S.W.A.G.: She Exudes Joy

It's no secret, a thankful person is a joyful person.

A wise woman will not dwell on what she has or has not; what her husband does or does not. She knows focusing on her lack of material things, her husbands slothfulness or busyness will only cultivate feelings of regret, bitterness and discontent.

She can not afford such feelings to take root. Doing so will be at the expense of her own joy.

Her thankless attitude will seep into all corners of her heart, spill out of her mouth and land on her husband and children. She literally turns into a sour faced, pitiful woman whom no one wants to be around.

Wouldn't it be easier to remain thankful? I believe so!

Throughout God's Word we read of thankfulness, praise and joy as going hand in hand, often seen in context with each other.

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs...

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name."

~Psalm 100:1-2,4~

A grace filled woman is first of all thankful to God for the husband He has provided. She is then verbally thankful to her husband for things he does. She deliberately looks for ways to praise her husband, refusing to let any negative word come out of her mouth.

She does not base her joy solely on her husbands performance. Rather she chooses to see the good in all circumstances.

She takes on a gracious attitude like that of Paul's, who wrote,

"I have learned to be content

whatever the circumstances."

~Philippians 4:10~

Paul learned to be content. Because he was content, he was able to sing praises chained in prison. He knew through the God he served all things are possible; his hope undeterred.

"the joy of the Lord is my strength."

~Nehemiah 8:10~

Contentment is a learned behavior.

It is expressed through gratitude. 

It produces joy.

A wise woman extends grace when she chooses to

"[forget] what is behind and [strain]

toward what is ahead,

[pressing] on toward the goal to win

the prize for which God has called

[her] heavenward in Christ Jesus."

~Philippians 3:13~

She then exudes joy as she maintains an eternal focus rather than an earthly focus.

 A content joyful woman does not get wrapped up in the small things like her imperfect house, her simple wardrobe, or the generic labels on her groceries.

Rather, she continually looks for anything good. 

She consistently expresses gratitude.

She reaps joy which cannot be contained.

Today, make your attitude one of gratitude.

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SWAG
She Exudes Love
She Exudes Peace
She Exudes Patience
She Exudes Kindness
She Exudes Goodness
She Exudes Faithfulness

She Exudes Gentleness
She Exudes Self-Control

Monster Cookies Recipe

Monster Cookies     YIELD:18-20 dozen   (Print Recipe Here)

1 dozen eggs

1 lb butter, melted

4 cups brown sugar

4 cups white sugar

1 TBSP vanilla extract

8 tsp soda

3 lb peanut butter

18 cups oatmeal

1 1/3 cups flour

1 lb M&Ms**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Whisk eggs in very large bowl. 

Carefully add melted butter, making sure it's not too hot. Add sugars, vanilla, soda, and peanut butter. Mix until smooth.

Add oatmeal and flour. Mix well. 

Add M&Ms**. Mix well.

Drop by rounded TBSPs onto lightly greased cookie sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes. Remove when only slightly browned. Easy to over bake.

Let set 2-3 min before removing from pan.

Cool and store in air-tight containers.

**Can use mini M&Ms, chocolate chips, or a mixture of both.

YIELD: 19-20 dozen (216-240 cookies)

These are one of my family's favorite cookies. It's a huge batch!

Here are a few ways I have stored these. 

• Bake them all. Divide into containers holding 2-3 dozen each. Freeze and pull out as we need them.
• or divide the dough into 4 equal parts, bake 1 part, freeze 3 parts in containers. Thaw when ready to use. Bake as directed.
• or shape dough into 1 TBSP cookie balls, place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper & freeze. After they are frozen, remove and store in air tight containers. Keep frozen up to 6 months.  Thaw and bake as directed.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good"  ~Psalm 38:4~

Enjoy!!

S.W.A.G.: She Exudes Love

Did you know your heart produces enough energy in one day to drive a truck 20 miles? In an average lifetime that's the equivalent of to the moon and back! I find that pretty awesome, considering Titus 2:4 says:

"women [are] to love their husbands"

Producing enough energy to love my husband to the moon and back means it'll be a lifelong journey.

A lifelong commitment.

A rocky one, for sure. One filled with all kinds of asteroids, but a committed one, nevertheless.

LOVE:

an intense feeling of deep affection

There are many ways love can be defined. However, the greatest possible love is to put another's needs before our own.

A "Submissive Wife Adorned with Grace" is a picture of love.

Just as Jesus laid down His life and gave himself up for each one of us, so should a wife submit to the position the Lord has entrusted to her and consistently esteem her husband's needs as greater than her own.

When we esteem another, we lift them up. We help them. We encourage them.

A wise woman genuinely seeks to bless her husband as much as possible in every situation. She is his "help meet", his "helper suitable", his "ezer kenegdo". If you're not sure what that means you can find it here.

In day to day life it looks like this:

• He's trimming the bushes- she helps clean up the branches.
• He's hungry- she plans and prepares healthy meals.
• He needs to talk- she listens attentively.
• He is discouraged- she encourages.
• He needs sex- she engages willingly.

She conducts herself lovingly. She wisely assesses each situation and purposely chooses to act and speak in a way that he will not feel belittled or frustrated. In all relationships, you can see the one doing the blessing is in turn esteemed greater than the one receiving the blessing. 

Do you bless your husband?

A wise woman also knows her husbands view of love & marriage is very different than her own. This does not make him wrong, stupid or heartless. Rather she operates with gracious insight, seeking to know and anticitpate his needs as much as he himself does. Then accommodating those needs to the best of her ability.

Doing so does not mean she is a doormat. It simply means she is a wise, insightful woman, who has a pure genuine love for the man God has blessed her with. 

She is one who focuses on other's rather than herself, knowing that dwelling on her own wants and feelings will only lead to dissatisfaction and dissension.

A wife, submissive to her God ordained position, cannot afford the time nor the energy it takes to maintain an unloving attitude.

Because of the way she is loved by Jesus, she can graciously extend love to her husband.

I didn't deserve to be loved enough to be saved from my sins, but Jesus died for me anyway. Am I willing to die to my "self", and appreciative of His grace, in turn graciously extend love to my husband?

Again, do I bless my husband?

Do I love my husband the way he needs to be loved or the way I think he deserves to be loved? 

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Take a virtual coffee break for your homemaker's heart! Visit the top right side bar and join today!

You might also like other characteristics of SWAG.....
She Exudes Joy
She Exudes Peace
She Exudes Patience
She Exudes Kindness
She Exudes Goodness
She Exudes Faithfulness
She Exudes Gentleness
She Exudes Self-Control
Linking up with these wonderful blogs!

Holley Gerth
Woman to Woman, Messy Marriage

Marble Squares

This recipe is super fast & super yummy! These are a taste from my childhood and now they have become a Sunday afternoon favorite for my family. Enjoy!

Marble Squares           Print Recipe Here

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp almond flavor
2 eggs

Beat till fluffy.

Add:
2 cups plus 4 tbsp flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Mix well. Spread into lightly greased large 16x10x1" bar pan.

Sprinkle 1-2 cups chocolate chips on top.

Bake 4 minutes, just to melt chocolate chips. Run table knife through bars in criss-crossing design to marbleize dough. 

Return to oven. Bake 12-14 minutes or till slightly browned.

Do not over bake. Will rise then fall as they cool.

Oh my goodness! I can't stand all that gooey chocolatey-ness!!

One more, just in case you needed an extra push to try these! Just look at that mound of warm chocolate! 

OK, I'm off to make some myself!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good" 

~Psalms 38:4~

Position Over Performance

This whole submission and respect thing started making sense to me when I realized three things:

1. My husband has a POSITION.

2. My husband has a PERFORMANCE.

3. I must never confuse the order of the two.

My husband's God ordained position is this:

"The husband is the head of the wife

as Christ is the head of the church"

~Ephesians 5:23~

My husband is my leader, put there by God. He is also leader of the family, leader of the home, spiritual leader...in all things leader. Leader. LEADER.

His performance should look like this:

"Husbands, love your wives,

just as Christ loved the church and

gave himself up for her"

~Ephesians 5:25

"Husbands, love your wives

and do not be harsh with them."

~Colossians 3:19~

But what if it doesn't?

Then, I too, have a position and a performance.

My God ordained position is this:

"Now as the church submits to Christ,

so also wives should submit to their husbands

in everything."

~Ephesians 5:24~

My performance should look like this:

"the wife must respect her husband"

~Ephesians 5:33

"love their husbands and children,

to be self controlled...pure...

busy at home...kind...

subject to their husbands..."

~Titus 2:4-5~

But what if it doesn't?

Then I sin.

A wife who bases her performance solely on her husband's performance is a foolish wife indeed. 

A wise wife knows that her strength is not of herself but in the God Who loves her. >>tweet this<<

"for it is God who works in you

to will and to act according to His good purpose."

~Philippians 2:13~

"Not by might nor by power,

but by My Spirit,"

~Zechariah 4:6~

"the Lord, 

is my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation."

~Isaiah 12:2~

A God fearing wife will humble herself before the Lord and take on the role of her position without complaining, just as Christ took on the cross for the church. 

She is self-controlled, not functioning solely on how her husband makes her feel or what she thinks of his ways. 

She is gentle and kind in her response to him. 

She is patient when he is rude. 

She has peace in looking to an eternal perspective. 

Most importantly, she is strengthened by the grace that has been so freely showered upon her. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" ~2Timothy 2:1~

If you, too, want to be a wife who sees her husband's God ordained position in greater importance than his sinful, fleshly, less-than-perfect performance, will you pray with me?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Father, thank you for sending Your Son to  be the perfect example of humility. I know Your design for marriage replicates that of Christ and the Church. Help me now to do my part. Help me respect and honor my husband based on the position You have given him, rather than how he performs in that position.

May my perception of my own position not be one of disdain as the world sees it and as the enemy would have it, but one of confident trust in You, extending grace to him as You have done for me.

Father, through my humble submission to You let my performance bring honor and glory to You, my husband, my family, and my position as wife.

In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As you'll remember, a few weeks back I posted about a S.W.A.G. In the posts to come, I'll be sharing my heart on the attitudes a godly wife should have. (Note to self: I said "should". I have to write about this stuff because I have to learn it the most!)

You can find out what a S.W.A.G. is here.

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Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

This is a fast go-to favorite for my family. They are soft when not over baked, stay soft, and usually have no problem disappearing at our house! Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies     Print Recipe Here

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp almond flavor

2 eggs

1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding**

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 pkg (12oz.) or 2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter, sugar, almond flavor, and eggs.

Add dry vanilla pudding mix, flour and baking soda. Mix well.

Stir in chocolate chips. 

Drop by TBSP on lightly greased cookie sheets. 

Bake 9-11 min or until bottoms are slightly browned.

Remove. Let rest 2-3 minutes before removing from pan.

Yield: 4-5 dozen

**Try instant chocolate pudding mix for variety.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good" 

~Psalms 38:4~

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 5

Today is the last day of the "Protecting Your Husbands Heart" series. I hope you have been encouraged!

So. An "ezer kenegdo"....a help meet....helper suitable....Is it for the weak? Nope! 

Neither does living out this beautiful truth make us look weak. It takes a lot of courage and strength to be the protective counterpart of our husbands. (flex muscles here! *wink*)

5. Build your home.

"A wise woman builds her house,

but with her hands the foolish one tears hers down."

~Proverbs 14:1~

"How is a house built?" you ask. As always, God's word explains itself.

"By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding it is established."

~Proverbs 24:3~

A wife has the power and strength to protect her husbands heart through the way she builds and establishes her home. Let's go to Proverbs 14:2-11 for some practical applications.

"[She] whose walk is upright fears the Lord." (v.2) A wise woman is righteous, in right standing with the Lord.

"the lips of the wise protect them." (v.3) She uses words with kindness and discretion to protect her marriage from heartache and bitterness.

"from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest" (v.4) I'm not suggesting a wife literally 'work like an ox'. (smile) However, "she sets about her work vigorously, her arms are strong for her tasks". Proverbs 31:17 She is physically able to accomplish her duties.

"A truthful witness does not deceive." (v.5) She speaks truthfully, and straightforwardly not trying to manipulate her husband with well planted words or questions.

"Knowledge comes easily to the discerning" (v.6) If she lacks discernment, wisdom, she need only ask for it. "If any of you lacks wisdom....ASK GOD, who gives generously". James 1:5

"wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways." (v.8) Simply, she thinks. She has a plan. She uses her time and resources wisely. She maintains order, enforces good values, creating peace in her home. "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27

"goodwill is found among the upright." (v.9) She genuinely tries her best to "do him good and not evil all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:12 

"Who is wise and understanding among you?

Let him show it by his good life,

by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom."

~James 3:13~

A husbands heart can safely trust in his wife when he knows she is capable and efficient in accomplishing her tasks, guiding the affairs of her household with discretion. He can know his children, his little princes and princesses, are well taken care of. He can know his castle is a safe haven of peace and love.

Dear wife, be proactive about making your home a sanctuary for your husband. Always be maintaining and improving upon your family and your home.

"The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish."

~Proverbs 14:11~

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I'd love to have you come back for a virtual coffee break for your homemaker's heart!

Go to the top right side bar and join today!

~~~~~~~~~~~

You might also like...

I'm a WHAT?

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 1

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 2

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 3

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 4

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 4

If you are just now joining this mini series, I'm so glad you've found your way here! We are exploring what God would have a wife do to be her husbands "ezer kenegdo".

If that term is unfamiliar, you may want to take the time to understand this beautiful truth. You can find it here. I trust you will be encouraged reading what God meant when He called the woman a "help meet" or "helper suitable".

Today is probably the most challenging for me:

4. Forgive your husband.

The surest way to drive a wedge into your marriage, is to hold grudges. 

"Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving one another,

just as Christ forgave you."

~Ephesians 4:32~

"Bear with each other and 

forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

~Colossians 3:13~

How does the Lord forgive us? Wholly and completely.

In fact, He removes them "as far as the east is from the west." ~Psalm 103:12~

He even says He "will remember their sins no more." ~Hebrew 8:12~

It is crucial to willingly and continuously practice forgiveness. Holding on to things your husband has done or said will do 4 things:

1.cultivate bitterness ~Hebrews 12:15~
2. exasperate him ~Proverbs 12:25~
3. hinder your prayers ~1 Peter 3:7~
4. shows you do not love Jesus ~John 14:24~ 

Dear wife, forgive early. Forgive often. Forgive completely. The grace Christ has extended to you, and extends to you daily...through that, won't you extend the same to your husband?

"He who covers over an offense promotes love,

but whoever repeats the matter

separates close friends."

~Proverbs 17:9~

(read more here)

A husbands heart cannot safely trust in his wife if she is continually reminding him of his mistakes, ways he hurts her, or things he has said. He will never be able to be completely at ease with her, afraid whatever he does will be used against him later. The "silent treatment", the "guilt trip", and the "you hurt me so much" look on our faces, all come into play here.

"An anxious heart weighs a man down,

but a kind word cheers him up."

~Proverbs 12:25~

Just as Jesus extended grace to us on the cross, so should we extend grace to our husbands. 

Today start removing the cloud of anxiousness hovering over your home by forgiving him, then vowing to never use that wrong against him again. 

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I'd love to have you come back for a virtual coffee break for your homemaker's heart!

Go to the top right side bar and join today!

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Overlooking Insults
I'm a WHAT?

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 1

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 2

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 3
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 5


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Featured at.... God's Growing Garden

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 3

Welcome to Day 3 of Protecting Your Husbands Heart series! Do you remember what an "ezer kenegdo" is? 

I wonder what your thoughts and feelings were reading those truths? I'd so love to chat with you over steaming mugs of coffee!

I hope you are being encouraged by this little adventure. Heart hugs to you! 

3. Evaluate your friendships.

The surest way to destroy trust in any relationship is relaying to others what was said or done in confidence.

Keep what your husband tells you to yourself within the confines of your relationship. Neither discuss your private intimate life with your circle of friends.

Your husband needs to have confidence that its OK to be human around his wife. His heart cannot safely trust in her if he is worried she will demean or degrade his name.

Today evaluate your friendships. Are they upbuilding?

If your dialog with your friends includes talking about what a dunce your husband, or their husband is, it's time to find new friends.

"A gossip betrays a confidence;

so avoid a [wo]man who talks too much."

~Proverbs 13:20~

Dear wife, you may think you won't fall into the trap of degrading or gossiping about your husband. But, far too often we grow to become like the people we hang out with. Let's grow wisely. Not bitterly.

"He who walks with wise grows wise."

~Proverbs 20:19~

Neither should a wife cultivate relationships with other men. However innocent it may be, a wise woman leaves no room for her husbands heart to wonder, be concerned or doubtful.

Neither does an "ezer kenegdo" display her body to others by dressing immodestly. But rather, she is clothed with decency and propriety. (1 Timothy 2:9) Her body is sacred. A gift for her husbands eyes only. In keeping it as such, he finds her trustworthy and all the more beautiful. 

Today, pray over your friendships, asking God to reveal anything not glorifying to Him. Then, wisely start removing any unhealthy influences, be it the circle of friends whom you talk to regularly, or on social media.

Protect your husbands heart by helping him build a confidence that you value your commitment to him more than any other earthly friendship.

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Be inspired!

Take a virtual coffee break 
for your heart!

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You might also like:
I'm a WHAT?

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 1

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 2
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 4

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 5

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Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 2

Are you protecting your husbands heart? Are you being his "ezer kenegdo"? Find out what that means here.

Thank you for joining Day 2 of this weeks series, going over practical ways of being a wife whose husband's heart can safely trust in.

2. Speak kind words.

"She speaks with wisdom, 
and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

~Proverbs 31:26~

In the face of adversity, words fly. 

Words hurt. Words destroy.

Yet, words can build. Words can encourage. Words can heal. 

So listen before thinking. Think before speaking. Choose your words carefully.

Not everything that comes to mind needs to come sailing out of your mouth. Speak gently, kindly and lovingly. 

It is a wise woman who lets her words be only understanding, encouraging and deferring.

A wise woman patiently listens.

She speaks words that encourage when her husband is discouraged.

She praises his abilities.

She expresses thanks for his efforts in his leadership, provisions and parenting, no matter how blundering his efforts may be. She compliments on the good he does and extends grace to the rest.

I can't say it any better than the word of God.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath" ~Proverbs 15:1~

"He who holds his tongue is wise." ~Proverbs 10:19~

"Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, 

but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs." ~Ephesians 4:29~

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,"

~1 Thessalonians 5:11~

Encourage, encourage, encourage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take a virtual coffee break for 

your homemaker's heart! 

Visit the top right side bar and join today!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You might also like....

I'm a WHAT?

Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 1
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 3
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 4
Protecting Your Husbands Heart: Part 5