Paradise

At the beginning of each new day, I have a view in mind -

It is a glorious scene that I hold close to my heart, and it guides me through every avenue and byway, from the mundane to the insane and back again-

It is true that heaven can be found on earth;

for when the seed of God's love is planted, when it is nurtured 
and protected from the heat of adversity
and the winds of strife -

there is sanctuary, and oneness

When the day is through, 

there's a peace that wells from 

my soul, and a singular, glorious view

that guides me home to you

Bridget Edwards   ©  2017

Looking Back, Moving Forward

 A dog and her best friend. Lexus the Rottie and R. Lamont, RIP

One of the things about me that seems to annoy my loved ones is my habit of taking candid photos. They say I invade their space, privacy, etc., when I snap a picture without warning.

Of course, because they know this about me, they should always be 'ready', I reason. When all is said and done, however, the end result is a crowd pleaser and a treasure to last a lifetime and beyond.

I'm glad for my obsession with taking pictures (I even demand them from my children when they are traveling). They help me join in the snapshot; relive the memorable moments in my life. Times when small details of a seemingly ordinary day open up in the same old way, and sometimes, a brand new way at second glance. A picture can bring tears of joy, thanksgiving to the heart and soul, because once upon a time, life happened. And it was good.

The picture here shows my late husband and his best friend trailing behind him on a desert path. They were walking ahead of me, and it was Valentine's Day, 2010. Both of them are gone now. But here they are again, in this timeless frame.

This picture-love I have is cathartic and gives me strength as I move forward. 

Before You Say "I Do"

Folks can always get together to pose for the perfect family picture, can’t they? After “Pray and Keep Praying”, here is number two of the TOP FIVE "ESSENTIAL THINGS TO DO LIST" for the single, marriage-minded and engaged:

OBSERVE THE FAMILY!
 
If you fail to see the importance of pre-marital family observation because your loved one is so amazingly wonderful, then you're already in trouble! What you don't know WILL hurt you sooner than later. Guaranteed.

Ladies have heard the advice about watching how your man treats his mother. This counsel is deeply rooted in age-old, time-tested experience. Men, it's equally important to check how your lady regards her father. Ask yourself, “How does my loved one engage with both parents?” And in the absence of parents, what's the relationship/interaction with other family members? There continues to be too many "surprises" after marriage due to the lack of attention to details that were red flags all over the place during the dating period.

If you've made your selection - please be informed. When you've decided that this person is THE ONE - then you should already know, as much as possible, about any congenital and heredity issues. These important conversations need to be had well before you say, "I do". You're playing for keeps and there's nothing wrong with equipping each other with the whole truth so the final decision is truly guided by LOVE.

Take the time to spend time with the family of your beloved; you will learn many things from close observation. Watch how problems are solved (or not), listen carefully to what people say (and don't say). They will be YOUR family one day.

It is much better and more honorable to bow out gracefully before going to the altar, based on careful and prayerful consideration, than feeling stuck in the quicksand of dysfunction and resentment.

Single, Marriage-Minded, Engaged, and Married Folks!

This gem - by author of "The Power of a Praying Wife", Stormie Omartian, is a must-have for believing couples. Omartian is also the author of "The Power of a Praying Husband." Over the years, Boaz Ministries has shared 31 days of prayer for husbands, and for wives; and topics on the importance of family prayer. We continue to encourage everyone, single, marriage-minded, engaged, and married, to pray without ceasing.

These are troublesome times, and the body of Christ needs to be fortified to withstand the "firey darts" that come against us on a moment-by-moment basis (Ephesians 6:11-18). Establishing and maintaining a prayer life, personal and within marriage, provides so many spiritual benefits. This book is filled with prayers - a section for husbands, and one for wives. The author simply invites the reader to "pick a prayer, any prayer, and let the Holy Spirit lead you from there."

To that, we say, "Amen."

A Good Man

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.

Teammates, 2017

Boaz Ministries

“Great teams do not hold back with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.”
Patrick Lencioni

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT teaches us “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

If we don’t view our marriages and relationships as a team working together toward a goal, we either have an over-inflated opinion of ourselves to think we can achieve that goal by ourselves, or we have failed before we begin and don’t even know it.

As we trust in the Lord, let us trust our life teammate; for he or she is the one we have chosen not to stand on the sideline and watch us succeed or fail but to join us in every effort to live life to the fullest as planned by God.

Boaz Ministries, 2017

Boaz Ministries

We thank the Lord for His guidance in this ministry. We thank our readers and visitors who have stopped by here and shared the daily prayers in 2016 with others. By God's grace, Boaz Ministries will continue to bring messages in 2017 that we pray will reach someone in need of confirmation, a new perspective, or encouragement. And we hope that you will pass it on!

May the joy of the Lord be our strength in the new year! (Nehemiah 8:10)