A quick reminder that the Above Rubies retreat in Williston, ND is only four weeks away. If interested in attending go to: aboverubiesnd.weebly.com/ Would love to see you and meet you in person.
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Here is an encouraging quote by J. C. Ryle: ...
Time is undoubtedly short. But it is the only season in which Christians can do any active work of mercy. In the world to come there will be no ignorant to instruct, no mourners to comfort, no spiritual darkness to enlighten, no distress to relieve, no sorrow to make less. Whatever work we do of this kind must be done on this side of the grave. Let us awake to a sense of our individual responsibility. Souls are perishing, and time is flying! Let us resolve, by God's grace, to do something for God's glory before we die. Once more let us remember our Lord's example, and, like Him, be diligent and "redeem the time." JC Ryle What’s too controlling? A friend described a woman she considered
too controlling this way: Unpredictable—she tells her children to put on their shoes, then she starts chatting with her lady friends, suddenly she barks “I told you not to jump on chairs”, back to chatting, another order out of the blue “come here and stand by me, you are being too wild”, more chatting, lull in conversation leads to this mom declaring “time to go, now, to the car”. None of what she is expecting is out of line; it is her random intolerance that is too controlling. Barking, yelling, and ordering in a stern tone are her way of controlling her children. When a parent is working with a child at home on a matter, then a calm reminder is all that is needed in public. I have a relative that was brought up with a controlling mother. She remembers her youth as being one huge disappointment after another. Whenever she was really looking forward to something her mother would take it away as a punishment for some misbehavior. Nothing was learned regarding the misbehavior, only to keep her excitement a secret from her mother. A quick synopsis would be: a too controlling parent uses only authority; relationship is unimportant. We had our adopted eighty year old Grandma over for dinner a few nights ago. After a nice meal together, her and I sat on the couch and chatted. It has been a year and a half since her husband of sixty years passed away.
As we chatted I asked her if she ever still thinks he might walk around the corner. At first she said yes but then clarified that more she catches herself thinking, “Oh, I can’t wait to tell Herb that.” She misses sharing life with him. Night time is the hardest; the house seems extra quite and lonely at night. She misses having his warm body to share a bed with. All the requests for her to sit by him would be welcomed now. At the senior center, where she volunteers, there is a woman that comes in and constantly complains about her husband. It is hard to hear this woman take what she has for granted. Our Grandma said she wishes she could share with all married people to value their spouse while they have them. This is from a woman that spent ten years caring for a man with Alzheimer’s. Her life was not all sweet smelling roses, there were plenty of thorns. Pick one thing today that you can do with or for your spouse that will show how much you cherish him. Several times a week, my husband asks me to go for a ride to check something in the woods. It is rarely an opportune time, yet, I am choosing to go whenever possible. Why? Because he wants me to and I want him to know I cherish him. Often at night I remember that at my age my mother was a widow. As I lay next to Todd, I thank the Lord for him, knowing there are no guarantees for a long future together. Think back to your dating days and how you just longed to be together. Renew some of those thoughts and put action to them. Enjoy the man God has given you, he is a gift from the Lord! |
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