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Starting a regular quiet time with God

Posted by Sara on Friday, April 13th, 2012 in Faith | Comments (2)

This is an exciting time at Wives of Faith. We are seeing an increase in members, as well as volunteers joining our leadership team. But what I am really excited about are the questions I’m seeing by military wives who are seeking God and who are eagerly looking to either start or grow their relationships with Him.

My hope and my prayer for you is that you are growing. That no matter what you’re going through today – whether you’re in the middle of a deployment or you’ve just PCS’d to a new duty station or you are smack dab in the middle of husband, family and friends and still feel an aching hole in your heart – that you’ll look to God to fill that hole. I accepted Christ when I was a small child, and rededicated my life when I was a teenager, but there is not a day that goes by when I don’t need Him. Because other people will disappoint us and circumstances will frustrate us, but His peace and His love never go away.

So, I have seen in emails and in our chat groups on FB, several questions being asked on how to best start a quiet time or how to read the Bible more effectively. One of the best pieces of advice on studying the Bible to really get a deeper understanding from it comes from Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer. I had an opportunity to go with my church’s women’s group last year to a Going Beyond event and during that weekend, Priscilla shared the steps she uses to really study and learn God’s Word. I took notes and I’ve been using this format ever since, and I love it. Maybe you will too.

Before I heard about her steps, I had quiet times but it was often just reading a few scriptures and praying, and it was not always very consistent. This is probably because there was no process, no steps to follow. (I’m one of those free spirit types who doesn’t like to be put in a box, much of the time, but even creative people need to have processes or routines to follow or nothing EVER gets done!) But I’m also a writer, and I like to write things out, so I love her concept and it has definitely helped change my quiet times for the better.

A quick word about choosing a translation: find a Bible translation you’re comfortable with. Go to the local Christian bookstore and browse around. Ask questions. Or check out this great Bible Selection Guide LifeWay offers. They give a good breakdown of the translations as well as the types of Bibles you may want to consider. For a long time, I read just the NIV, and a few years ago I switched over to the Message. Now I really like my HCSB Study Bible.

You may also want to find a good devotional. If you have a Women’s Devotional Bible, there will be devotions already included. I like to use devotionals with scripture references that I can look up which often helps lead me one from verse to another. My favorite devotional is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young but there are many good ones out there to choose from.

So here are the steps and I hope they help you as much as they’ve helped me. The best advice I can give you is not to give up. If you miss a day, pick it up the next day. If you miss a week, pick it up the next day. Our relationships with God are not measured by a check list but by a check of our hearts. As we seek a personal ongoing relationship with Him, we will find those blessings He has for us.

Before you begin, remember to start your quiet time with prayer, asking God to show you and help you glean what it is He wants you to know today.

Step 1 - Write down the verse or passage you’re studying. Don’t include too many verses. One or two at the most is enough. Priscilla writes down the reference; for me, I like to write down the entire verse in my notebook. It helps me really think about it.

Step 2 - Paraphrase that verse in your own words. Again, write down that verse but in your own words.

Step 3 - Look for the spiritual meaning in the verse you’re reading. What’s God trying to tell you in these verses? What does it mean?

Step 4 - Ask yourself the question. There’s a question that will come out of this verse of scripture for you. This sometimes means we have to take off whatever “I’m doing just fine” mask we sometimes insist on wearing, but it’s ok to do that. God already knows what you’re struggling with.

Step 5 - Obey. This is a statement of obedience that as you’ve been reading, as you’ve been praying while you’re studying this verse, God puts it on your heart and in your head of what you need to do with this verse, and it should relate to the question as well.

Example:

VERSE TO STUDY – Psalm 31:14 “But I trust in You, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”

PARAPHRASE: Despite everything life may bring at me, my confidence and hope is in You. You are my Creator, my Sustainer, and my Redeemer.

SPIRITUAL MEANING: God enables me to trust Him and trusting Him enables me to keep going.

QUESTION: If I say, You are my God, shouldn’t I trust Him? And if I trust Him, can’t say without any doubt that He is my God? Am I trusting Him with everything?

OBEY: Trust God for the impossible. If you believe He is God, you can believe you can trust Him, and trust Him for everything.

Apply this type of study in your quiet time and watch God expand and bring fresh eyes for you to see His Word in a whole new way!)

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Wives of Faith is on Pinterest!

Posted by Sara on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 in News | Comments (0)

We’re excited to announce that Wives of Faith is now on Pinterest!

Pinterest is a fun and beautiful website that allows you to visually share recipes, quotes, do-it-yourself instructions and numerous other things with your friends. Though it has been around for a couple of years now, it has only really started taking on a life of its own in the last several months and many women are now learning about all of the fun benefits of being part of this community.

Because we want to be where our members are, doing what we can to support and encourage you in your walk with Christ and in your relationships with your husbands and families, we now have our own Pinterest account! Stephanie McFarland, a Wives of Faith member and extremely creative crafty person in her own right, has graciously agreed to be our Pinterest coordinator and has already added some beautiful and creative things to our boards!

A little more about Stephanie:

Stephanie McFarland is Pinterest Coordinator for Wives of Faith. She is the wife of ten years to Bryan, who is currently serving as a Physician’s Assistant in the Army National Guard. Bryan has served in the Somali Conflict as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom. Together they have two children, Brianna and Brantley. Stephanie is a college educated homemaker who has a passion for being the wife and mother God called her to be. She loves wearing aprons and crafting up anything and everything from trendy crochet hats and mittens to oreo rice krispy treats. One of her favorite scriptures is from Psalm 90:14, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

So if you’re on Pinterest, please follow us and we’ll follow back! (Also, be sure to check out the cute Red, White and Blue board Stephanie’s already added! Cute ideas!)

Popularity: 4% [?]

When Marriage Hurts

Posted by Sara on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 in Marriage | Comments (9)

Editor’s note: We at Wives of Faith believe strongly in marriage and in strengthening military marriages. Kori Yates is our MarriageCare director, and I can tell you after our leadership team meeting the other night, encouraging and strengthening military marriages is her passion. We will be hearing more from her in upcoming weeks; until then, please enjoy this post from Sara Horn, originally published 23 June 2009, republishing 19 Jan 2012. ~Pattie~

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I watched the episode last night of Jon & Kate Plus 8 (along with the millions of other train wreck observers) and was extremely sad to see their announcement that they’ve separated. Even though word had leaked out that they’d filed for divorce earlier in the day, still, a big part of me wanted to see the news proved wrong. Unfortunately it wasn’t.

Right before I went to sleep last night I posted on my Facebook page: “Jon and Kate keep saying they were putting their kids first. Maybe that was the problem! Your spouse has to be a priority. Make your marriage a priority!”

I didn’t know that when I woke up this morning I’d have 15 comments! Obviously, this couple has touched a sensitive spot with many, and hopefully have made many look in the mirror at their own marriages and examine their own challenges more closely.

The struggles and challenges Jon and Kate have faced aren’t any different than the trials that millions of other couples have had to deal with – the only difference is, like their larger-than-the-norm family, so has the size of public scrutiny been for them.

I suspect that on a much smaller level, there are military couples who know exactly what this couple is going through – word travels fast on a base or post when a marriage is in trouble and we saw a sad example of it just this week on Army Wives. Denise faced the scrutiny and the judgement of her friends and the people around her after making a series of bad choices and her husband was ordered to go home to “deal with his domestic issues.”

Of course, we can’t know what any couple is dealing with unless we have been where they are. Many are quick to either condemn or say “don’t judge” but I think both of these are extremes. Condemning certainly doesn’t show love but “not judging’ often is code for “it’s none of our business” and I’ve seen way too many marriages in the church “not judged” and not helped either. There was a couple in our old Sunday School class many years ago who suddenly stopped coming. No one really paid attention (or followed up with them) and many months later someone said this couple had separated and gotten divorced. Too many couples fall through the cracks like that. Sometimes it takes more than prayer; it takes a friend letting that couple know you care about them and their marriage.

Marriage is fragile

Jon and Kate’s situation has only reminded me all the more how fragile marriage is, and I hurt especially for the military marriages I hear about that are falling apart. Since starting Wives of Faith, there have been several wives who’ve come to me with struggling marriages. Not all of them have been saved. Ladies, we have to fight for our relationships! And we can’t give up!

Marriage is hard, especially when children enter the picture. My son means the world to me but so does my husband and I made a commitment to him before I was ever a mom. Make your marriage a priority. Whether it’s your first, second or third! If you’ve failed before, it doesn’t mean you have to fail again. You may have to work really hard to put your marriage first, especially if your husband is gone a lot. But it’s crucial to take time out for each other and focus on your marriage. Because when you’re on the same page with your marriage, the challenges that come with being a parent can seem a little less large.

As a wife, be careful not to take everything over and use the excuse because your husband isn’t there. You can still involve him in choices and decisions (I still remember trying to show my husband color samples of siding over web cam LOL), and letting your kids know that their dad’s input is still important.

I can’t imagine being in Jon and Kate’s shoes, having to deal with a struggling marriage with a million voices weighing in on their decisions. As several have said, though, prayer still works and God still heals marriages. I know He can heal theirs, just as I’ve seen Him heal others.

If your marriage is just fine right now, than that’s wonderful! But take the time to protect it. Don’t take your husband for granted and make it a point to value him the way you want him to value you. Don’t be afraid to say “I’m sorry.” Be willing to admit when you’re wrong. Realize that marriage is not always smooth sailing; you will have ups and downs, and some are bigger hills than you may have ever expected! But it’s only after you get over those hills and you look back at what you’ve been through and seen how God has carried both of you that you realize God knew what He was doing when He put the two of you together.

I know many of you reading this may be struggling with problems too big for you to handle by yourself – PTSD, out of control financial problems, infidelity. Let me encourage you to seek help; talk to a pastor you trust or contact Military OneSource. As a military spouse, you are eligible to receive free counseling and Military OneSource can connect you to a counselor in your town and you can receive up to 12 sessions free per topic. Also, if you need prayer for your marriage, let us know (info @ wivesoffaith.org). We have several ladies who are prayer warriors and will be glad to pray for your need. I’ve seen marriages healed when ladies joined together to pray. God still works miracles!

Marriage can hurt, but God can heal.

Proverbs 31:10 – “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

Popularity: 8% [?]

Our new Director of Volunteers

Posted by Sara on Monday, January 16th, 2012 in News | Comments (0)

Hi Wives of Faith!

God continues to bring us amazing women to help serve in our ministry. I wanted to introduce you to Aracely Jimines-Hendricks.

Aracely has recently joined our leadership team as Director of Volunteers. We are excited about her stepping into this position and serving in this way. We have so many women who have come forward wanting to help that we’ve found we need someone to help coordinate who is doing what and where their skills and talents can best fit within the ministry and our current needs.

Read more about Aracely on her Staff Page and please welcome her to Wives of Faith! If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, there is a place for you! Fill out our Volunteer Spot application and get started!

Also, please be in prayer for our Leadership Team. Eleven of our ladies (and one man) will be meeting tomorrow night via Skype to discuss all things Wives of Faith. I’m so thankful for technology that allows us to do this! Please pray for wisdom and focus as we work together to look at the year ahead for Wives of Faith and the ways we are working together to minister to military wives.

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Welcome Amanda Sharp!

Posted by Sara on Friday, November 18th, 2011 in News | Comments (3)

We are so excited to announce another new addition to our Leadership team! Amanda Sharp is joining us as Director of Marketing. Amanda has a ton of energy and a ton of passion in supporting and encouraging military wives, and will be a valuable team member. She will serve both on the Leadership Team as well as the Board of Directors as a non-voting member.

Amanda is an Army wife, stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas with her husband Marcus and their son. She is active in the FRG for her husband’s unit and also serves on the board for the Fort Bliss PWOC as Publicity. Says Amanda: “I enjoy all things that allow me the opportunity to spread the word of the Lord. I also am a firm believer in positive thinking. There is good to be found in every situation!”