I've always wanted to own my own bookstore/coffee shop, and this is what I want to call it. I actually hate cherries, except fresh Bing cherries. But honestly, a hot fudge sundae is not complete without a cherry. It's just that extra topping that makes it perfect. And that's what I want out of life...all the extras that God gives to make it "perfect" or at least a little closer to heavenly.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Encouragement


Lloyd, my husband, has really been struggling lately. He is stressed to the max and like most of us, he takes it out on the ones he loves. Me. And the boys. The problem is that I am not the quiet type... at all. I tend to say exactly what I think and feel about his issues and the way he's treating us. It doesn't exactly go over well with my already stressed out husband.
But God has been speaking to me lately. In fact last weekend, one of my friends prayed that I would shut my mouth. Well crap! Then God kept reminding me of the verse that talks about winning over your husband without words but in your behavior. Crap again! I hate when God reprimands me but I figured I better listen. So I looked it up.
I Peter 3:1-2 "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives."
I think I've just sort of passed this verse by before because my husband "believes the word." But when I read it this time, I was reminded that there are times when we may not believe ALL of the word and God's promises. I think that's where Lloyd is. He needs to be reminded of what good things God is doing. And he doesn't listen when I nag him. So last week before I left for Texas I wrote scriptures on the mirrors in our room and bathroom with a dry erase marker. Guess what? He looked them up and thanked me for them!
Tonight, my mouth ran away with me again, and I said some things I should not have said. God spoke loudly to me and my heart was convicted. I am supposed to Lloyd's helper and I am not helping! I apologized immediately and wrote a note of encouragement for him to read in the morning. And I wrote a new scripture on the mirror.
Here's the 2 verses I gave him tonight.
Psalm 22:8 "He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
Psalm 37:23-24 "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."
I pray that we can all be encouragers, not naggers, for our husbands and that our behavior of purity and reverant lives will remind our husbands of God's goodness and faithfulness.

8 comments:

Moms Gone Godly said...

Randi! I am so amazed that we both touched on encouraging our husbands. I stayed up late last night and set the new post to post today on the blog at 6am. This morning I read yours and what do you know!! That is so GOD!! It is such a confirmation to me what I am suppose to be praying over Josh when he is stressed and exactly what I am to pray when I cause the stress. This is soooo awesome how GOD worked today:) Thank you , thank you, thank you for listening to GOD! I am going to go sit in amazement now....

Oliver said...

I've also been discouraged w/ Bills what i call "old man attitude" it must be the Stress! Thank You for the encouraging words of wisdom!

Moms Gone Godly said...

Ok, I went to read over this post because I was not very kind with my words tonight to Josh. Now I am what I call re-encouraged! I may have to read it again before the night is over...his beer burps are getting on my nerves as I type this...

Amy Mac said...

Thank you for that post Randi! I,too, struggle with speaking before thinking to Ty as well. I love the idea of the scriptures on the mirror and praying to keep my mouth shut. This encouraged me today! Love you!

robbieniccum said...

hey Randi, just dropping in catching up on everyone's blogs..I feel drunk (just tired though!) and don't know the comments I have left on everyone's posts so I am going to have to go back tomorrow or sometime and read them : ) anyway...it is awesome how willing you and Christina are to lay down your pride and your own desires to serve your husbands...and I love that verse about We May Stumble but WILL NOT FALL! because of course we mess up often, but God never quits giving out chances for us to get it right someday...it might not be on this side of heaven but hey, we're trying! and being able to listen to the quick convictions and change your attitude...you're Rockin' Sista!!! I am always asking God, please let me be your face of Love and your hands and feet...well, let me tell you, I don't speak what is on my mind but my face looks like the Devil!himself....I hope I am quickly convicted when my face looks like that to change it to a smile...(Mike will have me commmited knowing I lost it for sure!) ok, sorry for taking up your comment page...I LOVE YOU!!!! oh yea, that picture is awesome! : )

Amy Mac said...

Hey Randi! Do you remember Stacey Dempsey from college (she married Billy Neal)? Check out her blog at

http://texasneals.blogspot.com/ She has a link to a website on encouraging your husband and is doing a 30 day challege where you only say uplifting things to your husband. I'm going to try it as well!

Moms Gone Godly said...

That's cool! I have a 30 Challenge link on mine too (Robbie told me about it along time ago). I also have one "Praying for Your Husbands" (Susan Webb told me about that one)." They are both awesome. The Proverbs 31 Woman and iMom links are great websites if you ever have time to check those out as well!

robbieniccum said...

seriously, I don't know if ya;ll have noticed but that 30 day challenge really changed my perspective on my husband! I didn't even have to do the whole 30 days...just making a list of things that I love, admire,respect, and adore about him that I keep in my Bible does WONDERS