Since my last post two more women, both of them Christians aka Christ followers, have experienced life impacting changes. Both are women I count as friends. One woman had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. Her husband has chosen to not live his life with her. She has walked the walk. Following God's Word as carefully as she possibly could. Being the best wife she knows how to be. He made some choices that have put him in a position of need. After much prayer she chose to not help him. The reasons why are many. Some are obvious and some are private. My heart cries for both of them.
The second woman has a husband who is a Christ follower like herself. She has been married before. Has children from other relationships. How she manages her marriage, from the outside, does not appear to follow the principles in God's Word for relationships. Her husband still chooses to honor his vows. My heart cries for both of them.
Both women are Christians. Followers of Christ. One strives to follow God's Word to make her marriage work and one chooses to put her efforts into other things.
My heart is heavy tonight as I contemplate marriages. My own hasn't always been pretty. But when I made the effort to search out how to become a Godly Woman, I began to become a Godly Wife.
To be a Follower of Christ is to have a relationship with Christ. A relationship by it's very nature implies constant change or adaptation of myself to my partner. A relationship is a give/give situation. Even when we take, we must give back in return. Or else things get lopsided. Someone will grow tired of giving and someone will look for another place to take from. To be sure, there are times when things get lopsided due to life situations, but they must always come back to center. How do we stay centered? By staying in God's Word. Understanding that He alone is our source for everything we have to give.
The second woman has a husband who is a Christ follower like herself. She has been married before. Has children from other relationships. How she manages her marriage, from the outside, does not appear to follow the principles in God's Word for relationships. Her husband still chooses to honor his vows. My heart cries for both of them.
Both women are Christians. Followers of Christ. One strives to follow God's Word to make her marriage work and one chooses to put her efforts into other things.
My heart is heavy tonight as I contemplate marriages. My own hasn't always been pretty. But when I made the effort to search out how to become a Godly Woman, I began to become a Godly Wife.
To be a Follower of Christ is to have a relationship with Christ. A relationship by it's very nature implies constant change or adaptation of myself to my partner. A relationship is a give/give situation. Even when we take, we must give back in return. Or else things get lopsided. Someone will grow tired of giving and someone will look for another place to take from. To be sure, there are times when things get lopsided due to life situations, but they must always come back to center. How do we stay centered? By staying in God's Word. Understanding that He alone is our source for everything we have to give.
2 Corinthians 13:10-12
Amplified Bible (AMP)
10So I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you, I may not have to deal sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be employed, however] for building [you] up and not for tearing [you] down.
11Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.
12Greet one another with a consecrated kiss.
11Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.
12Greet one another with a consecrated kiss.
One of the audience asked me if the first woman's husband had merely made some bad financial decisions. That was not the case at all. Her husband left her, he has made some lifestyle choices that put his safety and the safety of those who are close to him in jeopardy. Those choices have cost him his employment and the place he had found to live. He has made it clear that he does not want God in his life.
ReplyDeleteHer decision was and is heart wrenching. It was made after hours of prayer and searching the scriptures and understanding how her decision will affect her, her son and her husband. She has not given up on him. She believes God's restoration mission!