There is no doubt that the oldest institution in our society, marriage, is crumbling. My heart breaks over and over again as I hear of yet another divorce. I don't even need to know the family being torn apart, I know the decision of each couple giving up on their marriage will have a ripple effect that we cannot see the end of.
Many books are written to hopefully strengthen marriages, but 'Love and Respect' gives the God-key to a satisfying and fulfilling relationship between husband and wife. Dr. Emerson addresses the basic differences in how men and women `think' and the difference in their deepest need.
The back cover says..."A wife has one driving need- to feel loved. When that need is met, she is happy. A husband has one driving need - to feel respected. When that need is met he is happy."
If you `get that' you get the book.
I totally agree with the principle laid out ... and it is laid out VERY clearly ....but I found the book very repetitive - the same thing said over and over again, especially in the first part of the book. While I found that weakness irritating, the message is so good that I forgave the author and I do recommend the book for the truth that it proclaims!
`Getting' the message of this book WILL strengthen your marriage. I especially would recommend it to young people anticipating marriage - it will give them the key to build a godly marriage on a solid God-given foundation.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Fear Only Fear Itself
I admire Max Lucado's ability to use words in a way that turn a thought into mind arresting phrases and his latest book did not disappoint me.
"Fearless" is like the gentle lullaby of a mother soothing her troubled child. It is a book that you will want to keep beside your bed to re-read when Fear knocks on your door. Lucado's advice is "Just don't invite it in for dinner, and for heaven's sake don't offer it a bed for the night."
Lucado describes the pandemic of fear in our society.
"We sophisticate investment plans, create elaboratesecurity systems, and legislate stronger military, yet we depend on mood alteringdrugs more than any other generation in history. Moreover,ordinary children today are more fearful than psychiatric patients werein the 1950s."
All of us struggle with fear at some point in our life. `Fearless' addresses our fears, how they cripple us with their power to destroy. Fear brings with it a perceived loss of control, attacks our character, causes spiritual anmesia, makes safety our god. When we fear we cannot love deeply, we cannot give of ourselves nor dream.
Lucado raises the questions but repeatedly points to the answer.. Jesus.
The storm Jesus stilled wasn't just a little storm, it was a `siesmos' storm. The Greek word `siesmos' used in Matt. 8:24 indicates a HUGE kind of storm. It is interesting to note that Siesmos is the same Greek root chosen to form our word seismograph for measuring earthquakes. Though the storm was terrifying, three words from Jesus "Peace, be still" answered the disciples terror. Only JESUS is a safe place. He never leaves us, He never panics, He repeats over and over "Don't be afraid."
An acrostic gives an eight step solution to combat fear.... Pray first, Easy now, Act on it, Compile a worry list, Evaluate your worry categories, Focus on today, Unleash a worry army, Let God be enough .... follow this plan ...and you will be P E A C E F U L .
Are you worried about the economy? About your investments? About how you will hold onto your stuff?? Lucado shrinks our fears by making us look at the big picture..... "After all, it's just Monopoly money. It all goes back in the box when the game is over."
This book is an easy read but it is a book that puts fear into perspective for the one who is a child of God. Love and Trust dispel fear. We can face whatever comes our way if we just put our hand in His hand and look into His face.
(The included study guide makes the book a good choice for group discussion)
"Fearless" is like the gentle lullaby of a mother soothing her troubled child. It is a book that you will want to keep beside your bed to re-read when Fear knocks on your door. Lucado's advice is "Just don't invite it in for dinner, and for heaven's sake don't offer it a bed for the night."
Lucado describes the pandemic of fear in our society.
"We sophisticate investment plans, create elaboratesecurity systems, and legislate stronger military, yet we depend on mood alteringdrugs more than any other generation in history. Moreover,ordinary children today are more fearful than psychiatric patients werein the 1950s."
All of us struggle with fear at some point in our life. `Fearless' addresses our fears, how they cripple us with their power to destroy. Fear brings with it a perceived loss of control, attacks our character, causes spiritual anmesia, makes safety our god. When we fear we cannot love deeply, we cannot give of ourselves nor dream.
Lucado raises the questions but repeatedly points to the answer.. Jesus.
The storm Jesus stilled wasn't just a little storm, it was a `siesmos' storm. The Greek word `siesmos' used in Matt. 8:24 indicates a HUGE kind of storm. It is interesting to note that Siesmos is the same Greek root chosen to form our word seismograph for measuring earthquakes. Though the storm was terrifying, three words from Jesus "Peace, be still" answered the disciples terror. Only JESUS is a safe place. He never leaves us, He never panics, He repeats over and over "Don't be afraid."
An acrostic gives an eight step solution to combat fear.... Pray first, Easy now, Act on it, Compile a worry list, Evaluate your worry categories, Focus on today, Unleash a worry army, Let God be enough .... follow this plan ...and you will be P E A C E F U L .
Are you worried about the economy? About your investments? About how you will hold onto your stuff?? Lucado shrinks our fears by making us look at the big picture..... "After all, it's just Monopoly money. It all goes back in the box when the game is over."
This book is an easy read but it is a book that puts fear into perspective for the one who is a child of God. Love and Trust dispel fear. We can face whatever comes our way if we just put our hand in His hand and look into His face.
(The included study guide makes the book a good choice for group discussion)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Sealed
Some words are used soo often and with such familiarity that we become somewhat cavalier regarding their meaning .
Have you thought of the word ‘sealed’ recently?
I looked it up in an online dictionary and was struck with the strength of the word.
The given definitions used word phrases such as -- Established or determined irrevocably, incapable of being retracted or revoked, closed or secured , to close tightly or surround with a barricade.
That gives ‘sealed’ a pretty solid ring of permanency and authority.
The word – sealed- is a biblical word and I love the law of first usage in scripture to give us the intended understanding of the word.
We have the word first used in the story of Cain.
Cain was a young man who would be a case in point against all the modern psychology that lays blame for a young man going wrong, at the feet of his parents and social environment.
Cain had no such excuses.
He had parents who learned parenting directly from God, there was no bad crowd to fall in with, no temptations of worldly interests or amusement places, no drugs to craze his mind.
He lived in as sterile a world as ever anyone has.
Yet as a grown man, he went wrong . Sin lurked in his heart waiting for expression and when his ‘unworthy’ offering to God was not accepted and his brother Abel’s was, he turned in rage toward his brother and killed him.
Sin must be punished. God sentenced Cain to be cursed from the earth to be a fugitive banned from the face of God.
It is interesting that Cain’s immediate response was fear of the very thing he himself was guilty of --- murder.
God responded to his fear that someone would find him with murderous intent by setting a mark (or seal) on him that would prevent anyone from killing him. We are not told what this mark said. Perhaps “under God’s protection” ? Whatever it was , it was powerful enough to ensure Cain’s life.
I was thinking of this the other day, and scriptures came to mind like 2 Co 1:22 “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
If we belong to Jesus, we are SEALED. But what does this mean, practically speaking?
In Cain’s situation it meant that no enemy could take his life. There is another verse in Ez. 9:6 that also speaks of a seal protecting from judgement and death. In Rev. 7:3 again we are told that harm will not come to those who are sealed by God.
Holding true to the scriptural meaning given, having God’s seal means that we can walk among the enemy without fear. Satan cannot touch us, harm cannot overtake us -- we are safe ! This is no ordinary seal placed upon us … it is the seal of God. Need we fear it will not recognized or respected? I think not.
We can walk through our days without fear of what the enemy may do. He can only lurk on the sidelines trying to taunt or confuse us with his lies…but we , marked by the seal of God, have the freedom to simply ignore him.
Next time you are afraid … think on this … You are sealed by the God of the Universe!! You are safe!
**
Have you thought of the word ‘sealed’ recently?
I looked it up in an online dictionary and was struck with the strength of the word.
The given definitions used word phrases such as -- Established or determined irrevocably, incapable of being retracted or revoked, closed or secured , to close tightly or surround with a barricade.
That gives ‘sealed’ a pretty solid ring of permanency and authority.
The word – sealed- is a biblical word and I love the law of first usage in scripture to give us the intended understanding of the word.
We have the word first used in the story of Cain.
Cain was a young man who would be a case in point against all the modern psychology that lays blame for a young man going wrong, at the feet of his parents and social environment.
Cain had no such excuses.
He had parents who learned parenting directly from God, there was no bad crowd to fall in with, no temptations of worldly interests or amusement places, no drugs to craze his mind.
He lived in as sterile a world as ever anyone has.
Yet as a grown man, he went wrong . Sin lurked in his heart waiting for expression and when his ‘unworthy’ offering to God was not accepted and his brother Abel’s was, he turned in rage toward his brother and killed him.
Sin must be punished. God sentenced Cain to be cursed from the earth to be a fugitive banned from the face of God.
It is interesting that Cain’s immediate response was fear of the very thing he himself was guilty of --- murder.
God responded to his fear that someone would find him with murderous intent by setting a mark (or seal) on him that would prevent anyone from killing him. We are not told what this mark said. Perhaps “under God’s protection” ? Whatever it was , it was powerful enough to ensure Cain’s life.
I was thinking of this the other day, and scriptures came to mind like 2 Co 1:22 “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
If we belong to Jesus, we are SEALED. But what does this mean, practically speaking?
In Cain’s situation it meant that no enemy could take his life. There is another verse in Ez. 9:6 that also speaks of a seal protecting from judgement and death. In Rev. 7:3 again we are told that harm will not come to those who are sealed by God.
Holding true to the scriptural meaning given, having God’s seal means that we can walk among the enemy without fear. Satan cannot touch us, harm cannot overtake us -- we are safe ! This is no ordinary seal placed upon us … it is the seal of God. Need we fear it will not recognized or respected? I think not.
We can walk through our days without fear of what the enemy may do. He can only lurk on the sidelines trying to taunt or confuse us with his lies…but we , marked by the seal of God, have the freedom to simply ignore him.
Next time you are afraid … think on this … You are sealed by the God of the Universe!! You are safe!
**
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
When Your Children Shall Ask
And how we treasure the memories we build over the years.
Do you know that it is pleasing to God when we do ?
When the Israelites crossed the Jordon they were commanded to pile up twelve stones for one reason! A memory trigger !
In Joshua 4:21 God's people were told that when in the future their children would pass by these stones and ask "What are these stones?", they were to tell them the stories of how God had brought them through the Jordon.
In Joshua 4:21 God's people were told that when in the future their children would pass by these stones and ask "What are these stones?", they were to tell them the stories of how God had brought them through the Jordon.
Piling up rocks wherever we go is rather impractical in our modern times... but we still build memories with our cameras!
Here in this post I am sharing some of my 'memory stones' that I gathered on our trip to the Pacific Rim National Park in Tofino, Vancouver Island. (I'm sorry the following photos are not in sequential order.... but Blogger does not allow me to move them around without you losing the ability to click on them to enlarge them)
This house was perched on the rocky cliff overlooking the ocean a short beach walk from where we stayed. I stood looking at the house thinking I would like to live there. Today I heard the house is for sale, for a paltry sum of over 8 million dollars.
We so enjoyed exploring the caves and natural rock tunnels on the rocky shore of the beach that lay a few meters from our villa windows.
On the drive to Long Beach we passed beautiful water pools carved out of solid rock. Daring young people were jumping off the rocks into these pools.
Rocky cliffs that could be explored when the tide was out, caves that are filled with water when the tide is in.
Relaxing in our luxurious villa at Pacific Sands Resort. If you ever go to Tofino I highly recommend this family owned resort right on a private beach.
I love the waves coming in and crashing up against the rocks.
How interesting was the chevron pattern the receding waves made in the sand.
A sea gull proudly looking out to sea!
My daughter and son-in-love on an evening stroll, taken from our window.
My granddaughters and I skipping with a sea onion 'rope' ... Well, Ok.. I wasn't skipping, just holding the sea onion end. smile.
Apparently there was some kind of surfing meets or something going on while we were there. There were so many surfers, as the one in the above photo, surfing from early morning until after dark.
We never tired of sounds and movement of the ocean waves. Those are my grandgirls feet. 
Lots of colorful starfish , aneomes , barnacles and clams in their shells revealed when the tide was out. 
Beautiful in the evening dusk. View from our living room window.
Also from our Villa window but with the sun shining on the waves. 
Shadows/reflections in the wet sand .
This is a tree in the Cathedral Grove park. The standing tree is 76 meters tall, 9 meters in circumference and was 300 years old when Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. 
After waiting over 4 hours at Departure Bay in Nanaimo, we finally boarded the new Coastal Renaissance ferry on our way home. The sunset was beautiful.
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