"LOVE AND RESPECT FOR A LIFETIME" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Love and Respect--Two Very Important words and feelings in a marriage, and yet so many misunderstandings come because of an imbalance of them. Take a journey with me while I explore this wonderful little "gift book" titled "Love and Respect For A Lifetime". It is 154 absolutely beautiful glossy pages that are full of helpful, practical insight for a healthy and happy relationship. It will be perfect for any age couple, at any stage of their commitment, not to mention it will look great sitting on a coffee table ( being read, not collecting dust).

Emerson Eggerichs and his wife Sarah travel the country conducting the Love and Respect Marriage Conferences. Before starting Love and Respect Ministries, Emerson was senior pastor at Trinity Church in East Lansing, Michigan for nearly 20 years.

About the Book

Based on Biblical principles, Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, Is an excellent book for any age “couple”. Whether they are husband and wife or girlfriend and boyfriend, this book can help to enlighten each one to the other’s needs. The woman’s priority in the relationship is “to be loved”. The man’s “is to be respected.” He helps us to understand that to have a healthy marriage, there has to be a balance of both. This little book is easy to read, but packed with so much useful information. It would definitely make a good little wedding gift. A nice way to get the couple started off on the “right foot” instead of trial and errors and personality clashes because of misunderstandings such as why my husband doesn’t act like he cares, or why the wife doesn’t show me respect. It can head those feelings off “at the pass”.

This book helps to shine a light on each person’s need so that when disagreements arise, they can be discussed rather than argued in anger where negativity can breed. A woman need not feel “unloved” nor a man “disrespected” just because of a disagreement. If handled the right way, marriages can stay happy and healthy through different opinions and disagreements for many years and this book can guide you in the right direction. It explains things in such easy terms to understand for example the woman needs to see out of the mans "blue tinted glassses and the man needs to see things from the woman's pink tinted glasses. In other words from each others points of view. The man needs to understand that the woman's need for love to be shown to her must be met, but at the same time, the man's need for respect deserves the same priority . There absolutely needs to be a balance, and this book tells how to do that. In my opinion anyone who reads this book will benefit from the practical advice to God's Word.

I have been married almost 25 years, and I am definitely going to put this book into practice. I know that it will definitely enrich my marriage and help me to make my husband a happier confident spouse.

I definitely recommend this book to ALL couples, young and elderly. It’s never too learn to start understanding what God wants for us in our marriage.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

Good Night to All and May God Bless You ALL!

God's Recipe for A Good Marriage

Image by loswl via Flickr

Good Evening Everyone!

I just love this picture. It amazes me when I think about how God just spoke it all into existance.

I hope this post finds everyone happy, healthy and wise!

The Amplified Version of the above quoted scripture is: (15) for it is God's will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons. (16) [Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God.
1 Peter 2:15-16

Tomorrow's Verse of the Day (12 midnight)

18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 3:18

The Amplified Version of the above quoted scripture for tomorrow (Saturday's):
18For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once [a]for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,
1 Peter 3:18

Another thing which I would like to elaborate on is from last night's post. while I was looking up tonight's verses, I ran across this one in the Amplified Bible which goes right along with last night's Bible Seed: 1 Peter 3:1-2: IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion buy by the [godly] lives of their wives. (2) when they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to , revere him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to , deeply love, and enjoy your husband].

Now, that is definitely a lesson in itself. These are two posts last night's and tonight's, that I need to print out and read and read over again. I definitely have to work on this. I have taken my hubby for granted so much, and feel so ashamed when reading the above scripture, because I do none of those things. Don't get me wrong, I do love him, and respect him, but the other just slips right on by. I never realized how badly I treated him until just now. Thank you for allowing me to vent, and think out loud. This has definitely made me have second thoughts about where lies the "blame" with in the difficulties in this relationship. I don't mean to "air dirty laundry" or advertise problems, by any means. I'm just saying that with no children in our 23 year marriage, we have started taking each other for granted, each wanting our own way about things, never complimenting each other because we think the other one knows how we feel, and so on. I'm sure we aren't the only couple with these types of "hangups", but This past lesson last night and tonight (scripture) have really opened my eyes. I truly hope that some of these "Bible Seeds" and scriptures have helped you and opened your eyes as they have mine.

If I may put a plug in for a couple of Books. Now, mind you this is not a book review. These books are ones which I have had for quite a while and I use them for study and devotion on my own. They are "The Everyday Life Bible (Amplified Version Featuring Notes and commentary by Joyce Meyer, and the second is "Bible Seeds" A Simple Study-Devotional for Growing in God's Word, From the Creators of the God's Word for the Biblically-Inept" Series. I guess that's why I like this little book so much. It doesn't take a scholar to understand the lessons.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!

PJ

Follow the Leader

Well, I did it again. I had this post completely finished. I clicked on what I thought was publish, and then "view blog" and .....nothing. The title came up but nothing else. I had a feeling I shouldn't be doing this tonight, because I don't feel good, but I knew I wouldn't have time until tomorrow evening otherwise.

The Bible Seed for tonight's post is "Follow the Leader".

Tonight's Seed: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands "as to the Lord." For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Ephesians 5:21-23.

In tonight's seed we are all called to "submit to one another." This verse sets up the next portion of Scripture. Three everyday relationships are discussed in Ephesians 5:22-6:9: wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters. The first party is always commanded to submit and obey. The second party is also to show submission by serving and concerning themselves with the first party. In a marriage, the husband and wife are to submit to one another. Marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship with His church. Just a Jesus is the head of the body, so husbands are the head, or leader, of their wives. Some husbands may like that role and fulfill it well. Others may resent being a leader and shirk their role at every opportunity.

Men and women have an equal relationship with God. First Peter 3:7 says we are "fellow heirs" of God's grace. Submission does not make women lesser people! Husbands and wives are equal in value to the kingdom of God, but within marriage we have different functions. Men are created to lead their homes and love their wives in the same way Christ loved the church. Jesus loved the church so much that He gave his life for it. Husbands have a big responsibility. Women are their husband's helpmate and are to respect their husbands.

Submission is not being a doormat. It is not allowing behaviors contrary to God's commands to continue in your home. It is not taking on a second-class role. It is simply this: allowing and respecting your husband's position as the family leader without usurping that authority by doing things behind his back, allowing the children to disobey his wishes, or demanding your way every time.

Biblical submission is strength harnessed.

Background Bulb: When today's seed says to submit "as t the Lord" it is not saying we submit to our husbands the same way as we do to Christ. That would be impossible, as our husbands are not perfect as Christ is. What it is saying is that our submission to our husbands is an act of service to Christ. It is our calling.

Sprout & Scatter: There is tremendous power in biblical submission. Through acknowledging his leadership and supporting him every day, wives can empower their husbands to be confident, mature , and responsible leaders within their homes.

Think about it: How do you feel about submitting to your husband as the leader of the family?

List some instances when you thing submission is important.

Prayer Pot: Father, help me to recognize my husband's leadership in ....(insert your request.)

I have two different perspectives on this. My first was to be submissive to the husband if he is a believer and in the will of God. Then, I began to think about another scripture about the husband being saved by his wife's conversation or "lifestyle". This tells me that if the wife continues to live for God and be an example to her husband that eventually, his heart will soften and he too will start living for God, thereby being saved and getting into the will of God. I tend to go with my first one though because I know that God would not want us to do anything out of His will deliberately and if the husband is a non-believer or the type of person who think that being a believer consists of just being a good person", then we could easily fall out of the will of God, since there is much more to it than that. Being a believer consists of living for God, following all of His commandments, not just the 10 Famous ones, studying His Word, and loving Him. All of this as well as "being a good person".

Well, I've said my piece for the second time tonight. Let's see if I can publish this without messing up again.

Good Night to All, and May God Bless.

PJ