napping. We will be up much later than normal, as that is the way in Espana, no? Today was our first full day. We woke up late, got ready and went out for hamon y queso bocadillas, cafe y orange juice, freshly squeezed from the Valecia oranges here. Wow, nothing better. We went to an amazing marketplace inside an ancient building complete with beautiful cielings and views. It was bustling and everywhere I looked there were amazing treats for my mouth and eyes. Cerano ham, fresh fruits, cheeses, nuts, fish...we will eat the fruits of our labor tonight..fresh salmon. It was fun to see everyone so relaxed, sitting and sipping cerveza or cafe and enjoying the beautiful sunny day. It must have been in the 60's, a truly perfect day.
I have been praying a lot for God's help and protection. Yesterday, our long travel day, was truly a lesson in relying on God. Before weo left on the 15th I got down on my knees and begged God to not only keep us and the plane safe but to bless every aspect of the trip, every layover, each connecting flight, everything. I know He was with us. The kids were amazing all day, even after 21 hours of travel. There was a play area in the Madrid airport that was a lifesaver. It had a huge sink and changing area, just in time to solve Dalton's "poopmergency". The lady who worked there just loved the kids and called them "dulces" or sweet. There was the sweetest lady named Cristina from Costa Rica on our last flight from Madrid to Valencia. We were bone tired and she was fascinated with the kids, which really helped this sleepy mama. After an over-priced taxi ride to Kathy's house, we took a minute to get settled and then went to dinner at Cuervas, a tapas restuarant down below. We had stuffed eggplant, fried brie with currant jelly, chicken croquets, shrimp skewers, baguettes and beer. It was heavenly. Our tuckered little ones fell right asleep. Fielding woke up a few times to talk and have more milk, but he awoke happy and ready for the day today.
Thanks so much, Lord, for blessing our trip already. It's been amazing so far...more to come!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Happy Green Year!
"We do not inhertit the planet from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~Anonymous
I was recently inspired by someone in Hollywood. Her name is Alicia Silverstone and she starred in "Clueless" in the 90's. She, although not limited in monetary resources, decided to make some changes to be more responsible to the environment. She now buys everything she can second hand as well as eats organic foods, among other things. I love it! She does it out of love for the Earth and to give her children a gift: a healthier environment.
So, I decided to list a few of the things our family has been doing to be more environmentally responsible, just in time for the New Year.
1. We meet our household's needs mostly second-hand.
- Thrift stores are amazing for clothing, decorative items and even gifts.
- Craig's List has blown us away as far as what you can get for your money. Ridiculous prices for gently used furniture and appliances. Heck, I even got my maternity clothes from there!
2. We buy a share from a local farm.
- Flavorful, organic and seasonal veggies for a fraction of what you would pay at the store.
- Supports local farms.
- Teaches our children the value of foods and how to eat in a healthy way.
- Keeps me on my toes in the kitchen and helps me learn how to cook all kinds of veggies.
3. We grow our own foods.
- It's been so fun for our family to grow, tend and eat from a garden.
- Great, timeless lessons for our sons and super, healthy food. You can taste the sunshine!
4. Barter or trade with neighbors and friends.
- We paid nothing for our "latest" (not new) vehicle because a friend needed ours and we
needed his. We just traded!
5. Obvious, ok, but RECYCLE!!
- So much more can be recycled than we know.
6. Buy organic.
- We consume so many toxins and pesticides than aren't found in or on organic foods.
7. Which leads me to my next one: cut down on the box, bag or can.
- I find it almost impossible to do away with certain prepackaged goods, but KNOWING what
goes into our meals at home gives me great peace of mind.
- Less packaging to end up in the landfill.
- Less chemicals to end up in our bodies and brains.
- Whole food cooking and eating is just good for our general health, helping us to fight off
diseases and turn back the clock.
8. Wear layers at home.
- We really don't need to overheat our homes if we layer even inside.
- Saves on energy and cuts down on those beloved bills.
9. Use what you have.
- Often I find what I need right at home if I look hard enough.
- Become need driven instead of want driven.
10. Donate what you aren't using.
- Your local Goodwill or ARC will thank you for helping their cause with your wonderful, gently
used items that no longer fit, are needed or go with your decor.
It really feels good to live this way. I know it's not for everyone, but it's amazing how much money we have saved and how good we feel about these changes. Next stop: COMPOSTING!! I'm just not there yet...
Happy Green Year!
What have you done to GO GREEN? I would love to know...
I was recently inspired by someone in Hollywood. Her name is Alicia Silverstone and she starred in "Clueless" in the 90's. She, although not limited in monetary resources, decided to make some changes to be more responsible to the environment. She now buys everything she can second hand as well as eats organic foods, among other things. I love it! She does it out of love for the Earth and to give her children a gift: a healthier environment.
So, I decided to list a few of the things our family has been doing to be more environmentally responsible, just in time for the New Year.
1. We meet our household's needs mostly second-hand.
- Thrift stores are amazing for clothing, decorative items and even gifts.
- Craig's List has blown us away as far as what you can get for your money. Ridiculous prices for gently used furniture and appliances. Heck, I even got my maternity clothes from there!
2. We buy a share from a local farm.
- Flavorful, organic and seasonal veggies for a fraction of what you would pay at the store.
- Supports local farms.
- Teaches our children the value of foods and how to eat in a healthy way.
- Keeps me on my toes in the kitchen and helps me learn how to cook all kinds of veggies.
3. We grow our own foods.
- It's been so fun for our family to grow, tend and eat from a garden.
- Great, timeless lessons for our sons and super, healthy food. You can taste the sunshine!
4. Barter or trade with neighbors and friends.
- We paid nothing for our "latest" (not new) vehicle because a friend needed ours and we
needed his. We just traded!
5. Obvious, ok, but RECYCLE!!
- So much more can be recycled than we know.
6. Buy organic.
- We consume so many toxins and pesticides than aren't found in or on organic foods.
7. Which leads me to my next one: cut down on the box, bag or can.
- I find it almost impossible to do away with certain prepackaged goods, but KNOWING what
goes into our meals at home gives me great peace of mind.
- Less packaging to end up in the landfill.
- Less chemicals to end up in our bodies and brains.
- Whole food cooking and eating is just good for our general health, helping us to fight off
diseases and turn back the clock.
8. Wear layers at home.
- We really don't need to overheat our homes if we layer even inside.
- Saves on energy and cuts down on those beloved bills.
9. Use what you have.
- Often I find what I need right at home if I look hard enough.
- Become need driven instead of want driven.
10. Donate what you aren't using.
- Your local Goodwill or ARC will thank you for helping their cause with your wonderful, gently
used items that no longer fit, are needed or go with your decor.
It really feels good to live this way. I know it's not for everyone, but it's amazing how much money we have saved and how good we feel about these changes. Next stop: COMPOSTING!! I'm just not there yet...
Happy Green Year!
What have you done to GO GREEN? I would love to know...
Monday, September 12, 2011
The Magic of Consistency
Before I had the honor of wearing the title of "Mom" I had lots of experience. I was an elementary teacher, a preschool teacher, a nanny, a babysitter...you name it, I did it! But certain aspects of the role still catch me off guard to this day. Case in point: my older boy just became a 3-year-old. He went from sweet and innocent to having his own mind and testing boundaries in what seemed like a day.
Well, mommy didn't handle it too well at first. I became flabbergasted at his every disregard of authority. I let his defiance send me into a tither, and I felt like for a good month I was grumpy, frustrated and constantly fixed into a high-decibel state of relating to him, if you could call it relating.
God, in his goodness, witnessed all of this and came to my aid in the form of my mom. It all came to a head one day when, in exhaustion I had just successfully put all four kids I watch down for a nap. Or so I thought. Dalton (the subject of this blog) decided to play. He got out of bed at least 6 times before I just lost it. I won't describe the scene in detail, but it was enough for my mom to feel the need to come in and help me. I was at my wit's end, crying and shaking and completely upset. I was going down a dark road that could only lead to trouble. She took me aside and, without judgement, let me tell her how I was feeling. That kindness alone helped me immensely. Note to self: never judge another parent.
My mom helped me to see that every time I became emotionally involved in Dalton's behavior I was taking it personally. HE was winning the battle when I lost control. It only seemed to make matters worse. The more angry and frustrated I became, the less he obeyed me. She gave me the best advice ever: no more letting him get to me. Stay consistent and let the discipline do the talking.
Later that night Dalton decided to get out of bed 6 times!! Normally that would have sent me through the roof. But, armed with my new plan, I experienced success in the midst of his challenge. I simply warned him of his consequence if he did it next time and calmly put him to bed and said good night. It took another 5 times, but he hasn't done it since! And now that is my way in general. Warn, discipline, stay calm and consistent, encourage and reward good behavior. HE RESPONDS!!
These scriptures gave me confidence and helped me to see that God is expecting me to discipline my children. It is not a choice, but something I must do to train them, protect them and send them in the right direction. I must take that responsibility very seriously and not let fear, laziness or sentimentality get in the way.
Proverbs 13:24
Well, mommy didn't handle it too well at first. I became flabbergasted at his every disregard of authority. I let his defiance send me into a tither, and I felt like for a good month I was grumpy, frustrated and constantly fixed into a high-decibel state of relating to him, if you could call it relating.
God, in his goodness, witnessed all of this and came to my aid in the form of my mom. It all came to a head one day when, in exhaustion I had just successfully put all four kids I watch down for a nap. Or so I thought. Dalton (the subject of this blog) decided to play. He got out of bed at least 6 times before I just lost it. I won't describe the scene in detail, but it was enough for my mom to feel the need to come in and help me. I was at my wit's end, crying and shaking and completely upset. I was going down a dark road that could only lead to trouble. She took me aside and, without judgement, let me tell her how I was feeling. That kindness alone helped me immensely. Note to self: never judge another parent.
My mom helped me to see that every time I became emotionally involved in Dalton's behavior I was taking it personally. HE was winning the battle when I lost control. It only seemed to make matters worse. The more angry and frustrated I became, the less he obeyed me. She gave me the best advice ever: no more letting him get to me. Stay consistent and let the discipline do the talking.
Later that night Dalton decided to get out of bed 6 times!! Normally that would have sent me through the roof. But, armed with my new plan, I experienced success in the midst of his challenge. I simply warned him of his consequence if he did it next time and calmly put him to bed and said good night. It took another 5 times, but he hasn't done it since! And now that is my way in general. Warn, discipline, stay calm and consistent, encourage and reward good behavior. HE RESPONDS!!
These scriptures gave me confidence and helped me to see that God is expecting me to discipline my children. It is not a choice, but something I must do to train them, protect them and send them in the right direction. I must take that responsibility very seriously and not let fear, laziness or sentimentality get in the way.
Proverbs 13:24
24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
Proverbs 19:18
18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to their death.
Proverbs 22:15
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
Proverbs 23:13
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
Proverbs 29:17
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.
Hebrews 12:11
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
I am truly enjoying him so much more now, and I am experiencing a great amount of peace as well. I hope the same for you!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Faith, Hope and Love Part 2
This morning I decided to study about HOPE in the Bible. Wow, I came away so encouraged, so amazed and grateful that God's word still inspires me and teaches me new things even after 18 years. There was much too much to cover in this post, but the overwhelming insight I gained was that HOPE IS THE WELLSPRING OF MY FAITH AND LOVE.
When I first put my hope in Jesus as a college student, I was deciding to believe in him, follow him, stay faithful to him and love others as he would love. FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE were working together, but they originated with my hope that Jesus is Lord and that one day he will appear again and take me to be with him in glory. One day he will reward me if I do not lose my firm grip on my hope. I know that if I do, my faith and love with also be lost. FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE do not exist on their own, but are interdependent. Here are some of the scriptures that inspired me: (but I encourage you to study it out on your own, it's amazing!)
Ephesians 1:18-19a I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who BELIEVE.
Colossians 1:5 the FAITH and LOVE that spring from the HOPE stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel
1 Thessalonians 1:3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by FAITH, your labor prompted by LOVE, and your endurance inspired by HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on FAITH and LOVE as a breastplate, and the HOPE of salvation as a helmet.
Hebrews 11:1 Now FAITH is confidence in what we HOPE for and assurance about what we do not see.
Do you see it? I was just amazed that I had never put that together before! FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE! It's God's perfect equation for our spiritual walk with him. These are the treasures stored up for us in Heaven. These are our eternal possessions.
I will close again with the scripture that I used yesterday, because it means so much more to me now:
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE. But the greatest of these is love.
I hope this encourages you as much as it encourages me. No, I hope it encourages you more.
When I first put my hope in Jesus as a college student, I was deciding to believe in him, follow him, stay faithful to him and love others as he would love. FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE were working together, but they originated with my hope that Jesus is Lord and that one day he will appear again and take me to be with him in glory. One day he will reward me if I do not lose my firm grip on my hope. I know that if I do, my faith and love with also be lost. FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE do not exist on their own, but are interdependent. Here are some of the scriptures that inspired me: (but I encourage you to study it out on your own, it's amazing!)
Ephesians 1:18-19a I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who BELIEVE.
Colossians 1:5 the FAITH and LOVE that spring from the HOPE stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel
1 Thessalonians 1:3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by FAITH, your labor prompted by LOVE, and your endurance inspired by HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on FAITH and LOVE as a breastplate, and the HOPE of salvation as a helmet.
Hebrews 11:1 Now FAITH is confidence in what we HOPE for and assurance about what we do not see.
Do you see it? I was just amazed that I had never put that together before! FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE! It's God's perfect equation for our spiritual walk with him. These are the treasures stored up for us in Heaven. These are our eternal possessions.
I will close again with the scripture that I used yesterday, because it means so much more to me now:
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE. But the greatest of these is love.
I hope this encourages you as much as it encourages me. No, I hope it encourages you more.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Only These Three Remain
Any of us, if we have been here on the earth long enough, are accustomed to pain, tragedy, rejection, loss and grief. Trouble and hardship go hand in hand with being alive. Jesus even promised it - "In this world you will have trouble," he said, "but take heart, I have overcome the world!" (John 16:32-33)
I have been reading the book of John for the past couple of weeks and I finished it today with an obvious change of heart - I had an undeniable sense of hope. Paul said it too, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." HOPE, they are telling us. HOPE. HOPE.
Hope is an incredible power. Hope reminds you that your life is not aimless. Hope makes even small events make sense. It gives us vision when we feel so earthbound and small. It fills the empty spaces with dreams and a certain future of majesty, perfection, love and beauty. It truly gives us meaning in a life that can feel meaningless at times. Truly, who hasn't at some point in life asked themselves, "Why am I here?" Hope answers that question forever.
But then, as Paul says, "Hope that is seen is no hope at all." (Romans 8:24) It takes a great amount of faith to hold onto those dreams of what will be at the end of our lives as we remain faithful to Jesus with all of our hearts. Faith is the spark to the flame, the gas in our engine. Without faith we lose our hope and our dreams.
And finally, there is love. Thankfully for me the Bible defines it for me. I find particularly helpful the reminder that "if I have a faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2). My faith, my service to God, my deeds for my fellow man must spring from love. I will follow in vain if I follow for any other reason than love. The three work together in perfect harmony, giving our hearts balance and keeping them reliant on God.
At the end of my life, which could be tomorrow or in 50 years, I will not be able to stand on what I chose for a career, how many friends I had, what my house looked like or even what people thought of me. The only treasures that will stand the test of time are these: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) Only these three remain. God greatly treasures these three things. If I can only take these with me, then I will give these things my attention and strive to grow. For now, I am basking in the glow of hope. I have a glorious future ahead!
I have been reading the book of John for the past couple of weeks and I finished it today with an obvious change of heart - I had an undeniable sense of hope. Paul said it too, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." HOPE, they are telling us. HOPE. HOPE.
Hope is an incredible power. Hope reminds you that your life is not aimless. Hope makes even small events make sense. It gives us vision when we feel so earthbound and small. It fills the empty spaces with dreams and a certain future of majesty, perfection, love and beauty. It truly gives us meaning in a life that can feel meaningless at times. Truly, who hasn't at some point in life asked themselves, "Why am I here?" Hope answers that question forever.
But then, as Paul says, "Hope that is seen is no hope at all." (Romans 8:24) It takes a great amount of faith to hold onto those dreams of what will be at the end of our lives as we remain faithful to Jesus with all of our hearts. Faith is the spark to the flame, the gas in our engine. Without faith we lose our hope and our dreams.
And finally, there is love. Thankfully for me the Bible defines it for me. I find particularly helpful the reminder that "if I have a faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2). My faith, my service to God, my deeds for my fellow man must spring from love. I will follow in vain if I follow for any other reason than love. The three work together in perfect harmony, giving our hearts balance and keeping them reliant on God.
At the end of my life, which could be tomorrow or in 50 years, I will not be able to stand on what I chose for a career, how many friends I had, what my house looked like or even what people thought of me. The only treasures that will stand the test of time are these: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) Only these three remain. God greatly treasures these three things. If I can only take these with me, then I will give these things my attention and strive to grow. For now, I am basking in the glow of hope. I have a glorious future ahead!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
My True Enemy
You're both Christians. You love each other. You have made vows that you take very seriously. You believe in being married just once. He's your knight and you're his princess...but you fight and you hurt one another. It just doesn't add up - until you take into consideration another factor: YOUR TRUE ENEMY. Who is your TRUE enemy? It's not your spouse, that's for sure. It's not your children or your neighbor or your boss. It's not even that person that just doesn't seem to like you. No, I've come to realize that I have a sinister, scheming, crafty snake that just won't let up and laughs whenever I hurt someone or am myself in pain. MY TRUE ENEMY IS SATAN.
Believing in God and having Jesus as Lord are the foundations of my life, but if I forget who is warring against me, I can get lost in the battle and become discouraged. I was reminded of these things a while back when our family was on a road trip that lasted over 20 hours. Usually I prepare myself with enough sleep, a good time with God and we pray together for God to bless our trip and keep us safe. But Satan had a different plan. We were so rushed getting everything ready that we didn't stop to put God first, we left exhausted and we forgot to pray. Wow, I will never forget that trip. To say the least, it was pretty awful. What could have been a bonding family time was rife with irritation, unmet expectations, and arguments, not to mention the utter pride and selfishness. Satan had a blast.
Looking back, I was confident in my ability to be a good wife and in my husband's ability to be loving and patient. My confidence was in the wrong place and Satan made the most of the opportunity. I should know by now how weak I am without God's power and that only through Him can I be what I need to be to everyone around me. It motivates me to give even more and be alert knowing what Satan is up to and how much enjoyment he receives from our strife. The following scriptures truly prove the point:
1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
So, I know that there are forces, DARK FORCES at work in our lives, especially if we choose to follow Christ! Check out this one:
Revelation 12:17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Bone chilling? He is watching us and preparing for our demise: anything that will make us deny Christ and give up our faith. Will our marriage discourage us? For some, yes, and Satan knows it. So, are we to live in fear and defeat? No! For every scripture about the Evil One, there are a handful more about how to conquer evil, Satan, and even death itself. These give me strength:
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Romans 8:37-39 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 3:8-14 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
I could list countless more, but hopefully it's clear what I am trying to say. Good always wins. We might not see it, but in the end it will all be made clear. For now, I can only take it day by day and remember to put my confidence in God and walk closely with him, being careful to obey his commands and love my family, friends and fellow disciples as Jesus would, remembering the battle at hand and keeping watch for my enemy's next move. It's worth it. It works. God's word never fails.
Believing in God and having Jesus as Lord are the foundations of my life, but if I forget who is warring against me, I can get lost in the battle and become discouraged. I was reminded of these things a while back when our family was on a road trip that lasted over 20 hours. Usually I prepare myself with enough sleep, a good time with God and we pray together for God to bless our trip and keep us safe. But Satan had a different plan. We were so rushed getting everything ready that we didn't stop to put God first, we left exhausted and we forgot to pray. Wow, I will never forget that trip. To say the least, it was pretty awful. What could have been a bonding family time was rife with irritation, unmet expectations, and arguments, not to mention the utter pride and selfishness. Satan had a blast.
Looking back, I was confident in my ability to be a good wife and in my husband's ability to be loving and patient. My confidence was in the wrong place and Satan made the most of the opportunity. I should know by now how weak I am without God's power and that only through Him can I be what I need to be to everyone around me. It motivates me to give even more and be alert knowing what Satan is up to and how much enjoyment he receives from our strife. The following scriptures truly prove the point:
1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
So, I know that there are forces, DARK FORCES at work in our lives, especially if we choose to follow Christ! Check out this one:
Revelation 12:17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Bone chilling? He is watching us and preparing for our demise: anything that will make us deny Christ and give up our faith. Will our marriage discourage us? For some, yes, and Satan knows it. So, are we to live in fear and defeat? No! For every scripture about the Evil One, there are a handful more about how to conquer evil, Satan, and even death itself. These give me strength:
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Romans 8:37-39 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 3:8-14 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
I could list countless more, but hopefully it's clear what I am trying to say. Good always wins. We might not see it, but in the end it will all be made clear. For now, I can only take it day by day and remember to put my confidence in God and walk closely with him, being careful to obey his commands and love my family, friends and fellow disciples as Jesus would, remembering the battle at hand and keeping watch for my enemy's next move. It's worth it. It works. God's word never fails.
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