Respect Your Husband

-Elizabeth Prata

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These things speak and exhort and reprove.

~Yellowstone FB

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Titus 2 

"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. 

Let no one disregard you."

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Our Lives Should Be a Good Example

~ROSE is ROSE 

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Psalm 32:11

..."Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, 

you righteous ones;


And shout for joy, 

all you who are upright in heart."

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Let's Leave and Cleave

 Genesis 2:18-24

..."Then the Lord God said, 

“It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”...

...The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.

The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."

Proverbs 12:4

..."An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones."...

Proverbs 19:13-14

..."A foolish son is destruction to his father,

And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the Lord."...

Proverbs 27:15-16

..."A constant dripping on a day of steady rain

And a contentious woman are alike;

He who would restrain her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand."...

Mark 10:7-9

..."But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”...

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If you love the LORD then Follow Him!

LEAVE and CLEAVE!

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Oh, My Love, My Darling

Oh, my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch

A long, lonely time

Time goes by so slowly

And time can do so much

Are you still mine?

I need your love

I need your love

God speed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow

To the sea, to the sea

To the open arms of the sea

Lonely rivers cry

Wait for me, wait for me

I'll be coming home, wait for me

Oh, my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch

A long, lonely time

I need your love

I need your love

God speed your love to me

-Alex North, Hy Zaret

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Mark 10:6-9

..."from the beginning of creation, 

God made them male and female.

For this reason a man shall leave 

his father and mother, 

and the two shall become one flesh; 

so they are no longer two, 

but one flesh.

What therefore God has joined together, 

let no man separate.”...

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Who are these young people? And why aren't we with them in Yellowstone?

 Yellowstone, 2006

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Proverbs 18:22

..."He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the Lord."...

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When Real Love Really Lasts

Ephesians 5:25-33

..."Husbands, love your wives, 

just as Christ also loved the church 

and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her,

 having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 

that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, 

having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; 

but that she would be holy and blameless.

So husbands ought also to love their own wives 

as their own bodies. 

He who loves his own wife loves himself; 

for no one ever hated his own flesh, 

but nourishes and cherishes it, 

just as Christ also does the church, 

because we are members of His body. 

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother 

and shall be joined to his wife, 

and the two shall become one flesh. 

This mystery is great; 

but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 

Nevertheless, each individual among you 

also is to love his own wife even as himself, 

and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."

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"Her Mothering Centered on Family"

Years ago...almost forty years ago I happily went to apply for a library card in our new town. As young mother I was excited and ready to begin checking out books for myself and my children.  

Instead of the simple task of signing up I was bombarded with loud questions about my identification. I had my driver's license for that state, but the belligerent librarian demanded another form of ID which was a student identification or then, louder, a work identification.

"Don't you even have a work identification card?" She belted out.

All these years have gone by now, thankfully,  with other towns and another state in which no one else has had a problem with just a drivers license.

I think back now and wonder if college classes even then were teaching that staying home to raise your own children was unthinkable.

This came to my mind today as I read an obituary of a 93 year woman. She had a full and beautiful life with her husband of 71 years. As I continued to read I learned all about her from this beautifully written obituary. 

She and her husband were One and they raised all their children with love, enjoying grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The one line which was so significant to me says it all:

"Her mothering continued as grand and great-grandchidlren came into her world which centered on family."

What a beautiful testimony of a godly woman's life!

Titus 2:3-5

..."Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."...

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A Properly Situated Family

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" Contrary to popular opinion, the most important characteristic of a godly mother is not her relationship with her children.  

It is her love for her husband.  

The love between husband and wife is the real key to a thriving family.  

A healthy home environment cannot be built exclusively on the parents' love for their children. 

The properly situated family has marriage at the center; families shouldn't revolve around the children."

-John MacArthur

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Faithfulness, Devotion, Loyalty, Commitment...

 For this reason...

Mark 10:7-9

..."For this reason 

a man shall leave his father and mother,

and the two shall become one flesh;

so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

What therefore God has joined together, 

let no man separate.”...

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Advice for a Wise Husband

"A very important part of communication is to sit down with your wife as the very first thing upon arrival home from work. 

She has had a long day by herself, especially when there are children. It really helps her to be able to talk to you immediately. 

Just sit her down where you can be reasonably private (with small children this can be somewhat difficult) and ask her to tell you about her day. 

Always let her talk about her day, and listen to her, before you tell her about yours. 

It was many years before I learned this and it changed things drastically when I applied the technique. It tells her that you care about her."

-Anonymous, found handwritten on a slip of paper stuffed in a book.

Maturity, Choices, Transitioning, Complementing = A New Family

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

Proverbs 18:22
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor from the Lord."

Waiting or looking for a mate:

Never date a non-Christian
Never rush 
Never settle
Never push
Always respect
Always be discerning
Always be alert for Red Flags
Be respectful of parents 
NEVER allow parents to manipulate and control either of you
Always be humbly in prayer with the LORD

Treasures of the Heart

Happy today as you choose to make it for the LORD. I will try to do so also.  I know it is a new year, but we have never really celebrated it the traditional way as normal people do.  It has just been another day for us.

It has been cold, sometimes rainy, snowy, icy, then back to sun-shiny and warmish. The weather seems not to know what to do. I have to admit that in my whole life I have loved wintertime and have never desired it too hurry along, but I am already weary of this on-again, off-again dreary season. Spring is already on my mind, which is setting me up for a fall. I have a long time to wait.

The other day we received a new catalog for Spring.  It was the very first one. I had time today so I looked through it. It is full of items with flowers, birds, and rabbits.  Everything in it is lovely. I was reminded of my precious mother who would have loved everything in this catalog!

I was born on Easter, and because of this she always made my birthday special with some sort of little bunny all the years of my life up until she went to be with the LORD.  I still have that very first bunny, with practically all its faux fur loved off and a new homemade face sewn on. 

What a special treasure from her!

Later, my father told me the story of that birthday Easter morning.  She had not told him she was in labor. She had wanted to attend the worship service, so she got my toddler brothers all ready, and they went off to church making it about half way through the service.  When she grabbed his leg, he knew she needed to go to the hospital right then. I was born soon after. He then explained to me that storms developed quickly and they produced tornadoes which roared through western Ohio late in the afternoon. My father was great at telling a story. 

Another special treasure to know this story from him!

Everything in this spring catalog was beautiful and lovely, and probably well worth what each item cost, but none of these things are as special as the memories I hold as precious treasures of my parents, my beloved husband, and my own cherished children as they grew.

What treasures the LORD has given me in my heart!

Happy Memories on a Chain

It all began with a piano recital so many years ago.

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The two shall become one flesh

Ephesians 5:25-33
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church 
and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, 
having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 
that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, 
having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; 
but that she would be holy and blameless. 

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. 
He who loves his own wife loves himself; 
for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, 
just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. 

For this reason a man shall leave 
his father and mother 
and shall be joined to his wife, 
and the two shall become one flesh. 

This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ 
and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also 
is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it 
that she respects her husband."

Danger signs and Red Flags

thanks to Hagar the Horrible

Ephesians 5:22-24
"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 
For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, 
He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, 
so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything."

Proverbs 25:24
"It is better to live in a corner of the roof
than in a house shared with a contentious woman."

Thank you for your service!

He served our country with honor.  
Forty-two years ago today his term of service ended.  
He became my Beloved which has included protecting all my scissors.

Thank you for being my protector in all things!

Husbands and Wives

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Ephesians 5:25-33

"Husbands, love your wives, 

just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 

so that He might sanctify her, 

having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 

that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, 

having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; 

but that she would be holy and blameless. 

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. 

He who loves his own wife loves himself; 

for no one ever hated his own flesh, 

but nourishes and cherishes it, 

just as Christ also does the church, 

because we are members of His body. 

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother 

and shall be joined to his wife, 

and the two shall become one flesh. 

This mystery is great; 

but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 

Nevertheless, 

each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, 

and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."

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Sweetheart