Semper Fi (Always Faithful)

Along the way I’ve discovered that if I follow God’s Ten Love Laws they will assist me in cultivating eternal relationships and guide me on my quest for a more joyful life.

Just over twelve years ago I embarked on the most amazing, challenging, uplifting, interesting, inspiring, exhilarating, and joyful journey of my life—I got married.

These twelve years have given me a deeper understanding of why the Bible frequently uses the marriage relationship as a metaphor for our relationship with God. God asks us to be faithful in both of these crucial relationships.

For me, faithfulness goes far beyond adultery, or idolatry; it goes beyond simply avoiding inappropriate thoughts about other men, or other gods. Faithfulness is about devotion and loyalty. In the seventh commandment, God calls me to love my husband. He calls me to take pleasure in his company, to get to know his every move, his every expression, his every desire. He calls me to give him that special place in my heart, and to reserve it for him and him alone.

When I do these things, I grow a deep, enduring relationship that enhances my life, challenging me to become a better wife and to continually express my ever-growing love in big and small ways.

When this relationship is firmly founded on a solid bed of trust it flourishes and grows. There is nothing better than having a faithful partner to share my life with. God wants me to have this same experience with Him.

So join me as I embrace faithfulness in my marriage and in my relationship with God, thus allowing both to flourish and grow.

Final Thought: Living a life of perpetual faithfulness is living a life of perpetual joy.

Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany: “Honour thy father and thy mother” means honoring my parents by the life I choose to live. Throughout the course of my life, the morals, standards, and ideals my parents instilled in me continue to live long after they’re gone.

Between the Blogs

Personal Challenge: Because my family is notoriously bad at staying in touch, keeping in contact often falls to me, but, unfortunately, I am also terrible at keeping in touch. Even so, my family is extremely important to me, and if I want them to know that they’re important and that I care, I must make the effort to show them.

So I’m challenging myself to get into a routine of contacting them, even if it’s just a quick call to say “hello.”

I am determined to make these critical relationships a priority in my life.

Between the Blogs

Quick Quote: In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony. ~Eva Burrows

Between the Blogs

Question to Ponder:  When did you last tell your family how much you care about them?

Between the Blogs

Bible Blessings: If you love Me, show it by honoring and respecting your parents. Treat them the same way you would treat Jesus and I will shower you with blessings beyond your wildest dreams. ~Exodus 20:12 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

My First Relationship (Honor Thy Parents)

Along the way I’ve discovered that if I follow God’s 10 Love Laws they will assist me in cultivating eternal relationships and guide me on my quest for a more joyful life.

Recently I’ve discovered that having a good relationship with my parents assists me in my quest for joyful living.

The fifth commandment has always been a tough one for me to come to terms with. In this commandment, God addresses the first relationships we experience—our relationship with our parents. These two pivotal relationships set the tone for the rest of the relationships in our lives.

The relationship with my parents has been a lesson hard-learned for me. My relationship with them suffered for many years due to my disregard for this commandment. I did not respect my parents or the wisdom they shared. However, in recent years I have come to realize that my parents have accumulated a wealth of knowledge in their many years—a knowledge that I can still benefit from today.

I’ve learned that honoring my parents doesn’t mean that I will always agree with them or with what they do, but it does mean that I always give them the respect they deserve. And I’ve also learned that by simply changing my attitude, I can begin to heal these relationships that continue to shape who I am becoming.

I’ve found that my relationship with my parents truly is enhanced, and I avoid some serious life mistakes when I respect my parents, listening to their wise words; after all, they spent many years making mistakes, so I plan on taking advantage of those years of “research” by learning from their wisdom.

So join me as I embrace the flawless wisdom of God, changing my attitude toward my parents and showing them honest and sincere respect, healing the brokenness of these relationships that once shattered my life.

Final Thought: Building strong, solid relationships can be a lifelong challenge, but the payoff is eternal.