Building your Prayers with Solid Rock! Miracles Happen.....

I wanted to post a quick follow up to Praying for you spouse......

In response to so many of my close contacts looking for scriptures to pray for their spouse I wanted to post three key scriptures that are so relevant for every circumstance.

This is the foundation of my prayer life and keeping it effective!


God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). I believe God has more for us than we can imagine if we will live His way and let Him live through us.

"the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). I believe that God is the God of the impossible.

 we should be “anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” let our “requests be made known to God”. And when we do “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). I believe we should pray about all things instead of worry about everything.

Blessings~ R

R- is for Romance. Reflect on what 1st appealed to you about your spouse and work on re-kindling the love!

We are focusing on the R in TransfoRmation today..... 

I love thinking back to some of the dates that Jason took me on when we were first dating.  I can remember the newness of the relationship, the excitement of learning about his thoughts and feelings, the anticipation of his next call.........

 May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

 Proverbs 5:18(NIV)

Over the first three years of our marriage I quit being so focused on Jason and began to focus more on our baby, the house, bills, school  and work.  The newness and excitement seems to kind of wear off so to speak....It was around that time that God really called me to stop and focus on how distant Jason and I had become!  We were living as strangers in the same home........

At first I panicked and then I was sad..... I spent much of my time only focusing on what had once been.  I couldn't think of any recent points in our marriage that were spent between the two of us, just focusing on each other and having the time to be tender and "In the Moment"..... It was here where God began to teach me about how to Re-Kindle the love........

Dating your spouse shouldn't end when you say, "I Do"!

 

So how can you continue to date your spouse?

1. First do things together!  Commit to spending time together as a couple first and fore most.  The world will not help you focus on your coupleness..... 
2. Be intentional about your time!
3. Commit to care! (set up special moments on purpose!)

For us, because we were on a tight budget

 I would find affordable ideas of candle light, living room floor dates or Jason brought me my favorite candy in exchange for a kiss.........

I have included a simple list we still use for dates...

• Create a playlist of some of our favorite songs from when were dating...
•  dressed up and did my hair before he got home, fed the baby and put him to bed early so that Jason and I could focus on each other.
• We started doing bible studies together and talking about what we were learning.
• We started taking walks together- Exercise and intimacy go hand in hand.  We were simply enjoying each others company.
• Dancing in the kitchen floor late a night.....
• Breakfast in bed with a one liner of why I love him....
• Showing up to my work to whisk me away via motorcycle for a quick lunch..... He took my breath away!!!!!
• On rare occasions we had a sitter and then went to dinner....... A quite dinner where you can focus on each other...... ie....  Picnics,  a secluded restaurant, Our friends RV in our drive way, after we put our kids to bed in the house. 

The point to remember is keep it simple and make it matter for the two of you!  I think I actually enjoy dating Jason as much now as I did before we got Married!
I am looking forward to an evening together tonight Cheering for his beloved Shockers.... It's the little things he wants to share with me that are so special!

He still makes my heart go, "pitter, patter"

Blessings,
R

TransfOrmation Series......O- is for Openness to God’s plan.

God has great plans for your marriage!.......................................................

..............................................................He wants to give you a Great marriage!

 

So often I hear people tell me one of two things..... Are you ready for it?........ I know it will be a kicker

1. We have a great marriage!  I love my spouse.
2. They have a terrible marriage!  Did you see how he treats her.  Do you see how she talks about him?

What I have found to be true is both 1 and 2.  What I mean is marriage is great until is suddenly isn't!  Most marriages don't suffer in silence.  Most men and women will not stick with something that isn't working for them!  The old saying don't beat a dead horse comes to mind.....

So how does transformation fit into my rant?
God designed us to fit each other.... female to fit a male.   I wonder if we can be open to God's plan for our marriage?

God said he looked at man and it was not good for him to be alone so he created female.  She is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (Genesis)

   

I think most people lie to themselves a little each day.... We tell ourselves that we don't have to live with the way our spouse treats us.

Over time that lie becomes a truth we are willing to embrace, because we have told ourselves that lie for so long that we have reduced ourselves to being OK with it.  So we begin to seek out other activities that we focus our affections on.  Such as our children, friends, school activities our kids are involved in.  All the while our marriage is slowly dying.
 We believe that we can have the fairytale and when it doesn't look like the picture below we throw in the towel......

 

One day we wake up and realize our marriage is dead and we are frantic to know how to get rid of it or to quickly revive it.  The truth is God is a God of restoration.  He raised a dead man!  He parted a sea so that people could walk across on DRY land!  And I can tell you first hand that he can resurrect a dead or dying marriage!  I will also tell you it doesn't happen over night and it takes dedication. 

It isn't easy but he will show you the way if you are willing to follow his plan.  His entire word is built on relationship.  It is built on accountability, and love.  Those are three things that are crucial in marriage as well! 

God's word say.........

May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 5:18(NIV) 

I am praying this for marriages I know that are struggling today!  

On Tuesday I spoke to a small group of ladies about restoration in Marriage.  I was so impressed that even after several years of focusing on my marriage and my spouse that I can be so moved by the words of a woman broken for her marriage!  I have resolved this week to doting on my husband!  I am not looking him to repay the favor.  I simply want to focus on cherishing him, because he is fearfully and wonderfully made and God has blessed him as the head of our home!  He is my protector, my provider and I want to be thankful..........

How has God asked  you to commit to working on your marriage? 

 

 Praying for you all to be love birds again!

Blessings~ R

Feelings are powerful!

 

 

 

 

The worst battle 

you have to fight

 is between what

 you know and 

what you feel.

Cheesy BBQ Potato Skins

These potato skins are great for parties, snacks or a side to a main dish

Ingredients:

• 6-10 Sliced potatoes
• Green onion cut up, 1 to 2 bunches
• real bacon pieces
• 16 oz. bag Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
• BBQ sauce
• Olive Oil to baste the potatoes

Set the oven to 350'

Slice the potatoes and mix with olive oil in a large bowl.  Spread the coated potatoes evenly on a cookie sheet.  Place in over for 15 minutes.

Remove from Oven and flip the potatoes.  After turning them, baste with BBQ sauce of choice.  I use sweet Baby Ray's or my homemade sauce.  Cook for an additional 15 minutes on this side.

Remove from oven and add shredded cheese, green onion, and bacon bits return to the oven for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Remove from oven and serve with sour cream or ranch dressing

Feeds 6-8 servings depending on size of the potatoes before slicing.

TransFormation Series......F is for Feelings~

Talking about feelings

 helps us to understand how our husband feels 

and where he is in our marriage.

Let me just start with the disclaimer that I stole from a dear friend...... My intro could probably read, "Mouth of the Midwest!"  I wanted to start with that as my only segway to a tough topic for me.......

The key to talking about feelings is just that!!!  They are simply feelings.   We don't have to agree with how our husband feels, but we should be willing to hear how he feels.  It doesn't make him right and you wrong.  It simply means he feels thing, just as you do!  It doesn't have to be anyone's fault that he feels good or bad about something.  It might be that when you do a certain thing such as complain about the mess he leaves on the floor in the bathroom or by the backdoor,  he feels that he isn't wanted or that he is creating a huge imposition for you.  Maybe, it's the way you always have something to say and he rarely does so in a group of friends when he suddenly speaks up and you cut him off......It's a little bit of a surprise to both of you.... For you it is odd to hear him share something.... For him it might be a huge moment that is very important......And the fact that he was just interrupted made him feel devalued and unheard...... This later leads to him not caring about what you have to say as much as he seemed to before......Hmmmm...Yeah.... Sounds like a familiar story......Oh yeah... silly girl... It is my story!

So how did I change it?  I started focusing totally on Jason.  I studied him. I made notes of all of things he said.  I made notes about the things he didn't say.  I watched his expression.  I watched his habits.  I learned all over again as if this was the first time I had met him.  I mean the subtle little things our spouse does.   Outside of the things about them that make us crazy.  For example...... Jason loves to listen to classical music.  He is actually fairly well versed.  I have always wanted to go to the symphony, and I now realize this is something he would love to take me to do with him! I don't have to dream about it alone.  I can talk about it with him.  I really know very little but Jason on the other hand...... I think it is actually something that will be more fulfilling for him than it might be fore me!  

I have learned that sometimes just sitting quietly with him was the best way to communicate my love for him and to show him respect.  I learned from him that by just being near him without an agenda he felt cared for and valued.  He didn't have to entertain me, we could just simply be.......

 

The funny thing about feelings is that they hold a great amount of value to the one with the feeling, but often are misunderstood or not heard by the one that has sworn to love the most.  So what am I saying??? Because I wasn't really listening to Jason I was showing him I didn't really care about his feelings!!! Yikes! Sad, but somewhat true.... I assumed since he rarely talked about how he felt or what he thought that he must not really be feeling much, however quite the opposite was true!

Jason actually is one of the most feeling people I know.  He often is very quite about his feelings and keeps them mostly to himself, but he feels deeply, he is a romantic of sorts! I am so blessed that Jason could muster the courage to forgive me for being so careless with his feelings....

Be kind and compassionate to one another, 

forgiving eachother,

just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32(NIV)

Tip:

Try just listening to how your spouse feels......Don't get angry, Just listen...... Having feelings is not about blaming the other person for the way you feel.  Just listen.  Keep that in mind as you talk....... Don't try to out feel your spouse....... Just hear them out.  Knowing how your spouse is feeling can give you great insight in how to care most for and about them.  listening can give you the key to effective prayer for your spouse.  It can also give you insight into things that you might want to change in how you talk to or about your spouse.  It might even lead to a new awareness, an apology, a deeply rekindled flame of love!

One of the silly songs Jason sometimes encourages me with when he is in a very vocal and melodious mood is "Common Baby, Light My Fire"! Thank God I finally learned how to quit putting a damper on the flame! 

I pray this week would be a time for you to really hear your husband and to learn how to really "light his fire"!

 

Blessings~ R