Good Morning
I don't normally post on Fridays but I found this video and had to share it. Can you imagine "walking the streets of gold" and "running where the Angels have trod"? It brings tears of joy to my eyes. I hope you all have a very Happy and safe New Year.
I hope you join me on Monday as we start a new year of Marriage Mondays. I am working on a series on Praying for our Husbands.
In His Calm,
Mary
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to join me here at The Calm of His Presence each Monday. You all mean so much to me. I am having a blast spending time with my family. I will be back next Monday for the beginning of a new year of Marriage Monday. I wish you all a very Happy New Year!
In His Calm,
Mary
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, December 20, 2010
Imagine
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you," 1 Peter 1:3-4
Imagine a world without Christ...
There would be a world of fear, hatred and violence.
There would be a world of anger, bitterness and hurt.
There would be a world of poverty, loneliness, and despair.
There would be a world of broken marriages, broken families and broken lives.
But most importantly there would be a world with no hope, no forgiveness and no future.
In our world today we see fear, bitterness, loneliness and broken lives. We also see all of the other things I mentioned. However, we see so much more through God's gift of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus we have hope, we have forgiveness and we have eternal life. Christ gives us the strength to overcome fear, anger, bitterness and hurt. He is the comforter and counselor who will heal marriages, broken families and broken lives. If you are hurting take the time today to talk with Christ. Tell Him how you are feeling and sit in his presence and let His healing power take hold of your life.
My prayer is that you will experience Christ's love and hope this Christmas. May you all have a very Merry Christmas.
In His Calm,
Mary
Imagine a world without Christ...
There would be a world of fear, hatred and violence.
There would be a world of anger, bitterness and hurt.
There would be a world of poverty, loneliness, and despair.
There would be a world of broken marriages, broken families and broken lives.
But most importantly there would be a world with no hope, no forgiveness and no future.
In our world today we see fear, bitterness, loneliness and broken lives. We also see all of the other things I mentioned. However, we see so much more through God's gift of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus we have hope, we have forgiveness and we have eternal life. Christ gives us the strength to overcome fear, anger, bitterness and hurt. He is the comforter and counselor who will heal marriages, broken families and broken lives. If you are hurting take the time today to talk with Christ. Tell Him how you are feeling and sit in his presence and let His healing power take hold of your life.
My prayer is that you will experience Christ's love and hope this Christmas. May you all have a very Merry Christmas.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, December 13, 2010
Things to be treasured
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
Oh, the winners of last Monday's giveaway are GrammaGrits & theaikenite. Thank you to everyone who posted on my blog and on Shari's blog. I had a great time meeting new bloggy friends. I hope you all have a wonderful week finding things to treasure this Christmas season.
Mary
On Christmas morning 25 years ago I sat in my Grandparents den rocking my new baby cousin as she slept in my arms. While I rocked her gently, I watched my cousins and my sister and brother running around playing with their brand new toys. I listened to my Grandparents, Aunts & Uncles and my Mom & Dad as they sat around the table laughing and telling old stories. Luke 2:19 came to my mind that day. Time could have frozen and I would have been perfectly content. As far as I was concerned life couldn't get much better. I remember looking forward to the day when I had a family of my own to take to my Grandparents and celebrate Christmas in that same home. I am amazed at how vivid that memory is for me so many years later.
Years later I had a husband and a brand new baby and was looking forward to adding the first Great-Grandbaby to those crazy Christmas mornings at my Grandparents. But on December 20, 2004 my world was rocked. My Grandmama passed away unexpectedly. My Grandmama & I were very close. And when she died a part of me died with her. That first Christmas with our new baby was nothing like I expected.
A couple of years later we settled into a new Christmas morning tradition with my husband's parents. But then, they both very unexpectedly became ill. For the next 3 years our lives were a roller coaster and each year Christmas looked different. So, for the second time my dreams of my family celebrating Christmas with Grandparents ended.
We are now entering the 2nd Christmas without my husbands parents. A few nights ago my husband and I were sitting on our couch in front of our fireplace. The only light in the room was from the Christmas tree and the wreath & lamps on our mantle. We both commented on how we felt like we could enjoy Christmas again. Most of the last 6 years have been clouded by some sort of sadness. This year is different. We have hope again. Our kids are excited about Christmas and we are able to enjoy it with them. We can remember the times we spent with loved ones who are no longer with us but, we can also build new memories with those who are still with us.
The best part about this year is that today our daughter accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. After I said the prayer with her to ask Jesus into her heart she looked at me with a big smile while touching her heart and said "Jesus is in here now." As I sat in front of our Christmas tree holding my little girl Luke 2:19 came to my mind again. This time I treasured the memory of my little girl becoming a Child of God.
Oh, the winners of last Monday's giveaway are GrammaGrits & theaikenite. Thank you to everyone who posted on my blog and on Shari's blog. I had a great time meeting new bloggy friends. I hope you all have a wonderful week finding things to treasure this Christmas season.
In His Calm,
Monday, December 6, 2010
Drowning to Swim
Welcome to Marriage Mondays. Today I have a special link with Shari Braendel a speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of Good Girls don't have to Dress Bad. If you are visiting from her blog thank you so much for stopping by. If you are a regular to The Calm of His Presence I would love for you to visit her blog. I am featured today as her Monday Makeover. While there make sure to let her know you are visiting from my blog. Today I am offering my first ever give away. I am giving away 2 Mini-Microdermabrasion sets. You have up to 3 chances to win a set. You get an entry if you comment on my blog, another entry if you become a follower of my blog and another chance if you go over and comment on Shari's blog. I will announce the winner next Monday. Now, grab a cup of coffee or hot tea and enjoy the Calm of God's Presence.
Heads bobbing up and down, arms flailing, and little faces coughing and sputtering water out of their mouths; that is how my daughter's first day of swimming lessons looked. It was hard for me and the other Moms to sit back and watch our children struggle in the water. I found it difficult to give my daughter the freedom she needed to learn how to swim. One of the instructors told me, "She needs to 'drown' a few times in order to learn how to swim on her own". As a Mom I thought, "easy for you to say, you're not her Mom". When I saw her struggling to keep her head above water I immediately wanted to jump in to save her.
How often does that translate into our spiritual life? We jump into things not knowing what danger lies ahead only to "drown" under the mistakes that we make or the burdens we carry. God is right there, just like a mother is for her child, ready to rescue us from ourselves and the world around us. But, just like a child we are stubborn and don't want to accept His help.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
In these verses Jesus tells us to lean on Him. He will give us rest. He will teach us and ease our burdens. As we struggle to keep our heads above the waters he will help keep them afloat.
When we feel like we are drowning in our pain, marriage troubles, sin, anger or tragedy we can, like David did in Psalm 69. call out to Jesus. He will be there to rescue us from whatever we have weighing us down. "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters: the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched."
If we seek God He will be there to help us. All we need to do is call out to Him and lay everything at His feet. This doesn't mean that we won't ever face hardships but if we turn our troubles over to Jesus He will help us carry the load.
Is there an issue in your marriage you need to turn over to God? Do you find yourself drowning under a failing marriage? Cry out to God. Ask Him to carry you through it. Lean on Him to carry your burden. He will give you the rest your soul needs.
I would love to pray for your marriage. Please leave a comment and let me know how I can pray for you.
In His Calm,
Mary
Heads bobbing up and down, arms flailing, and little faces coughing and sputtering water out of their mouths; that is how my daughter's first day of swimming lessons looked. It was hard for me and the other Moms to sit back and watch our children struggle in the water. I found it difficult to give my daughter the freedom she needed to learn how to swim. One of the instructors told me, "She needs to 'drown' a few times in order to learn how to swim on her own". As a Mom I thought, "easy for you to say, you're not her Mom". When I saw her struggling to keep her head above water I immediately wanted to jump in to save her.
How often does that translate into our spiritual life? We jump into things not knowing what danger lies ahead only to "drown" under the mistakes that we make or the burdens we carry. God is right there, just like a mother is for her child, ready to rescue us from ourselves and the world around us. But, just like a child we are stubborn and don't want to accept His help.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
In these verses Jesus tells us to lean on Him. He will give us rest. He will teach us and ease our burdens. As we struggle to keep our heads above the waters he will help keep them afloat.
When we feel like we are drowning in our pain, marriage troubles, sin, anger or tragedy we can, like David did in Psalm 69. call out to Jesus. He will be there to rescue us from whatever we have weighing us down. "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters: the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched."
If we seek God He will be there to help us. All we need to do is call out to Him and lay everything at His feet. This doesn't mean that we won't ever face hardships but if we turn our troubles over to Jesus He will help us carry the load.
Is there an issue in your marriage you need to turn over to God? Do you find yourself drowning under a failing marriage? Cry out to God. Ask Him to carry you through it. Lean on Him to carry your burden. He will give you the rest your soul needs.
I would love to pray for your marriage. Please leave a comment and let me know how I can pray for you.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, November 29, 2010
The ABCs of Thanksgiving
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Hebrews 12:28
I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving. I had a wonderful time last week celebrating with my family. We took time away from our crazy, busy life and retreated to the mountains. There was no phone, no cable, and unless we made the effort to look for someone there was no one around. We were by ourselves and we were happy. We tossed the football, swung on "the dizzy" swing, hiked, read, played games and ate a lot.
I remember a number of years ago I was commuting to work on a cold, very early Thanksgiving morning. I was not happy I had to leave my husband on Thanksgiving. In the darkness of the early morning I realized I had a choice to make. I could be frustrated and mad I had to work or I could take the hour commute to thank God for the many wonderful things he had given me. I chose to thank Him. I decided to thank God by going through the ABCs. That morning I praised God during the sunrise and it wasn't long before my attitude changed.
The chance to slow down with my family this past week gave us a chance to think about how much we have to be thankful for. I decided to go back through the ABCs to list some of the many ways we have to be thankful. Here is my list along with some additions from my family.
A - Apple picking with my family
B - My bed, I love crawling in under the covers after a long day.
C - Cool, crisp fall mornings & everything that goes with fall
D - Date night with my husband
E - Eggnog, I discovered I liked it last Christmas
F - Frazier Fur scented candles
G - Guitars, my husband has several and I love to listen to him play
H - Hot tea & Hot chocolate
I - Impromptu hugs from my kids
J - Jesus & His death on the Cross to save us from our sins
K - My Kids, they are just awesome
L - Ladies night out with my girlfriends
M - Mountains, we love our family time away from the world
N - Nap time, they don't happen very often but when they do its refreshing
O - Open windows
P - Punctuality, specifically mentioned by my husband :)
Q - Quiet
R - Running, just started a few weeks ago & I love the energy it gives me
S - Sunrise & Sunset, I love watching God's amazing Glory displayed
T - Trucks & Tractors, my son's favorite toys
U - Ugg slippers, if I am home I have them on
V - Vacations
W - Winter days when I can curl up on the couch with a good book
X- Extra measures of God's Grace when I need it
Y - Yearly traditions being established with our kids
Z - Zoo days, we love going to the zoo with the kids
I would love to hear what you are thankful for. I hope you have a wonderful week. And be sure to come back next Monday for more Marriage Mondays. I will have a special link up for you.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, November 15, 2010
Heaven Is The Face
I have started this post several times on my blank screen but even more times in my head. I don't know why I am having such a hard time putting into words how thankful I am for my children. Earlier today I had no trouble rattling off a list about each one of them in my head. But now, as I sit down to type, the words aren't coming. I am filled with so many emotion I can't express them all.
Last night my husband & I saw Steven Curtis Chapman in concert at our church. During the concert Steven and his wife MaryBeth shared the journey they have been on since their daughter went to be with Jesus in Heaven. One of the songs Steven shared was "Heaven Is The Face". The words to this song say so much about how I feel about my own two children. Garrett & Caroline are with us but I see Heaven when I look at them. They are God's gift to me. Many, many times I have asked God what I did to deserve the honor of raising these two amazing gifts from Him.
Garrett is all boy! He came into this world with a bang, literally! He was born on July 3rd by an emergency C-section after his heart stopped. He is an active, inquisitive, energetic, loving boy. I love the way he makes me laugh.
Caroline is what we like to call a tomboy-diva. She loves to run and play with Garrett in the woods but, she also loves playing dress up and putting on make-up. She is little Miss Personality. I love to listen to her "play" her guitar & sing.
So many of our days are spent running around going from one activity to the next. I am thankful that God gave me the opportunity last night to remember all that I love about my children. Please take the time to listen to Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Heaven Is The Face". I hope it touches you as much as it touched me.
In His Calm,
Mary
Last night my husband & I saw Steven Curtis Chapman in concert at our church. During the concert Steven and his wife MaryBeth shared the journey they have been on since their daughter went to be with Jesus in Heaven. One of the songs Steven shared was "Heaven Is The Face". The words to this song say so much about how I feel about my own two children. Garrett & Caroline are with us but I see Heaven when I look at them. They are God's gift to me. Many, many times I have asked God what I did to deserve the honor of raising these two amazing gifts from Him.
Garrett is all boy! He came into this world with a bang, literally! He was born on July 3rd by an emergency C-section after his heart stopped. He is an active, inquisitive, energetic, loving boy. I love the way he makes me laugh.
Caroline is what we like to call a tomboy-diva. She loves to run and play with Garrett in the woods but, she also loves playing dress up and putting on make-up. She is little Miss Personality. I love to listen to her "play" her guitar & sing.
So many of our days are spent running around going from one activity to the next. I am thankful that God gave me the opportunity last night to remember all that I love about my children. Please take the time to listen to Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Heaven Is The Face". I hope it touches you as much as it touched me.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thankful for My Husband
I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3
Cool crisp mornings, leaves rustling along the ground, red yellow & orange colors in the trees, pumpkin latte & pumpkin donuts, spice scented candles and apples fresh from the orchard...
These are the many reasons I love the fall. This time of year I become more aware of things to be thankful for. For some reason this year I have really begun to focus more on how blessed I am. God has given me so much. He has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined.
My family is one of the biggest ways God has blessed me. Why God chose to give me such an amazing husband and children I will never know. I only hope I never take for granted their unconditional love and support.
The next several weeks I will take time to share with you the many ways God has blessed me. I hope that through this season of Thanksgiving you will see the many ways God has blessed you. I pray that you will find a time to sit quietly in the presence of God and thank Him for all He is has given you.
My Husband
1. I am thankful that Jeff is an amazing cook. I am the one who does the day to day cooking in our house. But, if you want a gourmet meal Jeff is the one to cook it. He can also grill the most amazing hamburger & steak. And is also very famous for his mac & cheese. In our house its known as "Dad's famous mac & cheese".
2. I am thankful that Jeff is very smart. I frequently go to him with all sorts of questions. In fact I just used him as a dictionary to smell gourmet :-). Seriously though Jeff is a wealth of knowledge. He has quite the memory.
3. I am thankful that Jeff is a very talented woodworker. He loves to build things. In our house, where a dinning room table should be, is a large beautiful playhouse he designed and built for Garrett as a Christmas present one year.
4. I am thankful that Jeff is a hands-on Dad. He is very much involved with the kids. Just this past weekend he took Garrett on a Father/son camping trip. And he loves to take Caroline on Daddy/daughter dates. Jeff loves our kids with all his heart. Our kids will never wonder if their daddy loved them because they see it everyday.
5. I am thankful that Jeff loves me unconditionally! I am human and I have many flaws. I mess up from time to time but he doesn't hold it against me. Jeff is a source of strength in our marriage.
6. Most of all I am thankful Jeff is the Spiritual Head of our house. He has a personal walk with God and desires to follow God in the direction for our family. I love that our children can go to him when they have questions about God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
How are you thankful for your husband? I would love for you to share some of the ways you are thankful.
I am linked today to Emily at Chatting at the sky.
In His Calm,
Mary
Cool crisp mornings, leaves rustling along the ground, red yellow & orange colors in the trees, pumpkin latte & pumpkin donuts, spice scented candles and apples fresh from the orchard...
These are the many reasons I love the fall. This time of year I become more aware of things to be thankful for. For some reason this year I have really begun to focus more on how blessed I am. God has given me so much. He has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined.
My family is one of the biggest ways God has blessed me. Why God chose to give me such an amazing husband and children I will never know. I only hope I never take for granted their unconditional love and support.
The next several weeks I will take time to share with you the many ways God has blessed me. I hope that through this season of Thanksgiving you will see the many ways God has blessed you. I pray that you will find a time to sit quietly in the presence of God and thank Him for all He is has given you.
My Husband
1. I am thankful that Jeff is an amazing cook. I am the one who does the day to day cooking in our house. But, if you want a gourmet meal Jeff is the one to cook it. He can also grill the most amazing hamburger & steak. And is also very famous for his mac & cheese. In our house its known as "Dad's famous mac & cheese".
2. I am thankful that Jeff is very smart. I frequently go to him with all sorts of questions. In fact I just used him as a dictionary to smell gourmet :-). Seriously though Jeff is a wealth of knowledge. He has quite the memory.
3. I am thankful that Jeff is a very talented woodworker. He loves to build things. In our house, where a dinning room table should be, is a large beautiful playhouse he designed and built for Garrett as a Christmas present one year.
4. I am thankful that Jeff is a hands-on Dad. He is very much involved with the kids. Just this past weekend he took Garrett on a Father/son camping trip. And he loves to take Caroline on Daddy/daughter dates. Jeff loves our kids with all his heart. Our kids will never wonder if their daddy loved them because they see it everyday.
5. I am thankful that Jeff loves me unconditionally! I am human and I have many flaws. I mess up from time to time but he doesn't hold it against me. Jeff is a source of strength in our marriage.
6. Most of all I am thankful Jeff is the Spiritual Head of our house. He has a personal walk with God and desires to follow God in the direction for our family. I love that our children can go to him when they have questions about God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
How are you thankful for your husband? I would love for you to share some of the ways you are thankful.
I am linked today to Emily at Chatting at the sky.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, November 1, 2010
My Husband, My Best Friend
Wow! What an incredibly busy weekend! The last 3 days have been filled with chaperoning a college group to haunted houses, a trip to my sister's farm where my children rode 4 wheelers and tractors, and a fun filled fall festival at our church. Our whole family had a blast with everything.
As I look back over the weekend I realize that as much as I didn't want to go to the haunted houses I actually had fun. I have to admit that I very reluctantly tagged along as a chaperon. I only went because it was something my husband really wanted to do. I am NOT a fan of anything scary. I don't like horror movies and I don't like haunted houses. My kids call me scaredy-cat. And you know what, I'm ok with that.
But, when my husband asked me to go I knew it was important to him. I realized that it would be a way for us to connect even though it wasn't something I would choose. Despite the fact that I dreaded the night I actually had fun. We laughed and I screamed. I actually held on tighter to him than I have in a long time, something I think he enjoyed.
When Jeff & I were dating there were times I did things with Jeff because I knew he liked them. They were important to him and he was important to me. I loved him and wanted to be with him. We were best friends. As the years have passed we have become busy with our children and our everyday lives. This weekend we remembered what it was like to do things as friends.
Melanie Chitwood writes in her book What a Husband Needs From His Wife, "A helper who is a companion helps meet her husband's need for friendship. In Titus 2:4 we see that wives are to love their husbands, and the love this verse refers to is a brotherly friendship. The dictionary defines companion as 'a comrade or friend.' How is your friendship with your husband? Is it one of your top priorities? Is he your best friend?"
Jeff is my best friend. I love doing things with him. I am thankful that God gave me the opportunity this weekend to remember that we enjoy hanging out together laughing and even being scared sometimes.
Is your husband your best friend? Do you need to be reminded of your friendship with your husband? What can you do this week to bring back those memories of when you were dating and were friends.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, October 25, 2010
Daddy Icons
Wow! For the second Sunday in a row I find myself hit with shocking bad news. This time the news hit a little closer to home. We received news after church that someone who was like a father figure to my husband passed away.
Buddy was an extremely caring man. He loved his family and friends completely. He lived his life putting other people before himself. He was like a brother to Jeff's Dad. When my in-laws were both very ill Buddy made a point to visit them in the nursing home at least once a week. When they were in the hospital he saw them everyday. He was a breath of fresh air that always made us feel better when he walked in the room.
Today when we were visiting with the family Jeff told Buddy's son that his Dad was like an icon in his house when Jeff was growing up. Buddy's son replied, "Dad was like an icon in our house too." With that comment tears began to flow from all of us. What a testament to Buddy. He was loved very much and will be missed greatly by many people.
One of the things we have held on to today is knowing that Buddy and Charlie and Harriet (Jeff's parents) are having a wonderful time walking the streets of gold with our Heavenly Father.
Many times my husband says he hopes our children know how much he loves them. When I look at how much they adore their Dad I see the love in their eyes and know they feel his love. Daily I pray that my husband will be the kind of Dad God wants him to be.
"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 1 Thessalonians 1:11
Do you pray for your husband to be the kind of Dad God wants him to be? If you don't, start praying today for God to work in the life of your husband making him the Godly Dad he needs to be.
For more Marriage Monday visit Julie at Come Have a Peace
In His Calm,
Mary
Buddy was an extremely caring man. He loved his family and friends completely. He lived his life putting other people before himself. He was like a brother to Jeff's Dad. When my in-laws were both very ill Buddy made a point to visit them in the nursing home at least once a week. When they were in the hospital he saw them everyday. He was a breath of fresh air that always made us feel better when he walked in the room.
Today when we were visiting with the family Jeff told Buddy's son that his Dad was like an icon in his house when Jeff was growing up. Buddy's son replied, "Dad was like an icon in our house too." With that comment tears began to flow from all of us. What a testament to Buddy. He was loved very much and will be missed greatly by many people.
One of the things we have held on to today is knowing that Buddy and Charlie and Harriet (Jeff's parents) are having a wonderful time walking the streets of gold with our Heavenly Father.
Many times my husband says he hopes our children know how much he loves them. When I look at how much they adore their Dad I see the love in their eyes and know they feel his love. Daily I pray that my husband will be the kind of Dad God wants him to be.
"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 1 Thessalonians 1:11
Do you pray for your husband to be the kind of Dad God wants him to be? If you don't, start praying today for God to work in the life of your husband making him the Godly Dad he needs to be.
For more Marriage Monday visit Julie at Come Have a Peace
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, October 18, 2010
Hugging my husband a little tighter
My heart is heavy as I write this post. I planned to write on something I have been thinking about all week. But, a few hours ago I found out the husband of a friend of mine died. My friend and her two children find themselves without a husband and a dad. How my heart aches for her.
I am reminded of the fear that I faced 11 years ago when my husband was very ill. We had just celebrated our 1st anniversary when my husband became ill. I was told by the Doctor as he was admitted into the hospital that he wasn't sure if Jeff would live. I remember how devastated I felt. The thought of living a life without Jeff was unimaginable. Jeff recovered and we now have 2 beautiful children.
The last several weeks have been extremely busy. We have spent most of our days running from one event to another. Some days we have been so busy we have barely had a chance to talk. We love each other very much but we haven't taken the time to tell or show each other that love.
Please forgive this short post but, I feel the need to go spend some time showing and telling my husband how much love him! Does your husband know how much you love him? Do you need to take some time today making sure he knows that?
In His Calm,
Mary
I am reminded of the fear that I faced 11 years ago when my husband was very ill. We had just celebrated our 1st anniversary when my husband became ill. I was told by the Doctor as he was admitted into the hospital that he wasn't sure if Jeff would live. I remember how devastated I felt. The thought of living a life without Jeff was unimaginable. Jeff recovered and we now have 2 beautiful children.
The last several weeks have been extremely busy. We have spent most of our days running from one event to another. Some days we have been so busy we have barely had a chance to talk. We love each other very much but we haven't taken the time to tell or show each other that love.
Please forgive this short post but, I feel the need to go spend some time showing and telling my husband how much love him! Does your husband know how much you love him? Do you need to take some time today making sure he knows that?
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, October 11, 2010
Baby's Breath, Purple Flowers & Princess Dresses...
This weekend my daughter was the Flower Girl at a sweet friend's wedding. Caroline loved every moment of the weekend. She tossed purple flower petals from her basket and twirled and danced in her "Princess dress". I loved watching my little girl in awe of the "big Princess & her Prince". Caroline thought she was living in a fairytale. At one point during the weekend Caroline looked at me and asked me when she was going to marry her prince. That made my heart skip a beat. I told her that one day she would meet the man God had planned for her. I told her that when she did meet him he would treat her just like a princess.
Throughout the weekend I was reminded of praying for my future husband when I was a teenager. I remember praying that God would be molding my future husband into the man He wanted him to be. I asked God to help him love Christ more than I loved Christ. I knew that if he loved Christ more than I did we would have a strong Godly marriage. God has answered my prayers. My husband is the man of my prayers. He loves Christ more than I do and because of that he treats me like a princess.
My prayer for my children is that we will raise them to love & serve God with their whole heart. While I am praying for my children I also pray for their future spouses. I ask many of the same things I asked when I was praying for my future husband. I know that if my marriage and their marriages are under-girded in prayer than they will withstand anything the world throws at them.
One of the songs sung in the wedding was The Prayer. It beautifully says so much of what I pray for my marriage. The lyrics are below so you will know exactly what is being sung.
I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go And help us to be wise in times when we don't know Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace To a place where we'll be safe
I pray we'll find your light, and hold it in our hearts When stars go out each night, remind us where you are Let this be our prayer, when shadows fill our day Help us find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe
A world where pain and sorrow will be ended And every heart that's broken will be mended And we'll remember we are all God's children Reaching out to touch you Reaching to the sky
We ask that life be kind, and watch us from above We hope each soul will find another soul to love Let this be our prayer, just like every child Who needs to find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe Needs to find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe
My prayer is that you will pray daily for your marriage.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, October 4, 2010
To those of you joining me from Come Have a Peace thank you for joining us for Marriage Mondays at The Calm of His Presence. Those of you who regularly join me I have linked up with my bloggy friend Julie at Come Have a Peace for her Marriage Monday. After reading about Putting on the Armor of God I would love for you to join her as she discusses Doing good for our husband.
The Armor of God
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:10-12
Guess what? My marriage is under attack! And you know what? Your marriage is under attack too! Why do I say that? Because its true.
Each day Satan does everything he can to whittle away at our marriages. Sometimes he strikes us in big ways like infidelity, lies & anger. Other times he sneaks in with busyness, misunderstandings & interruptions. The last thing Satan wants is for us to have a Godly marriage. He doesn't want our husband to be the spiritual head of the house. He doesn't want us to be Godly women who love and support our husband. He doesn't want us to raise our children knowing that they are to honor and obey us as parents.
How do we save our marriage & family? Ephesians 6:10 says "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." God alone has the power to over come Satan! When we put on the full armor of God's Word we will be able to stand our ground and He will protect our marriage.
On November 12 -14, 2010 the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove is offering House or Home? Four essentials for your marriage with Chip Ingram. As stated on The Cove website you will "explore biblical principles from Ephesians 5-6 designed for the family, and discover the model for marriage that enriches relationships and withstands life's toughest storms."
I don't work for The Cove and in no way will I gain anything from you going to this seminar. I am just someone who had the opportunity to attend a seminar at The Cove earlier this year. I was so impacted by my time there I wanted to tell you about it. It is a little slice of heaven in Asheville, NC. As you enter the gates to The Cove you leave life behind. You will have the opportunity to focus on your husband and your marriage without the distractions of life. You and your husband can sit in a rocking chair watching the sunrise or you can take a peaceful hike along one of the meandering trails.
This weekend is sure to be a weekend for you and your husband to reconnect and learn God's truths. What better way to learn how to put the Armor of God around your marriage.
If you are planning on going please let me know so I can be praying for you. I would love for you to come back and share how God spoke to you and your husband during the marriage retreat.
In His Calm,
Mary
Guess what? My marriage is under attack! And you know what? Your marriage is under attack too! Why do I say that? Because its true.
Each day Satan does everything he can to whittle away at our marriages. Sometimes he strikes us in big ways like infidelity, lies & anger. Other times he sneaks in with busyness, misunderstandings & interruptions. The last thing Satan wants is for us to have a Godly marriage. He doesn't want our husband to be the spiritual head of the house. He doesn't want us to be Godly women who love and support our husband. He doesn't want us to raise our children knowing that they are to honor and obey us as parents.
How do we save our marriage & family? Ephesians 6:10 says "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." God alone has the power to over come Satan! When we put on the full armor of God's Word we will be able to stand our ground and He will protect our marriage.
On November 12 -14, 2010 the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove is offering House or Home? Four essentials for your marriage with Chip Ingram. As stated on The Cove website you will "explore biblical principles from Ephesians 5-6 designed for the family, and discover the model for marriage that enriches relationships and withstands life's toughest storms."
I don't work for The Cove and in no way will I gain anything from you going to this seminar. I am just someone who had the opportunity to attend a seminar at The Cove earlier this year. I was so impacted by my time there I wanted to tell you about it. It is a little slice of heaven in Asheville, NC. As you enter the gates to The Cove you leave life behind. You will have the opportunity to focus on your husband and your marriage without the distractions of life. You and your husband can sit in a rocking chair watching the sunrise or you can take a peaceful hike along one of the meandering trails.
This weekend is sure to be a weekend for you and your husband to reconnect and learn God's truths. What better way to learn how to put the Armor of God around your marriage.
If you are planning on going please let me know so I can be praying for you. I would love for you to come back and share how God spoke to you and your husband during the marriage retreat.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, September 27, 2010
Your people will be my people
Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Ruth 1: 16, 17
I love how God uses a familiar passage to speak to me in a new way! Today as I read my Bible I came across this verse. In this passage Ruth is speaking to her Mother-in-law, Naomi. She is responding to Naomi's encouragement for Ruth to stay in her homeland while Naomi traveled back to Bethlehem. Ruth tells Naomi that she will not abandon her. Ruth was loyal. Despite losing her husband Ruth still considered Naomi part of her family.
I can relate to this passage in my own marriage. When Jeff & I were married not only did he become my family but so did his Mom & Dad & the rest of his family. I didn't think of them as "my husband's family" rather, I loved them as my own Mom & Dad. When we became husband & wife I took to heart the portion of this passage that says "Your people will be my people". That is why the loss of Jeff's parent's a year & a half ago was so hard for me. I felt as if I was losing my own Mom & Dad.
I think about that now because this past weekend our family walked in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk in memory of Jeff's Dad & Grandmother. In a previous post I wrote about the verse Genesis 2:24 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Not only did we become one flesh physically, spiritually & emotionally but we also became "one flesh" in family. His family became my family. Jeff's family is very important to him. I know that when I love his family I am showing him that I love all of him.
What is your relationship like with your spouse's family? Do you accept them as your family? Is there anything you need do to show your husband you love all of him? Please let me know if there is anyway I can be praying for you and your marriage.
In His Calm,
Mary
I love how God uses a familiar passage to speak to me in a new way! Today as I read my Bible I came across this verse. In this passage Ruth is speaking to her Mother-in-law, Naomi. She is responding to Naomi's encouragement for Ruth to stay in her homeland while Naomi traveled back to Bethlehem. Ruth tells Naomi that she will not abandon her. Ruth was loyal. Despite losing her husband Ruth still considered Naomi part of her family.
I can relate to this passage in my own marriage. When Jeff & I were married not only did he become my family but so did his Mom & Dad & the rest of his family. I didn't think of them as "my husband's family" rather, I loved them as my own Mom & Dad. When we became husband & wife I took to heart the portion of this passage that says "Your people will be my people". That is why the loss of Jeff's parent's a year & a half ago was so hard for me. I felt as if I was losing my own Mom & Dad.
I think about that now because this past weekend our family walked in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk in memory of Jeff's Dad & Grandmother. In a previous post I wrote about the verse Genesis 2:24 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Not only did we become one flesh physically, spiritually & emotionally but we also became "one flesh" in family. His family became my family. Jeff's family is very important to him. I know that when I love his family I am showing him that I love all of him.
What is your relationship like with your spouse's family? Do you accept them as your family? Is there anything you need do to show your husband you love all of him? Please let me know if there is anyway I can be praying for you and your marriage.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, September 20, 2010
Simple Pleasures
Welcome to Marriage Mondays. Today is a little different from normal. Instead of writing my normal marriage post, today I am linking with Rachel Olson from Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is having a Devotional Carnival titled Simple Pleasures. When you have a moment please take some time to visit her blog. You will be blessed! For those of you visiting from Rachel's blog thank you very much for stopping by. My prayer is that God will use today's post to speak to each of you whether you are new or returning.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP... Ugh its 5:30 am already? I stumble out of bed and with blurry eyes walk into the kitchen for my morning jolt of caffeine. I kiss my husband goodbye as he leaves for work and sit down with my coffee. I know I have just a few minutes to read my devotion before the house begins to stir. Soon I will hear the pitter patter of little feet. With those feet will come breakfast to be made and kids to be dressed and readied for school.
As I sit by my window reading I can't help but be distracted by the long list of things to do that day. Then, out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of light. I turn my head and look out the window and see the most amazing view. There before me, God is painting the most incredible masterpiece. Streaks of pink, orange & purple begin to light up the morning sky. Within a few minutes more colors are added. Patches of fluffy white clouds begin to fill the baby blue sky. I sit in amazement as I watch God's Glory unfold before me. I am reminded of Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God..." Yes, He is God! He is The Creator of the earth and the Author of my day!
So often I begin my day rushing through my devotion to check it off my to do list. I rush around trying to do as much as I can before picking the kids up from school. When they return home I rush them through homework so they can begin their afternoon activities. Then I rush to prepare dinner and rush through the nighttime routine so the kids can get into bed. All daylong I rush, rush, rush. By the end of the day I have nothing left for my husband. And I especially have nothing left for God.
This morning God has used the simple pleasure of a sunrise to remind me to "Be still, and know that I am God..." I can begin this morning basking in the Glory of His masterpiece. Each time I am tempted to rush around I can use the memory of His canvas to slow me down and focus on Him.
I pray that as you begin your day you too will be reminded that God is The Creator of the earth and the Author of your day.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Way of Love
The Way of Love
1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.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. 8-10Love never dies. (The Message)
I have read 1 Corinthians 13:1-10 more times than I can count. To be honest there have been many times I have read over this passage quickly and not paid close attention to what it says.
This weekend my husband and I had the incredible opportunity to get away by ourselves. We visited a destination city just a few hours from our home. Our immediate reaction was to think of all the fun things we could do and see. However, we quickly realized this was the time for us to relax and enjoy each others company. So often we are too busy to experience "us". This Saturday we meandered down cobblestone streets, sat on benches overlooking the water and felt the breeze as it blew across our faces. We sat quietly, we talked, we laughed, we focused on each other.
We were reminded how much we love each other. We have weathered some incredible storms in our marriage but, God has given us the strength to hold tight to one another. When I read over the words of 1 Corinthians 13 I see how God pulled us through. So many times we could have become selfish and said "me first" but we chose to care more for each other. We could have been critical but, we looked "for the best." No matter what was going on we always trusted God to get us through. And you know what? He proved Himself faithful!
I am so thankful that God gave us this weekend to enjoy the love we share. I pray that God will remind you of the love you share with your spouse.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, September 6, 2010
My Husband's Helper
The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man and he brought her to the man." Genesis 2:21-22
Dictionary.com defines helper as "a person or thing that helps or gives assistance, support, etc."
God knew it wasn't good for man to be alone. So, he made woman out of man's flesh. From the very first husband and wife God's plan was for us to work together.
When my husband and I were first married I entered our marriage a very independent person. I loved him very much but I was determined I would not lose sight of myself. In name we were one. In practice we were two. During our first year of marriage I did not rely on my husband the way God intended.
Just after we celebrated our 1st anniversary my husband became very ill. The illness was severe enough that we were not sure he would live to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. At that moment God taught me how we were to lean on each other for support. I learned what it meant to be my husband's helper.
My husband recovered and we have now been married for 12 years. During those months of recovery I worked to support us both in the home and outside of the home. Not only did I offer physical help but I also offered emotional help. I was there when my husband needed someone with whom he could talk, laugh or even vent.
Those months were hard on us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. But, God taught us valuable lessons about helping each other. We learned that neither of us could make it alone. When Jeff needed assistance getting to another part of the house, I was there. When I needed reassurance to know things were going to be ok Jeff gave me the hug I needed.
God taught us what he meant in Genesis 2:18 "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
How is God teaching you to help your spouse? I'd love for you to share your thoughts with us.
In His Calm,
Mary
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man and he brought her to the man." Genesis 2:21-22
Dictionary.com defines helper as "a person or thing that helps or gives assistance, support, etc."
God knew it wasn't good for man to be alone. So, he made woman out of man's flesh. From the very first husband and wife God's plan was for us to work together.
When my husband and I were first married I entered our marriage a very independent person. I loved him very much but I was determined I would not lose sight of myself. In name we were one. In practice we were two. During our first year of marriage I did not rely on my husband the way God intended.
Just after we celebrated our 1st anniversary my husband became very ill. The illness was severe enough that we were not sure he would live to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. At that moment God taught me how we were to lean on each other for support. I learned what it meant to be my husband's helper.
My husband recovered and we have now been married for 12 years. During those months of recovery I worked to support us both in the home and outside of the home. Not only did I offer physical help but I also offered emotional help. I was there when my husband needed someone with whom he could talk, laugh or even vent.
Those months were hard on us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. But, God taught us valuable lessons about helping each other. We learned that neither of us could make it alone. When Jeff needed assistance getting to another part of the house, I was there. When I needed reassurance to know things were going to be ok Jeff gave me the hug I needed.
God taught us what he meant in Genesis 2:18 "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
How is God teaching you to help your spouse? I'd love for you to share your thoughts with us.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, August 30, 2010
Face-to-Face
Thank you for joining my Marriage Monday. If you have a moment I would love for you to visit another wonderful blog. Julie at Come Have a Peace http://comehaveapeace.blogspot.com/ shares many insightful thoughts on Marriage Mondays and throughout the week.
Hebrews 10:25 – “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…”
This past week God started working on my heart in the area of one on one, face-to-face communication with my husband, my children and my friends. I love Hebrews 10:25 because when we meet together face-to-face we have the opportunity to be a great encouragement to each other. There are things we can learn from personal contact that we can’t learn from facebook, texting or email. We pick up facial expressions, body language and intonations while talking to someone that we can’t pick up in a quick message.
Taking the time to call a friend says, “I care about you.” Stopping what we are doing and spending time playing with our son or daughter says, “I love you and want to spend time with you.”
How much one on one communication do you have with your spouse? When my husband and I first started dating we talked for hours. We took turns asking each other different questions. We wanted to know everything we possibly could about each other.
These days we are busy with work, kids and other responsibilities. We don’t have the hours on end to talk like we once did. One of the things my husband is great at doing is calling me during the day to check in. It may be a very short phone call but it tells me he is thinking about me and that he loves me. It makes my heart happy to hear his voice during the middle of the day.
One of the areas we can work on, is at night when the kids go to bed. Instead of going straight to the computer to check email or facebook we can sit down and talk. Maybe its time we start the question and answer session again. Who knows, as busy as we have been in the last 15 years our answers may have changed.
What can you do to improve personal communication with your spouse this week? Is there a friend or child you need to encourage?
I’d love for you to leave me a comment and let me know what you’re going to do to improve face-to-face contact this week. Who knows, it may be the perfect thing for someone else to try.
In His Calm,
Mary
Hebrews 10:25 – “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…”
This past week God started working on my heart in the area of one on one, face-to-face communication with my husband, my children and my friends. I love Hebrews 10:25 because when we meet together face-to-face we have the opportunity to be a great encouragement to each other. There are things we can learn from personal contact that we can’t learn from facebook, texting or email. We pick up facial expressions, body language and intonations while talking to someone that we can’t pick up in a quick message.
Taking the time to call a friend says, “I care about you.” Stopping what we are doing and spending time playing with our son or daughter says, “I love you and want to spend time with you.”
How much one on one communication do you have with your spouse? When my husband and I first started dating we talked for hours. We took turns asking each other different questions. We wanted to know everything we possibly could about each other.
These days we are busy with work, kids and other responsibilities. We don’t have the hours on end to talk like we once did. One of the things my husband is great at doing is calling me during the day to check in. It may be a very short phone call but it tells me he is thinking about me and that he loves me. It makes my heart happy to hear his voice during the middle of the day.
One of the areas we can work on, is at night when the kids go to bed. Instead of going straight to the computer to check email or facebook we can sit down and talk. Maybe its time we start the question and answer session again. Who knows, as busy as we have been in the last 15 years our answers may have changed.
What can you do to improve personal communication with your spouse this week? Is there a friend or child you need to encourage?
I’d love for you to leave me a comment and let me know what you’re going to do to improve face-to-face contact this week. Who knows, it may be the perfect thing for someone else to try.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, August 23, 2010
First Love
So, I imagine your probably thinking, "Ok, Mary has a blog on Marriage. What makes her think she is such an expert that she can tell people how to have a Godly Marriage."
I'll tell you a secret. I am no expert. After 12 years of marriage I still mess up. I still become selfish, focusing solely on myself. And I still say and do things I shouldn't. But, one thing Jeff and I did early on in our relationship and still do today is commit to put God first and foremost.
Revelation 2: 4,5 - But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first...
I'll tell you a secret. I am no expert. After 12 years of marriage I still mess up. I still become selfish, focusing solely on myself. And I still say and do things I shouldn't. But, one thing Jeff and I did early on in our relationship and still do today is commit to put God first and foremost.
Revelation 2: 4,5 - But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first...
I have had two opportunities in the last month to hear someone speak from this passage. The first was Karen Ehman who spoke at She Speaks, the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker, writer, and women's ministry conference I attended. The second was my pastor. Karen did a wonderful job helping us think back and remember how we felt when we first felt Christ's love for us. My pastor briefly looked at it from the stand point of the relationship with our spouse.
When I reflect on these verses a wave of emotions overcomes me. I am nearly brought to tears when I think of the incredible warmth of love I feel in the arms of Christ. He loves me when I become frustrated and lose my temper. He loves me when my thoughts wander away from Him He loves me when I commit to spending time with Him and then I get busy and I forget Him. He loves me in-spite of all I am! Feeling that love makes me want to go out to the mountain top and yell it out for all the world to hear. God loves me and God loves you! He loves us in-spite of who we are!
Then, when I think about how I felt about Jeff when we first met, I get all giddy inside. I remember the butterflies I would feel in my stomach every time I saw him. I would do anything to please him. I made sure I always looked nice. I gave him my utmost attention. I looked for ways to make him feel special. Now, 12 years later we have 2 young children and all the craziness that comes with life. And I think, do I still try to look nice? Do I give him my utmost attention? Do I look for ways to make him feel special? Honestly? I don't much of the time. I let the busyness of life overwhelm me and by the time life settles down enough for us to connect I have nothing left.
About two weeks ago I decided I would look for ways to help Jeff feel special. Last Saturday I woke up early and made Jeff a hot breakfast. Some of you may be thinking so, I do that a lot. Not me, Jeff loves a hot breakfast. Most of the time I go without breakfast. On mornings when we get a hot breakfast, other than frozen waffles from a toaster, its because Jeff makes it. As he finished breakfast that morning he looked at me and wanted to know what the special occasion was. I told him there wasn't one. I just wanted to make him breakfast just because I love him.
What about you? Do you remember what it was like when you first met and fell in love with your spouse? Is there something you need to rekindle? What do you need to do that you haven't done in a while or have never done?
Do you know Christ's love for you? Are there things in your life you need to change in order to turn back to God? I am reminded of a song we sang in choir this past Christmas. Forgive me, but I can't remember the name or the writer but the words are, "I believe in a cross; I believe He came for one, He came for all. Heaven's Child became a man; He gave His life for me in-spite of all I am."
Wow! God loved me so much He gave His Son for me! He gave His Son for YOU! I hope you are able to find some quiet this week to ponder that truth.
In His Calm,
Mary
Monday, August 16, 2010
In The Calm
In The Calm by Sandi Patty
In the calm of Your presence
I am listening, Lord
I am still, I am quiet I am Yours
Let Your Word speak to me
Let Your Spirit draw near
I will obey
The truth that I hear
In the calm of Your presence
I am listening, Lord
I am still, I am quiet I am Yours
There's a thirst in my soul
For Your wisdom divine
I long for the peace
And life that I find
In the calm of Your presence
I am listening, Lord
I am still, I am quiet I am Yours
I am still, I am quiet
I am Yours
The words of this song by Sandi Patty inspired the name of my blog. As a stay at home Mom of 2 young children my day is spent in a whirlwind of activity from grocery shopping to cooking meals, picking out clothes for the day to tucking in to bed at night, encouraging my kids to push themselves further to nursing their boo boos. In between those chaotic times I run to God for His peace and wisdom.
Through life God teaches me. When I sit quietly with Him, He reveals His truths. The lessons aren't always easy but through them God shows me His Everlasting Love.
Jeremiah 31:3 - The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving - kindness."
One of the areas God has taught me the most is in having a Godly Marriage. I would love for you to join me each Monday as I reflect on the Lord's lessons of a Godly Marriage. My hope is that in your crazy, hectic life you find a moment each day to sit in the Calm of God's Presence and listen to Him.
Mary
In the calm of Your presence
I am listening, Lord
I am still, I am quiet I am Yours
Let Your Word speak to me
Let Your Spirit draw near
I will obey
The truth that I hear
In the calm of Your presence
I am listening, Lord
I am still, I am quiet I am Yours
There's a thirst in my soul
For Your wisdom divine
I long for the peace
And life that I find
In the calm of Your presence
I am listening, Lord
I am still, I am quiet I am Yours
I am still, I am quiet
I am Yours
The words of this song by Sandi Patty inspired the name of my blog. As a stay at home Mom of 2 young children my day is spent in a whirlwind of activity from grocery shopping to cooking meals, picking out clothes for the day to tucking in to bed at night, encouraging my kids to push themselves further to nursing their boo boos. In between those chaotic times I run to God for His peace and wisdom.
Through life God teaches me. When I sit quietly with Him, He reveals His truths. The lessons aren't always easy but through them God shows me His Everlasting Love.
Jeremiah 31:3 - The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving - kindness."
One of the areas God has taught me the most is in having a Godly Marriage. I would love for you to join me each Monday as I reflect on the Lord's lessons of a Godly Marriage. My hope is that in your crazy, hectic life you find a moment each day to sit in the Calm of God's Presence and listen to Him.
Mary
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