|
|
|
Abigail's Newsletter |
February 3, 1999 |
| Do you pray for your husband? Prayer should be a natural part of your
marriage, and your relationship with your husband. How do you pray for your husband? Are
you looking for God to improve your husband, so life is easier for you? Asking God to help
your spouse remember that special day, make more money, spend more time with the family,
or tell you how he feels. We should pray for our husband's needs, and for God's blessing
on him. Do you know what he really wants? or needs? Maybe he needs a better helpmate! That
can be a |
wonderful prayer for your husband, that God would work in
your life to be the helper he needs.
When do you pray for your husband? We should pray continually, when we are
walking, cooking, cleaning, traveling, and especially caring for your family. I find I can
pray for specific needs during the day, if I think of his schedule, and his current needs,
for help, wisdom, rest, nourishment, fellowship, praise, encouragement. I also pray for my
husband with our children, and with my husband, so they know how important it is. |
Lift up your praise to God. Thank him for your husband, and your ability
to be a wife to him. "Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your
word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from my. My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all
times. You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands. Remove
from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. Though rulers sit together and
slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. Your statues are my delight; they
are my counselors." Psalm 119:17-24 |
|
|
|
February 10,
1999 |
How do you love your husband? Does he know you love him? Each person has
different ways they feel loved.
- Words of encouragement
- Acts of service
- Gift giving
- Physical touch
- Time together
When you and your husband feel loved in different ways, it can lead to frustration and
misunderstanding. A friend of mine feels loved when someone does an act of service, so she
would lovingly clean and organize her husband's office. But he did not feel loved, he
thought she was telling him he was a slob! Then her husband sees her doing a good job in
the garden or kitchen and tells her what a wonderful job she is |
doing, because words of encouragement make him feel loved. All she could
think was "Get in here and help!" Now that they know each other's love language,
they can really show each other how much they love, and the spouse feels loved, too. If
someone feels loved with gifts, then flowers, chocolates, and other small gifts will make
them smile. But others may think it is a waste of money, or feel burdened with "thank
you" notes.
Take time to find out what really makes your husband feel loved. It may be what he has
been doing for you! Light some candles, and offer up something that says 'I love you!' in
that special way.
Happy Valentine's Day! |
"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in
him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God
is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made
complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this
world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because
fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love
because he first loved us."
I John 4:15-19 NIV |
|
|
|
February 18, 1999 |
| God instituted marriage because as "The Lord God said, 'It is not
good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'" Genesis 2:18
As wives we are to be a helper to our husband. God made this helper out of Adam's own
body. The true meaning of one flesh! So Adam would love her, because his wife was truly a
part of him. Marriage is good for the man and woman. And the marriage should be dedicated
to God, as he ordained it. In God's eyes, the marriage is very important, not the wedding. Have
you or someone you know planned and spent tremendous amounts of time and money on a
wedding, but then the marriage quickly withers with a lack of time, attention, and maybe
even love? So many have a church |
wedding, with vows to each other and to God, but is the marriage dedicated
to God? The marriage is the lasting part, the sharing, love and helping part which God
knows is important. As Jesus said "'So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore
what God has joined together, let man not separate.'" Mark 10:8b,9
This unity brings two lives together in sharing, like God wants to share himself with
us. There is a joy, richest joy, in sharing with one another, a beautiful gift from God. A
gift to think together, plan together, love together, pray together and hope together. As
together you are stronger than either of you apart, so the burdens of life are shared |
and halved. But then also there is a doubling of joy and hope as you join
together in praise to the Father. And even more joy with the additional blessing of
children! May you pray together and read the Bible together, double your hope, and
halve your sorrow with your husband today, and every day for all of your life. Invite God
into your marriage, into your daily life.
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we
ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees
his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear
children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
I John 3:16-18 NIV |
|
|
|
February 24, 1999 |
| How many blessings do you have? Do you consider your husband a blessing to
you? I have a wonderful husband. Just last night, he returned home from work to find I had
gotten nothing around the house done. I had held a sick baby all day, and half the night
before. I arranged for my husband and our daughter, Becca, to go to dinner with family,
and Mom would bring Becca home while Richard went to orchestra practice at the church.
Richard walked in, put away his lunchbox, and took the baby from me, so I could have a few
minutes alone. |
Then he insisted that I go to dinner and he would stay home with Jonathan.
I protested, and he insisted. So I went. He is a very giving husband. I thank God every
day for blessing me with such a wonderful husband. Have you thanked God for your husband
today? Count your blessings, including your husband, and his many gifts. Thank your
husband for the things he does for you. Show him you care, and let him hear you telling
someone else what a wonderful husband you have. Pray with him, and let him |
hear you thank God for bringing your husband into your life, for joining
you together. "My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts. My
lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi. How beautiful
you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves. How handsome you are, my
lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant. The beams of our house are cedars; our
rafters are firs."
Song of Songs 1:13-17 NIV |
|
| |
        
|
