Tough Questions

by | Sep 30, 2024 | self-examination

SELF-EXAMINATION

GROWING IN STABILITY  (Day 2 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

This week we are considering the link between understanding and knowledge and how that makes for personal stability.

… with a man of understanding and knowledge, [a land’s] stability will long continue. Proverbs 28:2b ESV

We want to be constant in character and someone who can be trusted and counted on.

mature couple

In looking at your life, where have you been mature, showing solid character? Where have you lacked maturity and the ability to be counted on? Who or what has helped you grow and become more mature?

Tough questions, huh? I’ll be giving this some thought today. It’s hard to own that I have weaknesses and areas of struggle, but it’s huge in the process of growth. I want more understanding and knowledge and the stability that can come from that.

A little pretty for your day.

BLUE FLOWERS

Just thought they were lovely.

 

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Image credits – mature couple © zakiroff / Adobe Stock, blue flowers © Ralph / Pixabay
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Stand Stable

by | Sep 29, 2024 | concept

CONCEPT FOR THE WEEK

GROWING IN STABILITY (Day 1 of 6)

I’m back to reading Proverbs each day.

… with a man of understanding and knowledge, [a land’s] stability will long continue.  Proverbs 28:2b ESV

Now, I know this verse is about a ruler bringing stability to the land, but the concept of linking understanding and knowledge with stability caught my eye.

STABLE TREE

Lately I’ve been seeing the benefit of personal stability and the cost of a lack thereof.

stability: steadfastness; constancy, as of character or purpose

Let’s take the day and talk to God about growing in stability. Where do we get this understanding and knowledge so we can be constant in character?

I’m starting out with 1) listen to God, 2) listen to people who exhibit stability, and 3) learn from the fruit of what I do (is it helping or hurting).

What are your thoughts? Where do you go for insight and knowledge?

I was out weeding in our community garden and I came across these.

BABY POTATOES

I’ve planted onions, carrots, beans, and potatoes in this area and these little green things don’t belong.

Well, turns out they are a bit unusual, so that’s why I didn’t recognize them. Normally the flowers on potato plants just dry up and drop, but this year the weather was such that they actually produced little seed potatoes. Cool, huh?

 

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Image credits – stable tree © AI / Adobe Stock, baby potatoes © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Learn From This and Do Different

by | Sep 28, 2024 | let's chat

SAT AM COFFEE CHAT

This week has been a bit sad for me.

A couple we know is likely to divorce. Paul and I are not in a position to help them. Total bummer.

At the heart of the conflict, is a desire to fix the other and an unwillingness to see their part in the difficulties.

FIGHTING COUPLE

Y’all, please learn from this.

You can’t fix anyone else but yourself and truly when you grow and change you give your spouse a hand up in growing and changing too. They can see how good and sweet it is to be mature and loving.

If you need something from your spouse, try asking clearly and simply, and be willing to consider other options. Please don’t ask them to be someone they are not.

Prayers for all appreciated.

Paul power-washed my quail cages. We’re getting ready for winter. Gotta get cleaned up and tucked in before the cold weather hits.

CLEAN QUAIL CAGES

I’ll be ordering some quail eggs shortly. (FYI, I order from these folks. I’m not an affiliate, they just raise their quail for good size and temperament.)

 

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Image credits – fighting couple © WavebreakMediaMicro / Adobe Stock, clean quail cages © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Stand Loyal

by | Sep 27, 2024 | conclusions

MY THOUGHTS

BE LOYAL –  (Day 6 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

This week, we’ve been thinking about and practicing expressions of loyalty.

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16-17 ESV

Having Ruth’s example was very helpful for me. I asked myself did I have this sense of loyalty toward God, my husband, my friends, etc.

LETTER PRESS SPELLING LOYALTY

Ruth’s loyalty was pretty intense and life impacting (she gave up and risked a lot). Did I have that same passion and intention aimed toward my loved ones? What am I willing to give up to stand with them?

How did you do this week? What did you learn?

I confess my garden has more than its fair share of weeds.

MULLEIN

This one is a mullein plant and I haven’t decided if I will let it stay or pull it. It has large fuzzy leaves and is a very cool weed.

 

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Image credits – letterpress spelling loyalty © Yury Zap / Adobe Stock, mullein © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Speak Loyalty

by | Sep 26, 2024 | second try

SECOND TRY

BE LOYAL –  (Day 5 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Another day of experimenting …

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16-17 ESV

What have you learned so far? What have you done? What communicated loyalty to your spouse or a friend?

LOYAL COUPLE

You may want to have a “loyalty” discussion with your spouse and examine what speaks loyalty to each of you. Same with friends and others in your life. If you know what speaks to them, it is far easier to communicate your willingness to stand with and for them.

I love the Pacific Northwest.

WOOHOO! EGGNOG!

Yup. That’s eggnog. We believe in eggnog up here. 🙂  It makes a great coffee creamer!

 

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Image credits – loyal couple © AntonioDiaz / Adobe Stock, woohoo! eggnog! © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Heart Attitudes

by | Sep 25, 2024 | road blocks

WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?

BE LOYAL  (Day 4 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Any disconnect with loyalty?

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16-17 ESV

I realized in all my thinking and doing, I have been jumping right to the doing rather than examining my heart attitudes. I major on choosing to do the right thing. Unfortunately, I think what I do can seem a bit hollow because of that. If I were to chose to be more aware of my heart attitudes, my actions would follow a bit easier and feel more genuine.

HEART CHAIN

I also need to think through any areas where I struggle with loyalty. What am I really called to in the relationship? What brokenness in the relationship is making it more difficult to take a loyal stance?

What are your thoughts? Where do you struggle?

We’ve started harvesting some of the potatoes we planted in the community garden. I’ve been sorting them in cardboard trays.

RUSSET POTATOES

These are russets. Looking forward to baked potatoes. 🙂

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – heart chain ©  fotomek / Adobe Stock, russet potatoes © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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