Empty Jars
More Than A Contract
The Sound of Silence
Loving No Matter What
What Did You Say?
Controlled or Captured
It’s All About Perspective
A Question of Judgment
Recognizing Unhealthy Relationships
When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. [2 Kings 4:6]
A woman’s husband dies, leaving her with a mountain of debt. And now, the creditors are demanding payment. All she has is one small jar of oil. In her desperation she comes to Elisha for help.
The marriage union isn’t just a contract, or a legal agreement. It isn’t about two people who have decided to live together and combine their resources. It isn’t simply an arrangement that society came up with to allow a man and woman to be sexual involved without feeling guilty. And, most importantly, the marriage union was not the invention of man – but the creation of God.
The same work of the Holy Spirit that is involved at salvation – the miracle of joining us to Jesus – is the same miraculous work of the Spirit that joins a man and woman in holy matrimony. It’s just that holy!
ShareAuthor Corrie ten Boom tells of a time when after forgiving someone she found herself mentally rehearsing the incident only to experience the all-to-familiar emotions of anger. She finally experienced comfort in the example of an old fashioned church bell tower.
The bell in a church tower is rung by pulling a rope. After the person [...]
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Healthy relationships are governed by the law of love. Three primary characteristics of love are acceptance, understanding and commitment. The opposite of these are judgment, rejection and manipulation.
Conditionally love offers acceptance based on behavior. For example, if people don’t behave the way we expect, then conditional love reacts with some form of rejection. Our hope [...]
ShareI hate to admit it, but it’s natural for me to monopolize a conversation. I have to make a concerted effort to listen more than I speak. Even though I have improved over the years, I still have to force myself to slow down and give Bonnie plenty of time to say what’s on her [...]
ShareWhen looking at the signs of a controlling friendship it’s important to ask yourself:
Do you often find the need to explain or defend yourself? When around this friend, do you find yourself feeling guilty for no apparent reason? Do you pretend to agree and go along with things you don’t want to do in order [...]
"Father, I thank you that Your presence dwells in our hearts through faith. I pray that our marriage is rooted and established in love and that we may together grasp how high and deep is the love of Christ - being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God " In Jesus Name, Amen
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"When a woman tries to improve her man she sees it as fixing him, but he gets the message that he's broken."
