Fix-It With Fran

Our Spouses Cannot Come Before God

Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE my husboo, but I DON’T love him more than I love God!

I thank God for the blessing Brandon is in my life, but I understand that we are both HUMAN. We are both in the flesh and this flesh fails us, despite our best intentions.

Being married has taught me a lot about GRACE. Even more so, it’s taught me the truth about this statement,

“Even a very GOOD husband makes a very POOR God.”

[Only God Himself can settle those deep heart-needs. Philippians 4:19 reminds us of this, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

If a husband could meet every need his wife had, we’d have no need for God. ~ Lysa TerKeurst]

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No Resolutions, Just New Goals

Resolutions are difficult. One of the most challenging things about resolutions is that a person ends up feeling like a failure if he or she does does not accomplish them.

Whenever we set goals, we have to accept our reality for what it is. In my example, being a certain weight and in a certain size by the end of 2015 was a goal that I set for myself. The reality is that I experienced several health challenges made that goal somewhat difficult. My workouts were put on hold once my doctor determined that I needed to have a surgery to correct a major issue affecting my breathing.

I can focus on the fact that I’m not a certain size or weight or I can understand the reality that, despite the setbacks I’ve experienced, I still feel better I can still walk longer distances, I can breathe SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better, and I’m in nowhere near as much pain as I was previously.

If I focus on the negative, I completely miss every good thing that I gained by setting the goal for myself and working towards it, even if I didn’t fully accomplish it.

A resolution is a THING. A SINGLE point. It’s almost dead and inactive but a goal is ALIVE.  A goal is PROGRESSING! Even if you don’t make it to the point that you are striving for, just the act of beginning the PROCESS puts you so much further off than where you were when you started.

So I encourage you today.  Instead of setting another resolution, set a GOAL and understand that if you don’t ACCOMPLISH that goal this year it’s a goal that you can carry into the next year.

The reality is, many of us have things that we need to ACCOMPLISH more so than things that totally need to CHANGE.

We have things we need to ACHIEVE. NEW LEVELS we need to reach.

Don’t focus on the negative! Instead, set your sights on those new heights you desire for yourself and try to accomplish those goals.

Commit yourself to the “Art of The PRESS!”

Scripture to meditate on:

Philippians 3:12-14

Pressing Toward the Goal
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

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Keep Going

I thought I shared this a long time ago, but I found this draft yesterday. I was almost upset about it, but I trust that God’s timing is perfect and someone needs to see this now.

Life really came full circle for me yesterday. I sometimes over think this “blogging thing” and won’t share things because I feel like they’re not “developed enough” or are still in draft form. Yesterday, one of my good friends sent me a text about how much her friends enjoy and are encouraged by my posts. I can’t tell you how much that blessed me. Lately, I’ve been telling myself that it’s not about reaching hundreds/thousands. It’s about reaching that ONE. If there’s one hurting/lost person that reads one of my posts and is inspired to keep going and trust God, my purpose is fulfilled. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.

I shared this as a Facebook post last year. I thought it deserved a place on the blog, so here it is. No matter where you find yourself this Good Friday, Be encouraged. Keep going! Your life matters. Your purpose matters and it won’t be fulfilled if you quit now. You just never know the impact your life’s witness can have on someone else.

My original post: Today was one of those trying days. So, like any mature adult :-), I called my mom for some encouragement. Only to find out:

1. One of my high school classmates stopped her today in my hometown Wal-Mart to tell her how much they are encouraged by my Facebook posts and how I accomplished EVERY thing I said I was going to do back when we were in school. (Faith and works!)

2. My mom has been reading my old blogs AND said they’re an encouragement to her. That BLEW me away. My mommy is THE ultimate encourager. I just wanted to cry. (Mind you, my mom is not a person that goes online much at all. I didn’t even know that my mom knew that I had a blog. I never mentioned it to her because she’s never online.).

God knew I needed THAT today. It’s easy to feel as if you’re just making a drop in the bucket or to wonder if your efforts really make a difference, but then God sends those reminders to let you know you’re on the right track! You may not be where you want to be, but KEEP GOING and, God willing, you will get there!

The world needs more encouragers and people committed to making a difference in this world. That’s why I’m here. From now on, I’m fully embracing the quote in this featured image. I’m not worrying about what anyone may think. I’m focused on the one that I can inspire.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

‪#‎thankful‬ ‪#‎encouraged‬ ‪#‎onamission‬ ‪#‎iPress‬

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Marriage Monday: My Marriage Meditations

This was on my heart to share:

When I matured enough to know that  I wanted to be married (having developed an understanding of the privilege and ministry that marriage is), I spent time seeking fulfilment for myself first.

Part of that involved personal goals (degrees, career, travel, etc.) and the other part was spiritual. I wanted to be full of my purpose and personal relationship with God before ANYONE else came into the picture.

Being single was not always easy, nor pleasant for me, but NOW I see how my time of preparation was KEY. I spent time pouring my heart out to God about A LOT of things. Including the type of love I desired.

Not just a relationship or marriage, but a friendship and bond rooted in something much deeper. When I look at my husband, I remember those prayers and there are SPECIAL moments when God brings something to my attention that reminds me of the specific prayers that I prayed.

When people see me with Brandon and comment on the way I look at him or how genuinely happy we seem, I thank God because I PRAYED for THAT and God shows himself strong by reminding me of those prayers every time someone makes that comment.

Do we have hard days? YES!

Have we had some UGLY blow ups? ABSOLUTELY–we’re NOT perfect!

But we’ve GROWN so much more and TOGETHER are becoming so much STRONGER. 

One day I was home from college talking with my mom and I told her, “I’ve been praying and I think maybe I’m not going to be married. Maybe that’s not what God wants for me, but if that’s not it, I’m sure he has something else in store.”

I have a former classmate (who is also a minister) that I laughed with after meeting my now husband. She observed and commented, “As soon as you released that thing (i.e. trying to be in relationships that weren’t God ordained) He gave you EXACTLY what you were praying for.”

Looking back on both of those instances made me realize that SOMETIMES GOD has to see that you’ll pursue his will ABOVE ALL ELSE. (Seek HIM FIRST and HE will give you the desires of your heart–but understand THIS, everything you desire may not be God’s will for your life).

If you’re single now and desiring a mate–KEEP PRAYING and TRUSTING HIM! Keep doing your part. Find fulfillment in your relationship with GOD and your relationship with YOURSELF. When the right person comes along, you won’t miss a beat.

I prayed this prayer (shown below) for years, but it came to pass. If marriage is a true, unselfish desire of your heart, I’m standing in agreement with you. I’ve also included a link to the prayer online. (Originally published in Prayers that Avail Much for Teens)

Future Spouse Prayer

I come before You, Father, desiring a christian mate. I petition that your will be done in my life, and I enter into that blessed rest by adhering to, trusting in, and relying on You.

Father, You desire that I live a life free from care, that I should be content and satisfied in every situation that I am in, and that I should not be anxious or worried about anything. You have said that if I am willing and obedient to Your Word, You will give me the desires of my heart. It is my desire that someday I will be married to the person You have chose for me.

I pray for him/her. Father, especially help him/her grow in love, Your kind of love. A friend loves at all times, and I desire for my spouse to be my very best friend. I desire that my spouse be a person who shares the same love that I have for you, someone who will be one in spirit and purpose with me.

I ask You to send mature men and women into our lives to give us good, godly counsel and to teach us how we should love each other and care for our family. Teach us both what You expect husbands and wives to do and how we ought to behave toward each other. Reveal to our hearts Your Word concerning the marriage relationship and correct any wrong thinking in our lives. Grant us knowledge throught godly people, books, tapes, and preaching that will give us understinding concerning relationships, so that we can avoid damaging the relationship You desire for us.

Father, I trust You to lead me and guide me by Your Holy Spirit so that when Your perfect time is right, I wil have the wisdom, discretion, and discernment to know that my choice and Yours are the same for my life-mate, I am secure with the mind and the spirit that You have given me to make this decision.

I pray that the eyes of my future spouse’s understanding will be opened so that he/she will have complete knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understinding. I pray that he/she will live a life that is worthy of You, Lord, and pleasing to You in every way. I Pray that he/she will always be involved in doing good deeds, and have a strong, growing relationship with You. I pray that our commitment to each other will continually grow as we draw closer to You.

I pray In Jesus’ name. Amen

Future Spouse Scripture References:
Genesis 2:18-24 Ephesians 5:22-25
Psalm 37:4,5 KJV Philippians 2:2-7 AMP
Psalm 1:30:5 Colossians 1:9,10
Proverbs 17:17KJV Colossians 2:9,10 AMP
Isaiah 1:19 Hebrews 4:3,10 AMP
Matthew 6:33 RSV

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