Great sin....

Great sin..
Does any women really love her husband if she does not seek to pleae him in that area? If you are not interested in intimacy, then at least be interested in him enough to give him a intimacy that he wont soon forget.---"...to LOVE their husbands...". the bible says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin"(James 4:17) Hopefully, you just didnt realize that your lack of imtimate interest in your husband can be sin.

More later,,,
Love to all who read...
Terri

More on the "Love" tract...

Lets see, where did we leave off?....
   If you feel the need of love---if there is an emptiness in your heart----you can find true love. You can find this be giving yourself to God. God loves you with a tender, caring, compassion that knows no bounds. He cares for you and wants to share and help you through all the heartaches of life. If you feel alone and think that no one really cares,you can rest assured that the One who gave his Son for you does feel all your heartache and grief, in your loneliest hours and your most dismal days, He will be there to give you comfort, strength, and direction if you turn toHim.
   If you do not know how to reach God, just pour your heart to Him and He will hear. If you feel you can hardly trust anyone, not even God, tell Him so. Then ask Him to show you the way.
If you feel you are a sinner without hope of ever finding forgiveness and love, come to God with all your heart, repenting of and leaving your past sins. He will be your loving Father if you come to Him with all your heart, and are willing to obey in all that He asks of you.
   When God forgives and accepts you, you will feel His love and gain a relationship with HIm that nothing can take away. This relationship will only be broken if YOU turn away from HIm, it is impossible for Him to leave us IF, we are following Him.

OK, My computer is acting up, more later...

Love to all who read....Terri


Here is the link for this tract....
http://churchofgodinchristmennonite.net/node/12

Frame of reference....

Frame of reference....
Part 11
   When a woman is not interested in his most consuming passion, he feels that she is not interested in him. when a woman just "allows, cooperates, and tolerates," it leaves a man feeling sick at heart. If, to a man, intimacy was just copulation, he would make his deposit and be satisfied, but to him it is intimacy, a merging of spirits, a way of saying "I love you..I need you ...I like you" A mans most basic needs are warm intimacy, approval and admiration. For his wife to be willing but indifferent, speaks of neither sex nor love.
    A woman is a fool to believe her own excuses or to think she can convince  him that what she says  is the truth. Her half hearted commitment makes him feel incomplete and unloved. By not obeying God in this area of intimacy and love, a woman is putting a tererible curse on her husband. When a woman forces a man into that position, it is the equivalent of a man saying to his wife, "You are stupid, ugly, lousy wife, but I will still be a good husband and kiss you today.." A mans wife has more influence on his frame of reference than any other thing or person in life.
   Man is driven to succeed. Hormones drive him to be the best at work, to drive aggresiively, to build the best building, or write the  finest material piece.ressing drive is to be a successful lover.           
Making his wife feel glorious when he touches her is the ultimate test of his manhood---the very measure of the man.
   He cannot view life differentlt; that is the way God made him. He needs a wife, a help meet,
a helper who will meet the need God put in him.
   If a wife does not meet his intimacy and sexual needs, she is a help-not-meet, a helper NOT suitalbe to the task for which God created her.

Annie Johnson Flint,(please click on the link).
http://http://blessedquietness.com/journal/homemake/ajf-itisjesus.htm

Enjoy!
~~~*Terri*~~~

Tuesday....Our reading material.....

Tuesday....
Our reading material....
What does our reading material say in our hearts?
Does it lft up the one and only God of the universe? Or, does it kind of hint about the "one".....?
Beware, of falsities in this reading material....hinting, about "the one" and only true God, is it what our minds know as that, our minds will pick up subtleties in what we read...Does our reading ..."build us up in the most holy faith...", or does it tickle our ears?
Does it help us grow into the likeness of Christ, love our fellow man more, have more Grace for the unlovely, or does it make us critical, judgemental and just plain grumpy at those who dont do/think/dress as we think they should?
Lets keep our eyes open to the subtleties of the enemy in our souls...

Love...
Terri...

Sorry for not getting to my posts all week, was sick, and in over my head with other stuff, , Summer?!~><......?
Here they are now.....

Monday...."The Great Mystery"....
"A wise woman understands that her husbands nees to be honored is NOT based on his performance, but, on his nature and his God-ordained position. She learns quickly to defer to his ideas or plans with enthusiasm. She looks for ways to reverence him. She knows this is Gods will for her life."
"This is a great mystery:but I speak concerning Christ and the church... and the wife see that she reverence her husband"(Eph. 5:32-33).
There are 12 mysteries in Gods Word, but only the 7th is listed as the Great mystery. Each mystery is a strange, beautiful truth which is for us hard to understand. The old Websters Dictionary defines mystery as ,"something hidden from human knowledge and fitted to inspire a sense of awe; especially something incomprehensible through being aboave human intelligence. An enigma: anything artfully made difficult."
Jesus wants us for a friend. He seeks to create through me and my relationship to my husband a working scale model of his relationship to the Church through eternity.
Amazing as it sounds, marriage between a man and a woman is what God chose as the closest example of Christs relationship to his bride, the Church. You are part of eternity when you submit to your husband. Submission, reverence, and honor are virtues God seeks to establish in his sons bride. Your marriage to your husband is preparing you for a marriage in Heaven. You may think, "But, it would be easy being married to Christ. You are forgetting about haveing to offer ones son upon a alter.....that is what Abraham had to do with his son....What if your husband killed you for lying? That is what God did to Saphira....
For a woman to usurp authority over a man is aggaronce to God Almighty, like treason in camp. It would be like a man taking authority over Christ, or like the Church becoming jealous of Jesus' leadership and taking authority unto itself. It would be doing just what Lucifer did when he said in Isaiah 14:13-14, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north...I will be like the most High." Lucifer, like Eve, was not satisfied with his station in Gods eternal progrtam. He tried to jump rank and ascend higher on the chain of command. God cast him down, as he will do with men and women who attempt to live beyond their created position.
Knowing that my role as a wife typifies the Church's relationship to Christ has molded my life. As I reverence my DH, I am creating a picture of how we, the Church, should reverence Christ. You have wondered why God would tell us to do such a think as to reverence our husbands. Now you know.
"This is a great mystery: but I speak conderning Christ and the church.....and the wife see to it that she reverences her husband"(Eph. 5:32).
Reverence; to revere, to ber in awe; fear mingled with respect and esteem.
1. Obedience is doing what yo know the other person wants you to do.
2. Submission is your heart giving over to the other persons will.
3. Reverence is more than just doing what a man expects or demands. It is an act of the womans will, to treat him with a high degree of regard and awe.
Obedience, Submission, and reverence are all acts of the will and are not based of feelings. Showing deference toward ones husband is an act of reverence toward the God who placed you in that role.

Ladies, I am still living this and it still works....Yes, I fall flat on my face, but, that is what repentance is all about, and a God of Grace....
Dont quit, keep on....
My relationship with my DH, and my respect/reverence/hon or for him only grows with every time I allow the Holy Spirit to convict my heart, I repent(sometimes to my DH), and go on and PUT MY WILL DOWN....
Its all about putting our will down, and not having to be right....We are wrong, you know!!!!

Love to all who read,
Terri

Abundant Waters......

Scripture....John 4:1-10; 5:1-9

In His great plan of salvation, God fashioned all living creatures with a natural dependency upon water. Some species rely on water as an enviroment to sustain them. Others, because their body mass consists largely of water, must frequently replenish the body's water reserves. The importance of satisfying this natural thirst cannot be ignored without serious consequences.

Jesus occasionally spoke of living water. This was an introduction to the Holy spirit whom Jesus promised to send following His ascension to heaven. As water is vital for natural life, so the Spirit provides life for the soul.

Those who receive the Holy Spirit through repentance and conversion find complete fulfillment. Because God's Love is the source of this newness of life, the efects are evident and far-reaching. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water"(John 7:38).

When we surrender our lives to the Lord, we become aware of new life beginning in our hearts. The Holy Spirit has entered, and the trickle of water begins to flow. He leads us with gentle promptings and impressions, as well as convictions. Our desire is to be obedient to God and faithful to His word. Our acquaintances observe a change in our lives. The water that began to trickle is now a flowing river that goes deeper and deeper widening to reach out to others. What a privilege it is to be channels through which Gods grace can be manisfested to others.

Multitudes of people appear to be standing on the river bank, desiring the effects of it's water in their lives, yet fearful to take the plunge. Some seem to be content in the shallows: others are unwilling for the crucial step that will sweep them into the current, carrying them to the conter of Gods will and complete reliance upon Him through faith. Why do we resist the abundant waters? Only when we lose sight of the familiar shoreline can we discover new horizons of abundant life.

Satans tactic is to suggerst deeper waters will take us into self righteousness. This is a lie, but it is sometimes a convenient excuae for those who are unwilling for a deeper sanctification and a closer walk with God.

Our hearts are soft at the times when God moves in it. At this point we face a test, will we be obedient or will we just turn off that "still small voice"? Remaining in the shallows(turning off the H.S.), we will remain where we are...but, plunging into the deep river, gives us blessings that only can be found there...not wading, but, plunging....

Where are you in the river of life, wading or plunging?

Lets take Jesus as face value and take the plunge.....

Love to all....

Terri

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Grace Sufficient

So many burdened lives along the way!

My load seems lighter than most I see,

And oft I wonder if I could be brave,

Patient and sweet if they were laid on me.




But God has never said that He would give

Another's Grace without another's thorn;

What matter, since for every day of mine

Sufficient grace for me comes with the morn?




And though the future brings some heavier cross

I need not cloud the present with my fears;

I know the grace that is enough today

Wil be sufficient still through all the years.



Annie Johnson Flint

A joyful Heart....

Hello Ladies;
How was your week, good I hope, How was your homework, How did it go?
Did you think about the words you listed with hope of learning to apply them to your lives? What about the things you want to see changed in your life?
As I look back and read about the things I wanted to change(I just ran across my note cards with those things written on them), and thinking this will never happen, I am amazed that they have...a few I still need to work on, but, for the most part they have changed.....
Many, are gone and my attitudes and feelings are changed, and only with the help of the Lord can and did they change, PLEASE don't give up yet, habits don't take anytime to make, but, time to change.

Now, for lesson 3 in our series of "Are we really created to be his helpmeet?"
Thank-you for reading, may this lesson be a blessing to our Spirits, and make us stop and think how we are towards our DHs.
By having the Joy of the Lord you will find the strength afforded for this marriage making journey you are on. Proverbs 17:22 says...."A merry heart doeth good like a medicine....."
We all know having a merry or happy heart thwarts some ill health and sadness and the opposite is true, also. A merry heart is the basis of health and happiness. When ones heart is happy, it will go a long way to rebuilding your marriage into Gods heavenly gift it was meant to be. Not the last part of Proverbs 17:22...."....but, a broken Spirit drieth up the bones...." How are your bones doing?, are they dry?
A broken Spirit and dry bones are the result of NOT having a merry heart.
When your DH first fell in Love with you, you were fun and laughter. Everything in you was thrilled at the very sight of him. Your activities were for both of you. Who is he married to now? Are you still thrilled at the very sight of him? Are you still full of laughter, or are your bones broken and your heart sad?
Flowers flourish in sunshinem Is your marriage flourishing with the sunshine of happiness and laughter? I am NOT saying that ther arent not times of seriousness, there needs to be, but, I am saying, where is the sunshine of laughter? What would DH say?
Proverbs 15:13 says..."A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but, by sorrow of heart the Spirit is broken."`
Our face tells all about us, smiling or frowning? Again, what does your DH see?
How does DH see you? Happy and full of sunshine or discontented and unhappy? Does he smile when he looks upon you, or is he "sorry" he married you? Where has your womanly charm gone? Do you still charm him the way you use to, or has it dissappeared? Now, you all say, that goes away after one is not a newlywed anymore, does it have to? My DH and I still smile at each other and my womanly charm is there and, although it did dissappear for a while, it is back and my DH LOVES it!!! Even when one is not what the rest of the world would call a "model", one can still be the delight of ones DH....
Everyone is drawn to a smile and wants to befriend a happy person. But, a unhappy countenance and attitude repels all. A rediant smile is infectious. Men are highly attracted to a smile. If DH is not wanting to stay at home, is it your attitude and frown? A gigle that draws and a merry heart will help to draw him to you and home. Remember, Proverbs 17:22
Women today, spend millions a year to make themselves more attractive to the male gender. I wonder how much money a merry heart and a giggle and a attractive attitude would cost in todays world? A little of ourselves and humility go a long way towards this, dont tyou think?
Desperate?
If a husband had an affair with another woman, no matter what kind, we woman want to stand our ground and not budge. DH is wrong, no doubt about it!, it would be great if he were more like God, but, he is not. God had provided a way for your man to be sanctified through you and delivered from these temptations through you, his wife. A man is a fool to wink at sin; playing with temptations is even worse. You already know this, that is why a woman reacts with jealousy and anger. (Solomen 8:6)
You are now with millions of other wives, your reactions are normal and as they continue; and you withold yourself from him until "he proves being loyal to you"...the same thing will happen to you as everyone else in this situation; bad, bad marriages and possibly divorce.
Is life fair, NO!!! Sometimes marriage is not fair. The women he is around all day long are not fair(if he works with them). DH has not and is not playing by YOUR rules. You bet, your thinking, isnt he wrong? ABSOLUTELY!!! Even though your justified with your response, it is leading to destroying your marriage. You can keep on acting the same as you always have, but, it wont save your marriage. You will be alone, surviing alone, eating alone, raising the children alone, and sleeping alone. NO, you didnt allow him to humiliate you anymore, you did it...and you are still ALONE!!! He will be with that "other' womenm but, you will still be standing for your rights, ALONE!!!
If another comes along, hw will be doing the same thing as your DH---its a merry go round and your caught in it.
This is not to say, you caused your DHs sin, I am just saying if you really, really want to win him back, your basic game plen MUST CHANGE! Without a game plan(so to speak), your arch rival, your competitor(the "other" woman) will win. She is the enemy of your hearts desire. Your negative attitude and actions and responses are NOT going to change a thing.
Oh, I wish Id have known this when I went through this exact thing.
All of a sudden your carnel DH is not going to mature and "smell the cappicinno". No man is going to crawl out of his wifes criticalness and condemnation to be a better man. He will NEVER be presurred or coerced into loving you, believe me, I tried!
A man loves a smile, remember?
Why would he leave the "other" woman, who is a giggly, laugh at his jokes(even when they are dumb), kind of woman to a grumpy, discontented, unhappy, frowning, wife? You cannot make him love you; forget the controlling words that have sharp controlling barbs, because he will run, run, run straight into the "other" womans arms. Forget telling him that he is "ruining his testimony", hurting the children, ruining his home, and dont forget, "What does God say about......"....Forget it - it wont bring him home, he will respond by wanting the "other" woman, that is the way of the carnel man(of which DH is) He is not functioning out of morality, HE IS A LONELY MAN SEEKING, WHO HE IS, IN A WOMANS APPROVAL AND ADMIRATION!
Well, now your thinking; "If he were Godly, he would think of "us", not only His needs, he would do right regardless. "You" also know he needs to repent, BUT, NOT, for the sake of an unhappy discontented, angry, frowning wife. Why should he? Again, you can "hold out", and lose your DH, as I said earlier, or you can "draw" him back. Wife, please realize you are at war(in the spiritual) for the institution of marriage(of which God has ordained) and the family. Are you as attractive(not only outside,but, it helps,) but inside;"..an ornament of a meek and quiet spirit..." This will only happen if your willing to loose your pride.
This "pride" issue is for married, unmarried, single, divorced and every woman. Our pride keeps us from being humble and enough so, that we can admit our wrongs, even if we "dont want to". I know, you are thinking, "but, but, but, he, he, he, did, did, did,...."Yes, may he did this and that, but, were dealing with YOUR heart not "his" right at the moment. As long as one keeps looking and pointing at the other person, one will still end up in a troubled marriage. Pride does this to us...
How do you act, feel, dress, when in competition for the most precious thing on the earth? (just imagine with me for a second), Wouldnt you do anything to win-if it meant your life and death? Of course, you would. You are now engaged in this battle for your husband and marriage....What are you going to do about it? Stand by and hold your ground? Remember your DH is going to love what is lovely. You must be more lovely than the "other" woman(not only outside, but, inside.)
Men love vulnerable women.
I am a self started, born leader, teacher, organizer and facilitator, which, I believe, are gifts given me from God, but, when not funneled through humility and Grace, it comes across as bossy, controlling, critical, impulsive, the head of our household and so on. NOT at all enticing to my DH, let alone others. But, when sanctified by the HolySpirit and when brought under humility it grows to be lovely, instead. I was repulsive to my DH once upon a time(not my weight, looks or hair) but that way deep down inside kind of thing, who I was, what I was and how I was. I found my smile, giggle, vulnerability and happy countenance and dependance upon him as a man again... When I let my DH feel that I am impressed with his stories and jokes, need him(in more ways than one...[grin]), He has and will keep on responding....
The "other" woman knows these things and more and uses it to her advantage, she appealed to his wisdom and in helping her when she is in need of it,her vulneraility builds him up.(wrong as it is). SHE is not "right" in what she is doing, but, she is getting his attention, is she not? She is drawing him by her vulnerability. You probably want to do something to her right now, but, we wont discuss that. Wives, get down on your DHs level and make yourself more attractive(not all physcally) but, in the ways we have been sharing....smile, be vulnerable, content, happy, "NEED" him...more than the "other" woman. And even if your marriage is ok, or good, try these pointers and let God make your marriage very good!
Dont be deceived and take your marriage for granted, love wont just exist, bacause your married. We dont live in a perfect world and you are not married to a perfect man. In a sense, you need to earn your moments with DH and cultivate his love for you. Pray, Pray, and Pray more.
I remember, 3 years ago, when I first embarked on this Marriage journey, It was a huge mountain to me,almost insurmountable, that just loomed over me, so tall, that I did not know where to start. I was frightened, although when I realized how I treated my DH and how women adored him, I suddenly realized how Id best do the same, because I was loosing him. Now you are thinking, I have lots of money and clothes and makeup and so and so forth,,,no, no, no, and no again.....we live in poverty level income and I am a SAHG..sooooo....gray hair and am older...BUT>>>>from a discontented, critical, angry, frowning wife, I am learning how to be fun, smiling, happy, giggly, vulnerable(now dont forget, I am a self starter, leader, organizer and so on)... and the Lord is showing me more I need to change to be his helpmeet.
I am being recreated in my heart and it is beginning to show on the outside, I am learning how to let my DH be "strong" for me and use my feminine wiles for him(I do believe God gave us women to help keep our men to us only).
As he hears appreciation for him in your voice, he will then appreciate you. If he hears criticalness, sarcasm, correction and an unnappreciative tone in your voice, then....need I repeat myself?
Men are vision oriented and need to feel strong, wanted and loved. Your "weapons" are right at your fingertips, and given to you by God, a loving, kind, adoring, happy, and contented self,(if it includes the physical, that is ok too!).
We can fight for him without himiliating him. Only God can give that to you! As I look back, I really dont know how it happened, this respect and reverence for my DH, I only know one step at a time and God guided me through the whole way.
This does not mean you wont blow it and explode and say the wrong thing, you will!, your just as human as him. But, there will be something growing waayyy deep down inside that you too, cannont put your finger on....it will happen and you wont even hardly know it...Now, one must use self control and exercise listening to the Holy Spirit(if one is Born again)...but relax, God wants to help you become your DHs helpmeet...
God will stand with you when you stand for your man, if you keep holding onto "you" you will stand alond.
Memories flood as I type, I remember the day God showed how I treated my Dh, I must have cried for hours and fell flat on the floor and also repented, it was an awful feeling, but, then God could work, until we are so repulsed by what and how we treat our DHs or act towards them, God cannot work, he will let us go our merry ways, and guide, us but, He CANNOT do what he really wants to.
It will not happen overnight, it will take time, but, if you stand by your DH,
God will be right there with you. Now, please that does not mean wallowing in sin with him, God will show you what and how to do.
So, smile, be vulnerable, loose a few pounds, cook what he likes, clean like he likes it, and draw him and entice him..dont forget what drew him to you in the first place.

Sumerizing....
God does wnat me to be the best helpmeet for my Dh.
Remember Proverbs 15:13...."A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance, but, by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."
When a woman is constantly unhappy, discontented, angry, frustrated etc., a man will go the other direction, he is feeling rejected because he is not fulfilling those needs. Is your spirit broken? Do you have a poor me attitude? No matter whree or what station of life were in right now, one can still find happiness and have the strength to be vulnerable, giggly and break the "poor me" attitude. BUT<>

Homework;
To ponder-----What can I do that will make him smile in this next week?

To Study;
The word "JOY".
Think about this word all week....
See you next week.....


Much, Much, Love to you my friends and Sisters....
Terri