“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa. 55:8-9, NIV) Mary, an ordinary young girl who became the mother of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Moses, an Israelite who murdered…
I can’t tell you the number of resolutions I’ve made and broken throughout the years. I start with good intentions for self-improvement, but they get sidetracked from life’s realities. Did my resolutions fail because I didn’t have a solid plan? Did they fail because I didn’t believe in them or wasn’t fully committed? Although some of these factors may have…
I loved Disney shows that had a fairy godmother with a magic wand as a little girl. The fairy godmother would touch the person with her wand and grant them whatever they asked her for. How handy or scary would that be in our human condition? As an adult, I know a fairy godmother is a fantasy. However, I have…
After an intense counseling session, I uncovered some negative thoughts and beliefs I had about myself. My thoughts and feelings bounced around until I wrote them down in my journal and compared them to what God said about me in the Bible. The process of identifying and eliminating my untrue beliefs with God was a wrestling match in my mind.…
Can’t you taste turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, and cranberries! The images of Thanksgiving usually include a big meal and feelings of comfort. However, thanksgiving for some people means facing difficult people while still trying to find something to be grateful for. What is Thanksgiving? Webster defines Thanksgiving as an expression of gratitude especially to God. To be…
Abuse/Domestic Violence, Faith Struggles and Strengthening, Fear, Love and Marriage Christian, Relationships, Struggles, Uncategorized
What Does it Mean to Love like Jesus in Your Marriage?
July 15, 2021
My husband says he loves me, yet, his words and actions don’t feel like love. I’m trying to love him like Jesus, but what does that really mean as a wife and a husband? Realization Creates Opportunity When I think of how many times I asked myself this question in my previous unhealthy marriage, I’m reminded of how confused I…
Whether we realize it or not, we choose our attitude from our feelings and beliefs about who we believe we are. Where we get our identity determines the value we place on ourselves and others. There are two value extremes people can be pulled into without realizing it.
We may also fall into operating from a Messiah fantasy because of the wounds we have endured. If you fear being alone or abandoned, you will often rationalize abuse to avoid feeling this pain. You may also live in a Messiah fantasy if you have learned that love is something you must earn by helping, serving, sacrificing, and gaining people’s approval.
A love denial fantasy is created to avoid facing truths that may bring feelings of abandonment, rejection, or ending the relationship in divorce. A love denial fantasy can be stronger if the victim believes God will be disappointed or mad at them if they don’t submit to their abusive spouse or get divorced. These spiritual lies come from misquoted and misused verses, often by the abuser, to keep the victim in their control through fear.