Women Archives - Page 3 of 8

October 24, 2013 By Janice

Love: The First Fruit of the Spirit.

What is love? The first thought that comes into my head is “God is Love”. God loved you so much that He sent Jesus to suffer and die on the cross just so you can say “this is what Love does”. He was an innocent, sinless man who willingly suffered, even for the JOY that was set before Him (such love!), in enduring the cross in order to pay a debt that we could not pay and when we choose to believe in Him, we become His son or His daughter and because of this relationship, we can call out “Abba Father” and He will help us in every situation.

We will live with “Love” for eternity.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16)

When I look at all the fruits of the Spirit, and compare these to love, I would say ‘love’ is more like the branches of the tree, because it is the channel through which all of the fruits are given.

Love is not a feeling or an emotion and is not just about the way your spouse ‘makes’ you feel. Love is a conscious choice. Love is a commitment to giving, even though you may think he or she does not deserve it, without expecting anything in return. Remember when you made your vows to God on your wedding day, you promised to “love” until death. This is what I would call a supernatural kind of love coming only from God! He will give you this kind of love for your spouse by the power of His Spirit (Romans 5:5). “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”.

It is up to you to ‘give’ the fruits of the Spirit to your spouse, these sweet fruits should flow from you by the power of the Holy Spirit for your husband/wife to enjoy. King Solomon says in the Bible: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” (Proverbs 11:30). So could this mean that as you pour out love on your spouse, you are giving life to him/her?

Who needs a dictionary to define what love is? 1 Corinthians 13 4-8 says it all: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails”

October 15, 2013 By Janice

The Fruits of the Spirit

In the Bible, God makes many references as to how we should be like trees, standing strong and firm, with our roots going deep, being nourished and well fed with His word. He wants us to flourish and produce good fruit. He wants others to be able to look at us and see us stand tall through the storms of life and to be drawn to us when they see the evidence of the Spirit within us through the fruit we produce. These qualities should be evident first and foremost in our marriages.

fruit of the spirit

I believe every married couple needs to apply the fruits of the Spirit to their marriage. We all love to bite into a big, juicy, sweet piece of fruit!! So, when you taste your marriage, is it sweet or bitter? I’m sure all of us want our marriages to be sweeter and God has told us in Galatians 5:22,23 all the qualities we need to do so.

But before we look at the first fruit of the Spirit, we need to unlock and open the door to these wonderful fruits and the way to do this is through repentance. Repentance means we have to do a complete turn around and go the other way. In order to do this, you need to have a totally conquered and yielded mind. Selfish desires must go completely, because one of the biggest destroyers of happiness in a marriage is selfishness.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to turn your marriage around from right now and make it taste sweet instead of bitter. Galatians 5 verse 16 says: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”.

Remember to satisfy your husband/wife with good fruit by giving instead of always taking. Sweeten your marriage with the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law

With God’s help, I aim to cover each of these lovely fruits over the next few weeks and I would be honoured if you come with me and taste what God has in store for us!

October 9, 2013 By Janice

Encourage each other!

It is so important for husbands and wives to encourage each other and to build each other up.

Men, because you’ve been involved with pornography, believe me, your wife will be feeling unloved, betrayed and very hurt. You need to earn her trust back again, prove to her it is all in the past, ask her forgiveness, tell her you love her, that she is the most precious, beautiful woman on earth. You need to not just tell her once, but daily, start off each day saying “I love you”, help her get back her confidence. It really hurts to discover your husband has been lusting after other women, even if it’s “just an image”, it’s hard to take in why he would rather watch porn than go to her. She will be asking herself many questions, wondering was she not good enough, too ugly, too fat, too thin or just plain boring. Help her feel beautiful once more.

And ladies, if your husband is truly repentant, and has set his mind to give up pornography, you need to let him know how proud you are of him. He needs your help and support more than ever. I know you are hurting and I know that what has happened was very unfair, but in order to move on, you need to let it all go and start afresh. God says to forget the past and allow Him to do a new thing. So speak words of affirmation to your husband. It is important for him to know you’ve forgiven him, that you love and cherish him.

His and Hers 2

I found this picture and although it’s meant to be humorous, I felt a pang of sadness, because with some couples it can be a reality, so don’t allow time to drift past until you find yourself like this old couple!

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

May 10, 2013 By Janice

God Will Do A New Thing

BEAUTY FOR ASHES – HELP FOR A HURTING WIFE

Day 21 – God Will Do a New Thing

ISAIAH 43:18,19 – Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Don’t Dwell on Your Past

Unfortunately, not one of us can change our past, but we can do something about our future. God tells us in this promising verse, that we must forget the former things, and we are not to dwell on our past, but to look forward in anticipation because He is doing a new thing!

We can so easily become caught up in our past, and like I said in another study, we can become like a prisoner, bound in chains of emotional bondage, making it difficult to move forward. Jesus came to set the captive free, don’t be controlled by the things which He has already defeated at Calvary.

Jesus’ ways are always new and fresh, pure and perfect. The past is over and done, it’s time for you to concentrate and focus on what lies ahead. Jesus will heal your past and all the mental, physical and spiritual damage caused by that, while you press onwards into your future in Him.

He has something new in store for you

God has fresh spring water for you to drink which will sustain you, heal you and strengthen you. It is time (if you choose) to begin to reclaim what the enemy has stolen from you, your family and your marriage. Please be encouraged that God has promised you will be paid back all that has been taken and even double blessings for your loss and your pain.

“Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope, even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” Zechariah 9:12

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” Isaiah 61:7

So change your focus

In Day 1 we learned how God will give you beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It’s time to see transformation and new beginnings, so get ready for what He has planned for you.

You need to stop looking behind and start looking ahead. When you continually look behind you can’t see where you’re going! Have hope today that the God of the universe holds you in His hands and the enemy cannot snatch you away from them. It is only the enemy’s lies that will try to convince you that you must give up, or that God does not care.

Trust in Him and allow Him to be Lord over all your life and He will not fail you. We need to pray in agreement with our sisters around the world that many marriages will be taken back from the enemy’s hands as we turn our eyes towards Jesus.

“No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” Isaiah 43:13

God is on your side, so you don’t need to be afraid. He sees your great pain, and He knows exactly what the devil has stolen from you. He will repay in His perfect way and His perfect timing. He promises you this as you walk in His ways.

“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” Psalm 128:1-2

I know that change isn’t always easy

Sometimes we can even become comfortable in our troubles, because it is all we have known for a long time. You need to step out of your comfort zone with boldly confidence. God’s plans and His changes are always for your good. He sees the bigger picture and what lies ahead for you when all you can see is darkness.

At just the right time, He will show you this new thing He has for you and He will open your eyes to the way He is making in the desert.

Remember to praise and worship your Father in all things, who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, you will be able to celebrate as the manifestation of this new thing in your life will appear.

So please take that huge step of faith, trust in Him and He WILL lead you into the promised land!

Beauty for Ashes

Gen3x – Help for women whose husbands are involved in pornography

May 8, 2013 By Janice

A Heavenly Benefits Package?

BEAUTY FOR ASHES – HELP FOR A HURTING WIFE

DAY 20 – Remember all His benefits

PSALM 103:2-5 – Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

What a wonderful scripture, packed full of fantastic benefits. God is a good God and He wants to pour out His blessings on you. He wants to see you live an abundant life full of health and happiness. Just like we would do anything for our children, our Abba Father wants to lavish us with “good things” too.

What are all the good things God has done for you?

As well as the ones listed in this verse, I try to remember ALL His benefits – this is the best way to bring yourself out of the sadness you may feel. Here are a few I have thought of, I’m sure you can think of many more.

He knit you together with love and perfection

God gave you life!

You are a beautiful woman who has been fearfully and wonderfully knit together in her mother’s womb. So, gift of life is the first benefit. All the senses that come with life are also benefits, we can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel so that we can enjoy all the beauty of creation which God has designed for us. These are the simple but essential things of life which we can take for granted.

We have air to breathe, clothes to wear, water to drink, food of all different colours, tastes and consistencies. Some we love, some we don’t, but others do! God could have made just bread and water for us to survive on, but He didn’t! He delights in us and so He made everything different and exciting, He is so creative. These are all benefits to remember and to thank God for.

The Greatest Benefit is Jesus Christ Himself

What other King would leave His throne to live a humble life on earth knowing He was going to be hated, mocked and tortured and then to forgive the very people who killed Him. He took those stripes on His back so we could be free from sickness, hurt and pain. He endured great pain and suffering on the cross so we could be forgiven of every sin, past, present and future. He even called it a joy to do this for us! He died and went to Hell to defeat death and to set the captives free. Finally, He rose again on the 3^rd day, victorious, and then ascended into Heaven and is now interceding to the Father on our behalf. He didn’t leave us alone though, because the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead is alive in us! Always remember that benefit – the same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive inside of us! Waow!

Focus on God’s Promises, Not Your Problems

As you continue to thank God for all these benefits, you are coming into agreement with Him and coming into line with the plans He has for you instead of feeling angry and bitter which falls right into the plans of the devil. The Bible tells us that God has extraordinary plans for our lives, so open up your heart and allow Him in. Put your faith and trust in God and His Word, and believe that what He says is true, even when your circumstances say otherwise. We have to try look beyond our problems and focus on the promises of God, knowing that He is always faithful and is committed to helping us. If your life is painting a negative picture, and when you’re tempted to grieve or complain, instead, put your faith in God and His promises. By doing this, you are looking with the eye of faith to the good outcome that God has planned for you.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

When David wrote this psalm, He was aware that as he rejoiced in God, instead of fretting about His problems, He would be in high spirits. He knew that His praises would fight off the enemy and his attacks, and would instead bring the presence and power of God into his circumstances.

Psalm 8:2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Each time you and I are in a trial, we need to choose between either focussing on our problems, or the Lord’s promises. What are you focussing on today? Make the right decision and choose the better and more victorious way!

A Heavenly Benefits Package?

I like to think of this Psalm as a heavenly benefits package! There is no other health policy on earth that could ever match this one and it doesn’t even cost you any money! What other benefits package can do the following:

1. Forgive you of your sins

2. Heal you of all your diseases

3. Redeem your life from destruction

4. Crown you with loving kindness and tender mercies

5. Satisfy your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle

This verse supplies everything that we need in life. If we were offered a package like this from some insurance salesman, we would give everything we had to have it. The good thing is it doesn’t cost us anything, however, it cost Jesus everything, He has paid it all!

Turn the Psalms into Your Own Personal Prayers

If you find it difficult to find the right words to pray, and I know from personal experience, that when in the midst of difficulty or trial, it is so hard to find words to pray, then go to the Psalms. God has already provided all the content of our prayers there, so we don’t have to work our how to put our words together. How thoughtful is that?

Our words, and especially God’s words, are powerful tools. As you say them out loud, they make their way inside of you and become engrafted into your heart. You might not feel like praising God, but it’s good to speak words of praise even when you don’t feel like it. It’s good to exhort your soul to praise God. As you do, you begin to stop dwelling on yourself and your emotions and you will start looking at God instead.

Beauty for Ashes

Gen3x – Help for women whose husbands are involved in pornography