I work in hospice and have the opportunity to watch the poignant beauty of marriages that have lasted well past fifty years. I say, “poignant” because I feel both awed by the sheer beauty of a couple still caring for each other after many decades together as well as sad by my own loss. Recently, … Continue reading “Dismembered”
Category: Grief
Helping A Shattered Spouse
A Christian brother comes over one night. He crumples onto your couch tears overflowing. Through his heaving sobs, you learn his wife has left him and is having sex with another man. The hollow and desperate look in his eyes tears at your heart. What can you do? I will start with the negative first. These dangerous responses … Continue reading “Helping A Shattered Spouse”
The Awful Truth
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. -Proverbs 27:6, NIV Knowing the truth is freeing. But this is often denied faithful spouses as their world is caved in by the terrors of trickling truth and horrors of betrayals both large and small. I can still vividly remember feeling the shock. … Continue reading “The Awful Truth”
Godly Sorrow And Advice
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. – 2 Cor. 7:10, NIV When you see the fruit of advice destroying someone or yourself, you are seeing something bringing death as this verse tells us. This is not from God. God is not one who came … Continue reading “Godly Sorrow And Advice”
Divorce Minister Anniversary: Glad & Sad
Blog Turned 5 Months Old Yesterday: 37,013 Views 9,943 Visitors Coming from 90+ Countries All these are the stats as I write this, one day past the blog anniversary. It is amazing how this ministry continues to grow and how it clearly has touched many lives already even though it is still in its infancy. … Continue reading “Divorce Minister Anniversary: Glad & Sad”
Proscribing Patience For Adulterous Spouses But None For Faithful Spouses
In my trial to keep my license as a minister, a focus of the questions was about whether or not I had forgiven my ex-wife. This is a fair question to ask a minister. Bitterness in the pulpit is a dangerous thing. And we are commanded to forgive. However, the accompanying piece was conspicuously absent. … Continue reading “Proscribing Patience For Adulterous Spouses But None For Faithful Spouses”
Mourn with those who mourn
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. – Romans 12:15, NIV Our churches and families would be so better off if we lived by these words. “…mourn with those who mourn.” Mourning is what is happening for faithful spouse upon discovering the dastardly betrayal. We mourn so much: lost dreams safety and … Continue reading “Mourn with those who mourn”
Vulnerable In Grief
So be careful. If you are thinking, “Oh, I would never behave like that”—let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin. But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation … Continue reading “Vulnerable In Grief”
Love is…
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. – I Cor 13:4-6, NIV Adultery and … Continue reading “Love is…”
What To Do With Good Memories?
And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord‘s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you … Continue reading “What To Do With Good Memories?”