Sunday, March 30, 2014

Wife's Prayer

I was so thankful to God for calling off our prayer meeting last night. Not because I loathe going to our weekly gatherings but it paved the way for me and my husband a time to sit down, spend time and talk through FaceTime aka a virtual date! Times like that that have become very rare recently. Since he went back to a full time job, our communication has slowly been on the ebb. When he arrives home from work, I would just reach our office and when I come home from work, he would just reach his office. The routine we've been miserably putting up with for half a year now has been like a dagger in my heart. 

A typical day text exchange:

Hubby: Hi Angel, tadaima! (I'm home)
Me: Hi Love, okaeri! (welcome home) How's your day?
Hubby: Exhausting
Me: Could you hold on a sec? I am working on a project.
After a few minutes...
Me: Still there?
Hubby: Sorry nakatulog ako (I fell asleep). Been a long day.
Me: Okay. Get some rest. Good night. Sweet dreams. 

Sometimes I wonder if I'm being the gracious wife God has designed me to be. There were times when I feel that I'm not worthy of my husband's love. When such vicious thoughts spur, I drown myself quickly in prayer and it magically goes away. I'm blessed that my husband has always given me an Agape kind of love. A love that is unconditional and unselfish. He knows why I cannot be with him yet and he understands. He doesn't force me to do things beyond my will and it's funny that he never uses the ever famous "wives submit to your husbands" bible verse on me. hehehe. I'm blessed that his fidelity is unquestionable and he would always tell me he cannot imagine to be with anybody else but me! 

Besides my husband, there's only one guy who mirrors this kind of love and He is the reason why our marriage strives continuously. He is no other than God through Christ, the center of our marriage. His mercy and grace for all is wondrous! Without Him, all these are impossible, trust me! 

Grace- treating others not as they deserve but as God wishes them to be treated- with loving kindness and mercy. -Don Schwager

Many times I have disappointed God but He's always been kind to me nevertheless. I give him plenty of excuses and justification of my sinful actions and yet I am showered gracious plenty of his provisions. 

God is so good and my love for Him just intensifies my love for my husband! As God anointed my husband to be the leader of our home, not only I have to love him but I also have to respect, honor, and delight in him as I love, respect, honor, and delight in the Lord. No matter how far, I try my very best to be the gracious and modest wife God designed me to be. By praying daily for him, somehow fulfill my role as a wife. I pray that the Lord directs his decisions and his plans according to God's will. More than praying for him to be successful, I pray that he would be successful in living in the glory of God too. If my man loves God, I know he will love me more than I could imagine.  

So last night ended well. We had fun catching up, didn't notice how late we stayed video chatting and I kept him till I fell asleep. We prayed together and he sweetly sung me a lullaby as I melted into my dreams. Nothing in the world feels so comforting than in the arms of my husband. Cannot wait to be in his arms physically soon! Thankful for another answered prayer! Stay tuned! :)

The husband of a good wife is a fortunate man; he will live twice as long because of her. A fine wife is a joy to her husband, and he can live out his years in peace. A good wife is among the precious blessings given to those who fear the Lord. Whether such men are rich or poor, they will be happy and always look cheerful. ~Sirach 26: 1-4


Friday, March 21, 2014

Spring Cleaning

Truthfully, I am guilty of having quite a few unnecessary baggage in my life. Useless, purposeless, inessential, baggage that brings no good results and furthermore weighs down my relationship with God. This lent, I'm giving up that baggage and surrendering it to Him. Instead of carrying them around, I decided to ditch them for a while. I can't promise that I can do away without them forever but this would help and would yield to something better. 

One spring time, I was looking for something in my closet and somehow I found myself cleaning up my entire closet. I threw away all the things that I no longer needed and boxed up some of them for donation. After putting away all the clutter, I was surprised to find an extra space in my closet. I didn't realize that I had that amount of unnecessary possession that took all that space. I also felt great cause my closet looked so much better and organized!

In my recent post, I talked about needless worry and that's one of emotional clutter that I learned and still trying to let go. Random Reflection #1

May it be material or emotional clutter, we've gotta learn how to let go and surrender it to God. We cannot do things on our own, but by His grace, we would be able to.  (John 5:30) Fortunately, for the Lord, no matter how messy and countless our clutter are, he loves us all the same. His saving grace is amazing! 

This lenten season or even spring season calls for a perfect opportunity to declutter our lives. 

Let's call it spring cleaning. Are you down for this?


By finding some quiet time with God in prayer, we can hear His message clearer. By letting go of unnecessary baggage, we can travel light and move with ease, we can simplify life and we can have more room for things that we need or are more important in life like peace, joy, and love.   



The rain bid goodbye while the sun chummily said hello.
The flowers are in bloom and the butterflies rejoice.
I rejoice too cause spring finally knock the door!
I love spring and the happiness it brings.

Happy first day of Spring!

xoxo,
Joselle

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Sunday Song

You're welcome to sing along too! Happy Sunday!




xoxo, 
Joselle

Monday, March 3, 2014

Random Reflection #1

Scripture of the day: Matthew 6:24-34
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more  value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O  men of little  faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.

LET GO OF YOUR NEEDLESS WORRIES. That's what I took home and what I wrote in my heart today from church. To worry is normal because we are mere humans, we were created that way by God, but when we soak up ourselves too much from all our worries, it leads to despair and depression. Truthfully, to worry is unnecessary and it strips us away from trusting in God's goodness and faithfulness to us. So if that's the case, then why did God had to incorporate this kind of state of mind in humans? For me, more than being anxious, He wants us to trust in Him fully. He wants us to have hope and confidence that He is all good and He loves us very much. He cares even for the creatures beneath us like the birds and the flowers so imagine how much more love and concern He has for us, His children. To worry is to doubt in God's divine providence. Next time we worry, let us not dwell on it too much. Let's try to overcome it quickly. Let us do what needs to be done and then leave it all up to the Lord. If He answers our prayers, it means our will is coherent to His will. But if not, then He might have something better for us. Cheer up! Positivity must be our best buddy. 

Honestly, like all of you, I have my own anxieties whom I only share to certain people in my life. I am at a stage where sometimes I end up in oblivion. Confused on what is going on in my roller coaster kind of life. However, one way I lessen my worrying is I seek counsel and wisdom from people who can lovingly and spiritually help me. There is our church who gives free counseling. There is my family who has my back and my best interest in life. There is our community, CFC, whom I can always count on as my spiritual warriors. I have my friends who make me feel better. And lastly, my husband, who helps me carry my load and assures me that everything will be fine as long as we have each other. I'm grateful and blessed to be surrounded by people who keeps me sane. 

I prayerfully hope that God will take us out of all of our worries and give us peace of mind. 

It's way past my bedtime now and I worry for my poor dark under eye circles and what craziness is waiting at work tomorrow on a Monday! Pfff! That's an example of needless worry. hahaha. What I need is sleep. Goodnight dear readers!   


xoxo,
Joselle