I overheard a conversation at the gym yesterday [yes I am trying to lose weight and tone up] between these two ladies and it really touched my heart so I am asking this question.
What do you do when your husband is now just a room mate? You both live in the same house, he cooks for himself, does his own laundry, cleans up after himself, though you both sleep on the same bed, he never touches you nor try to make love to you. If you are in the living room, he is in the bedroom and when you are in the bedroom he is in the living room or somewhere else in the house.
Apparently they have been married for a while, the woman wants to have children but the man is dragging his feet on the child bearing issue hence his playing the abstinence game. He refuses to go anywhere with her, makes excuses for his behaviors but still claims he loves her. She was deeply troubled about his attitude towards, any attempt she makes to talk to him or get him to seek help is rebuffed.
I know alot of our women have this issue but no one is trying to address it but sweep it under the carpet and present a godly [all if fine and dandy] face out to the world. We all here about letting your man have his way in the bedroom anytime he wants it but how about when you want it and he is giving excuses like, " I am tired, I have back ache, I have head ache" and this goes on for months.
From the conversation yesterday I found out the woman is a christian and does not believe in divorce and she has tried getting him to a christian marriage therapist but he refuses saying there is nothing wrong with him and he does not want to see a therapist or her pastor and she appears to be at the end of her rope.
Please I need inputs so at least I can print them out and give to her discreetly the next time I see her.
My heart truly bleeds for her and I know yours will be too. God bless you.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Looking Back with a Thankful Heart.
Looking Back
By: CWalther
When I look back I discover hurt, disappointment, and situations I wish I hadn’t have to face in life. There are things I will have to forget and people I (still) need to forgive.
It’s hard to imagine the lovely blue sky above when all you can see are the clouds in the sky. It’s then that you just want to pack up your things and escape to a place where there is nothing but blue skies and lovely sunshine.
We need to let go and move forward, true. But I don’t intend to be talking about these kinds of things and situations today. What I want to be writing about today is: Looking back to remind ourselves of things we must remember.
At the moment we are facing some “dry land”. Sure, it is lovely to be living in Ireland! We call ourselves blessed to be able to live here - where we can experience the variety of God’s wonderful Creation. What I mean with “dry land” is that we, after we arrived here, started out with “nothing” again: No car, no (own) furniture, etc. And it is tempting to start complaining... and wishing for... if you know, what I mean.
Now it is time to look back and remember!
Looking back to the days just after we’ve gotten married, and to them that followed: We started out with literally nothing. We bought one cup, one spoon, one towel at a time - and shopping was always quite exciting! Soon, we were richly blessed - the LORD was always faithful and kept on providing for us - and had more than enough.
Today, looking back, I want to remember and be thankful for all that the LORD had blessed us with.
We should not be looking back all the times. It makes no sense to be living in the past. On the other side, don’t forget to be looking back: To remember all the many blessings God has brought into your life.
My Footnote: Sometimes looking back seems like the best thing to do but one need to move forward, looking back to what shoulda coulda happened or what didn't happen. That job you didn't get, that engagement that got broken, that dream wedding that never happened, that promotion that never came but what came instead was a pink slip. We can slip into depression thinking on those things we never had, that goal we never attained but remember the bible did say "a living dog is better than a dead lion". We need to be thankful for those days gone by and be appreciative of where we are now and thank God for the future. "Because He lives, we can face tomorrow". God has a plan and purpose for our living if we can just continue to trust Him daily to supply the strength needed for living. So today look back with a thankful heart and move on to a brighter future. God bless you.
Lord, heal my hurts and give me hope as I learn to trust the plans You have for me. I'm coming to You and seeking You with all my heart today. Please set me free from my doubts and lead me into a place of confident hope. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
By: CWalther
When I look back I discover hurt, disappointment, and situations I wish I hadn’t have to face in life. There are things I will have to forget and people I (still) need to forgive.
It’s hard to imagine the lovely blue sky above when all you can see are the clouds in the sky. It’s then that you just want to pack up your things and escape to a place where there is nothing but blue skies and lovely sunshine.
We need to let go and move forward, true. But I don’t intend to be talking about these kinds of things and situations today. What I want to be writing about today is: Looking back to remind ourselves of things we must remember.
At the moment we are facing some “dry land”. Sure, it is lovely to be living in Ireland! We call ourselves blessed to be able to live here - where we can experience the variety of God’s wonderful Creation. What I mean with “dry land” is that we, after we arrived here, started out with “nothing” again: No car, no (own) furniture, etc. And it is tempting to start complaining... and wishing for... if you know, what I mean.
Now it is time to look back and remember!
Looking back to the days just after we’ve gotten married, and to them that followed: We started out with literally nothing. We bought one cup, one spoon, one towel at a time - and shopping was always quite exciting! Soon, we were richly blessed - the LORD was always faithful and kept on providing for us - and had more than enough.
Today, looking back, I want to remember and be thankful for all that the LORD had blessed us with.
We should not be looking back all the times. It makes no sense to be living in the past. On the other side, don’t forget to be looking back: To remember all the many blessings God has brought into your life.
My Footnote: Sometimes looking back seems like the best thing to do but one need to move forward, looking back to what shoulda coulda happened or what didn't happen. That job you didn't get, that engagement that got broken, that dream wedding that never happened, that promotion that never came but what came instead was a pink slip. We can slip into depression thinking on those things we never had, that goal we never attained but remember the bible did say "a living dog is better than a dead lion". We need to be thankful for those days gone by and be appreciative of where we are now and thank God for the future. "Because He lives, we can face tomorrow". God has a plan and purpose for our living if we can just continue to trust Him daily to supply the strength needed for living. So today look back with a thankful heart and move on to a brighter future. God bless you.
Lord, heal my hurts and give me hope as I learn to trust the plans You have for me. I'm coming to You and seeking You with all my heart today. Please set me free from my doubts and lead me into a place of confident hope. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Being Thankful Changes Everything
Lysa TerKeurst
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 (NIV 1984)
It was 1992. I sat on the bed, tears streaming down my face, negative thoughts racing through my mind...Why does marriage have to be so hard sometimes? Why can't he see my side of things? Why won't he change? Maybe I married the wrong man.
This was a scene repeated over and over the first five years of my marriage. I was discouraged, overwhelmed and so tempted to give up.
But here I am 19 years later, feeling so thankful I didn't walk away.
Ephesians 6:12 has reminded me over the years that my husband isn't my enemy. Art may feel like my enemy, but the truth is Satan is the real enemy who hates marriage and schemes against my husband and me.
Satan's goal is always to be one who casts something between two to cause a separation.
Satan wants to separate us in every way. He wants to separate us with conflict, hurt feelings, misunderstanding, and frustrations of all kinds.
He wants to separate us from our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our parents, our spouses, our kids.
He wants to separate us from God's best. He wants to separate us from God's heart.
One of the strategic ways Satan starts these separations is by luring us into a place of grumbling and complaining. If he can get us to focus on what is aggravating and downright negative in life, then little cracks of distance start forming in our relationships.
The grass starts looking greener everywhere else except where we are standing.
I can see this so clearly when I look back on the first five years of my marriage. Somehow, I became so hyper focused on all I felt was wrong with my husband, I became blinded to all that was good.
I grumbled and complained and nagged and set out to change him.
And I almost destroyed my marriage in the process.
Satan had a field day as the separation between Art and I kept ever widening. We went to counseling but my heart was so hurt—so hardened, I refused to connect on any level. I was bitter, grumpy and miserable.
Then one day as I was in a fit of tears asking God to please make things better, I felt challenged to start listing out things about Art that for which I was thankful.
It was hard at first. I had bought Satan's whispers seeing only the negative and believing there was very little positive to find.
But, with each positive quality I listed, slowly my perspective changed. It was as if the clouds of negativity lifted and I could see his good qualities once again.
How sad that I spent five years thinking the grass would be greener somewhere else. Now I know the grass is always greener where you water and fertilize it. And being thankful — really intentionally listing out things for which we are thankful — is a great way to start watering and fertilizing. It changes everything.
Dear Lord, thank You for helping me see how beneficial it is to be aware and appreciative of the good qualities in those I love. Lord, help me to recognize Satan's schemes and combat them with the power of having a truly thankful heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 (NIV 1984)
It was 1992. I sat on the bed, tears streaming down my face, negative thoughts racing through my mind...Why does marriage have to be so hard sometimes? Why can't he see my side of things? Why won't he change? Maybe I married the wrong man.
This was a scene repeated over and over the first five years of my marriage. I was discouraged, overwhelmed and so tempted to give up.
But here I am 19 years later, feeling so thankful I didn't walk away.
Ephesians 6:12 has reminded me over the years that my husband isn't my enemy. Art may feel like my enemy, but the truth is Satan is the real enemy who hates marriage and schemes against my husband and me.
Satan's goal is always to be one who casts something between two to cause a separation.
Satan wants to separate us in every way. He wants to separate us with conflict, hurt feelings, misunderstanding, and frustrations of all kinds.
He wants to separate us from our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our parents, our spouses, our kids.
He wants to separate us from God's best. He wants to separate us from God's heart.
One of the strategic ways Satan starts these separations is by luring us into a place of grumbling and complaining. If he can get us to focus on what is aggravating and downright negative in life, then little cracks of distance start forming in our relationships.
The grass starts looking greener everywhere else except where we are standing.
I can see this so clearly when I look back on the first five years of my marriage. Somehow, I became so hyper focused on all I felt was wrong with my husband, I became blinded to all that was good.
I grumbled and complained and nagged and set out to change him.
And I almost destroyed my marriage in the process.
Satan had a field day as the separation between Art and I kept ever widening. We went to counseling but my heart was so hurt—so hardened, I refused to connect on any level. I was bitter, grumpy and miserable.
Then one day as I was in a fit of tears asking God to please make things better, I felt challenged to start listing out things about Art that for which I was thankful.
It was hard at first. I had bought Satan's whispers seeing only the negative and believing there was very little positive to find.
But, with each positive quality I listed, slowly my perspective changed. It was as if the clouds of negativity lifted and I could see his good qualities once again.
How sad that I spent five years thinking the grass would be greener somewhere else. Now I know the grass is always greener where you water and fertilize it. And being thankful — really intentionally listing out things for which we are thankful — is a great way to start watering and fertilizing. It changes everything.
Dear Lord, thank You for helping me see how beneficial it is to be aware and appreciative of the good qualities in those I love. Lord, help me to recognize Satan's schemes and combat them with the power of having a truly thankful heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Don’t Let Your Heart be Troubled or Afraid, Just Trust God
I heard this distinctly this morning and I want to encourage us, regardless of what is troubling you, circumstances surrounding you, anxiety in your mind, worries that tends to overwhelm you. Just continue to Trust God. He is dependable. Shalom.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus is speaking about simple faith in this verse. Just trust God with your life today. Don’t complicate things by worrying. Do not be troubled about all the affairs in life and do not fear. The Lord has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Revelations 19:11 declares that the Lord’s name is Faithful. Rest in God today and give him all of your cares because he cares for you. Trust in the Lord and he will direct your steps. With God on our side, there’s no need to be afraid. He just wants us to trust Him.
Prayer: “God help me to trust you with all of the things that I am troubled about.”
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus is speaking about simple faith in this verse. Just trust God with your life today. Don’t complicate things by worrying. Do not be troubled about all the affairs in life and do not fear. The Lord has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Revelations 19:11 declares that the Lord’s name is Faithful. Rest in God today and give him all of your cares because he cares for you. Trust in the Lord and he will direct your steps. With God on our side, there’s no need to be afraid. He just wants us to trust Him.
Prayer: “God help me to trust you with all of the things that I am troubled about.”
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Encouragement to HOPE
You can hold on to HOPE-no matter what happens
because there's One who's holding on to YOU.
He'll stop at nothing and do anything
to make sure you have everything you need.
I'm waiting in hope with you to see all God will do.
because there's One who's holding on to YOU.
He'll stop at nothing and do anything
to make sure you have everything you need.
I'm waiting in hope with you to see all God will do.
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-
how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
-Holley Gerth
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sun and the holy ghost (complete with a halo of light): Jesus is seen standing on a cloud Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033825/Jesus-shadow-seen-Cirque-Mafate.html#ixzz1X6b7k9Fp
An eerie figure appears to stand on a cloud high in the mountains, arms outstretched, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Jesus. To complete the picture, the figure is crowned with a perfect halo of light.
Amateur photographer Luc Perrot was stunned when he saw the apparition 2,000ft up on top of the volcanic Cirque of Mafate peak, on the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.
The Frenchman had climbed the mountain to record a time-lapse video of the movement of the clouds on July 10 this year.
Amateur photographer Luc Perrot was stunned when he saw the apparition 2,000ft up on top of the volcanic Cirque of Mafate peak, on the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.
The Frenchman had climbed the mountain to record a time-lapse video of the movement of the clouds on July 10 this year.
Apparition: The figure, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Jesus with arms outstretched, floats on a cloud, with a crescent of light acting as a halo
Cloud forrmation: Photographer Luc Perrot says the figure is probably the result of a weather phenomenon known as the Brocken bow
WHY DO BELIEVERS FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE GOD
While sitting in church yesterday, this question popped into my mind and I had to pause awhile to really research deeply into this topic. I am guilty of this too.
We believe man more than we believe God for instance, here comes the doctor with a negative diagnosis, we immediately believe him rather than remember the our God is a healer and when meditating on the scriptures, there are so many instances healing in the bible and these are really terminal cases even resurrection from the dead before Christ and during Christ's life here on earth. Elijah raised the widow's son Elisha dead bones even raised the dead at one point. After the resurrection of Jesus, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on Day of Pentecost, Peter and John at the gate Beautiful healed a lame man.
It was recorded that many signs and wonders were done amongst the people by the hands of the apostle. Dorcas was raised from the dead and also Eutychus who fell off the window while listening to Paul minister. God also worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, note the words unusual because all this miracle of healing were unusual cases so why do you think yours will be too much for God to handle?
We believe man more than we believe God for instance, here comes the doctor with a negative diagnosis, we immediately believe him rather than remember the our God is a healer and when meditating on the scriptures, there are so many instances healing in the bible and these are really terminal cases even resurrection from the dead before Christ and during Christ's life here on earth. Elijah raised the widow's son Elisha dead bones even raised the dead at one point. After the resurrection of Jesus, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on Day of Pentecost, Peter and John at the gate Beautiful healed a lame man.
It was recorded that many signs and wonders were done amongst the people by the hands of the apostle. Dorcas was raised from the dead and also Eutychus who fell off the window while listening to Paul minister. God also worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, note the words unusual because all this miracle of healing were unusual cases so why do you think yours will be too much for God to handle?
Friday, September 2, 2011
Women's Anti Stress Diet
This is a specially formulated diet designed to help women cope with the stress that builds up during the day.
BREAKFAST
1 grapefruit
1 slice whole-wheat toast
1 cup skim milk
LUNCH
small portion lean, steamed chicken with a cup of spinach
1 cup herbal tea
1 Hershey kiss
AFTERNOON TEA
the rest of the kisses in the bag
1 tub of Hagen Daas ice cream with choc-chip topping
DINNER
4 bottles of pop
2 loaves garlic bread
1 family size supreme pizza
3 snickers bars
LATE NIGHT SNACK
whole frozen Sarah Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from the freezer)
REMEMBER:
STRESSED SPELLED BACKWARDS IS "DESSERTS"
Send this to all the women you know or ever knew, and you will immediately lose 10 pounds. ;)
*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh
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