OK, I have to admit that I don't have the best marriage in the world. I think it's a good thing to admit the truth, so there it is. Well, since I'm trying to improve my eating habits, my health, and my attitude I found it also important to try my hardest to improve my marriage. I have been reading a great book on marriage called Marriage: The Divine Intimacy by Dr. Jack Schaap. It has some very excellent points. In fact, this is the second time I'm going through it and this time I'm writing down stuff that catches me, so it can be even more ingrained in my mind. I wanted to share some thoughts that I've gotten from it so far that I feel are important and will help others.
Dr. Wendell Evans (president of Hyles-Anderson College) says "Leadership and greatness are epitomized by putting up with people you have the right to put down." I think this is an awesome statement because it teaches me that I have 2 choices and if I want to do the right thing then the right choice is to put up with it (whatever it is) and avoid putting that person down for whatever it is that I don't like.
When a husband (either spouse is applicable) is unwilling to change, then wife must create in her heart the man he could become. You must have a vision for your spouse! Then what you do with that vision is take it to God and pray that he will change your spouse into what you want him or her to be. Now one thing I note is that you shouldn't be selfish about how you want him to change. For example, I want my husband to be more faithful in church, that's not for me, it's for him and it will effect the whole family when he's being spiritually fed. That's a big reason why I want him to get this new job, because he won't have an excuse not to go to church unless he's actually sick or something.
Dirty words with sexual connotation are blasphemous because they defy the intimacy the Christian has through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sex has gotten so misrepresented in society that people use a hand gesture that means "I'd like to have the most intimate, sacred union possible with you." when they are angry with another person. Satan doesn't want us to be close to God so he has found a way to pervert the most sacred and intimate of all unions by making it into the dirtiest of words.
As a person loves the Bible more, he understands more fully what it means to give trust and expression of trust to the one he loves the most. I have found this to be true. The more I read the Bible, the more I deeply desire to read it even, the closer I feel to God and the more I feel like I can tell God anything. I think a lot of people just flippantly say "give it to God" and there are so Christians that don't know how to. I have found that the way my father was growing up is quite similar to the way I view God. As I draw closer to God, though, He seems less like my father and more like who He really really is.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
I hope this is helpful and encouraging. I just really felt like I had to share some of the things I have learned. They may help you in all your relationships and especially your marriage if you are struggling.
God bless, Jo
Friday, January 27, 2006
Friday, January 13, 2006
James 3:13-18
13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is , there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
This portion of my reading today just really spoke to me. The word conversation in the KJV bible is actually more like lifestyle. People will know you are wise or spiritual by how you live your life. Envying and strife bring about confusion and other bad things, but if you are living in the wisdom from God you'll have good fruits. I want to become a person that is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to get along with, full of mercy and good fruits. I don't want to be partial and I certainly, with all my heart, don't want to be a hypocrite. If you make peace, you'll sow peace!
God bless, Jo
This portion of my reading today just really spoke to me. The word conversation in the KJV bible is actually more like lifestyle. People will know you are wise or spiritual by how you live your life. Envying and strife bring about confusion and other bad things, but if you are living in the wisdom from God you'll have good fruits. I want to become a person that is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to get along with, full of mercy and good fruits. I don't want to be partial and I certainly, with all my heart, don't want to be a hypocrite. If you make peace, you'll sow peace!
God bless, Jo
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Quantas Airlines Machanic Report
There are very few things that make me laugh this hard. I got this from one of my email groups and I was just about crying from laughing.
After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet,"
which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics
correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots
review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that
ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance
complaints submitted by Qantas' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions
recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is
the only major airline that has never had an accident.
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land feature not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on backorder.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're for.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in "OFF" mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
And the best one for last...
P: Noise sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.
After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet,"
which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics
correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots
review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that
ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance
complaints submitted by Qantas' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions
recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is
the only major airline that has never had an accident.
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land feature not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on backorder.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're for.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in "OFF" mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
And the best one for last...
P: Noise sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Romans 6
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him , that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ came to cover our sins. He died once, to cover all. That does not mean that we can just do whatever we want because we're saved. Sure God gave us a great gift, his Son paid for our sins so we wouldn't have to, but that doesn't mean we go on sinning. We may have a battle within ourselves to do good or bad (see Romans 7), but the desire should be to do good. Your will should be to do what is right in God's eyes and not what's right in your own. Your flesh might (and probably will) want to do whatever it pleases, but your spirit ought to want to do right. Of course we're not going to be perfect, but your fruit should show that you are a Christian. Become a servant to righteousness in God!
Christ came to cover our sins. He died once, to cover all. That does not mean that we can just do whatever we want because we're saved. Sure God gave us a great gift, his Son paid for our sins so we wouldn't have to, but that doesn't mean we go on sinning. We may have a battle within ourselves to do good or bad (see Romans 7), but the desire should be to do good. Your will should be to do what is right in God's eyes and not what's right in your own. Your flesh might (and probably will) want to do whatever it pleases, but your spirit ought to want to do right. Of course we're not going to be perfect, but your fruit should show that you are a Christian. Become a servant to righteousness in God!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Romans 5
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so , but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so , but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
I think this passage states that God knows we were born sinful. He knows we'll make mistakes and he loves us anyway, has loved us since before we came to Christ. Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death and therefore we can have the victory. If you return the the beginning, you will see that journey through life will not be without trouble. We will have tribulation, but remember that tribulations help us learn patience and with that we gain experience. Then we can take the outcomes of previous trials and looking back at those victories we can have hope for victory in our present trial. I know it's taken me a long time to learn from history and realize that God will bring me through everything, he just wants me to rely on him to work all things together for good (Romans 8:28). It makes me so happy to think that God showed his love to us by Christ dying for our sins before any of them were ever committed. That was the plan from the beginning of creation, to send a Savior and cleanse all sends, past present and future.
Thank you Jesus for loving the unlovable and healing the hurting! God is SO good!!
God bless, Jo
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so , but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
I think this passage states that God knows we were born sinful. He knows we'll make mistakes and he loves us anyway, has loved us since before we came to Christ. Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death and therefore we can have the victory. If you return the the beginning, you will see that journey through life will not be without trouble. We will have tribulation, but remember that tribulations help us learn patience and with that we gain experience. Then we can take the outcomes of previous trials and looking back at those victories we can have hope for victory in our present trial. I know it's taken me a long time to learn from history and realize that God will bring me through everything, he just wants me to rely on him to work all things together for good (Romans 8:28). It makes me so happy to think that God showed his love to us by Christ dying for our sins before any of them were ever committed. That was the plan from the beginning of creation, to send a Savior and cleanse all sends, past present and future.
Thank you Jesus for loving the unlovable and healing the hurting! God is SO good!!
God bless, Jo
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