There's always, always, always something

to be thankful for!

from Boaz Ministries

Sure, we can get bogged down with the cares and distractions of this life. But think about this for a moment. Time and circumstance happens to everyone, and there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible makes this clear in Ecclesiastes 9:11 and 1:9, respectively. However, we mustn't forget God is never caught by surprise as we experience the ups and downs of life. If we have given Him control of our hearts, while it won't stop the madness that may happen, it will change our attitudes and even our responses. We can "look up" and be thankful for the opportunity to move through every situation by His power; confident that He is with us. And as we do what seems to be impossible under extreme circumstances, there are those who are watching, noticing how issues are handled with our heads up. They may be curious to know what brings us such peace in times of storms; they might even ask. That's a perfect time to share our faith and encourage another.

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. And as long as we have breath, let us move forward in this sometimes maddening life with purpose and in LOVE!

Who I be like

I ain't flamboyant, I ain't fancy
my comeliness is mild
If someone took a glance - s/he
might encourage me to smile
Not a seeker of attention
don't have no hi-brow pedigree
my net ain't worth the mention
don't possess much finery

What I have I give sincerely
this great gift received from God
and I share my witness clearly
which, at times makes me seem odd
I ain't trying to gain acceptance
in a world that hates the Son
I encourage full repentance
to believers in the ONE

not a preacher,
more a teacher, and even more
a soul out-reacher
for each transgression, each mistake
has been forgiven,
I ain't no fake
In God alone I'm capable

He's working His thing in me
to be
His genuine article

Bridget Edwards © 2013

Our Inauguration

From Boaz Ministries

Throughout the entire inauguration ceremony there were so many, many references in speeches and in song to faith and God. Yet it is curious to me that after today so much time and energy will be spent downplaying faith and God.

Only a few references (one as I recall) were made to the love and strength of family as being the key to America’s success. We must make those speeches and sing those songs in our hearts and in our homes. We are not politicians. We are men and women who believe that He who is in us is greater than that which is in the world. We must carry the torch of faith day in and day out; not to impress a special interest group, but to confirm that faith in God is and will remain the true force to keep our families and our country strong.

Bruce

 

Sharing from the couples file

From Boaz Ministries

 

Picture in your mind some of the things about your beloved that make you smile. Hold that thought.

I spoke with a couple recently who told me about their rule for arguments. They said one of the secrets of their success in their 34 years of marriage is they take a time out and *kiss* during arguments. Talk about a deescalation tool!!! They said there have been some majorly intense moments, but because of their rule (and neither one of them ever wanted to be the one to break it), they would kiss. All it takes is for one of them to say, "ok, we obviously need to kiss right now." (or something to that affect)

Doing so would immediately change their body chemistry. Sometimes the kiss might be a peck (always on the lips, however), but sometimes that peck would linger. And who can stay in anger mode after that? I was impressed by their commitment to work through their problems. They said they realized early on that they will have disagreements, but their devotion to one another would never allow them to crash and burn because of pride and stubbornness.

Their special "thing" is their kiss. And they knew they would not "forget" the why, how, or when - they sealed their union 34 years ago, if they brought it back whenever they needed a reminder.

Just wanted to share what I learned from some folks who know what it means to keep it fierce and moving forward - together!

Amazingly Fierce Loving!

From Boaz Ministries


God's commitment to us

Because we have free will, given to us by our Creator, we understand that God never forces Himself on us. And so it goes in our human relationships with one another - we can't make someone love us. Anyone who would try to foist his or herself on us would not be well received; you know how uncomfortable that would feel and how pretentious and burdensome such a relationship would be.

Any love we have to give and/or receive should be an exchange of mutuality and spring from the deep places of the heart. This is the depth that we desire and hope to inspire. When we experience the goodness of the Lord, His steadfast care of us, His faithfulness, it evokes our gratefulness and willingness to walk closer with Him. The Bible tells us that it is because He loved us first that we love Him.(1 John 4:10)

His lovingkindness towards us sparks that light of love within us and creates a cycle of Lover/Beloved and back again. There is a special blessing our Father bestows upon those who love Him this way...and He is faithful to show Himself strong in the lives of the believers. If I may say it, that is some amazingly fierce loving!

 

Simply Being a Good Man

From Boaz Ministries

Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1 NLT

We all know that money can’t buy you love, nor can it buy you respect, health, common sense or prevent people from talking about you in a negative way. As men, the greatest thing we can do is to be loved, respected and thought of highly by our loved ones. Our reputations will precede us in any situation where we must make a decision that will affect others.

If we have the reputation of being shaky, we will be met with resistance. However, it should come as no surprise to us if we are of consistently good character, that our loved ones will follow us to the ends of the earth because they know we are righteous men. This we cannot buy, beg for, borrow or steal. It does not come from being rich; it comes from having a reputation for being a man of God. We are flawed but righteous, being led by the Holy Spirit to do the right thing; our lives being our witness. That is what our women want from us more than anything else.

Yes, she probably would love a diamond necklace as a gift, but the gift of integrity in her man is priceless. It is something she wears in her heart all the time, every day.

Bruce

68 Powerful Days

We had no inkling of the brief time we had left. At least, I didn't. After he'd been in rehabilitation for nearly a month after the accident, Lamont, my late husband, and I were looking forward to two major life events. Our second daughter was graduating from college in May, and our older daughter, our first child, was getting married in July that summer. It was to be a time of continuous celebrations, because that summer would mark the end of our son's first year in college. And he had had a very successful experience away from home.

The accident happened on the first of March. And Lamont spent the entire month in the hospital and in rehabilitation. It had been a car accident; he'd been hit by a drunk driver while we were walking together on a country road. His survival and minor injuries were nothing short of a miracle.God surely answered my cry on that night. The prognosis for complete recovery was excellent - mending bones, and out-patient physical therapy. I remember him being a model patient because he had so much to look forward to.

I've written elsewhere in this blog of the details of his last day, and nothing is more clear to me when I reflect upon those hours. However it occurs to me that he knew his time was short. There were so many clues he gave me in conversation, and when we prayed, or when I would find him in his wheelchair with his Bible on his lap, staring out of the great window of our living room. He was constantly talking to God - "wrestling" with Him, as he had told one of his sisters. And she believes, as I do, that God spoke to him concerning his life, and his imminent death.

He died of a pulmonary embolism - a blood clot. We had traveled from California to Alabama - with his doctors' permission - to attend the graduation. We both missed Commencement, because he was rushed to the hospital just hours before it was to begin. But what we didn't miss were the very important things that have served to keep me strong, keep our children strong in the aftermath.

God gave me 68 days to grow closer to Him as I cared for my husband. I had stood out on that road that night on the first day in March - as my husband lay underneath the SUV, with my face and fists raised to the sky and demanded that God spare his life. He granted my request. And then God allowed us to journey for the last time to the place where my husband and I first met - our Alma Mater - to join all of our loved ones in celebration of our daughter's graduation. It had been an incredible time, especially our last day.

In all, we had 68 incredible days together in our 31 years of marriage, of our 35 years of knowing each other. So much was experienced, so much was shared - so much was learned; I cherish it all. I thank God for ordering my life, our life, in such a powerful way. I thank God for His omniscience - for He knew the work that was begun in the life that has now ended, would continue.

I can count the days, weeks, months and years as markers in my former life with Lamont, now that he is gone. Everything can now be measured in increments of the time that we had left. That's the way it is after someone has died. We can look back 10 years before that final date and reflect on what we couldn't have known at that time - that we only had 10 years left, etc. We can think of what was taking place 20 years before the final date and how we misused or mishandled opportunities, situations.... on and on.

This is what fuels my ministry to couples. The unknown is just a "picosecond" ahead of us. We might have a plan, but make no mistake, plans are known to change in the twinkling of an eye. Since we have no idea how many days we have left on this earth, I encourage us to live powerful, intentional, spiritual lives every moment we have breath. Be thankful, cheerful, helpful; live with grace and graciousness. Be at peace, let go of petty issues that weigh down the heart and cloud the mind. Let us change our negativity into positive self-talk, and we will find we will attract more positivity into our lives.

Love fiercely, completely, freely, and genuinely. And watch the Lord richly bless you and your house! I can guarantee you will have no regrets. Ask me how I know!

Don't Fool Yourself

Boaz Ministries 

It is so easy to see the faults in others, especially our beloved spouse. And so, in relating to one another every day, there is the tendency to pounce on every "little" thing that annoys us about our partner. Here's the thing: when we engage in those behaviors, pointing the finger and playing the "blame game", we are distracted from the work that needs to be done in our own hearts. The "denial" can be damaging in committed relationships, because as humans, we tend to think highly of ourselves. It's usually the "other person" who has the "issue".

As believers, we realize we all fall short of the glory of God. And the focus of change must turn inward, by the power of God's Holy Spirit. It doesn't "feel good", takes us outside our comfort zones - but it's so vitally important. When couples commit their lives to each other in the Lord, we realize as we mature in faith that the spiritual work must commence, and continue! We have to come to a place where we "come clean" with God and ask Him to show us our faults, and then He is able to work His miracle of transformation in our lives. David, the psalmist wrote:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Psalm 139:23-24 NASB

Grace!

Grace - [greys] noun, verb: graced, gracing

1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action, i.e. attractiveness, ease, charm, fluidity
2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment
3. favor or goodwill, i.e. kindness, kindliness, love, condescension
5. a manifestation of favor, i.e. forgiveness, charity
6. mercy, i.e., clemency, pardon

A powerful way to live!

Keep It Moving, Part 2

From Boaz Ministries

Well, we’re three days into the New Year and maybe we’ve even made some resolutions. Some have strong willpower and iron-clad constitutions, and can stick to whatever it is you’ve promised. However, if anyone is like me, it’s been a very long time since we’ve uttered a word about a “resolution” – because it’s a set-up for failure!

As believers, we understand that everything we do, every decision we make is directly connected to our spiritual walk with God. Therefore it is unwise to think we can compartmentalize our activities into categories: “What I don’t need God for” and “What I need God for”; because that’s the ultimate set-up for failure.

What works is having a daily goal to grow more and more in love with the Creator of all things – to seek to do His will, even when we don’t “feel” like “wanting” to. Praying for the very desire to obey and trust God with and in everything activates His power to move on it in our lives.  The transformation begins to take place and our hearts are turned toward the Lord more and more.

The Word of God says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) 

We can resolve to go deeper in our relationship with Christ. It’s not a “New Year’s Resolution” – but a daily re-consecration, and it’s moment by moment.  With love so rich, reserved for us, and new mercies extended to us with each day we’re blessed to see, why would we hesitate to say “yes” to His will? 

Couples committed to the same eternal goal will be victorious. It is the best “buddy system” possible, because it’s rooted and grounded in the partnership we have with God.  It is the desire of Boaz Ministries to “keep it moving” in Jesus’ name. Nothing is fiercer than being in lock-step spiritually with the love of your life and the Lover of your soul!

Keep It Moving!!

from Boaz Ministries