Martha Bush
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The Battle with Fear
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand ?and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:13 Fear can be an all out, guns blazing affair or a subtle thief that sneaks in and steals our joy. I realized this past weekend that fear…
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Weekend Devo – God is GOOD!
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 Romans 8:28 is my life verse. No other piece of Scripture has spoken as deeply into my heart as this one. Amazingly, I understood the truth of…
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Talking Without Words
Part of a presentation I’m giving on Wednesday has a section about romance and romancing your guy. I love this part because I get to give a group of women some facts and tangible ideas of how to romance their husbands. Some of this lands on communication and its vital role in any relationship. And…
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And the Walls Came A-Tumbling Down
Lynn’s post yesterday talked about the walls we erect that keep our guys on the outside. I want to share with you how this translated into my life. I walked into my marriage with the expectations I’d leaned from the pages of romance novels and movies. I’d bought into the fairytale. Everything was fine in…
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Weekend Devo – Don’t Give Up!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. – Hebrews 12:1 It's been an overwhelming week and one night I was pretty grumpy with my…
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Spouse-Based or God-Based?
What is the difference between a spouse-based marriage and a God-based marriage? This is the question my Sunday school leader asked our group this past weekend. We’re currently doing Gary Thomas’ video series, Sacred Marriage, which goes with his book by the same title. It’s a great course, and I have loved hearing different perspectives…
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Weekend Devo – God’s Timing
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. – Psalm 37:7 The biggest challenge we often have is patience, wouldn't you say? I see this all the time in others and in myself. We want things to change now, to get better, get easier, go smoother. But what if we knew those very…
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The Silent Talker
So far, we’ve been talking about our words-how we use them and even when. I have to share with you that early on in my marriage, I didn’t always use my words wisely when I did speak up, but my biggest issue was not speaking up at all. Instead I held things in, choosing my…
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Weekend Devo – Are you listening, dear?
This 1881 engraving appeared in Charles Dickens "Bleak House" and is actually depicting a marriage proposal. What cracks me up is the woman is oblivious to what he's doing. Even the bird on the poor guy's shoulder is more aware of what's going on than she is. Do you do that? Sometimes I do. I'm…
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Loving God Helps Me Love My Husband
I will tell you, in all honesty, that I cannot love my husband in my own strength. It’s not possible. I tried to for a many years and would do fine for a while, but inevitably I would run out of steam. Resentment would seep back in and these feelings and thoughts that had to…
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The Proposal
Last week I attended a writer’s conference in St. Louis. On one of the evenings a bunch of us went on a cruise down the Mississippi. We had a spectacular view of the skyline and Arch as dusk fell. And an even more spectacular view as we returned to our hotel. We trekked up the…
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Weekend Devo- A Facebook Seduction
We've talked here before about extramarital affairs starting on Facebook. One of our readers, John Padilla, ran into such a person try to initiate a relationship with him despite his status as married. John has so graciously agreed to share how he handled this experience and protected his marriage. Here's his account of what happened…
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The Sanctified Unbeliever
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. – 1Corinthians 7:14 This Scripture came up in my Bible study this week. A dear friend at my table said something…
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Weekend Devo – Going to Bed Angry?
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. – Ephesians 4:26-27 A friend told me about this particular verse being the topic of discussion on a Christian radio station. It peaked my interest for sure, because this…
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Reaction Mode
Are you in reaction mode in your marriage? Reaction mode is this highly destructive and very draining place where you and your spouse are walking in your marriage more like adversaries than partners. Every comment is scrutinized under suspicion and communication has completely broken down. Years ago I was in this place in my marriage…
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Weekend Devo – Stepping Out in Faith
This last week has been "interesting." I can't think of any other way to describe it. I've grappled with a my daughter's messy yet vacant room, my emotions over letting her go, and the unknown of what life will be like as empty nesters. God is calling me to step out in faith in new…
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Bittersweet Blessings and Letting Go of Idols
Yesterday I said goodbye to my husband and daughter. They are at this very moment driving cross-country to reach my baby girl's new home. It's the start of a new chapter in her life. This is the bittersweet part-letting her go. But in that mix of sadness and missing her is this amazing joy. God…
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Weekend Devo – A Picture Says It All
I went to visit a friend recently and as I left, I noticed this cluster of sattelite dishes on one of the buildings. I know each dish is for a residence but doesn't this say a lot about where are interests and focus lay in today's world? It really struck me as pertinent. So, let's…
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Still an Atheist?
Something interesting happened last week. My youngest daughter and my husband were watching a TV show featuring Penn Jillette. My daughter explained how Jillette spoke of his atheism as not knowing if God existed-not a surety that He didn’t. She asked her dad if that’s whet he believed. He said yes. He just didn’t know.…
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Weekend Devo – Purple Turkeys
My daughter and I have this code word when one of us upset or discouraged. The other will say “purple turkeys.” It never fails to make us laugh and break the down moment. (And special thanks to her 6th grade, Ms. Ward, teacher for this wonderful tool.) Now I really believe God has the best…
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Saving Michael by Debra Brand
(Debra's story is amazing and so encouraging! Read to the end and be inspired!) I met Mike in 10th grade, he was a senior. Our relationship had its ups and downs. But before he left for the Navy we decided to spend the rest of our lives together. Two days after graduating high school, I…