Challenge / Matt. 20-22

Matt. 22: 34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"
37-40Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

Day 11
It's time to let LOVE change your thinking. It's time for you to realize that your spouse is as much a part of you as your hand, your eye, your heart. He too needs to be loved and cherished. And if he has issues causing pain or frustration, then you should care for these with the same love and tenderness as you would a bodily injury. If he is wounded in some way, you should think of yourself as an instrument that helps bring healing to his life. .......
.....Just as you treasure your eyes, hands and feet you should treasure your spouse as a perfect gift...

This is so new.....and yet the truth of it rings true in my relationship w/my husband. Watching him wrestle w/this decision re: his parents....his parents, what the heck we've been married 32 years are they not mine too?? Watching him in the pain of it....watching him want to want what YOU want, wanting to KNOW that for sure before giving up all that he wants....it's a ride that's for sure and to be on it with him instead of standing on the sidelines is incredible. And it's not that he ever put me on the sidelines...I went there and now.....w/Christ in our marriage I am WITH him and no matter how scarey or impossible it may 'feel'....we are seeking You together and I am blessed.....

something else new.... Matt 21: 28"Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.'
29"The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went.
30"The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went.
31-32"Which of the two sons did what the father asked?"
They said, "The first."
Jesus said, "Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God's kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn't care enough to change and believe him.

Before Christ I was the 2nd son...'outwardly compliant/inwardly defiant' and downright deceitful....now I am the 1st and this morning that feels like improvement.....