Victim or Victor?

On Sunday night we were reading the story of the healing at the pool, from John, Chapter 5.  As the story goes, Jesus had gone up to Jerusalem for one of the feasts, and he was walking through the pool of Bethesda, where many disabled people hung out.  It was said that once a day, an angel stirred the water of the pool, and if you could get into the water, you would be healed. So this was a popular hangout for those with infirmities.  Jesus came upon a man lying by the pool who had been an invalid for 38 years.  He asked the fellow an interesting question, “Do you want to get well?”

 And the guy had an even more interesting answer, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Okay … So this guy made the effort to get to the pool every day, but when the water got stirred, he could never get into it for the healing. 

Seems to me, if I had someone help me get to the pool, after 38 years, I’d be asking them to stick around one day and help me get into the water.  Or something?  But the guy had determination, he hadn’t given up … he was continuing to make the effort to get there.

At first the guy’s response sounds like he’s a victim to his situation, but then we see the evidence of perseverance – he continues to come to the pool, in spite of the lack of  healing.  I believe this guy has some character.  How difficult would it be to continue dragging yourself to those waters day in and day out with no positive results?

There are always two ways to look at our situations.  We can be the victim, blaming others for what is going on in our lives.  Sometimes it just feels good to have that pity party for ourselves – but does it do us any good?  Do we feel better afterwards?  Are we any closer to Jesus?  Are we any closer to freedom or healing?

Or we can be the victor … taking responsibility for our actions and our reactions.  Although no wrong doing on our part caused the situation, we are looking for a positive way to remedy it.

Paul tells us:  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

So … am I a victim – living in the unfairness of my past, or a Victor, straining towards what is ahead! 

Father, help me to let my actions and my life portray the victory that I have already won through YOU!  Thank you that YOU are the Prize … life eternal with you. 

 I Love You Jesus!
   In Your Name I Pray,
   Amen

od Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow!
http://www.alifedecision.org

Communication Breakdown in Marriage

Giving Your ALL

A lot of parenting experts say that both marriage partners should be giving 50/50 to the marriage relationship. But I say that both marriage partners should be giving 100% to the marriage relationship! Give your all.

Marriage is a team effort, right? It takes both of you giving 100% to have a marriage that is growing and flourishing. Because if we use the kind of focus where we feel like we each should give just 50/50 – then we end up giving just enough until the other one starts to chip in or meet us halfway. And what if they don’t? Whereas giving 100% is giving your all regardless of what the other person does.

We should be giving 100% of who we are. Giving our All to our mates out of our love for the Lord and for them. If you’re dedicated in this manner, it won’t matter what kind of accolades you get for it in return.

You see, it’s not about meeting someone halfway. It’s about being the best you can be for yourself and for someone else.

Don’t give “just enough.” Give your all.

~ Dionna Sanchez is the Founder of Emphasis On Moms.
Get her newsletter at: http://emphasisonmoms.com/newsletter.htm

Laying Down My Isaac

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Genesis 22:12

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine and he said, “Oh, I can see a story here,”  and he was right.  I was telling him about the most incredible peace that has enveloped me, when I stepped out, in obedience, and did a most difficult task.  It reminded me of the story of Abraham, who waited so many years for a son, in fact, he was 100 years old, when his son, Isaasc, was born.   And then, God asked him to take Isaac up on the mountain and sacrifice him. 

What was up with that??

But Abraham didn’t hesitate or question God, he simply obeyed him, in faith.  God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.  He trusted God’s promise.

And when he was just about to slay Isaac, God stopped him, and provided a ram for the sacrifice.  And Isaac married and had two sons and the legacy began.

For years, since the beginning of our relationship, I have been taking care of the finances.  It’s not necessarily a job I wanted, but one that fell on me.  And I did the best I could with it.  But through the years of one income and life circumstances, there always seemed to be more month than money. 

And the burden of carrying that load became too heavy for me to bear.  But I didn’t want to tell Bobby just how bad things had gotten.  I was afraid that he would make us sell our home and move somewhere less expensive to live, (something he has talked about on occasion), or make me quit my part time job and get a full time job and than I wouldn’t be free to go share my story, or maybe he’d make me stop writing books? 

I had a whole list of fears … of what if’s?

But God wanted me to let go of the finances, to trust Him.  And to do that, He asked me to hand them over to Bobby.  All of it.  Now, that was the last thing I wanted to do, but I wanted to obey God.  And I had to get that burden off my back, it was weighing me down to the point that I could not sleep and it was constantly on my mind.

And so I did … I gave it all up, I gave everything over to him, believing that regardless of what happened, God was in control.  I was willing to give up my life, as I knew and loved it, if that was what it would take.

But God does have a plan, and it’s not to harm me, it’s to prosper me and give me hope.  Bobby took over the finances and within 6 weeks time, he has completely changed the negatives to a positive.  We still have a ways to go, but there is now more money than month and we have a plan and a goal, and it is moving forward nicely.  And the peace that has filled my mind and my soul is beyond compare.

And no, I didn’t have to sell my peaceful home that I love so much, nor quit my job, nor stop sharing my story.  I still have my life as I know and love it … only now it’s even better!

So, I guess my question to you today is, do you have an Isaac that God is asking you to lay down?   What’s stopping you?

Father, thank you for this most incredible lesson on trusting you.  My hearts desire is to worship you and you made it very clear to me that the truest form of worship is obedience.  Thank you for giving me the grace to walk through this lesson, your way, and for the most incredible blanket of peace that you’ve wrapped around me.

 

I Love You Jesus. 

     In Your Name I Pray,

     Amen

God Bless You!

Joyce

 

Submitted by:

   Joyce Schneider

   A Life Decision

   http://www.alifedecision.org

I Appreciate You

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Last night, around dinnertime, the boys were getting a little too wound up.  A week off from school is starting to take its toll.  Kids need structure and school helps to provide those life boundaries.  Bobby and I have tried to keep some semblance of order around here over the holidays, but I could see that last night they were a bit too tight.  I think it was the idea that they were going to get to stay up till midnight. 

So while we were having dinner, I suggested we try something new.  We would go around the table and tell each other what we appreciated the most about the other person.  It  was really a sweet time.  We each heard positive statements about ourselves and immediately the atmosphere in our home changed.

I was sitting there thinking, Bobby really does love me.  He appreciates ME.  And I never realized that Carson loves me cooking dinner for him.  And Chase loves me scratching him; I did know that one.  Chase is very obvious about what he likes and wants. 

But I know that the boys were thinking positive thoughts about each other and Bobby heard why we appreciate him and everyone seemed a little more settled after that exercise.

I talked before about how God’s first gift to us was His love.  That He loved us even while we were still sinners.  I was listening to a sermon yesterday and the pastor was making this point as well.  That his life started to drastically change when he realized how much God loves him.  That once that realization settled in, everything changed.

It was the same way with me.  Once I received God’s love for me, nothing was the same.  God loved me!  He appreciated me and I didn’t even have to cook Him dinner or scratch His back.  He loved me FIRST!

It’s important to know that we are loved and appreciated; by God and by our families.  I want to encourage you, we are at the beginning of a new year.  So many opportunities seem to await us at this time of year.  A fresh start.  A new look at the world and where you fit into it.

If you don’t know God’s love, take some time to explore the concept.  A good place to start is the book of John, from The Bible.  If you don’t have a bible, you can find it online at: http://www.biblegateway.com

If you haven’t taken the time to tell your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them, today would be a good day to begin.  Let them know how much you care about them.  It’s never too late to say, “I love you!  I appreciate you!”  It will make you both feel good inside; you for saying it and them for hearing it.

And I want to say to each of you that I love and  appreciate YOU!  I appreciate that you take time out of your busy day to read these stories.  I pray that God’s blessing of peace will flow through you and that you will experience His love in a whole new realm throughout this new year and the years to come!

Father, thank you for new beginnings.  Thank you that we can come to you today, and begin a fresh start, a new life through you!  Lord, thank you for loving us, first!  This is not a new concept, it’s older than times, yet when we fully grasp it, it changes us and brings us into that special connection with you.  And Lord Jesus, thank you for the very special family that you have given to me.  Even when they are wound for sound, I so appreciate and love them.

I love You Jesus.

 In Your Name Pray,

     Amen

God Bless You!

Love,

Joyce

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LIFE IS… Not About Perfect A Daily Dose of Encouragement by Joyce Schneider For More Of My Story:  http://www.alifedecision.org For nothing is impossible with God.     Luke 1:37

A Little Holiday Love

Children already receive so much attention over the Holidays. But, how about your spouse? Does he get forgotten or rushed past too quickly amidst the entire buzz?

Here are a few simple ways to add some special touches to the Christmas Season for your husband:

~ Find a Christmas movie that he recalls from his childhood. Buy it, and snuggle together under a warm blanket as you watch it together.

~ Make a tree ornament for him that symbolizes your love. Let him hang it on the tree.

~ Dance to one of the slower Holiday tunes.

~ Make some hot chocolate for him to drink as he hangs up the Christmas lights outside.

~ Utilize candles to add the atmosphere of peace and warmth each evening as your man comes home from work.

~ Hang Christmas lights around your bedposts or near the ceiling of your bedroom for a magical and romantic Holiday glow.

~ Make one of his favorite Holiday treats.

All it takes are a few small efforts to re-connect with your husband. Each romantic and thoughtful moment will draw you closer to one another and fill the Season with more love than you thought possible.

By Dionna Sanchez

http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com

Man of the House

Eph. 5:22 “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.”

A mom can be the center of her child’s life at times; but she cannot be both a mother and a father. She needs to support her husband and let him truly be the head of the household. That can be hard for us when we don’t want to lay down our pride. But, letting our husbands be the true head of our household doesn’t mean that we have to be a doormat. It simply means to be a helpmate and encourage your husband to be a wise family leader. Dads need to truly be the “man of the house.” They should command and earn respect by doling out discipline when it’s needed and helping mom enforce the rules. They should insist that their children speak to mom in respectful tones and encourage character in their children by meaningful exchanges and sometimes-necessary lessons.

There will be times when I need to allow my husband to have the final word of authority in our house. It may be tough – but as wives, we need to get over the “me” thing for the well being of our whole family.

If we fill our role in the way God intended; satisfaction, peace, and love will flow out of us and radiate into our homes. And not only our marriage, but also our family will function the way it should.

~By Dionna Sanchez

http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com/newsletter.htm

~Forgiveness In Marriage~

Is it easy for you to forgive your husband or to ask for forgiveness?

We teach our children to forgive. But how often when we have been struggling with our spouses on a certain issue – do we refuse to forgive them? And our forgiveness only stems from our pride.

When we make the choice to forgive, it doesn’t mean that we weren’t hurt or that we should forget about being hurt. Some hurts take longer to heal than others – but grudges and resentments only push away love. And that is where your heart can go, if it fails to forgive.

God forgave us for so much. Who are we to fail to forgive someone we love – especially if they ask for it? We will need that grace bestowed on us many a time, as well. Marriage is about being united. Forgiving one another is an important part in maintaining that bond and unity… and it will strengthen your hearts as a couple.

~ By Dionna Sanchez

http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com

~Fun In Marriage~

Do you have fun in your marriage? Marriage should be fun! There’s enough work involved. Right? Play and laugh together. Throw surprises for one another and encourage each other. Make special memories. Really learn to find the JOY in your relationship. Satan would love for us to have serious marriage relationships that are devoid of any joy, laughter, or smiles. Because that is when we start growing apart and cracks can form in our marriage bond with each other. If you can keep the fun in your marriage relationship alive – it will carry you far when the tough, challenging, and stressful times come. And believe me… they’ll come! Don’t forget to ENJOY each other in addition to sharing the workload that comes in life. It’ll be the breath of fresh air that keeps your marriage momentum going. ~ By Dionna Sanchezhttp://www.emphasisonmoms.com/newsletter.htm

Pursue Love

Read 1 Corinthians 13.

 

What Love Isn’t

Love isn’t the warm, gushy feeling you get when being romanced by your sweetheart.  Love is not a sexual desire or longing for physical interlude with another person.  These are examples of mere feelings.  While feelings may accompany love, they are not love.

 

What Love Is

According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  In addition, we know from 1 John 4:16 “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”  These attributes of love are really attributes of God and those who love God. 

 

Steps to Love

We need to realize we have a choice to love.  Love isn’t easy or free of effort.  It takes a decision to love.  It takes determination to continue to love.  Most importantly it requires the Holy Spirit to love.  As God is love, we can not love without God’s presence.  That’s where the Holy Spirit comes into play.  For those who believe Jesus died for our sin and rose again for our eternal salvation, the Holy Spirit is given to us and enables us to love. 

 

Results of Love

There is no doubt when someone loves.  You can see it in their life.  Love exhibits it self in your life and the lives of others around you.  Jesus gave us lots of examples to follow: washing His disciples’ feet, feeding thousands, denying His will and following His Father’s will, and laying down His life for His friends, as well as many other examples.  Love changes things.  Love forgives.  It extends mercy rather than judgment.  Love builds up rather tearing people down.  Love seeks to restore rather than destroy.  Just look the relationship of God and His people.  Although His people repeatedly sinned and rebelled against Him, He still made it possible, through Christ, to be saved. 

 

Above all else we can choose to do in this life; the greatest of these is the choice to love.  Pursue love today. 1 John 4:7 NKJV says “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

 Lord, thank you for loving us and enabling us to love you and others.  Help us choose to love and follow your example.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit in us to lead us in your love.  In Jesus’ name Amen. 

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.