Wait

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These cousins just want to have fun=hugs and ice cream!


August 2
You know when you read something and it hits home so deeply you have to immediately read it again?  That's what happened with me the other day reading Jesus Always. Sarah Young wrote in the voice of Jesus, "If you become weary of waiting, just remember that I also wait-that I may be gracious to you and have mercy on you. I hold back till you're ready to receive the things I have lovingly prepared for you."  UGH.  I don't think I've ever sat and contemplating all Jesus is waiting for!!!!  Just because you know the end result doesn't mean the waiting is a long process.
Thank You for your gracious waiting Lord!

"But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.  He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.  God takes the time to do everything right-everything.  Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones."  Isaiah 30:18

 Something strange has happened with my email and for two days it has not allowing me to send any group emails.  Now it's totally blocked. God is greater than these problems.
The same thing has happened last week to a friend who has an email prayer ministry in Mississippi.  Please pray for this situation to be resolved. Certainly seems like spiritual warfare.

For now, I'm going to try to usurp the problem by posting what I was emailing to a group doing a 30 day study on encouraging your husbands here on the blog. I'm not even going to type in who the study is by, due to the suspicion that a link to her name and powerful ministry are what have set off this red flag against my email. So for the group taking the encouraging your husband challenge here are the notes from our journals. I'll try to post two days at a time as to not clutter up the blog entries everyday.

Before we start the next couple days of our challenge to love our husbands better let’s pray for one another.
Father, we know Your Word says that with You all things are possible.  Thank You for that encouragement as wives. We come together today as sisters in Christ and pray for one another on this journey.  Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit and guard our tongues, the roll of our eyes and our heart motives.  
Help us to see our husbands as treasures to be cared for and caressed, even on the days we don’t feel like they deserve it! Help us remember the boomerang theory…what we shoot out is going to come back to us.  Help us remember these men are loved by You Father, just as much as You love each of us.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Love you gals.  Thanks for being on the journey with me.
Boo

Day Two  "Through love serve one another."  Galatians 5:13b
How did you do yesterday with your first day of blessing and encouraging your husband?
Was it easy? Was it hard to hold your tongue when you wanted to say something negative?
We hope your off to a good start. (If you blew it, don't give up-start again today!)  There are so many practical things you can praise, if you look for them.
Today, find some way that your husband is serving you or your family. Does he help around the house? Take care of the car? Fix things that are broken? If your budget allows, give him a new, small tool with a big bow attached. But make sure he doesn't think it's part of a "Honey Do" list!
Maybe your husband's not a handyman, but does he run errands for you? Let you go first? Take care of you when you are sick? Help you make decisions? Praise him for his willingness to serve others. Let him know that you see his unique service as a great strength.

Journal thanksgiving for ways you have seen him serve?

Day Three "Love suffers long, and is kind."  1 Corinthians 13:4
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory and by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Love indeed suffers long and is kind. As you consider your Encouragement Challenge, determine today that you will not say anything negative to or about your husband. Speak kindly to him with words of genuine encouragement.
If your husband is considerate of your needs, let him know that you have noticed. Thank him for his kindness and consideration. Thank the Lord that your husband knows how to be both tough and tender.
Sometimes it's difficult for a man to be gentle, kind or tender—especially if he hasn't had role models in these areas. If he's not a considerate person, appeal to him for help without complaining. Let him know that it's hard for you to handle some things alone. Then, when he moves in to help, don't insist that he do it your way. Be glad that he is responding, and express your gratitude.

Ultimately, you can't expect your husband to make you feel more secure, loved, etc. Remember that only God can meet the deepest needs of your heart.

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