Learning true forgiveness is an incredible gift of living with joy! Forgiveness releases us from bondage, and gives us new energy for life. Unforgiveness is a stranglehold that saps joy and life from us. We need to forgive those who have offended us and we need to ask for forgiveness for the wrongs we have done. The big issues in our lives often are resolved by practicing what my husband calls spiritual breathing: the art of forgiveness. Often very difficult, but worth the effort! There is a resulting freedom that opens the door for the fun that Debi shares in this chapter.
Consider your "issues", and see if the need for forgiveness is at the root of the problem.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Chapter Three
"The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands." Proverbs 14:1. I am pretty sure that most of us pull down with our attitudes, which influence our behavior!! We are challenged here to drop the attitudes and put on a thankful heart. For some of us, we are naturally thankful, appreciative ladies, but some of us seriously struggle with self pity and seeing the proverbial glass of water half full(that would be me). While studying this, I realized that even when the glass is half full, I can fill the rest with joy, through the Lord. It totally changes my "reality" from bad to happy. Recognizing this tendency, I have used Philippians chapter four as a means of renewing my mind for many years, with a strong emphasis on verse eight and the words "good report". I encourage you to find scriptures that speak to your heart about joy and thanksgiving, and let the the poor-me, why-me attitudes fade away.
The bottom line in this chapter's questions is, "are you willing to lay down your grievances toward your husband to achieve a heavenly marriage?" How can you do that?
The bottom line in this chapter's questions is, "are you willing to lay down your grievances toward your husband to achieve a heavenly marriage?" How can you do that?
Friday, September 4, 2009
Chapter Two
Smiles. Routine smiles, fake smiles, sad smiles, happy smiles, gleeful smiles. What kind of smiles are we showing people? Especially our husbands? Are we even smiling?
As the first born of four children, with an unsmiling mother, and an "in charge" personality, I am prone to wear a policeman face rather than a smiling face. But I have learned the power of a smile through the years. Smiling at toddlers while they play sends a wash of warmth over them that you can often visibly see. Smiling at tired clerks in stores cheers them up. So smiling at the one we love seems like a no-brainer.
But we are often caught up in petty wrongs and bad attitudes, superior attitudes and flat out anger towards the one we love. We are challenged in this chapter to engage in the beauty and power of smiling. It is hard to smile and keep a bad attitude! The joy of the Lord is our strength and by deciding to reside in joy and thanksgiving we can change our attitude towards our mate, the one we were created to serve!
We all know sad single moms who had "bad" husbands. But the bottom line; to be divorced and alone is a huge leap from married with problems. Years ago I had had it with my husband, we had the nine older kids at home and he was no help I thought. I was frustrated with the budget, working part time, the noise and activity level of healthy busy kids, lack of sleep from babies, on and on. I am an anticipater (also known as a control freak), so I wrote a list of all my grievances in our current situation. I then wrote a list of all my expected relief without him. I realized to my surprise that my grievances would intensify! I put the list away to think about it, but my eyes were open!!! It was better to stick it out than to leave. It has been hard at times, but it has also been wonderful as God has given us breakthroughs. I praise God for that list and the miracle of understanding it. I think Debi is showing us through her letter to Beth that our society's tendency to divorce over righteous issues is definitely questionable.
What do you think?
As the first born of four children, with an unsmiling mother, and an "in charge" personality, I am prone to wear a policeman face rather than a smiling face. But I have learned the power of a smile through the years. Smiling at toddlers while they play sends a wash of warmth over them that you can often visibly see. Smiling at tired clerks in stores cheers them up. So smiling at the one we love seems like a no-brainer.
But we are often caught up in petty wrongs and bad attitudes, superior attitudes and flat out anger towards the one we love. We are challenged in this chapter to engage in the beauty and power of smiling. It is hard to smile and keep a bad attitude! The joy of the Lord is our strength and by deciding to reside in joy and thanksgiving we can change our attitude towards our mate, the one we were created to serve!
We all know sad single moms who had "bad" husbands. But the bottom line; to be divorced and alone is a huge leap from married with problems. Years ago I had had it with my husband, we had the nine older kids at home and he was no help I thought. I was frustrated with the budget, working part time, the noise and activity level of healthy busy kids, lack of sleep from babies, on and on. I am an anticipater (also known as a control freak), so I wrote a list of all my grievances in our current situation. I then wrote a list of all my expected relief without him. I realized to my surprise that my grievances would intensify! I put the list away to think about it, but my eyes were open!!! It was better to stick it out than to leave. It has been hard at times, but it has also been wonderful as God has given us breakthroughs. I praise God for that list and the miracle of understanding it. I think Debi is showing us through her letter to Beth that our society's tendency to divorce over righteous issues is definitely questionable.
What do you think?
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