How Often Do You See Your Best Friend?

I'm holding something sacred in my heart and somehow I need to get His words across to you, dear reader, making sure I'm representing Him and Him alone.  Oh how I long to share with you about my BFF (best friend forever); Who He is, His power, His understanding, and His wisdom, and I want to do so in such a way that you can clearly see Him even though He is, well..... invisible!

If you're joining me for the first time, I'm currently writing a series on The Power of the Holy Spirit, and let me just say right now that I'm not worthy to pen any of these words. But my heart is heavy for you to know Him more and to experience Him more abundantly so that's why I'm sharing this with you.  And if you've missed the first post, My Burning Bush Experience, you can read it here.

My Burning Bush Experience

Jesus.....

You're all I want.

You're all I need.

You're everything.

Oh how I wish I can dwell on those words every minute of the day because when I do, my spirit absolutely soars and I'm ushered into the presence of God.  And when that happens I just see life so differently.  

In fact, I experience...

• No family concerns.  
• No physical exhaustion.  
• No fear of the future.  
• No broken relationships.
• No insecurities or feelings of rejection.  
• No worries.  
• Nope.  Nada.  None of the above, because it's just me resting in my sweet Savior!

My Journey to Becoming a Godly Wife and a Link Up!

This week I received numerous emails, facebook messages and even phone calls from women asking me for marital counsel.  After hearing about their hurts and frustrations my heart was literally grieved for all wives everywhere.  Which, by the way, is an act of God because I'm not a very compassionate gal!  As the Lord continues to bring more and more people to my little online ministry home, it has struck me that I can't help all these women and it has truly pained my heart.


If you've been following my blog for any length of time now, then you already know that I had a past where I denied the existence of God and I was a feminist in every form of the word.  And I wasn't about to submit to some man and sit at home and raise babies!  But one thing I have not shared with you was my understanding or should I say, my lack of understanding, of a Godly marriage.


In all my years of growing up my parents never once slept in the same bed nor did I ever hear them say "I love you" or "I'm sorry" to one another.  I also never saw them hold hands or kiss each other, and the concept of biblical submission and respect was non-existent.  Needless to say, I had a lot to learn about marriage and a great deal to overcome based on what was emulated to me.  Rather than looking to the world for answers or repeating (and justifying) the same behaviors that were taught to me, I sought Godly counsel instead.

Don't You Just Love Him!

                                                                     Photo Source 

Dwell on who He is rather than your circumstances!

Have a blessed Friday looking to Him in all things.



Live a poured out life for Christ,

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If You're Pure or Not, Before Marriage

I was 16 yrs. old when I gave up my virginity.  Yep, you read that right.  I gave it up, I didn't lose it because I made a choice.

Even though the teen-aged boy pressured me and I was scared to do 'that', I gave in anyways because I was more afraid that he would break up with me if I didn't.  What can I say, I was a stupid girl.

I gave up my body because I longed to be loved.  And of course he said he loved me, because that's what all teen-aged boys say, don't they? 

Later he broke my heart; shattered it is a better choice of words.  It was in pieces for years.  And then I became numb.  Numb to so many men, so many 'experiences'.  I even married a man I was never in love with; after all, how could I be when my heart was still in the hands of the one I gave my virginity to. Yet marriage at that time of my life provided an escape for me.

26 years have passed and it still hurts to think about that young teen-aged girl, the one who gave part of me away to another that was not committed to me for the rest of my life.

Get Physical & a Marital Oneness Monday Link Up!

I’m so excited to have my sweet friend, Pearl from Pearl's Oysterbed, on The Alabaster Jar!  Today she's going to be sharing on s*xual intimacy (because that's her thing to write about!) but before we get into the post, I wanted to say a few things.

First, if you're a single woman, then stop right here.  This post is for married women so please don't read any further since this topic does not apply to your life at this time. Let's not stir up love until it's appropriate time, shall we?

Second, allow me to introduce you to Pearl!

The grittiness of life has helped shape Pearl.  Her luster comes from layers of experience and HOPE from the beloved Word of God.  Pearl has parented children with learning issues, has navigated the genepool of mental illness, and has dealt with marital conflict and sexual fulfillment issues.  Pearl focuses on sexual intimacy and restoring waning female libido.  She wishes to share HOPE with her beautiful readers to help them understand their men, marriage and sex.  Swim on over to Pearl's OysterBed where the water is fine!

So let's give Pearl a big welcome to The Alabaster Jar because she wrote this post just for you!

I Hurt

I have nothing to offer you today, because I hurt.  I can't encourage you or equip you or even inspire you to draw closer to the Lord because my spirit has been crushed.  I know I should be writing my final post in my single's series, but I can't because I'm just empty inside.

As a Christian woman, my heart hurts.

As a mommy, my heart hurts.

As a friend, my heart hurts.

I know I'll never be enough.

I will always lack.

I will always fall short.

But Jesus is always enough.

He is never lacking and He never falls short of loving us and meeting us right where we are.

Don't Put Your Best Foot Forward Before Marriage

One morning during my single years, my husband, who at that time, was a man I was just getting to know, decided to go on a run with me.  After we had finished, we sat down on a curb by the side of the road and chatted for a bit.  I was covered in sweat, had my hair up in a pony tail and I certainly wasn't wearing any makeup.  At the time of our rest, I took off one of my shoes and sock then showed him my bare foot and asked him a question.

Is this athlete's foot?

He nearly choked on what I asked and then proceeded to laugh out loud.  I, on the other hand, didn't understand what he thought was so funny, after all, my foot itched and I thought he might know what was wrong with it.

Now I realize if I had some Feminine Etiquette Coach by my side she probably would have rebuked me in that moment because I wasn't acting all proper.  No, I wasn't acting proper, I was being myself.  After all, I was seated by a man that I saw as friend, not someone I was trying to impress by putting my best foot forward, rather, just my athlete's foot!

I just squealed with delight when I saw this picture of married feet!

Marital Oneness Monday Link Up!

Usually on Mondays I write a post on marriage and invite other bloggers to come by and link up their own blog posts.  However, today I'm going to do something a little bit different; I'm going to feature one of those bloggers right here.  But first, thank you to everyone who linked up last week, I sure did enjoy reading all your posts and I believe others were encouraged by your words as well.

So without further ado, meet my sweet friend, Gail from Bible Love Notes.

Gail shared about how Men Are Not Women! Simple concept, isn't it?  I found her post to be informative, insightful, encouraging, and of course, biblically accurate.  If you haven't met Gail yet, head over to her place today because I know you'll love her!

She Provides Food for Her Household

Today I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite blogs...

It's Janelle, from Comfy in the Kitchen.

Janelle has a heart for hospitality and she loves to cook.  I, on the other hand, am a complete opposite of my fellow sister in Christ, for I don't have a heart for either of those two things, at least not hospitality in the traditional sense.  For me, cooking and serving food to others, especially since I have to do it 3 times a day, is a flat-out chore.  In fact, sometimes I'd rather like to remove that whole 'cooking for my family' from my job description as a godly homemaker.  And by the way, there's a reason why I never worked in a restaurant!

The #1 Purpose of Marriage...

To Glorify God. 

Yep, that's the #1 reason.

Now, of course there are many other wonderful reasons for marriage like:

• So man is not alone.
• So we can have s*xual intimacy with another human being.
• So we can make babies or raise babies to be Christ-followers.
• So we can be in ministry together.

God did not create the institution of marriage just for us, but rather He created it so we can glorify Him through our marriage. 
 

"All things were created by him, and for him."  Colossians 1:16

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10

What Not to Settle for In Your Future Husband

I'm continuing my Smitten for Him Single Series, and today I'm discussing what not to settle for in your future husband. 

As a single person, one of the most important decisions in your life that you'll ever make is who you're going to marry.  Marriage can be wonderful and glorious when two believers walk towards pleasing the Lord in their lives....or it could feel like you're living a life long prison sentence being that God hates divorce.  So choosing your mate is a big deal so you probably don't want to make a mistake! 

(And for those that are already married that are reading this....perhaps you feel that you didn't make the wisest choice in your spouse.  If that's how you feel remember a few things about our great big God:  It is His job to redeem, restore, and transform lives so don't lose heart regarding your marriage!) 

So back to my single friend (and any mama who'd like to share these truths with her kids)...

• What if you had someone in your life who knew exactly what to look for in your future spouse?  Would you listen to that person? 
• And what if that person also knew exactly what you needed in your future husband?  Would you take their advice regarding their choice for you? 
• And lastly, what if that person knew exactly where to find that person?  Again, would you heed their counsel? 

Perhaps you can call this Person a Matchmaker?

My sweet single sister, did you know that God has ALL those answers?  After all, our God is all-knowing, He is all-powerful, He spoke the world into existence, and He created you and knows the number of hairs on your head.  Not only can He do all things but He is the Perfect Matchmaker for you and your future husband!