What do you do when someone hurts you or says something that cuts deep into you like a knife? How do you feel when it is someone very close to you, perhaps your husband? You either retreat into a shell with self-pity and bitterness. Or you shout and yell. You want to pay them back.
That’s our first reaction. And can you believe it? God agrees with us. But He has a different way of paying back than we do. He wants us to “pay them back with a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). Another translation says: “Retaliate with a blessing.”
How can you bless someone back when you feel hurt and mad at them? Only by God’s grace. Only by the power of Christ’s love and forgiveness that is in you because Christ lives in you. God’s ways are opposite to the way we feel, but they always work.
Can I encourage you to try it? Is your husband cold and indifferent to you? Does he say things that hurt you? Think of ways to bless him. Take time to think of blessing words to say to him. Speak kind, sweet, and loving words to him, even in the face of his indifference. You won’t feel like doing this, but let me tell you, you will be amazed at the miracles that will take place when you do it God’s way.
Proverbs 12: 25 (TLB): “A word of encouragement does wonders.” Try it. It works.
Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Proverbs 15;15: “A soft tongue breaketh the bone.” Soft and submissive words can break the hardest heart.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Picture: Sunny-side-up eggs. Art by Soosh.
How can we live life as usual when we see what is happening to our nation? Are you taking time to pray as families each day? Government cannot save our nation. Politicians cannot save our nation. It comes back to God’s people. “If MY PEOPLE shall humble themselves and pray . . . Then will I HEAL their land.” The healing can only come as we pray. Not just on Sunday. Not only once a day but pouring out our cries in prayer morning, noon, and night! Do we care enough for our land to sacrifice ourselves to prayer? 
I recently wrote you a post called YOU CAN CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES. Scroll down to read it. It’s all about how we should greet people and how our words can change lives. I loved reading some of the testimonies on the thread and, in case you missed seeing them, I would like to share them with you so you can be blessed too.
In this disturbing time of many governors seeking to close churches and even home groups, and others demanding no singing in church and social distancing, I believe it is time to stand up for the truth of the Bible which commands us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” and the Constitution which gives God’s people freedom to “peaceably assemble.”
Your marriage will grow stronger if you build Into it each day. If you do nothing, it will grow stagnant. Marriage is a living thing and it must be watered and fed. Think of something special you can say or do to your husband each day. 
Don’t despise the mundane things you must do each day. Duty is the foundation of life although it will be spiced with fun and happy and beautiful things. Be faithful in the small things and they will prepare you for larger things. Praise the Lord in everything. 
Dear readers, I am sure, like me, you find it hard to grapple with what is happening in our nation. We could never have dreamed that in free America many governors are continuing to try and shut down churches. Governor Newsom in California has banned singing in church. This is preposterous! It’s what we do as the people of God. We sing! We worship! And to stop doing so is to disobey God. If we don’t worship, the rocks will cry out! We cannot obey extreme socialist governors and disobey God.
One of our Above Readers, Paula Smith writes:
Have you read about Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)? He was known as one of the greatest preachers and theologians in American history and was involved in the revival known as the Great Awakening. He married Sarah Edwards when she was 17 years and they had 11 children. Not only did this couple influence the nation through their lives and Jonathan’s preaching, but they influenced the nation through their children and continuing descendants.
Yes, you can change people’s lives every time you open your mouth!
DRUDGERY OR DELIGHT?
Yesterday we talked about how God loves to be at the very heart of our lives and what we are doing. Deuteronomy 23:14 tells us how God wanted to move around the camp of Israel, watching over them and delivering them. He wants to move around our homes too and in every room..
God is a dwelling God. He is not a God who is afar off. He loves to come near to us. In fact, did you know that He loves to get right in the middle of everything? He wants to come right into the center of your kitchen where you are cooking, cleaning up, and caring for all the little ones who need you at once.
We are living in an entitlement society where many people want everything for nothing, especially young people who are currently educated in our colleges and universities. They are consistently brainwashed in extreme socialism where they think they should get everything free without working for it. They want free education, free housing, free health care etc. They don’t even use their brains to think where the money would come from.
Hayley Miller writes:
:-) It is a challenge (a great one!) but the blessings are far greater!”
Have you heard this story? Many, many years ago when China was open to the Gospel, a missionary worked hard to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Standard Oil Company was impressed with the way he worked and offered him good money to develop a branch of their company in China.
Is your husband your best friend? 
God’s ways are usually opposite to our way of thinking. To save our life we think we must cater to all our needs, pamper to our flesh, and have our own way. But God says we’ll save our life by losing it! That’s certainly the opposite to our way, isn’t it?