At this point I figured I will just summarize what I've learned about the next few topics, which are about Extending Love to Family, Tending your Career, Making Time for Fun, Serving the Lord and Reaching out to Others. This book may be about becoming a better wife and having a better marriage, but what struck me was how I needed to be closer to God first and foremost, and everything will follow. I also needed to see that there are other relationships I have neglected, like those with my son, parents, and other people in my life. Having a wonderful marriage is important, but it's not everything. I almost let my whole world revolve around it, on the perfect ideal of what a marriage should be like, and I even feel depressed when my marriage is not like how I envision it would be.
So from here on out I promise to work on the following things:
1. Read the Bible everyday.
2. Pray for my husband everyday.
3. Always show respect in words and deeds.
4. Change my speech.
5. Seek advice from older women.
6. Keep teaching Bible stories to my son.
7. Always be on the lookout on how to improve our home.
8. Make a weekly meal menu.
9. Budget for family get togethers.
10. Plan weekly dates.
11. Plan anniversaries.
12. Choose a couple hobby, like a sport or a class together.
13. Serve at church.
14. Reach out to neighbors.
15. Join a womens' Bible study.
16. Create a prayer notebook.
The last item, create a prayer notebook, is probably the most important idea I got from this book. It wasn't suggested, but of course, being a stickler for lists and pen and paper, I want to write down my prayer requests, my wishes, my problems, and lift it all up to God. Instead of worrying uselessly, or wasting time playing Smurf in my ipod, or facebooking, here's one thing I know will bring me peace. I asked God for peace of mind this 2013. He asks me to list it down, talk to him, and he will give me exactly that.
Matthew 7:7-8
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened
Showing posts with label Elizabeth George. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elizabeth George. Show all posts
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
A Wife After God's Own Heart: Chapter 7
On Raising My Children
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
New International Version (NIV)
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
This verse struck me most in this chapter, and the author says that as a mom, I must be there at home to actually be able to do that.
I must also be aware of the child's developments, tendencies, shortcomings and strengths, not to mention how he or she spend time...and with whom.
I was brought up in a God-fearing home, and I loved that about my parents. I wanted my son to have that kind of childhood as well. I wanted to able to impart what I learned, and to teach him myself those Bible stories I know by heart. Sometimes I feel discouraged because of my demanding job, and by the time I get home I don't have much energy left to do other stuff.
But one thing I'm determined to continue is to "Have a daily Bible time with Mom" as the author suggested. I've started that since he was a baby, when my father gave him a Bible storybook. I bought him a new one that would suited for his age. And I am determined to continue bringing him to church, even when sometimes I and my son just go by ourselves. But recently my husband promised to go with us now as a family. So that's one thing I'm happy about.
While reading to my son about the story of Joseph, though, I felt God was speaking to me more than to my son. Joseph was only 17 when he was sold to traders in Egypt, and he was already 30 when he faced Pharaoh and interpreted his dreams. That's 13 long years of waiting and wondering, does God still remember me? But God used even the worst situations for His greater purpose and glory.
This year I will commit and bring my son and nephew closer to God.
This verse struck me most in this chapter, and the author says that as a mom, I must be there at home to actually be able to do that.
I must also be aware of the child's developments, tendencies, shortcomings and strengths, not to mention how he or she spend time...and with whom.
I was brought up in a God-fearing home, and I loved that about my parents. I wanted my son to have that kind of childhood as well. I wanted to able to impart what I learned, and to teach him myself those Bible stories I know by heart. Sometimes I feel discouraged because of my demanding job, and by the time I get home I don't have much energy left to do other stuff.
But one thing I'm determined to continue is to "Have a daily Bible time with Mom" as the author suggested. I've started that since he was a baby, when my father gave him a Bible storybook. I bought him a new one that would suited for his age. And I am determined to continue bringing him to church, even when sometimes I and my son just go by ourselves. But recently my husband promised to go with us now as a family. So that's one thing I'm happy about.
While reading to my son about the story of Joseph, though, I felt God was speaking to me more than to my son. Joseph was only 17 when he was sold to traders in Egypt, and he was already 30 when he faced Pharaoh and interpreted his dreams. That's 13 long years of waiting and wondering, does God still remember me? But God used even the worst situations for His greater purpose and glory.
This year I will commit and bring my son and nephew closer to God.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A Wife After God's Own Heart: Chapter 6
This is about "Keeping up the Home"
Ahhhh... now here's a topic I really wanted to get more out of. This is more of the Proverbs 31 wife, which describes how a wife should be. Of course, everyone knows that a wife should look over and take care of the way things are run at home, but as a working wife, I do find myself falling short on this department. I wanted to skip to Chapter 9 hehe which is for the working women out there. But of course my heart and my priorities will always be on how to make my home clean and inviting and always filled with love.
I wanted to emphasize the part where the authors describes what a wife should not be. In Proverbs 7:11-12 it says the adulteress is always "out there," walking the streets, instead of being at home. This brings to mind various thoughts.
Now I got married at 20, at the brink of youth, and didn't even get to experience much travelling, work, and haven't been to any of those bars or what have you. As a young mom, sometimes I was envious of those who were able to go out with their friends and go out for a drink. Most single moms working in call centers act like having a kid did not even affect the way they live. They still go on parties, team buildings, outings and other events. That isn't to say it's wrong to go out with friends, but now I understand why my heart is always heavy when I have to be away from my kid, and that is because I know I should be at home. I should be productive at home, managing it, improving it, making it nice and presentable.
Other wives, on the other hand, also have the supermom syndrome (which I think I have), where they try to do everything at once and please everyone in the family. I work, I do the errands and supervise my son's school and still have to tend to stuff at home. Sigh, just writing about it makes me tired. However, we don't have to be the perfect housewife. I think simply being there there for your son is more important, although a little help on the organization department is desperately needed.
(And by the way, I added Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe by Sarah Mae in my Amazon wish list since this seems like the perfect book for this topic right now. A breather? Oh definitely a must buy. Thanks to Courtney for suggesting and featuring this book in her site, Women Living Well.)
With that, we as mothers and wives shouldn't have excuses like being too tired, or that we're a working mom -- it's still important to keep the house a home.
Here's the little things that I already love to do:
1. Make the beds daily. But of course!
2. Make a daily to-do list.
3. Make a weekly meal menu.
4. Do one thing you've been putting off. Hmmmm...
5. Keep a daily log of time spent on your housework.
6. Work on your attitude (heartily and willingly)
7. Work on growing.
Ahhhh... now here's a topic I really wanted to get more out of. This is more of the Proverbs 31 wife, which describes how a wife should be. Of course, everyone knows that a wife should look over and take care of the way things are run at home, but as a working wife, I do find myself falling short on this department. I wanted to skip to Chapter 9 hehe which is for the working women out there. But of course my heart and my priorities will always be on how to make my home clean and inviting and always filled with love.
I wanted to emphasize the part where the authors describes what a wife should not be. In Proverbs 7:11-12 it says the adulteress is always "out there," walking the streets, instead of being at home. This brings to mind various thoughts.
Now I got married at 20, at the brink of youth, and didn't even get to experience much travelling, work, and haven't been to any of those bars or what have you. As a young mom, sometimes I was envious of those who were able to go out with their friends and go out for a drink. Most single moms working in call centers act like having a kid did not even affect the way they live. They still go on parties, team buildings, outings and other events. That isn't to say it's wrong to go out with friends, but now I understand why my heart is always heavy when I have to be away from my kid, and that is because I know I should be at home. I should be productive at home, managing it, improving it, making it nice and presentable.
Other wives, on the other hand, also have the supermom syndrome (which I think I have), where they try to do everything at once and please everyone in the family. I work, I do the errands and supervise my son's school and still have to tend to stuff at home. Sigh, just writing about it makes me tired. However, we don't have to be the perfect housewife. I think simply being there there for your son is more important, although a little help on the organization department is desperately needed.
(And by the way, I added Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe by Sarah Mae in my Amazon wish list since this seems like the perfect book for this topic right now. A breather? Oh definitely a must buy. Thanks to Courtney for suggesting and featuring this book in her site, Women Living Well.)
With that, we as mothers and wives shouldn't have excuses like being too tired, or that we're a working mom -- it's still important to keep the house a home.
Here's the little things that I already love to do:
1. Make the beds daily. But of course!
2. Make a daily to-do list.
3. Make a weekly meal menu.
4. Do one thing you've been putting off. Hmmmm...
5. Keep a daily log of time spent on your housework.
6. Work on your attitude (heartily and willingly)
7. Work on growing.
A Wife After God's Own Heart: Chapter 5
This chapter is about Managing Your Money. Ahhh.. now that's I can say is something more of my forte. My husband entrusts the budget wholly to me, and I spend and allot it as I see fit. I do consult him on it of course, but the execution part would all be me.
Generally, I don't have any problem in this department, as I am the type who is enthusiastic about budgets, lists and anything to do with money, but I do know I have to work on the tithing and savings part.
And my husband do have a lot to say on the savings part since I keep telling him we can save 40% of our income each month, and realistically I haven't started on that. I always find a way to spend it somewhere like credit card bills or medicine or emergency expenses. But there should be no excuse not to start our savings account the first quarter of this year, and we plan to open a UITF account so we can't touch it.
And tithing, of course, is something I also need to master the art of, since it has been a challenge to me since Day one. It would be best if I would prioritize tithing at the top of my budget list, savings second, so I can just work with what's left. Anyway, what's important is to be content with what you have.
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
The little things I can work on are:
1. Honor your husband's direction. Check!
2. Create a budget. Check!
3. Help out with managing the finances. Check! Check check check!
4. Set up a financial center. Check!
5. Give to God's purposes. To do
6. Keep a list of the things you want or need. Check!
7. Set up a savings plan. To do
I'd just like to share, that over the weekend my husband was in a motorcycle accident with a biker. So we headed over to the hospital emergency and wasn't able to go to church as planned. But of course I'm soooooo grateful and thankful that he just got a few bruises and some shoulder pain (but no broken bones, as per the xray). Although I have been so tired over the weekend, I didn't feel distressed or worried at all, and my relationship with my husband is in the improving side. Thank God for the trials and blessings, and I have more reasons to be thankful for this year.
Generally, I don't have any problem in this department, as I am the type who is enthusiastic about budgets, lists and anything to do with money, but I do know I have to work on the tithing and savings part.
And my husband do have a lot to say on the savings part since I keep telling him we can save 40% of our income each month, and realistically I haven't started on that. I always find a way to spend it somewhere like credit card bills or medicine or emergency expenses. But there should be no excuse not to start our savings account the first quarter of this year, and we plan to open a UITF account so we can't touch it.
And tithing, of course, is something I also need to master the art of, since it has been a challenge to me since Day one. It would be best if I would prioritize tithing at the top of my budget list, savings second, so I can just work with what's left. Anyway, what's important is to be content with what you have.
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
The little things I can work on are:
1. Honor your husband's direction. Check!
2. Create a budget. Check!
3. Help out with managing the finances. Check! Check check check!
4. Set up a financial center. Check!
5. Give to God's purposes. To do
6. Keep a list of the things you want or need. Check!
7. Set up a savings plan. To do
I'd just like to share, that over the weekend my husband was in a motorcycle accident with a biker. So we headed over to the hospital emergency and wasn't able to go to church as planned. But of course I'm soooooo grateful and thankful that he just got a few bruises and some shoulder pain (but no broken bones, as per the xray). Although I have been so tired over the weekend, I didn't feel distressed or worried at all, and my relationship with my husband is in the improving side. Thank God for the trials and blessings, and I have more reasons to be thankful for this year.
Friday, January 4, 2013
A Wife After God's Own Heart: Chapter 4
Chapter 4 : Enjoying Intimacy
I usually don't have much problems in this area, so I won't delve into it much deeply. And I wish the book also tackled issues at length, but with only 219 pages it leaves much to be discussed. So I plan to buy one marriage book a month and review it here in my blog.
Anyways, in the Philippines, sex is not usually something couples talk about in groups except in the locker room or in green jokes. Our marriage was even a result of unexpected pregnancy, but God had honored our vows and kept us together til now. So I guess the challenge here is:
1. Schedule sex. We both work in an almost graveyard shift (think 2am) so it's quite difficult to have enough sleep, time and energy to work it out on our schedule. Of course it's been neglected lately, but it's something I think we should prioritize this year.
2. Talk about sex with your husband.
3. Take time to prepare for sex.
4. Try to go to bed at the same time.
5. Tackle the excuse of being too tired.
6. Take care of yourself.
7. Take a short trip together.
All "little things" from 1 to 6 more or less goes together, and a little talk and scheduling will be in order pretty soon. I hope to push through with our Retrouvaille session at the end of this month, which is for troubled marriages.
But so far, so good. Yesterday when my husband went home I prepared a meal (even though I just got home myself) and let him tell me about his day. I'm glad he vented out to me about his work problems. I feel he is slowly warming up and relaxed when he's with me. Any improvement is better than none, right? And I like myself myself better this way too. So here's to hoping this year is a little better for us wives as we try to discern how God wants us to be better at home.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
A Wife After God's Own Heart: Chapter 3
I've been taking my time before proceeding writing about the next chapter because I really want to digest the first 2 things that really matter in marriage: Your heart with God and your communication with your spouse. So I focused on applying at least 2 small things from each chapter, that is to read at least a chapter of my Bible everyday, and to pray for my husband going to work, at lunch, and on the way home. It was a struggle at first because I was used to worrying, but I quickly learned to transition to lift my thoughts and concerns to the Lord. And yesterday going home I felt a sort of peace. I just felt really calm and serene, something I haven't experienced in a while.
And of course I also practiced keeping my mouth shut, speaking graciously and appreciating things he does, like cooking for us again yesterday. It really didn't much effort to show respect for your husband, but it took a lot of effort to really be quiet and listen to him first before I tell him about my day. But slowly, I see some small changes. Positive reactions. So, I'm going to keep this up.
Chapter 3: Learning to Communicate
As a wife, our words should be ...sweet...soft....suitable...scant....slow.
I don't want to sound like a constant dripping of water at home, which is the result of a contentious wife.
So I looked up Merriam to see what contentious means:
Uh oh. Seems like a major overhaul is in order. So I would be practicing the art of silence. Since it says in
And of course I also practiced keeping my mouth shut, speaking graciously and appreciating things he does, like cooking for us again yesterday. It really didn't much effort to show respect for your husband, but it took a lot of effort to really be quiet and listen to him first before I tell him about my day. But slowly, I see some small changes. Positive reactions. So, I'm going to keep this up.
Chapter 3: Learning to Communicate
As a wife, our words should be ...sweet...soft....suitable...scant....slow.
I don't want to sound like a constant dripping of water at home, which is the result of a contentious wife.
So I looked up Merriam to see what contentious means:
: likely to cause disagreement or argument
: exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and dispute.
Uh oh. Seems like a major overhaul is in order. So I would be practicing the art of silence. Since it says in
Proverbs 10:19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words but the prudent hold their tongues.
It seems so sad that I'm a speech communication major but I fail so drastically in communicating with my spouse. They certainly teach you what to say in schools, but not what NOT to say.
The author suggested to Take it to the Lord in prayer like what Hannah did. No matter what I'm bitterness or trials I am going through, I want God to know everything. Actually, that's why David is also called A Man after God's own heart, because he was also so close and personal with the Lord that he bared all his emotions to God.
The second suggestion is to Make a decision to "cut it out". Cut out the wrong, unproductive, destructive and negative thoughts and replace with noble ones. This is so in line with my new life verse. So whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
This new year, a lot of people may have vowed to make changes and resolutions. What is reality is that change doesn't happen when the clock strikes 12, it doesn't happen to you. It happens over a long period of time, of deciding to adjust and readjust, commit and recommit. I admit I myself find it hard to stick to something. I'm a fan of starting out strong but fail to see it through. I hope with the positive effects I am seeing with the relationship with my husband I can be inspired to continue and inspire others as well.
I hope I get to review one book about marriage as well each month this year, along with my other goals for 2013. And with that I pray that my blog would light a hope for women who want to save their marriage, or who thought it was already dead. I thought mine was, but in between the ups and down and going through this journey is actually worth saving.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
A Wife After God's Own Heart: Chapter 2
Chapter 2 Review of A Wife After God's Own Heart: Working as A Team
Two are better than one,
This chapter goes back to the basics of marriage. What does the Bible say about marriage and the roles of a husband and wife?
The author highlights these verses:
1. The husband is to lead in his marriage and family.
Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
2. A husband is to work and to provide for his family
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
3 A husband is to love his wife.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Ephesians 5:28
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
4. A wife is to help her husband.
Genesis 2:18
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
5. A wife is to submit to her husband.
Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
6. A wife is to respect her husband.
Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
7. A wife is to love her husband.
Titus 2:4
Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children.
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor
This chapter goes back to the basics of marriage. What does the Bible say about marriage and the roles of a husband and wife?
The author highlights these verses:
1. The husband is to lead in his marriage and family.
Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
2. A husband is to work and to provide for his family
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
3 A husband is to love his wife.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Ephesians 5:28
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
4. A wife is to help her husband.
Genesis 2:18
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
5. A wife is to submit to her husband.
Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
6. A wife is to respect her husband.
Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
7. A wife is to love her husband.
Titus 2:4
Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children.
Here are my takeaways for this chapter:
...These wives may assume a "when...then" attitude. In their hearts, they say, "When he does this or that, then I'll do this or that." They postpone obedience to their roles as wives and make it conditional to that of their husbands'.
W - warm up his life with your love
I - improve his life as a helper
F - follow his leadership with a willing heart
E - esteem him highly with utmost respect
Out of the four areas, I think I should work on building and earning respect from my husband. Recently I've failed in this area when invading his privacy or doubting his love for me.Sometimes I decide on things regarding our son without consulting him first. No matter what the excuse, I should let him lead me and work together as a team. Also, when he acts disrespectful or harsh to me, I feel like acting the same way as well. I can clearly control my reaction even though it's soooo hard. Instead of thinking of his negative traits, I should look and appreciate his good ones.
What if I'm married to a man who is not a Christian?
Your assignment from God is to love, follow, assist, and minister to your non-Christian husband while living in a Christlike manner before his eyes.
Little Things:
1. Thank your husband for living out his roles.
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. And he's actually the one who will do the cooking for us since I have to go to work early on New Year's Eve. (Sigh) Can't help it in the call center industry. But I really want to show him how thankful I am for his willingness to cook, even though that should be a wife's job! I mean, he knows I can't cook anything more grand than spaghetti and macaroni, but small tokens like that really makes me melt.
2. Ask your husband how you can help.
Of course, I won't just stand by without offering my help, and not just on this occasion. As a working wife, it really is a challenge to even offer your time and energy when you're so swamped with everything else already - house chores, my son's studies, church, groceries. But I have to make sure I don't neglect my priority, which is to honor and help my husband.
3. Show greater respect for your husband. Amen.That's number one on my agenda this year. That includes consulting him with every decision, big or small. And resisting the urge to even look at his stuff. And just shutting my mouth even when he says hurtful things.
I love the tips this Christian blogger gave on how to respect your husband. See article here.
4. Think of a way the two of you can have fun this week. I make sure we have a date every day on his rest day. So that one's set for this coming Wednesday.
5. Pray to follow God's plan for a wife.
6. Seek out another woman as a mentor.
I'm glad I have many Christian friends I can go to as a mentor. They were there for me during the difficult times during the crisis on our marriage (see My Story). But the important thing is, they don't judge, criticize you or tell you to give up on their marriage. These days the popular advice is to give up when you're no longer happy, when it's not working anymore, or when you just can't take it anymore. I wonder how many marriages would last with that thinking.
So anyway, I should drop by one their houses soon, so I can greet them a Happy New Year as well.
So far, I'm happy I picked up this book. I see it as a divine intervention and gift from God. I'm excited to see God's work in the upcoming year!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
A Wife After God's Own Heart
I was supposed to pick up a different book by Darlene Sala today but it was not in stock, but this one caught my eye immediately. A Wife After God's Own Heart (12 Things that Really Matter in Marriage) by Elizabeth George was like an answer to prayer that I badly needed at this time.
So I thought I would make a review for each chapter and to share my own experience in applying the principles I learn from it.
Chapter 1 : Growing in the Lord
This is the key verse for this chapter in which the author shared that we have to put first things first. When we seek God first in our lives, everything else falls into place. Ouch for me, I needed to hear that.
So how do we know that we are growing in our faith and we are seeking his kingdom and righteousness?
The author outlines 3 steps:
1 - Discover through reading the Bible what God wants us to do and how he wants us to lead our lives.
2 - Discern the meaning and implications of what you are reading in His Word
3 - Do what you have learned, discovered and discerned
And the best thing about it is that the end result is "a gentle and quiet spirit" and we will be able to bring honor to God through our lives.
I was excited about the part where it says it will also change your relationship with your husband. I almost laughed when I read "He will be more relaxed...instead of waiting for the next blow-up or attack." I definitely need more patience and grace in this relationship. I feel sometimes that there's a time bomb just waiting to explode sometimes. I don't handle outbursts quite well, unfortunately. when I feel something so strongly I HAD to say it. So, let's see how that changes for me.
What I love about this book is at the end of each chapter are "little things" that you can do to apply what you've learned.
"Little Things"
My letter of commitment:
I commit to start the year right with You, and to do things right starting with myself. I know it's not my marriage You want to change, but myself. You want me to go back to my first love, to the fire I once had as a youth. I am determined to read Your Word everyday and start praying more than worrying. Change me and give me a new heart, and I will choose to live each day for You.
So I thought I would make a review for each chapter and to share my own experience in applying the principles I learn from it.
Chapter 1 : Growing in the Lord
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This is the key verse for this chapter in which the author shared that we have to put first things first. When we seek God first in our lives, everything else falls into place. Ouch for me, I needed to hear that.
So how do we know that we are growing in our faith and we are seeking his kingdom and righteousness?
The author outlines 3 steps:
1 - Discover through reading the Bible what God wants us to do and how he wants us to lead our lives.
2 - Discern the meaning and implications of what you are reading in His Word
3 - Do what you have learned, discovered and discerned
And the best thing about it is that the end result is "a gentle and quiet spirit" and we will be able to bring honor to God through our lives.
I was excited about the part where it says it will also change your relationship with your husband. I almost laughed when I read "He will be more relaxed...instead of waiting for the next blow-up or attack." I definitely need more patience and grace in this relationship. I feel sometimes that there's a time bomb just waiting to explode sometimes. I don't handle outbursts quite well, unfortunately. when I feel something so strongly I HAD to say it. So, let's see how that changes for me.
What I love about this book is at the end of each chapter are "little things" that you can do to apply what you've learned.
"Little Things"
- Plan to read the Bible everyday. Even a chapter a day would do. Sigh, I even have a reading plan on my ipod but unfortunately I wasn't so consistent with that. But this seems more attainable.
- Pray for your husband 3x a day. Just like eating and brushing your teeth, it has to be part of your habit. I can't wait already.
- Plan to go to church this week. Well, of course I go to church every week. A while ago one of my close friends asked if we could actually go with her to church at VCF in Festival Alabang since she felt it would help if she went with friends. I've only been there once since we actually go to Church of God in Imus or Las Piñas, but I feel this is a good move to go with my girlfriends, since I couldn't persuade my husband most of the time to go with me.
- Sign up for a Bible class or Bible study. That should be available in the VCF activities, I'm sure. We'll check it out once we go there.
- Purchase or borrow a Christian book on any topic. I have a loooong wish list already of books I wanna buy in Amazon. You can take a look here at my Amazon wishlist.
- Write a letter of commitment to God. Make a decision to grow into the woman or wife God wants you to be - and that is a woman after God's own heart. Though asking for a great marriage may be farfetched right now, I am determined to make that step closer to God.
My letter of commitment:
I commit to start the year right with You, and to do things right starting with myself. I know it's not my marriage You want to change, but myself. You want me to go back to my first love, to the fire I once had as a youth. I am determined to read Your Word everyday and start praying more than worrying. Change me and give me a new heart, and I will choose to live each day for You.
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