Happy Wife - Happy Life

Ecclesiastes 9 (NKJV)

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

This week has been difficult for me. There could be a list of reasons why or there could be no real reason why. Sometimes it is what it is - tough.

Some women I know go through life and appear to be happy all the time. If something does throw them a curve ball, well no big deal and they move on. Just a bump in the road.

I’m not that woman. 

Others feel things more emotionally, I feel deep. I feel happiness deep and I feel sadness deep.

Yes I’m that woman.

My faith in Christ doesn’t waiver, I know He is in control; I’ll get over it, tomorrow will be a brighter day and so on. In the mean time it is rough and not only on me but on my husband, family and friends. 

The bible study I was doing led me to Ecclesiastes. It is kind of like a book that tells you like it is. There is a time for seasons.

Just like the seasons of Mother Nature, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, they come, they go, and then they show up again. It’s the same for our lives.

“ Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life . . . “

When I read the words today I thought about my husband at work. There he was working and wondering what the temperature in his home would be when he got there in the evening.

One of the verses struck me between the eyes, “live joyfully with the wife” that would be pretty hard if the wife isn’t joyful.

I understand that this doesn’t mean it is all on the wife to be happy and go lucky all the time, but it made think – when is enough – enough?

It’s that old saying – pull yourself up by your boot straps (or put your big girl panties on and deal with it). Any way you say it I knew it was time for me to snap out of it. I had to choose joy, choose to be happy.

Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

For the sake of my own mental health, the health of my marriage, the health of my home, God showed me what to do.

God does His part, now it is time for me to do mine.

May God Bless You

Do You Sparkle?

I have glitter in my hair. It’s mostly around the sides on the temple area. I don’t know when it started but it is definitely there now. You know what; it doesn’t bother me too much. Oh occasionally I get caught up in the fact that it makes me feel old and I buy a box of color and put it on. For the most part I’m pretty accepting of it.


How about the sagging, yes I’m still talking about the face, let’s not even think about the rest of the body. Actually the sagging bothers me more than the wrinkles. When did I get jowls and a turkey neck? Growing older is not for sissies I can tell you that. The aches and pains – oh my.

I understand I’m not that old, still on this side of 65, but still how did I get here? I remember being in my early 20’s worrying about never getting married. That foolish young girl. Little did I know 40 some years later I would look back and laugh about that.

So what is so wrong about growing old anyway? Besides some of the obvious issues, it really isn’t so bad. I plan on living well into my 80’s, maybe even 90’s; I’ve got another 30 years to go. I can do anything I want. I can go back to school and become a doctor if I wanted to. I have a clean slate ahead of me. 

Just because the TV tells me I don’t look like a model doesn’t mean I am not a viable member of society. I’m a woman, a mom, a wife, a sister and a friend. I’m healthy enough to take care of my home, go places and contribute to society. I’m not done living yet.

Why are so many of us chasing perpetual youth? Getting tucks, injections and whatever else we can do to remain youthful. Don’t get me wrong, looking your best is wonderful, but we have all seen the nips and tucks that have gone bad. Whoa baby, I would rather look old.

God talks about old people. The Bible tells us that Sarah was “very old” when she had Isaac.

Proverbs 16:31
The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.

You see those sparkles in my hair – I earned them. That means I have survived what this old world has sent my way. Life is challenging, even hard are times, but living it is the reward we get.

Psalms 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

God made us. He made your hair color and designed it to “sparkle”. So sparkle ladies and hold your head high.

May God Bless.

The Church Lady

Wonder what popped into your mind when you read the title? When I hear the term “church lady” I think of Dana Carvey’s character on Saturday Night Live. That character cracks me up.

Really, when I think about a “church lady”, I picture an older woman, very serious looking – almost stern and of course she would be wearing a strand of pearls. Her collar would be buttoned up tight and her dress would be something matronly looking. Funny isn’t it what images we come up with certain words and phrases.

Going to services in our congregation I see all kinds of church ladies. Ladies with all different colors and lengths of hair, stylish clothing, all different ages and different sizes, and they all have one thing in common. Their willingness to meet together and worship God. Each one of them is different in their own way.

Let’s look at some of the women in the Bible.

• Eve – the mother of all living persons
• Woman at the well – sinful but searching
• Mary Magdalene – a follower of Jesus
• Esther – a queen
• Ruth – a beloved mother-in-law
• Jael – an ordinary woman who would kill
• Deborah – a warrior princess

Which one of these women would you be able to pick out of a crowd? Each of these listed above could be any one of us.

Some of those women I worship with I know them very well. Others I just know their names and faces, then others I’m just getting to know.

I’m always amazed when I get to know someone new and there story of where they have been in their lives and how they came to find Christ. When I first started going to worship, I felt like everyone was better than me and I was a heathen that had so much to learn. Amazing to find out that at some point and time we all have been “at the beginning” of becoming a “church lady”.

So as you go through your week, think about how far you have come in your walk with Christ and what kind of “church lady” you are. Stop and say a special prayer this week for all the women in the church who trying their best to be like Christ in their own special way with the gifts that God has given them.

May God Bless

Shining Stars

You know what is wrong with the world – nothing. You know what is wrong with the people in the world – everything. God created this world we live in so it is perfect. However, what man does to the pure creation of God is a whole different subject – one we are not going to talk about today.

Google tells me that the word “Millennials” means the generation that was born from the early 1980’s to around 2000. The generation after 2000 is referred to as Generation Z or Gen Z. Now that you are up to date on who I am talking about let’s move forward.

Gen Z is getting a bad rap. So are Gen X and the Millennials. Probably every generation that is up and coming gets hit pretty hard by the generation that has gone before them.

I’m a Baby Boomer. According to an article on CareerPlanner.com we are spoiled. We are the generation that spends every penny we make and have mastered the art of consumerism. I agree with most of that for myself. I do not think all Baby Boomers are that way, so making general assumptions about a group of people does not set well with me. 

So why am I talking about all this? Recently I attended an Awards Program at a Middle School (Jr. High for us old people), what I saw inspired me. A stage full of shinning stars. Children in 6th, 7th and 8th grades (Gen Z) that had their lives ahead of them and they were full of excitement, high hopes and energy. At one point in the program there were about 20 kids on stage holding their awards. As looked at them I saw the future of America.

This is what I saw. Boys and girls from all different walks of life and better yet, all different nationalities. I saw White, Black, Brown, Asian, and Hispanic, children that were of mixed races all smiling and beaming with hope and proud of their accomplishments. There was a blending of cultures that looked promising. Each child was a shining star.

When I think of a star, I think of a shining light, brightness, and a twinkling, almost a sparkling image. People we have got to start looking at the bright stars around us. Turn off the news that capitalizes on the negative in the world. Yes there will always be a dark side in life it has always been there and will always be there as God tells us.

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

Remember, these children are the future. We must encourage them, help them become good citizens. Lead them in the way of the Lord. Help them understand where they have come from and the wonderful future that waits them. 

It is our duty if we see a child on the wrong path to give them a helping hand. You may not see the results today or tomorrow, but with prayer and continued guidance we can help the ones that go astray.

I have seen the future dentists, doctors, and scientist and our upcoming world leaders and am impressed with their abilities and determination.

May God Bless

Don't Block the Blessings

Are you a giver? Do you love to do things for others? 

• Make some cookies and take them to someone, just because. 
• Send a beautiful card to a friend just to make their day. 
• Give that person you know is struggling with an issue a phone call so they know they are not alone. 
• Visiting one of the elderly that you know spends a lot of time alone. 

The list can go on and on but these are some of the things a giver does. They try to meet others needs before they are known.

One characteristic about these givers, they normally don’t like to have the same thing done to them. When someone offers to do something for them, the response is normally something like “oh no I’m fine, thanks”. I’m sure there are all these physiological issues why they are like that, but I’m not a physiologist so I don’t know the answers. 

I tend to be a giver and my reason is simple. I like to make people happy. I enjoy doing something nice for someone and God tells me to give. There is nothing hard or confusing about that reasoning.

Acts 20:35
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Giving in a right spirit is an example of our love for Christ. We are to be Christ-like, that is what being a Christian means. When you give to someone you are showing your soul and belief system. 

So if you are a giver, be of good cheer, you are doing God’s work. But here is the catch. It you are not allowing yourself to be a receiver, then, uh-oh, you might be “blocking the blessings”.

We need to learn to how to accept good deeds from others also. Because guess what, they are trying to do God’s work also. If you say no to them, then you are “blocking the blessings” that God is trying to send your way. The person that is trying to help you, or be kind to you is doing their job.

So this week, if someone does something for you, just say “Thanks, that made my day” and keep moving.

Happy Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Family, friends and material things are the usual items we hear. Thankful for our country and the freedoms that we have are not far behind on our list. These are all wonderful things to be thankful for, but let’s dig a little deeper.

Are you thankful for your “problems” and the “challenges” that are in your life? May I be bold enough to ask you to be appreciative of these items also? Having problems and challenges means you have options and choices. You have the ability to look at these issues with a variety of opinions and choices.

Here are some synonyms for “thankful”:

• Contented
• Grateful
• Indebted
• Overwhelmed
• Pleased
• Relieved
• Satisfied
• Beholden
• Gratified
• Much obliged 

I’ve never thought of being overwhelmed or indebted as thankful. Normally when I am overwhelmed it is because I have so many choices or because I have so much to do. When I put it that way I should be thankful. I love the words, beholden and much obliged. I guess if I am beholden to someone that means I am thankful to them for something they did for me.

Let’s go deeper and see what God has to say.

Romans 1:21
Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Have I become futile in my thoughts? Is my heart thinking foolish thoughts and being discontent? I hope not, but I am human and it happens sometimes.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.



This Thanksgiving I am going to make a special effort to be more thankful for everything, my family, friends and challenges.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Roaring Lion

James 1:12-15

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

I feel like I am constantly being tempted. When that happens I ask God “why are you doing this to me”, or “why are you letting this happen to me”? I suspect this is pretty normal for most of us, but when I am tempted, it feels like I am alone in this world. I know I’m not, but it sure feels that way.

These verses above, James 1:12-15 confirm that God is not responsible for my temptations. I am solely responsible. As always, the choice is ours to make. It is my sinful desires that tempt me and take me away from God.

Why am I tempted? Where do these desires come from? My understanding is they come from Satan. Satan is real and he knows my weaknesses. When I am weak mentally or physically, Satan is aware . . . then pounces.

The Bible says the devil goes about the earth like a roaring lion, 1 Peter 5:8. Like a lion in the wild, he roams, constantly moving and looking for weak pry. I am pry to Satan because I am a Christian. Satan isn’t interested in those that do not worship God; he already has them in his clutches.

It helps me to stop and think when I am being tempted. Consider the fact that something is off inside of me, just out of sorts. When I realize that and transfer that information to Satan stalking me, I know it is God that is missing. Not that my faith or beliefs have changed, I’m just weak at the moment. Maybe I hadn’t prayed yet that day, or maybe I am overwhelmed with something in life or just feeling blue.

Counting my blessings is a good place for me to start proactively fighting the temptation that I’m facing. Acknowledging that my God is bigger than any problem I have has a profound effect on me. It lifts my mood and gives me strength.

Share with me some of the ways you fight Satan off when temptation faces you.

Having a Bad Day?

Have you ever woken up and just thought “Oh no, I’m not ready to face the day?” Just rolling over seems to take more energy than you have available for the whole day.

Yesterday was a great day. Everything went well, life was good, you accomplished everything you needed to and all was right in your world. When you went to bed you expected the next day to go as smoothly.

What happened while you slept that rocked the world and threw your life into turmoil?

Climbing out of bed and shuffling to the bathroom you look in the mirror. Yesterday was a good hair day, your jeans fit well and felt pretty. Today, not so much.

So what happened? I have no idea, but it happens.

Some days we just don’t have the answers to the universe and its issues. However, we do know that our universe was created by God and everything that happens if His good and He is in control.

Psalm 18:31-32 (NKJV)

31 For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.

According to the Bible, God has armed me with strength and makes my way perfect.

So, now what?

We have a heart to heart with ourselves, put our big girl panties on and know that we are not in control. Brush off the weird feelings we are having and know that tomorrow is another day.

Take 15 minutes for yourself, pray and go for a quick walk. Get rid of those cobwebs and clear your head of those negative thoughts.

What are some of things you do when you wake up and have “one of those days”?

Tools of the trade.

What do you do for a living? Do you work outside the home? Maybe you work from home. Maybe you are a stay at home mom. There are tools that we use for our “trade” no matter what we do.

Right now I am a stay at home grandma. My tools that I use are my kitchen, my computer, my phone, my sewing machine and my heart.

If you are a teacher, you use computers, white boards, overheads, your voice and your education. A banker would use their computers, money, paperwork and other office items. A hairdresser would use scissors, a razor, a curling iron and such.

Our tools that we use everyday help us do our jobs, no matter what profession we are in. Yes, a stay at home mom is a profession.



 I am also a Christian. What are my tools that I use to serve God? In my case they are similar to the things I use every day.

• My sewing machine to make baby blankets for the hospital, and caps for cancer patients.
• My kitchen to make food for someone that is sick.
• My computer to send someone an encouraging message.
• My Bible to look up scripture for my writing and my blog.

It doesn’t matter what you do daily to earn a living or keep your home running smoothly. If you are a Christian, you can use your tools every day to encourage someone and share the word of God.

Other tools that we can use would be:

• The word of God
• Business cards with scripture on them
• Prayer before a meeting
• Inviting someone to services 

Everyday there are opportunities to share the word or God with someone, or the chance to let your light shine.

Go the extra mile today and do something for someone else and use the tools that God has given you.