Marriage Archives - Living Above the Noise

Finding Love in a Storm

I sit, watching the storm blow in, and I can’t help but remember my childhood at the lake.

Sitting on the oversized, padded porch swing tucked under my grandparents’ cottage, my cousins and I would swing and laugh and plan the next excursion of our summer vacation. We’d gather there in storms just like the one today, feeling oh, so safe amidst the pounding rain and the thundering bellow of the clouds.

And I realize something.

There is nothing so wonderful, or calming, and as peaceful as feeling safe — of knowing we are loved.

Those days at the cottage were my favorite memories of childhood. I often wonder why.

I imagine it’s because we gathered as families, loved by parents and grandparents who cared about giving us simple gifts like this — our yearly family vacation.

Possibly it was in this lovely space away from home, we had no cares in the world. Both adults and children left the hustle of work and chores to get away and breathe.

But one thing remains. A sense of peace. Of security. Of love.

God Give the Gift of a Storm

The quiet of the rain softly pattering on the roof. The mist brushes our cheeks as we swing on the porch. The slow rumble of the thunder echoes its way across the sky.

And we have peace. Peace amidst the storm.

I pause and ponder for the first time in what feels like months. And I realize how very important it is to give one another that sense of peace and love. That feeling of being wrapped in a parent’s arms in the storm, knowing we are safe. And loved.

Seek out your children or grandchildren today. Let them know they are loved and safe with you. Let them know you will be by their side. No. Matter. What.

Of course, remember this doesn’t limit us only to children needing safety and love. Our spouses need that same affirmation. And friends. Even enemies.

If that makes you nervous, go to God, the source of all Love and Peace. Ask Him how to love while seeking nothing in return.

He’s the expert! His love never fails.

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

A Busy Life – Learning to Trust God

By livingabovethenoise

Well, as much as I love to learn and share what I’m learning, God has me in a place where the learning is obviously more important than the sharing!

Again I’m explaining why I’ve been absent from the blogging world! Between family visits, summer trips, and family work projects, all keep me from sitting down long enough to gather my thoughts.

But….those thoughts are still there, just waiting to leap from my fingertips and onto this screen! Thoughts on all the lessons in process like: contentment, peace, obedience, trust, expectations, and more. I’ll be sharing more as I ~~find~~ make the time to process and describe what God is revealing in my life.

From where I stand today, I know God is good. Even through the hard times, He is at work, drawing us to Himself. Revealing His ways, His desires for us. We only need be still and listen. Won’t you listen with me?

And here’s a beautiful song to draw you to God. Listen and be healed.

“Fear Is Easy, Love Is Hard”
by: Jason Gray

Turn on the T.V. for the evening news
They got plenty to fear and nothing to do
Another somebody who’s gone too far
Makes you want to put up your guard
Fear is easy, love is hard

So we draw up another dividing line
We label each other and we choose a side
Peace could come at quite a cost
So we won’t build a bridge across
Fear is easy, but love is hard

Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid, do not be afraidI’m sorry baby is what he should’ve said
But she wouldn’t listen even if he did
They’ll die without forgiveness soon
But no one wants to make a move
When fear is easy and love is hard

Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid, do not be afraidIt’s hard to bring your heart to a world that can break it
To offer love to those you’re afraid will forsake it
But a well-defended heart is always looking for a fight
In a lonely war against an endless night
But love can bring a lightFear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraidIt comes down to a simple choice
Shouting devils or a still small voice
One is spreading fear and dread
Oh but love has always said
Do not be afraid

What has God been teaching you this summer?

Trusting,

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous hand.” Isaiah 41:10

The Relationship Puzzle – Part One

By livingabovethenoise

The subject of relationships can cause some people to smile. Yet for others, it creates confusion and pain as they look back at the harsh realities of old friends or loved ones who damaged their sense of trust. In other words, relationships have the ability to bring great joy or painful wounds. And because of these opposing ends, it’s important for us to look carefully to Scripture to understand how God desires us to deal with relationships. And we all must deal with them!

Let’s look at the multitude of relationships we’ll have in our lifetime.

We have our relationship to our Creator.
There is the bond of a child to a parent, and a parent to a child.
Then we’ll have sibling relationships.
Add to that the spouse we’ll be living with for a lifetime.
And for the parents of a married children, we’ll have sons and daughters in-law.
Our children may have brothers and sisters in-law. Oh, my! It’s getting complicated!
And how about nieces and nephews that are added to the mix when siblings begin to have their own children.
And they will have cousins.

Whew! No wonder we have issues with family!

Then to family we add everyone outside our family: neighbors, fellow church members, friends and family of friends, classmates, and employee/employer. We keep very busy keeping all these relationships intact. But thankfully, God knows our need and He offers us truth in the pages of His Word to help ease the stress.

God has a plan. I have to trust that. You have to trust that! He has a way in which we can prosper and grow and learn and teach in each of these varied relationships. We must look to scripture if we are to handle this complicated puzzle of people and personalities and strengths and weaknesses. And it is a puzzle!

So let’s put the pieces of this relationship puzzle together, piece by piece. I obviously don’t have all the answers, but God does. And I know that as we dig into His Word we’re bound to find truth that will reveal ways to build strong relationships and keep us from harm’s way in bad ones.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:3-7

Time Management – Making Your Priorities Center Around Relationships

By livingabovethenoise

There’s not a better time to be looking at our priorities than at the beginning of a new year!

Amy at Blogging With Amy wrote an excellent post, Time Management Tips: It’s Not All About To-Dos. She nailed what so many of us are trying to do. Discovering that habits and expectations are not what makes the world go ’round!

We could be doing what the rest of the world is doing – simply existing to fill our wallets, or micro-managing to find perfection, or just getting by out of sheer exhaustion, while finding no rest or true success in life. And what is true success anyway? Money, cars, a big home, a degree….?

Rather, our family and many others are finding what really works for us, not just doing what everyone else does. We’re asking questions to find what isn’t working for each of us, and finding solutions to those problems. And those solutions will always include people at the core, the center of our lives.

So please read Amy’s post . It has more than time management tips. It’s really about our choices, our work, and our priorities. You can find more ideas for how to ‘break the mold’ here: Breaking The Mold For Raising Responsible Adults and Constructing Successful Adults.

So when choosing how we’ll live – I’ll vote for family and relationships every time!
Thanks Amy, for your words of wisdom!

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1