100 Days To My Anniversary e-book includes over 140 pages of encouragement and marriage tips for wives, and with some extras: love quotes, check-off boxes, room to add a comment or note, and more. This downloadable, printable file contains one-hundred tips of encouragement for wives, which you can use as your own count-down to your anniversary! You can download this book for $2.99 by clicking on the ‘ADD TO CART’ button.
You can order the real book here or here!
“No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah [my delight is in her], and your land Beulah [married]; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:4-5
Some people call Heaven Beulah Land. Beulah actually means married. And while it is true that we will experience the perfection of union between Christ and the Church in Heaven, there is a blissful state of Beulah that God desires for marriages — in this life.
It is no coincidence that God chose marriage as the picture of intimate communion to portray the relationship He desires with mankind as visualized in the promise of the union between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:23-33, Colossians 1:24). In human terms, it is the most sublime relationship we can imagine.
How disappointed our Father must be when He sees how miserable and lonely we are in:
We live in the shadow of the curse, embraced by the sting of thorns, but there remains Sabbath. . . Beulah. A place of rest and refuge. . . marriage. . .haven. . . Beulah, even in this cursed, barren wilderness. Thanks be to Christ who redeemed us from the curse! (Galatians 3:13)
If we only have hope of Heaven for rest and Beulah, we are most miserable (I Corinthians 15:19) — there is hope now, today — in this life — in this marriage.
How? By the same faith and redemption that saves your soul. If we trust God for the salvation of our soul, can we trust Him for the salvation of our marriage?
Just like there remains a Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9) in this life AND the life to come, I believe there is a blessed state of Beulah for us now.
Claim Beulah for your marriage. Write it above the doorposts of your bedroom. Sprinkle it like perfume upon your bedclothes. Anoint yourself with the promise of Beulah so that you are beautiful, desired, attractive, alluring, with the fragrance of regeneration and sanctification and forgiveness on your life.
Oh, God, give us blissful Beulah. . . a taste of Heaven on Earth!
Today’s Marriage Tip: Expose the Deeds of Darkness
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Continue reading
In these days of casual commitment, DIY divorce, and mundane marriage it is important that we place an importance on the institution of marriage, — a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, for the protection of the family, and for the safety, security and sanity of our children. . . to the fourth generation of establishing a godly heritage. Wow, how’s that for a run-on sentence? That one sentence could be a whole book!
I’m sure that in the number of women who visit this blog, we have many from different seasons and stations of life, but what we probably all share is the need for community, friendship, acceptance, love, and emotional intimacy — the need to be one who connects.
So, thank you for hanging in here with me even through the tips that might not apply. . . today! And please know that I pray for you, and that there are others who have been where you are on your journey. . . and that there is always One who identifies with your particular way, who walks with you.
Today’s marriage tip: Forgive the deeds of darkness.
Whoa. Heavy! Yes. We live in a dark and evil world, which is influenced by a very powerful and enticing force of selfishness. Sometimes we get sucked into the darkness. Sometimes men love darkness because their deeds are evil. Sometimes good men (and women) get sucked into the evil.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
If you are struggling with issues of darkness in your marriage, then you know what it is like to desire more, but be pulled back. You know what it is like to experience conflict and pain in your heart as your own flesh is drawn toward the pit in another body, while you are seeking to escape the slime.
We are one flesh in marriage, and if you are unequally-yoked to a partner who is pulling in a different direction, then you know the pain of divided loyalties, double-minded direction, and the force that threatens to tear you apart. And you probably also know the pain of betrayal, loss, distrust, and disappointment caused by one who is supposed to love, honor and cherish you.
Need I say more?
In order to be effective in sharing the light with a wayward husband, you must forgive him with the same compassion that your merciful Savior showed to you. You can’t say you love God if you hate your husband. I didn’t come up with that. . . John the Beloved, who knew the Light of the World as a beloved brother friend, says this:
“If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother [husband], he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” I John 4:20
No, I don’t know what he’s done. If I heard your story, I would be angry, too. I do know that whatever he has done is not any more evil than the shame and guilt I brought upon the sinless Son of God on the cross of humanity’s humiliation.
And yes, it hurts deeply, because no man is supposed to hurt his own flesh; he is supposed to care for and cherish you (Ephesians 5:29). And, it’s not fair. But, as you remember the mercy that Christ shared with you, then you will be able to extend forgiveness to your husband.
“We love because he first loved us.” I John 4:19
And we forgive, because we are forgiven. As you forgive, and let it go today, may you be blessed with the freedom and joy that comes with releasing the curse of sin.
Today’s Marriage Tip: When God’s spirit moves in your life, the promise of the redemption overshadows the present reality. Continue reading
Today’s Marriage Tip: Don’t allow the shortcomings of others to cause you trouble or rebuke. Maintain self-control in the face of others’ sins, weaknesses or failures. Don’t let the truth of the imperfect moment steal the perfection that awaits you in future maturity. Continue reading
Today’s Marriage Challenge: Do not allow your efforts to become futile by being distracted by the truth of today. See things through faith as they will become, and love in advance the completion and not the work in progress. Continue reading
*Happy Mother’s Day to all of you women who have birthed joy and created beauty. And if you happen to have mothered children, may your day be blessed with happy memories of the moments you spent investing in their lives.
And may I challenge you to live with no regrets? Continue reading
“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24
Ever try to hold onto something so hard that it crumbles? Continue reading
Like math? Can you put this into an equation?
Fear attracts loss.
Would it look something like this?
FEAR + X = 0 Continue reading
Thanks for stopping by! This blog is full of encouragement for wives. I hope that you will grab a cup of tea and let encouragement steep into your soul, as we share some moments together. If you'd like to receive blog updates, fill out the subscribe box above, and feel free to search the archives and categories below for some encouraging words. I hope you'll come back often, and tell your friends!
Shari
