Ideas?

...For those of you who might still be hanging in there with me.  Yep, I am still trying to encourage Adam.  

A couple more ideas for those of you still in the battle....

This morning, I had the new idea to send Adam an encouraging pin (yes, think Pinterest) every day.  Lots of good photos, scriptures, quotes out there- the possibilities are endless in terms of whatever interests or would move you husband.  And, of course, he does not even have to know what Pinterest is... Let alone be a pinner. Haha. 

And over this past weekend, still trying to think up fresh ways to encourage Adam, I sent him a text using his name as an acrostic (think "A for awesome").  I thought it was really cheesy (but I did it anyway without passing judgement on my own efforts)... I thought I was at the point of grabbing for straws (am I?)... But he was completely moved by it. Seriously.

That's all for now. This is my first post-from-phone. Just a quick note to hopefully give you what it takes to cross the finish line on Sunday.  And maybe run beyond??

And with that, let me close by quoting Liam's teacher, in an email yesterday...

"Our Jesus did not stay on the cross.  Sunday's coming!!!!"

Something I need always to remember... Sunday is coming...

In this mess of a house...

Sunday is coming...

In parenting...

Sunday is coming...

In trials and affliction...

Sunday is coming...

In marriage...

Sunday is coming...

In life...

Sunday is coming...

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!!!"

Praise God! Hallelujah!

I pray we would all rest in this promise and power and hope- today. This weekend. Every day. 

A post script- Thank you for journeying with me.  A few weeks ago, God gave me a way to possibly continue on this blogging journey... To be continued starting this sunmer. Let me know if you are interested, and I will keep you posted!

Allison

Week 5 Challenge: Seek Him First

No challenge this fourth week of Lent – good thing since it is now the end of the fourth week.  (Keep reading for the week 5 challenge.)  I have been continuing on in my efforts to encourage Adam and to use the Word to pray for him.  However, it is getting harder to sustain momentum!  For that reason, yesterday, I also fasted again, same as last Friday.  So - there was nothing "new" this week, but there was plenty of “same old, same old” to keep me busy volitionally and challenged spiritually!

Though I haven’t recently heard from anyone within the space of this blog, I have run into at least half of you in the last couple of weeks.  Let me say how encouraged I am by our different conversations, whether short or long.  Your words are very affirming, but even more so than your words is your presence and fellowship on this leg of the journey.  Knowing that I am walking alongside like-minded women has been very comforting and empowering.  Thank you!  (See Phil. 2: 1-2 and I Peter 3: 8)

I have really gotten a sense that we are all sympathizing with one another in this endeavor to keep our husbands as priority amidst the stress and chaos of life and even amidst the attacks of the enemy, which are many, both blatant and subtle.  Each time I engage in conversation with any of you, my will is strengthened and my resolve is renewed.  

Yesterday as I was walking outside at Radnor Lake, I felt God speaking to me about a new challenge for this coming week (starting tomorrow)– and that is to lean into Jesus a little harder.

 

The Week Five Challenge – “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” (Matt. 6: 33).

I’m not really sure what that will look like for each of us, but here are some thoughts-

• If you’re not having your quiet time every day, try to make that top priority.
• If you’re having it late in the day, try waking up earlier to have it first thing.
• If you’re already having your quiet time first thing, maybe try taking 10-15 extra minutes before your husband gets home to be with God.   (I am going to try to do this… as well as writing out a note card that reminds me to pray for Adam first in my quiet time!  Instead of myself!)

God has been speaking to me a lot recently about biblically-ordered living.  Priorities, if you will.  This Lenten blog, for example, stemmed out of a continual desire to put Adam second (in a spiritual economy where God comes first).  I know it goes without saying, but I’ll say it - if we are not first going to the Fountain, we will have nothing to pour out on our husbands. 

When I first heard from God about this yesterday, I felt guilty (NOT from God) about not having “thought up” this challenge earlier in Lent.  God convicted me and reminded me, He is guiding and leading – NOT me.  For some of us, this challenge may seem either too obvious or too easy (so let’s resist the temptation to blow it off, and instead invite God in to have a closer look at our walk with Him).  For others of us, this may feel condemning – rebuke that thought!  “Therefore there is now no condemnation…” (Rom. 8:1)

Again, this could take on many different manifestations in our lives.  The point is more to give our time with God a second (or rather, a first) look.  Invite Him in, and let Him lead us each personally in our walk with Him this week.

In addition, here are a few more ideas for keeping up the encouragement of and prayer over your husband.  Give yourself a personal challenge for next week by writing out (today) the format of daily encouragement and prayer.  For example-

Sunday - Card (Pray a Psalm)

Monday  - Voicemail (Pray a Proverb)

Tuesday - Text (Pray an OT verse)

Wednesday - Small Gift and Letter (Pray a NT verse)

Thursday - Fix his favorite dinner & encourage him during dinner conversation (Pray a Gospel verse)

Friday - Leave a sticky note (Pray an Epistle Verse)

Saturday - Do a meaningful act of service for him (Pray a personal favorite verse)

This past week, I combined my encouragement and scripture prayer together one day in email format, and I think it was the most encouraging day yet for Adam.  There are a million different endless ideas… just take the time today to mull it over, in preparation for the week starting tomorrow.  The point is to be intentional.  And more importantly – “Take it to the Lord in prayer!”  I prayed last week for you ALL by name... will keep praying for us today... and certainly will continue to pray for you next week! 

Week 3 Challenge: Friday Fast

Sorry, I am a little late in the game this week.  (I did mention this Lenten blog would not follow any specific plan or formula, didn't I?)  My "plan" for this week was, as it has been from the beginning: wait and see.

Well, God impressed on my heart this morning to challenge us all to a day of fasting on Friday, for our marriages.  I started Lent out with some other fasting-type goals, which didn't make it much more than a week (just being honest).  Over the weekend Stephanie and I were talking about fasting.  And then this morning... a scripture which I frequently reference appeared in my quiet time: 

"Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." (says the father of a demon-possessed boy, and says me, all the time)

(and a few verses later Jesus says,) "This kind can only come out by prayer," ... "and fasting," some manuscripts add.

You can read Mark 9: 14 - 29 for the whole story.

So, fasting.  The Week Three Challenge is to fast on Friday.  

I am posting this today so that you can use today and tomorrow to pray about how God would lead you to fast.  Some ideas-

*only one meal

*or maybe sunrise to sundown

*only fruits and vegetables

*only bread and water

*only juice and protein powder (I do this most commonly)

*or maybe, just fasting from sweets for the day (or any other type of food)

I have an excellent go-to book on fasting by Elmer Towns, Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, with Foreword by Bill Bright.  

It is a great resource (in my opinion), but likely there is not time to both obtain it and read it by Friday.  So, I was doing a little searching this morning, even out of my curiosity to read something new on the subject.  Wait for it.  Here's the exciting news - JOHN PIPER HAS A BOOK ON FASTING!  With Foreword by PLATT and CHAN!!!  (Why have I never come across this before?!?!)  Not only that, but it is also available for free download online.  Use this link: http://www.desiringgod.org/books/a-hunger-for-god

Using the link you will find a great article, a lengthy "related resources" section chock-full of fabulousness, and on the left of the page, you will see "free downloads" underneath the cover art from the book.  Click on the "PDF" found there, and voila!  All 200 pages magically appear.  I'm sure you, like me, will not read the book before Friday.  But its definitely worth a glance-over. 

And in the meantime, you knew I would say it, keep up the week one and two challenges.  I am just finishing up praying the list of scripture over Adam today actually, but this challenge has encouraged me to continue on in asking Adam more frequently if I can pray for him and use scripture often in that endeavor.  As for encouragement, it cannot be said enough or overstated - our husbands need a constant diet of our praise, affirmation and gratitude!  How cool was it that Carter's sermon dovetailed with all of this on Sunday!  I saw Adrienne right after the service, and this was the first thing out of her mouth as well. :)  

Here's a final word, a mini-challenge... will you all keep up the posting of comments on this blog?  I need your encouragement to press on with Adam, and I am betting it would be a great encouragement to all.  "Comment" on your thoughts, ideas for encouragement, fasting, scripture... whatever!  Thanks girls. 

Week 2 Challenge: Prayer

During the course of this past week I was feeling that God might be putting another challenge on my heart for next week, but I wasn't completely sure if I would post it.  Until Friday.  I met with my prayer partner, Stephanie Edwards, and the Lord really confirmed this challenge through her.  So here it is:

The Week Two Challenge is to pray scripture over your husband.
(But keep up the Week One Challenge too!)


About the new scripture challenge:  I know our different marriages are probably in many different places, in terms of spiritual connectivity.  Some husbands might see this as "preachy," condemning, or threatening.  If you are sure that praying scripture over your husband (out loud) would elicit a negative response, by all means, keep your prayers in the quiet of your personal time with God.

If you are unsure, then I challenge you to ask him, "Can I pray this scripture over you today?"

And if you are certain this blessing would indeed be received as a blessing, mention to him that you want to pray scripture over him this week, then ask him each day when you might pray for him.  Morning, before he leaves for work?  Evening, before bed?  Maybe even over a mid-day phone call?

Below you will find 7 passages of scripture (one for each day?) that God laid on our hearts (mine and Stephanie's), but please use whichever scriptures you want to!  (And share them with the rest of us!)  God's Word does NOT return void!  We simply asked the Spirit to bring to our minds a few passages that our husbands would receive as a blessing and an encouragement.

1) Isaiah 54: 10-17 (Firm Foundation)
2) Psalm 20 (A Prayer of God's Beloved Warrior)
3) Ephesians 1 (Purpose and Promise in Christ)
4) Psalm 27 (David's Prayer of Confidence)
5) Ephesians 3: 14 - 21 (Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians)
6) Joshua 1: 5-9 (The Battlefield of Work)
7) Isaiah 55 (Invitation to Jesus)


About keeping up last week's challenge:  I am always tempted to think, "I have really done a good job encouraging Adam.  His 'love tank' has got to be overflowing, and I am clearly a professional by now, so I'm a going to let up a little... not try so hard."  Sometimes I even think, "What more can I say that hasn't been said?"

So, I am challenging us all - especially me - keep it up!  We were never intended to live without God's Word.  Likewise, I don't think our husbands were ever intended to live without our encouragement, without us bringing them the love and truth of Christ.  And if they can "get by" with out it, do we ultimately want them just "getting by"?

That said, if you feel like I sometimes do, that I am out of new, fresh, original things to say… here are some suggestions just off the top of my head (and would love to hear from ya'll on this too!)-

1) Keep saying the same things over and over.  This "technique" would be totally lost on me, but it is absolutely powerful in Adam's life.  He cannot hear the same things too many times.

2) Be thankful and grateful.  If you feel like you are running out of new ways to encourage him as a husband, father or provider, then narrow your focus in on the daily, smaller, specific ways in which he lives out these roles.

But instead of simply saying, "Thank you for taking the trash out," for example, try expounding on WHY you are grateful for this…

• how it makes you feel (loved?)
• what it does for you (frees you from a weekly hassle?)
• why it means so much (my grandfather always did this chore, and he was my hero, in general?)
• where it really hits you (meaning... besides the surface chore he has done, how does his service meet a deeper desire in your heart... such as your need to be supported?)

3) Last but not least, and this is going to sound crazy, but read for ideas in books or google ideas that are out there on the web.  No shame.  I tried it earlier this week while I was looking for a fresh way to say the same "old" thing in an exciting new way.  I found, on a Christian woman's blog, a sweet love letter she had written her husband.  I didn't copy it - I promise!  I just used it for inspiration! :)

One final note:  Please remember that I am, truly, praying for each of you by name.  Some of you have had problems posting.  Some have mentioned you have read the blog, without commenting.  I am praying for ALL of you! I am praying for God's protection and power for us all.  

Press On

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  ~Philippians 3: 12-14



I wasn't necessarily planning on posting anything new until the end of this week or maybe the beginning of next... and even then, I had no idea if God would lead me to post anything specific.

But evil hunted me (and our family) in a big way on Monday night - just one day after I committed to encourage Adam and just one day after I started this blog, a place for all of us to encourage each other.  Coincidence?  I'm sure it is not.

Liam, 4, had a very scary allergic reaction to walnuts (we think) on Monday afternoon (angioedema - rapid swelling - inside his mouth).  We had no idea, previously, that he was even allergic to them, or to any other foods, for that matter.  Still, there we were - scrambling to get him help - Adam speeding away from our house with Liam... and me, staying behind with the older 2, sobbing and praying.

We are in for a big change, the likes of which I cannot even fathom at this point, but praise God - he is OK.  After throwing up twice, once in the car and once in the waiting room, Liam got the medications and the help he needed.  God was holding him, when I could not, and He chose to deliver Liam safely back home into my arms.  Grateful doesn't begin to describe the way I feel.

Though I did NOT have a "real" quiet time on Tuesday (thanks to emotional exhaustion from crying and the physical exhaustion from adrenaline), I did "press on" in my efforts to encourage Adam.  I wrote and sealed the three cards that I bought, and then I put them into his suitcase before he left yesterday.

Then this... Back with God in my quiet time today, part of my scripture reading was Jesus encountering Satan in the wilderness.    Later this morning, I received an email devotional about "the subtle attacks of the enemy."  Again, no coincidences here.

I was encouraged - and I am encouraging you - to keep fighting.  We cannot make too much of the enemy, but we cannot make too little of him either.  You know the truth, but it bears repeating.  Satan's evil warfare is both obvious, like with Liam, and subtle as well.  In any case:

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  Jn. 8: 44

He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  I Peter 5: 8

He leads the whole world astray and is filled with fury because he knows his time is short.  Rev. 12: 9, 12


I am encouraging us all, yes, even 4 days in!!  STAND FIRM!!  Flee from the devil, and hold onto Jesus.  We can't do it alone, but nothing is impossible for the one who believes!  (Matt. 17: 20)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess...  Heb. 4: 14-16

Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4: 7

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  I Jn. 3: 8


Satan would love nothing more than
*to distract us ("something else - fill in the blank - is more important"),
*to deceive us ("this is really not all that important" or "you've already failed, why keep trying?"),
*to distort God's truth - which says that we are more than conquerors and that we have what it takes to finish the race we have started.  (Romans 8; 2 Peter 1: 3; Acts 20: 24)

But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  ~I Cor. 15: 57

Challenge 1 : Encourage

Last Sunday, I heard David Platt preach at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham.  God used his sermon to remind me / convict me / encourage me to serve where I am - in my house.  Despite the fact that I continually "give God good ideas" about where He could use me, God continually reminds me - I live here.  In this house, with this family and THIS husband.

Beth Jones has encouraged me before, "Bloom where you are planted."  Specifically, God is convicting me to be more intentional about Adam as my most important ministry - to sow seeds in the heart of my husband.

When I returned home Sunday night, I asked Adam how I could love him better.  I was not surprised at his response, "More encouragement."  Monday morning, I asked God to help me encourage Adam.  And I did encourage him, intentionally.  For. One. Day.

This morning, on the way to church, God nudged me again.  "How's that encouragement working out for you?"  Not very well, obviously.  I had un-intentionally given up after one day.

So God, this morning, encouraged me to start again… only this time there are 2 differences.  The first difference between last Sunday and today is that the 40 days of Lent have started between then and now.  The second is that God is not only asking me on this journey with Him, but He is also asking me to invite you all along on it.

I am not sure of the exact place God is leading me in this, but I AM sure that my God-given, short-term objective is this: The first two commandments...

1. "Seek Me first" and "Love Me with all your heart."
2. Love your husband as you love yourself.



This blog is more about the comments section than the posts (of which, there will be few).  My prayer for this space is simply that it serves as a reminder to love our husbands well… that it is a place where we can encourage one another  as we seek to encourage them.  Please use the comments however you see fit - record your thoughts, list your challenges, ask for prayer, or pray for the group of wives here within.  Whatever!

I know one reason God asked me to invite a group - any who want to follow - is because there are probably other husbands out there needing encouragement.  And I am sure the other reason that God moved me to seek fellow sojourners is simply this - I will fail, if I go it alone.  It didn't take the space of last week for me to learn that about myself.  I am the queen of giving up on "projects."  Starting and never finishing.  Those who know me well, know this all too well about me.

Hopefully though, a few of you will come along for the ride.  We are meant for community, as Carter has been preaching in Ephesians, and I cannot do this alone.  By supporting each other, through the power of the Spirit, AND WITH A DEFINITE END IN SIGHT… hopefully this Lent will be life-changing for us, and life-giving to our husbands.

Yes, we are 5 days into Lent.  But there are 6 perfectly good full weeks left.  That's many more days that we have to walk the road to the Cross.  To follow Jesus there.  And to encourage our husbands along the way. If this is a journey you want to take, please view this as "our" blog spot to walk together.

THE CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK - Encourage your husband every day with written or spoken words.  Send a text, write an email, leave a message, give a card… to your husband... every day.  If you decide to walk this journey with me, with us, please leave a comment today so we can all know who to pray for in the group.

I have no idea where Jesus will take me - or us - but I am following.