Down The Road

Keeping the Love

Galatians 5:14-15  NKJV 
 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another"

When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon the unity of believers is broken.

Have you talked behind someone's back?

Have you focused on others' shortcomings instead of their strengths?

Remind yourself of Jesus' command to love others as you love yourself. When you begin to feel critical of someone, make a list of that person's positive qualities.

If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to confront someone in the spirit of love than to gossip in secret behind their back - which changes nothing.

People seldom want to hear that they may have areas that call for a little tweeking but the Bible says that we must hold one another accountable for our behavior.

If you know in your heart that you have spoken to someone from the love you have in your heart for them and not out of spite, anger or bitterness and that person refuses to hear the message then you have done all that you can do and the rest is up to them.

Keep the love in your heart. Be kind in your thoughts and keep moving on down the road of life.

 

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I'm With Him

 

 

Father God, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that someone needs to follow a list of rules to really be a Christian, but that's not the kind of faith You want from people. Empower me to share Your Gospel with others in a way that leads them NOT into a religious system, but into a one-on-one, life-changing, awesome relationship with You. Amen!

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The Good Wife's Handbook

The Days of Whine and Noses


You wouldn't have to know me long.


Before you concluded I could use a break now and then.


You'd soon say, "I'm guessing that lady needs a tall latte. Maybe even a dark chocolate truffle." I wouldn't need to explain all this. You would just know.


As a woman, it'd be obvious to you.


You'd take one look at my full-to-overflowing days...and you'd understand exactly what was needed. A small retreat. Away from the noise, and the dogs, and the lives of my children (yes; I did just say that).


Yes. I'm thinking a 16-ounce latte and a quiet, uninterrupted conversation with a tall grown-up. Preferably him - the one who thinks so clearly and has such broad, caring shoulders. Oh, yeah, definitely him. That's what I need. 


Now isn't that readily apparent to you?


But for some reason it was NOT very apparent to my husband and I had a hard time believing he couldn't see it.

So; one day we had a conversation about this need of mine. It began by my asking, "Can I tell you a little bit about me?"

Uhhhh, Yeh sure Hun ... ?

"Well, I love being your wife. I love being a mother. I love being a grandmother. And I love being a good friend that can be depended on. And I most certainly can (and plan) to keep going like this for the rest of my life; God willing."

Small pause, so he'd see I was sincere.

"But you know something else about me? I do sooo much better when I get to step away from here occasionally. Not only get away, but go out and have time together with you. It would do me a world of good."

I drew breath and then finished with, “So do you think we could pull that off? You know ... arrange that on a regular basis?"

He started to laugh (though I didn't really see the humor).

His response? "Weird. I never looked at it that way."

My turn: "Ummmm .. So then how is it that you do look at it?"

"Well, I guess that since I'm away from the house all day, my favorite thing is to come home to you. I love it when we're sitting around together and don't feel a particular need to go back out again. And I thought you felt the same way."

So as it turned out, he really was unaware. I had to explain what I was hoping for and even what that looked like to me. I wasn't asking for an expensive dinner out - just a latte, please (though chocolate wouldn't hurt). Mostly I wanted time with him.

But in his mind, our evenings together at home counted as "time". It didn't count so much with me.

He didn't know what I needed.  That was something he had to hear from me; from my own mouth.

Can I ask how it is that you communicate to your man what you need from him? Can I give you some try and true advice?


1. Pray about it.

Bring it before The Lord first. Ask Him to help you say what you want to say in a loving manner. Also, ask Him to prepare your husband's heart to hear you.


2. Come with a clean heart.

Let go of any bitterness or resentment that might have built up before this. Come with a fresh spirit.


3. Prepare him for the chat.

Don't approach him with two guns blazing and loaded for bear. Simply, quietly and graciously let him know that you've got something on your mind and you're looking forward to sharing it with him.


4. Approach him. Gently.

With words seasoned with grace. Not accusing or demanding or whiny or aggressive. Lovingly and simply laying down your needs before him.


5. Be Patient.

Don't be discouraged if it takes a while to sink in. Men seldom ~get it~  the first time around. Or if you have to repeat your request periodically and in different ways. Patiently and lovingly remind him of your needs. Eventually he'll catch on.


6. Show some appreciation.

If he tries at all, then express gratitude for his efforts. Don't only say it in words, but also in your attitude. Make sure he sees what a difference it makes in your life.


7. Be willing to leave it there.

This is the hardest one. Some of our needs can go for a long time before they're ever met. Others never will be met. At least by him. Because God is the only One who promises to supply all you need (Phil. 4:19) and you have to be ready to live with that.


8. Encourage him.

Believe it or not you may not be the only one that may have needs that aren't being met. Really! In spite of trying to be the very best wife that you can possibly be; there may be some things that he would like to have from you as well. Encourage him to verbalize them. One of the single most important thing that I discovered in these many years of being married is that some times a man just wants to spend a little uninterrupted quality time with his car. Give him a can of Turtle Wax, a few old rags and/or some Armour-all and watch his eyes glaze over...



Being a loving, godly wife and a loving, godly husband doesn't mean that either of you don't have any needs. You can be very content in your marriage and still communicate those things that help you feel loved, feel appreciated, feel wanted or needed. You can bless his life by letting him know the ways he can help meet your needs and you his.

Some days what I need out of life is nothing more is a tall latte. Chocolate. With an extra squirt of whipped cream. And a little quiet time. Some days what I need out of life is time away with my man.

But you already knew that ...

What Does The Holy Word Say?

Bible Word Study
WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?

1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin". 

COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS
THE STRONGEST BOND - BUILT TO LAST FOREVER

A covenant is one of the strongest types of agreement known to man. By definition, it's "a pledge, vow, or promise between two or more parties to carry out the terms agreed on."

A covenant is not based on feelings, but on agreement. When you are in a covenant relationship, you love when it's good and when it's bad ... regardless of the circumstances, you love.

Relationships affect our lives like no other resource. Our friends have the potential to influence us for greatness and godliness, and we can influence other people in the same way. It doesn't matter how strong you are in the Word. It doesn't matter what a great person of faith you are.

Regardless of what a powerful prayer warrior you may be or how "spiritual" you are ... If your relationships aren't what they ought to be, God is going to have a hard time getting good things into your life. Relationships are to be based on the love of God that's been shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit.

WORD STUDY
Study on the following words

'Walk' (Greek wôk):

1. The gait of a human or other biped in which the feet are lifted alternately with one part of a foot always on the ground
2. To move over a surface by taking steps with the feet at a slower pace
3. To go or travel on foot 
 

'Fellowship' (Greek fe'l-o'shp):

1. Friendship; comradeship
2. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms
3. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences,


'Cleanses' (Greek kle'nz):

1. To free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean.
2. To make or become clear by the removal of impurities
3. The act or process of removing physical impurities

God's Word holds some powerful promises where relationships are concerned. If we follow after God's principles of covenant relationships, we will surely know true prosperity in every area of our lives.

Luke 2:52
How does this verse relate to us and our relationships?
 

Psalms 133:1-3
What does this verse say about good relationships?
 

Proverbs18:24
How can we be sure to be the right kind of friend?

GOD'S DOORWAY

Nearly everything that comes into your life; good or bad, comes through the vehicle of relationships. When God wants to bring blessing, increase, instruction or encouragement to you, He'll almost always use a relationship to do it.
 
The Hand of God at Work

When God wants to bless you financially, He doesn't stick a giant hand out of the clouds and drop a bag of gold on your head. Or begin floating down $100 dollar bills from Heaven. No; He'll move on someone's heart to be the instrument of that blessing.

When God wants to encourage you, you don't hear a booming voice from Heaven saying, "Be thou encouraged my child." Nor will you see a celestial note float down from the sky. No, He sends a brother or sister in Christ to put an arm around you, give you a squeeze and say, "I sure do appreciate you." The same is true for every form of blessing and help God wants to give you.

The Devil's Door, Too

Unfortunately, blessing isn't the only thing entering your life through the door of relationships. If your relationships aren't right, trouble, heartache and disappointment will come waltzing through that door with painful frequency. The devil works overtime to keep your relationships from prospering. He'll do everything in his power to keep you and your spouse mad at each other. He'll pull every trick in the book to sow discord in your home, in your workplace and in your church.

Standing on the Promises with the Anointing:

Like any of the promises of God, these promises concerning your relationships don't automatically bloom in your life the day you are born-again. They are seeds that must be planted in your heart and cultivated through faith, confession and corresponding action. As you make a quality decision to prosper relationally, the anointing and power of God will be released in your relationships like never before.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER ON

The person we're at odds with may be the one God wants to use to meet our needs. But if we've spoken badly of them or refused to forgive them, how can God help us? The management of our relationships will certainly affect and impact our quality of life. God does things in the earth through human beings. Even the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, came through the faith of Abraham and the faith of a teenage girl by the name of Mary, who believed God.

People in the world today know little about the unconditional love of God; the kind of love that abides and endures through changing times and the stormy winds of adversity and uncertainty. People everywhere long for relationships motivated by such a love. And in the midst of the chaos and unpredictability of the world today, God has made a way through Jesus Christ for each of us to have that kind of a relationship with God Himself and with those He has brought into our lives ... spouses, children, family, friends and neighbors.

Tend carefully to the Relationship Garden between you and God. The bounty is truly awesome!