i was at bible study the other night and we were discussing ephesians 5, about how the spiritual family is suppose to be. one of the brothers was saying how his marriage was backwards for many years, because he let his wife basically control what he should have been doing as the spiritual leader of his family. i went whoaaa!!!. Lord that is why my wife was not attracted to me. because i was the spiritual wimp. i got it, right then and there. she wants a husband that is loving control.loving his wife as Christ loves the church. she got tired of being in control. what a realization. i praise God for opening my eyes.
Hi Craig, haven't talked in a while, so thought I would drop by. Sorry to hear about your FIL. Talk about timing....it will be the 20th year anniversary of my Dad's home going in a few days. My dad was so srict when I was growing up, it was rediculas at times. It was just before I married that he and I started really bonding. I always respected him, even if I disagreed with him while growing up. As the years went by, our bonding grew and grew. I saw him change during his lifetime to the point I wished I could write a book about him, but then it probably wouldn't mean as much to anyone else. I saw the Lord do a work in him like I had seen in no other person. My dad was my hero. When he went to heaven, I grieved for him like I had never grieved for anyone else in my life! At times, I thought my heart was going to break from the pain of missing him. The only way I got through it, was knowing, without a doubt, that I would see him again some day in heaven. It took me a long time to get through that process of grieving. I had not really understood what my H had gone through when he lost his dad--until I had to experience it. So, my heart goes out to her. She will need your strength and even more patient now.
I posted the quote above b/c I am so proud that you found out that women do need spiritual leaders in their own H's. My H was not like that in our family and therefore, I had to take that lead in some areas with our children and it does not work as well as when Daddy is doing it. I personally believe that is why we are seeing so much trouble in marriages today, b/c so many of the H's are not the spiritual leaders that God meant for them to be. It throws the entire MR and family out of line. God has a plan for each of us, but we have to follow it, He isn't going to force it upon us.
Craig, you are trying as hard as any man I know. God will help you as long as you continue to stay in His will. However, the devil will continue to harass you. But, as much as you are before God praying, you will make it. Satan's army probably goans everytime you get up in the mornings....lol. You know, I'm sure, that there are about 3,000 promises in the Bible for Believers. Find those promises and use them for the situation at the present time. Stand on those promises, claim them as your own, and believe in them. Then, stand back and watch God work. It can be quite amazing!
I am sorry that the passing of your FIL was during this strssfull time in your M. It doesn't help things....as far as the human view point is concerned, however, you know what the Bible says about God's time not being our time--is so true.
Your role model before your W is the best medicine and comfort she can have at a time such as this. As you continue, day by day, God will give you strength. I have learned that strength is given day by day......sometimes, hour by hour. That is why we are not to fret about tomorrow's problems and what may be waiting for us......God's grace will carry you through a day at a time.
One word of caution......I think I told you this once before (lol), but often times we can get caught up in our own R with the Lord and we want our S to do the same thing and we tend to "preach" to them. That is not always taken very well when the MR is in troubled waters. Lead by example and not by preaching. Not that you have done that.....I don't mean to imply that you have. I'm just saying that, so you can keep it in the back of your mind if you get tempted to get in your pulpit. (lol)
Keep up the good work, my friend. Stay close to God and He will work all things together for good....to them that love Him and are called to His purpose.
Sandi
It is not about what you feel should work in your M. It is about doing the work that gets the right results. Do what works!
