Two are better than One

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil .

Ecclesiastes 4:9

 

 

Today, Robert and I celebrate 9 years of marriage. That is worth celebrating!! As I think back on the years, I see God's incredible faithfulness, grace and love all over our marriage. And I am so grateful!

 

I am very much a work in progress, but I have seen God's hand at work, miraculously, in our marriage this past year especially and I can't help but share a few things He has taught me and is continuing to teach me everyday.

 

Marriage is hard! But it is oh so sweet when we surrender it to Jesus and let Him mold us into the people He has created us to be. Here's what I'm learning, perhaps something will encourage you in your marriage today.

 

~We are in a battle...not with each other, but for each other. The bible is very clear that we have an enemy who's only 'MO' is to steal, kill and destroy. In my opinion, the first place he targets is the heart of the home, your marriage. Remember, you are not fighting against each other! Rather lock arms together and fight for each other.

 

~Forgive quickly and fully. We have the opportunity to forgive big and little things, daily. Forgive the big and the little and move on. Just as Jesus has forgiven us, we are to forgive others.

 

~Love never fails. The world will tell us that love isn't enough. But it absolutely is! Love, Christ's love, is more than enough and will never, ever fail.

 

~Give grace, abundantly. Nobody is perfect. Don't hold your spouse to standards you are not willing to fulfill yourself. Give grace!

 

~Seek to understand, not be understood. Make it your goal to understand your spouse, to ask questions, to study them as you did when you were dating. The more we seek to understand, the more we are understood. Sounds illogical, but it's true.

 

~Dream together. Life has a way of stealing our dreams from us. Take them back! Dream together and find a way to pursue those dreams together.

 

~Love well. It is easy to get caught up in the "game" of "I'm not feeling loved, so I'm not going to give love." Don't play that game! Figure out how your spouse feels loved and then fill that "love tank" up to overflowing, everyday! And when you think you have nothing left to give, tap into the Source of love and love some more!

 

~Pray. Pray for each other...together and separately. There is nothing better you can do for your spouse and marriage, than to surround, inundate, saturate your spouse and marriage in prayer. Prayer is powerful!

 

~Encourage. Be your spouse's biggest encourager! Always see the best in them and never, ever stop telling them what you love about them and that you are proud of them.

 

~Celebrate. Celebrate the big and little things. Celebrate accomplishments together and just celebrate who your spouse is. There is beauty, and something to celebrate, in each day. Look for it.

 

~Remember. Remember why you fell in love. Remember that God is for you and your marriage. Remember that your love and your spouse are worth fighting for, always.

 

I am so grateful for my life with Robert. There have been incredibly difficult times and incredibly beautiful times and I am grateful for them all. When we surrender ourselves to Jesus, He uses all things for His glory. And through marriage, we have the privilege of understanding a little bit more how much Christ loves us and how we can, in turn, love like Christ.

 

Happy Anniversary, Babe! There is nobody else I would rather walk through life with than you. Here's to countless more years together!

 

 



Uncommon Grace{In Forgiveness}

Ephesians 1:7; Nehemiah 9:17; Luke 6:37-42; Hebrews 12:15

 

 

Forgiveness is hard. Especially when you are wronged and the offending party doesn't ask for forgiveness. How can forgive then? How can we forgive ever, for that matter?

 

Jesus.

 

Jesus and His abundant grace He has poured out on us allows us to extend forgiveness to others, whether they ask or not.

 

Ephesians 1:7-8 says "In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight."

 

He has lavished grace upon us, forgiving our sins, which enables us to forgive others. In fact, we are called to forgive others just as He forgives us!

 

Luke 6:37 says "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

As you read farther into Luke 6, we see that we are called to forgive others, treat others how we wish to be treated, so that we can also receive forgiveness from others. None of us are perfect, we all need grace and forgiveness.

 

If you are in a position to forgive somebody, there obviously has been pain. Sometimes deep pain. And you may not know how you can ever forgive that person, that hurt.

 

But, I'm telling you, you can! And you must! For your own well being, you must! When we are unforgiving, we open the door wide open to bitterness. Unforgiveness and bitterness only hurt you.

 

Hebrews 12:15 says "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled."

 

This is where God's grace, and abiding in Him, allows us to do things we never thought possible. It will take time and intentionality on your part to forgive others, especially when they haven't asked for forgiveness, but through Christ you can do it.

 

I know. I've done this myself.

 

The pain won't go away when you extend forgiveness, but freedom and healing from the pain begin immediately!

 

Give your burdens, your hurt, your pain to Him. Let Him heal you and give you the grace to forgive others, just as you have been forgiven.

 

 

 

Uncommon Grace{In the Bad}

2 Corinthians 12:9; James 1:17; 2 Timothy 2:13

 

Life is hard sometimes, isn't it?! It can be ugly, messy, painful. It can be hard to see God during those times. To understand why we're walking that difficult path. Is God really there? Is there grace in the bad?

 

Yes!

 

Even in the bad, God is there and His grace is present.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9 says "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

 

When we're walking through difficult seasons, heartbreaking seasons, we are faced with a choice-turn to God or turn from God. Where we have placed our faith and trust in the good times is revealed in the bad.

 

When we chose to turn to God, sometimes turning minute by minute, we begin seeing God's grace scattered throughout even the worst circumstances. A sweet word from a friend you haven't spoken to in years; a glimmer of hope from a new doctor about treatment options; His grace in revealing sin before it could fester any longer. His grace is in everything.

 

 

Life is hard and we will have difficulties, but God never changes. He is always faithful, always waiting to pour out His grace upon our lives, upon our circumstances.

 

James 1:17 says "Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (Emphasis mine)

 

2 Timothy 2:13 says "if we are faithless, he remains faithful."

 

Truth Him today. Run to Him. Look for His grace in all circumstances.

 

 



Uncommon Grace {In the Good}

James 1:17; Psalm 84:11; Ephesians 2:7

 

It is so easy, isn't it, to not pursue God when things are "good" in our life. Work is going well; the kids are doing well; you and your husband are connecting like never before. Life is good!

 

We often get so wrapped up in the flow and goodness of our day that we don't stop and see God, His grace, in all the goodness of our life.

 

James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

 

Ephesians 2:7 says "so that in the coming ages he might show immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

 

We've already seen in Scripture that God waits to pour out His grace on us.{Isaiah 30:18} He delights in giving us good gifts!{Luke 11:13} We need to slow down and recognize where, and from whom, those good gifts, gifts of grace, are coming from. And then thank Him for them.

 

When we look for Him in the good, and thank Him for His gifts, we are training ourselves to be aware of His presence in all things, in all circumstances.

 

I especially love the second part of James 1:17 in which we see that God never changes, He is always there in the good...and the bad.

 

Take time today to see God's grace, His good gifts, in your life. And then thank Him for them! Allow these moments of gratitude and recognition of Him to strengthen your faith, so that the foundation is laid, strong and ready, to turn to Him, in all circumstances.

 

 



Uncommon Grace{to Others}

Colossians 4:6; John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 12:9

 

What does it look like to pour out grace on others? Is it possible only in big ways? Can we show grace to others every single day? In the little mundane tasks? What about in the big? In moments of pain and heartache caused by others? Can we pour out grace then, too?

 

Yes! Undoubtedly yes!

 

BUT, it's not always easy. And it's never something we can do on our own. It is only by Jesus' power within us, working through us, that we can pour out grace on others...in the little and the big.

 

John 15:5 says "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

 

When we are resting, abiding in Him and receiving the grace He pours out on us, we can, in turn, pour grace out on others. The key is abiding in Him.

 

As a mom of two little ones, I have opportunities all day, every day, to pour out grace on them in little ways, in the mundane parts of my day. They can try my patience and push my buttons and there are many times I fail to show them grace. But, when I'm abiding in Jesus, He puts a check in my spirit and gives me grace, to give them grace.

 

And it's when we make the choice in the little things to show grace, that we are more likely to show grace in the big things. Really big things.

 

Colossians 4:6 says "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

 

But, again, this is only done through Christ in us. We must submit ourselves to His grace and let it transform us so that we can pour that grace out on others.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9 says "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

 

Let's submit our natural inclination to not show grace to others and be transformed by the grace of God. Let's pour grace out on others!

 



Uncommon Grace{to Ourselves}

2 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 11:28-30

I don't know about you, but I have a terrible time showing myself grace. There are all these voices and loud noises shouting at me, telling me I am not enough, I shouldn't do that, but rather do this. That I'm not worthy as a wife, mother or friend.

And I believe them.

So, I strive for perfection in all I do. And, I increase my expectations on myself while simultaneously increasing my work load. I become exhausted before my feet even touch the floor in the morning.

BUT, all those voices I'm hearing are lies. Lies straight from the pit of hell!

Jesus, sweet Jesus, sees me completely different. He sees me as His beautiful creation. His masterpiece! {Ephesians 2:10}

The very reason He came to earth and died on the cross for my sins! He sees me as somebody He wants to spend eternity with! And He sees YOU the exact same way! {John 3:16}

He pours out His grace on me! 

He views my weaknesses and insufficiency's as opportunities to let His strength rule in my life. Listen to these incredible life giving words He has spoken over us!

2 Timothy 2:1 "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

What incredible words of truth and life! Let them sink deep into your soul.

I wish I could sit with you over a cup of coffee and tell you that you are enough. You are beautiful. You are God's masterpiece!

Give yourself grace today! Jesus is...!



Uncommon Grace

John 1:14-17; Romans 5:20-21; Psalm 103:8; Isaiah 30:18

Grace has been defined as unmerited favor; favor bestowed on sinners who deserve wrath.

Is it difficult to think about yourself as a sinner? I mean, you're a nice person, right?! You help others out when you can. You smile to the stranger you pass down the Target isle. You hold the door for the sweet old lady who cut you off turning into the parking lot. You couldn't be a sinner, right?!

Wrong.

Romans 3:23 tells us 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.'

All of us. You. Me. Everybody.

But, verse 24 goes on to tell us that we are 'justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.'

Or, maybe you're on the other end of the spectrum. Your past is so tainted and wrought with heartache that there is no way Jesus would ever want a relationship with you, right?!

Wrong.

Isaiah 30:18 says, "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you."

Isn't that incredible?! He is waiting to be gracious to you! And me!

Whether we're comfortable admitting it or not, we are all sinners in desperate need of a gracious Savior.

John 1:14-17 tells us that Jesus came, just for us, to pour out His grace and mercy upon us! Though the law revealed the depravity of man and the reality that we could never earn our way into God's grace, Jesus came. Jesus came in love and grace and made a way for us to have abundant and eternal life with and through Him.

We have been gifted incredible, new every morning, sufficient for the day, grace from Jesus!

Relish that today. Soak in His grace. Receive it. Walk in it.