God’s Plan for Marriage

I have so enjoyed following Sheila’s blog through this last year. Her perspectives on life and humorous side-notes of life in a small town in Italy have been refreshing and encouraging especially through the pandemic. Yesterday her perspectives on marriage really struck a note in my heart and were so excellently put together that I thought I would share her post with my readers today. Thanks for letting me share this Sheila. Have a blessed day everybody!

Signora Sheila's avatarSignora Sheila

The topic of marriage cropped up at a neighborhood dinner this past Christmas, after they learned that Hubby and I have been happily married 43 years. “What’s your secret?” they asked with both incredulity and admiration.


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How Can Faith Grow?

How can faith be
Like a bird in the air
Who wings without worry
And rests in God's care?

Or the faith of the woman
Who was caught in her sin
And just silently waited
To find He won't condemn

Or the faith on the seas
As Christ slept in the storm
Till they cried out in fear
Shouting "Save us from harm!"

Then he rose and commanded
Winds and waves by His word
For in storms our faith grows
When we find Christ as our Lord!

How Can Faith Grow?
by Peter Caligiuri
copyright 2021
all rights reserved

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” Luke 17:5 NLT

Photo by Rodrigo Souza on Pexels.com

Precious Promises

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:4 ESV

We used to keep a little box on the kitchen shaped like a loaf of bread that was labeled “Precious Promises.” I would occasionally pull one out, quickly read it, then slip it back in place. It was cute and made me think of God’s word a little, but I was missing the great and very precious part.

That part has come in the battles of real life. When my back has been up against the wall like this week as we sit in my sister-in-law’s house waiting to hear the next phone call from the hospital. Peace that is more than I can understand is now more true and precious. Peace not given as the world gives is greater than ever. Peace that has walked with me as I clean the house, sort through the memories of old photographs and knickknacks. Peace from Jesus that promises that our real life is hidden with Christ in God.

And then we have been wonderfully surprised as God has been merciful and granted Diane a reprieve. What seemed hopeless to Doctors last week when we flew across the miles has now changed to gradual improvement and they have scheduled for her to come home. “Miraculous recovery.” They are saying and those promises of our great and precious God are more real than ever. Not because of our perfect faith or prayers but because of the power of the grace of Jesus we are each granted promises, each one drawn out of a heavenly promise box at our times of greatest need. How amazing and loving is our Father in heaven. His plans are so much more wonderfully complex and wiser than ours! Thank you everyone who has been praying for us. This Sunday that begins Holy week we are simply overwhelmed with our weakness and amazed at how God’s strength is carrying us along. I love to take photographs of wild flowers so I’ll post a few from my morning walks here in California as a cheerful reminder to us all of the care God has for each of our lives.