Lessons I learned from my dog......

The other night was not a good night! I was woken up by my husband getting out of bed and then telling me that the dog, who shall remain nameless (maybe) had gotten into the garage; that of course I forgot to stick back under the kitchen sink. So suffice it to say what happened was not all his (the dog's) fault. So being awake at say around 1:00 am, I wambled out to the couch to read and most likely spend the rest of my night, as not to disturb my beloved! Herein lies my night spent with said dog, and the consequences of his previous actions. Surprisingly this lead me to biblical lessons that I would like to share with you.

The first thing that came to mind as I was letting the dog in and out, so he could, well you know, was how we as sinners always tend to get involved in things that are not good for us, and that have consequences to them. Champs (oops, said his name) issue is he loves the good treats that can be found in the trash, like bacon grease, or hamburger grease, etc, etc. Our issues are far more complex, and far reaching. The passage of scripture that comes immediately to mind if Romans 7:14-24 (The Message). In our flesh we cannot have victory over our sin nature. Even Paul, who was the greatest Apostle, struggled with the hold sin can have, in the flesh. That can way a person down. Make them feel like they can never live a life of faith. Oh but that is not why Paul wrote this passage. He wants us to see the victory in Christ Jesus! Take a look at Verse 25.

²⁵The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (Romans 7:25, The Message)

The very next chapter says we have been set free from the law of sin and death! Read Romans 8 and feel the victory!

The next thing that came to mind is Proverbs 26:11:

As a dog returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

Isn't that just like us? We can tend to return to things that we have sworn we would never return too. That we thought we had conquered. I think about this in respect to my issue with watching what I eat. I can lose weight, feel I have finally come to understand the hold food and eating have on me, and start to fall back into the same old habits that I was in. I return to my folly. We (I) can forget the promise of VICTORY in Christ Jesus!

I am so glad for Romans 7 & 8! I am so glad that through Christ we have victory and there is no condemnation, because I am in Christ Jesus!

And I am thankful that God uses all His creation (including my sweet little Champerdoodle) to teach us lessons about who we am, but most of all about who HE is!!!

My winning ways.....

Lately I have been on a winning streak! I thought I would wait until they all came in the mail before I showed them all off! Well here are my winnings!

Let's see if I can remember what I won first!!!

1. Healing Sands by Nancy Rue and Steve Arterburn - I won this from Linda @ Mocha with Linda. This is actually the 3rd book in a series called the Sullivan Crisp Series. I asked Linda for advice for a book for our book club to read and she recommended Healing Stones, which is the first book. First of all Linda is an awesome book reviewer. I have read so many of the books that she has reviewed and have loved them all. These books are awesome! You really get involved with the characters. In all truth, this is the one I related to the most.
2. I can't really remember the order I won them in any more, but the next win is the Mosaic Bible, this also is from Linda's blog. Since I have so many Bibles, I am praying God will show me who to give this one too. That is exciting!
   
3. Camp Club Girls bag. I won this too off Linda's blog. Can you see a theme here!? She has alot of giveaways because of the review she does. If you are a reader, her blog is a must read! This prize came with 2 of the Camp Club girl books, a journal, a flashlight, key-chain thingy and this cool bag. Bekah is enjoying the books and uses the bag to bring her stuffed animals places we go.
4. The next one is the 2 books "Fearless" and "Fear Not" by Max Lucado. I won these from Iris at Grace Alone . These books are part of a series Iris is doing called "Living Fearlessly" I am looking forward to possibly giving them away at a Praise and Coffee Night in the future. Thank you so much Iris!!!!
   
5. O.K. did you miss prizes from Linda? The next book I won was "White Picket Fences" by Susan Meissener. Great Book! I have since read other books of hers! She is a great author!
   
6. Finally, the last book to arrive was The Chic shall inherit the earth. This book came from Linda's blog as well. It is written for high school age girls. I have donated that to my church Library.

Woosh! I think that's it! That was fun! Thanks to these two awesome ladies for giving me something exciting to look for in the mail!!!

Marriage Monday - Celebrating Valentines Day all year long!

Want this button?

Solomon 7:10

I belong to my lover,

and his desire is for me.

Today is the first Monday in February, so it's very appropriate that Marriage Monday has a Valentine Theme! E-Mom asked us to share with each other how we celebrate Valentines Day all year long. How do we keep the romance alive? Well I thought about it all weekend. Laughed a little at the things that are TMI, and came up with my top three. Now these are very simple things, and they are not the only ones, but they were just so much a part of why I feel so close to my husband.

1. We laugh alot! We are always saying to our children, what a weird family we have, because we do so many strange things that make us all laugh. This past weekend Steve and I got to go on a mini date to shop for bathroom fixtures. It was so exciting! It's amazing to think that shopping at Lowe's would bring such excitement, but we were just two tickled lovebirds, every once in a while sneaking a smooch when we got a good deal on something! What I realized at lunch was we laugh alot when we're together. We thoroughly enjoy each others company! Steve is my very best friend! The one I go to first, (after God of course), so it just makes sense that we would find each other amusing too!
2. We pray together. Now this doesn't happen every night, so we're not like some super couple who is very righteous. But I can see how praying together keeps you talking and close. God meant for us to bond through our relationship with him. After all his Son is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride. So it just fits that when we are doing something that honors him together, he draws us closer together. I love how Steve prays over me at times too! He knows when I need to be covered in prayer. When I'm at the end of my rope and I just need his arms around me and a prayer said over me! Oh I love that!
3. We encourage each other. Just yesterday was when he encouraged me. Spent some time with the SMIL, which can be difficult because she is a opinionated woman, and if it's not done her way, she says things that can be hurtful. I'm not going into the whole sorted story, just suffice it to say Steve know I needed to be built up after that, and he did! We both do that for each other. Now I may feel that I don't do it as well as he does, but we HAVE EACH OTHERS BACK!!! Also we were just talking with weekend how it seems that when one of us is discouraged about a certain issue, the other is able to give encouragement. It is very seldom that we are both down at the same time.
4. O.K. so I said three and now I am putting a 4th one. I just thought of it when I found the verse above. This is more about Steve, and it falls into the encouragement category, but I think it's great what he said and this is what God give us as couples. I have struggled with my weight FOREVER, always feeling inadequate, and defeated. A couple of years ago when I was lamenting again Steve said "but Kim, God made me addicted to you". He loves me! When he sees me he desires me, not anyone else! God made him addicted to me and me to him! As far as I'm concerned Steve is the most handsome guy on the planet!!!

I hope you have enjoyed stopping by today! God bless you all, and God bless our marriages!!!