Day 31-Recognize the Lies

Prayer:
Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life. Pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God. (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)

Day 30-Glorify God

Prayer:
Pray that your husband will serve God and others with pure motives. Pray that he will obey the Lord from his heart, and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3:23-24)

Day 29-Spiritual Gifts

We are approaching the final days of our 31 Day Challenge. Personally, it has been a challenge some days to stay positive and to be honest, I have failed a few days. However, I do know this has made me so much more aware of the way I interact with my hubby. I can't wait to share with you what has been happening in our family. It is such an exciting time. I'll wait to share until after our 31 day challenge. I think some of this has a direct correlation with my time in prayer for Chris.

Try to think about how this has changed your heart and/or your marriage so we can share with each other at the end of the challenge. I'm excited to see what God has done for you as well.

Prayer:
Pray that your husband will surrender his time and talents to the Lord. Pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifest in his career, at church, and in your home. (Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:4, 7)

Please Take Action

I write this post with a heavy heart. I listened to the Wednesday edition of Focus on the Family with tears in my eyes. There is a Bill, waiting for the Governor of Colorado to sign, that will obolish the difference between men and women.

This is only the beginning. Once this happens in a few states, it is only a matter of time before it happens in other states.

Here is the article from Citizenlink.org (Focus on the Family's legal branch of the ministry)

Colorado Legislation 'Normalizes All Varieties of Sexual Orientation'

Senate Bill 200, which is sitting on Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's desk, is a dangerous piece of legislation that Dr. James Dobson will highlight on his Wednesday radio broadcast.
Supporters claim the bill will prevent discrimination; in reality, the bill endangers religious freedom by opening the door for the state to punish any person or organization — including small and home-based businesses — that refuses, for religious or other moral reasons, to offer or sell goods or services to homosexuals, bisexuals, "transgendered" and transsexual individuals.

Tom Minnery, senior vice president of government and public policy at Focus on the Family Action, wrote about the legislation for Saturday's Denver Post:

Proposed anti-bias law would open a Pandora's box

A disturbing question has lurked in the background of the growing clamor from the left to end all discrimination, for all reasons, in all places.

The question is this: are separate restrooms for men and women the modern-day equivalent of separate drinking fountains for whites and blacks?

If Gov. Bill Ritter signs a bill now sitting on his desk, the answer for Coloradans will be, unfortunately, yes. The bill is Senate Bill 200, a hastily conceived and vastly overwritten piece of legislation designed to forcibly normalize all varieties of sexual orientation.

There are multiple problems with this legislation, but the problem of restrooms is the most breathtaking one. Until now, establishments open to the public have been allowed to restrict certain restrooms and locker rooms to one sex if it made sense to do so, as it almost always does. With SB 200, however, we no longer have two "sexes"; we enter a brave new world with a myriad of "sexual orientations" that must not be discriminated against, upon pain of the substantial civil and criminal penalties contained in the bill.

Woe to the first women's fitness facility or mall owner who objects to a man dressed as a woman who wants to enter previously forbidden territory. And what an opportunity for sexual predators to use this law as "cover" to enter intimate areas in search of a victim.

And what an opportunity for confusion. In the bill, "sexual orientation" is defined as "a person's orientation toward heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgender status or another person's perception thereof." This latter term includes cross-dressers, men who self-identify as women, women who self-identify as men, and people who are in the process of deciding.

Restrooms are not the only problem. The bill adds a prohibition against discrimination in "sexual orientation" to more than 23 separate provisions of Colorado law that already prohibit discrimination in various areas of public life. As a result, SB 200 threatens religious liberty. That's because Colorado's broadly defined "public accommodations" law includes not just hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and all the usual places you'd think of, but also every small business, even a home-based business, that offers "goods or services" to the public.

A refusal to do business with someone based on a sincerely held religious belief that homosexuality is wrong would violate the law. That threatens the religious liberties of every Christian, Jewish or Muslim business owner who operates a business on faith-based principles.

This is not a hypothetical threat. In Albuquerque, which has a similar law, a Christian husband and wife who own and operate their own photography studio were recently hauled before that state's human rights commission and fined more than $6,600 for politely refusing, on religious grounds, to photograph a lesbian "commitment ceremony." We've seen similar charges brought by homosexuals against a video reproduction business in Virginia, a medical clinic in California, an adoption service in Arizona and a church in New Jersey.

Colorado tops them all on the potential outrage meter, however, because in addition to civil fines and penalties, small-business owners can be prosecuted under the criminal laws of Colorado and spend up to one year in jail for trying to live according to their faith.

To add insult to injury, your tax dollars will be used to prosecute these people of faith, and the legislature is expecting 30 complaints and three legal cases per year. We believe the people of Colorado would disapprove of small-business owners being hauled away to jail for refusing to promote messages contrary to their religious and moral beliefs, simply because they operate a small photography or other business.

None of us wants to see people humiliated or embarrassed because of how they appear in public and no one should be turned away from hotels, restaurants and other truly "public accommodations." But this law intrudes on the freedoms of conscience of untold numbers of people of faith, and the consequences for Colorado will be severe.

This law could be fixed if Democrats in the legislature wanted to work with conservatives to protect women and children, as well as the religious and moral beliefs of small- business owners.

Gov. Ritter should veto this version of the bill and ask the legislature to come back next year with something that we can all be proud of.

TAKE ACTION If you live in Colorado, please call Gov. Bill Ritter today and ask him to veto SB 200. If you can't get through with the first phone number listen, try the second. If you live outside Colorado, please e-mail the governor and ask him to veto this dangerous legislation. On the e-mail form, select "Share Your Opinion" from the drop-down menu.
Governor’s office (303) 866-2471
Evan Dreyer – governor’s spokesperson (720) 350-8370

Sending an email or making a phone call will only take a few minutes of your time but it can have a great impact on our children's future!

Day 28- Being a Man of Prayer

Prayer:
Pray that your husband will be a man of prayer. Pray that he will seek and pursue God in purposeful quiet times. (1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 22:46; James 5:16)

Day 24, 25, 26, 27

Ok. I am at a crossroad right now. I can either make up some fake story about why I didn't post this weekend or I can be real with you. I really hate being fake so I am going to choose to be truthful. To make a long story short, it was a SUPER busy weekend and we were not getting along that well at all. I know, I know. It's not excuse because there are some of you out there who may come here to read the daily prayer and I let you down. I am very sorry!

I think the reason we were not getting along that well is because we are in the middle of making one of the biggest decisions of our life. It has been a really scary process and it has caused some tension between us. I wish I could tell you what the decision is right now, but just wait. I can't say just yet, but I can't wait until I can! I'm so excited.

I just have to say that this is very ironic. I don't write anything because I am not getting along with my husband. Wouldn't writing about praying for him help me when I am feeling negative? I guess that is something that I'm just going to have to learn. (I can be very stubborn.)

Here are the prayers for the last couple of days. Who says we can't pray for more than one thing at a time, right? Don't forget. If I let you down, which I'm going to try my best not to anymore, you can go to www.reviveourhearts.com and find the challenge.

Day 24
Pray that your husband will have a balanced life—that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. (Luke 2:52; Prov. 13:15)
Day 25
Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan’s attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)

Day 26
Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)

Day 27
Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body—the temple of the Holy Spirit—for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)

First Love

This morning I drove past a car that had a R.I.P. decal in the window. I knew the name of the person on the decal-Blaine King. He died almost a year ago. When it happened, I had sent out this email to a few friends of mine. I thought I would repost this for others to read. It is always a good reminder for me. (It is a bit long, but well worth the read.)

Let me back up just a bit...A few weeks ago a old friend of mine died in a motorcycle accident. Actually, he was my first boyfriend. We had dated for about a year and half. Anyway, I'm about 90% sure that he wasn't saved. I know when we dated neither one of us was saved and I don't believe that he ever made the decision to accept Christ. Actually, I don't know if anyone had ever told him about Jesus. I hadn't been in contact with him for quite some time. Since Chris and I had started dated I talked to him just a few times. He called once and I was told him that I was getting married in a few months. It took him by surprise. He was a few years older then me and I don't think that he believed I could be getting married already. He was still young, partying and having fun. I told him that I would be praying for him and he pretty much blew me off. That was the last time that I had spoken to him.

A year and a half later I saw him again, but it was at the funeral home. As soon as I
found out about the accident I couldn't help but think that he is probably going to spend his eternity separated from the love of God. He was only 24 when he passed away. He probably thought that he had his whole life ahead of him to "settle down" and get right. His life was cut so short. He always thought he would have tomorrow. Unfortunately, he didn't make it to tomorrow and was never saved. I'm sorry I've said that a few times, but it is a very sobering to realize that you went to a funeral of someone who never knew the awesome love the God wants to give us all.

Fast forward to this week...I have been listening to a two day series from Nancy Leigh DeMoss on her radio program, Revive our Hearts. The title of the series is "Returning to Our First Love". She was actually speaking to a room of women who work in vocational ministry. The verses that she used in her message came from Jeremiah 2 and 3. In chapter one, God comes to Jeremiah and tells him that he will be a prophet. God wants to use him to proclaim his word to Jerusalem. The very first words that he gives to Jeremiah was the main subject of the message. Jeremiah 2:"'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown." God comes to the people and says I remember how much you loved me in the beginning. I remember the devotion of your youth. I remember the love you had. It was like the love of a new bride.

Wow. How convicting was that message. I reflect back to the beginning when I first experienced the changing power of Christ. I remember that I couldn't help but tell other people about Him. I couldn't help but want to spend time with Him. I LOVED to learn and to study. But somehow my heart became numb. I took for granted the changing power of Jesus. Jeremiah 2: 11 Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. 12 Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the Lord. 13 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." God is saying that we have forsaken him and chasten after other gods. That god might be busyness, rituals, personal earthly relationships, tv/computer, ministry or many other things. We exchange the Glory that we need to give God for things in this world that don't matter. I have made my own cisterns which cannot hold water.

I'm very thankful that even though God speaks to Israel, and myself, as a jilted lover he still speaks as a lover. He goes on to say in the chapter "12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north: "'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the Lord, 'I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt-- you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,'" declares the Lord. 14 "Return, faithless people," declares the Lord,"...22 "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." How awesome is He! All I have to do is acknowledge that I have shyed away from my first love and he can and will cure my backsliding.

I guess that is why I can't get these thoughts from my mind. I need to acknowledge to God and to others that I have let my relationship with God get cold. I forgot about the way it was in the beginning. As Nancy said, "I have let the pace of ministry outrace the intimacy I have with Jesus." I think I was to concerned with wanting to minister to others and do the "right" things that I let the intimacy of my relationship with Jesus dwindle. Ironically, I can't minister to others if I don't have anything to give away! My first love should be with Jesus and then I can concentrate on others. Trying it backwards just doesn't work.

There is even more good news in Jeremiah chapter 4. God says, "1 "If you will return, O Israel, return to me," declares the Lord. "If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, 2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the Lord lives,' then the nations will be blessed by him and in him they will glory." Only when I take off the wig and quit acting and get real with it bring glory to God. He knows the truth. He knows what is in the depths of my heart. The great thing is that turning back to him and my first love will bring others to Him.

As I try to think of a way to wrap this up I changed the title of my subject line. Then an ironic thought came to me. In the beginning of this email I told you of a story of my first boyfriend. Please don't hear me wrong when I say this- I love Chris more then anyone I have ever known. He is a great husband and I am so thankful to be married to such an awesome, loving, godly man. Blaine (that was is his name) was my first puppy love. I can't compare that love with the love I have with Chris because I didn't understand love then. I thought I understood and I guess for what it was it was my first "love". It brings a tear to my eye to know how I let my first earthly love down. I never really got the chance to witness to him. I never told him about Jesus. I don't want to make that same mistake again. I don't want to let God down. I don't want to mess up that first love relationship with Him again.

Thankfully He gives the opportunity for us to change. To his glory, I can only pray that there will be less people in my life that I have to go to the funeral and regret that I didn't get a chance (or make the chance) to talk to them about Jesus. Thanks of listening to this. Please excuse any grammatical errors. I don't want to go back and proofread. I want to leave this as is because it came from my heart.

I'm not sure where you find yourself right now in your walk with the Lord. Maybe you have stumbled across this blog by chance and you don't even know Him. Can I invite you to get to know Him? Can I invite you to rekindle the first love with God again if you do? (If you have any questions you can email me. I have a link to my email address on the side bar.)

I'm going to blunt right now-Hell is real. People are going there. Maybe even people you personally know. They are forever separated from God. Please share the love of Jesus with them. We don't know how many days we will have on this earth.