Love Words Last

I've been thinking about friends and loved ones who have passed away over the past 5 years. Starting with my sweet maternal grandmother and a beautiful aunt in 2009; my college sweetheart/first husband in 2010; a dear coworker and sister/friend  in 2011; and another precious, longtime sister/friend in 2012. As I was reminiscing, my thoughts brought me to the final conversations I had with each of them; conversations we did not know would be our last. In each case, our hearts were knit together so tightly in laughter, in prayer and joy - and our words were loving toward one another!

As I see so many among my friends whose loved ones are dying, and hearts that are torn apart because of grief, I just wish to encourage and remind all of us to pay attention to how we speak to one another. Life.Is.Short. And we don't get the time back to do it over.

I am thankful that, concerning my dearly departed loved ones,  I have no regrets . My prayer is that I am ever mindful of the way I treat the living. We've heard the saying "Give me my flowers while I can smell them," - that's a great practice.  Love words are important; beautiful to give and receive. And the memory of those last words can bring the comfort and peace to help us through the sadness long after our loved ones are gone.

Wherever You Go, There YOU Are...

This is for those people who are blind to their own frailties and take their toxic behaviors into every relationship, work environment, church affiliation, etc., and experience the exact same problems  and drama as before.

A friend recently told me that a group of individuals left the church fellowship (where I had been a member before moving away) and are now attending another group. They are studying their Hebraic roots, learning Hebrew, the Torah, the Tanakh, the Feast Days, etc. They have also come into the knowledge of the name of our Lord as He was called when He walked the earth, and the name of the Father.  The Son was not known as Jesus - a historical fact of which I'll not go into at this time (but it is searchable). His proper name is Yahshua. The name of the Father is Yahweh, presented as YHWH. And when I was told this, I was fine with it, as I've done my own homework on the Hebrew and Aramaic roots of my faith. I said, "Ok. Great. They're gaining more knowledge. Nothing wrong with that." 

However, the issue is - these people are behaving badly, as if they are now superior in knowledge to the "uninformed" Christians of their former church fellowship. And it is downright mean. As my friend was describing conversations with these folks, who were just months ago friends and fellow laborers for Christ, I realized something. These very same people had once been of other faiths/denominations, or none at all, and when they converted to what they (then) believed was the Truth, they grew arrogant and elevated themselves above those of their former associations/denominations. They had bragged about their new-found beliefs to their friends and family, and came close to condemning them all to hell if they didn't get on board THIS train!

Now, they've gained more information. But many of them are still arrogant and unloving as they study with the Rabbis and learn of the Messianic Faith System. This behavior is completely opposite of what Yahshua/Jesus teaches - and all their "knowledge" does them no good in the long run. They clearly have not been transformed in their minds and hearts, and have no love for their neighbors.

So they have hopped from church to church to doctrine to teaching to Feast Days from Sunday to Sabbath to saying "Shabbat Shalom!" - from first day to seventh day - yet they remain the same on the inside.Without His love in their hearts, they are just spouting religious teachings with no power to display the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

I told my friend that we have one response and responsibility: to pray for and love them, anyway.

Shalom!

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - Upcoming Topics

Boaz Ministries

As we end the year 2014 and begin a new year, Bruce and I want to thank you for stopping by throughout the months. We've gleaned so much from readers and friends, and are blessed by your insights and encouragement.

Starting January 1, 2015, we will resume "The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage". The topics will cover Anger, Rudeness, Abuse, Forgiveness Issues, Depression, Negative Emotions, Issues with Children, Finances, Addictions and Other Destructive Behaviors, Outside Influences that Pollute Your Sexual Relationship, Hardness of Heart (causing love to die), and If/When the "D" Word Becomes an Option.

At the outset of this series, we promised to go all the way in, exploring the deeper things couples face in marriage. Communication breakdown is usually the gateway to most marital troubles. Tackling that issue first, refusing to let it get a toehold by praying through difficulties we may have expressing ourselves openly to one another, will create an environment where the other poisonous relationship traps and distractions cannot survive.

Continue to pray for each other, TOGETHER, beloved. And love one another fiercely!

Blessings,

B&B

A Brief Pause...Thoughts About My Dad

Dad and me, Father's Day, June 15, 2014

I don't exactly know how to begin this. But my father, Don Greathouse, isn't doing well. For those of you who don't know, he had major heart surgery in the summer of 2013: arterial valve replacement. It was the year he turned 79. I have to say I was concerned about such invasive surgery at his age - but it was his desire, and seemed to be the best solution. Dad has always had a crack team of doctors and specialists - (including the ones in our family!). So we prayed, and true to form - he thrived; his healing process was impressive (as was his hip replacement recovery years earlier). The man was up and about, driving, in the kitchen cooking (and he is an excellent chef, ya'll!). However, he had bouts of loss of appetite and energy. Lately, it has been up and down.

Dad's physical fitness and resilience have been due to his early years as an athlete, and the lifestyle changes he made in his forties. He's been my big, strong man all of my life, and I told God a couple of weeks ago that I'm not ready to be without him.  I demanded a miracle that would glorify His name and give my Dad a good quality of life for the remainder of his days. But of course, His will be done (amen).

Rewind:

Dad fell at home and couldn't get up a little over two weeks ago and had to be rushed to a local hospital. They said he had pneumonia, stabilized him, and transferred him to his hospital where he is a cardiac patient. All seemed to be going well. When I spoke with him on the phone, he sounded amazingly robust - like my father of 20 years ago! It was wonderful. It was a miracle. And it was eerie.

Fast forward:

Prayers of friends and loved ones have been going up continually since he's been in the hospital. However, the doctors are stumped. His heart is doing well, but his diminishing mental capacity and inability to speak (he is mumbling as if he is speaking), are puzzling. All types of tests are being done... including the lumbar puncture and CT (he can't have an MRI due to his pacemaker).

My mother has been handling this turn of events well, praise God! And I can't say enough how grateful I am that my sister and her hubby are there - actively involved as advocates for Dad, and a comfort to Mom. I'm thankful to all my family who are in California - supporting, praying, loving. How blessed we are!

As I've said to friends and family - Dad is a soldier in the Army of the Lord. He's ministered through music all of his life, and his very own card and letter-writing ministry for the sick and shut-in.  He ministered to me, above and beyond the role of a loving father, during and after the loss of my first husband, his son-in-love of 31 years. He still provides me with so much wisdom and I love our chats every Sunday. He's my biggest cheerleader and encourager - and embraced my husband, Bruce, with open arms. His 80 years on earth have been eventful, and so rich!

I don't know how to end this post, except to thank everyone for their prayers, and solicit the continued prayers of all praying folks out there - for God's will, for our strength and comfort as we endure this season.

So I told God last night that I'm sooo thankful He chose Don Winston Greathouse to be my earthly father - and even though I have my druthers, I'll just stay out of His business with my Dad. He does ALL things well, and it is well with my soul!

Thanks for reading.

Blessings

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Communication Breaks Down (part 5 of 5)

Boaz Ministries

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. Isaiah 54:5

Lord, give me ears to really hear what my husband(wife) is saying so that I can bear some of his(her) burdens by simply listening. Make me quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19). Give me the wisdom to have a good sense of timing. I pray that "my mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding" (Psalm 49:3). May there be no division between us because we are of the same mind and have the same good judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10). Where either of us has not communicated well in the past, help us to do so now. Thank you that You are our rock and our Redeemer, and You can redeem ALL things (Psalm 78:35). Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Communication Breaks Down (part 4 of 5)

Boaz Ministries

Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself...and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:28,33

Lord, I pray You would open my husband's (wife's) heart to all You have for him (her) and for our marriage together. Help him (her) to know You better, to understand Your ways, and to see things from Your perspective. Help him (her) to view the two of us the way You do. Make changes in him (her) that need to be made so that nothing will hinder him (her) from fulfilling the purpose and destiny You have for his (her) life and our lives together. Lord, fill my husband's (wife's) heart with Your love so that it overflows in the words he (she) speaks. Help us to be instruments of Your peace and grace every time we speak to each other. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Communication Breaks Down (part 3 of 5)

Boaz Ministries

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. James 3:2

Lord, I need to be changed! Reveal any times where I have not said the right words or communicated the right things to my spouse and I will confess it as a sin. For I know I fall short of Your glory (Romans 3:23). Teach me how to communicate openly and honestly so I will speak excellent, right, and truthful words (Proverbs 8:6-9). Take away any deceit in my heart and any perversity in my mind so that evil will be far from me (Proverbs 17:20). I pray that Your love will be so much in my heart that it comes out in everything I say. Give me the right words for every situation. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Communication Breaks Down (part 2 of 5)

Boaz Ministries

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:13-14

Lord, teach us to listen to one another and recognize the signs in each other that give us greater understanding. Help us find things we enjoy doing together so that we will grow closer and not apart. Enable us to communicate love, appreciation and honor to each other at all times. Help us to take instant authority over any attack the enemy brings against us - especially in the area of communication. Help us to settle all disagreements between us in a loving, compromising, and considerate manner. Enable us to always be in unity with You and with each other. Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - If Communication Breaks Down (part 1 of 5)

Boaz Ministries

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

Lord, I pray You would protect my spouse and me from any kind of breakdown of communication. Enable us to always share our thoughts and feelings and refuse to be people who don't talk.  Teach us to trust each other enough to share our deepest hopes, dreams, fears, and struggles with one another. Help us to spend time communicating with You every day so that our communication with each other will always be good. Teach us how to openly express love for one another, and keep us from any laziness or selfishness that would cause us to neglect to do that. Help us refuse to speak words that tear down, but only words that build up (Ephesians 4:29).  Amen.

The Power of Prayer for CHANGE in Your Marriage - Introduction

Boaz Ministries

Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew 21:22

In September, Boaz Ministries brought the series “More Prayer, More Power,” with selected prayers for couples from Stormie Omartian, author of A Book of Prayers for Couples. The focus in October’s presentation, “Fight for Your Marriage,” was the result of continuing observations, research and prayer.

Whether you want to protect your marriage from the damaging forces outside or within, or you desire to mend and restore your relationship where it has been broken, or you long to bring unity and peace where there has been strife, the prayers in this series can help. There is a way to pray about the deeper issues of marriage that can help you avoid them or enable you to see redemption come where a problem already exists.

When you pray powerfully for your relationship, you will see God work powerfully in it. You will see God do miracles when you pray to the God of miracles. And if you don’t give up, your faith-filled prayers can strengthen your marriage and it will last a lifetime. Experience has rewarded us with these truths.

Join us as we share the difficult topics to bring to God in prayer.

Bruce and Bridget

A Jolly Good Birthday for My Hubby!

Oxford Street

Today is Bruce's birthday and he is celebrating with his daughter and son-in-love in London, England!

This is a special birthday, as he is expecting his first grandchild in February, 2015! The man is on top of the world and rightfully so. We had a little birthday chat online earlier - and the smile that blossomed on his face as I sang the birthday song defies description!

My prayer for him today is that God continues to fill his heart with peace, joy and love to share with everyone along his path, for the rest of the journey!

Happy birthday, Dear One!! Blessings!

Big Ben and Bruce E at the River Thames!

Turn up the quiet

Last week was hectic and intense at work. The first week of the month is usually that way because there's a monthly report that I submit to Headquarters...due by the fifth of the month. It's the status report of all persons served by my agency, and in particular, the four facilities that send their reports to me. My site is the fifth, and I'm responsible for those stats. Easy peasy.  It's only a struggle when I don't receive the documents I need in a timely manner. I compile and complete the report and it must be precise. All the numbers must add up to what's been documented in the database. The two reports must match. Any incorrect entry, variation, duplication, throws off the entire report and it's needle-in-the-haystack-time!. 

When it comes to duties I enjoy the least, my goal is to expedite them as fast as I can, with accuracy.  The report hasn't been late in months, it's been rushed down to Headquarters at COB on the 5th. But for the first time in the history of the P. S. Monthly Report - it was delivered last Thursday, the 4th! The language fails when I try to describe the happiness my team and I felt!  My head was throbbing - but we could relax on Friday!

And Friday came. I went to work longing for quitting time so I could go back home and rest.

It had been raining all day, and the weather report said there would be rain all through Saturday. Anyone who knows me, knows that rainy days and Mondays (Tuesdays, Wednesdays...) are right up my alley! This sista couldn't wait to get home, take a long bubble bath soak, jump into my jammies, have a hot cup of tea, curl up on the couch and just vegetate blissfully! As is my custom, I sent a text message to my husband and let him know my ETA, and my plans for the evening.


Just wanted to report that when I got home, the lights were low and the only sound was Bruce playing a melody he'd composed on his bass guitar. Everything was as I had wanted...with an added treat: Bruce serenaded me with several selections while I sat on the couch with my hot tea in hand. And he surprised me by playing Amazing Grace!

It was a beautiful way to bring in Shabbat, as the showers from heaven came down.