Put on Love!

Week 4: Friendship

This week was the hardest yet. This week we heard sad news that a friend took his life. This young man was loved by many and a friend to many!

Ironic that it came during this week as we focused on being intentional with our friendships! Our hearts were heavy this week recovering the shock, searching for answers, and being mindful of our friendships! I found myself seeing the world differently: noticing the sun, enjoying the rain, cherrishing the relationships around me, and finding comfort in serving others. Without God, these things are unbearable and I pray for the many friends and family effected by this loss. We are each touched and changed by our interactions with others ----> something to be intentional about!

{Week 4 Challenge}: Write a letter to a friend and thank them for their influence in your life. Mention specific ways God has used them in your life to help you grow closer to Him! .......I am still working on this,carefully drafting such a letter! I encourage each of you to write a letter to a friend!

{Memory Verse}: Colossians 3:13-14

{Week 4 Statement}: "This week I am going to be intentionally focused on being thankful for my friendships, the easy and difficult friendships.

{Week 4 Lessons}:

• we are meant to be in community with others (Eccl 4: 9-10)
• 2 are better than 1
• help build each other up
• love each other as Christ loves us (John 15: 12-13)
• sacrifice our needs, preferences, and desires for our friends
• be imitators of Christ in how we love one another
• stay in the game! Bear with your friends in good and in bad (Col 3:13-14)
• forgive each other as God forgives us
• love deeply with full forgiveness
• speak only what will build someone up (Eph 4:29)
• when you speak it effects 1) those you are speaking about and 2) those who are listening! Do not be a stumbling block for others with your words!
• remove ill feelings and thoughts! Filter your thoughts as thoughts can turn into words and words into actions! (Eph 4:31-32)
• do not let bitterness, rage, and anger linger - they will only grow and cloud compassion
• Be kind to others!
• 2 minds are better than 1 - be a friend that sharpens one another for the Glory of God (Prov 27:17)
• 2 minds can help one out of the darkness to see things clearly
• be wise in who you choose to walk with - friends can sharpen, but some friends can dull

How to be a good friend?

1. Giving up preferences (selflesness)
2. Speak truth kindly & hear truth with an open heart
3. Be wise so that you can see their needs, so you can judge what will effectively encourage them, and so that your words are kind and you know how to reprove

How to sacrifice for our friends?

1. listening
2. helping
3. encouraging
4. giving

As we end this week our hearts are still heavy, but our spirits are finding encouragement through God's word and comfort. This week we were faced with being friends to others in a hard time and having friends support us as we process the events of this week. The bottom line is LOVE! This world is full of highs and lows and when we stay close to God and show love it helps us roll with the waves of this world.

 

I pray that your heart find encouragement as I have this past week, comfort from God's word, and support from the friends around you. Be a friend, a friend who loves, a friend who shows God through his/her compassion for others.

*Please keep the family and friends of Jerad Bickford in your thoughts and prayers.........

Blessings,

Kristin Noel

 

Posted with Blogsy

The Ultimate Purpose.....to Glorify God! - Marriage

Well another week down.....and SO much learned!

This week we focused on MARRIAGE. How God designed it.....where women fit into the puzzle.....and how to glorify God in our marriage!

This was especially good for me because from Day 1 of our marriage and even before we have made our marriage a priority. It is sort of a hobby of ours to read books about marriage, talk about our marriage, and work on it! Now....with that said, we all fall short of the glory of God! As our careers have changed and life has evolved, there have been times when our marriage is still 'good' but it could be better and this week was a great chance to hash a few things out! This week was as much a study for me as it was for Adam. We spent quite a few nights talking about our life and living intentionally in our marriage!

{Week 4 Challenge} Identify areas where I am already helping my husband and identifying areas where I could do a better job supporting him. Note: this was a GREAT exercise for Adam and I to talk and I suggest every couple to sit down and answer these questions! See where you align....listen to where you don't!

{Week 4 statement}: "I will be intentional this week in supporting my husband with joy!"

In the beginning..........

 

What we learned this week:

• Kristin was designed specifically for Adam .....as a helper
• Marriage is more than friendship, companionship, intimacy......marriage = oneness (2 shall be 1)
• Important to think, speak, and act as 1
• Important to separate from parents (emotionally, spiritually, and financially)
• When encouraging our husbands we 1st need to consult with God!
• Trust and respect our husbands as we do The Lord
• Husband has authority in a marriage
• mutually respect and care for your spouse
• our actions in our marriage are an example for those around us.........be a good example
• Be a picture of Jesus to our husbands by prioritizing inward beauty and character

{How a wife can submit to her husband}:

1. offer abundant encouragement
2. refrain from taking control such as nagging, deception, and manipulation
3. voluntarily follow his final decision(s)
4. Seek to please your husband
5. be a wife your husband can and wants to come to (be dependable)

I truly believe that Eve wanted good for Adam and was looking for positive aspects in the situation and following her best judgement.....but she forgot 1 thing-------> consult God! In our marriages, we may want the best for our husbands and truly believe after waying all the decisions that we are helping our husbands in the right path.......but if we are not consulting God, we may influence them down the wrong path! Wives....first submit to God -------> then help your husbands!

 

Our main goal in a marriage is not to be happy, content, productive....but to Glorify God and reflect the relationship Christ has with the church.......does your marriage reveal God's glory? In what ways?

Here are a few ways:

• Spend tie with each other (quality time)
• Work hard on your marriage...for your marriage
• consult with God frequently!
• submit to one another

{Ways of being a good example as a wife}:

1. make known that marriage is a choice - be active
2. do not speak ill of your husband
3. build your husband up in front of others
4. speak to his concerns
5. lead your husband and others back to the bible for encouragement and support
6. be truthful and honest
7. model productive ways to solve and discuss disagreements
8. show emotional self-control

 

Wives ----> clothe yourself in kindness, gentleness, patience, generosity, hospitality, wisdom by being in God's word! Be beautiful inside and that will show on the outside!

 

Blessings,

Kristin Noel

 

Posted with Blogsy

Set Your Minds On Things Above

Week 3 of our Intentionally Focused bible study focused on our MIND! Turns out you see things a lot clearer when you are intentionally focusing on your thoughts and what you are exposing your minds too.

{Week 3 Challenge} To be more sensitive to the spirits working in our hearts:

• lessons God is trying to teach us
• impressions He is making
• sin He is convicting us of

{Week 3 Statement} "I will be intentionally focused on heavenly things:

• person of Jesus
• work of Jesus
• convictions of the Holy Spirit
• words of scripture"

I can honestly say this was the toughest week so far. I even had snow days from work all week with a winter blizzard making its way through our area and Tuesday I simply didn't make the time.....I certainly had plenty of time, but filled it with other things. So.....I played catch up the rest of the week. I absolutely noticed that the 1 day I didn't consult God in quiet about my day, not only affected that day and its productivity, but the days to follow. I am just now (Sunday) feeling like I'm back on track. This was a profound moment realizing that it isn't just a nice thing and a good thing to spend time with God, it is a NECESSARY thing for me to fully function as I need to and as God designed me to.

This week we focused on our minds. I was blown away by how thinking about what I put in my mind effects my mood, work, motivation.......when we let our minds feast on worry, doubt, earthly logistics, we potentially miss what God is wanting us to hear. I noticed this week that how I spend my 'free/down' time is crucial to what my mind is thinking...what I watch, what I listen to, what I let my mind worry about....those are what my mind has to work with. But, I was amazed at how simply thinking more about scripture and listening for God's convictions, lessons, and impressions could totally change my focus, productivity, emotions, physical motivation...etc.

Here's the big deal --------> What my mind is consumed with is what my words and actions respond to!

 

Things I observed this week:

• the mind if not controlled will turn and mix up the truth until it is not visible! {Romans 8:6}
• a mind set on heavenly priorities is free to enjoy life on earth
• only when my mind is focused on God can I see His will and where He is guiding {Romans 12:2}
• filter our thoughts through heavenly things (what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthly)......if our thoughts/entertainment/discussions do not align with these characteristics.....remove it from your mind! {Philippians 4:8}
• our mind is the weakest and most vulnerable part of our body; but if carefully pruned, selected, and well nourished can be our strongest and most important organ!!!
• God's word is essential to a well nourished mind {2 Cor. 10:5}
• spend time thinking about how I can please God......set my eyes on heavenly things {Col. 3:2}

How to set our minds on heavenly things?

• Submerge ourselves with God's word!
• Meditate and fill our minds with scripture!
• Ask god to help us remember what we read and how to put them into practice!

Profound ideas: filter our movie selections, music, books, games, physical nourishment, free time activities........through {Phillipians 4:8}

Is it true......is it noble.......is it right........------> if that thought, entertainment, action doesn't pass this filter......don't litter your mind with it!

 

{My prayer} "I will no longer conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed. I will open my heart to your transforming by the renewal of my mind. I pray my mind be focused on you and your way. Then and only then will I be able to test, approve, and understand what your will is. I know your way is good, pleasing, and perfect and I dearly want to be with you and your plan."

 

Blessings,

Kristin Noel

 

Posted with Blogsy

Without You I Can Do Nothing

Week 2 of our bible study on being Intentionally Focused has come to an end.  This week was much more challenging than the first.  At the end of week 1 we were prompted to write down what is truly important in our earthly lives to help us FOCUS on what is important.




{Here is my list}:

1. Relationship with God
2. Our marriage
3. Relationships with family, friends, etc…
4. Service…..to those in need

My {goal} for this week was to be intentional and focused on bringing God into my work!  

I came into week 2 with excitement and passion and by the end of the week I had realized what God was teaching me this week……I can do NOTHING without Him!  

{Highlights from this week}:

1. Remove myself from this world and PRAY……and pray often!
2. God is everything!  
• Our nourishment (our hunger and thirst) - John 6:35
• Our eyes to see (light of the world) - John 8:12
• Our protector and watch (good shepherd) - John 10:11
• Our guide and teacher (way, truth, and life ) - John 14:6
• Our heart and source of life ( I am the vine…) - John 15:5
3. The things of this life can make us happy for a moment, but the joy God gives is eternal!
4. The word of God is powerful and can change us from the inside out!
5. Because God's love is the richest of all…..praise God without thoughts, words, & actions.

This week God humbled me in many ways and showed me His greatness each day!  I realized that it is the days when God isn't my focus that are troubling and hard to get through; but the days I consult God, praise God, and listen for God are the days the trouble and hardships don't seem so great!  It is true what our memory verse says this week…..

{One of my prayers this week}…"God, You are the vine and I your daughter are the branches.  If I remain in you and You remain in me, I will bear fruit and fulfill my purpose for each day.  Without You, I truly can do nothing and will miss the opportunity to serve with love."

Blessings,

Kristin Noel