Martha Bush
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False Security
On February 12th, something happened that seriously rocked my world. I’m not an overly brave person, I confess, but I stepped out of my comfort zone (way out) and agreed to drive cross-country from Florida to California because my daughter wanted to come back home. It’s a trip we’ve done many times, but always with…
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Weekend Devo – A Godly Wife of Influence
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. – Proverbs 31:10-12 In the NASB version, that first part of verse 11 reads: The heart…
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Our Place of Influence (Part 2): What does that look like?
Last week I wrote about our place of influence in our marriage. How do we get there and what does it look like? Let’s start where I ended last week. 1. Pray for wisdom and guidance. It starts right here. Without God’s wisdom and guidance, none of this is possible. It’s like groping in the…
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Weekend Devo – Be Strong and Courageous
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 The mother of a friend gave me this verse when my husband told me he’d decided he was an atheist. This verse…
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Our Place of Influence: Where do we choose to stand?
When I try to explain to someone the role of influence we hold in our husband’s lives, it’s almost too difficult to put into words what I sense so deeply in my heart. I will say it is something I feel very passionate about. As women, we hold a very important place in the lives…
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Weekend Devo – The Gift of God’s Word
“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to…
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The Bigger Picture
One of the greatest challenge is a spiritually mismatched marriage is seeing hope when we see none. I think this is true of any difficult and ongoing situation for us as believers AND as human beings. How do we keep going when everything within us says walking away would be the easier choice? Truth is,…
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Weekend Devo – The Promise
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in…
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More Than Able
Each year in January, the Internet is glutted with articles and posts about resolutions and goals. I find it humorous that this year I’ve seen more about why resolutions don’t work and end in failure for most people. I gave up on resolutions a long time ago. I know my limitations and I also know…
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Weekend Devo – The Marriage Puzzle
We walk into our marriages as two young people enamored with love and barely comfortable with who we are as individuals. We are called not to walk as two but as one. Like two random pieces of a puzzle we try to fit together, turning different edges to one another trying to find or make…
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No More Marriage?
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. – Matthew 22: 29-30 I don’t know about you but this verse has always made me stop…
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Weekend Devo – Praising & Thanking
?In conclusion to our week of: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." – Ephesians 3:20-21 What…
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Praying & Fasting for 2012
With the New Year ahead, I find myself anticipating what God has planned. If you were with us here at S.U.M. last January, you may remember that we fasted that first week. I will confess that I did not want to participate. First of all, fasting has never been easy for me. I’m one of…
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Weekend Devo – ‘Twas the Week Before Christmas
I'm having an "ahh" moment with a cup of my favorite tea. The warm scent of English blend wafts across my nose and my eyes close in welcome relief. The stress in my shoulders seeps away as I settle into my comfy chair and on the matching ottoman I prop my aching feet. I'm tired but happy.…
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Away in a Manger, Then a Tomb-The Humility of Christ
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have…
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Weekend Devo – The Greatest Gift of All
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value,…
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He Came Upon a Midnight Clear-For YOU!
My Bible study group completed our study yesterday. We’d walked the past 11 weeks through the story of David with Beth Moore. On this last day she shared a powerful visual of a staff that had once been a vine. The bottom was straight but about half way up, the thick stalk rose upward in…
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Turkey Soup
When we lived in Memphis, I used to always make turkey soup from the Thanksgiving leftovers. I’d let it sit on the stove all day and cook down to yummy goodness. One of my favorite ingredients was to throw some of the left over stuffing into the soup for seasoning. Yum! A lot of years…
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Weekend Devo – Who are you?
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a…
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A Change in Perspective
I sat in my favorite chair, devotional in hand and Bible open. Tears began streaming down my face. I sat before God, grieving over a hope that felt thin at best. The evening before, my husband and I were on our way out to grab a bite to eat. I thanked him again for the…
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Weekend Devo – The Journey from Atheism to Belief
This is a beautiful testimony from one of our readers about her husband's journey from atheism to belief. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Jennifer! I accepted Christ in the 4th grade and grew up in a Baptist church. I have always had a strong relationship with Christ, but my walk blossomed exponentially…