Love vs. Lust

Hmmm. I don't really lust - that's what I was thinking. Really I don't look at other men, I don't want for what the neighbors have, I don't have this burning desire to be a millionaire. This isn't a problem for me. Well, then I read the Love Dare. Lust is a misguided thirst for satisfaction that only God can fulfill (according to Kendrick's Love Dare). Now let's think about lust. Here's where it is, I lust for people's approval. It could be my husbands when I cook a great meal. It could be my parents when I've lost 5 pounds. It could be my own approval for taking a moment to be still. I lust for approval of others when in reality the only approval I need is God's. Lust is something we have to work on constantly. It isn't easy and it doesn't go away overnight. You have to work on it - thinking about that which is pure and holy to keep your mind and thoughts captivated by our Father.

Reality check - are you lusting after/for something? I could be anything. Think about it and turn it over to God.

Blessings to you all!

Love Always Protects

I was raised in a home where we were the "wrong" ones. When something happened at school it was assumed that we did something wrong not the other person or the teacher. Now sometimes we did do something wrong but the problem was that we were never, or rarely, given the benefit of the doubt. So this is the baggage that I bring into our marriage. It is hard to change however I'm slowly chipping away at it and my very patient husband is waiting for the change. Occassionally he will say something like why don't you ever take my side and that's my clue that I've fallen back into the rut again. Protect - our bible says to protect our household - build it up for we can only tear it down with our own hands. Protect and build up your husband, showing him the positives always and the negatives sometimes. Not the other way around! My husband says things like remember it's us as a team. That's another clue statement that reminds me to stick together in public and dispute in private. This is where I need to work and grow and be the protector of our marriage. Oh I'm certain there are a million other ways that Satan will try to pick away at our marriage but this is the one I'm working on now. Protect your marriage, build up your husband and in doing these things we will honor God and the vows we took on that great wedding day!

Blessings!