Tag Archive | sharing

Sharing God’s Comfort

Aug10

 
"Sharing God's Comfort" By, Nancy Alexander

2 Corinthians 1…


…and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

I have gone through a lot being sick since I was 28 years old.  It has not been easy for me or my family.  I am posting about this on my blog a lot lately because I receive so many emails from other women who are going through the exact same thing as I did.  As I was reading this morning, this verse touched me. 

I have had troubles, have felt pain, exhaustion, sorrow, and hopelessness.  But this verse tells me that God has used this to comfort me, therefore giving me a heart to comfort those who are going through the same thing by sharing God's comfort I received.

Prayers in the Dark

Feb10

 

"Prayers in the Dark?" By, Nancy Alexander

I am Praying for Steve as he Drives off in the Dark…

My life is FULL!  But, I am NOT complaining!  I am grateful!  Some days I can hardly believe it is lunch time when my sweet husband calls around 12:30 to remind me to eat!  I know… I know… that's pretty bad, isn't it?  I just get soooo busy!  🙂


I get up at 5 am every morning (Monday through Thursday) with my husband.  I take a shower, fix my hair which consists of running my fingers through it and kind of shaking it out, and put on my makeup.


In the kitchen we pack a breakfast and a lunch for Steve while preparing a hot cup of coffee for him to drink on his 45 minute commute in the dark.


Then comes the very best part of our day; we sit facing each other in our office as we open our couple's devotional book.  These devotionals were started two years ago when extremely painful circumstances in our lives led us to make major changes if "we" were going to survive as "one".  Without these changes, we would never have been given the opportunity to Live, Love, and Cherish each other in life and marriage as is God's plan.


We read a couple's devotional every single morning.  And in the last two years, have gone through several really good devotional books.  When we finish, they are put aside as we know we will go back to each one again someday.


We recently started a new book.  This one gives us such encouragement as we start our early day in the dark of night!  It is "The One Year DEVOTIONS for Couples" by David & Teresa Ferguson.  The daily scripture and encouraging words about keeping a marriage alive have turned out to be a beautiful way for us to begin each day. 


Before Steve leaves…still sitting facing each other…we hold hands and pray together praising God for our blessings as we lift up each other along with our children, grandchildren, and family.  And, we also pray for so many people we know who are facing illness and disaster in their lives right now – on a daily basis.  Our prayer list just seems to grow and grow.  About two days ago, it grew unbelievably as God touched my life…but I'll tell you about that in my next post!  This morning we were truly blessed to be able to go to God in prayer – together – as we do every single day! 


Then, Steve drives out of our driveway a little after 6 am each morning.  I stand at our office window waving goodbye as I pray for God's protection over him as he drives to work on long, and winding, dark roads.  When the two or three alarm clocks (actually sounds like six!)  go off so early in the morning, Steve encourages me to stay in bed a while longer and get a little more sleep.  Ohhhh, but I cannot!  These early morning hours of devotional and "praying in the dark", are the most special moments of my day!


Now, don't get the wrong idea here… we are not "the perfect couple" with no problems.  It does seem as though I have painted this "unreal" picture depicting the life of a happily married "perfect" couple with no problems. 



But, remember in the beginning of this post, I said there were circumstances which brought us to this point, and there were.  We just happen to be among the few truly blessed couples who have been able to weather the storm by turning to God for His help.  We are very much in love and trust in God enough to follow Him as He shows us "His" way — which we didn't always see or understand. 


We are both now 60 years old.  We have been through a lot of pain, hurts and tears to get to the point where we are now.  We had to learn the hard way that God's grace IS Sufficient and Faithful to Forgive, Redeem, and Love us no matter what!


After Steve is off to work, then my work day begins!  And…NO…I don't go back to bed!  I filmed two how-to videos last week and while they are being edited, I am working on the covers for my videos with a young man, Hrvoje Livnjak from Zagreb, Croatia. 


I am also writing my newest EBook entitled "My Yard Sale Treasures", and with the help of Linda Joseph, my dear friend and assistant, we are putting the finishing touches on my new Membership Site!  I'll talk more about this in another post also!


Gotta get busy…It's 2 pm, and I just ate lunch!  (Sorry Steve!) 

Have a blessed day as you follow your heart and God's Leading!