A little encouragement

Hi all!  So glad to see a few more followers!  I wanted to get something posted before our power goes out tonight.  If it does, I'll be back as soon as I can!  And when I return, I will be posting my very first review and a giveaway!!!  Rockin' Green baby!!

I lead a Bible study for a few women in my area.  We are studying a book by Joyce Meyer called The Battlefield of the Mind.  This book transformed my life a few years ago.  It helps you realize that the daily battles we face and the choices we make are all affected by the thoughts in our mind.  Having said that I have to admit that since this study began I have been under attack by the father of lies himself, Satan.  And not surprisingly it's all in my head.   

Let's face it.  We all want to think and even pretend that our marriages are just peachy, that we are the model wife, and the mother every child would want.  But honestly, it's not that easy!  Marriage is a CHALLENGE!!!  And motherhood...well, that's a whole other post.  There is a simple verse that has taught me a lot about how husbands and wives function.

Ephesians 5:22 says- Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 

Now, that verse can seem a little hard to swallow.  SUBMIT...I have to what???  But let's not focus on just that word.  The verse goes on to say ...as to the LORD.  I don't know about you, but I do find joy in doing things that please my Savior.  So, if we apply that to our husbands it simply says that we should be doing things that will please our husbands. 

Verse 33 says....and the wife must respect her husband. 

This verse and the few before it pertain to husbands, I'll get to that later.  For now, lets focus on the end of verse 33.

Respect.  It is something every man needs.  They were created that way.  It really is vital that they receive respect often.  Now, the areas that different men crave respect varies.  My husband happens to need respect the most in the area of finances.  If I go over budget, even a bit, he feels completely disrespected.

So my challenge then, is to stay in the budget he gives me.  It is hard, I'm sure you understand, for a woman to walk past a good sale at Target and not purchase something.  It is especially hard for me.  I consider myself a bargain hunter.  Rarely ever do I buy something for full price.  So everytime I see a sale, I should think to myself how it would make my husband feel if I bought the $4 jeans and then had to go over budget to buy milk.  Then it should be easy for me to make the wise choice.  But, it's not.  That is why marriage is such a challenge.  We have to constantly put our husbands before us.  And, if your anything like me, this is so HARD!! 

A challenge for you then is to examine the areas in your marriage where you could offer more respect to your husband.  Post a comment.  It is very encouraging for us all to share our challenges.  You never know who you're helping by posting an honest comment!  Let's get to it.

A prayer for wives everywhere.

Lord, please help us to be the kind of wives that are pleasing to you.  Help us to submit to our husbands in everything, and to give them the respect that they were created to receive.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Pray for those affected by Irene, and for the safety of those still in her path.

Blessings,

Crunchy Katie