Challenge from Dr James Dobson.

[Sojourner]

Greetings all,

I came across this recently and would like to share it with the group to see if we can come up with some answers for the question raised. Perhaps this is an issue that is not easy to discuss being that its not our own spritual life that is at issue, yet I would love to know your thoughts on it.

"How can you encourage your spouse to spend more time in God's Word"?

[Gregory Matthews]

To what extent is it my mission in life to change the behavior of my spouse?

[JoeMo]

I can't speak for you Gregory; but for me it would not be my "mission" in life to change the behavior of my spouse if we weren't already united in mind (sort of). I knew what she was like when I married her; and I'm still happy with it (sort of). I can't speak for how women feel about their husbands, but sometimes I think my wife thinks it's her duty to "fix" me.

Men marry women hoping that they never change(they always do); women marry men thinking that they can change them (they never can).

[CoAspen]

[M. T. Cross]

Dr. James Dobson can be silent none to soon before he damages any more young psyche's, creates more controlling marriages or spreads more of his special brand of bigotry veiled in love.

(and yes I have read his writings - I could still use therapy due to it)

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

"How can you encourage your spouse to spend more time in God's Word"?

It took some growing up to learn this,

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? "2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV

But when I married someone who was in love with Jesus, and I asked God to give me the mate He would choose for me, we didn't have an argument for the first twenty years of our life together. When her memory went down as a result of medications, that was no longer the case, but I have found it still possible when I ask for Jesus Spirit to grant me grace to meet her needs, before I meet my own, He still fills us with these two promises.

"“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’"Matthew 25:37-41 NKJV

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:7 KJV

God cares! Jesus saves!

[M. T. Cross]

You know LHC, a lot of times you get on my nerves, and I disagree with you on almost everything.

But the way you talk about your wife......... your love for her shines through and speaks so much more loudly than your bible verses. It really is beautiful.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

You know LHC, a lot of times you get on my nerves, and I disagree with you on almost everything.

Whenever I hear something like this above, while it is disconcerting, I remember that my best Friend Jesus was hung on a cross because of the people He came to this world to save and the words He spoke to those most responsible for His death on this earth.

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."Zechariah 13:6 KJV

Quote:

your love for her shines through and speaks so much more loudly than your bible verses. It really is beautiful.

OTOH The way I behave toward my wife is a direct result of listening to the Word, a result of His love for all mankind. Unfortunately, even I on various occasions have chafed under the discipline of following His requirements.

I'm watching a program right now which is describing a program for weather modification done on a massive scale worldwide, as well as GMO programs, etc, a secular program which tells anyone willing to listen that the patience of the Prince of Peace is coming to a rapid conclusion, when both you and I won't have to be concerned any longer about others who disagree with our opinions or whose advice we choose to follow.

Keep looking up!

P.S. I appreciate your recognition of the love expressed for my wife and can only claim the influence of He Who is Love, as responsible.

God cares! Jesus saves!

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

Whenever I hear something like this above, while it is disconcerting, I remember that my best Friend Jesus was hung on a cross because of the people He came to this world to save and the words He spoke to those most responsible for His death on this earth.

Another response might be:

Quote:

Whenever someone tells me that I am getting on their nerves I thank them and I ask myself what I am doing to get on their nerves and was that necessary. I do this because I realize that if being a Christian witness is my goal, I cannot be effective in doing that if I get on their nerves. I ask myself if there was another manner in which I could have related to that person which would have been more effective?

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

Whenever someone tells me that I am getting on their nerves I thank them and I ask myself what I am doing to get on their nerves and was that necessary. I do this because I realize that if being a Christian witness is my goal, I cannot be effective in doing that if I get on their nerves. I ask myself if there was another manner in which I could have related to that person which would have been more effective?

OTOH I grew up in a culture that believed in "live and let live"

and it's only been in recent years, in which that principle no longer seems to be acceptable to those who wish to be first in line.

"“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

‘Seeing they may not see,

And hearing they may not understand.’

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."Luke 8:5-16 NKJV

God cares! Jesus saves!

[Pastor Dae Yun Kim]

Written by Reverend Dae Yun Kim(Doctor Of Philosophy In Theology, Ordained Minister, TaeKwonDo Master): Dr. James Dobson was great servant of God!

[Joe Knapp]

On 5/19/2014 at 8:49 AM, Sojourner said:

"How can you encourage your spouse to spend more time in God's Word"?

Lead by example.  We are to be the leaders of the house. To do that we need to be deeply involved in weekly bible study. I believe we need to do daily bible study.