First a couple of things.
Look at what I look out my front door at:
**Another snow day here in Michigan. My son (a senior in high school) is thrilled, he gets a day off. My daughter (a sophomore in high school) is bummed- she is homeschooled!
** Thank you all so much for your input last week! I will be delving into many of the subjects you mentioned over the next several weeks.
I have decided to hold off on the carnival idea for now. Though, I encourage you to jump in on other marriage carnivals that are presently going on, such as:
Marriage Mondays at Chrysallis, if you know of others, feel free to tell us about them in the comments.
Also, I really would like you to use the comments to expand on my thoughts and give your own. Give examples, verses and testimony- I love it!!! Don’t ever apologize for your comments, I appreciate them and I think it will be a value to all who read “TsbO Tuesdays” if they are all in one spot.
********************************************************
What are your thoughts?
Has satan had you down a bad road in your thought life?
Have your thoughts made you angry, stressed out or full of anxiety?
Changing our marriage life starts with changing our thought life.
Changing our thought life is not as difficult as you think. Though it takes work, it is possible to redirect our minds to focus on the positive and not the negative - the power and not the draining direction that sinful thoughts can take us in.
I have to be honest and say that the times I get angry are usually the times when I’m not getting my own way and I let my thought life get out of control. I know this goes right along the same lines as "stewing" but I believe that looking at the issue from different perspectives will help us to remember how powerful our thoughts are. It does for me anyways!
Changing our marriage life starts with changing our thought life.
Changing our thought life is not as difficult as you think. Though it takes work, it is possible to redirect our minds to focus on the positive and not the negative - the power and not the draining direction that sinful thoughts can take us in.
I have to be honest and say that the times I get angry are usually the times when I’m not getting my own way and I let my thought life get out of control. I know this goes right along the same lines as "stewing" but I believe that looking at the issue from different perspectives will help us to remember how powerful our thoughts are. It does for me anyways!
Psalms 13:2
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
NIV
Wow.
Psalms 139:2-4
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
You know it completely, O LORD.
NIV
THAT will make us deal with our thinking won’t it?!
It helps me to know that I am accountable for all my thoughts and that the Lord cares what is on my mind.
Let’s change our thoughts to thankful ones!
Col 3:15
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
NIV
Are we thankful for the man God gave us?
According to this scripture, it will affect our peace.
NIV
Are we thankful for the man God gave us?
According to this scripture, it will affect our peace.
There is nothing so powerful as peace in our hearts and our homes!
Think of how it changes the atmosphere of the home when Momma is livin’ in peace.
It bears repeating:
Changing our marriage life starts with changing our thought life.
Let’s create an atmosphere of peace in our homes and start by changing our thoughts to those of thankfulness.
Please talk to me about this one, tell me I’m not the only one who lets her thoughts get the best of her and turns into Cruella….
Our nugget:
Thoughts of thankfulness!
For further encouragement:
Eph 1:16
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
NIV
(Read that whole chapter, it’s wonderful!)
Eph 5:19-20
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
Let’s create an atmosphere of peace in our homes and start by changing our thoughts to those of thankfulness.
Please talk to me about this one, tell me I’m not the only one who lets her thoughts get the best of her and turns into Cruella….
Our nugget:
Thoughts of thankfulness!
For further encouragement:
Eph 1:16
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
NIV
(Read that whole chapter, it’s wonderful!)
Eph 5:19-20
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV
Col 3:17
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
NIV
Col 3:17
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
NIV
1 Thess 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always;
17 pray continually;
18 give thanks in all circumstances,
NIV
1 Thess 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always;
17 pray continually;
18 give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
NIV
Praying for our marriages!
NIV
Praying for our marriages!
Our hope is in Him,
36 comments:
OH...I'm jealous of the snow!! Our little ones haven't even seen it hardly in their lifetime! I would SO love to get one real good snow before Winter is over!! :) Thanks for the reminder of being thankful. It's something we tell our kids all the time..."a thankful heart is a happy heart"...yet we forget it for ourselves!! Great reminder!
Buffi
So good & so true. I can have a whole negative conversation in my head when he's not even there and get completely disgruntled! Also, the thoughts can easily lead me down the path of discouagement and self-reproach as well.
Thanks for the encouraging word.
I often struggle with negativity toward my husband even though we have been mostly happlily married for nearly thirty years. As I was thinking about how can I get out of this cycle I seem to go through, I realize I need to be transformed by the renewing of my mind....I absolutely cannot renew my mind myself, and nothing will permanently change me besides God. So I am reading much more, and as negative thoughts come, I counter them with God's word....without his power, nothing will change in me.
Yes Sue, Cruella checking in here. I was just reading in Ezekiel about Israel, but I believe it can apply to our children and our marriages as well. Chapter 34 verse 4 talks about the "cruelty and force" the leaders used with God's people. I so want to be that godly wife and mom the Lord desires and you are right, it starts with what's in our hearts, our thought life. When we are thankful to the Lord, there is no room for complaining. Further down in the same chapter I came across a gem in verse 26. "There shall be showers of blessing." Those old hymn writers really read their Bibles, didn't they?
Buffi,
You can have some snow, come anytime! This is one of the snowiest winters I can remember.
Linda,
I've done the same thing, so thankful that the Lord opened my eyes to the dangers of it.
Anonymous,
Thanks for the input, it's so good to know that our future can be far better than our past if we depend on Him.
Susan,
That is powerful. Yes, they did!
I found this verse this week and I think it goes well with this post. I told my family it is going to be our "family verse".
Eph. 4:2-3 "Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit and bind yourselves together with peace."
Isn't that beautiful?
Stay warm,
Smiles!
Ohh yuck! I think we are finally over our snow barrage. The sun is out and even though it's cold - I'm yearning for spring.
That is beautiful Jennifer, thanks!
Dionna,
We are off to Texas in a few weeks- I can't wait for some warmth!!
It's amazing how God lets us know by so many little things that we need to check ourselves from time to time! I received this forwarded email today that goes right along with this & I pray that we all can continue to allow God to work in us the thoughts He wants us to have!
There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did
and
she
had
a
wonderful
day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head
"H-M-M," she said,
"I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did
and
she
had
a
grand
day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said,
"today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did
and
she
had
a
fun,
fun
day.
The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed,
"I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything.
Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.......
Leave the rest to God
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
Blessings, HL
Wow - I do think you got into my house again - JUST what I needed to be reminded as I am tempted to blame it all on my husband again!!! God Bless your sweet words....
I have to say that I struggle with the same thing. Usually when I get mad at my husband, it is because I am not getting my way.
The verse that kept popping into my head as I was reading this was Philippians 3:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- If anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things!
Wow, doesn't that about sum it all up?!
HL,
My favorite line is the one about learning to dance in the rain- I love it!
Becky,
I promise I'm not! These have been my battles lately too!
Tiffany,
That does sum it up, awesome verse.
Wow! That snow looks....CCCCOLD! Can't say I'm jealous, but it's pretty in pictures or on the news or out the window in a warm house. Here in AZ it's 70 and sunny and I'm just praying for summer not to get here before June!
More importantly I'm so thankful for this blog. I'm always amazed at what God has done in my heart. Somedays I look at my unbelieving husband and think, "How in the world can he not be a believer...He's the greatest tool of God in my life." And that is a change of heart from God because for many years all I could see was a monkey on my back, a huge dead weight, chains, when I saw my husband. Now I see God's man in my life! I thank God for how He's changed my heart and for giving me a second chance at letting Christ love on my man through me.
Bless you!
Sheila
Sheila,
That is soooo cool! You are an inspiration to so many- you are really walking it out. This blesses me!
Hugs,
Sue
You are so right and you've got the scripture to back it up! It will be difficult but at the same time it is as easy as changing your thought life. What a difference it is to be in a home with a woman at peace. I pray that I will change my thought life so that my husband and children can live in a home that they are glad to be in.
So very true.
Sue,You did it again girl! Satan attacks our minds so we need to take every thought captive unto the Lord. Joyce Meyer has a book called The Battlefield of the mind. Great book! I ask myself not only What would Jesus do??
What would Jesus Think?? Just what Tiffany said, Whatever is admirable, lovely, pure..etc... Ok enough preaching, great post Sue:)
God Bless.
I have found that if I don't make a concious effort to control my thoughts, the devil will run away with them.
wow! what an enlightning thought!
I never considered that changing my thoughts would help change the atmosphere in my home.
I just started the book by Joyce
Meyers "Battlefield of the Mind."
snow??? what is snow???? it has been near 70 here!
snow is so beautiful when you first wake up in the morning and look out your window. I remember praying for snow days when i was in school in Tennessee. : )
I am so absolutely amazed at how the Lord works. You have no idea how I have been battling negative thoughts this week, and then I come to visit your blog tonight and what did you write about..... It helps to know that I'm not alone. The mind is defintely where satan gets his us, just like in the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis.
Ladies,
It helps to know I'm not the only one that struggles with negative thoughts thus the old adage "misery loves company". I have struggled so much in every area this week. It helps so much to come here and read your encouraging words the Lord has laid on your heart. Thank you for being obedient Susan!!!
Very wise words. Letting the Spirit control our thought-life is so key. The best way I know how to do that is to fill up with the Word, and think His thoughts! (Well, I guess I'm off to read my Bible!)
BTW, thanks for the linky love.
Blessings,
e-Mom @ Chrysalis
Lovely post. In my Bible study tonight, we talked about how our reactions are watched from heaven. Eeeew... At least most of the time for me, eeewww... I don't always like how I handle frustrations or things that don't go my way. Thanks for the reminder to shape up my thought life, concentrating upon, praising, and responding based upon Him.
Blessings!
The snow looks COLD!
I am so thankful for my husband of almost 25 years. He is so much that I am not, and wish I was.
I have not been by in so long....I don't know why....it is always so uplifting to come here.....hope you are well. How is Miss Lauren? ;)
I needed this today. Thank you so much. You are such a blessing!
God is the restorer of marriage if we will look to him and stay put during the difficult spell. "Having done all STAND"!!!!
Susan
At the beginning of the year there was quite a bit of stress (and arguing)in our household. I heard a woman speak at our church a couple of months ago and she asked us to sign up for "The Husband Project", basically being intentionally kind to your husband for 21 days. I decided this was something I needed to try if only to change my mindset. I started about a week and a half ago and I have to say, the change in our house is amazing. I admit that I thought it was a bit unfair at first, having to be nice to him even when I thought that "I am right and he should be nicer to me". But I realized that I can't change him, I can only change me and when I am being nice I am happier, and when I am happy, my whole household seems to be happier.
Here is the link to The Husband Project if you are interested.
I have seen your button around lately so I thought I would stop by. I love it! I will be adding them to my blog and coming back regularly!
Thanks for allowing the Spirit to lead you this way!
Angela
Beautiful snow!!! It is VERY windy here today... gusts averaging 50 mph!!! Hold on to your hats!!! ;)
Now, how did I miss that you homeschooled as well??? I had no idea! We love it.... how about you???
Oh yes...I am very thankful for my sweet hubby! HE is such a dear....so patient..kind... thoughtful...great daddy...and a awesome man of GOD!
I love your Tuesday posts...I love all of your posts!!! :)
Hugs to you, sweet friend!!!
Changing my thoughts was a hard step for me at the time and most of the time I did not feel like being the one to change when the problem was with my hubby (how could it be me he is the one who is wrong). Then I found that sense of peace that comes from knowing that your actions are right with the Lord and how it has changed us in our marriage has been a blessing to both of us. Now I need to put those same actions into my kids.
Wow. Thank you! I am so glad I found this site! You are so right. And thank you for posting all of the Scripture with this. It seems like so many things are just topical or thematic now, and not really based on God's Word. I love to have something concrete in front of me. God's Word is such an amazing gift.
1 Thess 5 is on my blog...its a verse I try to live by! Thoughts are so powerful arent they? They get the best of me MANY times and its terrible!! I feel worse about everything when I let negativity take over in my head. Then in turn it comes out on the people I truly love most, like my hubby. Thanks for this encouraging post!! I absolutely love you blog!!!
Can I just say I am in awe...this put me over the top...
Psalms 13:2
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Your words were sweet like a honeycomb to me today my friend...thank you!
I have become Cruella also at times. We have to really be conscience and on the lookout at all times. It is a lot of work, but it makes our homes are so much happier. Thanks for the devotion.
Most definately you are not the only one!lol I completely agree with you on the whole thought thing. How I am thinking about my husband directly affects how I end up treating him. Help me Lord to think of all the good stuff daily!:o)
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