*Back to the Basics*

... It's been awhile! With time change is inevitable! Change changes us, our world, our circumstances, our family, our friends! We can Willingly accept these changes for the good or bad... what may come! We have all experienced "Our Worst Day or Days." We can relive any given moment as if it was a movie! This may not always be a good thing! We can turn the bad that happened into a "God thing." The #1 most important thing for this to occur is summed up in one word... FORGIVENESS!

This one word is probably the hardest to say and do for the majority of the population... Christians just as well as others! Myself included! This is why I must write this Blog today... most of us can't go thru a day without some instance of needing Forgiveness or Forgiving someone for a wrong said or done! When we don't daily lay these sins at the foot of the cross... they build up! Just like a weak tower; sin builds... only one day it WILL come crashing down! Yes, for some they will take a "hidden sin" to the grave... but HE knows!
The Bible instructs us on Forgiveness! "...bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." (Colossians 3:13) Nothing is TOO BIG or too small to Forgive! Their is Healing and Life in Forgiveness... Believe ME!... the Lord & I we know!!!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Blessed-2-B FREE!!!!!
*JKEST*

Producing the "Fruits of the Spirit" *Willingly* Part 1

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace..." (Gal. 5:22)

My focus for the next 3 blogs {Lord Willing} will be X-actly that... the word Willing! In regards to Marriage Matters {#12}... what are you willing to do for your mate?! In regards to all of man-kind... are you willing to exhibit the "Fruits of the Spirit?" There is no way to properly cover all 9 in one blog; so I will break it up into a 3-part series! In regards to Christ Himself are you willing to allow HiM to produce the fruits in you? I do have 9 past archived blogs covering each fruit; this series will focus on a different aspect!

We will begin with Love: Love is 1st... as it should be! (1Cor. 13:1) states "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal." In other words if were not speaking out of and in love... were just making a bunch of noise and not being heard! We are to "serve one another in love." (Gal. 5:13b) Again, the key word being willing! This means whatever the Lord wills... to whom He wills! Including our worst enemy! So, that much more we should willingly serve those we actually say we Love! Are you willing to go out of your way... to willingly give of yourself!? Would you give up your own plans, having your own way, etc. for Love?! What can you do to show Love, to Be Love? Willingly Serve. That simple. It has to do with nourishment; physical affection, satisfying those tummies, spiritual refreshment, meeting emotional needs; just to name a few! For all of us our needs and desires will vary... but one constant is we all need Love! Whatever you do keep in mind "this one commandment:"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Gal. 5:14b)

Joy! Gotta love that others centered word! Keeping Jesus 1st... He truly exhibited Joy in all circumstances! If He is 1st and foremost center of our lives... how can we not be Joyful in all things!? We do this through prayer, Bible reading, devotions, church & Bible studies!
Others... those fellow human-beings in your life! "Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others." (Phil. 2:4) Also (Gal. 5:15) says, "But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." Oh! How our words and actions can destroy and devour! We are powerful and mighty creatures... we can build-up or tear-down (with our words, attitude & actions)
YoU! are Loved... You are Special... You are wanted... You are needed... You are desired... You are cherished... You are adored... I AM a Chosen Child... Daughter of the King!!! (I Hope You are, too!) I say these things because it's something we all need to hear... some of us never hear it; or often enough! Be the one to let others hear these words today!! {Don't forget Jesus... Loves to hear these words, too!!!}

Peace! The best advice regarding peace comes from the Bible. "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield." (James 3:17) Do not treat your mate or others as your enemy, instead give them honor by showing respect for what they have to say! Try to go their way more of the time! Compromise... give in! After all... look what Love {Jesus} did for you... on the cross!!! HE came to seek & save the lost... that they might have life! Glory Be!

HiS Child,
*JKEST*-Vicki

*Seek, Find, Knock..."

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

So, it is Monday which normally means "Marriage Matters" Blog... well I wasn't "feeling" it today! But, the Lord had other plans! Alas a Blog is meant to be produced for today; just not specifically on Marriage!

Lord knows the last week has been "tough"... Spiritually, Emotionally etc. He knows circumstances! Just starting to come out of the specific "funk;" turning to HiM... "Duty" called! After having maybe 3 hours sleep... I was exhausted! Hubby graciously got kids up and off to school before heading into work. I slowly attempted to begin my day! Keziah happily played in my Bedroom; I made quick use of the restroom (5 min.) Bored Keziah= Lock & Closed Mommy's DooR! Upon exiting R/R I "Seek to Find the scenario!" She's "Knocking" to get out! Bawling, Screaming, Crying Hysterically! Of course Prayer ensued... Lord "You got a Problem!" Fortunately lil SiS was on the way to watch kids after school. Sweet P. began to reach out her little hand from under the door (My touch soothed her) then it was a foot! The house key SiS had wasn't the right one for the "Back Door." Option #2: Thanks to Elijah we had multiple screw drivers in a drawer. Window with A/C in it has plexi-glass, so sis was able to just reach to remove most screws from top part of window! PTL!!! She crawled in and after an hour Sweet P. was Out!

I thought of the many who are "Locked" in their own "Rooms" called "Life." They feel "Trapped," just want out... like my lil girl! They whine and scream and cry! They shake the handle, bang on "The Door..." wondering if anyone hears them; if Somebody Cares?! In Revelation 3:20 Jesus states, " Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
He does have a few expectations for those wanting a relationship with HiM! "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matt. 7:8) It's that simple!

I know without HiM I would not have been able to have "Safely" gotten my daughter out... Lord knows! He "Knew" just what was needed, even before I did! HiS timing is "Perfection!" I could of been stuck with a 22-month old locked in a room with all the keys & my purse. I was wearing less than appropriate leave the house attire; and 3 kids waiting to be picked up from school! He knows our needs even when we don't! He even helped "repair" some of my "Hurts" from the previous week, HE knows details! If you need to know, Ask HiM!! :) Now, I know why my Fave & Life verse is & Always will be, "For I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens Me!!" (Phil. 4:13)

He's Patiently Waiting for many to "Open the Door to HiM!" Are You One of them?!

IMpatiently Awaiting HiS Return,
HiS Daughter,
*JKEST*

"Marriage Matters" #11: Part 2 Love Cherishes & Nourishes

"He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it." (Ephesians 5:28-29)

(The Message Bible proclaims) "Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church- a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk- radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor- since they're already "one" in marriage.
No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband." (Ephesians 5:28-31)

What an Awesome picture of perfection I thought this was! But, of course none of us are perfect; alas this just gives us something to strive towards! We can give of ourselves without expecting "something" in return. This includes our time, energies, $money$. We all tend to "Spend our Time & $Money$ on whom or what we love! This says a great deal about a person... How is your "energy" spent throughout the day?! Are you lacking it when it comes time to "give" to your mate?! What can you do to improve on this area?!
Are you "one" with your mate in everyday routine decisions?! How about major decisions?! Purchases, where you go on vacation... do you have one at all!? Even simple choices like what to have or where to go for dinner! Whatever doesn't unite you; can divide you! No matter how trivial at the time the matter seems!
Do you bring out the "Best" or the "worst" in your mate? Only you as the spouse can know the answers... Strive to fully bring out the "Best Yet;" yet keep the "worst" hidden away! Remember, this is greatly to your advantage! You will truly feel Better & your spouse will be a "better" person as the result!
Feed, nourish & Pamper each other... this will be different for us all! "Feed" on the Word together and separately. "Feed" each others "Needs"... again this will be different for each person! The one constant is we all have needs! If you don't know or understand each other's needs; find them out!
Finally, pamper each other! Some of us tend to "Pamper" ourselves, our kids, pets, even cars... but what about your spouse?! I will allow you your own definition... but it doesn't just involve $Money$ especially in these hard times!!

*Love Dare* Do something this week that shows your spouse you are "one" with them! Ask them what their needs are and work on fulfilling as many of them as you can!

Recommitting to Love, Honor & Cherish MY Beloved!!!
JKEST-Vicki

"Marriage Matters" #11: Love Cherishes ALLways!!!

"Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies." (Eph. 5:28)

The Day you got married you said & made vows to your spouse. Did your vows include to Love, Honor & CHERISH...?! What does it mean to cherish another person? In terms of materially speaking I ask Husbands: Would you say your Wife is more like a $30 Million Bugatti (yes this car exists!) or a brand-new $10,000 Hyundai? Now, let me rephrase it. Do you treat your wife or does she feel treated like the Bugatti or the Hyundai? Wives does your husband feel he's treated like a $100 Million estate or a $50,000 fixer upper? (They both do exist; I know full well) Would you literally give all you have for your mate? Do they feel you treat them this way? (Matthew 13:46) states "When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" Is your mate, your marriage not worth as much?!
The way we treat our mates determines their value. How we value them determines the cost of our marriage. How much is your marriage worth? Can your mate honestly say they feel their worth the $$Millions$$ to you... or would they say they feel like their just a "fixer upper" in your eyes?! If they can't say they feel highly valued and treasured by you... something needs to change and it's not them! Our marriages count for eternity! It's time to raise the Value on your marriage!
In the end, Our Faithful Father will be the one to say, "Well done Son/daughter, you treated my Daughter/ son well!" Do you want to have to explain to the Creator of the Universe why you treated HiS child wrong or badly? What will your response be? Will you have to say you were selfish, too tired, lazy, it wasn't worth it, I just gave up!? Will you say "I wasn't treated like a Queen/King so I treated them the same way!"

If your marriage is in need of a tune-up don't neglect doing it! Just as cars & homes take Time, $Money$, attention to detail, expertise and investment of energy. Many of the same things will be required in restoring, revamping, refreshing, rekindling, reconnecting, rebuilding, refurbishing, reigniting, resolving, and Remember when you do you will be reValuing your mate & Marriage to their highest Worth!
The "other" option is Devalue which is what happens if you Deny, Deprive, Desolve, and Destroy your Marriage! This will lead to divorce, which is the Death of your marriage & the aftermath that follows!

I just realized what I had originally planned to go with this blog... is much too long! So, this will be my 1st to be continued... C-U next Monday! *JKEST*

"Marriage Matters" #10: Love is Unconditional

"God demonstrates HiS own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

If you were asked, "Why do you love your husband or wife?"-what would you say? Many men would probably mention their wife's beauty, her understanding, compassion, kindness. They might talk about her cooking, her sense of style or creativeness, or what a good mother she is. Many women would probably mention their husband's good looks or his charming personality. They'd say how faithful he is. How consistent and honest he is. They'd say they love him because he's always there for them, he's generous and helpful.
What happens then after the years go by and they stop being these things? Do you still love them? Logic would say no... unconditional love says Yes! Love can last a life-time only if it's unconditional! This type of love is called Agape love!

Agape love is always unconditionally giving and impossible to take or be a taker. It devotes total commitment to seek your highest best no matter how someone may respond. This form of love is totally selfless and does not change whether the love given is returned or not.
(Christian theology) states it is the love of God or Christ for mankind- Classical Greek; also Charity.
It is one of the 3 basic virtues, along with Faith and Hope. Saint Paul called it the greatest of these. The Bible says, "This is real love- not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent HiS Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:10) The essence of Agape love is self-sacrifice. It's Supernatural God anointed love! "We love, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
Agape love is the true opposite of sin. In a world of self indulgence and greed, a Christian that lives the life of Love is a real true contrast. The three other forms of love are Eros, Philia, and Storge.

Eros: is an "erotic feeling" self-beneficial... what they can do for you. Eros is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing; intimate but does not have to be sexual in nature. More than friendship. Dating as well as marriage. Appreciation of their natural beauty that comes from within. Naturally Platonic means simply- "without physical attraction." So relationships built on initial physical attraction would not have this level of love. Unless you allow God to grow HiS love within you; you will struggle and possibly fail in your marriage and other relationships. Love that "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Cor. 13:7) does not come from within. It can only come from HiM!

Philia: means Friendship in modern Greek. It is a dispassionate virtuous love, concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community and requires virtue, equality, and familiarity. (Prov. 17:17) states "A Friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." It stems from a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.

Storge: means "affection" in ancient and modern Greek. It is a natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Exclusively used to describe relationships within the family. It is also known for expressing mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant. Loving the "unlovable." The Scriptures say that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) God Loves us that much!

Thankfully God allows us the choice to choose HiS kind of love. But you must first receive it; before you can share it! What kind of love is your relationship with your mate based on? Is it the same foundation you based it on when you first got together? If it's not currently based on the foundation of Agape Love, it's not too late! Take the steps you need to in order to make your marriage relationship "Rock Solid!" Then instead of saying "I love you because..." You will firmly and passionately be able to say, "I LOVE YOU, PERIOD!"

***Love Dare*** Do something for your spouse that you never or rarely do. Something that you must freely choose to do. Choosing to do this on your own, will help prove your love is based on your choice and nothing else. Wash the car. Clean the kitchen. Buy or make their fave dessert. Fold the laundry. Whatever it takes to show the sheer joy you have for them because they are your partner in marriage-for a Lifetime! Continue showing the Love even if it's not returned!

Love,
JKEST-Vicki

"He who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him." (Psalm 32:10)

"Marriage Matters" Mon. #9 {Love makes good impressions} (Greetings)

"Greet one another with a kiss of love." (1 Peter 5:14)

We've all been there, I'm sure... Someone says "Hi! and your name... you know you know them but either completely forgot there name or falsely recognize them (momentarily)... do you just say Hi! back and smile or do you guess?! Maybe have them "help" you out... is it...?! And "Hope" your right?! At least you shouldn't forget, again! Scenario #2... Again you see someone you recognize... a ways in front of you. There smiling and waving... at YOU! So, you smile and wave back... hopefully you didn't say Hi!... cause as it turns out they were waving at "their" Friend who happened to be; Right behind YOU! It's probably happened to the Best of us!

How do you "greet" your spouse or (Other) loved ones?! Do we falsely believe they don't need to be "Greeted" properly? What happens when we have "wronged" them... do we walk around with our tail between our legs? We may feel we don't "deserve" to receive a simple kiss... this can only cause tension in our marriage. We need to come to our senses as quickly as possible... for restoration to begin. Let's see what the Bible has to say...

I will paraphrase "The Parable of the Lost Son" (Luke 15:11-32)
... after wasting away his inheritance... he came to his senses, and decided to go home to his father. He had even planned what to say'... & Please take me on as a hired servant.'
So he returned home to his father. And while he was a still along way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'
His father sent servants to bring the finest robe, ring, and sandals for him. Never mentioning the son's desire to become a hired servant. The fatted calf was prepared- a celebration feast for the son who was dead and has now returned to life. He, was lost, but now he is found. So the party began.
The Other son was angry... His father said to him, 'Look dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.' We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but now is found.
Our Heavenly Father wants to do the same thing for us if we let him. Keep this in mind as an example as to how we are to treat & Greet our mates and Loved ones... no matter what! Sometimes we may feel slighted, they barely deserve a Hi! today... look to Jesus... my Friend look to HiM!

Make each Greeting count! Make your Beloved see, feel and hear the Love, Peace and Joy you have for them.Think of the different opportunities we have to greet each other daily. Upon awakening, before leaving for work etc, and coming home. Meeting for lunch etc. Saying good-nite & talking on the phone. Try to convey warmth and enthusiasm to your mate. Find new and exciting ways to subtly touch the heart of your mate through spoken or unspoken interaction. Make every attempt at making your Beloved feel valued, loved, and appreciated. Especially when your not getting along so well; you may just be able to lessen some of the tension. Remember, love is a choice. So, choose to choose a greeting that reflects your love for them! That's your "Love Dare" for this Blog...:)

"And that's about it, friends, Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your Spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. Greet one another with a holy embrace. All the brothers and sisters here say hello." (2 Corinthians 3:11) {The Message Bible}

Joyfully Yours,
JKEST-Vicki
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