My husband, Corey, is a Registered Nurse.  He works at a major University Medical Center on a neuro-trama step-down unit.  It's busy work!  He's been on the unit for nearly 11-years, but he's an exception as the staff turn-over rate is high.  There are always new co-workers names he will reference, young graduates that are getting to know the unit....and eventually Corey himself. 

This weekend Corey and I were blessed by some quality time together when his parents took our daughters for the weekend.  We had the blissful opportunity to talk without interruption.    These are the times when he will most often share stories about work, whether it be quirky stories about patients and their families (all without sharing their names for their privacy, of course) or amusing stories about his co-workers.

So recently at work, Corey said he mentioned something about having an 11-year-daughter to a new co-worker.  The young co-ed was surprised and asked him old he was.  Corey informed her 36-years, to which she was equals parts surprised and relieved.  She didn't peg him as "that old".  (A compliment and a hit all rolled into one comment!)  And then, this is where this whole build-up is going....she asked him if he was still married?  Corey said when she asked, he could genuinely feel that she didn't expect him to be STILL married.  As is 12-years was a long time to still be with the mother of his child.  

It made both of us feel so sad that a young woman has such a tainted view on marriage.  That marriage itself, for so many has become so expendable.  We are proud to be married just over 12-years.  We are committed to 12 more years, 12 more after that and so on.  We expect rough patches over the years, although to be honest, we don't feel like we've had any major ones yet.  We expect marriage to take effort and work, and we will do it, because giving up is not an option to us.  Because when it comes right down to it, Corey and I not only honor the vows of marriage, we honor one another. 

It does not escape me that as a nurse my husband works with plenty of women...women who tend to be younger and younger with each passing year.  I could have a lot to be paranoid about, if I was that kind of wife.  But I am not, because Corey is not the kind of husband that gives reason to be.  I know the condition of his heart.  The level of his commitment to me and our daughters.  I know he honors me in the way he speaks about me, about us, at work.  Besides just knowing it, I have positive testimony from his co-workers I've met along the way. 

And lets face it, when you are sitting in circle of mostly married women at things like school functions, dance studios and scouting weekends, women love to talk smack on their husbands.  I could just as easily gripe along with them.  But I can't do it!  I have my few BFF's that I will share my occasional and genuine grievances with, don't get me wrong, but I can't speak of my husband in such a dishonoring way just to fill the time like some of these ladies.  Mostly I sit in these circles and wonder if these women even like their husbands, let alone love and honor him.

Because the truth is, I do like my husband.  He is my favorite person!  Truth is, I went into this weekend feeling weary and heavy....just down.  And after just one hour of time with him spilling my guts and crying it out, I felt SO much better.  Only with him could I be that vulnerable.  He makes me laugh like no one else.  I love him, love him, love him....just because! 

I just feel so blessed by my marriage and my life with Corey.  IT'S NOT PERFECT.  But it's ours and it's good...because we want it to be.  I guess I just wish everyone could experience this kind of love and respect that makes 12-years go by in flash, making us wonder where did the time go.  As they say, time flies when you are having fun.  And while marriage is hard work, I also believe it should be fun.  The joy should outweigh the trials.  And if it doesn't for you in your marriage, I pray that you can find the way to tip the scales!     

The book of 1st John.  Who knew it would make me so uncomfortable?  I suspect God did.    But it's okay.  It's been that really good kind of uncomfortable...the kind that lets you know you a really reading God's Word and letting it take hold of you.  The kind of uncomfortable that causes you take action.  I almost don't know where to start sharing what God is saying to me!?! 

I guess I will start with what is freshest from this week's readings in 1 John 2:18-27.  My Bible's added sub-title for these verse is "Warning Against Antichrists".  And I'm not going to lie, it's as heavy as it sounds!  And before I go any farther, let me define antichrists as this:  anything that lures us away from Christ. 

So this segments starts off with "...this is the last hour."  I can't help but wonder when is it really going to be the last hour....they thought they were in it 2000-plus years ago.  As John goes on in the next verse to warn about the antichrists that have already infiltrated, I can't help but think that one antichrists in my life is TIME.  While I know time is precious, I am also a procrastinator that relies on more of it coming my way.  How much more would I give my God if I truly thought that this was my last hour?  I wonder if I will have done all that God hoped and planned for me to do?  I want to live like it is my last hour, being prepared for His triumphant return!

In verse 20 John uses the beautiful word ANOINTED..."you have an anointing from the Holy One".  Seriously, doesn't that sound beautiful?!?  But here is my next antichrist in my life....I don't feel very anointed.  Umh, so why?  When I dug into My commentary says is this simply:  Anointing means the Holy Spirit has been given to you by the Father and the Son.  The "A-ha moment" I having here:  I don't feel anointed, because I'm not really seeking the Holy Spirit the way I should.  It is the Holy Spirit that helps us stand strong against the antichrists.  But my antichrists distract me from the Spirit....they convince me to fill myself with other worldly things....they convince me that I am not anointed.  But there is good news...John goes on to say "The anointing you received from Him remains in you....that anointing is real".  I've just got to focus on the Holy Spirit, not on the antichrists in life.

The Antichrist is crafty....he has filled up the world with distracting little antichrists, and I'm trying to take  long hard look at the many more that I know I have inadvertently let take a place in my life.  I must remember that there is daily battle going on in my life between the Antichrist and the Holy Spirit.  

Dear God, continue to shine your light on all the darkness in my life so that I can see it, turn away from it, so I can be anointed and You can be victorious. Amen.   

My poor blog!  I used to LOVE posting....never imagined I'm would loose heart for it.  But it happened and here it is, September 28th and my last post was in June.    BUT, I've started this new on-line Bible Study through Good Morning Girls.  I'm in the second week of a study of the book of 1 John.  And every Wednesday, GMG encourages us to post on our blogs what we are learning through this study.  I wimped out last Wednesday, but here I go today....

For starters, I've never done a study quite like this one.  Each day we read only one or two verses.  They  encourage us to take the S.O.A.P. journaling approach.  S = Scripture:  We write out thr scripture for the day.  O = Observation:  We write down what the verse is saying to us.  A = Application:  How we are going to apply what God is teaching us.  P = Prayer:  Write out our prayer. 

Like I said, I've never taken this sort of slower approach to stop and think about each verse.  It's been fascinating and I feel like I am really reading it.  And actually taking the time to hear what God has to say to me about it.  Then I share my thoughts in a on-line group of fellow readers & sisters on Facebook.  Rugbana's Tessy started the group, and I am so thankful she invited me!  She has named our group "Passionate Priority" because she wants us to be passionate about making our time with God a priority.  I love it....and for the first time in a long while, I am actually feeling that sentiment! 

Anyway, now that you are up to speed on what I'm in the middle of, now I'm supposed to share what God is teaching me.  At this point I've read 1 John 1:1-9, and God is really making me wrestle and squirm....all in a great way!  Here are a few outstanding highlights & thoughts so far.

In the first week I was struck by these conclusions:  1.) Christ needs to be my Word of Life!  2.)  I need to proclaim Jesus Good News to others and write about my joy in Jesus.  3.)  I need to step put of my box and be in a Small Group at my church.  These are all things I have known before, but I became acutely aware of how I don't always make God the priority I actually want Him to be in my life.  I don't give Him the credit He deserves.  So I am working on this.

So far this week, it has just been so meaty!  At verse 5 we begin digging in light and darkness, good verses evil, sin and confession, but most importantly FORGIVENESS!  I was espcially challenged by this commentary line:  "We can not love God AND court sin."  And I while I know I am human, I know that I court sin when I don't properly confess it, and find a way to improve.  And when I took the time to really write out my confession in my prayer this morning....I was so overwhelmed to see it all in writing.  And then I was overhelmed with God's faithfulness despite it all.  God WANTS to fogive us...ME!  I don't have to fear His rejection when I can't seem to keep my slate clean.

It's been a long while since I have been this excited about a Bible Study, and the journey has really only just begun.  I hope by sharing on Wednesday, you too can be excited about God's Word and His amazing faithfulness! 

I was looking for a perfect Bible verse to post on my FB as a response to the overwhelming amount of grief that many people I know are going through right now, and I stumbled across this post from a mother who lost her son.  I decided that the scriptures, and what she discovered through them, was just too good not to share in its entirety.  Please feel free to share it with someone you know that is grieving deeply in one way or another.

When he died, I grieved him deeply.  And I went to the scriptures and I found a series of scriptures that led me from grief to joy.  Now I am sharing the scriptures that helped me find my way.  If you are dealing with grief, I pray that you will turn to the healing scriptures for relief.

GRIEF:
♥ EVERYONE HAS A “TURN FOR GRIEF”
"Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." ~ John 16:22
♥ WE CAN EXPECT DIFFICULT TIMES
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering." ~ 1 Peter 4:12
♥ TAKE TIME TO GRIEVE
"My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rides to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness: My soul refused to be comforted. When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Thou hast held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. I will remember my song in it; I will mediate with my heart; And my spirit ponders."  ~  Psalm 77:1-2
♥ CRYING HELPS
"Cry out to the Lord." ~ Joel 1:14

ATTITUDES AND EMOTIONS:
♥ ANGER IS A HEALTHY PHASE OF GRIEF - GOD CAN HANDLE OUR ANGER
"Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." ~ John 11:32
♥ DON'T GIVE IN TO SELF PITY - DECIDE TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
"Though the fig tree may not blossom, yet I will rejoice in the Lord." ~ Habakkuk 3:17-18
♥ FIGHT THE DEMON OF DISCOURAGEMENT
"And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." ~ Galatians 6:9
♥ DON'T ALLOW RESENTMENT - RESENTMENT IS A KILLER
"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."  ~ Hebrews 12:15
♥ UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN DEATH IS NOT AN ACCIDENT
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." ~ Psalm 116:15

ASKING FOR HELP:
♥ JESUS UNDERSTANDS WHEN WE ASK FOR HELP
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me." ~ Matthew 26:39
♥ IT IS OK TO BE WEAK - THROUGH WEAKNESS THERE IS STRENGTH
"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." ~ Psalm 121:1-2
♥ TELL OTHERS WHEN WE HURT
"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." ~ Psalm 25:16
♥ LEAN ON OTHERS
"Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." ~ Galatians 6:2

GETTING THROUGH ONE DAY AT A TIME:
♥ DO THE WORK OF TODAY
"Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." ~ Colossians 3:23
♥ FIND THE MIRACLES
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28
♥ REJOICE IN THE DAY
"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalms 118:24
♥ FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY
"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men." ~ Galatians 6:10
♥ TALK ABOUT OUR DARKEST MOMENTS
"What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight." ~ Matthew 10:27
♥ FULFILL OUR MINISTRY
"Endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." ~ 2 Timothy 4:5
♥ HAVE FAITH - FAITH MAY BE ALL WE HAVE
"Walk by faith, not by sight." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
♥ SLOW DOWN
"Be still and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46:10
♥ DO THE WORK OF THE LORD
"God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." ~ Genesis 41:52
♥ TAKE REFUGE
"He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him I will trust." ~ Psalm 91:2

OTHERS WHO ARE SHARING YOUR PAIN:
♥ ACCEPT HOW OTHER’S GRIEVE
"But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another." ~ Galatians 5:13
♥ FORGIVE THOSE WHO DISAPPOINT US
"Father forgive them for they know not what they do." ~ Luke 23:34
♥ OUR DIFFICULT PEOPLE DESERVE OUR LOVE AND HELP
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40
♥ TAKE AND GIVE COMFORT
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
♥ USE GOD - GOD WILL HELP US LEAD
"Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may lead." ~ 2 Chronicles 1:10

PRAYER:
♥ THE SERENITY PRAYER
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference."
♥ ACCEPTANCE
"My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done." ~ Matthew 26:42
♥ COURAGE
"Be strong and do not loose courage, for there is reward for your work." ~ 2 Chronicles 15:7
♥ WISDOM
"For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you." ~ Proverbs 2:10-11
♥ FIND A PLACE FOR EXTENDED PRAYER TIMES
"And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God." ~ Luke 6:12
♥ LIVE IN A SPIRIT OF PRAYER
"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
♥ PRAY FERVENTLY
"And being in agony He was Praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. " ~ Luke 22:44

OVERCOMING:
♥ BELIEVE GOD WILL HEAL
"O Lord my God, I called you for help and you healed me!" ~ Psalm 30:2
♥ BELIEVE GOD GIVES STRENGTH
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." ~ Philippians 4:13
♥ BELIEVE WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!
"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." ~ Romans 8:37
♥ BELIEVE A PROMISE: GOD’S GLORY WILL BE REVEALED THROUGH US
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." ~ Romans 8:18
♥ BELIEVE IN THE HOPE IN HEAVEN
"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death." ~ Revelation 21:4

It's March 16th - that's 3/16.  It's John 3:16 Day!

♥ "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16 ♥

Share the powerful message of John 3:16 with someone you know, that needs to know, today!