HMMMM

again WOW - God is so kind. last week i was slotted to fill in for a member of the wed morning bible study worship team. God yanked me up short and told me i was using that wonderful talent to get attention. not using it as He wanted - to give Him glory and put a smile on His face. (i love that using what He gave me puts a smile on His face... ).

i was pegged, He is always correct when it comes to the motives in my heart. i asked Him to clear my heart out and forgive me for being so ridiculous, and selfish with my motive. He told me to go and let the leader know i would not be able to fill in. WELL long story very short, God allowed me to sing. (i know this can really seem hokey, but bear with me.) He rewarded me. AMAZING how He does things. i really don't want to bring attention to myself and He is changing the motives in my heart. He is so faithful to do what He promises. when i submit to His work and His word i get the benefit and am able to change. so i am enjoying being a filler on the team when there is a need. also learning how to follow and blend - strange to have to focus so on what tones are coming out of my vocals.

anywho...

today was an amazing bible study again.

hold on a sec. i really want to take a moment out and say that this is real stuff. God has been faithful when i was not, He has begun the process of showing me the value He places in me. He is changing thought processes and the way i see life situations. can i tell you - those who don't already know - if you looked in at where things are at with us you would think this is a pretty stinky place to be. that things look pretty hopeless. BUT since i do not have to look at how i see things, and since there are wonderful promises from God - never leaving me or forsaking me even when all others do; promise to always provide for me, to help me see past my understanding and to prosper me. I CAN'T POSSIBLY BE DESTROYED, even when it looks scary. i MUST give a shout to Him - He is the best thing to ever happen to me.

and now i don't even know how to go on from that..... guess i will take a moment.

k.

today's title : God's idea is: two with one heart. (beautiful isn't it..)
she says the dynamics of love, respect, protection, and honor are more than just keys to successful marriages and relationships, they are timeless principles to restore what has been lost. God gave us dominion over the earth and all the fullness there in. nature is waiting for us to take back dominion. with the fall of man - dominion became domination, order became chaos/disorder, multiplication became division. dominion is ruling power, authority or control. it is influence over an area and governed by a person or an entity. it is given for the benefit of everyone under its care - not for the one with the authority. God blessed man and woman, meaning He gave them (us) everything we need to flourish. i.e. when we walk in that authority even tho there is not enough "material" to make something happen somehow it is multiplied, more than enough. but when we walk outside of what God is doing, tho we have all at our disposal it still can not accomplish what we are trying to do.

we are to produce seeds. everything we do is a seed. our words carry life or death, they can add to a person's life or take away. God is big on the seed principle. planting and harvesting. God blessed man and woman TOGETHER, together there was no lack or weakness. because of the fall of man we have to work for our seeds to flourish. we have to take dominion over the weeds now, unfortunately we do not do that. dominion/authority.

authority is given to SERVE those under our care. mothers are to create an atmosphere for the children to flourish - better than what we had. it is given to us for their benefit, not the parent's benefit. and it is shared between husband and wife, each having a perspective needed by the other. the woman is the heart of the house and the man is the counsel of the house. someone that takes good counsel will be a good authority. adam had seed, but without eve he had no where to plant it. she gave him life and legacy. the woman builds the man. (telling him great job, for lack of more eloquent wording...) men are about positioning things. women connect what has been positioned. adam named the animals - men have the ability to call us something (lovely, supportive, beloved). this actually makes us want to be what they call us, especially before they find anything to the contrary... we can choose to become those things that are of value. their words cause our lives to flourish. a woman has the ability to enlarge her husband's heart. (hang on for a second here.... especially if you don't feel that this is happening or a possibility...)

men are leaders, doing life with their wives (nothing like hearing him say how he needs you to be with him in life...). authority figures that tend to demand things from those under them rob themselves of the best of that person's gift. a man that demands submission robs the wife of her dignity of choice to GIVE him submission (gentle assistance, as an example. not a beaten woman. gentle assistance is so much nicer - think about how you want someone to treat you. do you like the rough and belligerent person or a kind smile with the purpose of helping you accomplish something??). you can tell a dominated person - they are shrunk. only a shadow of what they were. men should not misuse their authority nor should a woman misuse her influence. if this is taking place there will be conflict and the children will be broken hearted.

FOR THOSE NOT FEELING LIKE THEY ARE GETTING THE WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE FROM THEIR HUSBAND OR ARE SINGLE. you have a wonderful, loving Savior. He always sees a beautiful and altogether lovely woman. He is unable to look away from you. Isaiah 43:1 "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are MINE." Isaiah 54:6 "the Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit - a wife who married young, only to be rejected, says your God." He is enough for me - this is great to say over and over until you can say "He is more than enough for me." and know it.

in our marriage it is so important to speak to each other like allies, and not combat like enemies. it is the storms inside the marriage that take us out, not the storms outside. (ouch.)

God has tied the earth to the sensitivity of how men and women treat each other. Proverbs 30:21-23 "under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear it: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress." this was described as - two out of the 4 are dynamics of women in a marriage relationship. the maidservant who displaces her mistress is likened to an older woman being replaced by a younger one. a fool full of food is likened to a fool with way too much and wasting it. look around the globe at places women are mistreated - they have incredible resources, but they don't prosper, they are unstable because they don't have dominion, they have domination. the dominion given by God over the earth was for man and woman TOGETHER, not one over the other.

often the church focuses only on getting the "lost" saved. Luke 19:10 - "for the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost." we are to seek the lost, but also to take back what was lost, all of it. the authority that was handed to the enemy when sin entered the land. John 10:10 "My purpose is to give life and give it more abundantly." christians should be recovering in every area, we have been restored through Jesus. to recover we must have relationship.

women are strongest when we draw things near. men are strong when they extend. when we get our relationships right we can have dominion once again - together. we are to walk together, it is not about what we do as individuals. this is a multiplication again. one puts 1,000 to flight, two 10,000.... when you are in unity as one flesh, a marriage can accomplish..... two believers can accomplish..... too often we use our energy trying to be correct or have the last word when we need to let it all go and get in unity of purpose - to see God glorified. Ecc 4:11-12 "also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm but how can one keep warm alone? though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves."

God's promises are powerful and wonderful. draw to Him and find yourself.