Practical Life: Giving Tithes & Offerings

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 'Test me in this,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Mal 3:10 NIV)

Visit The 160 Acre Woods and let Amydeanne and the other bloggers uplift you with their timely Word-filled posts.

Reflection: How to Weather the Economic Storm
by Michelle Wilson

Bill DeLoach has never been afraid of hard work or working with his hands. In fact, he can take an old junker and restore it to its classic beauty. Bill loved working with cars so much that he turned his hobby into a business...

But when the economy went into recession, profits from their car repair business dropped rapidly. ..

"When you see your character tarnished by not being able to pay your bills and not being able to feed your family the way you’re supposed to, it hurts," says Bill.

Bill and Karen prayed to God for a way out of their troubles. Even though they struggled to make ends meet, they continued to tithe.

Karen recalls, "There were times when we said, 'Where are You? Why aren’t You showing up?' But you just have to stand on the Word. You just have to keep standing on the Word, knowing that He can’t deny Himself and that He is faithful..."

As she explains, "No matter how bad you think you may be, there is somebody that’s always worse off than you are. I just felt like God impressed on me that we should make a pledge to The 700 Club..."

So Bill and Karen gave, and God blessed their obedience. Immediately, things began to change for the better.

"Before I even got the forms back to send the money in, everything started breaking loose," says Karen.

No matter how bad you think you may be, there is somebody that's always worse off than you are.

The Deloaches quickly sold three cars, and in the next few months, business started picking up.

"We were able to pay that 10-months-worth of rent that we were behind on," Karen says. "We were able to catch our house up and even pay that next payment before it was even due. [It was a] miracle."

Perhaps the best result was that Bill got a job as a mechanic working 40 hours a week and at just the right pay. His job even included health insurance.

"My first paycheck was probably more than I had made in the last several months," notes Bill. "It has been very prosperous."

Bill and Karen are now almost completely out of debt. They believe it happened because of their willingness to obey by giving.

"All He required was that small pledge. The obedience to that was the catalyst," Karen says.

"I’m the one who is getting the golden opportunity by giving to something, but God used that to bless us back abundantly."

You can read the complete article here.

Do you tithe and give offerings?

Photos: WheatbeltPhotos & ScottButner (Flickr)

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Marriage: 6 Ways to Spell Respect

Why Men Understand C.H.A.I.R.S

Remember the childhood game of musical chairs? Several chairs were arranged in a circle, the music began, and everyone one ran around until the music stopped. With one fewer seats than players, the object was to scramble to an empty seat before someone else got there. If you were the player left standing you were “out.” One chair was pulled from the circle, and the game was repeated until two people vied for the last chair.

While marriage is not a game, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs has devised C.H.A.I.R.S as an appropriate acronym to describe the connection husbands long for with their wives. Marriage expert and author of Cracking the Communication Code: The Secret to Speaking Your Mate’s Language Eggerichs says, “In a word, the husband sees himself as one who ‘chairs’ the relationship. To help the wife remember that she is to Respect her husband by acknowledging how God has created him… here are six principles in C.H.A.I.R.S, with the scriptural basis for each one.

C – Conquest

Because God made man to work (see Gen 2:15), the respectful wife is called to appreciate his desire to do a good job and achieve in his field of endeavor. She does this by thanking him for his efforts and letting him know she is behind him (see Gen 2:18).

H – Hierarchy

Because Scripture states the husband is the head of his wife as Christ is head of the church, the respectful wife is called to submit to her husband by appreciating his desire to protect and provide for her and the family, thanking him for his efforts (see Eph 5:22-25).

A – Authority

Because Scripture makes the husband responsible for loving and caring for his wife, she is called to respect his authority, not being contentious and combative, but appreciating his desire to serve and lead her and the family as she supports, and never undermines, his position
(see Ephesians 5:25-33; Proverbs 21:9).

I – Insight

Because Scripture indicates that a woman can be tricked by cunning voices of the culture and let astray by carnal desires and intuitions
(1 Timothy 2:14; 2 Corinthians 11:3), the respectful wife is called to appreciate her husband’s desire to analyze and counsel, always listening carefully to what he has to say to guard or guide her. If she disagrees with his ideas, she differs with him respectfully.

R – Relationship

Because Scripture teaches that a wife should phileo her husband (love him as a friend [see Titus 2:4]), the respectful wife is called to appreciate his desire for shoulder-to-shoulder companionship, realizing that she is her husband’s friend as well as his lover (see Song of Solomon 5:16).

S – Sexuality

Because she understands that her husband needs her sexually, the respectful wife does not deprive him, but appreciates his desire for sexual intimacy, know that sex is symbolic of his deeper need for respect (see Proverbs 5:19; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Song of Solomon 4:1-15).


C.O.U.P.L.E: 6 Ways Men Can Love Their Wives

In Cracking the Communication Code, Dr. Eggerichs also covers six essentials for energizing and motivating wives. They include (C) closeness, (O) openness,
(U) understanding, (P) peacemaking, (L) loyalty, and
(E) esteem.

If you’re interested in discovering more insights on both of these acronyms, I highly recommend you get this book. The author also reveals how couples can break destructive communication patterns that lead to what he calls,
The Crazy Cycle. “Unconditional respect is as powerful to him as unconditional love is to her.”





Related Posts

1. Six Fundamentals of Love & Respect

2. Respect in Marriage: The Air We Breathe

3. YouTube Video: Self-Control in Marriage

4. Dr. Eggerichs' Blog: Love & Respect Reflects


Does C.H.A.I.R.S make sense to you?


Photos: Larsz & ThomasHawk (Flickr)

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Random: Cultivating the Reading Habit

Thirteen Tips

1. Carve out a specific time in your daily schedule.

2. Carry a book where ever you go.

3. Make a list of books you want to read.

4. Find a quiet place to settle in.

5. Read aloud to your spouse.

6. Keep a journal of reflections on the books you've read.

7. Visit used bookstores.

8. Discover your local library.

9. Read the Christian classics.

10. Blog about the books you've read.

11. Cut back on blogging and TV time.

12. Host or join a book discussion group.

13. Discover new books by reading online reviews.

Inspired by RodneyOlsen.net

Thursday Thirteen

Join the friendly folk over at the temporary new home of Thursday Thirteen.

Check out my list of books for Callapidder Days' spring reading challenge (Spring Reading Thing 2009).

What would you add to this list?

Photo: h.wren (Flickr)

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Spring Reading Thing 2009

Spring Reading Challenge

Once again, Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting her popular reading challenge. Already under way, the official dates are March 20 - June 20, 2009. It's not too late to jump in! If you have scads of unread books hiding under your bed, no doubt you'll appreciate this kind of bloggity group activity.

More information about Spring Reading Thing 2009 is here. Information about linking your book reviews is here.

e-Mom's Spring Reading List

1. Brokeness, Surrender, Holiness: A Revive Our Hearts Trilogy
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

2. A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place (Updated)
by Beth Moore

3. Knowing God (A Christian Classic)
by J.I. Packer

4. Fearlessly Feminine by Jani Orlund

5. The Hospitality Commands
by Alexander Strauch











6. Heaven (Google Preview)
by Randy Alcorn

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. (Ecc 12:12 NIV)

What book(s) are you reading now?

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WFW: Jeremiah 17:7-8

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jer 17:7-8 NLT)

Visit The 160 Acre Woods and let Amydeanne and the other bloggers uplift you with their timely Word-filled posts.

Reflection: Parable of the Pear Tree

A father wanted to teach his four sons the lesson of not judging something or someone too quickly, and so he called his four sons together and said "I have a task for you. I want you, my eldest son to go out into our fields and take a look at the pear tree and come back and tell me what your evaluation is of its condition."

So the eldest went out and saw the pear tree. But it was winter, and the son saw the tree on a harsh winter day and reported back and said to his father. "I see nothing of promise about the tree. It appears old, and gnarled and has no blooms on it at all. I doubt it will survive the winter."

Three months later the father sent the next eldest son out in the spring to evaluate the pear tree. The son came back saying "The tree is very beautiful, with white blooms, but it seems purely ornamental, it has no fruit, nor any sign of ever bearing any. I doubt it will be of much practical use to us."

Indeed all living things should only be evaluated over the course of time and after repeated careful inspection, for who knows but the ugliest and most unproductive of living things might some day turn into the most beautiful and fruitful.

Three months later the father sent the third from the eldest son out in the summer. The son went out to see the tree and came back reporting: "the tree seems to be growing and doing well, and it is full of leaves, and I could see some fruit, so I picked one and tasted it, but it was bitter, not fit for human consumption. I doubt it will prove of much use to us."

Finally three months later the father sent his youngest son out to see the tree once more. This time the tree was full of ripe beautiful golden and red pears. The son tried one and came back with the glowing report "Father we must come quickly for the harvest is upon the tree, and it is heavy laden and needs us to pick the pears for they are ripe and delicious now."

The father called his four sons back together, and said, "You see each of you have observed well the condition of a the tree at a particular season of the year, but your judgment of the tree was only partial, and made too quickly based on what you saw on only the one occasion. See to it that you never judge human beings this way. Never evaluate them too quickly or on the basis of one encounter, for it is unfair and unwise. Indeed all living things should only be evaluated over the course of time and after repeated careful inspection, for who knows but the ugliest and most unproductive of living things might some day turn into the most beautiful and fruitful."

Do you give the Lord your trust? Is He your hope and confidence?

Story via Ben Witherington

Photos: Heath_bar & MartinLaBar (Flickr)

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Random: Bible Poetry

What is Hebrew Parallelism?

Hebrew poetry typically displays certain characteristics including meter, acrostics, chiasm, and parallelism. Bible scholars tell us that parallelism is the most common and important feature of Hebrew poetry.

Typically, at least two lines of poetry complement one another displaying similarity of thought—rather than a similarity of rhyme or sound. In Hebrew poetry there are three primary types of parallelism: synonymous, antithetic, and synthetic.

Examples

1. For example, in synonymous parallelism, two lines of poetry repeat a similar idea expressed as complementary declarative statements as in Psalm 19:1.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2. Another example of synonymous parallelism uses two parallel questions (Psalm 15:1).

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

3. Occasionally, Hebrew poetry displays incomplete synonymous parallelism, where the second line carries over from the first line conceptually but not literally as in Psalm 24:1.

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;

4. With antithetic parallelism, two lines of poetry are usually connected by the conjunction “but” and they stand in sharp contrast to one another as in Prov 10:4.

Lazy hands make a man poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.

5. Finally, synthetic parallelism is a term that interpreters loosely apply to verses where two lines stand in relationship to one another, and the second line completes the thought begun in the first as in Psalm 1:3.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

I'm indebted to Encountering the Old Testament by Arnold and Beyer for this information.

Are you a poetry lover? Do you enjoy
the Psalms?

Illustrations: dbandart (Flickr)

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Relationships: Bloggy Pajama Party

Welcome!

Dressed in your best PJs? Hope so. Come on in, grab some caramel popcorn, and let's get acquainted.

Today is the first day of Janice and Susan's Ultimate Blog Party over at Five Minutes for Mom. An annual event, you're encouraged to host a virtual party at your blog, link up, and then go blog-hopping. These popular twin Moms have a crateful of prizes for you, and their event runs a whole week—from March 20 - 27th.

This party is all about making new friends and getting your blog noticed. Don't miss out!

So Nice to Meet You

New here? Hi! My name is
e-Mom and after two-plus decades as a SAHM, last year I became an "open-nester." Our precious children (a girl and boy) have given me sweet memories and countless experiences to share. My husband and I live in the evergreen Pacific Northwest and we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last fall.

If you want to know a little more about me, I've been interviewed at 5MFM—and you can be too! Discover more about promoting your site for FREE here.

Big Red Button Game

What's a sleepover without games? First, a pillow fight . . . Now, go ahead and play The Big Red Button Game. Sure. I can wait. It's fun!





About Chrysalis Weblog

Are you a thinking Christian Mom looking for fresh ideas to help you grow your faith, raise your kids well, or minister to other women? If so, you'll discover this blog is sparkling with resources. Home of the monthly Marriage Monday meme, there's also HUMOR, cool MUSIC and good BOOKS.


Please enjoy Chrysalis while you're here. I invite you to taste a few of the blog titles listed in my sidebar under "13 Most Popular." Or, if you have time for a bigger bite of Chrysalis, please visit Ten Most-Viewed Posts (2008).

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Photos: AlexPears (1 & 3), detbuzzsaw (2) (Flickr)

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Spiritual Growth: Working Without Striving

“Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain . . .”

(Psalm 127:1a)

Visit The 160 Acre Woods and let Amydeanne and the other bloggers uplift you with their timely Word-filled posts.

Devotion: Striving Versus Abiding

by Os Hillman

What does it mean for the Lord to build the house? It almost seems a contradiction when we consider that we might be the builders in this passage. God wants us to allow Him to build the house. He explains further:

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves (Psalm 127:1-2).

God is telling us there is a way of working without striving. There is a way to conduct business without sweating and toiling for outcome. His warning to each of us is to avoid thinking that outcome is based on our sweat and toil. Outcome is based on obedience. That outcome is sometimes more than we deserve. Sometimes it is less than we hoped for. His desire for each of us is to see Him working in our daily work life. He wants us to avoid looking to our own effort to gain an outcome.

One day Jesus called out to Peter from the shore of the lake and suggested he throw his net on the other side of the boat. It was this simple act of obedience that yielded a tremendous catch that he would not have received unless he obeyed.

We are called to work; He is called to bring forth the fruit. He is the vine. We are the branches. Fruit comes forth naturally from a healthy tree.

Prayer

Father show us when we enter into striving. Show us the difference between loving trust and obedience versus striving for a certain outcome. Help us to walk in your freedom and rest.

Excerpt quoted from Crosswalk's Daily Email "Today God Is First" Devotion by Os Hillman.

Related: Finding True Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss at ROH

Photo: orvarati (Flickr)

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Bible Study: Metaphor & Riddles

"Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet." What is it?

God the Riddler
by Douglas Jones (Chrysalis Repost)

Fine metaphor is praised for its mysterious ability to capture much more about reality than monotone literalness could ever dream. Unlike the allegedly simple correspondences of literal speech where each word is tied to—one and only one—referent, metaphor shoots off in many directions at once. And its imagery can reach down deep inside of us and hook emotions and aesthetic affections and inexpressible devotions that no simple proposition could ever pull up. Metaphor can do this not only because it pretends to make a surprise identity where none truly exists, but it does so via images, and images can call up seven other images, and those bring their friends too…

When, for example, Solomon says to his son that wisdom will be a "graceful ornament on you head, and chains about your neck" (Prov. 1:9), he invokes images of health and peacetime and wealth and royal power. But "chains about your neck" imagery doesn't just stop with the positive; the images keep going, inviting suspicions of burdens and responsibilities and even hints of ancient slavery…

Metaphor can go to such depths, wreaking amazing clarity for us, but it does more than this. If we stand back for a moment from metaphor, especially scriptural metaphor, we can see that not only do individual metaphors tell us about God and the world, but the whole process of metaphor making itself reveals an aspect of the personal style of the Triune God.

Most importantly, it reveals the playfulness of God; it reveals God as a holy riddler. One of the beauties of metaphor is its coyness, its indirectness, its refusal to be straight with us. When someone uses metaphor or any of the common figures of speech, they are playing a bit of a game with us. They are giving us a puzzle to sort out…

...we might tend to joke among ourselves that some of us are more poetic, and others of us are of a more scientific bent, and never the two shall change. But Christ assumes that a lack of poetic sense is a moral failing.

Sometimes God's riddling is explicit. He tells Ezekiel, "Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel" (Ez. 17:2). Notice that riddles and parables share a platform. Solomon tells us that divine wisdom will enable us to "understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles" (Prov. 1:5-6). Then he gives us a whole collection of riddles called Proverbs. Samson, a type of Christ, is best known for his riddling (Jdg. 14) but Daniel also was described as one who was known for "solving riddles" (Dan 5:12).

Towering above all of these, though, is the Son of God Himself, the master riddler. We praise metaphor for its mysterious clarity, but sometimes such games as metaphors and riddles are intended to test and confuse. Christ comes speaking riddles or parables. Were these just helpful sermon illustrations intended for flannel-board clarity? Of course not. When His disciples asked, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" (Mt. 13:10), He answered, "it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" (Mt. 13:11). The parallel passage in Mark explains that He speaks in parables "so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them'" (Mk. 4:12). In short, He speaks in figures in order to exclude the dull of heart (Mt. 13:15). There's a chilling edge to His ways. This game is for keeps.

In fact, we might tend to joke among ourselves that some of us are more poetic, and others of us are of a more scientific bent, and never the two shall change. But Christ assumes that a lack of poetic sense is a moral failing. When the disciples had forgotten bread… Here is the rest of this article which is quoted from Credenda/Agenda Volume 14, Issue 1.

Related: For a more thorough treatment of this topic, take a look at The Method and Message of Jesus’ Teachings by Robert H. Stein.

An interesting discussion of Old Testament riddles—which often enlivened Jewish weddings—is here. Under "GAMES" scroll down to 7. Riddles.

What is it?

What is greater than God?

More evil than the devil?

The poor have it.

The rich need it.

And if you eat it, you’ll die?

Hint: The answer is ONE WORD and seven letters long. (When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten students got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.)

Give up? Scroll down for the Answer.

When a prophet of the Lord is among you I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. (Num 12:6-8 NIV)

For now we see in a mirror [lit in a riddle] dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1Cor 13:12
NASB)

Answer: Nothing!

Did you guess the answer correctly?

Photos: Laughing Squid (Flickr)

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M & F: Equal But Different

13 Differences Between the Sexes

Studies have proven that differences are neurological and genetic in origin and are highly resistant to change by the influences of culture. Men and women are the same the world over!

1. Socializing: Whether tennis or cards, women often use the event as an excuse for fellowship and pleasant conversation. For men, the name of the game is conquest.

2. A man's world is focused outside the home in work and recreation. A women's world is strongly focused within the home and on family.

3. Self-esteem: Men develop the evidence of their worthiness primarily from their jobs, being respected in business, profession or craft. Women, and especially homemakers, depend primarily on the romantic relationship with their husbands for ego support. This explains why the emotional content of a marriage is usually more important to women and why the little tokens of affection are appreciated more by wives, who obtain esteem from these expressions of love and generosity.

4. Mothers become emotionally attached to their children prior to birth by the virtue of carrying the child in her body. Men do not become emotionally bonded to the child for several months after the birth when the infant begins to smile, respond and interact with him.

5. Sexual arousal: Men are visually oriented, caring less about the romantic component or personal identity. Men can easily separate love and sex. She is attracted not to a photograph of an unknown model or by a handsome stranger, but to a particular man with whom she has entered into an emotional relationship. Women usually combine love and sex.

6. Men do not have as strong a desire and need for stability, security and enduring relationships as women do.

In a time of crisis, women tend to react with reference to their feelings. Men tend not to react with reference to feelings but with deducted thought and reason.

7. Women experience emotional influences that men do not because of the reproductive capacity: cycles, pregnancy, lactation, menopause.

8. The play habits of young girls is almost exclusively in real life domestic situations, playing house, school etc. In contrast, young boy's play is usually in the fantasy world, blasting Martians with a laser gun to save the world.

9. In a time of crisis, women tend to react with reference to their feelings. Men tend not to react with reference to feelings but with deducted thought and reason. God may have placed man as the head of his wife because of this one God-ordained difference between the sexes.

10. In our material society, we place a higher value on the quality of being a "rational calculator" for it is this quality which is necessary for success in business and making money. Yet this quality is of little value for the happiness of the home. So while the man may be better equipped to lead and support the family, it is the woman who is better equipped to keep the family itself happy and emotionally healthy. The sexes are equal, but different.

11. Women are usually credited with possessing "mothers intuition" in regard to not just her children but all personal relationships. She may not be able to explain it, but she has a feeling about the situation that the man does not. She is usually right! Yet while she may be single-handedly responsible for sensing the situation, the man can usually chose the most appropriate course of action.

12. Society places much greater value on the masculine qualities. This has driven many women to feel "unfulfilled" in the home environment. Many women, being influenced by society and the images of TV, do not feel valued unless they are working outside the home for money. They would feel ashamed to be "just a housewife." This is very sad indeed.

13. School: Boys tend to excel girls in math and science subjects. Girls tend to excel boys in English and arts subjects.

This excerpt is quoted from "19 basic differences between the sexes" published by www.bible.ca.

Thursday Thirteen

Join the friendly folk over at the temporary new home of Thursday Thirteen.





What would you add to this list?


Photos: DarwinBell (Flickr)

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Practical Life: Faith & Our Finances

“And He will be the stability of your times . . .”

(Isaiah 33:6 ESV)

Visit The 160 Acre Woods and let Amydeanne and the other bloggers uplift you with their Word-Filled-Wednesday posts.



Reflection: What is Happening in Our World?

Recently, I posted a marriage survey in my sidebar. About 50% of you said the current recession had drawn you and your spouse closer together or it had created unexpected tensions. The other 50% of you said your marriage had not been affected by the economic downturn. The following article excerpt by Barbara Rainey (FamilyLife) is addressed to the former group—those who are experiencing some kind of negative fallout.

"Since the U.S. economy started its sharp slide last fall, I've done a lot of thinking about what this all means to me, to my family, and to our nation and world. While watching this downturn, my thoughts have gone from, 'This is interesting' to 'This is perplexing.' If it keeps falling, the prevailing emotions could inch nearer to frightening.

For now, the word 'perplexing' accurately describes my vantage point. My family has been affected in several ways. My husband, Dennis, is working harder than ever here at FamilyLife, putting in 50-hour weeks trying to find ways to cut expenses and increase revenue. I just talked to one of our sons who said they are living hand to mouth, barely making ends meet. And I know it's true. Their pantry was bare when we visited last month. Another son and our son-in-law are both doing the same, working harder than ever trying to keep their families fed and their payments made... This leads to the question, What is God up to?

While I do not have the answer, I think it's good that we ask questions like this. We who claim to belong to God must be measuring our experience against the truth. We know that God is not passive. He is not sitting idly by just watching. That is not His character. Instead, God is intricately and intimately involved in the rise and fall of nations and in the comings and goings of all people.

I can be perplexed and still be found having faith. Only when I move to despair, which means hopelessness, am I not living in faith.

Yesterday in my Bible study class I heard a verse that I do not think I've ever noticed before. It was as if lights flashed around it, dramatically grabbing my attention. This one short phrase fits this season of our American life perfectly: 'And He will be the stability of your times' (Isaiah 33:6).

...Our hope cannot be in money, a job, our house, our friends or family, and certainly our hope cannot be in Washington, D.C. All of those will disappoint...

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8 that he was 'perplexed, but not despairing' when he was in the midst of trials and troubles. I have found great comfort in recent seasons of suffering in that short phrase. It is okay to be confused, baffled, and even mystified at the circumstances of my life.
I can be perplexed and still be found having faith. Only when I move to despair, which means hopelessness, am I not living in faith.

We cannot know what tomorrow will bring but we know the One who will bring it. And that alone can keep us from despair as He brings stability to our times."

Click here to read this article in its entirety. For FamilyLife's excellent Culture Watch weblog click here.

Related Elsewhere

1. "Who is the Primary Provider?" Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (Love and Respect Reflects) discusses why a wife's salary can strain a marriage—and how to deal with it.

2. "Two shall become One Tuesday." Sue Cramer
(Praise and Coffee) offers timely advice for supporting our husbands during this tough economy.

"There is no way to learn of faith except through trials. They are God's school of faith, and it is much better for us to learn to trust Him than to live a life of enjoyment. And once the lesson of faith has been learned, it is an everlasting possession and an eternal fortune gained. Yet without trust in God, even great riches will leave us in poverty."
—L.B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert

Note: If you would like support this ministry, please click the DONATE button in my sidebar. Thank you for your partnership with Chrysalis.

Photos: Amit (Sydney) & dreamofdaylight (Flickr)

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