He Does ALL things Well

"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth...I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone." -Psalm 71:5, 16

This week was a sanctifying reminder for me of the sovereignty of God and the reality that He does do ALL things well.  I found myself broken as I fought to understand what was going on, and yet at peace as I reminded myself of the Truth of my God.


The sovereignty of God is one of the most comforting Truths in all of Scripture.  It seems to encompass so many of His attributes into one (faithfulness, immutability, mercy...).  And yet, although comforting, it boggles our minds.  In our finiteness we often struggle with "why" when things go awry and just don't seem to make any sense.  We see the mess of the threads on the backside of a tapestry and can't imagine the beautiful artwork on the other side.  So, many believers find themselves clumped with the unsaved, and make God into their own image and design and choose to believe that He is not sovereign over all things, and that in the tragedies of life, He too is surprised.  After all, if God is really good, He cannot be sovereign.  These "Christians" and unbelievers fall prey to allowing their emotions (humanity) to inform their theology rather than allowing their theology to inform their emotions (humanity).


Let me share something before I move on to give some perspective...


Tragedy is never timely from our perspective.  Trials are never wished for, and quite frankly, suffering never makes it to the top of our requests when we pray.  I was reminded of this Truth this week as I experienced God's grace in a new and refreshing way.  Wednesday, the 14th, was a celebration of the last 24 years the Lord has given me and a welcoming of the 25th.  Birthdays have always been exciting, celebrative, and happy; and this one was bitter sweet.  Although there was celebration around me, there was sorrow in my heart as a loved one lost someone dear to them that very day.  My thoughts were consummed with death on a day I was supposed to be celebrating birth.  A sobering time of refining was just what the Lord had wanted for that day.  He graciously, in His perfect love, reminded me yet again of a vital lesson- It's not about YOU Vanessa!  This life you've been given, the blessings you have, even your birthday, is NOT about you.  I fought my flesh as I was humbled to tears acknowledging the Truth that it WAS NOT about me, it was ALL ABOUT HIM!  The life I have hear on earth, the last 24 years, today, and how ever many more days I am given is all a gift.  My heart beats simply because the sovereign God sustains it.  The blessings I have been given, my wonderful husband and family, and the list goes on, they aren't things I earned or I deserve, they are all gifts attesting to His goodness and bringing Him glory!  My purpose here, not my own, but HIS.  


And what humbled me the most was the power of the Gospel that saved me!  As I was reminded of the immanency of death and the fact that every individual faces it, I was all the more reminded of my own death, but the promise that although I will experience physical death, I will NEVER experience eternal death because of the cross of Christ.  I am speechless and oh so thankful for that.  For this life He has given me yes, but more importantly for the spiritual life I have been given.  


This birthday, although different then any I have ever experienced, is the BEST I have ever had because for the first time in my life, I was able to celebrate HIM, and not me!


God's sovereignty is a reality whether we want to believe it or not.  For the believer it should be a most precious Truth, a promise that no matter what comes in this life, we can trust and know that He is doing ALL things well, for the glory of His name and for the good of HIS kids.  I am confident that nothing is wasted in the economy of God.  There is purpose to all things.  We may not see it in the moment, we may never even see it on this earth, but He is reigning on HIS throne and providentially orchestrating all things perfectly.  


I am reminded of a song by Chris Tomlin, "You Do ALL Things Well"...and I couldn't say it any better myself, in tragedy and triumph, let our theology inform our feelings, remember His sovereignty, and trust and know that HE DOES ALL THINGS WELL!

A Good Bearean

If I'm being honest, I have to admit that throughout my walk with the Lord, the exhortation and example of the Bereans has always been a struggle for me.  In Acts 17:11 Paul describes them in this way, "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." I can tell you now that if I was sitting under the Apostle Paul's teaching the chances that I would "check" the Scriptures to verify that He truly was speaking Truth are probably slim.  And although Paul was speaking Truth, I marvel at their boldness.  I have always tended to lean on the words written or spoken by trusted individuals, whether it be my pastor, or a pastor I highly respect, my dad, or now my husband, or some author from the past or present who has proven their character.  Although this is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, especially because God has given us men and women who are farther along in the faith then we are to encourage and teach us, it poses a threat to our own spiritual growth and development.  The Bereans weren't examining the Scriptures looking for some fault in the message of Paul, they were simply being obedient students of the Word, and allowing the Word of God to be the final authority in their life.  A good example for us to follow indeed.


Recently, I have challenged myself to be more of a Berean, a better student of the Word.  In doing this I have reaped rich benefits.  And although I am still a student of many who are solid in the faith, I have vowed to make the authority of Scripture, and the Word of God, be the final authority in my life.  This may sound arrogant, but believe me, it is far from that.  I do not think I have the power to interpret the Scripture better than someone like John MacArthur, but I do believe that the Spirit of God will build upon the words I read or hear from men like John MacArthur with the Word of God, which is the foundation of what we believe.  It IS the Truth, and it is living and active.  


I am fully dependent on the Word of God to change my life and although I am beyond grateful for the men and women of past and present, I am certain that it is through the Word of God spoken or read that my life will continue to become more and more conformed to the Son of God.


So I challenge each of you, be a good Berean, examine the Word, be a student, don't take everything you read as the Gospel Truth, but rather test it to make sure it is what God has said and not what man believes it to say.

Love is...

I can't get enough of The Excellent Wife; each chapter points me more towards Christ likeness as I am convicted and encouraged by the Truth.  Just yesterday, I was humbled again by a passage of Scripture that has been heavy on my heart since I married Keith- 1 Corinthians 13.  This chapter, all about "LOVE", is a never ending sanctifying tool in my heart and life.  I find myself more and more amazed by the grace God has shown me and His perfect love.  

So what about love?  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a-

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."


The list seems overwhelming at first glance, impossible even.  How can I display this love?  This kind of love is PERFECT and I am so far from being perfect.  Despite that reality, we have been given power from on high to pursue godliness with the promise of success (aka- sanctification).  Although we will not be perfect this side of heaven, we will be made more and more like Christ and see this love displayed more and more in our lives...or at least we should (as maturing believers).  I think so often I can find myself seeing how far I miss the mark, and how much growth I need to experience in this area, and forget that God is still working on me, and won't be through this side of heaven.  Although that doesn't negate my responsibility to strive towards godliness, it sure gives me confidence and encouragement that He IS at work in my life and is not through!

I encourage you to really study this passage, and the characteristics here of true and genuine love that we are commanded to exhibit.  Below are three that I believe God is really growing me in, both in understanding and in practice.


Love IS patient
The wife tends to be easily overwhelmed and aggravated when situations don't pan out the way she expected or desired; in these moments, the Godly wife is called to exhibit true love by choosing patience.  Being patient is active and not passive, and shows humility and a willingness to depend on God and obey His Word and trust His sovereign control over ALL things.


Love is NOT provoked
God has commanded the wife to show love by controlling herself in ALL circumstances.  Her response should never be based on fear, emotion, or situations, or "mood", but rather based on Truth as a reflection of true godly character.  Instead of acting irrationally "in the moment", she will learn to respond in love with patience and kindness.


Love believes ALL things
God has called the wife to exhibit biblical love by painting the other person in the best possible light.  We are never allowed to assume motive or intent, but rather to believe the best in every situation.  We walk by faith and not by sight.


Whether you are a wife, a husband, a daughter, a friend, a brother...it doesn't matter; if you are a child of God you are called to understand and show biblical love as taught in Scripture.  May your hearts be burdened with 1 Corinthians 13 as you seek to not only glorify Christ, but imitate Him in all your relationships.

The "Excellent" Wife

Fleshing out a duty, a role, a passion, a desire is much different then thinking about it, planning for it, or even dreaming about it.  It is that whole head to heart disconnect, whether intentional or not, it is a reality until you are actually in a situation and forced to live out what you say you believe, or what you know to be true.  I have come to see this first hand in the last three months as a wife; although I read countless books on marriage, studied Biblical principles throughout Scripture, and prayed endlessly that I would be that "excellent" wife, I couldn't really know what it would really mean or look like until I was actually walking in it.


Marriage is a treasure, a good and precious gift that God so graciously gives, and one in which I pray I will always stand in awe of.  The grace of God is so clearly evidenced in marriage, each and every day, and the Gospel is constantly on the forefront of my mind as I seek to love my husband and place myself under Him in order that not only God would be glorified but that Christ would be magnified and the Gospel would be on display.   And yet, in the midst of all the bliss, I am realizing more than ever the weight of the calling in which I am now walking.  Just as Eve was created for Adam (Genesis 2), I was created for my husband, Keith, and my calling is to serve, love, and help Him for the rest of my life.  It is that very thing that has put such a burden on my heart to pray and ask for eyes to see and the grace to live out this high calling that I would be an excellent wife, not for my own glory and gain, but for the benefit of Keith and the glory of God.


Four years ago I sat in a Marriage and Family class at Master's and read The Excellent Wife, by Martha Peace, for the first time.  It was incredible, and although I wasn't married, I began praying that God would make me that woman He had created me to be, and desired me to be.  Then last year, I picked up the book again to, what I thought would be "refresh", my mind and heart about this high calling.  Little did I know the second time through would reveal to me new and fresh Truths from Scripture that would help me practically prepare for the role I would step in to.  But it was all just knowledge, I couldn't flesh it out.  What would it really look like to be a helper suitable for my husband, what would it really look like to be that excellent wife?


And now three months into marriage I have picked up the book once more, and this time, it has come alive.  I am reading as a wife this time, and the weight of it all has become all the more real.  It is no longer a dream or desire to be an excellent wife, it is now a calling.  It is no longer far off in the future, it is here and now.  


God has really given me a passion to seek and pray for a true understanding of what it means to "help" my husband.  How do I become the "glory" of my husband as 1 Corinthians 11:7-9 says, "For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake." What does it really mean?  As couples, our role is to model Christ and church; here lies our perfect example of how we might obey and glorify God.  A wife, submissive, as the church is; a husband, loving and sacrificial, as Christ was/is.  


Martha shares some very practical ways we can be that kind of model, and be the glory of our husband...here are a few:


- Ask your husband "What are your goals for the week and how can I help you accomplish these goals"?


-Talk about him in a positive light to others.  DO NOT slander him at all, even if what you are saying is the truth.


- Consider his work (jobs, goals, hobbies, work for the Lord) as MORE important than yours.


- Consider the things you are involved in, how do they glorify your husband?  Ask for his guidance.


- Be organized with cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry and cooking.  As you fulfill your God-given responsibilities, your husband is then free to do his work.


- Do and say things that build him up instead of tearing him down.  


- Save some of your energy for him every day.


- Realize that just as God is glorified when man obeys Him, your husband is glorified when you obey him.


I am far from grasping what it really means to be the glory of my husband, and even farther from being that "excellent wife", but I am striving, through the power of the Spirit, and the discipline of my life, to become that woman, and to fulfill the calling God has created for me.  I am confident that God will continue to mold me and shape me for the glory of His name.


I highly recommend every Christian woman, married, or seeking to be, get a hold of this book and truly work and pray through it as you strive to be the excellent wife!

Our Wedding Goal

I love blogs...all kinds, and when I was planning my wedding I fell in love with a few wedding blogs.  Although the pictures always seemed to steal the show, I was always more interested in what the bride or groom had to say about their special day...what was it about, what stood out, and what memories they would hold onto forever.  After hundreds of posts, on various blogs, I found a void in those blogs...there were few, like 1% that mentioned the Lord, and not one that I came across that mentioned His glory.  What a shame!  Now, who knows what may have been edited from their posts, but still, it really saddened me; after all wasn't it God who created the institution?!  


So...I had to post a few pictures from our special day and share my thoughts on it all.  My wedding may not be the "typical", but it truly was a dream come true!


“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

From the moment we started planning our wedding we knew we wanted to use it as a platform for the Gospel to go forth.  We knew that this would be the one time we would be able to have all the people we love (both saved and unsaved) in the same place at the same time and wanted to use that as a prime opportunity to share the love and grace of Christ with each of them.  Our prayer was that of Matthew 5, that our light would shine forth before man.  We knew it was possible in the ceremony, but wanted to use our reception as a great forum as well.  So the Gospel message would be our focus and the glory of God our aim.  


We had the privilege of having our pastor, Philip DeCourcy, speak at our ceremony and lay the foundation.  And during our reception, our good friend and brother, George Igawa, spoke about the reality of the end of each one's life, and the saving power of Christ on the cross.  


We may not know the fruit that came from those two messages, but there is no doubt in our mind that the Gospel went forth, seeds were planted, and that God's Word does not return void!

And what will we remember most?  There are three things I will never forget about that day...


-The moment I saw the man I would marry for the first time that day...the look in his eyes, the deep loving eyes that said forever, and the strong arms that held me close.


-The hardworking servants who made it possible.  Our family and friends went OVER and above all that we could have asked to make that day a reality.


-The moment we said "I do" and sealed it with a kiss!

And our vows...these I will treasure forever.  We decided together to write our vows, mirroring traditional vows, and yet seeking to bring the picture of the Gospel into them.  


From Keith:

I, Keith, take you Vanessa, to be my lawfully wedded wife.

I vow my utmost and undying love, mirrored after the love Christ has for his church.

I will lead you on this journey called life and to our precious Jesus through humble acts of service.

I promise to nourish and cherish you, as I would nourish my own body.

I vow to lay down all my personal wants, needs, and desires for your betterment and growth up into all things Christ.

I promise to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, to forbear all, forgive all, believe all, conquer all, and persevere through all.

You are mine, and I am yours, until God separates us in death.

By the grace of God and through the power of Christ and the intercession of the Holy Spirit, this is my promise, this is my vow, this is my covenant to you; before God, and before men.

From Vanessa:

I, Vanessa, take you Keith, to be my lawfully wedded husband.

I vow my deepest love to you and to show that love to you by respecting you, putting myself under you, and submitting, as the church does to Christ.

I promise to help you in all things but foremost in your pursuit of our Savior through time in the Word together, humble acts of service, consistent prayer, encouragement and exhortation.

I promise to love you selflessly, patiently, and deeply; evidenced through bearing all things, in the darkest valleys and on the highest mountain tops.

You are mine, and I am yours, until God separates us in death.

By the grace of God and through the power of Christ and the intercession of the Holy Spirit, this is my promise, this is my vow, this is my covenant to you; before God, and before men.  I love you.

I am SO thankful for the gift God has given us in marriage, and my prayer is that He was just as pleased with our day as we were!

A Leader "by Nature"

Being a teacher and working with children for the past 10+ years of my life, I have spent quite a bit of time observing them.  It is always interesting to me to see their little personalities develop from early on.  Quite often you categorize children into two broad categories: leaders and followers.  And on the playground that is exactly how it works out, some children lead while others follow.  It is always the leaders that seem to get in arguments with one another, neither one willing to forsake their ideas and unwilling to compromise, all while the follower stands by and watches or even tries to mediate the situation.  It seems to just be "their nature", the way they were made.  From the perspective of a Christian, we see much more in that, the innocence isn't what it seems, but rather a sinful nature evidencing itself.


When I was this age, I too fell into one of these categories.  I was a leader.  I may have not always had to have my way, but I knew exactly how to get a group of people to play something I wanted to play or how to get little girls to follow me.  I am ashamed to say I often gloried in this.  


As the Lord continued to work in my life throughout the years, I began to see my sinful "nature" more and more, and realized that I couldn't blame my personality for the sinful ways in which I behaved.  I also realized that what could be a stumbling block in my Christlikeness could also be used for His glory.  Christ began to use my "strong" personality to make me a woman of conviction. His Spirit enabled me to stand for what was right in situations in which had I rested in my own strength, I would have fallen.  I praise God for this.


In all honesty, the thought of following someone in marriage always seemed exciting to me, despite the leader within.  I know it was the Spirit's desire within me to follow a man who feared the Lord.  What I did fear however, was the temptation I could potentially face to lead in a relationship where my future husband didn't lead.  I always was one who would take the lead if nobody else would.  But in all honesty, as God sanctified me, I became less and less interested in being the leader, and deeply desired to follow a strong one.  I believe that this is due to the fact that I had such a Godly example of a leader in my own family in my father, something I am forever grateful for.  


 "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,  like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."  -1 Peter 3:1-6


1 Peter 3 became a picture of Godly submission that I prayed I would emulate in my own marriage one day.  I wanted to be beautiful and precious in the eyes of my Father in heaven (and my husband) as I adorned myself in the Word, in Godly character, and in submission to the one in which He put above me.  That's when it became powerfully real.  As I sat and thought about that for a moment, I realized that it was GOD who I was ultimately submitting to, who I was following, because HE was the one who ultimately put a head, a covering above me.  What a beautiful Truth.  There was safety in my submission because in obedience to Christ I could trust He was leading all the while.


All that to say, here I am, almost 3 months into marriage and learning more and more what it looks like to submit, to follow, and to help.  Although I know that I have so much to grow in, I am so blessed to see God actively working in our marriage to enable both Keith and I to fulfill the roles we were created to fulfill.  I am so grateful the Lord has called me to follow a man that I respect more than any other man on this earth, who loves and fears the Almighty more than all, who cherishes me, his wife, and who seeks to lead me to Him daily.  Following a man like this is a gift. 


I may always have the tendency to be the kid on the playground leading the pack, but by the grace of God I can use the strength He has given me to love, encourage and support my husband in His leading of our family.  

Christian Sobriety

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” –Romans 12:3

“So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” –1 Thessalonians 5:6

“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” –1 Thessalonians 5:8

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” –1 Timothy 3:2

“Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” –1 Timothy 3:11

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” –2 Timothy 4:5

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” –Titus 2:2

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” –1 Peter 1:13

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” –1 Peter 4:7

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” –1 Peter 5:8

Sobriety: a concept that has lost some of its historical meaning in light of modern times. Yet, it’s something very frequently discussed as we read through the NT epistles. As it finds its roots in biblical truth, I have to believe that it has a deeper and more profound meaning and scope than it does when talked about today. And as it is a common exhortation to Christians by Paul & Peter, it must be something that we as Christians (especially Christian men as leaders, husbands & fathers) are called to pursue, endeavor towards, and live in. So what exactly is all this talk of sobriety about?

The most common word in the NT for sober is the word nepho (nay’-fo, nhvfw), meaning to be calm, collected, self-controlled, impartial, and/or careful, depending on the context. (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 1:13, 4:7, 5:8). And even with that basic understanding of what biblical sobriety is, we can see how practical Paul’s words are for us. Using these synonyms, a few applications come to mind:

How fitting it is for us as Christians to be calm, collected, and careful in light the pervasive nature of sin and the fallen the world we sojourn.

How fitting it is for us as Christian men to be self-controlled and impartial, as we are called to demonstrate wisdom, leadership, and maturity both inside and out of the church.

How fitting it is for us as Christian husbands to exercise sobriety, as we are called to lead our wives and families.

And as a new husband, this word could not have more relevance to me. I’ve been burdened with the reality that I am called to be sober in all things - sober in judgment, sober in speech, sober in thought, sober in word, sober in deed. I’ve been entrusted with the physical and spiritual well-being of a daughter of the King of kings. He has called me to lead His daughter to the Cross of Christ, through His word and prayer, in love, and by example. The decisions I make as a husband no longer impact just one, but two that were made one in Christ. I think about the reality of this and, like I said, am burdened by its importance.

But God’s word should never leave us just feeling burdened. And so, I am also encouraged by the counsel I receive from Holy Spirit through Paul & Peter, knowing that God’s grace will equip me to live a life of sobriety. As God always promises to equip where He calls, I can trust Him for the daily strength I need to walk in the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body, and to live soberly. Knowing my end and my aim is Christ, I will cast my care upon him for his yolk is easy and his burden is light. Never neglecting by responsibility, yet always entrusting myself to His sovereignty, I know sobriety in all things is attainable.

Moreover, I think Paul had sobriety in mind when he addressed the Colossian church in this way:

“We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this…” (Colossians 1:28-29a)

Paul’s heart was to labor soberly for the church of Christ that they might be mature in Christ. The end of our sobriety is ultimately our maturity in Christ.

And with that, Paul counseled fellow Christians to imitate him as he imitates Christ.

“Remember your leaders who have spoken God's word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition received from us. For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: we were not irresponsible among you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6-7)

We have much to learn from those that lead us. I pray that I may take Paul’s call to sobriety to heart, learn from those that lead me, and walk in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ. 

"Wifely" Sanctification

Before I got married I mentally “knew” what I was entering.  I figured that after reading a dozen books on how to be a Godly helper (aka, wife) or how to have a Christ-centered marriage, not to mention the time spent in prayer and the Word, I would be “prepared”…well as much as I could be right?!  And after all, it was my “dream”…something I had prayed for years on end about and it was finally going to be a reality.  And yet everything I had learned was merely “hypothetical”, and would only be “real” when fleshed out.

September 9, 2011 put us at the two-month mark from the day we said “I do”.  I don’t think I could be any more blessed than I feel and am right now.  I have seen the precious goodness of God truly bless my marriage thus far, and I am so thankful.  Being married to a man who fears and loves God makes it that much more of a blessing.  We have experienced bliss if you would and pray that the “honeymoon” would never fade as we continue to fix our eyes on Christ and to emulate Him toward one another.

BUT…yes, there is a but…I have realized some things about myself in the past two months that, although I knew before, have become so much more visible.  We’ve all heard that marriage is sanctification in full force for the believer, your spouse, if you will, is a mirror that you daily look into.  The flaws of the flesh become that much more real and disheartening.  I knew I was a sinner going into marriage, but the sin I knew I had seemed to be better masked as a single.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that married people sin more or less than singles, but rather that God uses the gift of marriage as a tool to prune, refine, and shape each individual more and more into the image of Christ.

A struggle I have sought the refining work of the Spirit for throughout my Christian walk has been that of selfishness.  Somehow it seems like a mountain I will never fully tackle, but one I do see growth in by the grace of God.  And yet, it is a daily battle I face.  I am amazed at how often I want to cater to my own flesh, without thinking about how it might affect others around me, especially the one whom I love the most.  I forget so often how much I need to rely on the Lord to help me in this area.  It is a prayer I daily lift up, that God would teach me continually to deny myself and to put on the humility of Christ.

And of course, God in His goodness is answering those prayers DAILY, reminding me of the call I have been given and the character I must possess (in HIS strength).  And God, as He usually does, seems to bring about tests and trials to refine us in our areas of weakness continually.  And recently He did just this, tested my obedience, and the call to deny myself and to serve Him and my husband before myself.   God is doing a work, His grace is lavished upon me daily, and I am more excited than ever to continue to see Him work in and through our marriage for the glory of His name and for the good of both my husband and myself!

God's Blessings!

365 days ago my life changed forever when the man of my dreams, the one I had prayed for for so long, got down on one knee and asked me to be his forever.  I don't think I can explain the overwhelming sense of joy and excitement I experienced in that moment, but I know I will never forget it.  And now, a year later, I can call that man my husband!

There are many good gifts God gives His children, but marriage tops them all.  There is no other blessing in which sanctification occurs more constantly and goodness pours out more consistently.  I know I have only been married 2 months, but in that short time, I have realized more about myself than I thought possible, and have come to not only love Keith more, but more importantly, Christ.  It is a treasure worth waiting for, and one only God can give.  

This blog is something both Keith and I pray will be a source of encouragement and exhortation, as we share God's blessings in our life with each of you!