ChristianMilitaryWives

I am currently studying the Gospel according to John. It's one of my favorite of the four Gospels because of its deep philosophical roots. John was an intellect, and the use of his words in the first 5 verses of the book shows the depth of his thought:

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.
 ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 

The title or name he uses to place Jesus in these passages is the greek word "Logos." The greeks had used this word since the time of Socrates and before to describe "the Essence" or "the Originator." John boldly takes their language to proclaim to them that he, himself, had met the One and Only Word! 

As humans we can fully comprehend the "man" Jesus. We know he grew tired, he got hungry, he was tempted, he laughed, he cried, he was disappointed, and he faced fear. He prayed. He communed. He observed the Passover. What we struggle with is comprehending the Infinite Christ -- the undiminished Deity that resided here on earth in a man's body. We can only comprehend the finite -- because the finite can not comprehend the infinite. It's OK though because Paul later reminds us that we see dimly in a mirror, but one day we will know Him face to face.

After studying and contemplating those thoughts, I was actually taken back by a much more subtle passage in the first chapter of this marvelous love letter, penned by one who loved Jesus and who was deeply loved by Jesus -- a love letter inspired by the Holy Spirit, and signed with love from the Father. 

It is found later in the first chapter when John (the author of the Gospel) begins to follow Christ himself. He heard John the Baptist declare "Behold the Lamb of God!" John and Andrew immediately began their journey with the Lord. Jesus, knowing he was being followed, turned to both of them and said:

³⁸Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"³⁹"Come," he replied, "and you will see."  So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

The disciples answered Jesus' question with a question. I don't know about you, but I often do that when I am not quite sure how to answer. 

It sounds like such an easy question, doesn't it? Yet, a man of high intellect like John is bewildered for a moment (or so that's my take on it) when he looks into the face of eternity and is asked by the voice of his Savior "What do you want?" 

This left me pondering how I would answer Jesus' question of me. Claire, What do you want? Would I say "Lord I want safety, security, financial prosperity, friends, love, life, happiness..." Would I call Him "Rabbi" (or teacher) and tell Him that I want feet that will follow Him no matter the cost?  Would I tell Him "Savior, I want You, and anything else is just settling?" 

What would you tell your Savior today? What do you want? 

Malatya True story of modern day martyrs
By Dana Chaffin
 October 20, 2009 is the second DVD release date for the stunning documentary Malatya. The film, which had an early release through Voice of the Martyrs on April 18th, 2009 in honor of the martyrs, is now releasing in its final form. This is a true story of persecution and perseverance. Three Christian men were brutally tortured and murdered, in Malatya Turkey, for their faith in Jesus Christ. It may be difficult for people to understand that Christians even today are beaten, raped, and killed for proclaiming Jesus. Many may read stories about martyrs, but to actually see that these men were real nowadays martyrs is dramatic. Like in America, Christians are not beaten for saying the name – Jesus. Their homes are not burned because they own a Bible. Americans are free to attend public church services and they do not have to hide in the woods after dark for a Bible study, like in some countries. However; if Christians everywhere do not stand up against this type of persecution, all countries may be affected. The story of these men’s lives and how their families and fellow Christians are persevering is inspiring. Also keep reading to find out how you can help persecuted Christians.

 The Story
On April 18, 2007 three men were murdered in Turkey for no other reason than they were Christians. The men murdered were Necati Aydin, 36, Ugur Yuksel, 32, and Tilmann Geske, 45. Necati and Ugur were Turkish converts and Tilmann a German citizen. The murderers were five young men 19 & 20 years old. These young men had attended the Easter service with the men they would days later murder. The day of the murder, the murderers came to the office inquiring about Christ. Necati and Ugur talked with the boys for awhile and then they were attacked and bound. Each of the murderers carried a note saying “We did this for our country. They were attacking our religion.” What is so disturbing is that Turkey is less than 1% Christian and 99% Muslim. In Turkey the meaning of being a Turk is to be a Muslim. These men had their hands and feet bound, their heads slammed against a wall, and tortured with knives. When the police arrived outside the office door, their throats were cut. These men paid the ultimate price for serving God. Their families and fellow Christians have also suffered due to the loss of these wonderful men. The strength and faith they show is inspirational. They continue to have church services and welcome newcomers even though they are at risk. The story of one of their children wanting to tell the murderers about Christ is touching. The families understand that their loss is not in vain. These great men are like seeds for the Turkish church.

 What can you do?
Get Involved! Be aware and inform others that this kind of slaughter happens and we must get involved to help our fellow Christians. Most of all PRAY for those persecuted and their families. Learn to pray for the Turkish Christians by viewing the special features on the DVD, there is a visual/audio prayer guide. At the website www.malatyafilm.com you can download a 30 day prayer guide. The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit organization that helps persecuted Christians around the world. They offer many programs and ways that you can help those that are being persecuted and their families. Check out their website www.persecution.com to find out about their various programs. The Malatya movie will highlight the truth on October 20, 2009 that murders happen just because one is a Christian. The world will see the courageous story of these men who gave their lives for Christ. Be encouraged by how the families are continuing and not giving up after their loss. Sadly these men are not the first or last to die for their belief in Christ. You can purchase the documentary online at www.malatyafilm.com, www.familychristianmovies.com or www.vombooks.com.

by Angie Lewis 

So what's the problem with Christian marriage today? The problem is men and women have not been taught in their church to partake in their God-given roles and duties in the ways of the Lord and consequently complete chaos and confusion has ensued. Society has turned marriage and love upside down!

Christian roles for marriage have become perverted. True or false?

Immoral Christian culture has taken hold of Christian society. True or false?

Feminism has turned a wife's responsibility in marriage upside down. True or false?

True, True, and True!

God's Word has not changed just because it is the twenty first century! Husbands still have the God-given responsibility to protect and provide for their wives in the ways of the Lord. Unfortunately most Christian married couples do not understand the Godly principles that are attached to the husband being the spiritual head and confusion has ensued.

What Are The Responsibilities of the Christian Husband?

* To seek God's will for his life and marriage
* To provide for his wife financially
* To love and care for his wife the way Christ does His peopleThe Church
* To protect his wife from outside influences and abuses
* To put his marriage first, above everything else including his work and children
* To discipline and love his children in the ways of the Lord

Do you think that if a husband were living out his purpose for marriage his wife would have a problem submitting to that purpose? I think not. But what is happening now in Christian marriage is the wife works all day, and she is tired too, and the result, both husband and wife begrudgingly do merely what is needed to sustain some sort of balance in the home. But they are both emotionally drained.

In some instances, because of needs not getting met, husband and wife become disrespectful with each other. This unappreciative attitude keeps the household system in an unorganized and chaotic uproar. Pretty soon they begin to blame each other for the disarray of the marriage. The wife starts getting bossy with her husband and the husband gets bossy back and they both seek solace from outside influences.

Where is walking with the Lord, as the Christian is instructed to do?

What Are The Responsibilities of the Christian Wife?

* To seek God's will for her life and marriage
* To submit to her husbands spiritual management
* To respect and honor her husbands position
* To be a help-meet to her husband by helping to make their marriage and family life productive in and for the Lord
* To put her marriage first, above everything else including work, and even children

What can married Christian couples do today to save their marriage from becoming just another worldly marriage? They can bring God into the marriage and follow the God-given responsibilities that Christ has taught for couples to follow in marriage.

Do you see how when couples unknowingly keep God out of their marriage they begin walking as individuals instead of one flesh? The wife does her thing and the husband does his thing. But when you care for your marriage in the ways of the Lord, God's influence encourages you to be givers for each otherits part of the blessings of marriage.

On the flip side of the coin, when God is far from our own hearts, we become self-seeking, self-centered, and unappreciative and behave in ways that go against the will of God in marriage. Is it any wonder most marriages end in divorce or are unhappy?

Ask yourself, "Am I doing the will of God when I do this?" If the answer is no then pray about it. Ask Christ to guide you in the proper ways and lead you to being the man or woman that He would like for you to be for your marriage.

Are you seeking God's will for yourself and marriage? True or false?

Angie and Frank's Marriage Ministry: http://www.heavenministries.com

Click HERE to listen to the CMW Talk Show concerning Submission.

Many thanks to Shannon Ethridge as she graced us with her presence on our live talk radio program on October 10, 2009.

Shannon is a million-copy best-selling author, speaker, lay counselor, and advocate for healthy sexuality with a master’s degree in counseling/human relations from Liberty University. She has spoken to youth, college students, and adults since 1989 and her passions include: Challenging adults and teens to embrace a life of sexual integrity, encouraging married couples in their pursuit of sexual and emotional fulfillment, counseling women who have looked for love in all the wrong places and equipping parents to instill sexual values in children at an early age.

 Her passion for healthy sexuality actually began in mortuary college. Her first career choice, becoming a mortician, led Ethridge to work on dead bodies. Many she embalmed were young people who had died from AIDS or committed suicide as a result an HIV positive diagnosis. Because of her own promiscuous teenage years, she knew it was a miracle that she was standing over the embalming table rather than laying on top of it. These experiences inspired her to begin speaking boldly and bluntly to teen, college-age, and adult audiences about the benefits of sexual integrity. She has taught and counseled thousands of young singles and married couples over the past decade. She is the author of 18 books, including the best-selling Every Woman’s Battle series, the 5-book Completely His series, and her new book for the mainstream market, The Sexually Confident Wife.

Shannon has been featured on the cover of Today’s Christian Woman Magazinee, and is a frequent guest on international radio & television shows such as The 700 Club, Life Today with James & Betty Robison, FamilyLife Today with Dennis Rainey, and New Life Live! with Stephen Arterburn. She has also been published in numerous magazines such as Focus on the Family, Brio, and LifeWay and is the winner of a Gold Medallion Award for Excellence in Publishing.

Although grateful for the opportunities to influence this generation as a writer and speaker, Shannon remains most passionate about her role as a wife and best friend to her husband of 18 years, Greg, and a mother and cheerleader to their two children, Erin (17) and Matthew (14).

Please be sure to check out Shannons Website.

CLICK HERE to listen to our recorded show geared to military wives as we talk to Shannon about Sexual Integrity and Sexual Confidence in marriage.

Lord's Prayer For The Military Wife


Lord, Grant me the greatness
         of heart to see,
      the difference in duty
         and his love for me.

            Give me the
      understanding to know,
       that when duty calls
           he must go.

Give me a task to do each day
          to fill the time
          while he is away.
      And Lord when duty
          is in the field,
      Please protect him,
         and be his shield.

I saw this on a blanket from a website and never have heard it before and thought it would be nice to share this amazing peice with others.

Do you feel as if you have done something unforgivable?
Shannon Ethridge shares this true, amazing story of the Lords love for us.

At All-American Direct, they are committed to providing quality products through an "All-American" sales organization to every home in America. One of the ways that we are embracing that commitment in 2009 is by running a national campaign to give 2 laptops with webcams away every 2 months to a deserving home that has an immediate family member serving in the armed forces overseas.

Times in America are tough, and they can be even tougher for families who have loved ones serving on the front lines to protect our freedom.

Would a brand new laptop and webcam help you keep in touch with your husband, wife, son or daughter, mom, dad, brother, or sister?

Would a brand new laptop help to improve your quality of life, especially since an important contributor to your home is now serving our country overseas?

Submit a couple paragraphs telling us your story of need, and detail why your family should be picked out of thousands of Americans to win this month's laptop.

You may also submit an entry by going to http://www.youtube.com/group/laptopsforflattops, joining our group, and submitting a one minute video. When you submit your video, please remember to begin it with your name, and then submit an entry HERE with the words "see video", so we can send you your laptop when you win!

The prize package includes a laptop with a built-in webcam, as well as an additional webcam that can be sent to your loved one who is serving overseas.

If you win, you will be contacted by our executives, and a laptop will be sent to your door!

• The entries will be judged by the following criteria:
• Intensity of need as expressed in the essay
• Immediate family member is an active member of the US military and is stationed overseas, as confirmed by their military identification number.
• Winners will be selected from entries collected in April through May, June through July, August through September, October through November, and December through January 2010.

• Contest Rules:
• Submissions must come from a family who has an immediate family member (husband, wife, mom, dad, brother, sister, son, daughter) who is serving in the US Military in a location not in the continental United States.
• Submissions may come on behalf of a third party who has an immediate family member (husband, wife, mom, dad, brother, sister, son, daughter) who is serving in the US Military in a location not in the continental United States.
• Entries must be submitted through allamericandirect.com/laptop
• All entries must be associated with a AllAmericanDirect.com registered email address
• Entries must be associated with an "opt-in" email address
• AllAmericanDirect.com submissions must include name, email address, phone number, and physical mailing address.
• Families that submitted essays in previous months may resubmit a new essay each month if they are not selected
• Submissions should be no longer than 400 words
• Entries cannot be from an employee of or immediate family member of an employee of AllAmericanDirect.com
• No purchase necessary to enter or win

Visit All American Direct for great deals on American products!

The Baby Designers contacted CMW to let pregnant military wives know about this wonderful contest...

We're looking for 15 very deserving pregnant military wives. We understand that it can be stressful having their husbands so far away at such an important time. That’s why we want to help! This is a way of saying Thank You to our soldier’s and giving back to the community so all services that we are offering to the military wives are free of charge. The package includes customized birth plans, product shopping, clothing shopping (mom and baby), product demonstration, hospital preparation, full baby shower planning, diva day makeover, birthing classes, car seat installation, c.p.r. classes, 24/7 support, referrals, and reminder service. If you know a pregnant military wife who deserves all that we have to offer please email us today. militarywives@thebabydesigners.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         Customized Birth Plan – We want to make sure that you are fully prepared and the hospital room is set up to your liking. We prepare a customized birth plan just for your wants and needs.

·         Product Shopping – With new products coming out daily it’s easy to get confused on what’s really needed. We are the experts who can show you the latest products and trends.

·         Baby Shower Planning – We will handle the tedious task of planning your baby shower. Invitation preparation, assistance with gift registry, gift return, product demonstration, and thank you notes.

·         Hospital Preparation – Where will my other children go? Who’s going to get me to the hospital? What should I pack? Calm down and relax. Let us do the work for you.

·         Diva Day Makeover – We want to make you a diva...hair, nails, makeup, and clothing. 

·         Reminder Service – No need to forget an important appointment because we do all of the remembering for you.

·         24/7 Support – It doesn’t matter if you have a question about childbirth, or need a listening ear, we are here.

·         Birthing and C.P.R. Classes – These are classes every parent should take. It will make your life easier.

·         Referrals – From infant play classes to a new doctor in the area, we can help. 

The value of this package is $1,500.

Contest Submission date will end 10/31/2009.

Winners will be picked by 11/30/09.

My DH and I have been talking a lot about Christmas lately.  It will be our 1st Christmas together as a family!  We talk about our traditions we had growing up and what Christmas really stands for.  My parents lavished gifts on my sister and I.  We loved it that's for sure but now that I am married with a child of my own I want her to have a gift of giving.  I find myself being very selfish as is human nature, but I want her and myself to share the joy we have because of our Lord and Savior and how He gave the ultimate gift for us.  So as a new tradition in our household...we will all give a gift to someone in need this Christmas and every month of the year.  When we give of ourselves, we receive joy.  I don't know if any one else's church has an angel tree or something similar at Christmas but my daughter, even though she won't be 1, will choose a child to give to.  Also, there are always organizations that need help.  Our church also has a Women's ministry which gives to the local women in prison.  Anybody else have any suggestions?

Most of the gifts for Christmas this year are going to be homemade. I love this crayon roll for little ones. I will adapt the pattern to make chap stick/lipstick rolls and pencil rolls as well.

Here is the link for the pattern and tutorial: http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2008/04/crayon-roll-tutorial.html

Many Blessings,
Mel