MARYLAND:
We had an uneventful drive to Texas and the Lord protected us from a very close call when we were almost sandwiched between an SUV and an 18-wheeler! Thank you Care Group for praying specifically for our safety! Thank you for your purposeful care for us as we were preparing to leave. Your visiting our home the night before, bringing financial blessings, picking Jer up at 4:15 am so we could get on the road quicker in the afternoon, loaning us your car topper, friends tracking our trip and calling us along the way, calling us during Care Group meeting, etc. etc. We are so blessed by your care and we feel the Lord’s care through you all! We love you!!
TEXAS:
We’ve had a wonderful time visting our family and friends so far here in Texas. Our first stop was in Texarkana visiting JeJe and meeting our soon to be new family members, Paw and Uncle Thomas. The Lord has blessed JeJe with a man to love and lead her and a new son to love her, as well. We are so thankful to Him for His provision of Kirby and Thomas. C.J. went right to Paw and it was a true joy to see Justin curled up on the couch next to him. Thomas was a big hit…he entertained the kids, played hide-n-go seek, gave multiple piggy back rides, and always had a lapful.
The kids also enjoyed playing with their cousins, Kellie, Annie and Tom-Tom. They came Friday night and stayed with us at JeJe’s until Sunday. Papa Wayne came Friday night and then on Sunday again and stayed all day going to church with us in the morning and evening. Nana and Pop came on Saturday and spent the day and Uncle John came on Sunday for church and to get Kellie, Annie and Tom-Tom. The weather was rainy and freezing so we were confined to the indoors, but JeJe’s house survived, I think!
Next, we headed to Nana and Pop’s and stayed for 3 days, 2 nights. The kids again enjoyed time with their cousins, did some school, watched some Olympics, ate some yummy confetti cake that a sweet neighbor had brought over for our visit, played endlessly with Nana’s random assortment of toys…they seem to never get bored at Nana’s! Before we left Papa Wayne came to visit and had some good wrestling time with the kiddos. He told us that he would be going to Minnesota soon, so we don’t know when we’ll see him again. BUT, we were so glad that he was in Texas when we were this time…we weren’t expecting to see him, so it was an added blessing on our trip!
Next we were onto JuJu’s to visit with dear friends Tamra, Kathryn and Julie. The kids enjoyed time OUTSIDE, finally, riding all kinds of ride-on toys. We had a special time of fellowship and yummy food. After the kids were in bed Julie and I enjoyed the Olympics and some very meaningful conversation concerning Trusting God in our God-given responsibilities (instead our own ability to do everything “right”! It was such an encouragement to me as we considered together what this looks like in daily life.
During this time Jer was out with his old friends from Middle school. They had a meaningful time of fellowship as well.
Next we were on our way to the Knapp’s for lunch and fellowship. We were so glad to see their WHOLE family reunited and together (for over a year now!) God is truly faithful and we praise Him for the work He’s doing in them. We had a wonderful time with them.
Now we are spending time with Papa Dean and Granny Sue. We are enjoying pizza, Papa Dean cooked his famous breakfast burritos and Granny Sue is making us her yummy Sausage soup for lunch. They are enjoying getting to know their new grandbaby and Papa’s getting his fill of wet willies from the kids! The kids watched “Swiss Family Robinson” with Papa this morning and playing with all the cars on the car rug. C.J. is enjoying getting into everything, eating our Perfect Food capsules, climbing in and out of the rocking chair, touching Taz, their miniature doberman pinscher, etc.
Well, that’s where we are right now…hope that’s not too much detail, but I am also using this as a journal to remember our trip.
Love you all,
Mindy
Tonight when Jer was putting Lela to bed she said, “Daddy, since you’re keeping my heart, what color is it?” :o) I just wanted to share this so that she could remember it someday when she’s older. :o)
Texas Mindy
Ways I can Be a Helper to my husband:
1. Ask him how I can be a helper to him?
2. I spent some time asking him the following questions and drawing him out
a. Does he like my hair long or short?
b. If it’s long does he mind that it’s up most of the time?
c. When I start going gray would he want me to color my hair?
d. Does he prefer that I wear make-up? (in what contexts?)
e. Would he prefer me to wear jeans or dresses? if dresses, what kind?
f. Would he like me to greet him when he comes home?
h. What type of communication best shows him honor?
1. written cards
2. verbal
3. outward affection
4. initiating
5. responsive to his advances
6. obeying him cheerfully
3. I’ve been sending notes of encouragement in his lunch almost everyday
4. I am actively identifying my selfish thoughts and telling myself the truth about this…thoughts that lead me to bitterness and pity party. God’s Word renews my mind concerning my role as helpmeet…nothing else I do in life is more important than this role…this is the single most important relationship God is using to bring Himself glory in my life. That is sobering!
God’s perfect will for my life is that I be a help meet to my husband.
I do have a choice in how good my marriage will be.
“For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” (1 Corinthians 11:8-9
1. Virtue (In the ESV virtue is translated EXCELLENCE)
Virtue (Greek αρετη; Latin virtus) is the habitual, well-established, readiness or disposition of man’s powers directing them to some goodness of act. (1) Virtue is moral excellence of a man or a woman. The word αρετη is derived from the Greek arete (αρετη). As applied to humans, a virtue is a good character trait.
2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and EXCELLENCE.”
2. Graciousness
1. Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy.
2. Characterized by tact and propriety: responded to the insult with gracious humor.
3. Of a merciful or compassionate nature.
1 Peter 2:19 “For this is a GRACIOUS thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.” This is in the context of servants submitting to unjust masters. Peter says that it’s no good to suffer for our sinful responses but that it’s a gracious thing to suffer for submitting even to an unjust authority. What Hope that brings in living among sinners such as ourselves.
3. Wisdom
The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.
James 1:2-5 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks WISDOM, let him ask of God who give generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Proverbs 14:16 “One who is WISE is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.”
4. Prudence
1. The state, quality, or fact of being prudent.
2. Careful management; economy.
Synonyms: prudence, discretion, foresight, forethought, circumspection
These nouns refer to the exercise of good judgment, common sense, and even caution, especially in the conduct of practical matters. Prudence is the most comprehensive: “She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older” Jane Austen.
Discretion suggests wise self-restraint, as in resisting a rash impulse: “The better part of valor is discretion” Shakespeare.
Foresight implies the ability to foresee and make provision for what may happen: She had the foresight to make backups of her computer files.
Forethought suggests advance consideration of future eventualities: The empty refrigerator indicated a lack of forethought.
Circumspection implies discretion, as out of concern for moral or social repercussions: “The necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection” Samuel Adams.
Proverbs 10:14 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is PRUDENT.”
Proverbs 19:14 “House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a PRUDENT wife is from the Lord.” (Note: Only the Lord can produce a prudent wife).
Proverbs 14:15 “The simple believes everything, the the PRUDENT gives thought to his steps.”
5. Goodness
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
Proverbs 31:12 “She does him GOOD and not harm, all the days of her life.
Galatians 6:7-9 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows , that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing GOOD, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
A Good Help Meet has a Passion to be of Service
The words help meet bring up images in my mind of a woman who serves others. A good help meet will have a passion to be of service. Her first calling is to be of service to her husband, then her children, and when time affords, her passion of service will spill over to serving others.
A Quote from the Chapter that really convicted me: On page 23 she explains that our submission to our husbands is God’s design and divine calling for us. Jesus willingly submitted to the Father and the Holy Spirit became a helper to the Son. “There is no loss of dignity in subordination when it serves a higher purpose. God made you to be a help meet to your husband so you can bolster him, making him more productive and efficient at whatever he chooses to do. You are not on the board of directors with an equal vote. You have no authority to set the agenda. But if he can trust you, he will make you his closest advisor, his confidante, his press secretary, his head of state, his vice-president, his ambassador, his public relations expert, maybe even his speech writer-all at his discretion.” OH HOW I WANT TO BE THIS KIND OF HELPER!! In Ephesians 5 Paul explains how the marriage relationship is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His church. The church is FOR glorifying and magnifying Christ. I pray that my purpose would be to magnify my husband and make him a success…for God’s glory alone!