Don’t Let Bitterness Poison Your Marriage

The Bible says in Hebrews 12, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men(which would include your spouse) and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

But what do you do when your spouse hurts you so deeply that a bitter root is growing within? Despite your every effort, this bitterness is taking over, and it is poisoning your marriage.

Barriers To Forgiveness And How to Overcome them

There are two barriers to forgiveness. One is simple unwillingness, which is something each of us can decide to change. The other is misunderstanding of what biblical forgiveness is. Forgiveness can be confusing. Misinterpretations of Scripture and other misconceptions have distorted its meaning. As we sharpen the focus on God’s view of forgiveness, note which issues have been misconceptions for you and which are issues of unwillingness.

Please Note:
FORGIVENESS IS NOT: dismissing the offender’s moral responsibility.
But FORGIVENESS IS: dismissing the right to pay back and assuming the responsibility to love.
FORGIVENESS IS NOT: primarily a feeling.
But FORGIVENESS IS: primarily a choice based on truth.
FORGIVENESS IS NOT: forgetting the offense.
But FORGIVENESS IS: deciding not to use the offense in retributive ways.
FORGIVENESS IS NOT: a once-for-all event.
Yet FORGIVENESS IS: a decision which often must be reaffirmed.
FORGIVENESS IS NOT: agreeing to trust an untrustworthy person.
But FORGIVENESS IS: being willing (when appropriate) to allow the offender to rebuild responsible trust.
FORGIVENESS IS NOT: passively tolerating future abuse.
Yet FORGIVENESS IS: exercising disciplinary measures with redemptive intent.

The Key 10 Things Every Bride Should Know Before Her Wedding Night

1. Take it slow.

It’s been a long tiring journey, planning for your wedding. The running around, the planning, the actual wedding day, it will all take a toll on you and your beloved —mentally, emotionally and physically. By the end of your wedding day, you’ll be tired though chances are you might not even feel it (that adrenaline thing can lie).

My husband and I knew we were tired. Plus I was recovering from chicken pox so my tiredness was on the double.

Our plan for the honeymoon night was dinner, lots of cuddles, massage, plenty of rest and sleep. But things didn’t’ go according to plan!

Divorce And Remarriage: Which way out for a Christian?

What Does the Bible Teach about Who May Divorce and Remarry?

Divorce and remarriage have become common as civil law allows no-fault divorce. A husband or wife may dissolve a marriage for almost any grounds and remarry, regardless of the will of their spouse. The result is that many people marry without considering the teaching of the Bible. Is fornication (or adultery) the only Scriptural grounds for divorce, or does the gospel allow marriage to be dissolved for other grounds? Please consider this careful study of the Biblical teaching.

Introduction:

Many forces in society defend the practice of easy divorce.

Divorce laws in America are so lax that almost anyone can dissolve a marriage and remarry at any time for any reason. With "no-fault" divorce, a husband or wife can claim "incompatibility" or "irreconcilable differences" and get a divorce no matter how much their spouse objects.

What is right or wrong is determined by the Creator of the Universe.

Men will be judged according to whether or not we have conformed our lives to His will (John 12:48). Man's will often differs from God's (Prov. 14:12; Isa. 55:8,9; 2 Cor. 10:12,18; Lk. 16:15,18). Since the Bible reveals God's will, we must learn what it says about divorce and remarriage (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 1 Cor. 14:37; Eph. 3:3-5; 2 Pet. 1:21).

Vengeance in Relationship

Vengeance is not just physical actions we take against others. One of the most common ways to take vengeance is by saying things to hurt others. Others harm us (or we imagine so), so we say defamatory things to "get even." Someone accuses us of something, so we respond, "Well, what about the time when you..."

Sin must be rebuked. But when we do so, we must be sure that we are motivated by concern for the sinner and others who may be involved, not by a desire for vengeance.

1 Corinthians 4:12,13; Ephesians 4:31

MARRIAGE SCRIPTURES

1.    Proverbs 18:22 says, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.”

2.   Matthew 19:5-6 says, “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one

      flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

3.    Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

4.    Psalm 128:3 says, “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.”

5.    Proverbs 5:18 says, “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.”

6.    Proverbs 19:14 says, “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the Lord.”

7.    Proverbs 31:10 says, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”

8.    Eccles. 4:9 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”

Help, Lord

"Help, Lord." --Psalm 12:1

 The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, but seasonable, sententious, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication--when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. There is much of directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of two words; much more, indeed, than in the long rambling outpourings of certain professors. The Psalmist runs straight-forward to his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner.

 The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent. In providential afflictions how suitable it is for tried believers who find all helpers failing them. Students, in doctrinal difficulties, may often obtain aid by lifting up this cry of "Help, Lord," to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the throne for