Learn a Life of Love

My daughter-in-law, Bethany, just asked me if I was a drug dealer!

My granddaughter, Olivia, was at the fair when a nasty storm blew in. They came to my house and waited out the storm in the basement. Since Luke was out-of-state, we decided to have a slumber party. (Their house doesn’t have a basement.)

The phone rang at 12:30 a.m. waking the adults up. I grabbed the extension by my bed but no one answered. I hit redial and it went right to voicemail. I guess the caller rolled over on their phone.

Then Bethany woke up when David left at 5:30 a.m. His boss told him of a barber who opened at 6:00 a.m. on Fridays for walk-ins. He left for a haircut.

He came back to the house for the Wal-Mart list. He picked up a few things there and brought them home. Then he went to work. Olivia blissfully slept through it all!

It concerned Bethany because there was a call in the middle of the night. And David kept leaving. I explained everything to her.

I woke up before he left and went to the basement. Yesterday, I moved my Bibles, devotionals, notebook, and Chromebook downstairs. (My office is also the guest room. I had to temporarily move out.)

I was writing in my notebook seated on the loveseat. God reminded me of a conversation earlier this week. I had my notebook and 2 Bibles open on the desk. I told God it was crowded and wished for a bigger space. Now I am balancing a notebook and 2 Bibles on the loveseat. That desk looks pretty big to me!

Paul wrote most of the New Testament – from prison! Instead of changing my circumstances I am letting God change me. I will write anywhere and everywhere.

Ephesians 3:8, “And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ.” The Message

Our slumber party was the last night of camp. Derek is one of the leaders and has been gone since Sunday. I envisioned a week of romance. The honeymoon is definitely over. *Sigh*

Ephesians 5:25-28, “Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting. (26) Christ’s love makes the church whole. (27) His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. (28) And that is how husband’s ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves and favor – since they’re already ‘one’ in marriage.” The Message

* * * * * * *

“…In the Greek culture that was dominate in and around Ephesus, husbands were on average 12 or more years older than their wives, were usually more educated, and held much higher social status,….

In one traditional Greek formulation, men used prostitutes for pleasure and wives only to bear them legitimate children.

…What is significant is that Paul modified the culture’s values, calling on all believers to submit (5:21), and allowing the husband-wife relationship to be affected by the God-human relationship.

…While Romans and Greeks supposed that husbands would love their wives, Paul listed such as a command.” Chronological Study Bible Notes

* * * * * * *

Ephesians 5:21. “Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.” The Message

* * * * * * *

Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.” The Message

The way I support my husband shows my support for Christ? That’s a humbling thought.

Ephesians 5:1-2, “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. (2) Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us, His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that.” The Message

I guess I should stop wishing for dazzling white silk!

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