Embarrass Your Children! :)

I love this photo that has been going around facebook! :)

  It's a great reminder to embarrass your kids often! Really though, it's one of the best things you can do for your kids. All children should see how much their parents love each other. It gives them a safe, and loving environment to grow up in. Obviously we don't want to be inappropriate, but let them see you hug and kiss, and hold hands, often!
  I think some parents, especially moms, sometimes get their priorities a little mixed up when it comes to their children. They become so focused on their children that they neglect their spouse. Our #1 priority should be our relationship with our Heavenly Father, #2 should be our spouse, and #3 should be our children, then others fall into line after that. Too many moms get so busy taking care of their children and think, "when the kids are older, I'll be able to focus on my husband/marriage then." Please don't let that happen to your marriage! You need each other in the parenting adventure, but it will also just be the two of you again someday, and you want to have a loving and happy marriage then too.

  This is a great book that helps to get those priorities in the right order. It's a quick read, and very helpful.

 One of the best books that I've ever read is Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. It is a book about the role of a wife and mother from a biblical perspective. I read this book several years ago, but wish that I would have read it at the time that I got married. It has been such a great influence on my marriage, and my role as a wife, ever since I read it. I highly recommend for all wives to read it!  

 
  There was such a great response to the book for wives, that the author's husband wrote a book for the men called Created To Need A Help Meet, by Michael Pearl. I ordered it for my husband, because I remembered how much I loved the one for the wives, and after he read it, he said that it was the best book that he's ever read. He loved it! He said that every husband needs to read it! So, he highly recommends it!

 
  I can honestly say that I don't know any couple that has a better marriage than we do, and I don't say that arrogantly, I say that thankfully! I think that every married couple should be able to say that about their own marriage. It takes a lot of time, patience, work, focus, and being willing to read the Bible and other books on marriage in order for that to happen, but it is so worth it!! :)

Our Resolutions

  Our church just did a small group study on The Resolution for Men and The Resolution for Women. I would recommend for all couples, or even single men and women, to go through these books. It was challenging, as well as encouraging, to us to follow God's plan for our family. We had some great discussions with our group, and enjoyed listening to others' experiences, as well as sharing some of our own.  

 

   After completing the study, our group had a "Signing of The Resolution" ceremony. There were several couples that signed on the dotted line to take a stand for their family. We have become close friends with the others in our group, and have now committed to being accountable to each other for upholding and fulfilling our Resolutions.
   "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".    -  Joshua 24:15

  Listed below are the words to our Resolutions. We now have these framed and hung in our dining room.

THE RESOLUTION FOR MEN

 I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

 I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

 I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

 I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

 I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

 I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

 I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

 I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

 I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

 I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

 I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

 I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15

 

 

THE RESOLUTION FOR WOMEN

I do solemnly resolve before God to embrace my current season of life and live with a spirit of contentment.

I Will champion God's model for womanhood and teach it to my children.

I Will celebrate my God-given uniqueness and the distinctions He has placed in others.

I Will live as a woman answerable to God and faithfully committed to His Word.

I Will seek to devote the best of myself to the primary roles God has entrusted to me.

I Will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and esteem others more highly than myself.

I Will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I Will not tolerate evil influences in myself or my home but will embrace a life of purity.

I Will pursue justice, love mercy, and extend compassion toward others.

I Will be faithful to my husband and honor him in my conduct and in my conversation, and will aspire to be a suitable partner to help him reach his God-given potential.

I Will teach my children to love God, respect authority and live responsibly.

I Will cultivate a peaceful home where God's presence is sensed.

I Will make today's decisions with tomorrow's impact in mind and consider my current choices in light of future generations.

I Will courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.---Joshua 24:15

We Are All Unique

  I've been told that I'm not "normal". No big surprise there, I could've told you that! :) I'm starting to learn though, that "not being normal" is a good thing. We are called to be different, to be unique. God has given each of us a unique set of gifts, abilities, and talents, and we are supposed to use them to serve Him and others.
  The church that we attended years ago did a small group study on the gifts that God gives each of us. It was so eye-opening for me, because it really pinpointed, for me, what God has blessed me with in order to serve Him and to serve/bless others. See, I love to hear poeple with amazing voices sing worship songs! It really touches my heart and brings me to an attitude of worship. I have frequently thought, "If only I could sing like that, I could help bring people to worship God!" Through that small group study I learned what I have been blessed with, and it's not an amazing singing voice! :) I am unique, not "normal". I will use my gifts to serve God and to serve and bless others!
  What are your unique gifts? I encourage you to do some studying and find out, then use them! Let's all glorify God in our uniqueness!! :)