Month: December 2023

relationships, couple

How Can I Improve My Relationship? Part 3 of 4

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Today we continue with our big question, how can I improve my relationship? In the first post we looked at the importance of knowing each other’s weaknesses and prayer. In the second post in this series we looked at being an influencer, finding good counsel and learning to listen and empathize. KEY 7: Be courageous. One of the big reasons we don’t tackle relationship difficulties is that we are afraid. We are afraid of conflict, we are afraid of getting hurt, we are afraid of doing it wrong, etcetera. In order to combat this, ask yourself if you are afraid. Then ask yourself if the fear is really as big as you think. Then ask yourself if that fear should really stop you from tackling a difficulty. Is it worth some discomfort to improve a relationship? The antidote to fear is faith. Trust God to help you and to help you learn. Continue Reading →

relationships, couple

How Can I Improve My Relationship? Part 2 of 4

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Today we continue with our big question, how can I improve my relationship? In the previous post we looked at the importance of knowing each other’s weaknesses and prayer. KEY FOUR: Remember your role as an influencer You have heard it said “You can’t change people.” Hopefully, people who say that mean that you can’t make people change, but many people don’t understand it this way. Many people think they can’t be a channel of change for someone else, or they use that idea as an excuse not to even try because it seems like hard work. But of course we can change people in the sense that we can influence people. In fact, scripture repeatedly asks us to influence people! We are to express kindness to them even if they are an enemy (an “enemy” for the moment?), hoping that they will be affected and follow the Lord. Scripture also Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

You Are Valuable To God – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matt. 10:29-31 (NIV). You are valuable to God! Jesus spoke these words after he sent his twelve disciples out to announce the coming of the kingdom of God. He said they would be persecuted and some believers would be killed. But he also said they should not fear the killers because God is the one who preserves the soul. Then he said these words that even a sparrow doesn’t die outside the Father’s care. Sadly, yesterday a sparrow flew into my window and died. I was hurt, but I have the comfort that God maintains his care for that sparrow! Perhaps he will resurrect that sparrow and many Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

A House On Solid Rock Will Withstand Anything – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” Matt. 7:24-25 (NLT). Jesus encourages us that if we follow his words (in this passage he is coming to the end of his Sermon on the Mount), then no matter what happens we will not collapse, and our life will not end up worthless. This reminds us of Romans 8:35-39 which promises that nothing (death, persecution, powers, etc) can separate us from the love of God. Notice that Jesus recognizes that storms will come; we are not immune from troubles. Our “house” is not worldly status or possessions. Our “house” is our inner self, our heart, our Christlikeness. This house will be able to Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

Seek And You Will Find – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” Matt. 7:7 (NIV). The encouragement here is that God will let us find him, his truths and his gifts. He does not want to keep them hidden. But they are hidden when we begin. That is why our responsibility is to seek and knock. Why does he ask us to seek and knock instead of just revealing everything to us without effort on our part? One reason is that there are many things we are not ready for. Before we proceed, we need to absorb and apply what we already know. Another reason God wants us to seek is that the process of seeking prepares us for receiving what we will find. As we seek we become focused, we put other things aside, and desire grows in our hearts. God uses the process to transform us. Continue Reading →