Finding joy in the everyday

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31). This verse is not simply an example of beautiful, poetic language. There is a fundamental reality behind this: Husband and wife are not just two people rooming together. Their lives actually do blend into one another . They actually become one . It is, therefore, true that what hurts the wife damages the husband. It cannot help but do so. If he is bitter toward her, it will eat like a cancer in his own life and heart. That is why, if you have had a squabble with your spouse, you may find yourself unable to do your work properly that day. No where in the verse does it say that the husband is to dominate or control his wife, to treat her badly, to punish her, to ignore her concerns or her feelings. And likewise a wife shouldn’t be pushy or dominating, nagging, nitpicking etc. This is the union of two people who become one and one doesn’t hurt ...

When you first marry many couples have long conversations about the future — shared dreams and aspirations, what you both would like to achieve, plans for house, children, perhaps romantic holidays, where you see yourselves in 5 or 10 years etc.. Your life is mapped out in front of you both and it sounds exciting. Then you settle down to "live" and very quickly practical things get in the way of your dreams. You don't build that extension, you haven't been on holidays for ages and it just seems impossible to save money. Dreams have disappeared and reality has arrived with a thud.  It happens to all of us at some stage and whilst we all have to live in reality, it can be unhealthy to one's marriage to plod along with no real direction or plan. That is what can cause couples to become unsettled and restless.  Why not suggest to your husband that you sit down together (over a yummy meal or picnic) and discuss and brainstorm the future. Ways to spice up yo...

God created marriage. In His perfect wisdom, He designed man and woman to complement each other and to enjoy a permanent and complete union with each other. In Genesis 2:18 He said, “ It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” After the Lord created Eve, He then said, “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” When you take time to nurture this oneness with your spouse, you bring honor to God and acknowledge His ideal design. As you love your marriage partner, you are showing love and obedience to God as well. And as an incredible result, you’ll experience the fullness and blessings that God designed for a married couple to enjoy! Take time now. Set aside five minutes and pray, “Lord, how can I express my love today?” Then write down every way you can think of to tell your honey, “I love you.” “Nurturing oneness” in your marriage should be something you think and pray abou...

Proverbs 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. "Behind  every great man is a great women" — I'm sure you have all heard this quote.  But it is true — a wife can either build her  husband  up or pull him down. She can be an encourager or  discourager, she can make him strong or make him look like a fool and as wives we play an important part in our husbands lives. I n other words, a wife can bring the greatest joy to her husband or the greatest misery.  In the verse, it talks about a crown which is conveying the idea of honour. A excellent wife will bring honour to her  husband but one that chooses the opposite will bring shame like the rotting of his bones (which sounds terrible and the smell would be far worse). In  Proverbs  31, verses 11 and 12 we also read about the virtues of an excellent wife " The heart of her husband sa...

She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. (Proverbs 31:26) One must always be very careful when writing on social media, especially if you have identified yourself.  Bloggers love comments, I do — but we need to be mindful of what we write. Some people write personal things and that is fine if you are writing about yourself and your experiences.  However, one needs to be very care when you start to write about your husband or wife. Many write beautiful comments, very complimentary comments about their spouse and they are lovely to read. However, it is a very different story when you start to write negative comments about your spouse, especially when you can be identified. However, regardless of identification—it is still wrong. Earl from xxxxx (last name and address were also provided) rated his wife on a Facebook page. He gave her an A for 'shopping and preparing food" and for "having a beautiful home". But ra...

According to a recent report from the UK Office for National Statistics, the number of couples in Britain who describe themselves as “extremely unhappy” has doubled in the past five years, while those who describe their relationship as “perfect” has gone down from 9.2% to 5.9%.  More than a million people in the UK are trapped in miserable relationships with their spouse or long-term partner (out of around 15 million couples) One UK poll found that about six in 10 are unhappily coupled, four out of 10 say they have considered leaving their partner and one in 10 don’t even trust their partner anymore. The poll goes on to detail the most-mentioned problems, the top five being lack of spontaneity, lack of romance, terrible sex life, no time to give each other attention and lack of time to talk. From the 1960s, divorce became much easier with changes to the marriage act and from that point onwards the numbers skyrocketed. Marriages prior to this weren't any hap...

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,   that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. Ephesians 5:22-29 Painting by Jacqueline Osborn Women are to submit to their husbands as the husband is the head of his wife " as Christ is the hea...

I bought a great book a few months ago and it contacts some very old fashion advice to women, including advice on finding one's husband. I would love to share some of this advice and ponder how much has changed in 77 years: 1939 Ladies Handbook for home treatments . . .  In choosing a partner for life there are many things to be considered. The young woman should choose a man of high ideals, noble character, and a pure life; a man of sound constitution and good heredity. He could be of suitable age, of pleasing disposition, and her equal, though not her superior, in social position.  He should be a young man of proven worth, not flitting from one position to another and making a success of none. He should have demonstrated his ability to earn a reasonable living and to provide for the necessities and comforts of a family. We do not suggest that an accumulated fortune is essential to the happiness of the wedded fait, though a few pounds in the bank do not co...