Matthew 6:25-27

First, a here's Marlene on why she chose this passage:

I memorized the NLT again, and started with verse 24 'cause I couldn't just start with "That is why... ." My mind kept asking the question, "WHAT is why?" So I went back to read why we shouldn't worry about everyday life when we're serving God. As I read on (though I didn't memorize the rest) I was struck by verse 32 that says "These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers...." So, if I'm worrying about these things, then I'm acting like someone who doesn't know God. Wow!

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (NLT)

5 years ago, I vowed

Five years ago, tomorrow. This video gets more fun to watch as the years go by. And what a blast to watch it with Maxton!

Marriage has been a true blessing for me, due in no small part to the fact that I'm married to Benjamin McPhaull....who frustrates me, challenges me, loves me, teaches me and holds me accountable. I can't think of anything better than getting to do life with this guy. I look forward to our future --- ministry, parenting and living. We've been through enough drama to be secure that when times get rough, we lean on each other and grow stronger together. What joy there is in knowing THAT. It's the kind of thing that lets you sleep soundly...oh wait, we have 2 newborns...sleeping soundly is not an option.

This weekend, I'm reminding myself of our vows. I want to be a better wife, a true life partner, encourager, supporter, lover and friend. Here's to 50 more years, Ben.

What I vowed then, what I vow today:

I, Delina, rejoice in the opportunity to be your wife
and choose you, Benjamin as my husband

I accept you as you are and receive you as God’s gift to me.
I promise to love you as Christ loves you
And to forgive you as He forgives me

I acknowledge my weakness before you
And vow to continually look to God for strength,
As I place your needs above my own

I promise to trust and follow you, as you follow God
so together we can build a home that glorifies Him

I promise to keep myself open to you,
revealing my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams.
I will unfailingly share and support your hopes and aspirations.

When you fall, I will catch you.
When you laugh, I will share your joy.
When you cry, I will comfort you.

And in those difficult times
I will remember this moment and the love that brought us here.

I will love you and you alone
Unconditionally
Limitlessly
Completely
As long as I live

Romans 8:38, 39

Ladies,
I'm really excited about memorizing Scripture with you guys. I know that it never feels like there are enough hours in the day and in-depth Bible study often gets pushed to the side. We've gotta find ways to stay in the Word though. Hopefully this will be a start and will ignite an unquenchable thirst for more of God and His word in all of our lives.

Romans 8:38, 39 (NLT)
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.



*sorry for the video quality... it's like a kung-fu movie! Just close your eyes and listen. There's nothing to watch, really.... and whoops! Looks like I didn't do it word for word... Will do better next time.

FIND YOUR STRONGEST LIFE book review

A note: I am a Thomas Nelson book review blogger and got this book free, in exchange for a review posted on my blog.

When I first got the book, Find Your Strongest Life, my first thought was, what’s so Christian about it and why is Thomas Nelson publishing it. I even twittered the question and @ThomasNelson wrote me back saying: “we publish all kinds of books that are from a Christian worldview, some aren't overtly Christian subjects.”
I continued reading with this in mind, but in the end, I still feel the same way. This book is decisively NOT from a Christian worldview. It’s not offering anything different, as a solution, than “the world” has to offer (and you have to wonder if the author did, would he be promoted by Oprah?).
The book is good and smart if you want more of the same --- a self-led checklist of how to improve your life and be more satisfied. In its defense, it does concentrate on a person’s unique gifts but it still doesn’t include your Creator’s role in your quest for satisfaction. It’s just another book to teach you how to attain the goals that the world has defined for you. The book is targeted to women, and doesn’t question the feminist values that women have grown up with and evaluate those values and goals from a biblical perspective. That’s what I would expect from a book about finding your strongest life published by a Christian publisher.