Calling all women, mothers, sisters, daughters and wives.

We all have a sacred call, a noble profession.

We are given a biblical mandate that we are to train up the next generation.  Women we are the nurturers of homes the holder of our children’s hearts and we are the creators of safe havens for our family.

But we are failing the next generation if we are not training up other young women around us.

Some of us have learned the hard way and some of us had heeded the wisdom of the Word. Both of us have stories to share that will help the young learn how to love their husbands or their future mates.  We must undo the harshness of parents that have left broken hearts behind to mend themselves.

Our responsibility is to more than just our own children.  The Body of Christ needs you to take up your mantle and place it on another’s shoulders.  We must make time to invest in our future by modeling, mentoring and mandating the next generation.

It is our responsibility and the gift of your wisdom and knowledge is desperately needed.  For those of us whose precious ones have left the nest, look around you and invest every gem of wisdom you have learned into another.  If your children are still home you can make time for those the Spirit of God brings across your path.

There are scars that can be avoided, divorces that don’t have to happen; children that will benefit from the time you spend investing in another woman’s life.  Within your everyday experiences are the lessons learned that can radically change the future of another woman’s life and family.

We are needed and wanted more than ever.  Though it might be hard to believe that we can make that kind of difference we have scriptures that prove it.

Titus 2:3-5

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,

4   so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

5   to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. ^[1]

---

^[1] New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Tt 2:3–5). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

A creed of integrity

I found this wonderful creed in my morning devotional.

Words to live by.

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care.
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift.
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
I would be prayerful thru each busy moment;
I would be constantly in touch with God,
I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper;
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions (83). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications

The Secrets to staying married. The happy part is earned not granted.

• Never ever lose sight of God.

The minute one of the two of you stop chasing Him is the moment you open the door to trouble to join your marriage.  The first one to disconnect from their quiet time with God is the one who will lose their sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and start bringing chaos and confusion into the marriage.  Note to self- selfishness, worry, anger, lust, always seem like a good idea when the Spirit of God is not there to remind us of the torment of those lies.

• The filter –

Every decision you make in a marriage will not affect only you.  The truth is that every harsh word or selfish deed will stay upon your children’s children in some way.   Knowing that ahead of time helps to secure the filter over the mouth and mind.  Know this now – if you aren’t mature enough to hold your tongue, then you’re not mature enough to marry no matter how old you are.

• The Power of Choice

The power of choice is always within your grasp.  You choose to forgive.  You choose to be happy.  You choose to give positive feedback.  You choose to go the other mile.  You choose to be gracious.  You choose to love.  You choose to remember and rehearse why you fell in love with them in the first place.

• The power of Love

Love is not just a feeling.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end^[1]

• The power of  Integrity

Integrity is not just for when things are going well.  We seem to have no problem with this value until our partner stops showing it and then that seems to be our get out of jail free card for losing our own.  That would not be the definition of integrity.

integrity

1 the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness : he is known to be a man of integrity.

• The power of your vows -

To state this bluntly I stood before God and promised till death do us part, not till I am tired of his stupidity or he is tired of mine.  Stupid/selfishness tries to butt into every marriage and it takes the one who remembers their vows the most in those moments to fight for the love that is possible, the future that God dreams of, and the legacy we leave behind, even the reputation of God.

• The power of His promises.

God is faithful to redeem every relationship that turns to him for support.  There are times I didn’t believe in my spouse but I was believing in the power of God for my spouse.

Happy is never really reached before hardship, anything before that just the fun and infatuation stage.  Marriage is won when we choose to die to our rights and believe God for our spouse.

Happy is born on the other side of disillusionment and sometimes betrayal.

God is faithful.

Now the fun stuff.

Kiss often

Talk all the time

Have great sex as often as possible.

Be creative when you can.

Never stop touching each other.

Never stop appreciating.

Eat great meals together.

Share high up and high down.

Share everything.

Keep no secrets.

Think of each other through out the day.

Do that thing (what ever that special thing he or she loves) often.  My man brings me coffee in bed anytime I am in there longer than he is.  : ) My thing.

Pray often and together.  This is a huge bonding practice.

Play well together.

Have fun and never ever stop laughing.

Always remember how they like to receive love (love language) and speak to them in their love language often.

After 27 years I’ve never been happier.  We fought for the happy part we worked the marriage part and now we are in the keep practicing and playing part.

We are having the best time and adventure of our lives.

You can do it!

If you are reading this and have been married for a few years, please feel free to contribute suggestions that have worked in your marriage.  Especially in the area of fun.

We have a whole lot of young ones getting married soon.

---

^[1] Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language (1 Co 13:4–7). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.

A generation thrown away.

I’ve never been to a place where the children don’t smile.

I’ve never looked into eyes of one so young that are blank and yet afraid.

I haven’t lived a sheltered life but I’ve never witnessed this level of neglect before.

My  heart is searching for words they cannot find.

For the first time in my life I am emotionally overwhelmed.

So often our college students have returned from mission trips in a complete state of culture shock.

My mind feels like time square in NY with mixed messages flashing back and forth.

I don’t know how to describe hopelessness.But it is what I felt when Joshua looked in the windows and wasn’t permitted to go to school because his parents don’t find it valuable. Even when it would be free for him and he would receive one good meal a day.

I’m asking God how I’m supposed to live in a world where the greatest focus on television right now is the Oscars.

It’s hard  to imagine or be excited about some celebrity wearing a million dollar bracelet when the children I played with had no front teeth because of malnutrition.

I want to shake the world and shift the wealth but I can’t.

I know what I can’t do.  But I won’t wallow in that thought.  I want to know what I can do.

Our next generation must be rescued.

Isaiah 54:12 The Message

All your children will have God for their teacher—

what a mentor for your children!

You’ll be built solid, grounded in righteousness,

far from any trouble—nothing to fear!