Category Archives: Mercy

Friends Trust Each Other

Posted on May 13, 2020 by familyencouragement

Good relationships have the earmarks of friendship.  The better the friendship, the stronger the relationship.   That includes the family.   Husbands and wives.   Parents and children (as the children grow the relationship transitions to a friendship).  Brothers and sisters.   God intends … Continue reading →

Posted in character growth, Christ-centered marriage, Family Issues, friendship, Growing marriage, Mercy, Trust | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Comfort of a Friend

Posted on April 25, 2019 by familyencouragement

A strong marriage has at the core a relationship that is defined by a healthy friendship. If one can learn and apply the characteristics of a friendship then that relationship will be stronger, happier and deeper. One of the qualities … Continue reading →

Posted in adversity, bearing burdens, comfort, Family Issues, Friends, friendship, grief, Mercy, pain, sorrow, Strong Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Things that Strengthened Our Marriage – Removing Pressure to Conform to My Schedule

Posted on October 27, 2016 by familyencouragement

When we had been married just over a year I learned a valuable lesson.   I was working at a church as a Youth Pastor and our home was about fifty yards away from the church.   Both of us were working … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, Anger, attitude, Bitterness, Change, character growth, close family, Compassion, Complaining, conflict, Criticism, disagreements, familiy issues, family, Forgiveness, Giving, griping, Husband, impatience, Kindness, Love, Marriage, Men, Mercy, Patience, Personal Growth, problems, Repentence, Selfishness, surrender, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mistakes I Made in My Marriage – Parsing Her Words

Posted on July 17, 2016 by familyencouragement

Years ago I was driving through Chattanooga, Tennessee listening to one of my favorite preachers, Adrian Rogers.   He was telling a story about him and his wife when they had a disagreement. In the middle of their “discussion” Joyce, his … Continue reading →

Posted in adversity, Affirmation, arguing, attitude, Change, character growth, close family, closeness, comfort, communication, Complaining, conflict, conversation, Criticism, differences in men and women, disagreements, Discouragement, Encouragement, familiy issues, family, God's grace, griping, Husband, Kindness, Marriage, Men, Mercy, Patience, Personal Growth, perspective, Speech, Wife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How to Overcome a Bitter Spirit

Posted on February 8, 2014 by familyencouragement

How does a person know they are bitter?    Most people do not think they are because they call it other names – disappointed, hurt, unmet expectations.   An operational definition I use for bitterness is “harbored hurt”.   If not dealt with … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Compassion, Criticism, Family Issues, Father, Forgiveness, Friends, Happiness, Humility, Joy, Leadership, Love, Marriage, Men, Mercy, Parenting, Pride, Revival | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Love will not Retaliate

Posted on August 31, 2013 by familyencouragement

I know a pastor that had to make a difficult decision concerning a staff member  to let him go.   The individual became enraged and rather than leaving quietly began a campaign to destroy the pastor.   Somehow he got a mailing … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Family Issues, Forgiveness, Friends, Kindness, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Revenge | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love isn’t Happy When Others Have Problems

Posted on August 27, 2013 by familyencouragement

When I was a Youth Pastor many years ago I had a family in our youth ministry that didn’t like Paula or myself.   The father and mother opposed most of what we were trying to accomplish with the young people.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Compassion, Criticism, Family Issues, Forgiveness, Friends, Leadership, Love, Mercy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Serving Difficult People

Posted on August 22, 2013 by familyencouragement

One Sunday Paula and I were arriving home from church and not only was I tired, but my mind was full of the events that had happened during the day.    We pulled up in the driveway  and I grabbed my … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Family Issues, Forgiveness, Friends, Giving, Humility, Joy, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Parenting, Pride, Selfishness, Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Focusing on Intentions

Posted on August 19, 2013 by familyencouragement

One of the ways I know that I genuinely love someone is the way I think about them.   The Bible states that love “thinketh no evil” (I Corinthians 13:5).   This means that I do not keep track of wrongs or … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Compassion, Family Issues, Father, Forgiveness, Friends, Kindness, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Focusing on My Needs Rather than Your Wrongs

Posted on August 14, 2013 by familyencouragement

A self-righteous person is not a loving person.   Yet, that is the normal attitude in all of our hearts apart from a work of God’s grace in us.    The place where we condemn others and excuse ourselves is in our … Continue reading →

Posted in Criticism, Family Issues, Father, Friends, Humility, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Mother, Parenting, Pride, Repentence, Speech | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment