The Extraordinary Life of a Warrior Wife

I don't know about you, but I need to be happy.  There is nothing that can make me unhappy faster than having a collision of ideas, emotions, plans, routines with my husband.  And the tighter I cling to my way, the unhappier I am.

Doing life with another human being is by nature problematic.  The differences that attract us end up being the very reason for our conflicts. Our spiritual nature provides the pathway to overcoming.  we learn to negotiate in love, have respectful arguments with fair fighting rules firmly in place, press into the sincere desire to understand...these are the fundamental and necessary tools to building authentic, interdependent relationships that foster happy space.

In the spiritual realm, the enemy of our souls is frustrated at our spiritual growth.  The higher we climb, the harder it is to derail our commitment to one another. The more we go to God for what we need, the less access we give the spirit of selfishness... Being a warrior wife I am trained in strategies to read the enemy war book.  I am savvy and wise about what is going on in a moment...I am able to take responsibility for my own happiness, seek God for what I need and come to the table with a full cup.  This perspective has affected the happy meter of my marriage more than any other word or deed - ever!

There is no need to dwell in loneliness or fear another moment.  Take up your Sword and go.

www.godswarriorwife.com

 

The Extraordinary Life of a Warrior Wife

God does new things...we get stuck in old ideas and doctrines that are irrelevant and unnecessary.  God, His Word, His principles and precepts never change, but their application does.  I love this passage in Isaiah 43 rich in God's promises to Israel.  He speaks to the organic nature of relationship with him at verses 18-21


            forget the former things;
            do not dwell on the past.
             See, I am doing a new thing!
            Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
            I am making a way in the desert
            And streams in the wasteland.


Our marriages are organic.  When you marry in your 20s things are just not the same when you are in your 60s.  We cannot depend on our mates to be 100% all the time.  Its not realistic and its not helpful.  To be happy through it all we must establish in ourselves the fundamental truth that it is God alone who can be our all in all...as individuals in a marriage relationship, ou mates were never designed to bear the load of responsibility that has been placed upon them, either by themselves, their spouses or the church!  All of us must know how to go to God to get our needs met.  


My husband and I fell in love and married in our 20s.  He loved to take care of me and I loved to be taken care of.  We did not understand the nature of interdependence and we struggled in our dynamic for many years.  And then he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer.  After seven weeks of daily radiation, losing 40 pounds, the radiation site burning like a bad sun burn, and being generally exhausted, he need to pour his energy into just staying alive.  I felt a little lost and talked to him about that.  He said, "You are going to have to take care of yourself."  So...I did.  My personal growth was about becoming emotionally independent.  My relationship with God grew exponentially.  My dependence on Joe began to dissolve until I stood fully on my own two feet.  This was great, until he got well.  Then he was back to managing us like before and I wasn't having any of it.  New issues!!! 


We have made the adjustments necessary to be happy again in this new partnership.  The Warrior Wife understands that she is complete and whole in Christ Jesus.  She values her husband not for what he can do for her, but for who he is in Christ and celebrates the always unfolding plan God has for him.  


Please visit www.godswarriorwife.com - there will be more information, a statement of beliefs, training information and schedule...   

The Warrior Wife: Courageous. Powerful. Lovely...

The Warrior Wife: Courageous. Powerful. Lovely...: In this beautiful painting of Deborah, Israel's only woman Judge, the artist, Donna Smallenberg, (www.donnasmallenberg.com) captures Debora...

Courageous. Powerful. Lovely...

In this beautiful painting of Deborah, Israel's only woman Judge, the artist, Donna Smallenberg, (www.donnasmallenberg.com) captures Deborah's essence, that of a brave leader with the genteel of the feminine.  Deborah oversees her responsibilities with Holy wisdom that reflects her reliance upon God.  Donna shares her thoughts in creating this piece:


This painting portrays Deborah, the prophetess, crowned in victory, high on a cliff on Mt. Tabor as the Israelites are in battle against their oppressors in the valley below. During those times the Israelites didn't have any weapons (Judges 5:8) a direct result of their rebellion. I show Deborah having weapons and armor because of her dependence on God. She watches what unfolds in the heavens, not the earthly battle below. She symbolically represents the church of our day, and challenges and encourages us to take hold of the heights in God.


This is why I chose her to represent The Warrior Wife.  God is calling His women forth - to rise up and move in the authority and power of our great God. Fighting not in the flesh, but in the spirit, against the darkness that tortures, tempts, and taunts us and those we love.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6


Our faith is inspired and engaged when we remember the battle belongs to the Lord. And we are able to answer the assault on our lives with a shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and determine this day to not give the enemy another inch of ground.
Consider our retreat November 4 and 5, 2011 in Carmichael, California. Becoming the Warrior Wife - Bold and Courageous.  Register at heather.duzan@gmail.com.

Deborah - Warrior, Prophet, Judge of Israel

Deborah, a woman, a powerful, respected, influential leader in the Old Testament, stands out like the North Star on a clear night.  A beacon among the stars, she shines brilliant in the vast history of the Israelites.  Traditionally, men dominated the leadership positions, while courageous, noble women of great valor served in the shadows. 

I have no argument with gender roles in the history of “humankind” if you will…because I understand the necessity and relevance of male instincts, such as to protect and provide.  I am way okay with a man wrestling with a wild boar to save my life and feed me with it later.  In the context of time in history, Deborah’s rise to power had to have been a surprise to some and a welcome relief to many.

Deborah was one of the most heroic women in the Old Testament. She was a prophet, wife, counselor, warrior, and only woman judge in Israel. She is found in the book of Judges chapters 4-5.  As a prophetess, speaking on behalf of God, she delivered instructions and outcomes to military leaders.  At the time of her leadership, Israel was under Canaanite rule.  It was Deborah’s prophecy that rallied the military leaders to overthrow Jabin, king of Canaan, with a small army against his 900 iron chariots, and restored peace to Israel for 40 years.  Against all odds…that is our God.

Deborah…a warrior wife, mother, leader of a nation.  My kind of girl.

So, what would your world be like if you truly embraced your privileged position as a daughter of God entrusted with gifts and talents to be used for His glory?