When God said, ” It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him,” (Genesis 2:18) there are two Hebrew words that could have been used for “not good.” One is ‘ên tôb, which means that something is lacking. As in, this coffee is lacking cinnamon, or these mashed potatoes are lacking salt. The other is lõ’tôb, which means positively bad. As in, it is positively bad that man is alone, so I will make for him a helper.
Tag: Human behavior
The first thing that attracted me to Gregg was his mind. Before we met in person, we had known each other online for two years as part of a writers’ group. This group was supposed to be about writing, but writers like to read what they write, so it was a prolific bunch. We discussed everything from writing to politics to religion. After 9-11, it really exploded with talking and writing, and it wasn’t unusual to get 400-500 emails a day. Gregg and I are very similarrily minded when it comes to religion and politics, so we “bonded” intellectually long before we met. However, that bonding never went beyond the discussions to anything personal simply because I was married. The first time we ever had a private conversation, I was already separated from my husband.
Pin ItWhile I feel strong feelings of love and devotion to my husband, to whom I am certainly emotionally attached, I am not an overly affectionate person. I think there was a time when I once was, when I was younger, but circumstances and situations can strip tendencies away. Over time, I’ve become very stoic about most things. I am not overly emotional ever, I don’t react emotionally, and I’m not really a reach out and hug kind of person.
Pin ItThis chapter is extremely timely for me. Since long before we were married, Gregg has done the same thing. He is a computer consultant and teacher. A company calls him and says, “We need x, y, and maybe z.” And, Gregg packs his bags and makes hotel reservations and flies to the company and does x, y, and usually z². Another company will call and say, “We have this situation and this many people need training.” So, Gregg will pack his bag, make hotel reservations, and fly to the next exotic city where he’ll teach and train for a week or more. He’s really quite good at what he does.
Pin ItThis chapter was by far the longest chapter in the book, and it was so clear that I had a, “Duh!” moment reading it. Early in the chapter, Stormie says, “When you pray for your husband, especially in the hopes of changing him, you can surely expect some changes. But the first changes won’t be in him. They’ll be in you…God sees things we don’t. He knows where we have room for improvement. He doesn’t have to search long to uncover attitudes and habits that are outside His perfect will for us.”
Pin ItI have had some questions about the upcoming Bible study based on the book The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian that will begin May 1 so I hope to answer them in this post.If you are in need of a Bible, I beg you to contact me. You have no idea how much it would bless me to put God’s word in your hands.
Pin ItWe are traveling to Florida this week. I plan to pack sausage biscuits for breakfast and a picnic lunch for the drive down, so that we can avoid any fast food restaurants. Hopefully, the weather will be nice and we can stop and picnic at a rest area, giving the boys a chance to stretch their legs and play a bit.
Pin ItToday is Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent, both of which mark the beginning of the observance of the Easter Season. Ash Wednesday comes from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. Traditionally, the ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned and mixed with oil. In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance. It is a day for contemplating one’s transgressions. Ash Wednesday is also the first day of Lent.
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