A Wise Woman's Guide to Life & Love | Page 129 of 146

August 21, 2016February 15, 2022

The Grace of Life

Thank You, Jesus, for what You have done and for what You are doing through The Holy Spirit in us. I believe everything You’ve said to me. Help my unbelief.

One issue I’ve always been unclear on is how much is my responsibility and how much is Yours.

You get the Lion’s share. You determine the Path and the Pace. My job is to follow and keep in step with you.

That means I get to focus on being held by You.
To feel the Rhythm and Passion of Your Heartbeat.

To listen for Your Whispers.

And prepare to be surprised by what You say to me.
That is, not assume I know where we’re going and take off without You.

I wonder what this Process is like for a Man.

Much the same as it is for a Woman, I think, with the added
responsibility to translate Your Leadership into the Here-and-Now.

A man leads his Woman as You lead him:
with Compassion, Tenderness, and Confidence.

He submits to You. And she submits to him.
Knowing You’re at work in both.

You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of The Grace of Life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

Learn more about The Grace of Life in these online articles:

Marital Harmony
by Pastor John MacArthur
Heirs Together of the Grace of Life
by Pastor Jack Hayford

July 19, 2016July 19, 2021

He loves me!

Yesterday I ran a few errands on my way to work. I stopped off for a fill-up. And slipped my credit card into my pocket. Then I went to the market to pick up a few things. Ahead of schedule.

Let’s see …
What needs to go in the fridge?
I switched things around in my bag.
The day flew! I fetched my perishables
to put in the fridge and headed home.
A highly efficient day.

Early this morning, waiting in line at Starbucks Drive Thru, I realized my credit card was missing. A brief car-search ensued. Waiting for my coffee (I was trapped between a bazillion cars so I couldn’t bail), I mentally retraced my steps. No luck.

I’m practicing patience – which means I make no provision for panic – so I began to pray. Not with importunity, but with thanksgiving as I’m learning:

Thank You, Lord, that You have me in Your Loving Hands.
I don’t know where my credit card is, but You do. And You take care of me.

Then I began to praise Him with a childhood favorite. “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. I will sing. I will sing!” (Psalm 89:1)

Then another old favorite: Victory in Jesus, My Savior Forever.
And there in the midst of the 2nd chorus, I suddenly remembered
where I’d left my card: in the bag – with the non-perishables.
Non-perishable. Like The Lord’s Love. How cool is that?

Suddenly I was flooded with gratefulness for His Goodness.
And that’s when it hit me Big Time …

This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
(1John 4:10)

That may seem like a no-brainer to you, but sometimes the Truth of that overwhelms my soul. I hope it does yours, too.

Because when you fully realize how much He loves you, Friend
life gets sweeter – no matter what’s happening around you –
and all you want to do is live for Him!
… with or without a credit card.

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July 18, 2016October 25, 2021

Take Every Thought Captive

As I set out for my walk early this morning, this verse kept reverberating in my mind. I queued up my iPhone to one of my favorite Bible teachers. I hadn’t listened to him for awhile, but today this recording was also on my mind. And in the first 5 minutes …

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Every action is preceded by a thought.
So what we think about is pretty important.

And if we have a promise from God, the enemy wants to keep us from thinking about that promise. Doesn’t matter if it’s a general promise or a specific promise for you personally. You and I are in engaged in a battle.

Worry. You start to think about all that you haven’t done. And you have so many obstacles ahead of you that you believe it’s totally “impossible.”
Doubt. Did God really promise you something that wonderful? Surely it was just your imagination running amok. You only wished it was God’s idea.
Fear. You begin to notice that the opposite of your promise is happening … fast. Too fast for you to be able to do anything about it.

If you don’t want to end up
where your current thought is taking you,
have another thought!

As I continued my walk, I noticed where my thoughts went. And when they went contrary to where I want to go in Christ, I reached out and took that thought captive! [PLEASE NOTE: I had to do it way more often than once.]

Taking a thought captive means you replace it with another thought!
You choose to believe what The Lord has said instead!

OVERCOME worry by agreeing with God’s Word. Be anxious for nothing. Pray about everything. He promises to give you His Peace. Your Father knows what you need. But He wants to go beyond your needs and bless you so that you can be a blessing to others. How cool is that?
New Thought: The Lord is blessing me so that I can bless others. (Philippians 4:6-7)
OVERCOME doubt by agreeing with God’s Word. What has He said? Memorize it and replay it often, out loud and in silence. New Thought: I will believe and trust in His Word. (Hebrews 11:6)
OVERCOME fear by agreeing with God’s Word. Perfect Love casts out fear. So seek His Perfect Love and let it flood your heart. Then let your heart rule your mind, and you will develop the Mind of Christ. Fear cannot stand in such an atmosphere.
New Thought: The Lord is flooding my heart with His Perfect Love! (1 John 4:18)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What persistent thoughts would you like to change?
How would your life be different if you did?