GPS to a Joyful Marriage

Happy Labor Day to everyone!  I’m a little late posting this because there was no Wi-Fi in the RV Park we stayed at as promised on their website.  So I’m doing this as we arrive home from our weekend in Orlando late in the afternoon. Last night I had no idea what I was going to write about.  First of all, let me tell you that my word processing program is not working right and I can’t open a new file.  I have to add on to an already saved file.  I’m sure some of you immediately know how to remedy this, but unless you send me a message, I will spend numerous hours figuring it out on my own. What’s funny, or more of what I’d call a ‘Godincident’, (my preferred word for coincident),  I found a file titled “God’s sense of humor” and thought I’d check it out.  Maybe that would give me some ideas. I couldn’t believe it when I started reading it.  It started out with Rick and me just returning from an RV park in Orlando - Labor Day weekend of last ...

I’m still touched about the story of the silversmith (last blog post). In hindsight, when you look back at a difficult situation you’ve been through (a fire experience), it all makes sense. You clearly see the goal God intended for you. But going through it - that’s another story! When I think of living in the midst of a “fire“, it occurs to me how difficult it really is to see the hand of God in the situation. Yes, we know He’s watching us, He’s helping us, but it doesn’t always FEEL that way. I know He’s always perfecting us, but sometimes I just don’t FEEL like any more perfection! That’s where we get in trouble. We allow our feelings to be our guide. They often cloud our focus on God. It’s hard not to, especially for us women who are emotionally driven. Those darn emotions tend to get in the way of everything! I sometimes envy my husband. Life seems so simple and uncomplicated to him. He makes a decision and that’s it. Not me. I’m going to think about it and pray abo...

Honoring our marriage vows and convictions made to God will ultimately bring blessings from Him. At some point though, we all experience “the fires of refinement”. That’s the hard part of marriage. Many precious metals and silvers are refined in fire to remove the bad stuff and be made perfect, . Every couple goes through “the fire” or a “make or break” time in their marriage. How you handle the fire determines the future of your marriage. Sadly, in these days of rampant divorce, over half of married couples jump out of the fire without resolving their problems, unwilling to bear the heat. As people who choose divorce quickly discover, the fire only heats up when divorce procedures begin, and never completely goes out, leaving little chance for resolve or resurrection. Withstanding the fire leads to a new understanding, a newer and better relationship. It builds character and turns us into the people God intends us to be. Only then do we appreciate the true meaning of “ti...

Happy Labor Day to you all. Rick and I just returned from a relaxing weekend at an RV park in Orlando. The opportunity to see our children highlighted this trip for the both of us. Why else would we go to Orlando on Labor Day weekend?? (I’m not a Disney fan and don't like crowds.) Our daughter visited us Saturday, and our son and his fiancé on Saturday evening. All adults, but always my children, we conversed about relationships and communication. What a joy for me to reap the benefits of years of praying and giving advise to my children, often times wondering if anyone was even listening. Our son and his future bride soaked up every word we had to say about communication in marriage. Eager to start out their marriage on solid ground, they wanted to know how to improve areas that sometimes “stumped” them. Rick and I were in our element discussing our favorite topic, marriage. How wonderful to pass down all the years of our marriage experiences with our son and his fi...