My husband is so great, so why don't I treat him like it?

Check out this site. http://www.titus2atthewell.com/2009/03/are-you-born-supervisor.html

What an amazing principle she shares today! I have visited this site before, but didn't start following it until today.

First off, let me just tell you that todays post was written just for me. It could have had my name at the top. "Jessica, Are you a born supervisor?" Am I proud of that?--well, I thought I was, but I am seeing that what may be good in my position at work, is certainly poisonous for my marriage and my home.

It is not my job to check off a list if my husband is performing satisfactorily. Why do I think that I can talk to him in a way that I would never speak to my co-workers, or even to a stranger? Why is it so easy for those things to pop into my head and even worse for them to come out of my mouth?

I know that he loves me unconditionally. I know that he wants to be with me forever. So why don't I treat him like it. Perhaps as it is written in the post, it is because I don't see all the wonderful things about my husband.

So, when I think of my husband, I am going to become verbally thankful for him. I am going to tell those around me how great he is, instead of only giving voice to the things that he does that drive me crazy.

So, here is the start of my list:
I love my husband because:

• He takes care of the house
• He does the dishes
• He cooks dinner
• He keeps my dear daughter so that I can go to weekly Bible Study
• He loves our daughter so deeply
• He is a neat freak

This is something that we were challenged to do when we were part of The Vow on http://www.lifechurch.tv/ and I am going to continue to do it.

Oh, and did I mention we are starting a marriage class at church. I am so excited about it. I know that it is going to do amazing things in our lives. Things have been really good lately and just keep getting better, and I know this marriage class is going to take things to an even higher level.

What a great day! And then a sad one :-(

I forgot to check the mail yesterday. I love checking the mail. Usually the mail is just bills, junk, or stuff for my husband, but on the rare occasion, something will be for me and I love when that happens! Oh, and there is always my secret hope for money or a check that I am not expecting, but that doesn't happen except around my birthday, and that is not anytime soon.

My husband grabbed the mail out of the box before church and today I had a great mail day.

Let me give some background: someone (on a blog I am sure) told about a survey you could take and upon completion, the thank you was a year subscription to Martha Stewart Living. I love that magazine. I love surveys. So, I took the survey and ta-da, they came through and yesterday I had the March and April issue of Living in my mail box. It makes me kind of sad that it sat in the mail box all night, all alone. But I am so glad that when I finish this post I am going to run a bubble bath and sit in the tub soaking up all the craftiness that I can only read in awe about and not actually attempt.

It is a beautiful magazine and I am so happy about it. I then told my husband how sad it was that so many magazines are going out of business, and I hope that Living is okay because it is wonderful and makes me so happy.

I then began thumbing through the rest of the mail....bill, bill, junk, junk....oh wait, that one has my name. It is from Wondertime Magazine! The best kids magazine I have ever seen. At first I got a little perturbed because I just paid my bill and thought they can't be trying to get me to renew again already. I check out the postcard. Dear Ms Wondertime Lover, we regret to inform you that you will no longer be receiving Wondertime magazine because unfortunately we have folded. WHAT? Another paper product in this ever-more-paperless world has fallen victim. So heartbreaking. What a great publication. It had beautiful pictures, stories, and the best ideas for things to do with your kids. I couldn't wait until my daughter was old enough to enjoy the things that were in the magazine. Tears might have started brimming from my eye lids, I am not going to lie.

Sad day. RIP Wondertime.

But, hey, at least I have my Martha Stewart Living magazine to keep me warm at night.

Finally finished the Shack

I don't want to give away the story, but I do so recommend you read this incredible book. Check out their website.

www.theshackbook.com

Here are the main themes that I really picked up from the book, but again, I recommend you read it and figure out your own impressions.

The biggest thing that really made an impact on me, is that God is not disappointed with us. He knows what we are going to do, so how can he be disappointed? If I truly understood the character of God I could get this deep down in my heart. How can he be disappointed with a decision He already knows we are going to make.

Also, I really like that God doesn't have expectations of us. He wants a relationship with us. He doesn't want us to live by a set of rules, He wants us to love Him.

I was also very touched and had a deep understanding that God doesn't allow "bad things" to happen to teach us a lesson or get our attention. I was in a mindset for a while that whenever something happened that wasn't my way, it was God teaching me a lesson. A close friend of mine told me about a year ago that not everything is a "lesson." That is something that is LIFE CHANGING for me.

It really took me a while to get through this book, and for those who know me, they know that not many books take me a while to read. I really let fear stand in the way of hearing God's heart in this book, because of what some of the subject matter was. I thought it would be difficult to read a book about a little girl, since I am a mother of a little girl. It was very easy for me to put myself in the main characters role and feel "The Great Sadness" because facing something like that in my life is a huge fear of mine.

That is all I want to talk about because if you haven't read The Shack I really encourage you to set aside some time, spend time in prayer asking God to soften your heart and reveal Himself to you through this story, and then get ready for a wild ride. Oh, and if you are like me, keep a box of kleenex handy.

Goodness Under Pressure

Today I wanted to share my daily devotion from the Proverbs 31 Women.

 

We all need God's goodness under pressure.  During this time, it seems like everyone I know is facing the threat of something dire: job loss, relocation, serious illness, major financial problems, infertility, and the list goes on and on.  I think that we have to make sure that we are keeping our eyes open and our ears listening and our hearts soft so that we can recognize the when God is revealing His goodness throughout each and every day.

 

Goodness Under Pressure

3 Mar 2009

Micca Monda Campbell

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life." Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

I didn't know it then, but before my husband's accident, God already had a plan to care for me. I was far along into my pregnancy with my first child when my dad approached Porter and me with a heartfelt concern. With a new baby on the way, Dad advised us to invest in life insurance. It was a great idea, but we just couldn't afford it. Under the circumstances, Dad felt compelled to pay the premium until we could pay it ourselves. Porter accepted. Little did we know what the future held. Just two short weeks later, Porter tragically died. What would my son and I do now that our sole provision for food, shelter, and clothing was gone? The pressure was on as I tried to make sense of it all.

Sometimes God allows us to become pressured - not to terrify us or cause us undue pain but to purify our character. It's interesting that God uses pressure in our lives this way. In the same manner, pressure is what makes a diamond pretty, precious, and priceless. Diamonds are treasured stones that many desire. God wants you and me to become His treasured stones that shine with His glory. He uses the pressures in our lives to create in us a thing of rare beauty that many desire. When we allow the stress of life to purify our nature, we permit God to work for good and His glory.

Just when I thought I had to put my newborn son in daycare and find a job, it happened. It was nothing short of a miracle. It was God at His finest. Although the life insurance policy had only been signed two weeks before the accident and was still in the probation period, the company decided to honor it. Because of God's goodness, I was able to stay home with my son for a while longer. Sure, the pressure of my trail was hard, but learning to lean on God's goodness had its rewards. I saw a promise come to pass, my character and faith were sharpened, and I had the privilege of experiencing God at work in my life.

It may be different for you. God's goodness under pressure may show up in a job offer that you weren't expecting. It may be as simple as someone buying you dinner or offering to baby-sit so you can have some time to yourself. Whatever the form, it's His goodness showering you with care in your time of distress. Acknowledging these acts of kindness, which flow from God's heart, builds our character and our faith. Before we know it, our life shines with the brilliance of a diamond that draws others to our God. And that, my friend, is a good thing.

Dear Lord, sometimes my stress feels so heavy I think I can't go on. I have no breath or life left in me. But Your Word says that You make me lie down in green pastures. And Your goodness and love will follow after me. Oh, how Your Word refreshes my soul and renews my spirit. Be my strength; be my rest; be my ever-present help under pressure. With You, I can make it through. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears by Micca Campbell

His Princess: Lo ve Letters from Your Prince by Sherri Shepherd

Visit Micca's blog

Application Steps:
Recall each and every time God has shown goodness to you under pressure. Thank Him by writing out a prayer, song or poem. Keep it so that the next time you find yourself under stress, you can trust and watch for a sign of goodness.

Reflections:
What causes you the most stress: home, job, raising kids, etc.?

How do you lean on God's mercy during times of pressure?

How can trusting God with your stress bring peace to your life?

Power Verses:
Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." (NIV)

Psalm 23:2, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters..." (NIV)

Psalm 23:3, "He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (NIV)

© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.

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Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream?

Like the line in Pretty women says, "Everyone who comes to Hollywood got a dream, What's your dream?"


I just discovered Motivate Me Monday.
http://likeawarmcupofcoffee.blogspot.com/2009/03/motivate-me-monday-giveaway.html

Check out this website. This is the place where I got the 31 days to clean that I posted about earlier. Oh, and now would be an appropriate time to mention she is doing a giveaway too!

She is talking about putting the denim on your dreams and working to get what you want! LOVE IT. My dreams have kind of been put on the back burner, but I am letting them come alive in my heart again. I know that I need to get busy and do the work to get things moving if I am every going to see my dreams turn into reality.

I have been very hesitant to share with many people what is in my heart, but I know that God has planted a dream and vision in my life and I haven't really done anything about it. Well, what better time than now! I know there are some things I need to be cutting out of my life, to make room for other things, and that is where I plan to start. My dear hubby and I have already cut back our tv viewing by a considerable amount. I mean, seriously, if you knew how much TV we used to watch you would be ashamed for me!!! I just have to do it, and stop giving excuses.

I am putting the denim in my dreams, and doing the work to see them turn into reality!