From the journal . . . July 2005

I started this journal entry talking to the Lord about my expectations of my husband. I believe He redirected me to my expectations of myself as a wife!

And the Lord Said to Me:

You are hard on yourself when you can’t be how you imagine an ideal wife for Mark would be.  Accept yourself as My child! 

You continually give Me your heart.  I’m not frustrated or mad at you for giving to Me what is already mine.  I treasure your love as is and I don’t need to compare it, weigh it, or judge it.  You love Me and I know that.  You want ways to show it, like Simon Peter did.

And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified (Matthew 17:2-6).

Love your husband, your kids, your mom, siblings, relatives, My church, My world. 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34).

These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children (Titus 2:4)

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments (John 14:15 ).

Do these things to show Me love, but know this: when you fail, I don’t doubt your love!  You need Me and you love Me.  Sometimes you underestimate your need of Me, but My child, I never underestimate your needs or your love!

Oh mighty One!  Gentle One!  I worship You!  You are not a God created!  You alone are God!  You are the One and Only! 

As I said in the beginning, the Lord redirected my mind and heart from where they were going. If I am having a problem with someone else the Lord very often points me back to myself.  And His solutions are usually very simple. Focus on loving Him and loving others.  That sounds familiar!

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; ³⁰ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 4:28).