Thursday, May 4, 2023
A Prayer That Transforms Our Marriages, Our Families, Our World
People are so quick to point the finger at someone else instead of asking God to point the finger at them.
The Psalmist David got it right when he wrote Psalm 139: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."
As we ask God to search us, know us, test us, point out what offends, and lead us, we'll change and so will our marriages, our families, and our world. Now, that's a splash of serenity we could all use! Thanks, David. Thanks, God.
Do you know a prayer that transforms or have a testimony of how prayer transformed your marriage or family? Please share what God did for you.
Splashes of Serenity prayed for your day!
Elaine
Friday, April 28, 2023
God's Not Done! Check Out My Speaking Schedule for a Location Near You
May 16, 2023: Christian Women's Connection, Harts Hill Inn, Whitesboro, NY, 11:30 a.m., "The Suite Life." Contact Bonnie at 315-737-8611 for reservations.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Two Covid Journeys — Miles Apart
My oncologist encouraged me to write my covid journey. "People need to read what happened from the point of view of someone who had and survived severe covid. It's history that needs to be told" he said.
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Ten Ways To Put More Love and More Life Into Your Love Life
Using the chapter titles of the Ten Things You Can, I hope you enjoy my spin on the ten ways you can put more love and more life into your love life. Have fun!
1. Loosen Up! Ask someone what first attracted them to their spouse and the answer may be, "Their smile." So loosen up! Laugh! Smile! Nothing says "Kiss me!" more than a happy face.
2. Strip Down! Oops! Did I say that? No. God did. In Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) He says,
3. Let Go! Thoughts of laundry to do, Billy's homework isn't done, what should I make for dinner, problems at the office, all can occupy our minds during love making. Don't bring your "to do" list to the bedroom. I guarantee while making love, you won't be able to do any of it. So, let go of these thoughts, concentrate on your lover, and enjoy!
4. Hold On! Your honey wants to get frisky, but your honey's character flaws turn you off. No one is perfect. Don't let thoughts of your sweetheart's failures enter your mind while making love. This is the time to hold on to the good and remember all the wonderful traits you love about your spouse.
5. Settle Down! Angry? Well, settle down. Anger has no place in your marriage bed. Sexual abstinence will not solve your marital difficulties. Settle anger outside the bedroom walls because your bedroom is reserved as your play ground not your boxing ring.
6. Make Nice! Making nice is foreplay for the night ahead. No one wants to make love with a mate who makes mean. Remember, your lover desires to be treasured, not trampled.
7. Cheer On! If you want an example of cheering on your lover during lovemaking, read Solomon's Song of Songs. Wow! For example, "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves. How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant." Song of Songs 1: 15-16. Words of affection and affirmation do much to cheer your honey on toward sexual pleasure.
8. Sit Tight! There really are times your beloved has a headache. Understanding and treating your love tenderly during "headache" days will reap future rewards in your love life. Sit tight, be patient, and wait for a better day.
9. Give up! There will be days you won't desire your spouse, but your spouse desires you. I suggest you give up and ask God to give you passion for your husband or wife. God says, "Husbands and wives should satisfy each other's sexual needs . . . Don't withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together. . . " 1 Corinthians 7: 3, 5. Prayer is an amazing power God gives to us. As we pray and invite God into our bedroom, asking The Almighty to help us respond to our lover's desires, we may be shocked at His answer. Prayer before and during lovemaking is the best foreplay of all. God wants to bless your marriage bed. He really does! Just ask Him.
10. Look up! The sparks aren't flying. There's no desire at all. Now what should you do? Look up! Ask God to help you and your beloved enjoy sexual intimacy as He planned for a husband and a wife. Loosen up, strip down, let go, hold on, settle down, make nice, cheer on, sit tight, give up, and look up. I suspect God will give you a marriage relationship better than you ever asked or imagined.
I have a passion for marriages, which is why I love promoting my book, We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can. Available wherever books are sold and on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/We-All-Married-Idiots-Marriage/dp/0984765522/
Splashes of Serenity and joy prayed for you and your beloved!

Friday, March 17, 2023
Married With Nothing In Common?
Sharing with you an argument Dan and I had many years ago and the wise way he brought me to my senses.
"We have nothing in common!" I cried out, exhausted, discouraged, probably a bit angry about something that didn't go my way.
My sweet man responded with a gentle answer. "Sit down and I'll show you what we have in common. He found our wedding album, opened it and said,
"We have this day in common. We made the same vows. We have those promises in common. In fact, I'm going to say them to you again right now. And he did.
Then, he picked up our family photo album.
"We have these children in common. We both love them and want what is best for them."
Calmed, I forgot about my silliness and smiled at the man who chose to share life with me. Yes indeed, we did have a lot in common.
The next time you think you and your honey are miles apart, take a tip from my hubby and journey through the photo album.
Of course, this won't work for serious issues that need to be discussed, but for the day-to-day-I'm-too-tired-to-deal-with-life spat, reminiscing works swell.
Need a splash of serenity on your marriage? Enjoy those wedding photos on a dreary day.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Protecting Your Marriage From Sexual Misconduct
When My husband Dan started a secular job over forty years ago, his boss took him aside and whispered the names of women in the office he could have sexually. Dan walked away and kept his eyes, his hands, and his mind on the work he was hired to do. Never before had the in-your-face wickedness of the world so threatened our marriage. When the office Christmas party invitation arrived on Dan's desk, he was told "Spouses not invited."
"1. Avoid all actual sins whether outward or in thought life. This is where the real battle is fought, as Paul wrote: “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:13-14). Run from it, reveal your struggle to an accountability partner, put barriers in the way, restructure your life pattern, work in larger groups, or whatever necessary. Repent every time you fail and receive forgiveness. No excuses. Don’t ever tell yourself: This little sin really doesn’t matter.
2. Do everything you can in public. Take away the enhanced temptation of private space wherever possible. Hire a carpenter to put windows in church classrooms and office doors. Meet outside or over video chat if that helps. Make your own choices about this. Don’t merely follow what others do.
3. Observe personal space. Approach others with a measure of wise caution and watch for cues about what is comfortable for them. Everyone is different. Adjust as necessary. It doesn’t really matter what is comfortable for you.
4. Kindly and assertively tell others what you want and do not want.
5. If you are married, follow the cautions and reservations your spouse expresses about your relationships without hesitation or reservation. Whatever your loved one says goes, even if you do not understand it. You probably won’t.
6. Respect the holy life patterns of others. Some do not wish to eat out together in twosomes, travel together, or minister together. You and I have no access to the inward history and life of others. It is their prerogative to make those decisions. Love your brothers and sisters by following their wishes without complaint. The expansion of the kingdom of God will not be slowed by wise and holy living.
7. Never let down your guard. Be prepared for temptations to come your way from both non-churched and churched people, both men and women. There is no genuinely safe space on earth. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)."
Sexual sin seems to make headlines daily. A few weak moments can destroy your marriage, your family, your ministry, your career, your finances, your children, your children's respect, your children's marriages. etc. etc. etc.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Staying Best Friends After You Marry
"Today I marry my best friend"
announces many wedding invitations .
It's easy to marry your best friend,
but how do you stay best friends after you marry?
May
these thoughts on marriage and friendship encourage you to be that best friend
every husband (and every wife) desires and deserves.
1. Friends are loyal.
God warned us in James 3:2 (GWT) that "All of us make a lot of
mistakes." Surprise! Your honey is not perfect. He and you will make
mistakes. If you are his friend, you will be quick to stand by him and forgive.
Remember that he didn't wake up this morning with this thought: Woo Hoo! I wonder how many mistakes I can
make today! Mistakes are not on his to-do list, but loving him in spite of
them should be on yours.
2. Friends are kind.
I've been to a lot of weddings and I've never heard this vow: I promise to make a note of everything you
do that bothers me and remind you of it as long as we both shall live. That
is not what we promise, but is that what we do? Without considering the
consequences, we spew out words we wish we could stuff back in our mouths. Friends
should be safe havens from the unpleasant side of life. It's a tough world out
there. We need to be tender.
3. Friends are cheerleaders. A
wife fulfills a role that no one else can — that of her husband's cheerleader. When the world knocks your man down, you need
to pick him up and cheer him on. I remember my Dan coming home late from a difficult
meeting. I pummeled him with questions. "What decisions were made? How did
you respond?" Poor guy. He left one anxiety-ridden meeting and came home
to another. Instead, I should have offered him assurance of my love in the form
of a kiss, an embrace, and perhaps his favorite ice cream. I realized this
truth when Dan took me in his arms, held me, and gently spoke, "I really
need you to be my wife, not my boss." Lesson learned.
4. Friends spend time together. Early
in our marriage Dan suggested that two times a year we go away alone together.
I balked because of the expense and the time away from our children. Dan
insisted and Dan was right. Now married 42 years, I realize we are best friends
today because we guarded our couple time. If your husband has a hobby, join in.
Dan loves to golf. I learned to love golf too. We work to find entertainment we
enjoy together. Date nights are non-negotiable because friends make time to be
together.
5. Friends build each other up. It's
sad that some girlfriends find pleasure belittling their husbands. I've heard
these friendship-ruining and marriage-killing conversations. Don't participate in this activity. Either change
the subject ("Everybody say one thing they LOVE about their husband!")
or change your friends. Best friends don't ridicule each other in public or in private.
They build each other up.
So, did you marry your best friend? I hope so. And I pray your friendship glows as you grow in love and life together. It takes work and discipline and self-sacrifice and it's worth it.
May your married life be filled with splashes of serenity!