Tag: Scripture

Posted in Believe it or not!, Blessings of Habit, Inspiring, Photos, Scripture, Wisdom

Dust to Dust Do-Over

Posted on by Katharine

the rejectionLet’s lengthen yesterday’s list of sins against us:
rape,
lying,
rejecting,
breaking and entering,
laying-off.

Have I hit you yet?

What to do! Outside of calling the police, or suing, which can be legitimate actions, how do we finally get some peace about the hurtful things people do to us?

Forgiveness.

Yes, that’s the answer; that’s how we get peace. And forgiveness is often the one thing we least understand and least want.

Like bad-tasting medicine.

I know.

Just as in yesterday’s post, the first reason is God.

1.  God. God requires us to forgive. This is the best reason because when we are wounded and aching on the inside, we don’t understand much—but we don’t even have to think. We just know what He requires and we prepare to go there.

God also promises to reward our forgiveness toward others with His forgiveness toward us, which, if we are honest, should highly motivate us.

And like any good father, God teaches by example. He shows us how to do forgiveness, in the most radical, graphic way.

2.  Man. Man wants and needs forgiveness. Who among us is innocent?

To keep God’s forgiveness, we must be forgiving. Since He has shown us His awesome power to forgive, how can we do less than try to imitate Him? That is His thinking.

Forgiveness also frees man to be able to hear God. Before we forgive, all we can hear from Him is how we ought to forgive. Once we are over that hurdle, He can show us so much more.

Lack of forgiveness binds us to the sinner we refuse to forgive. This is so scary. What it means is that when we refuse to forgive sin against us, when we hug it up to ourselves and get it out and look at it every day, we start BEING like that sin.

Look at it this way: With a physical wound, if we treat it correctly, we can greatly minimize the scarring. But if we refuse to remove the dirt, refuse to medicate it, refuse a bandage, and continue picking at it, we make it worse. Bigger. Deeper. Uglier. Longer-lasting. More painful.

With a spiritual wound, we can even pass it down to our children…

3.  Satan. Of course, he hates forgiveness, a real no-brainer, right?

The fun thing about this is when we obey God about forgiving, we SHUT THE DOOR TO HIS ENEMY. This is exactly what we need.

The reverse is also true, though: when we disobey about forgiving, we open a door to him and his horrible ways.

Stop by tomorrow for Part 3, about what forgiveness actually is.

I promise you, you will find it WONDERFUL NEWS!

_________________________________-

Image by Andreas Winterer via Flickr

Posted in Believe it or not!, Blessings of Habit, Homemaking, Inspiring, Photos, Sayings, Scripture, Wisdom

Cheery Tomatoes

Posted on by Katharine
sad vines
Sad Vines
I can’t exactly call them cherry tomatoes, although they are of that variety. Trouble is, cherries are red.
But these are cheer, personified. I planted them beside my front porch because they would be yellow and everything in the front of our house is yellow, from the roses, to the foundation plantings.
happy fruit
Happy Fruits

As you can see, the vines have become bedraggled, as is normal for all annual type plants in fall. What you cannot see is how much better they look than they did even a week ago. I mourned all the promising green fruits because I thought they were dying. Maybe they were.

But they did not give up. They eventually received some rain and the temps are so much milder, now, these poor South American natives can finally breathe and reproduce! Like the “Little Engine That Could” they thought they could until they did.
I love how the most hope-giving mottos of life are from the Bible: “Do not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season, ye shall reap, if ye faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)
How many times have I held on because of those words! How many times have I not wanted to forgive, but did, anyway. How many times have I feared, but followed through; have I reached out, tended to, lent a hand, smiled, listened, when I really wanted to go my own way.
How many times have I offered to help and been handed something too hard, something I then had to learn how to do, because, after all, I offered? And then I learned more than I knew was possible for me to grasp. And my life became richer. And my thanksgiving became more sincere. And my love became deeper.
Let’s keep on keeping on. Let’s not give up. Let’s “faint not”.
Posted in Believe it or not!, Blessings of Habit, Husbands, Inspiring, Photos, Scripture, Wisdom, Wives

Seven Reasons Why Your Christian Husband Can’t Do Better – Part 6

Posted on by Katharine

Reason #6

He Is Trying to Please You

The man living to please his wife is afraid. He won’t measure up. He’ll make a mistake. He’s sure of it.

Candle in the Window
Candle in the Window (Photo credit: Chris Campbell)

How did he get this way? Probably, he suffered at the hands of his parents.

However, he gets no relief from kicking himself unless he knows you’re happy, and convincing him of your happiness can be hard. His service to you goes beyond Christian charity. Face it: You are an idol in his life. He’ll likely fail to do much for the Lord unless he takes his eyes off you, turns around, and looks to Jesus.

Solution #6: How do you dance with a man who won’t lead? How tempting simply to express your opinion, let him fulfill your will, and live it up!

Yes, it is.

Is that Godly?

No, it is not.

God wants you to be a helper, fit for him, but he is afraid. He fears losing you, failing you, displeasing you…he fears YOU!

The fear of man (or woman) is a snare. God wants him to stand, throw off this fear, know the voice of Jesus, and walk in the light.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

It’s not your fault. Someone has done this to him, but you suffer, too. Someone has broken, squashed, or grated on your man, when he was a little boy. To him, anything would be worse than your displeasure. Somehow, someone has to undo this wrong.

The hard part is dying to yourself. If your husband had a physical handicap, you’d never think of tripping him when he walked. You’d gladly fetch his cane, rub liniment, or whatever, to help him heal.

Instead, his affliction is emotional. The things that trip him are the everyday nuances of personality that anyone else can bear. A pout, a sigh, or a frown make you appear to be unhappy. He is alarmed. He quizzes you. You resent it. He feels shut out. You feel helpless. It never ends.

You are in a powerful position, though, to minister healing in the name of Jesus.

You can convince him that it would please you most for him to ask God’s will instead of seeking yours. He will not be easy to convince.

You can encourage him to go ahead and risk making a mistake. He will despair over it, even in his sleep.

You can accept him, blunders, and all. He will be awaiting your rejection, instead.

He wants you to be his Light that shows him the way each day. God wants you to be the light in the window to draw him back home each night.

You can assure him that you will love him for a lifetime, no matter what. If it takes a lifetime, it truly does not matter. It is do-able. Minister acceptance to your husband and you will be an instrument in God’s hand to help him stand tall in the acceptance that is his in Jesus Christ. You will become the helper he needs, a helper that is fit for him, his helpmeet.

If he were a missionary, he would need a missionary helpmeet. If he were a lawyer, he would need a helpmeet who could maneuver in society. If he were poor, he would need a helpmeet who could follow a budget. If he were lame, he would need a helpmeet who could endure the smell of liniment.

Instead of these requirements, your husband needs mending. He needs time. He needs smiles. He needs space. Above all, he needs to know of your love on a daily, or even hourly basis. Tell him, show him, and prove to him, many times over, that you love him. Never think that now, finally, you have convinced him.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. (Proverbs 31:11) So says Scripture of the good wife. It then lists the benefits the good wife provides for her husband so that he need not venture out for them. You can provide cheer, comfort, love, and acceptance for him. He need not look beyond your lovely face for hope. You can show him, even be for him the love of Jesus manifested into his life. You can help him see the hope that lies in Jesus.

Listen to this conversation between a married couple from Scripture: “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!” But his wife answered, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.” Can you see the way Samson’s mother tried to instill hope and joy into the heart of her husband, who was relating to good tidings from a basis of fear?

You can do the same. You can help your husband love God and look to Him for guidance. You can help him learn to trust in the love of God. You can help him relax in the presence of God. You can be good tidings, in his life. He will begin to trust you. He will join your children in rising up to call you blessed. He will begin to praise you. He will feel safe.

It will be the first time in his life.

___________________________

Image by Chris Campbell via Flickr

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Posted in Believe it or not!, Blessings of Habit, Husbands, Inspiring, Scripture, Wisdom, Wives

Seven Reasons Your Christian Husband Can’t Do Better – Part 4

Posted on by Katharine

Reason #4

His Wife Practices Witchcraft

If this concept is new to you, it will be hard. Nevertheless, it is truth. You want the truth, I know. You want your husband to overcome. Reality is very important. If you are practicing witchcraft, you are opening the door to all the demons of hell to have their way with you and your family. You may not have heard of this before, but it’s in your Bible. You need to question why you’ve never heard of it.

Solution #4: Of course, the answer is to stop, confess, repent, renounce, and never look back. Let’s begin with the obvious, and this is not a complete list:

  • If you are now, or ever have done horoscopes, D&D, Ouija, etc., then you must stop.
  • Read occult fiction? Stop.
  • Watch occult movies? Stop.
  • Demonic computer games? Stop.
  • “Into” Indian religions? Stop.
  • TM, yoga, ninja, jujitsu, karate, etc., all have to go.
  • Own pagan statuary? It is an offense to God.

Throw all this, and any similar trash, into a big pile and burn it. Yes, burn it. Find people to pray with you. Find friends who believe God about what He said on these matters to explain to you: How much he meant what He said!

It’s an emergency. There is no time or room for arguing about this. You are in danger. Get help. You’ll love being free.

If you are thinking how good you are to be so free, you are the primary target of this post, because you do understand. So, look at one verse of Scripture, 1 Samuel 15:23: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” Is the Lord already speaking to your heart?

Dear Sister, if you are rebelling against your husband’s leading, you are opening the door to witchcraft in your home. I know this is a heart-breaking Word, if you’re taking it seriously. Please, take it seriously. You are playing with fire.

When your husband expresses his will and your thoughts turn rebellious, you’re rebelling against God, similar to Saul. Your excuses are sounding like Saul’s. It doesn’t matter if your husband seems mistaken. It doesn’t matter if you are expert at the subject about which he reserves judgment. It doesn’t matter if his decisions are untimely, or even waste time. Nothing else matters if witchcraft is in the home. How unfair to expect good decisions from a man living alongside witchcraft!

The first move is up to you, no matter what your husband has done. Go to God and repent. Weep and wail for the misery that has and will overcome you. Then apologize to your husband. After that, you must commit the rest of your life to walk in submission to God, through your husband.

If you see you’ve caused the problem, do whatever you must to stop. How can anyone survive, spiritually, living within an invitation to witchcraft? Close the door to the enemy and watch your husband begin to walk freer. Watch your children begin to walk freer. Watch them begin to understand submission and submit more freely to you.

The enemy will hate this move. He’ll batter the windows of your soul with storms you never dreamed of. Don’t be afraid: fear is another storm to make you give up. Don’t give up. Close the windows. Walk in love for your Savior and for your husband. Love will give you bravery. Ask God to perfect your love for Him, and your family. His love will tame the raging rebellion lion. Then you’ll experience one of my favorite Scriptures: Ps 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

It sounds so good, doesn’t it? It is good. It is the peace that passes all understanding, dwelling in your heart, your home, and your life—worth any price. Invite the Prince of Peace into your existence. You will never be sorry you did.

Posted in Believe it or not!, Blessings of Habit, Husbands, Inspiring, Photos, Sayings, Scripture, Wisdom, Wives

Seven Reasons Your Christian Husband Can’t Do Better – Part 3

Posted on by Katharine
Discouraged

Reason #3

He Is in Bondage

What does this mean?

Just as it sounds, he has cords, chains tied around his life and he is unable to escape from his sins. They pursue him, overtake him, enslave him. He tries to understand. He explains to himself, rehearsing what he will say if confronted, all to very little avail. It is a rut. He is stuck, tortured, crippled. There seems to be no way out. The power of God over sin seems to be for everyone else.

Solution #3: How does this happen? Sometimes (most times) this condition in someone who claims Christ, comes from unforgiveness.

In Matthew 6:15 the Lord tells us that God’s people must forgive others to receive forgiveness from the Father. The man holding others in unforgiveness places himself in grave spiritual danger. He shows that even greater sin lies dormant within himself, awaiting a moment to manifest. He proves his need for the grace of God while risking forfeiture of that grace. In fact, he refuses grace.

Failing to go for grace when he is needy, he becomes enslaved. It is such a potential for great loss.

There is little you can do if your husband’s unforgiveness is plaguing your marriage. If he is sinning, you can hardly stop sinning for him. Your patience and prayers are the best you can give.

It’s a different story, though, if the wife is holding him in bondage through her unforgiveness. In Matthew 16:19, we find that if a Christian forgives someone, he is forgiven in God’s eyes. God gives us that authority. This means that when your husband is going too fast on the highway, you can forgive him and free him to receive grace to conquer lawlessness. When he overeats, you can forgive him and free him to receive grace to conquer gluttony. When he neglects to pay bills, you can forgive him and free him to receive grace to conquer laziness.

This makes an enormous difference.

Hard to believe? Look at the Apostle Paul. When he called himself “Saul”, he was one of the Romans who helped kill Christians, hardly a small sin, hardly something you could forgive if you found it in your husband. Yet, Stephen forgave Saul, freeing him for his future. Read about it in Acts 7:58 – 9:1. It really happened: A Godly person forgave the unforgivable. He released the sinner to receive Christ’s ministry and become Christ’s minister. What Stephen forgave on this earth was forgiven in heaven. Stephen was like Jesus in his death.

We are called to be like Christ. That is what the word “Christian” means. If Jesus Christ could love and forgive you when you were His enemy, if Stephen could forgive his murderous enemy, how much more should we be willing to forgive the husband of our heart, our beloved, the one we chose to share this life with!

This two-sided commission also gives us authority to hold a man to his sin, to hold him in bondage. Before we shrug this off, remember that if a husband is bound to a sin, the wife is too, because we are bound to them in marriage. Taking this lightly is dangerous because God takes it seriously. You bind your husband to his sin, yourself to him, your children to you both, to the third and fourth generations of them that hate the Lord. Hate is a strong word, but Jesus said it: You cannot serve two masters. You love only one and hate the other. Whomever you serve, is your master. If you serve the god of unforgiveness, I fear for your family.

There is one more fearful facet to this truth: If you hold your daddy in unforgiveness, binding him to his sin, you need to realize you are bound to him, too, as his daughter. Are you seeing some of his same sins in your husband or in your children? Is it beginning to make sense? Forgiveness IS the key, just as God said. The joyful thing is: you hold the key.

Matthew 16:18-19

Posted in Believe it or not!, Husbands, Inspiring, Photos, Scripture, Wisdom, Wives

Seven Reasons Your Christian Husband Can’t Do Better – Part 1

Posted on by Katharine
Sad Man

I’ve caught a bit of a cold and thought I’d take a break by re-posting a series from about a year ago. It is loaned to me from a friend who first published it in a now out-of-print magazine. Hope you enjoy it.

A man is supposed to be a container for the essence of God. He is supposed to be beautiful in his calling to contain the Almighty. There is nothing sadder than an emotionally broken, bruised, wounded, torn, scarred, weak, limping man. It should break your heart and make you cry every time you hear of one.

It breaks Jesus’ heart.

Your husband’s childhood already did enough to hurt your man. It’s time to give him a break. For God’s sake, love him. Give him space to heal.

And take it easy on your sons.

Reason Number 1

 He Is not Saved

I know, I know; we said he’s a Christian. He says he’s a Christian. Everybody, especially you, hopes he’s a Christian, but what IS a Christian?

Is it someone who claims to be a Christian?

The Word promises nothing to people who merely claim to be Christian.

All the promises of God are for those who admit sin, repent, are born again, love and obey God, love the brethren, have the Spirit of Christ Jesus in them, etc. If he is not walking by the Spirit, maybe he is not Spiritual, not born again.

Maybe, unknowingly, he is an impostor.

Solution #1 Pray him into the kingdom. Forgive him.

Stop expecting him to be able to achieve Godliness. Forgive him.

Be scrupulously careful about always submitting to him. Forgive him.

Love him for who he was meant to be. Forgive him.

Hurt with him in his lost misery. Forgive him.

Stop taking his actions so personally. Forgive him.

Beg God for grace in this time of need to minister unto him. Forgive him.

Smile more. Forgive him.

Cry out to God. Fast. Wait upon the Lord.

Be sure not to mistake occasional lapses for lostness. Most people sin. You sin. I sin.

Be sure you are more concerned with his soul than with your reputation. What will your friends think if you have an unsaved husband? Better ask what God will think if you never solicit prayer on your husband’s behalf! Make sure someone is praying for him (not for you/about him.) It will not dishonor him to tell the truth about his lost soul to sisters who are older and are true prayer warriors. Pray down the only help there is for the lost and undone.

Do not think about self in this problem. Pray constantly. Pray for him when you fold his socks, when you pack his lunch, when you wash out his bathtub. Face the truth with the joy that comes from knowing that half the work is done when we see what to do.

Have you always wished you could go to the mission field?

Maybe you are there.

Do not let your disappointment about your marriage cause you to treat your husband with any less respect or joy than you would give to the heathen in some far off country.

However you arrived in the situation within which you find yourself, remember: God saw and knew all the things you didn’t. Stop now, and re-assess your life and its meaning before God. Be kind to the provider that God has provided for you.

Never forget that your service to your husband is to be as unto the Lord. Strive to make him as happy and pleased as you can. Who else, but a wonderful Christian like you, can truly serve and comfort anyone, anyway? Serve. Be a comfort. Win him with kindness and forgiveness.

Take hope.

Be strong and courageous.

Do not fear.

God is with you.

*Image by mrhayata via Flickr