LeAnn Rimes Felt Pathetic

LeAnn admits she did feel "pathetic" during the affair and subsequent media firestorm that happened in its wake. "I couldn't get out of bed. I became this person that I never knew existed within me, and I did not like her at all."

So even people who don't claim to be Christians feel shame about having affairs and destroying families.  She is worried the same thing could happen with her current marriage.  What a miserable way to live!

Is there no hope for marriages to last?  Can every marriage, including Christian ones, fall to adultery and divorce?  If you look around, yes, every marriage is capable of failing, especially since most couples are not doing marriage the biblical way.

Unfortunately, our churches are not fighting against divorce very hard and don't seem to be making marriages any stronger.   I have been to many marriage retreats and seminars.  I mentor many women who have been to all of them, plus marriage counseling, plus reading many marriage books and they are still miserable in their marriage.

Where is our hope?  Where can we turn?  Perhaps God and His Word will help...He lays out His ideas for marriage very clearly.  The husband is the head of the wife.  He is the leader. The wife is his help meet who obeys her husband and wants to please him. The roles are clearly defined but rarely obeyed or taught.

Every single time a women clearly understands her role and starts acting it out in her marriage, her marriage starts turning around.  She starts winning her husband.  She knows, after awhile, that she has saved her marriage and there is peace in the home.

Sinning {having an affair, being an unsubmissive wife, etc.} never turns out to be much fun.  It may look fun in the beginning but ends up to be very bitter fruit.  Being pleasure seekers and getting our way instead of God seekers and pursuing His ways always leads to a dead end path of destruction.

So if you know someone who is having an affair, know that they are miserable no matter how much fun they appear to be having.  You cannot live in rebellion to God and enjoy life no matter how hard you try.  True peace and happiness only comes through obedience to God and His ways.

But he said, “Blessed rather are those 

who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Luke 11:28

She Doesn't Want Children

No, I am not writing about Erin.  The Lord blessed her with this little sweetie on their honeymoon.  They both agree she was their best wedding present of all.  No one can out give God!  Their second little gift from Him is coming in May and we can't wait.  I am writing about another beautiful new bride.

She is young and happy in love.  She loves her job.  If she is unhappy at home, she becomes happy when she goes to work.  Having children frightens her.  She will have to give up so much and it seems boring and difficult to her being with children day in and day out.

God commands that we be fruitful and multiply.  He tells us we are to be living sacrifices, denying ourselves and living for Him.  He tells us children are a blessing and blessed is the man who has a quiverfull.  He says the greatest of all is the servant of all.

Childbearing is obviously a big part of what we women were made for. We are even told in Scripture {I Timothy 2:15} that childbearing is part of our sanctification. Rejecting children is rejecting what God created us to do.

So many women I mentor tell me they are trying to find themselves after they become a wife and mother.  I explain to them that it is in losing themselves that they find life.  The ministry they have been given by God is to serve their husband and children.  

When they realize what a high honor has been given them, their whole attitude changes and they become joyful and content realizing they are serving the King of Kings as they bear children and serve their families. This is what He wants from them.

God never commands women to have careers and make a mark in the world through working outside of the home.  I am not, in any way, saying that women having a career is wrong.  However, God speaks to us an awful lot about women being wives, mothers, and keepers at home.  Oh, how happy I have seen these women become when they understand the importance of their ministry at home and raising up godly offspring.

I will therefore that the younger women marry, 

bear children, guide the house, 

give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

I Timothy 5:14

Happy Birthday to my precious Emma!

The Gruff Construction Worker

She was married to a construction worker.  He was a tough guy to live with.  He was rude, gruff, and smelly.  She determined long ago, however, that she was going to be a godly help meet to him, regardless of his behavior, in obedience to her Savior.

She got up early every morning and made him a big, healthy breakfast.  She kept her little home clean and pretty for him.  When he came home for dinner, she made sure she looked her best and had a good dinner ready for him.

At work, all the guys were complaining about their wives or girlfriends who were quarrelsome, unappreciative,  and unhappy.  He started telling them about his amazing wife.  They didn't believe him.  He told them he would prove it to them right then by taking all of them home with him.

All these big, dirty men showed up at her home and her husband asked her to fix breakfast for all of them.  They were running low on groceries so she prayed as she prepared breakfast for them that there would be enough.

She served all the men a big, hearty breakfast.  She treated her husband with warmth and respect.  They couldn't believe it!  From then on, they all started treating him differently at work.  They thought he must be something special to be treated like that by such an amazing woman.

She was a crown to her husband even when he didn't deserve it.  He eventually became a Christian and they had the marriage she had always dreamed of having.  She won him without a word even though it was hard work and a lot of self sacrifice.

God's ways work and He keeps His promises.  He wants our obedience even when it is hard.  It adorns His Word and His Word is beautiful. 

{This story was adapted from my very favorite marriage book.}

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; 

that, if any obey not the word,

they also may without the word

be won by the conversation of the wives.

I Peter 3:1

P.S.  Here are some very cute Valentines you can give to your husband!

My Very Productive Kitchen

Yes, this is a picture of my kitchen. I used the big pot on the stove to make another batch of chicken broth.  I also just finished chopping up a very large salad. I smell yams cooking for dinner and a roasted chicken in the oven. The vegetables are ready to steam for dinner.

Yesterday, I made kefir and a large pot of my homemade chicken and vegetable soup from my broth I make from the roasted chicken.  Homemade chicken broth makes everything better! I made a big batch of our homemade salad dressing.  I always use healthy fats to cook with. Today, I went to Jimbos, Trader Joes, and Costco and loaded up on all my good, healthy food.

We use our kitchen A LOT!  Since we make everything from scratch, it does take a lot of time and creates a lot of mess. I am getting better at cleaning as I go. I fill the sink up with hot, soapy water and put the dirty dishes in it as I go.

Fixing healthy food for my family has definitely been a priority for me.  It has always been difficult for me to be away from the home for too long  since I love taking care of my family in this way.  I love being home cooking, cleaning, blogging, reading, mentoring, etc.

I am so thankful God wants me to be a "keeper at home" and for a husband who works so hard so I am able to be home.  Find joy in being a keeper at home if you are able to be one!  Do it with thanksgiving and to the best of your ability.

Whatever your hand finds to do,
do it with all your might.
Ecclesiastes 9:10