THE TWO WEEK COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF THE SEMESTER!
Ladies... we have a GREAT opportunity and responsibility to love, care and aid our husbands during this Oh, so difficult time! I know... I have the tendency to get tired of seminary LIFE at this point. I think: " Why in the world are we doing this?" We have no money, no time together! But then .... as usual, the spirit convicts me and reminds me of the necessary sacrifice and the resulting blessing of GRACE ministry! He will be our strength and our guide... and MAY will be here before we know it!
God Bless ladies. Let's pray together that we will have the strength necessary to be SELF sacrificing and give ourselves wholly to the support, sumbmission and upholding of our precious husbands.
I am currently reading this book by NOEL PIPER, called "Faithful women and their extraordinary God"
It give a mini-biography of 5-6 women of faith. One of them being Sarah Edwards, Jonathan Edwards wife. She was the mother of 11 children. She cared for the kids, the cows, the house, and the finances while Jonathan was away ministring as an evangelist to churches. SHE did everything! And I complain when I have to make dinner and clean up too... how lazy and selfish am I! Noel basically shares how Sarah freed her husband up to do the ministry of the Lord! In so doing she impacted history forever by being "faithful in the mundane". Not to mention, that she raised 11 god-fearing children who served the Lord in various and amazing ways.
May we also followin suit. May we be willing to lay down our own selfish desires, in pursuit of God's Greatest GLORY through our precious husbands!
Dear Father,
Thank you for your divine providence in our lives. We are forver and continually grateful for this work of grace! We come before you today on behalf of each seminary student and, if pertinent, his supporting and submissive wife.
*May these MEN have the strength and wisdom necessary to continue on to the end of this semester. May they have Christ-like love for their wives.
*May each WIFE support, love and aid her husband in the truest, purest way possible.May we offer our desires to you as a sacrifice of PRAISE. You are our GRACE!
... Father be our help and our sustainer in these weeks. Strengthen each marriage by your grace! We love you more than life!
Amen
10 comments:
Thanks for the good reminder. I too read that book by Noel Piper. It was very challenging and convicting, especially Sarah Edward's example. She served her husband faithfully and so can I!
Julie,
I am so convicted! Thank you for this reminder. Tim and I talked on the phone as we were both driving in to work and school this morning as it may well be the only time we talk today. . . Your prayer was so humbling, "*May each WIFE support, love and aid her husband in the truest, purest way possible.May we offer our desires to you as a sacrifice of PRAISE. You are our GRACE!" Wow! in the truest, purest way..."
For those who feel as if there is nothing they can physically do for their husbands, (like help them read, make the 4 hours of sleep seem longer, type a paper, stop the clocks, tell people to stop cricizing them....) we should pray.
Pray that God would be their sustainer, that God would give them grace, that He would make their sleep restful, that He would give them creativity and knowledge in writing, that they would be reminded it's not just about finishing the class or the degree. But that He would be their joy.
Julie: my husband is not in seminary, but that prayer and thought encouraged and admonished me just the same! Heston is taking a full load of classes here at Northland and works 30+ hours a week. I often fail to help him and support him in the way that I need to. He has 2 1/2 weeks left of classes, then finals. Thanks for the encouragement!
very good thoughts jules!! :) although scott's "graduating" this may - I forget he'll still have 2 PT years left... oops!! :o
guess I need to remember that this support we give will not end at the end of this "seminary journey" but for the rest of our lives - wherever it takes us (PHD??) :)
thanks for the reminder!! greatly needed!!
Thanks girls.... God is so good.
Thanks Jules,
This reminded me of our conversation at the beach. It is such a blessing when we're this close and tired of school to remember that we're not the only ones and that there is a purpose. I appreciate your perspective and friendship.
Thanks jul... you too! Thanks for the great encouragement and conversation at the beach. sooo good to know that we are in this together :o)
Hey Julie, just thought I'd check in. We're busy here, too. Graduation's in two weeks, but Jeremy's still got plenty of work to get done first. You're right. This is the perfect time to be reminded to show selfless love to our husbands. Following a little tip someone gave us, we try to plan some fun time together for once the hard work's done. It serves as a light at the end of the tunnel.
Hey jenny!
It's so great to hear from you!
I'm glad things are going well for you. How are the plans going for the next few years? It's hard to know isn't?
well, we'll try to keep you in prayer. I check your blog often;o) Your little one is ADORABLE :o)
Love ya!
jules
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