Hot Cocoa on a Winter Night

Hot Cocoa on a Winter Night

When I think of comfort and intimacy I think of sitting in from of a fire on a cold winter night, with a mug of hot cocoa, don’t forget the marshmallows.  Cuddled under a blanket with someone you are intimate with.

There is so much to be said about intimacy in marriage.  I had no idea.

How do we develop intimacy in our marriage?  

True love is built on action, choices, and commitment!

Most marriages start off wonderful after a few years you see cracks and if not repaired can break a marriage apart.

However, there are some of us that from the start our marriage is flawed and cracked with band aids all over it.  When your counselor says there is not much hope you know somethings wrong.

The first 7 years or so of our marriage was struggle after struggle.  My husband and I both had baggage that was brought into the marriage. 

I remember arguing, distrust, disrespect and accusations flying all over the place.  And we are “Christians.”

Yes, counseling helps but there comes a point you have to put into action what you have learned.

It does not happen overnight.  I have made the conscious decision to commit to my marriage and never use the “D” word.

There seemed to be no hope for intimacy in our relationship.

Then we decided to work on ourselves.  To focus on what we needed to change as individuals.  Starting with giving ourselves completely to God.  We surrendered our hearts and learned boundaries.

We started to take small steps and allow God to heal us.  Soon we realized there are killers and healers of intimacy.

We have been married 12 years and we are now learning what true intimacy looks like! 

Announce it and declare over your marriage that the killers of intimacy will now be healed!!!!

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.  Romans 14:12

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is a progress; working together is success.

  ~ Henry Ford

Killers                      Healers                              

Anger                                                           Comfort

Lust/Porn                                                     Sexual Purity

Un forgiveness                                             Forgive

Pride                                                             Humility

Selfishness                                                   Sacrifice

Bitterness                                                     Kindness

Critical                                                         Praise-worthy                                  

Workaholic                                                  Quality Time                                      

Argumentative                                             Compromising

Judging                                                        Accepting

Discouragement                                           Encouragement

Doubt                                                           Trust

Dishonor                                                       Protect

Insensitive                                                    Compassion

Greed                                                            Generosity        

Take for Granted                                           Appreciation

Controlling                                                    Submissive

Doing His best work TODAY

Are you always trying to figure out what God is going to do next in your life? Are you worried about missing your destiny/calling?

If you have a Type A personality like mine, you will often "try" to rush or get ahead of God. We are so focused on where we think we're going (our goals), we forget that God does His best work in us TODAY, and during the whole process.

After all, if your relationship with Him and your spiritual maturity level is not in line with the future equipped "you", what good is that?

We partner with God in our goals and dreams as we live out our lives in faithful integrity in the "now." That partnership requires that we believe He has GREAT things for us, position ourselves (prayer, giving, serving) to hear His voice, be good stewards in the "now" and then take functional faithful steps when He prompts us.

I like the way Pastor Furtick put it today in his daily email today called "Waking Faith: The Connection Between Now and Next"...

"Your attitude and approach toward what you're doing now is more important than your speculation about what's next."

"Have you been tempted to fantasize about what might be next and neglect what God is doing now? If so, you may be short-circuiting the process that God is using to prepare you for the promise."

Be your best right now where you are and God will promote you in good time, in a good way, with earthly and eternal good results and rewards.

Luke 16:10 (ESV)..."One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Matthew 25:21 (ESV)..."His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."

Allow the Spirit to Transform You

instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.   Esphesians 4:23

God desires that we would be open and aware of the Spirit that we allow him to transform us every moment of every day.

Yes, it's a journey every moment influenced by your feeling and thoughts.  It only takes a moment to go down the wrong path of negative thought and hopelessness.

We must let the Holy Spirit take hold of our thoughts and our life.   Change is possible.

I know for me it is a moment to moment fight with the negative thoughts about many things in my head.  Most of my life I did not know that I have control over my thoughts.  I didn't realize that I am unconditionally loved by God.  

Welcome the Holy Spirit into your heart and allow Him to transform you.  Allow Him to set you free.

Keep growing every day.

Take some time to listen to the song below and use the doodle page to write down what God tells you or just relax and color :)

 

unQualified - but so was Moses, Peter...

My husband (Kevin) and I have been attending Elevation - Space Coast since May 2015 we LOVE our church.  God has done amazing things with us since we have been there.


We are studying in our egroup about Pastor Furtick's new book "unqualified", here is what Kevin has to say about page 131.

In Chapter 8 (Page 131) of the book called "Unqualified" by Steven Furtick, he brought up the scripture in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”) in the context of God being our Finisher (of our faith).

As I pondered this in light of my own weaknesses, it dawned on me that God accepts them, and me, where "I am" and that we should too BECAUSE He will show His power in them! I used to beat myself up daily about my faults. I don't do this any more. And I have grown much faster since then.

It doesn't mean sin is OK, and we should try to change...it just means we should lighten up and accept where we are and let Him keep working on us until He is finished.

The lesson is the same with our view of our brothers and sisters in Christ and the world, He isn't done with them either.

In the garden of our hearts, change comes as we first recognize (examine our hearts), then prepare (humble ourselves) the ground (soul/mind), and then plant seeds of self approval (acceptance), watered by truth (scripture)...in the light of transparency (being real...me too!).

Come to the Altar Mindset

I am so excited to see what has been happening in my life since I have started attending Elevation - Space Coast.  Week after week I am never let down.

The joy in the church as overflown to my own life.  My whole family now volunteer and are excited to be at church.   If you ever told me I would be spending most of my Sunday's at church I would say not likely, but we do as a family.  :)

I have been inspired to start writing a art devotional.  This is the first step in what I think God wants me to do.   It is so exciting.

My challenge to you is for the weekend or during the week to print out the photo below and listen to the playlist I put together music. (click here)   Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart, write or draw whatever you are feeling or think God is telling you.  There is no right or wrong just relax and let the journey begin.  :)   Feel free to post what you have done.

A Word from Be Alive ~ Pat Dalpra

HEALTH:  What Your Feet Reveal about Your Health
     If your eyes are the windows to your soul, the feet can offer a view of the state of your body.  Your feet reveal many health conditions from thyroid to heart problems (Dr. Oliver Zong)  This was very interesting to me since I always had cold feet as a kid and teenager and now struggle with cramping and swollen feet.   Not only what you eat affects your feet, but how much time you are on your feet and the type of shoes you where.  Strength exercises, stretching and massaging your feet will help.  If you have any of the following, please follow up with your physician, especially if you already have thyroid issues.

COLD FEET:  always cold?  May be a sign of underactive thyroid, especially if you have dry skin and hair and fatigue.
SWOLLEN BIG TOES:  sore, swollen, red and warm big toe is classic hallmark of gout (form of arthritis and very painful)
FREQUENT FOOT CRAMPS:  muscle spasms in the feet signal electrolyte imbalance - lack of magnesium and potassium - or also low blood sugar or poor     circulation.  Pinched nerves and some medications such as diuretics can cause spasms.
UNEXPLAINED NUMBNESS:  in rare cases, numbness and tingling feet can be a sign of MS, nerve damage, fibromyalgia or diabetes
SWOLLEN FEET:  some people notice feet swell after an injury or lots of activity, but if it does not go away within a couple of days, this could be a sign of heart failure or kidney disease
CLUBBED TOENAILS:  when the nails appear rounded on top and then curve downward, this could be a symptom of lung disease.  It could also be caused by heart disease, liver and digestive disorders or certain infections
YELLOW FLAKY TOENAILS:  toenail fungus, also called onchomycosis is usually benign, but if not treated, the infection can casue a loss of dexterity and can spread beyond the toe into the body

I found this dress while in Orlando with Kevin on a marriage retreat.  I fell in love with it.  It was a little tight on me but I know that if I kept moving forward on my journey I should be able to wear it.  I am happy to say I did.  Although you can still see that tummy of mine I was happy to wear something I felt pretty in :)

Transformation keeps running through my head.  The hope that I will succeed in the transformation.  
I feel that it's now or never.  Next year I turn 50 and I know if I don't do it now I will totally lose myself.

I have started working with a nutritionist even though I know exactly what I'm suppose to do having him along helps to give me that extra push.  It's hard having to eat 6 meals a day!

For me Flip Flop 2 Focus is about reminding myself on a daily basis to focus on the positive and the truth.

Most of my life I have let negative thoughts and emotions control and hold me back.  I thought to my self how awesome would it be to dream again and to learn to set attainable goals to feel whole and completely myself.

I feel like I have something to offer but I am the one holding myself back.

I need to share my journey with you :)