Dolores Smyth
The End of a Friendship
You’ll never forget the first time your child eagerly rushes into a birthday party or playdate toward her friends and bursts into a flurry of instant chatter. The bonds of friendship are more than simply an enjoyable way to pass the time. In fact, friendships play a significant role in our children’s lives.
Your children may form friendships that last a lifetime but most of their friendships will be transitory. Whether a friendship ends because of an argument, a change in behavior, or a move, friendship “breakups” can leave kids feeling betrayed and lonely.
During these moments of...
Alisha Headley
1. Wrestle with God before wrestling with your spouse.
One of the most valuable things I have learned about dealing with frustration in my marriage is it’s important to wrestle with God before wrestling with your spouse. It’s so easy to fly off the handle and react out of feelings and emotions that can ultimately cause a dent in your marriage.
To wrestle it out with God first means to literally leave the conversation with your spouse, walk away, and go into your private place and meet with God. It is there that you can unleash your emotions and feelings...
Jennifer Waddle
. Spend One-On-One Time with Them Every Day
Now, I already know what you’re thinking. There’s not enough time or energy in the day to spend one-on-one time with each child. I get it. From the early morning hustle to bedtime routines, most of us struggle to get dinner on the table, let alone spend individual time with our children. However, it doesn’t take much effort to single out each child for some quality one-on-one time.
I still remember one night when I was tucking my second-born son into bed. He was the quiet one who always seemed to fly...
The biblical account of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22) is one of the most theologically complex and debated passages. Here are some of the key interpretations and understandings of why God might have asked this of Abraham:
A Test of Faith and Obedience: The most common interpretation within Judaism and Christianity is that this was a profound test of Abraham's faith and his willingness to obey God, even when the command seemed utterly contradictory to God's promises and Abraham's own paternal love. By being willing to offer his most prized possession, Abraham demonstrated an unparalleled...
Barbara Latta
To Feel Loved We Must Know that Our Guilt Was Paid For
We are born guilty because of our fallen nature; but because of what Christ did, we are not held accountable. Our guilt has been paid for.
When we are born again, we receive a new nature. The dead spirit is gone (2 Corinthians 5:17). Yet we still have a mind that defaults to the old nature. Our spirit is reborn, but our thinking must be re-programmed to discover what God has done for us and how we are to live in our new life (Romans 12:1-2).
Our conscience is...
Jennifer Waddle
1. Commit to Listening to the Right Voice
You can find just about any type of marital advice on the internet, by typing in specific keywords and hitting “enter.” However, there is no better instruction than that which is offered by the Word of God.
When couples commit to spending time in the Scriptures, and seeking God’s voice above all others, they are less likely to fall for the lies of the enemy. When Satan comes crawling around, whispering, “Did God really say,” couples can immediately detect the deception and combat it with truth.
Commit to listening to the right voice—the...
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to Mary Magdalene, various other women, two unnamed disciples, Peter, and the rest of the remaining eleven apostles. Scripture says that “after that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born” (1 Corinthians 15:6–8). Some have suggested that a larger body of witnesses would have provided more compelling...
Linda Gilden
1. Pray
There are so many elements involved in relationships that there is usually more than one area that needs work when communication is broken. And, the One who can help break through the lines of hurt and miscommunication is God. So the very first thing we need to do is ask Him to help us restore the family relationship. Tell Him what is in your heart and how you feel about what has happened. Sure He already knows, but vocalizing that hurt and your desire for restoration of the relationship will open the door for you to listen...
I had a DREAM job during my summers in college: door-to-door sales.
Imagine waking up and getting punched in the face again and again and again — that’s what it was like.
One rainy day, after a horrible encounter with a colony of fire ants and some particularly curmudgeon residents, I gave up.
I wanted to move home and leave my collegiate goals behind.
And then a friend told me this: “let go and let God.”
At first I wasn’t sure something so basic could make a difference, but I decided to give it a try.
I repeated that phrase to myself all summer: “Let...
Rachel Baker
Faith and Friendship: the Bedrock of a Healthy Marriage
When things were at their darkest in the first few years of our marriage, it was our faith in God and commitment to Christ-like living that kept us fighting for our marriage. When our relationship is at peace, it is the undertones of friendship—not passion—that sustains us.
I truly believe that our foundation of faith and friendship draws us closer; it helps us understand each other better and aligns our hearts towards each other even in the tensest of moments. Just the other night, we had to have a pretty serious...
