Day 2, Honor

We have all heard, Honor thy father and mother.
How about honor your spouse?
It's part of the marriage vows too.
Thanks Phil, we all hear them at weddings, say them at ours, but how quickly we forget?
Our society is very self driven, and honoring  person other than yourself does not come easy.
There are great tips and I'll end with this update to the grass is always greener.

"I would like to suggest a more positive spin: "The grass is always green where you water it."

@PhilipWagnerLA 
www.philipwagner.com

Day 1; Priorities

Philip challenges us to ponder our priorities for our marriage on Day 1.  And being a Pennsylvania.  Dutchman, born and raised, we are glass is half empty types.  Half empty with a crack and what little is in there is leaking on the ground.  I bring this up as Phil points out to Focus on the Positives to start.

This isn't a plea to put on rose colored glasses and pretend each is perfect. Think back to how you met, fell in love, and got married.  It wasn't focusing on the speck in your spouses eye, ignoring the log in your own.

The challenge is to make your marriage a priority.  With our fast paced lives, endless gadgets keeping us more connected in more ways, it's hard to prioritize.  I'd like to close with a quote:

"It's time to fight for your marriage; not to fight with your spouse."


@PhilipWagnerLA 
www.philipwagner.com

How to turn around in 10 days

I was blessed to review a great new book from Phillip Wagner. One of the cool things about Twitter, is a person I follow from a church in Oklahoma is friends with Phil who's a pastor in LA.

So, turn around what in 10 days you ask? How to Turn Around Your Marriage in Ten Days.

It is a great approach for our fast paced 21st century lives. In ten days you get thought provoking and challenging ideas to go from ok to great.

Join me over the next 10 days as I share my thoughts.

Click here for Book Trailer
@PhilipWagnerLA 
www.philipwagner.com

Day 8; Play

This was fascinating, play can lead us to learn our partners needs.  Often as adults, we forget the learning and therapeutic value of play.  I know I have.  It's so easy to keep the schedule full, grab another gadget, check email, the news, etc.

Phil says it well, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and Jack's marriage is in trouble.

It's easy to say we played when courting, can't let that evaporate.


@PhilipWagnerLA 
www.philipwagner.com

Simply Jesus was simply awesome!

Enjoyed Joe Stowell book Simply Jesus. I found the key to help simplify with an eye to increasing joy of walk daily with Jesus.
Chapter 8 was a brilliant chapter on suffering in the world.  How we can use suffering to relate to Jesus, walk towards him, not run away.  The visual of Jesus praying in Gethsemane asking his father, why? We can do the same, kneel next to him and ask our heavenly father, why?  Great examples of getting positives from negative experiences.  From personal experience with 'toppers' (you think you have it bad? let me tell you my story) is to not see your troubles as a personal pity party.  Instead, see it as way to build a personal relationship with God and his son Jesus, our savior.

I wrote this down, the Prayer of the Seeker, which was the powerful ending to a meaningful read:

Dear Lord, from the depths of my heart I ask for cleansing. Grant me the grace to keep self in its proper place, and to make my life simply about You. In the midst of all my routines, successes, and disappointments, help me to always rejoice in You and value You above any earthly prize. Meet me in temptation, and deliver me from evil. And if I should suffer, help me to pause to feel Your pain and love You more for the way You suffered for me. Jesus, I will live this day on bended knee by Your side in Gethsemane. What You ask I will do.
Than You for the promise that You will reward those who diligently seek You. I do seek You- with all my heart. I humbly ask that in Your good time and in Your way, You would satisfy my heart with the experience of Your presence.
In Your worthy name I pray. Amen.

More Info on Simply Jesus
About author Joe Stowell

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Simply Jesus: Prayer of the Seeker

Had to jot this down, powerful end to an awesome read:

Dear Lord, from the depths of my heart I ask for cleansing. Grant me the grace to keep self in its proper place, and to make my life simply about You. In the midst of all my routines, successes, and disappointments, help me to always rejoice in You and value You above any earthly prize. Meet me in temptation, and deliver me from evil. And if I should suffer, help me to pause to feel Your pain and love You more for the way You suffered for me. Jesus, I will live this day on bended knee by Your side in Gethsemane. What You ask I will do.
Than You for the promise that You will reward those who diligently seek You. I do seek You- with all my heart. I humbly ask that in Your good time and in Your way, You would satisfy my heart with the experience of Your presence.
In Your worthy name I pray. Amen.

Simply Jesus; Ch. 8

This is a brilliant chapter on suffering in the world.
How we can use suffering to relate to Jesus, walk towards him, not run away.
The visual of Jesus praying in Gethsemane asking his father, why? We can do the same, kneel next to him and ask our heavenly father, why?
Great examples of getting positives from negative experiences.
From personal experience with 'toppers' (you think you have it bad? let me tell you my story) is to not see your troubles as a personal pity party.
Instead, see it as way to build a personal relationship with God and his son Jesus, our savior.