Greener Grass or Just an Illusion?

You just witnessed a scenario play out in a local restaurant. The couple seated across the room was laughing, conversing and enjoying each other's company.  The husband actually beamed as he listened intently to her words.  They were so engaged with each other that they seemed oblivious to everyone else around them.

Maybe you observed a couple in church as they sat close to each other – reading the Word together and taking in the pastor’s sermon with great interest.  As the husband puts his arm around his wife, you feel a little uncomfortable sitting by yourself.

Perhaps you notice your neighbor’s husband strolling down the sidewalk with her by his side.  They are discussing something interesting because they nod and affirm each other's words repeatedly.

Here you go again – looking across the pasture to the grass on the other side of the fence… It looks so much greener. You just know it will satisfy you and fill that empty void.  Is the grass really greener, or is it just an illusion?

Be careful little eyes what you see --- Don’t believe it!  One of Satan’s clever tactics is to make you think you’re being deprived of something good.   John writes in his first epistle “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I John 2:16).  Covetousness  is one of the sins of the eyes – and Hollywood gives us much to covet with regards to the “perfect” relationship.  Their standard is unattainable and unrealistic.  We must base our marriages on God’s Word and His beautiful gift of intimacy in marriage.  God is relational and we must work on our relationship with Him in order to mirror it in our marriage.

Your enemy’s greatest weapon is to create doubt – not only doubt that God loves you, but even more sinister – doubt that your own spouse loves you.  When you’re in a spiritually mismatched marriage, simply “replacing” your spouse will not solve all your problems.  You may know a couple that divorced and remarried – believing that the new spouse would bring a greater happiness or contentment.  Oftentimes this is not the case – but to the contrary – it often creates a feeling of hopelessness when the new spouse fails to live up to those impossible expectations.

Paul addresses the married believer in I Corinthians 7:10, 13-14, “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband…And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”

God ordained marriage between one woman and one man – until death do they part.  Marriage isn’t a convenience until you’re not happy anymore, or until your spouse makes you angry, or until you find someone better.  It is an unwavering commitment – based on honor, integrity and devotion – not on feelings and mood swings.  (Please remember abuse is grounds for leaving your marriage)

Your husband may be one that chatters non-stop or hardly talks at all. Every man is different and in most marriages – communication is the key to survival.  We are still working on our marriage after thirty + years.  I tend to be more outgoing and verbal, and he is more reflective and quiet.  Sure makes for an interesting conversation starter.

What has been your experience in your marriage?  Do you struggle with envy and a runaway imagination at times?  Do you have any tips for others in this situation?

There’s a line in the song Rose Garden by Lynne Anderson that says, “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.”  

It's advisable to take off your “rose colored glasses”.   You will see that the grass is green – but not as lush and inviting as you first thought.  Best to stay in your own pasture...

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”.  It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

http://www.Godmissionpossible.com

Greener Grass or Just an Illusion?

Do You Wrestle With God?

The definition of wrestling is this: to contend by grappling with and striving to trip or throw an opponent down or off balance; to combat an opposing tendency or force (wrestling with his conscience); to engage in deep thought, consideration, or debate.

I was listening to a Christian radio program while driving home the other day, and I started thinking about how often I struggle with things I cannot control. How many times do I argue with God’s sovereign decisions and exert my pride in the form of suggesting a “better way” for Him to move in a particular situation? Am I alone here? Do you wrestle with God? Sometimes that can be a good thing!

Many of us know the story of Jacob in Genesis chapter 32. Jacob was returning to his homeland in Canaan with his two wives, Rachel and Leah. On the way, he sent messengers to his brother Esau to appease him. Remember, this is the brother he cheated out of his birthright. His servants told him that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Jacob was distressed and divided his people, flocks and herd into two companies. He begged God to intervene and protect him from harm. He reminded God of His promise to bless him and make his descendants innumerable.

During the night, he took his two wives, his servants, and his sons and crossed over the river Jabbok. Genesis 32:24 says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man [Jesus] wrestled with him until the breaking of day.” Jacob had struggled and held his ground – keeping the Angel at bay. His faith was not shaken, nor did he relent in the heat of the heavenly engagement. Hosea 12:4 declares, “Yes, he [Jacob] struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us- That is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorial.” That very day Jacob saw God face to face. He wanted God’s blessing, but God let him “struggle” that he might truly see who he was in the sight of Almighty God.

Jacob had been a deceiver and a scoundrel much of his life. God asked him, “What is your name?” It was a rhetorical question… Jacob knew who he was. God was causing Jacob to be off balance – that he might dig deep into the recesses of his soul and take inventory of his life up to that point. However, though Jacob persevered, he could not gain and maintain a superior position. During the struggle the Angel of the Lord touched him, placing his hip out of socket, and giving Jacob a limp for the rest of his natural life as a remembrance.


This supernatural encounter also gave him confidence for the difficult days ahead. Jacob had to face the harsh reality regarding his estranged brother and the reception he would soon receive. God now presented him with a new name – Israel – which literally means “Prince with God”. Jacob named the place of his struggle Peniel, which means “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.”

Sometimes God allows us to struggle with Him in prayer, and we are often crippled for our own good. Spiritually speaking, our view of ourselves and our problems need to be bent and dislocated in order for our struggling to cease. Our pride and bad judgment can cause us to live a life that distorts what God has planned for us. He desires for us to “walk a different way” after we have wrestled with Him and He has prevailed.

Submitting to God’s plans often involves grappling with our own ideas and remedies. This is evidenced in the lives of some of the Bible’s great heroes. Abraham’s faith was tested when he dialoged with God about the wickedness in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). Moses pleaded with God on behalf of Israel when they began worshiping a golden calf and foreign gods (Exodus 32).

We read about Elijah and his struggle with depression. After God miraculously displayed His power on Mount Carmel, Elijah withdrew into the desert to die. While hiding in a cave, and wailing “woe is me”, God revealed Himself to Elijah in a small, still voice (I Kings 19.) David was alone and often lived on the run during his darkest days. He lamented to God in many of the Psalms including 35, 55, 56, 57, and 59. David despaired of his life and longed for the peace of death. Praying to God for deliverance seemed to be a lesson in futility.


Prayer often represents the anguish of the soul in the presence of God. Wrestling with God in prayer exerts tremendous energy and positioning. Ultimately, as we bend our will to His, we allow Him to “pin us to the mat” of our struggles and claim victory in His Name. In Colossians 4:2 the Apostle Paul admonishes the church to “continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving”, and in Colossians 4:12 he tells them that Epaphras, one of their fellow servants “always labors fervently for them in prayer”.

The bottom line is this:  prayer and petitioning God is often engaging and deliberate. It’s emotionally draining and often exhausting. It’s exhilarating and soul-satisfying as we wrestle with a Holy God who sees our frailties and embraces our humble efforts to gain His Blessing.

What a mighty God we serve…

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.

http://www.Godmissionpossible.com 

Do You Wrestle With God?

Guest Blogger Kathryn Sneed

Kathryn is 23 years old, a military wife, and a Christian.  She has been married to her wonderful husband Jonathan, who is in the United States Air Force, for about a year and half now. Her husband will have been in the Air Force for two years in July, and they are stationed in Georgia. They are expecting their first baby, a boy in June and are very excited to see what the Lord has for them as a family!

Kathryn's Blog "Singing in the Rain" features posts about military life, baby and new parent topics, as well as everyday struggles and triumphs.  Kathryn is participating in the "Wives of Faith" Blog carnival and has many links on her site relating to military family life.

Kathryn's Guest Post -        Overcoming Worry & Fear

I subscribe to several blogs by email and today I read a really great post that made me think about some things! The post was called, Breaking Free from Worry and Fear by Jocelyn Green author of the book, Faith Deployed. In her post, Jocelyn discusses how military wives share the recurring theme of fear and worry in their lives, as they watch their husbands deploy. She gives several tips for overcoming fear and worry and also quotes several other military wives.

How true it is, the worry and fear military wives go through either every day or most days. I remember when my husband, Jon told me he was going to join the Air Force. I was terrified! I knew nothing about the military or the military life, and all I could think about was him deploying. I will admit it, I cried. I cried the night he told me his decision. I was so confused as to where I would fit in and what would happen. At the time we were not married yet, and we were a month away from becoming engaged. My husband has not even deployed yet, and I am still a bit scared for him to go. I cannot even imagine what it is like for the wives who have been through it 2-3 times already!

Fear and worry have always been a problem in my life. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been fearful of the unknown. I worried about bad things happening, I have even had anxiety/panic attacks because of it. Sad, I know. Even more sad knowing I have a Saviour who is there to help me any time of the day and wants me to come to him, but I don't. It is something I have struggled with and am determined to overcome. I am getting better each day with God's help!

In her post, Jocelyn Green lists several verses about fear and worry and several quotes that really spoke to me. One verse is, I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." God cares about every little thing in our lives. He does not want us to worry or fear, because He is in control. When worrying about deployments, here are a few things to think about:  

“Whether they are at home or abroad, God’s plan for us is already written, we cannot do anything to change it!”  -National Guard wife Mary Whitlock

How true that is! Knowing that we cannot change what will happen should help you not to worry. Remembering it is in God's hands and knowing that He already knows the outcome.

"There comes a point in every military wifes’ life when she is going to have to answer the question- Is God enough? Big enough to deal with the fear of death? Big enough to take care of her and her babies, should the unthinkable happen?"   -Air Force wife Ellie Kay

This is so true, and really made me think. I should not even have to ask the question, "Is God big enough?" Because to get to that point I have already answered my question by asking. If we have to ask then we do not believe it to be true. We may want to, but we still may have that fear in the back of our minds. We have to determine to let go and tell God, "You are big enough. Big enough to take care of my problems, big enough to take care of my fears and worries, and big enough to take care of my husband."

It really makes you think doesn't it? What are some ways you deal with fear and worry? Everyone has fears, whether you are a military wife or not. Just determine that you will overcome them with God's help in your life!

                               You can visit Kathryn's Blog "Singing in the Rain"  at 

            http://singing-in-the-rain24.blogspot.com/

~Kathryn   

I am an Avon Representative, call me to get a catalog, or go online to place an order!
http://kathrynsneed.avonrepresentative.com/

Guest Blogger Kathryn Sneed