Friday, November 6, 2009

Love and Respect

"However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Ephesians 5:33



Two simple words. Two profound commands. Husbands, LOVE your wives. Wives, RESPECT your husbands. (And did you notice the word "must" in there each time?)

Today and tomorrow at my home church, we are hosting the live Love and Respect Marriage Conference with Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs. (I love God's timing and His always perfect attention to detail...the first "Marriage Matters" post is today...the same day as the Love and Respect Conference that has been in the works for over a year!) Emerson and Sarah teach in-depth how these two nuggets of Truth can transform a marriage.

You may have heard and read Ephesians 5:33 so many times that you glance over it casually without soaking in its truth and power. Perhaps "Love and Respect" is a new concept to you. Either way, as you yield your heart to the Lord and humbly obey His commands concerning marriage, healthy marriages can become even more vibrant, and struggling marriages can be given new life. Our Redeemer is all about new life.

My husband, Jim, and I have been through this Bible study a few times. Keeping our feet to the fire of God's Word, we continually find life and encouragement through His truth. Jim and I know we must yield our hearts to the Lord's commands and abide in Him daily in order to honor Him with our lives and marriages. God brings forth the fruit. And when we are living according to His Word, wow is that fruit yummy!

Do you have a healthy marriage that you'd like to continue to nourish? Are you struggling in your marriage and need some life-giving hope? His truth brings new life! Dig into God's Word. If you would like to enter to win a copy of the "Love and Respect" book, please leave a comment with your contact information. The winner will be announced in the next "Marriage Matters" post.

As we visit together here at "Marriage Matters", we'll talk about honoring God with our marriages. Honoring our husbands. Husbands giving their wives unconditional love, and wives being respectful towards their husbands unconditionally. Yielding our hearts to the Lord. I certainly haven't arrived, but I am abiding in and on the journey with the One who has!


"With sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord..." (Colossians 3:22)
Sharon

9 comments:

Kimberly Rae said...

I bought this book and started to read it.. currently I am awaiting my stuff from storage so I can get it and finish but I love it so far! how cool to hear them speak at your church....

Unknown said...

Sharon,

Praying over God's will for our marriage!

Maybe I will see you there.

Love and blessings on this new journey!

Great group of contributors!

Jill

Annette said...

Thanks for showing me the Titus 2 in Action blog. I'll be back.

I recently attended my husband's great aunt's funeral. She and her widower had been married 68 years. They had the love and respect thing down!

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

This is so important, Sharon. We need to be bearing the right kinds of fruit. Have fun at the seminar and I look forward to learning more in the weeks to come.

Sonya

Edie said...

This is a much needed message in today's culture. I have read this book and I loved what I learned. I love the way He timed your post with your conference too. He is in all the details.

Tammy said...

At our church we've held 4(12 week classes)using the Love and Respect DVD. Each time it has blessed many marriages.

My husband and I (my second marriage)almost ended in divorce court after 12 years of marriage. It wasn't until we learned that God's way was the right way.

We have been married for 22 years and happy I might add.

Great post!

Kelly said...

Sharon, I can't wait to read more of your posts! I don't think I should be entered to win the book, since I am a contributor to this blog. I also just ordered their latest book, "The Language of Love & Respect by Cracking the Communication Code With Your Mate"

Great writing! Wonderful post!

Warren Baldwin said...

This is a great book! I use it in a college class and in marital and pre-marital counseling! I know you guys will do a great job teaching it. Looking forward to your reading your posts. wb

Runner Mom said...

Hey! This blog is great! And I know most of the writers!! Love that!

This book sounds amazing! Next Wednesday, I will be leading a Praying the Scriptures for Your Husband workshop at church. It's based on one of Renee Swope's P31 devo. It's really been on my heart lately. Over 20 women have already signed up! Needing your prayers for this, girl!! There are so many woman out there who don't know how or what to pray for their hubbies. This book sounds like a great reference for me to share. If you recommend it, sweet friend, then it's great! I'd love to be entered into the drawing for it as well. We could use this in our church library!

Love you!
Susan