Wednesday's Word: God is in absolute control of the details of our lives

In Paul Tripp's book, "What Did you Expect." he states:

"Acts 17:24-27 is one of the most helpful and encouraging discussions in the New Testament of God's rulership over our lives:

'The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of earth, having determined allotted periods and boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.'

"Having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place." What does Paul mean by these words? Well, let me paraphrase. God determines the precise place where each of us will live ("boundaries and dwelling places") and the exact length of our lives ("having determined allotted periods"). It is God who determines the precise details of location, situations, and relationship in which each of us lives. This means not only that God is in control of where you end up and who you finally live with, but also that, in order to do this, he has been in control of everything that brought you where you are. This means that God has been in control of all the experiential, cultural, and familial influences that shape how you desire, think, act, and respond. So, God is in control not only of the locations in which you live, but also of the influences that have shaped you as a person. He has not only written the story of you and your spouse and determined that your stories would intersect, but he has controlled all the things that have made you different from one another.

"As you struggle, you must not view your marriage as bad luck or poor planning, or a mess that you have made for yourself. No God is right smack-dab in the middle of your struggle. He is not surprised by what you are facing today. He is up to something."

"He is working to rescue you from you, to deliver you from sin, and to form the character of Jesus in you."

"He has designed marriage to be one of the most efficient tools of personal holiness. he has designed your marriage to change you."

Wednesday's Word: Being Committed to Joy

"Serving in love means being committed to joy. What is joy about? It means looking for reasons to be thankful. It means being better at counting your blessing than you are at calculating your complaints. It is about communicating appreciation. It us about letting [him] know how much the things he does for you mean to you. It is about letting him know how much things [he] does for you mean to you. It is about daily thanking God for your marriage, even though it is less than perfect. Joy means looking for the good in the other and encouraging it when you find it. Would your husband or wife characterize you as being thankful?"

What Did You Expect?? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage

Paul David Tripp (who I got to meet in seminary...he is an incredible writer, and I want to read everything he has ever written).

Happy 6th Anniversary to My Wonderful Husband!

Six years ago today, it snowed a little in Spartanburg, however, because of the clouds, the candles looked beautiful in the sanctuary. At 4 pm, I took the happiest walk I will ever have, down the aisle with my faithful father just as I had always dreamed of ever since I was a little girl.

God choose the perfect man for me, he challenges me to walk closer with the Lord, and daily dies to himself and depends on God for everything.

We have decide to give each other $15 gifts for our anniversary since this is the only holiday we do not get gifts from our family. I got him a $15 itunes gift card, and he got me a beautiful pearl necklace at Hand Picked (under $20).My homemade card for him:

Top 5 Best Memories of Last Year

1. Us getting on our face and praying for answers to Jackson’s speech problem and the Lord revealing us the answer the next day!
2. Us buying our car
3. Your 30^th Birthday Surprise!
4. You preaching so well this year
   
5. You coaching Jackson and him scoring a goal.

Since we have almost been together a Decade -Top 5 Memories of The Decade

1. Us meeting and knowing God had given us a perfect mate (knowing within weeks we would be married one day).
2. Our first Valentines day
3. Our wedding!
4. You preaching for the first time and doing so well!
5. Our children being born!

It has been the best decade of my life and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us for the next decade.

Wednesday's Word: Date Night

Trying to make time for date night is challenging with two babies under the age of 3 right now.

Ideally, it would be great to have weekly date nights but many weekends we have stuff going on at the church and that is just not a realistic goal for us right now.

Instead, we have monthly date night. Every month I pick a Friday night out and call Lynn and go ahead and schedule it weeks in advance. On date night, we usually go to a restaurant (sometimes even one without a waiter like Moe's) and usually go shopping for clothes for us or for picture frames or something to buy for the house. We really cannot go shopping together with two babies. If we do it is rushed, and usually pretty hectic.

On date night we try to tell each other our favorite memories that we have had in the last 3-6 months. We also try to talk about our goals and what goals we have met recently or goals that we are working on. We really try to make memories and have a meaningful conversation at dinner when we have our date night.

Making time for your marriage is so important!

Do you have any tips or suggestions on what has worked with making your marriage a priority while raising small children?

Prayer:

• I forgot to mention on last week's post that if you have a girl friend who wants you to pray about something, if it is not too awkward, pray with her right then about it. Many times I just pull my friend into a room that is empty or a place that does not have many people around, and we pray right then and there for my friend. I always feel the Holy Spirit working in both of our lives whenever I do this. I challenge you to do the same with your girlfriends!
  

Why Jon and Kate Plus 8 is Really Upsetting

• I watched TLC when they first did a little show on her and staying at home with 6 babies and twins. I have watched them and the Duggars for every show they have had from the beginning. The Duggars are still one of my favorite shows. I really enjoy seeing what works for other stay at home moms, and I have learned a lot by watching these shows.
  
• I really cannot stop thinking about their decision to separate. I did miss like 5 crucial minutes of them explaining why. I heard Jon say that he let her rule everything for all this time. I heard Kate say that Jon will not even talk to her and that this has been going on for a very long time....8 whole months.
  
• The problem and point of the post is that: when you have kids there is really no such thing as a true divorce from each other. You get divorced "to" each other not from each other when you have children. You will always be in each others lives when you have children, and why not try to work things out since you are forever linked to one another? Mark Driscoll nails it when he says don't get a divorce, get a new marriage. Marriage is about dying to yourself and depending on God.
  
• Now, I know plenty of cases where the spouse cheats and leaves the other spouse and there is nothing that can be done. I do not feel that is the case here with Jon and Kate. Have they had counseling? All those kids really want is not all the stuff in the world, but to see their mommy and daddy loving each other. My heart breaks for them, and I really wish I understood more of the reasons why.
  

Happy 5th Anniversary To the Love of My Life!

Top 5 Things I love about you

1. How you really put me second next to your relationship with Christ in your actions
2. How you are always learning and growing
3. How great you are with our babies
4. How great you are with children and seeing you help lead children to Christ this past year
5. How you are such a great teacher to children and their parents and to me

Top 5 Best Memories of Last Year

1. When we found out we were pregnant and you were holding the stick in the bathroom very close to your face (in March)
2. When you surprising me with flowers last year one day
3. Watching you help lead many children to Christ at VBS
4. You doing a great job the day Abigail was born and really encouraging me through delivering her. You helped me so much that day. God has given us so many blessings!
5. You holding both our babies one night before Jackson had to go to bed. You are such a great and loving father.

Top 5 Memories of the Last Five Years

1. Our wedding day. Was the best day of my life next to me accepting Christ when I was 10 years old
2. You growing and learning so much in seminary. God has given you such a great gift in teaching
3. You preaching for the first time at your grandmother’s church.
4. The first time both of our babies smiled at you.
5. Our getaways to the Hickory Grove Baptist Church where we were able to learn and grow together in our walk with the Lord and with each other

I am so thankful to have such a patient husband. I know God put us together to be each other helpers from the first moment we met. I cannot wait for the next five years. Thank you for loving me with all your heart, mind, and soul.

Love Forever

Emily (2009)

*Tonight we were able to drop the babies off at Charlie's parents house while we had a nice dinner at the Olive Garden on the Northeast side of town. The we went to Sandhills and did a little shopping and Charlie got me pearl earrings (I lost mine) at Belks for our anniversary and for me giving birth to Abigail. I hope to give these pearl earings to Abigail one day. What a special gift!