Tag: honor

Smoke Alarm

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. James 1:19

You’re exhausted from a long day at work.

Arriving home, you plop into your chair.

You smell something slightly off, but ignore it.

Doesn’t seem important.

Your spouse comes to you, mentioning the smell.

Since you have decided it’s not important, you inform your spouse it’s nothing.

After all, your authority stands as gospel.

In the middle of the night, you are awakend by a smoke filled room.

Coughing, you can barely breathe.

Together, you both slowly crawl out of the bedroom, barely escaping the raging fire.

Standing in the yard, you survey your house, now engulfed in flames.

You’ve lost everything.

And so has your spouse.

Everything except for each other.

If only you had listened to her, your home would still be standing.

The tiny flame would have been easy to stamp out.

But the tiny flame grew into a total loss.

Nothing left.

Daily we must be on the lookout for smoke. Warnings.

Comes in a variety of ways through your job, finances, habits, and relationships.

Satan does not want your marriage to thrive.

He wants to whisk away your children.

He wants to distract you from your relationship with God.

And he wants to destroy your peace on earth.

Be on alert, reacting with those Holy Spirit nudges.

Takes humility. Perseverance. Strength. Focus.

But God’s here, standing by your side with all the tools you could possibly need.

In fact, when you place your faith and trust daily in Him, He’ll help you smell that smoke the moment it erupts.

May we listen to the hearts of others God uses to speak through.

May we honor the thoughts of our spouse, because then we honor the thoughts of God.

May our habits reflect the nudges of God as we obey His plans for us.

May we cover the flame of conflict with humble godliness before our ignorance causes us to loose everything.

Photos by Kilian Seiler, Steven Weeks, Piotr Chrobot, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Perspective

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

As I sit in my freshly built suburban home, I can pretend to know what it’s like growing up in the South during the 1930’s while reading To Kill a Mockingbird or Roll of Thunder.

From either person’s perspective.

I can pretend to know what it’s like as a poor desparate child in war-ravaged Ethiopia or Sudan while reading A Long Walk to Water.

I can pretend to know what it’s like as a wild animal, imprisoned in a concentration camp during WW2 while reading The Hiding Place, Lilac Girls, or The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Books are wonderful windows into other worlds.

I can glimpse another reality while safely seated in my chair, feet propped up, coffee in my hand, wind settling the air on my covered porch.

Books fill in the gaps.

They help you see perspectives from those you have never met.

And help you understand those you have been introduced.

Our God has mercifully given us life.

He’s given us all life.

And with our lives, He asks us to be His hands and feet to all we meet.

What does that look like?

Smiling at strangers.

Holding doors.

Respecting and honoring others before yourself.

Our country has a rich history.

Like anything in this world, it’s not perfect.

But America is filled with wonderful people.

Hard-working, honoring people who want their fellow neighbor to succeed like themselves.

Keep spreading God’s love.

Stop participating with lies and hate.

Honor others before yourself.

Peacefully protest, but honor the curfew when it’s set because of rioters.

Remember that most Americans, including police, have good hearts.

Purpose in your mind not to assume the worst.

And read about someone else’s perspective.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.”

Thanks for the reminder, Atticus.

Photos by frank mckenna, Christopher Jolly, Nick Fewings, Jessica Furtney, & Will Esayenko on Unsplash

Security & Honor

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:33

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Security.

It’s the number one need women have from their husbands.

We need to feel protected.

Valued.

Loved.

Secure.

Once that’s covered, men, we’re good.

Seriously.

Most of our issues boils down to this one issue.

Are we your priority?

Do you have our back?

Will you fight for us?

We need to know this.

Our cups are filled to overflowing when we feel defended.

First in your life.

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Honor.

It’s the number one need men ask of their wives.

Do we value our men?

Raising them up, not tearing them down?

Listening to them, not rolling our eyes in response?

Respecting their wishes?

Withholding the nagging and esteeming him to your friends?

Greeting them with a kiss when the day’s work is done?

Men need to know this.

They need to feel valued through your honor of them.

When husbands feel honored, they feel secure and loved.

When wives feel secure, they feel loved.

When both feel loved, marriages thrive.

God’s intention is for your marriage to thrive.

Thriving is more than simply existing.

Thriving is bounty.

Bountiful marriages yield fruit.

Lives that reflect God’s love and grace, thriving in the security and honor of marriage.

Treasure your wife.

Honor your man.

And you will reap a hundredfold.

Photos by Ryan Franco, Brooke Cagle , &  frank mckenna on Unsplash