Matters Of Dè Heart

  Topic: PARENTING UNDER PRESSURE  KEY BIBLE VERSE: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4‭-‬5 ESV Parental Peer Pressure Our world is changing rapidly. Social media has given us the ability to exchange ideas faster than ever before. In the time that it once took to have a conversation with one person, we can now engage with multitudes. But connectivity comes with a price. For all of its benefits, social media has created an arena for peer pressure unlike any we have seen before. Our actions used to be judged by a handful of people in close proximity to us; now they are being judged by the masses. In this environment, it doesn’t take long to learn which topics are safe to discuss and which we should keep to ourselves. Post the wrong thing and you can quickly find yourself in the center of a storm of controversy. The cacophony of likes, swipes, s...

  Topic: Forming Healthy Habits To Enrich Marriage  KEY BIBLE VERSE: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 ESV If you think your spouse is your biggest problem, then go take a look in the mirror. ••• Your spouse is never your biggest problem. It’s that voice that may tell you that they are. Or that voice that may whisper that you’d be happier with someone else or better off alone. Or that voice that may whisper that your situation gives you the right to sin. Do not be deceived. Ask God to align your thoughts with His Word and His purpose for your marriage. Tell Satan to go to Hell and speak life over your marriage. Tell him he does not belong around you and he is not welcome in your marriage. Tell him to get out of your home and go back to his own.  To be Continued.,.By the grace of God we shall continue tomorrow! Remember, we love you but God loves you more, stay blessed, focused and be determined to enjoy a mem...

TOPIC: HABITS OF A THANKFUL HEART KEY BIBLE VERSE: Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:1‭, ‬3 ESV Seek Reconciliation Agree in the Lord. (Philippians 4:2) In 1983, Pope John Paul II went to prison to visit the man who had tried to kill him the year before. Too many people in the world, this was an astonishing act of forgiveness. But for the pope, it was an outgrowth of his understanding of grace. Forgiveness is a great test of whether we have understood the gospel of grace. When we experience conflict our natural response is to be angry and defensive. But Paul reminds us that if we have rooted our identity in the Lord we will seek reconciliation. We will be compelled to forgive others because we are awa...

TOPIC: HABITS OF A THANKFUL HEART KEY BIBLE VERSE: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12‭-‬14 ESV   Consider Your Calling I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) In third grade, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: President of the United States. As I got older, discerning my calling became more difficult. What was I supposed to do with my life? Most people struggle with this question. We want to know that we matter and that what we do with our lives has ultimate meaning. Christians do not need to create meaning and purpose for their lives. We have already received our calli...

TOPIC: FORMING HEALTHY HABITS TO ENRICH YOUR MARRIAGE KEY BIBLE VERSE: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 ESV   The best kind of marriage is the kind where yesterday's frustrations do not affect the quality of today. ••• So many times, I’ve had to remind myself to “pick my battles.” I say that in my head quite often when Satan, or even my own flesh, tries to get me flustered about something that was done yesterday or something that was said months ago. Sometimes it is so tempting to bring up the past, but it is so not worth it. Not only because it puts a strain on your marriage but also because God never does that to us. Another thing I ask myself pretty often is “is it worth it?” Is it worth it to rob the moment or even the day of its joy because I am still thinking about that time__________? No, it’s not worth it. That’s one of those moments to let go and let God. That’s one of those moments to ask God to hel...

Topic: Parenting Under Pressure Key Bible Verse: The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:15 ESV Everyone Is Looking The first time our daughter had a public meltdown was when she found a pair of Dora pajamas at Toys''R''Us. She wanted them, and she let us know. Actually, she let everyone know. As her tantrum grew more intense, it was hard to determine which was more piercing—her screams or the disapproving looks of parents nearby. Before long, it was clear that we were the only people who felt justified in telling our cute little daughter “no.” With each passing moment, we felt the pressure to give in to make her stop crying. Like many other situations in parenting, this scenario requires a plan. You need to know in advance how you are going to respond when the pressure is on. What are the battles that must be won, and which can tolerate a strategic withdrawal? No parent wants to deprive their kids of good thi...

SIGN UP Trouble In Paradise 12 Common Sex Problems Couple's Therapists Hear All The Time Plus expert input on exactly how to fix them. Zahra Barnes December 18, 2015 Juniperimages In an ideal world, every time you had sex would go off without a hitch. Unfortunately, reality doesn't work that way. As any couple's therapist can tell you, a variety of problems can arise when you're getting down to business. Luckily, they know how to solve the following 12 issues so you can have the best sex possible. 1. "My mind won't stop wandering." "My female clients often say they're too distracted to be in the moment during sex,"  Julie Bindeman , Psy.D., Co-Director of  Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington , tells SELF. This is especially true for many moms, since the pressure of parenting can obstruct any sexy thoughts. It may seem counterintuitive, but scheduling sex may help. "When you know something is going to happen, you might be better abl...