READ: Thirty-One Days to a Happy Husband by Arlene Pellicane
This book’s title made me wonder. Really? Thirty-one days? And who defines happy, anyway? But a closer investigation of this volume revealed its power-packed value. Sometimes, even good advice can prove overwhelming. But author Arlene Pellicane (read my review of her 31 Days to a Younger You here) has combined practical tips and biblical encouragement in an attractive, easy-to-read package. Pellicane doesn’t claim to have all the answers. She centers her book around five areas of need in men’s lives, organized by the acronym DREAM: Domestic Tranquility, Respect, Eros, Attraction, and Mutual Activities. If you’ve done any reading about marriage, you’ve seen similar lists. But the way the author expands them into thirty-one days of study, encouragement, and practical tips makes personal application not only potential but real. Each chapter includes illustrations culled from real-life marriages (including the author’s); solid biblical teaching; “Notice Today,” in which the author encourages self- and marital-examination; and “Nurture Today,” an action step. Liberal doses of fun and gracious insights from others’ experiences give the book the warm, positive tone of a loving sister dispensing not a lecture but sound advice. Although happiness is only one element of a fulfilled and Christ-centered life and marriage, those who read and apply the book’s principles will find themselves drawing closer to their husbands. They’ll see God use their marital relationships to bring himself glory. And that’s what I call happiness of the best and most godly kind. What books about marriage have helped you? Share your answer in a comment by October 29, and I’ll enter your name in a drawing to win my review copy of this delightful book plus a surprise devotional book. I’ll choose a winner at random and post it next week. Please leave a link or email address so I can contact you for mailing information (US addresses only, please). Watch Arlene’s “3 Steps to Affair-Proof Your Marriage” here. Find a local Christian bookstore Find this book on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or at Christian Book Distributors. (FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to post a review or a positive...
read morePRAY: Prayer for Those Who Need to Keep on Forgiving
Father and Friend, today I come to you on behalf of those who need to keep on forgiving. The wounds have cut deep. The hurt doesn’t stop. And the forgiveness needs to keep on coming, whether seventy times seven, seven hundred times seven, or more. Lord, because of your great power and love, I ask you to pour your grace upon these dear ones. Let it splash in great pools at their feet. In that refreshing shower, God, allow them to reach out and find forgiveness once again—forgiveness they can extend, and continue extending, to the ones who have hurt them, the ones who will hurt them, and even the ones who don’t know of the pain they’ve caused. Grace, our Savior. We beg for your mercy; we long for your grace. We live in a broken, fallen world where people will continue to hurt us and where we’ll need to keep on forgiving. Draw us close to you that we may draw on your power and delight in your grace. Thank you for forgiving us first and loving us always. Release us to love much and to follow your constant example of loving forgiveness. In your holy name I pray, AMEN. Do you struggle to forgive? What has helped you grow in this area? I’d love to hear your...
read morePRAY: Praying for the Innocent Ones
Today, Lord, I come to you on behalf of the innocent ones. I’m thinking of those who hurt through no fault of their own. I’m thinking of children, of course, and also of other victims of anger, hatred, or violence. I’m thinking of those who suffer for doing what is right. I’m thinking, Lord, of you who knew no sin but became sin on our behalf. And Lord, this is what I pray for these innocent ones today: that they would know you. That they would experience your power in their suffering. That you would rise up as their vindicator and protector.That they would take no thought for themselves but bring you glory through their patient endurance. God, I ask you to sustain them. Strengthen them. Support them as only you can, our Provider. Heal them. Hold them. Help them reach beyond these hurts to find their full potential in you. Thank you, Lord, for the innocent ones we see every day. May we not turn our backs or ignore them anymore. Empower us to reach out and serve them, to love them with your love, to offer them more than a pat on the back and a “God bless you.” The innocents, Lord, are the least of these—and the least of these matter to you. In your holy name I pray, AMEN. Does this prayer bring an innocent one to mind? I know I could have expanded it much more. Feel free to share your thoughts and/or prayer requests in a...
read morePRAY: Prayer for Adoptive Parents
As I write this, a dear friend is preparing to take a journey. In order to make it, she and her husband have waited years and waded through mounds of paperwork and red tape. When she brings the newest of her three daughters home from Haiti (the other two were born in China and Ethiopia, respectively), many will rejoice—but none so much as this amazing family. And also as I write this, two other dear friends are traveling to China. There, this young couple will enlarge their family with the addition of Promise, a precious toddler. Promise needs surgeries to correct her cleft palate. But more than that, she needs a mommy and daddy. And they know they need her. Twenty-five years ago this coming Sunday, my husband and I stood before a judge with a precious seven-month old baby girl. From the moment we first held her in the hospital, she stole our hearts. And on October 7, 1987, she also took our last name. Cindy and Billy, Michael and Shannon, and Kristen Elizabeth, this one’s for you—along with all the other adoptive and hope-to-be adoptive parents and their children. Dear Father, How wonderful that you allow us the privilege of using that great name. You are our true Father. And today, Lord, I want to lift up those who are giving the least of these a father, or a mother, or both. These children have been (for one reason or another) left behind. You see it in their eyes. You hear it in their voices. And, if you’re an adoptive parent, you do your best to remove any trace of rejection or abandonment from their lives. Lord, I lift up these parents to you today. They make their adoptive journey in all sorts of ways, none of them easy. Some of them give up careers. Some of them sacrifice homes and finances. Some of them travel long distances. And some endure rejection or rude questions from family, friends, or acquaintances. When you pull a child from the mire, some of the muck sticks. I ask you, God, to guide these parents in its removal. Wash the children clean by the power of your Word and your loving mercy. Give the parents grace to choose relationship over rules along with the wisdom to know when rules must prevail. Give them strength to continue their journey of sacrifice. Give them vision for tomorrow and faith to wait as you bring it to pass. Fill them with the hope of your love for their children and the willing investment you pour into their lives each day. Keep them safe from the enemy and his awful, evil schemes. They have no power in the lives of those who claim you as Lord and master. Father, we know our example in adoption is you. We have not chosen you, but you have chosen us (John 15:16). Help all adoptive parents model your choice, your love, and your grace before their children—that one day, the little ones may also recognize and choose your way. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray, AMEN. Do you know an adoptive parent? Feel free to share this prayer. And feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your adoption...
read morePRAY: What Did You Learn Today?
“What did you learn today?” My brother and I grew to dread the question. Dad directed it at us every school night from perhaps second grade on. I remember planning ahead to make sure I had an answer ready, which I now realize was Dad’s intent. Of course, our engineer dad wouldn’t settle for pat answers like “math” or “reading.” We had to give a full explanation of whatever we thought we’d learned—and be prepared to defend it against his questions and challenges. My dad, Harold Surface, took his last breaths on June 10 of this year. He handled his battle with cancer like everything else in his life, with few words and great strength. Since then, I’ve written nothing about him longer than a Facebook status. But in honor of what would have been his eighty-first birthday today, I want to share some of the things Dad taught me. Work hard. Dad grew up on a farm where chores were accepted and expected. With some effort, he transferred this concept to parenting in the suburbs of Cincinnati. Mike and I learned to garden; to cook; to do yard work; to clean and maintain a home; and even to paint and hang wallpaper. Our early experiences prepared us for life in real and practical ways, just as Dad wanted. Do it yourself.When I was small, I thought everyone had a dad who rotated tires, packed wheel bearings, fixed washing machines and refrigerators, and designed/built a deck for the back of the family home. Dad did all these things and more. If something broke, my first thought was, “Dad will fix it.” And he almost always could. Put family first.At least twice in his long career with General Electric, Dad had the opportunity to work overseas. He turned down both chances because he wanted my brother and me to remain at our local high school. He gave his vacation time for long family camping trips to various parts of the country in order to ensure we had experiences he’d missed growing up. Without fanfare, Dad made many other sacrifices to help his family, near and far. Help others. Both in the community where I grew up and in the more rural area of his retirement, Dad plowed the neighbor’s driveways in the winter and shared garden produce (including popcorn) in the summer. When I cleaned out his desk this summer, I found an entire section of envelopes from places like Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army, all with notes inside thanking him for his donation. Once again, Dad was a quiet but generous giver. Show your love. Dad showed his love for God and for others through the actions mentioned above. And he did so through forty years of diabetes, multiple foot surgeries, and a protracted battle with cancer. As I helped my mother care for him during the final weeks of his life, I never saw him fail to return her goodnight kiss—even when he seemed conscious of little else. We had no questions about Dad’s love. And I pray he had no questions about mine. For the first time in many years, I won’t give you a call on your birthday, Dad. But I write this with the hope that you knew how much I learned, not...
read moreWelcome
I've asked God to use my writing and speaking to count for eternity. I'm passionate about relationships and creativity.
