You Are Not Alone!

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  Hebrews 7:25

As I think back over the years of my relationship with the Lord,
Some of the most encouraging times,
The most impacting moments,
Were not when I heard about women who had it all together,
Or whose children walked blamelessly beside her.
Rather, I have been most encouraged by those
Who humbly admitted that they too fail.
That their children are not perfect.
That their marriage has had bumps in the road.
That they need Jesus as much as I do.

Really?! Really?! You mean, I'm not the only one?!
(Big sigh of relief!!)

And so my friends, my message today is simple.
We all struggle.
We all fall short.
We do. Our husbands do. Our children do.

You are not alone.
I have spoken harshly to my children (ashamedly).
My children have told me 'no,' hit, been mean,
     thrown fits (I had one who even threw himself on the ground and did a
     textbook toddler tantrum - lovely, but true).
I have wept tears of frustration for my marriage.
Yup, we're a bunch of sinners here. =)

BUT... Thank God (truly!) for His grace!
He picks us up.
He dusts us off.
He loves us.
Forgives us.
And then, He enables us with His strength.
We have a second chance.
Or third... or fourth...or...

Are you tired of the sin you see in your life?
In the lives you see in those around you?
Don't be discouraged.
Don't throw in the towel.
He lives! And wants to live in and through you.
Talk to Him today!
Cry out to the One who loves you deeply
And can help you practically.
Grab onto the hand that heals
And cling to the One who will lead you through this life.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Prayer Night

Marriage- Our role as wives

Last night was a wonderful time of prayer as my friends and I gathered in our home and we prayed over our role as wives.  For those of you who were unable to attend, here is the outline we prayed through.

Thank God for our husbands.

Pray that we would truly respect them as men, as the leaders of our homes, as the father of our children, as the provider for our families.

Pray that we would love them in a way that they feel loved.

Pray that we would be their number one encourager, the one who believes in them the most, flatters them the most, cheers them on the most.

Pray for creativity on your part in your marriage.  That the Lord would reveal new and exciting things to add to your relationship to the unification, joy and pleasure of your marriage.

Pray for wisdom on when to speak, confront, discuss issues, and when to hold our tongues and speak only to the Father.

Pray that we would find our complete satisfaction, completion, acceptance from the Lord so that anything our husbands may give us will be received as an extra gift.

Pray that we will be quick to forgive and not let our minds dwell on the sins done against us.  But that with the help of the Holy Spirit we will seek peace and redemption in our marriage so that we can experience the joy that He desires us to share.

Pray for hearts that want to serve selflessly rather than seeking to be served.

Pray that we would be the wife our husband is anxious to get home to, boasts to his friends about, wants to grow old with.

Pray for our relationships with others, that we would safeguard our marriage and therefore only have relationships male or female that strengthen our relationship with our husband.

Because of Jesus, 

Eunora

Giving Thanks for the Good

In everything give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

How easy it is for me to find fault with those around me,

To notice areas where improvement is needed.

When I was recently reminded, through a book,

Of what others face,

I suddenly realized how very blessed I am

To have the people I do in my life.

This revelation has caused me to want

To point out to my loved ones all that they do well.

I want to be thankful for all the yucky things

The Lord has spared me from.

I want to focus on and acknowledge

The good qualities in those around me.

Sure, we all have areas that need refining.

But, how much better for my spirit

If I do as the Word commands and give thanks.

I'm signing off now so that I can do just that:

Write a letter of thanks for the good I have and see

In a special someone in my life.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

It's Hard, But It's OK!

When it comes to home schooling, mothering, and even marriage,

I find myself tense up and feel discouraged when it becomes hard.

When my children fail to understand concepts in school, it's hard.

When I realize I need to invest more in character building, it's hard.

When I run up against strain in my marriage, it's hard.

Hard, in these areas, has always felt negative, discouraging, overwhelming.

But, recently the Lord brought these hard things to mind.

Is it not hard for a runner to train for a marathon?

Yes, it takes planning, dedication, determination,

Even at times, blood (blisters), sweat (running in the heat),

And tears (trying to work training into an already full life schedule).

Is it not hard for a student studying for a college degree?

Yes, it also takes planning, dedication and determination.

Is it not hard for a mountain climber to scale a mountain?

Or a gardener to reap a harvest?

Or a carpenter to build a house?

Or an author to write a book?

I hope you can clearly see that to all these questions,

The answer is most certainly, YES!

But when I look at these tasks and goals,

I think the hard in each one as fun,

Adventuresome, exciting, impressive.

Hard, in other words, does not have to be negative.

Hard, is part of a process I am journeying through.

Hard means I'm going somewhere.

Hard means I'm working on something.

Hard means I'm affecting someone.

Dear friends, when life gets hard, it's OK!

Remember your calling.

Remember your goal.

Hard comes with the task,

But the results will be worth it!

Press on and work hard on those hard issues.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Linking up today:

and

Pray With Me- Marriage

Last night I hosted another 'prayer night' in my home.

I am so thankful to have been able to spend an hour praying

over an important topic with good friends.

For those of you who could not make, it I am posting

the outline I used so that you can pray through it, if you so desire.

Our topic last night was on marriage

and I am so thankful to have covered

such an important topic with lots of prayer.

How good it is to know that we can come boldly before

the thrown of grace, lay our burdens,

cares, hopes, and dreams

at His feet, and leave them there knowing

they could be in no better place.

May you and your marriage be blessed as you pray over it.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Prayer Night-

September 15, 2011

Marriage:

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Thank God- for our husbands: who they are and what they do, that we have a partner in this life, for the father that they are to our children…

Our role as wives- for us to be the help meet God designed us to be, that we would be respectful, encouraging, and submissive to our husband’s role as leader.

Our husband’s role- wisdom to be the leader God has called him to be, that he would love us as we desire to be loved.

Unity- that God would cause us to be unified in the decisions of life that come our way. Ie: finances, work/careers, children (discipline, training, school etc.), hobbies, etc.

Infidelity- Protection against it and healing for those who have suffered from it.

Influence- that we would be positive examples of Christ-centered marriages.

Joy and peace- that we would experience this in our relationship with our husband, that we wouldn’t forget how to have fun in the midst of busy lives.