Archive for Relationship
May 23, 2008
· Filed under Relationship
From crosswalk.com
By Whiney Hopler
Your girlhood dreams of becoming a princess may have become grown up dreams of finding a prince to marry – a man who’ll make you blissfully happy. But no such man exists, because no human being has the power to make your dreams come true.
That doesn’t mean you need to stop dreaming, however. You do, indeed, have a prince waiting for you. And if you discover Him, you’ll experience the greatest love of all.
Here’s how you can devote your heart to your true prince, Jesus Christ:
Don’t settle for a broken heart and shattered dreams. Even though this fallen world is full of sin that can disappoint and even destroy you, it’s also full of hope. Don’t assume that you’ll never meet a man you can trust, who’ll treat you with dignity and respect. Pass untrustworthy men by while you wait for one who’ll treat you right. Refuse to lower your standards for relationships. Pursue only the best – all that God wants for you. Don’t sink into depression when your wait takes longer than you’d like. Instead, use your time to live to the fullest, growing as a person and enjoying all God has for you while you’re single.
Keep reading…
May 23, 2008
· Filed under Parenting, Relationship
From crosswalk.com
By Kris Swiatocho
My stepfather is only one example of a man who has impacted my life as a result of his relationship with Christ. Throughout this series, I want to share with you about some of the other men who have impacted my life solely because of their relationship with Jesus. I believe as I share that you, too, will connect with them and discover for yourself how God has always had a plan for you, is working it out in your life and will never leave you.
Do you sometimes think you don’t matter? Do you feel insignificant in this big world? That all your hard work, building your life hasn’t amounted to much? Or at least you think much?
I used to feel this way. I can remember when I was a young adult; I was searching for my purpose. What was God doing in my life? I am just one little person. How can my life be that valuable to God? I am one in a zillion of people. Yeah, yeah, he knows the hairs on my head so he knows me. Yada yada yada! I knew he knew me. I had read Scripture and understood that he even loved me, unconditionally. But what I didn’t know was how I could be used by God. I wanted to not just exist. I wanted to make a difference. But how?
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May 18, 2008
· Filed under Marriage, Relationship
From Crosswalk
By Dr. Gary Smalley
Can a couple in conflict ever reach a win/lose solution? What if a husband gets a new job in a different state that is going to make his life easier and the family’s life easier, but the wife doesn’t think it would be a wise move? They spend over a month in heated debate on why they should go or why they should stay. Both have legitimate reasons for their arguments, but they are clearly nowhere near a win/win solution. What do they do? How can they possibly reach a win/win solution when they are so far apart? Do they even need to reach a win/win solution?
If these questions don’t seem to have an answer, then try this one: Are you—as a married couple—on the same team? Hopefully your answer is yes, “we are on the same team”. If you truly believe you’re on the same team, then try answering the original question again. Is there ever a scenario where the resolution of your conflict might end up being a win/lose solution? If you’re on the same team, then you know what the answer is … NO!
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May 16, 2008
· Filed under Family, Marriage, Relationship
From Crosswalk.com
By Drs. Beverly and Tom Rodgers
Children of divorce are at higher risk for divorce than children of intact families. You would think that this would deter the younger generation from matrimony, but findings show that generation Y is more motivated than ever to get married and stay married. We as a culture should do everything we can to help them meet this goal. Our churches can do much to help these young married hopefuls stay married for a lifetime.
The Parents of Today’s Newlyweds
In 1965 the divorce rate surged, peaking in 1979 at the rate of 23 divorces per 1000 couples. This was the boomer generation who ended their marriages in record numbers leaving their children bereft, not knowing what a healthy lasting marriage is all about. It was even true of the church whose divorce rate was no different than that of the secular community.
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May 16, 2008
· Filed under Dealing with Emotions, Marriage, Relationship
From Focus on the Family
By Carolyn MacInnes
Tim and Sandra sit close together on their porch swing, holding hands. It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago, they’d discussed selling their house, splitting their possessions and sharing custody of their three children. The couple explains that a common but treatable illness nearly destroyed their strong 12-year marriage.
“I remember the day it started,” Tim says. “I walked into the kitchen one morning and Sandy was just sitting on the floor. She was still in her bathrobe, and her eyes were swollen from crying.”
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May 16, 2008
· Filed under Marriage, Relationship
From Focus on the Family
By Carol Heffernan
A decade ago, Art and Lysa TerKeurst were on the brink of divorce. Since then their marriage has been transformed. How did their relationship go from awful to awesome? And what practical tips do they have for other couples experiencing marital difficulties?
“I went into marriage thinking of all I was going to get out of it, not of all that I had to give another person,” Lysa admits. “To be honest, Art and I were very selfish in our approach to marriage.”
Lysa soon found that past baggage, combined with the expectation that Art would somehow “fix” her, was a recipe for disaster. “I hungered and thirsted for a husband who would fill me completely,” she says.
Keep reading…
May 16, 2008
· Filed under Family, Marriage, Relationship
From Focus on the Family
By Amy Tracy
You’ve just found out your spouse may be struggling with homosexuality. Waves of crippling emotions including shock, fear, and panic are washing over you, and you’re not certain where to turn or who to confide in. It’s important at that time, to obtain the truth as swiftly as possible, and take the next steps toward healing.
After spending considerable time in prayer and perhaps with trusted friends and family, you need to present the evidence and express your feelings openly with your spouse. You may choose to do this with him alone or with your pastor or counselor.
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May 12, 2008
· Filed under Family, Marriage, Relationship
From Focus on the Family
By David Arp, Claudia Arp, John Bell, and Margaret Bell
In-law relationships need a touch of civility. Consider the story of Stephanie, who complained, “My mother-in-law never approves of the way I do anything. The last time Joe and I visited her it happened again. Just trying to be nice and helpful, I washed all the pots and pans after dinner. No sooner had I finished than she washed them all over again!”
Stephanie is not a newlywed. She has been married to Joe for 15 years. That whole time, she and Joe’s mom have silently struggled with being civil to each other. When Joe’s mom comes to visit, Stephanie really tries to get the house clean and comfortable for her. But after arriving, her mother-in-law pulls out the cleaning supplies and spit shines the bathrooms and kitchen. Stephanie assumes she’s doing this because she thinks Stephanie is a slob and lives in filth.
Keep reading…
May 12, 2008
· Filed under Family, Marriage, Relationship
From Focus on the Family
Passion. In some Christian circles, passion is something that is perceived as fiction rather than fact. Some even believe that God is opposed to it. Is that how you feel? Or maybe you feel that the fire you once felt for your mate has burned out? Are you convinced that passion is for hormone-driven teenagers, not couples who have been married for more than five years?
Keep reading…
May 4, 2008
· Filed under Bible, Family, Parenting, Relationship
From Focus on the Family
By Linda Klepacki, R.N., M.P.H.
Talking to our teens about sexuality is one of the most life-affirming tasks parents face in our sex-saturated society. Throughout their formative years, teens need to hear from their parents the truth about sex, rather than just the daily bombardment of media sex scandals.
In Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that American children devote more than 38 hours per week to various forms of media, such as television, videos, video games, music, and the Internet. By the time the average teen graduates from high school he will have squandered 15,000 hours watching television—that’s twenty percent more time than the 12,000 hours he will have spent in the classroom. Furthermore, the average American adolescent will view nearly 14,000 sexual references per year.
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May 3, 2008
· Filed under Bible, Family, Relationship
By Lynne M. Thompson
Your child’s schedule probably already includes bath time, nap time and bedtime. But there’s always room for five minutes of Bible time. No child is too young to learn from the most important book in history. Here are some pointers.
Set a routine for Bible time. Try to have it at approximately the same time each day, perhaps after breakfast or before snack.
Sing fun songs. Bible songs sold on cassette or CD at Christian bookstores can get you started. Enjoy clapping and jumping.
Read from a children’s Bible. Use a toddler or picture Bible. Keep the stories short. Some children enjoy holding the Bible while you read. Using a puppet to tell the Bible story is always a treat.
Introduce additional material. Bible coloring books are a great way to share a story. You may want to read a holiday book depicting the story of Jesus at Christmas or Easter.
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May 3, 2008
· Filed under Family, Marriage, Relationship, Serving
By Carol Heffernan
It’s easy to think that only “other people” get divorced. That your own marriage is somehow immune to heartache, infidelity and fights over who gets the house, the car, the dog. After all, how many of us would walk down the aisle if we believed our relationships would end up in divorce court?
Truth is, no relationship comes with a lifetime guarantee. Even men and women who grew up in stable homes, who attend church and consider themselves Christians, who promise “until death do us part,” can have it all fall apart.
As Christians, we know that applying biblical principles to marriage will give us a stronger foundation than those of our unbelieving friends and neighbors. We know this, but what are we doing about it? In other words, what makes a marriage “Christian”?
Keep reading…
May 3, 2008
· Filed under Family, Relationship
By Peb Jackson and James Lund
Risk and adventure can lead to powerful, deep relationships. There is something about leaving comfort zones behind, surrounding ourselves with God’s grandeur, and meeting obstacles together that strips away pretensions and barriers. It’s as if we can’t help being “real.” We’re forced to depend on each other and get to know each other on a deeper level. We share challenges and experiences that bond us for life.
We’ve all seen how shared risk and experience cement relationships among sports teams, soldiers (think Stephen Ambrose’s Band of Brothers), and even friends and colleagues at work. It applies just as much to your family. If you want to draw close to your spouse and kids, why not launch into an adventure? Here are five ideas that will strengthen your family ties this spring and summer.
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May 3, 2008
· Filed under Friendship, Prayer, Relationship
By Ray Pritchard
“I’m praying for you.”
How often have we said those four words? Christians routinely promise to pray for others. And such a promise, whether deeply felt or not, is always a wonderful gift. How encouraging it is to be going through a hard time and have someone who loves you say, “I’m praying for you.”
But there is something that can mean even more. Next week Marlene and I are traveling to the Czech Republic for the Josiah Venture Spring Conference. Because I am speaking on spiritual warfare, I wrote to some friends asking for their prayers. One of those friends wrote back yesterday and included his prayer for us. He prefaced it with these words: “I believe that God is going to do something wonderful and unexpected through your visit. Therefore, I want to specifically lift you and Marlene before the Lord.” This is the text of his prayer:
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May 3, 2008
· Filed under Forgiveness, Relationship
By crosswalk.com
I admit the Bible can sometimes be difficult to interpret and understand. However, when it comes to the command to forgive, the Bible is very obvious in what is expected of Christians. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your sister or brother has something against you leave your gift there in front of the alter. “First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.” — Matthew 5:23-24.
It is next to impossible to have an open heart, receptive to God’s will, if we are in serious conflict with others. God desires a sincere gift, not tarnished with unreconciled differences and past hurts. We are responsible to make sure people we have offended, or been offended by, are freed from the bondage’s of anger, vengeance, or hate.
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