Programing Break

That is to say that I'm not going to put a picture in for your viewing pleasure tonight... I realized that I might only be entertaining myself with those... but they'll be back because I love pictures.

I can't say for sure if what I'm experiencing is a God thing... or what is happening, but being at home with John lately has been really good. Not that it hasn't always been... but I'm just feeling extra lovey lately.

Maybe it's God's way of giving me something to look forward to at the end of the day - or something to miss - because I find myself missing him more during the day this week.

(Okay - now I feel like this reads as if I don't like being around my husband normally and that this is a weird experience for me... not the case!! It just seems like I'm enjoying it more than ever before!)

So needless to say - it's 4:30 and I'm dying to get out of the office and go home!! I've always been a home-body, and this is certainly not a time when work is occupying my mind enough to make me not wish I was at home... doing my own thing... but I'd swear someone was messing with the clocks today because the time is DRAGGING!!

Hey - maybe it's because there isn't any sports for us to watch... just sayin... No, that's not it... maybe we really are putting last week's sermon into practice? Could be... it was about marriage and how it's not all about YOU... it's about service to your spouse. Now, that can be taken a lot of ways, but it's really about doing things with a happy heart even if it's something that you don't normally want to do. Like say - he leaves his socks all over the floor (John doesn't necessarily do this, but it's the first example that popped into my head) and typically you'd get mad at him... or whatever the response is. The idea behind the sermon is that it's really not about changing the behavior of the other person... you just have to accept it. (Ok, the sock deal isn't the best example now - looking back) Again - it's more about helping him/her out with the short comings without being resentful or angry about it.

So I feel like I've been trying to think more along those lines this week, and maybe it's working... Kevin said that when you look at marriage from this perspective - that people tend to respond in kind. Because it makes them look at themselves too and think about things differently. Who knows... but all I can say is that I'm really diggin' spending extra time with my hubby right now!! (John - Pickle Juice!!... okay, its an inside joke, but if you email me... I might just explain it to ya!)

Here is the information about our message series at church - it's called 4 Keeps.

Marriage isn't always easy. In fact, some would say it is rarely ever easy. You have to work at having a good, strong marriage. In this series, Pastor Kevin is going to take us through what God's Word says about love, communication, forgiveness, finances, and even sex (yikes!). If you use these five areas as pillars for your relationship, you can have a marriage that will stand the test of time and will be for keeps.

Ephes. 5:31-33 (NIV) "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." [32] This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. [33] However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

In this series we discover how God wants us to love one another in our marriages.

April 6th
Love 4 Keeps --THE foundation of any marriage or relationship should be love. But it isn't love like the world defines it-- it is love defined by the Bible. It might surprise you to find you've been loving your spouse the wrong way. But there is a better way that will lead to a marriage that will really be "until death do us part."

April 13th
Communication 4 Connection --The next pillar to lean on in any marriage is the right communication. It's funny how differently men and women communicate. Since no one is a mind reader, we need to learn to communicate our wants and needs so that our marriages can be strong.

April 20th
Forgiveness 4 Failures -- Nobody is perfect, sure. But why does it seem like your spouse is so much "less perfect" than others? In any family their are fights. But we need to learn to fight right and forgive quickly (and often).

April 27th
Intimacy 4 Intimacy -- Here it is-- the sex talk. Sex is the closest two people can get physically. But God also intended it to be an emotional, relational, and spiritual connection, too. Come hear about God's plan for sex in your marriage-- you'll be glad you did! We also have a great children's ministry for your kids during this sermon!

May 4th
Finances 4 Fidelity -- Couples argue over money more than any topic. Money problems lead to divorce, depression, and deep anxiety. Getting on the same page and having the same plan for your money is the final pillar for a strong and healthy marriage.

Listen to these messages and more on our podcast page.