Notes from the Bookshelf: The Ragman

This past week, Luanne shared a story with us called The Ragman. This is an illustration of what happened Good Friday, and every time someone accepts Christ as their Savior. He takes our hurts, sins, issues, and troubles upon Himself, exchanging our weakness for His glory.

Luanne shared her story as growing up as a good kid....you remember the kind...or maybe it was you. Good grades. Good family. Never really got into trouble. She grew up knowing that Jesus died for our sins, but only in a generic sense. After all, she wasn't as bad as some people...

It wasn't until she was a young adult that she truly saw herself as someone in need of a Savior. She realized that in spite of all of her "goodness," it would never get her into Heaven. More than that, she couldn't have a relationship with Jesus Christ until she recognized her need.

Don't let this Easter go by while you stand in the ditch of "I don't need Jesus," or the other ditch of "Jesus wouldn't want me." I pray that you will seek Him out. He is waiting for you.

If you know Jesus as Savior, pray about sharing your story with someone else. Help someone move from "God so loved the world..." to "God so loved me..."

Happy Easter, Sweet Friends!
Debbie

Notes from the Bookshelf: Protecting Your Family Legally

This week in Mom Time we were given the opportunity to gain important knowledge on protecting your family- legally.  Our special guest, Carrie Reichartz, provided proper documentation and gave us strong legal advice for less than ideal situations.

 There is no way to sweeten up conversations such as these.  Death, traumas, legal situations, etc. are scary, sad, and stressful but one sure-fire way to make a possible situation worse is to not be prepared legally. 

Carrie encouraged us to have this conversation with our spouse or significant other, to put thought into action and write up a will, consider who you would ask to care for your children should something happen, and to look into life insurance. 

It’s a heavy topic to think about and move through but it’s imperative to plan for a future that might not involve you but certainly will involve your children.  After taking all these steps, it will be a huge check marked off your to-do list.  But something that you can forever work on is your faith.

  Every day is a gift from God, a new start, another opportunity to know Him more.  That day will come when it will be your last; won’t you feel better knowing that you spent your life indulged in the One who is waiting for you at the end of your path?

Here are the links to the websites we got our forms from:

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/advdirectives/F00085.pdf. health power of atty

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/advdirectives/F00036.pdf. finances power of atty

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/advdirectives/F00060.pdf. living will

Notes from the Bookshelf: The Love Dare

Truth or dare? Dare, right? A dare means you have to do something you know you are not comfortable doing but then you get to say you did it! Or did you pick truth? Saying or admitting something you have to openly share. What about Truth or Dare in your marriage? 

This week, Jessica taught us a lesson from the book LoveDare by authors Alex  and Stephen Kendrick and Lawrence Kimbrough.  There are several dares throughout the book that the authors challenge you to do to or for your spouse but there are truths scattered all throughout the pages and the building blocks, the meat and potatoes of all of those truths come from God and the words of love that He has for us. 

Jessica explained to us that there are two types of love, (1)Phileo and Eros- It’s friendship and sexual love, it’s important in a marriage but it’s only based on feelings (feelings that can change if one is wronged or not feeling loved back).  (2)Agape love is love that we receive and learn from God.  It is unselfish, unconditional, unstoppable, and based on choice- not feelings.

God loves us unconditionally, without any reason or need to.  He loves us in spite of our every fault and forgives our every sin.  It’s not easy showing Agape love all the time, but making the effort continuously to be patient, kind, thoughtful, and considerate is what God expects of us as Christian wives.  It’s a daring kind of love that puts God’s desires before your own. 

 Will you dare to defend your husband at all times? Can you be flexible with him, thoughtful towards him and be completely humble and stand down when you’d rather fight him? Will you dare yourself to keep that unwavering love in your heart for your husband because you know you can trust in the truth that Lord will never cease the overflowing Agape love he has for you?

                “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19        

Notes from the Bookshelf: The Bible

This semester in Mom Time, we have been focusing on pleasing God through serving our community, being loving mothers, and making sure that we, ourselves, are calm and collected.  But who helped in getting us to motherhood? That’s right, our husbands.  And we certainly need God securely bonded in the unity of our marriage. 

Erika used probably the best study guide we could work from this week with none other than, the Bible.  She targeted six major areas of marriage that need constant reevaluation and attention: Holiness, Communication, Submission, Intimacy, Finances, and Respect.  Each respective area had at least one bible verse that shed wisdom on how a godly wife (and husband) should behave and live according to God’s word. 

Erika challenged us to take at least one area that we need to work on in our own marriage and make it a goal to fix or change our behavior or role as wife.  She then provided us with blank cards, had us write a short note to ourselves about where our marriage needs help and promised to mail the cards out to us in a few months.  Talk about keeping tabs on yourself!

Before children and before homes and before this whole new life began, we started out as just husband and wife.  As godly wives, our husbands deserves our patience, our listening ear, our reassurance, our respect in a submissive manner, and all of our emotional/physical/spiritual self.  And whether as an example for your husband or with him together, we need to treasure our families and our relationship with Christ, not our bank accounts and materials things. If we decide to move in a forward, positive direction, our husbands will follow our lead.

“…and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” Mark 10:8

Notes from the Bookshelf: Resolution

This week in Mom Time, I think it’s safe to say that Jess brought a little tear to everyone’s eyes and gave us all the urge to get up and embrace our children with hugs and kisses.  With so much to take away from the book The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer, Jess targeted our main focus on resolving to embrace the current season of our life and maximize the time in it.  We are all mothers who gather together every Tuesday to support each other and encourage our focus to God.  Rather than trying to hurry through the difficult stages of motherhood that we aren’t enjoying, we need to stay focused and remember all the things we do enjoy.  Jess encouraged us to recognize how truly blessed we have been in becoming mothers and understand that it is a privilege to be a blessing to our husbands/significant others and children. 

Through God’s grace, we can handle any situation.  We can work through the toughest day and be content with the simplest blessings.  As the Apostle Paul taught us, we have to choose to accept His grace.  “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in.  I know what it is to have a little and what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:11)  We cannot live in or face this world alone, we need God’s grace and assurance.  Why wouldn’t we choose to go through life with joy and contentment and enjoy every life season?