Thursday, December 4, 2014

Make Your Mess Your Message


Robin Robert's mother frequently told her four children to make their mess their message. Everyone has a mess in their lives at one time or another. No one gets through life without trials and suffering. The two I can think of easily in my life are my marriage and my health issues. I wanted to share with you how I made my messes my messages.

My marriage was not good for 23 years, as most of you know. It's not that I didn't want a good marriage; I simply didn't know how. I read every marriage book I could get my hands on but for some reason, I always read the husband's part in the marriage and felt Ken fell short. Thankfully, I finally read Debi Pearl's book and my marriage has steadily improved since then by working on myself and allowing God to change me.

This blog is my message from my marriage mess. I don't want other marriages to struggle all the years that I did. I have various ways to mentor women. I began with mentoring small groups. Then I mentored women one-on-one. Then I began the blog. Now, I mentor women through text messaging, email, Facebook, Chat Room, telephone, and my blog. I am so thankful that the Lord has used my mess to be able to reach out and teach so many women my message!

My health has been a mess for many years. First, I had many parasites and had to go on many drugs which caused IBS. Then, I had a brain tumor and surgery. Five years later, I had my neck fused. Five years after that, my brain tumor grew back and I needed more surgery. The surgeon couldn't get it all, so I had to have Cyber Knife. How have I made this mess my message?

I love to encourage women going through difficult times since I can completely empathize with them. I have a lot of natural remedies for pain since I have experienced so much; whether it be practical ways through Black Salve, ice dipping, trigger point therapy, or food or spiritual ways by being in the Word daily, choosing joy, and singing hymns and spiritual hymns in my head over and over through pain-filled nights of no sleep. It has also helped me clearly see that this earth is not my home!

God promises us that ALL things work out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. We just celebrated Thanksgiving; a day to remember all that we are thankful for. I would love for any of you to share your message from your mess in the comment section. It's good to look back and see how God has turned your mess into a message; working all things for good!

And we know that all things work together for good 
to them that love God, to them who are 
the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Comments (18)

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I love this post Lori! I believe we WILL have suffering in this life, patterned after the sufferings of Jesus. All of us are afraid of this, but God uses suffering to do mighty things in our lives! I can hardly talk about my latest trials, as the wounds are raw. I have grandchildren in the foster care system & their mother (my daughter) has mental issues. These children will likely be put up for adoption & there isn't a thing I can do...I am the "wicked grandma who spanks children". ( the children love me...these accusations come from others ) Even as I write this, I am fully aware of the judgement & accusation likely to happen...it doesn't bother me anymore...I am fully aware of how God has heard my prayers for protection of my daughter & her children & He will continue to do so. (the children are in a Christian foster home & taken to church regularly) This is the hardest trial of my life, & there have been many. The worst part is the accusation of the enemy in my mind, when he tries to convince me God really hasn't forgiven my sins & this is all punishment. I've learned to readily confess every sin I can think of because " God is faithful & just to forgive us our sins & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8,9) I've learned so much through this trial about trusting God & seeing His mercy & love in ways that amaze me, but remind me how close He is & how He loves me. I think perhaps the biggest thing I've learned is the mercy of God, for me & for others. I am more merciful towards others & less judgemental. It's easy to believe the devil's lies about suffering; others somehow "deserve it" but it won't happen to us. God wants us to be a merciful people & to never stop believing in His absolute goodness in every single situation! Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia
1 reply · active 538 weeks ago
On the day that you believed on Jesus and confessed Him as Lord, He forgave you for EVERY sin {past, present, and future}, Cynthia! Every single one. He rescued you from darkness so that you can walk in light. Keep believing and trusting Him. Don't let the lies of the enemy or others pull you down because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. It is so good your grandchildren are in a Christian home and going to church. Right there is a huge answer to prayers and what the enemy wants for evil, God will turn into good. He hears your prayers, dear sister. Trust Him.
Thank you for your message, Lori.
1 reply · active 538 weeks ago
HappyHomemaker's avatar

HappyHomemaker · 538 weeks ago

For years, my marriage was good, not great. Then, I too read Debi Pearl's Created book and I won't lie, at first it made me mad. But it kept convicting me and wow what a difference it did make. Several times I had been told that I must take the spiritual role in our marriage since my husband wasn't saved, but one day as I was reading the Created book, it dawned on me-God says for me to obey and submit to my husband in everything---He does not say obey and submit to my husband AS LONG AS HE IS A BELIEVER and doing what YOU think is right. It is very tough to finally look at yourself and see how stubborn and rebellious you have been. Is everything perfect since I have found out God's ways for my life as a wife? Nope, I still fall back into the feminist way of thinking sometimes and have to be reminded of my place and that's why I love visiting your blog. But, life is better, I think if anything, I love that man God gave me more than ever since I learned he is to be my head. I love trying to please him and would not have it any other way. My only regret is that I do tend to fall into the old ways more than I like! I have not felt like a doormat or beneath him and while I may not always agree with some of the things he decides, I trust him.
1 reply · active 538 weeks ago
What a wonderful testimony, HappyHomemaker! God's ways are so good. We must trust Him by walking with Him and obeying Him since He is our creator and knows what's best for us.
You are a blessing Lori. Thanks for sharing this today- Robert
1 reply · active 538 weeks ago
You're welcome! I always appreciate your support.
I love Debi's book, too. When I feel myself getting complaining or grumpy, if I read a chapter it helps me to think God's way and get my head on straight. The culture sure doesn't help. I don't know why, but when I am treating my husband with honor and respect, everything else seems to go better-much better! Honoring him is obeying God who told me to do it in the first place - I'm sure that's why:) Thanks, Lori, for your encouraging posts!
1 reply · active 538 weeks ago
Life is much better when we are obeying God because His ways are always better than our ways, Tamara! Yes, we must be continually renewing our minds with Truth or else we suffer along with all those around us.
Lori,

I and my wife are believers and born again. Me 14 years, her 10. Long story short she was raised a feminist and encouraged to be promiscous. I will only say that she was with many men before me. Do I feel cheated? No. Nor am I a beta wife her up guy. I have several small business I do triathlons, built a cabin with chain saw and 1 friend. I was recently exposed to red pill.

I was promiscous as well, but found her to be the one and we are very committed to each other and working through things. I on not being harsh and more understanding. Her on submission and winning me over without words.

My question is a long the lines of something sunshine mary said. She said she wants her husband to want her sexually as much as possible and just do it, to be blunt.

This has been a huge issue with us and I am really looking for guidance and am sincere with my asking. I know some times I should make it loving and slow when I am being intimate, but in reality for my libido it would start to get exhausting. She has said she is willing. From a real woman, should I just grab her at most times and have my way with her? Not mean or crude, but gentle, firm and quick? I will be satisfied and she will have the satisfaction that she could satisfy my craving. I am still blue pill in this category.
3 replies · active 538 weeks ago
Jeff,
Lori has asked me to answer this for you and I will here in a couple hours. If you'd rather you can email me at aman.hiswife.thebible@gmail.com.

If I don't here back from you though via email I'll get you out a response tonight. God bless-
Lori,
Jeff has contacted me via email. Due to the sacred & sensitive nature of this one & this being a ladies space- us fellows will handle it there. Thanks and God bless- Robert
Perfect! Thanks, Robert.
I am so thankful that you stand on the truth, and that you take seriously the task of mentoring women. Thank you, sister.
1 reply · active 538 weeks ago
You're welcome and I'm very thankful for your husband to mentor men who come for help and Ken is too swamped at the time to help! :)
Jeff, the answer is definitely no, and maybe yes. You must be sensitive to the restrictions placed by culture and the law on any man who just takes his wife and has sex with her. If you know she will not be receptive it makes little sense to give such an approach a try.

Some wives enjoy the idea of being lovingly taken for sex, and if your wife is one of that group, you may explore this with her conceptually to see if she is indeed receptive to such an approach. If her answer is a resounding "no" then love demands that you make a sacrifice once again for your seemingly selfish wife and allow the Lord to work on her heart.

If you sense she is receptive or she says she is receptive, go at it playfully. Nothing rough or unkind, and maintain yourself as a loving, caring husband who is more concerned about your wife and overall marriage than you are for your sexual desires. If she rejects your playful dominance, go back to my first response, "definitely no" and leave things alone, but keep talking to her about it.

At some point she will get it or she may be stubborn enough to resist your approaches. In today's world, you must protect yourself against accusations of marital rape, a oxymoron of sorts, but a reality that says you cannot have sex with your wife if she is saying "no." Be sensitive to that, and allow her "no" to be "no." But don't give up on your ultimate goal of having more sex. Just find a different approach that maintains your commitment first to do things God's ways, and to love your wife even as she is being selfish with her rationing of sex.
I'm going to take your title and RUN with it!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for being open.
God is good!

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