With his love, he will calm all your fears- Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement

For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song. Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

Our relationship with our Spouse could be perfect. However, our worry about our job, day-to-day life, finances, children, etc can cause us to have anxiety that could affect our relationship with our spouse. 

God doesn’t want us to worry but to have hope for tomorrow. When we are overwhelmed with our job, a bill, a health issue, we should first take these issues to God. Pray and seek hope. God will gladly fight for us. 

When we connect with our spouse leave the anxiety of the issues behind and not allow these problems to enter into your household to cause tension within your home. Speaking to you spouse about your issues is very different than taking your issues “out” on your spouse. I am sure we all know of people who allow their work problems to cause fights at home. Let’s all take an effort to leave the stress and negativity of these issues at the door before we enter our home.  

In addition, pray for or with your spouse that these stressful events will cease and God will give you peace as well as hope. Something better will happen, that issue at work with resolve, those bills will get paid. God wants us to focus on him and when we do the world can not harm us.

How do you and your spouse handle separting life stress from your relationship ?  

I hope that through this scripture you and your spouse are encouraged have hope that God will calm your fears and give you hope for whatever battle you are facing. I encourage you to Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your “Loving Lasting Marriage”.

Shalasha

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest.

Unfailing Love- Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement

 Psalm 13:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

5 

But I trust in your unfailing love; 
 my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 

I will sing the Lord’s praise, 
    for he has been good to me.

     The unfailing love of God. Isn’t it amazing and wonderful. We don’t deserve anything he gives us. The blessings, opportunities, laughs, smiles, the people in our life, the small things, the big things. He loves us so much despite any flaws that we have.

    Trusting that God will be there for us, guide us, and LOVE us no matter what should be like breathing.

(Thank you Lord me loving me when I don’t deserve it. I praise your Holy name for all you are.)

  We should strive to love our spouse with the same regard; with an unfailing love despite their flaws.

I hope that through this scripture you and your spouse are encouraged to Love with an unfailing Love. I encourage you to Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your “Loving Lasting Marriage”.

Shalasha

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest.

Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement Through A Young Man's Perspective

Today's Spiritual Encouragement is brought to us by a dear friend of my Husband and I. This young man is like a family member to us. As a active member of his church as a youth mentor, musician, as well as other roles. He continues to grow in his responsibilities for the Lord. He most recently was asked to speak at another church in his community. 

Do you know a teenager or young adult who may have some difficulties living in this world while trying to keep Christian virtues ? Please share this message with them to let them know that they are not alone. 

Here is what he shared with me on being a young Christian in today's world....

Shalasha

 Being a young Christian man in today's world is a challenging task.

Trying to uphold virtuous morals and principles are almost looked at as that of being crazy or having a deadly disease.

When I share with people that I am a virgin and am saving myself for marriage, the usual reaction is, "Are you crazy?" or is usually followed by laughter and or rude comments. However, I firmly believe and have faith that God's word holds true and remains.

The scripture obviously lays out God's plan for marriage and how sex is designed to be used. I firmly believe that if you seek what God has planned for your life first, he will put everything where it needs to be (Matthew 6:33).

That includes financial issues, family issues, professional issues, and a mate. In fact keeping our eyes on God will pour over unto someone who is looking. The life you live for Christ inspires others, including the opposite sex. Nothing is more inspiring and more attractive in my eyes more than a female who is active in her church, but more importantly shows an obvious love for Christ. Thus, patience is a virtue, Solomon 8:4 states not to awaken love before its time. So in the downtime, focusing time and energy on Christ is the way to go.

Finally, being a virgin is not a disease. In fact you can see how admirable it can be, an example is Tim Tebow. He represents Christ and is waiting for marriage. A man once told me: "Young man, my wife is the best I have ever had in bed. Do you know why? Because she was the only one I ever had". If Christ commands us to live this life and has promised us the protection of the Holy Spirit, then in reality, we have a cakewalk. The road map has been laid out for us. With him as our guide, we will persevere and make it through. Be encouraged my brothers and sisters, God is with us.

Wyvis Oxendine 

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest.

Love your Spouse as they grow....

Can you say to your spouse “ I will love you now and as you grow and develop into all that God intends”?

It is natural for people to change as we develop throughout life. Some of these changes are brought upon by the stage of life you are in. For example, parenthood brings about new priorities and a different view of what is important in life.

In addition, God has a plan for us all. God does not always show us this plan at all once. To achieve the destiny that God has in store for us often we have to learn or earn our stripes. To become that person we need to be for God we will have to grow. Not all stages of growth are easy or beautiful. Some of those stages may have rocky waters.

God placed you with your spouse to be a helpmate and to love your and support your spouse during their spiritual growth.

In my own marriage I have had to face some rocky waters. I learned a great life lesson. I prayed for patience and God tested me with a difficult situation. Now I know that all things come in due time. In addition, life is bigger than you. It is about all those who are around us. Improving and enriching others brings about our own personal growth as well.

If your spouse has changed think about events, situations, or reasons why this change has occurred. Put yourself in your spouse’s shoes to understand their perspective. Embrace new ideas and goals. Support your spouse with encouragement and most importantly prayer.

When my husband first decided to attend medical school we were still in college and engaged. I didn’t think he would get accepted, after all the chances are so slim. I thought we would teach, live in our home county forever, and just have a normal life.

His acceptance letter came one month before we said I do. Two years of living apart, my motto was: “One day at a Time.” I have to tell you each of those days felt like a year.

Now my motto is: “ I will stand beside you and encourage you no matter how long or how far it takes us”.

My husband encourages my dreams and goals as well. In my goal to become a better educator I am pursuing a Master’s.

We take turns lifting one another. He listens, helps me figure things out, and watches our son while I type research papers. When I feel like I want to give in he reassures me that I am capable of getting it done.

The path that your marriage may lead may not be where you expected to go. Be flexible for God has been flexible with you. Communicate with your spouse your feelings and I am sure that they will understand your concerns. In communicating you can gain a better understanding of your spouse’s adapted goals.

The most important thing in your marriage is that you are working together. No matter how big or small your goals are, working together will create a bond. Love your spouse, as they become all that God intends for them to be.

Marriage is  a labor of  love, it takes work, time, and commit to allow it to grow.   I hope you are able to use these insights to create and/or maintain your "Loving Lasting Marriage". In addition, Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your Loving Lasting Marriage.

Shalasha

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest.

Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement

Leaning on The Lord

        There seems to be so many things going on in our lives at the moment.

I have three countdowns going on: Until Match Day, Until My Husbands Graduation, and until our VACATION.

As I stated when I first began this blog there is a million things going on in our lives. With a Husband in Medical school our schedule is crazy at times depending on what rotation he is doing at the hospital.  Then we (mostly me) are stressed as this chapter in our life winds down and a new chapter is beginning.

Stress can affect other parts of your life including your marriage. Luckily I am married to a spouse that is cool as a cucumber and brings me back down to earth.

But My greatest comforter is The Lord.

 I need to always remember that The Savior said,

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30.)

I just need to cast all my concerns to the Lord and allow him to take control.

Do you ever have a problem that you need to turn over to God’s control but you continue to worry about it?

Today I’m going give it to him and Trust that we will be placed in a prefect situation for our family.

God has brought us this far and has never left us. His Grace is Amazing!




I hope that through this scripture you and your spouse are encouraged to cast your cares and needs upon the Lord. I encourage you to Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your “Loving Lasting Marriage”.

Shalasha

Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement

Trusting In God

This week, My dear friend  shares a personal experience in her Marriage in which God proves that trusting in him can lead to strengthening not only our marriage but also our walk with him. I hope that this week's spiritual encouragement strengthens your walk with the Lord as well.

Shalasha

When God tells you to move, He isn’t joking around! Two months ago, I was a stay-at-home-mommy with a nice teaching job that allowed me to work for only 6 hours a week. This meant I could bring in a little money for my family, but could also “be with” my kids.

Then one night, my husband and I began a stressful conversation about money and how, if we continued on the our current financial path, we would not be able to put our kids into the school of our choice – let alone afford any kind of vacation without the financial help of our parents, any big luxuries (like a much needed mattress), or even be able to save money. I mean, things were tight, but I always thought we could manage. I do want to add that I’m extremely blessed to have married a man who does not believe in “going into debt”! He firmly lives out his life with the philosophy that “if we don’t have it – we don’t spend it!” and it has worked for us – until we began thinking about our kids future. So, my “wonderful” husband told me that he believed I should find a job! I thought “What!!? How in the world can my husband ask me to LEAVE my kids to go work and be OK with someone else taking care of my babies?!”.

But, don’t you know I felt God tell me to at least look for a job. And I did…and I found a part-time position that sounded interesting. The idea of part-time was great because I could work and still “be with” my kids! A small voice told me to apply and as I was updating my resume, I was talking with God. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: God, this is a part-time job. There’s no way it will pay me what is needed to afford daycare AND help our family’s budget.

God: Trust Me.

Me: God, I don’t want to put my kids in daycare.

God: Trust Me.

Me: God, this is really scary.

God: Trust Me, Child.

So, I applied. I told my husband and he was impressed, to say the least, because he knew my strong reluctancy on the matter. A couple of weeks later, I got the call for an interview. The interview went great! I loved my would-be boss, the job itself, my co-workers, the idea of having my own office (with a window!) and the potential for growth. I told them my acceptance would be dependent on finding a good daycare, so my husband and I began looking around. We went to every daycare and didn’t like ANY of them. Constantly praying for God to show us the “pros” and “cons”, we walked into the last daycare and felt peace! We loved the environment, the staff, how clean it was, etc…but there were no openings for my youngest child! I have to be honest...I was excited inside; because I thought this was God “closing the door” on this job and that I could stay at home with my kids! Boy was I wrong. The director called me the next day and said she could squeeze my kids in and gave me their start date!

I immediately started crying. My husband was so torn in knowing what would be best for our family and wanting me to be happy – that he only said 3 words: “pray about it”. And, I did! I went into my closet and fussed with God! I did! I told Him how I felt and how uncomfortable I was with this situation and asked him to make it as clear-as-day to me what I needed to do, because I did not want to make any mistakes with this huge decision.

God never lets us down.

God is always in control.

God knows what’s best for our family.

God knew what He was doing when He put my husband into my life.

God knew my husband would ignite this “job-hunting” process which would ultimately benefit our entire family.

God is trustworthy.

            So, when I called this job back and told them I had a daycare picked out, they told me how much they were willing to pay me and it was clear-as-day what my decision was going to be.

God answers prayers.

            Here we are, 4 weeks of working a job and my kids being in daycare. We are still alive! I’m not going to lie…there were adjustments and hardships to get past in the beginning but, I see so many benefits already!

I love my job!

I’m working with Christians!

My youngest kid loves her teachers!

My oldest comes home singing new songs and talks about his “friends”!

I feel like God can use me more now than ever before.

            Now that this huge change has taken place, I can say that I trust God. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say it before with real meaning…but, after this change, I know God is trustworthy! And it all began with my wonderful husband, listening to the call of God to make changes in his family!

Ashley

Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement

Courtship Counts

During Marriage Week I have challenged my readers to a Date Night Challenge.

Date Night Challenge: During National Marriage Week plan a 2-hour date night with your spouse. This does not have to be away from home or spend any extra funds. Just 2 hours of one on one time doing something that you and your spouse finds enjoyable.

 Have you made plans for your date night yet? I have our date night almost squared away, and plan to do something on Valentines Day, which will be the last day of Marriage Week.

Why so much emphasis on Date Nights you ask?

There are many couples that feel like the normal day-to-day routine is drowning their marriages. Cooking, Cleaning, Working, Bills, can become so overwhelming at times. In these overwhelming times couples often drift apart if they do not put effort into staying connected. Unfortunately we know that when some couples drift apart they feel that the Love has faded and seek Love from other sources.

God has written a plan for our lives and especially our marriages. God brought you and your spouse together and he wants you to stay together. God knows that courtships count.

Here are a few Bible Versus that highlight to Continue Courtship in our Marriage:

1 Peter4:8

Proverbs 31:28

Romans 12:10

If we are looking for a positive change we must make a positive difference. Do something different to make a change for the betterment of your marriage.

How do you and your spouse make time for one another so that you do not drift apart ?

      In gathering my tips from real Marriages for another post for National Marriage Week, one readers shared :  "It is important  to read the Bible and pray together, as a couple, I think it's almost mandatory to help keep your relationship line "open" to God".-Lezlie Horst

I encourage you to Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your “Loving Lasting Marriage”.

Shalasha

Allow God to Guide You

This marks my One Month Anniversary for my blog !  I would like to give God the glory for an awesome first month in the blogging world.  I have had such great feedback, connected with new and amazing people, and most importantly followed what God laid on my heart to do. To help myself through helping others create and/or maintain " A Loving Lasting Marriage".

When we listen to God and follow his command, things always work out for the best. God allows our hearts and our minds to comprehend his true message but we must be prepared to fulfill the task at hand. Our hearts must be obedient with God in order to be able to fulfill the works he has in store for us. Do you have an obedient heart?

I was able to participate in a wonderful bible study, David: Seeking a Heart Like His , by Beth Moore a year ago at a local church. In this in-depth study of David, I realized that when God asks us to do something, he already has a well thought out plan for us to succeed. When our hearts align with God’s and we are obedient in the following God’s words we will overcome any obstacle any time.

Sometimes we are scared to follow God’s messages and path for our lives because we do not understand how we will be able to accomplish the task. Having 100% Faith in God is easy my friends. A God that created this universe will surely allow you to accomplish his works. Do not worry about how you are going accomplish that goal just take a step on faith.

Have you been called to do a work for God? You may think that your work that God has laid on your heart is small and unimportant but each work is just as important as the next.

I encourage you to have an obedient heart, take a step of faith, and begin your journey to fulfill God’s works.

I would love for you to share your personal works for God with us.

Bible Scriptures for an Obedient Heart

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

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

2 Corinthians 2:9

For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.

Luke 5:1-39 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ...

I normally advise you to Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your “Loving Lasting Marriage”. Today I would like to ask you all to say a Prayer for myself as well as one another, that we may all be courageous and obedient to begin or continue our works for God.

Thank you for your support, please continue to share this blog . You can share this blog by clicking on the facebook or twitter link at the bottom of this post.  You can also become a follower by clicking on the “join this site” link in the right tool bar. If you have a perspective, experience, or just an opinion, please share. You can contact me at Shalasha_sun@yahoo.com !

Shalasha

Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement

Children are a Blessing Unto our Marriages and Life

This week I have decided to allow the scriptures to speak for themselves on children being a blessing ……

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

John 16:21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Matthew 18:10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Proverbs 17:6  Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Through these scripture you can capture that one of God’s greatest gift to us are our children. I hope that these scriptures bring you some encouragement this week.

Shalasha 

A Man of Love

On Friday, I learned some upsetting news. A great and loving family member passed from this world and entered his heavenly home.  My Great-Uncle Dr. Dalton Peter Brooks.

To know my family, you would know that the normal distance of a “great” Uncle is not the same in my family. We are just “family”.  He was an Uncle who always greeted you with a hug and a smile and cared about you.

My Uncle created a humble legacy but the legacy I want to focus on is his legacy of love for his family and God. My heart goes out to his wife, my Aunt. As well as his children and his Grandchildren. Each one of these members had a very close relationship with their Husband, Father, and Grandfather that no one else can imagine.

My Aunt Doris and My Uncle Dalton were married for 51 years and created their own legacy with one another. They created a family and watched as each in turn created their own families. During this lifetime of Love my Uncle & Aunt also had (has because a relationship with God never ends) a close relationship with God. As a Pastor in addition to many other titles, my Uncle grew close to God. One of the speakers at his home going celebration described him as a friend of God.

As I prepared to go home for the services, a knock came. I answered the door and recognized two smiling faces. Two ladies from the local Jehovah’s witness community who have visited me before. I politely spoke to them and took their literature. I placed it on my kitchen table and continued to get ready.

When I returned home I decided to flip through the literature that was left by the ladies.  This literatures’ focus was on a well-known friend of God, Abraham. The qualities of Abraham are shown to us through the scriptures.

Abraham was a man of Faith: Abraham demonstrated that he believed God’s Promises. Hebrews 11:8,9,17-19

Abraham was a man of Courage: Abraham was willing to go against the crowd. Genesis 14:21,22

Abraham was a man of Humility: Abraham gladly served others. Genesis 18:1-8, 1 Peter 5:5

Abraham was a man of Love: Abraham showed that he loved his family. Genesis 18:19

Faith, Courage, Humility, and Love

These same characteristics were used in reflections of my Uncle Dalton. A friend of God, who courageously fought the good fight, stood for the word of God, gladly served others, and loved his God & family.

To live a life that you can be seen by others as a friend of God’s, to have a Christ like heart, and most rewardingly be able to enter the Kingdom’s gate is a life all Christian’s strive toward.

These past days have been bittersweet. Bitter for the aches of the loved ones left behind, bitter for the memories of past, and bitter for questions unknown. But Sweet for knowing that he is where he worked to be, in the presence of the Lord and mighty father God.

Men and Women of Faith, Courage, Humility, and Love are among us in this day and time. Examples of obedience are here. Uncle Dalton is a friend of God, and he wanted to be an example to others to also be a friend of God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Shalasha

This week's Spiritual Encouragement for our marriages and relationships :

I

This verse was read at my wedding, as I am sure that it was read at many of yours.

As our marriage progresses sometimes we may allow others to come in between us & our spouse. But remember that a united front is not easily broken. 

Let's remember to be one with our spouses !

I found this cute click of a couple who has been married for 80 Years ! 

Of course not all relationships are easy, but I really like their advice to never go to bed mad with one another ! That is the same advice my mother in-law gave me & my husband and it truly helps. 

I hope this encouragement helps you today, and as I continue building this blog please "share " with others. You can do this by clicking on the share tab in the top upper left . If you are new to this site please "join in". And don't forget to enter the giveaway !

                                                                                   Shalasha