Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. – Hebrews 12:14-15, NIV I am suspicious of … Continue reading “On the “Bitter Card””
Category: Grief
Grief and Divorce
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. – Romans 12:15, KJV Recently, a tragedy struck a community to which I am connected. A young man died in a car accident while going to work. In response, people are sending card(s), flowers, and prayers to his mother plus the work community directly … Continue reading “Grief and Divorce”
“He Took My Sins And My Sorrows”
“He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calvary, And suffered and died alone.” -“I Stand Amazed In the Presence” words by Charles H. Gabriel (1905) What a powerful hymn on about Jesus’ death on our behalf! This old hymn has so many incredible truths. … Continue reading ““He Took My Sins And My Sorrows””
Dismembered
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”
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”