The marriage relationship is one of God's creations for building up people. It gives husbands and wives the chance to minister to an immortal human being in a uniquely intimate fashion. To enjoy the meaningfulness of marriage, then, requires a once-made but ongoing commitment of mutual ministry to our mates and the more we seize them, the more meaning our marriage will have.
Larry CrabbI hear Jesus telling us to stop negotiating with Him, to stop offering something we think we have in exchange for His blessings.
Larry CrabbMaturity involves two elements: 1) immediate obedience in specific situations and 2) long-range character growth.
Larry CrabbThe problem sincere Christians have with God often comes down to a wrong understanding of what this life is meant to provide.
Larry CrabbWe can't always make life work. But we can always draw near to God. There is a different way to approach our problems. There is a NEW WAY to live.
Larry CrabbIf we look for ways to get rid of necessary pain, we'll be disillusioned or misled. For people who define real change as the elimination of inevitable struggle, the final chapters will be terribly disappointing.
Larry CrabbMen who as boys felt neglected by their dads often remain distant from their children. The sins of fathers are passed on to children, often through the dynamic of self-protection. It hurts to be neglected, and it creates questions about our value to others. So to avoid feeling the sting of further rejection, we refuse to give that part of ourselves we fear might once again be received with indifference.
Larry Crabb