Hello from the Solberg Family in Arkansas! Thankful that we can share this May 2021 update with you.

Today has been a busy but good day for me. As you read this, you may be having a great day, or this may have been a tough day. Be encouraged in this truth: The Creator, the Lord Himself, cares about you and your day. Call out to Him in your joy or in your despair. He loves to hear from "His kids"!!
I Didn't Mean to Say That!

This is an outstanding post written by one of our Marriage Revolution Team members, Heather Rule. Please take a few minutes to read it and then share it with your spouse!!!

Thank goodness for the editing features on our computers that help our words to be just right!

How much better our writing is when we make use of spelling and grammar check. If only there were such a feature with our out-loud words! I’m not always careful about the words that are doing a swan dive off of my tongue into the air, even though I know they will never be able to crawl back into my mouth once they are out.

This has happened as recently as last night as my husband and I argued on the phone about a scheduling conflict. I have control issues when it comes to our schedule. Over-scheduling makes me panic. As I started to feel threatened by an out-of-control schedule, words flew out of my mouth like kamikaze pilots on a mission with no hope of returning, and declared war on my bewildered husband. I sent rescue words in the form of an apology, and he was forgiving, but of course the damage to his heart was already done. 

I wish it weren’t this way. I wish there were a way to edit what I am saying before I open my mouth. I wish I could hold on to my words until I found the right ones that would be most helpful to the people I love so much. Instead, I tend to say whatever pops into my head. Do you ever do this? 

Our only hope for change is to cling to the holy words of Scripture. The words that come out of our mouths are a reflection of what we have been putting in our hearts. What does it matter how many good works we are doing or how faithful we are in church attendance if we are big meanies with our words behind closed doors? 

The strength of our family and the mission of the gospel are affected deeply by the graciousness of our words to each other (…all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another – John 13:35). I think this true of every member of the family, but especially so with our spouse. It is easy to forget how much weight our words carry with the hearts of our mates until it is too late and their spirits are crushed under our harshness.

Jesus was painfully straightforward about this when he said to the Pharisees: How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:34-37

Ouch. The words we say testify to the submission of our heart to the Father. That is terrifying when I think back to some of the careless things I’ve said to my husband. Many of my words have not given evidence to the work of Christ in my heart. 


More great stuff to this post. Keep reading by clicking here....


BIBLE VERSES FOR MAY

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:1-4

David Powlison: Is God Far Away When He Feels Far Away?
Click on the picture above to see a short 3 minute video from David Powlison.

May Resources to Help You or a Friend

Several times a year, we want to share some resources that we think will be helpful for you or a friend. Below are two more for May. So please send us feedback, positive or negative. We'd love to hear from you. Just click the Contact Button at the bottom of this page!

Resource #1: Whether you have been married a few months or several decades, God wants us to continue growing in our marriage relationship. But what are the vital ingredients to a growing marriage? Check out this quick 7 minute podcast from a couple of counselors at CCEF.



Resource #2: At the foundation of our life and marriage should be a strongly vertically connected relationship with our Creator and Lord. We should be continually seeking to grow that relationship. Take a few minutes to read this short article from Desiring God that can help any of us "seek the Lord".

Partnership: Your Dollars at Work
(Shared with Permission)

In case you may have have missed it in your inbox, the testimony below was shared in the Marriage Revolution Quarterly Update that went out a couple of weeks ago. Wanted to re-share it in case you missed it. This is your partnership at work in the life of one couple. Thank you for that partnership.

Almost two years ago, a couple came to one of our counselors completely disjointed. On top of struggling to simply live with one another, the husband was caught with things he shouldn’t have been doing and ultimately ended up in jail. After his wife found out, she was distraught and unable to contain her emotions and anger.

However, things began to take a turn for the better while the husband was in jail, where he truly found Jesus. The husband started to respond more consistently to his wife in loving ways, while being understanding of her emotions and anger. An important turning point for the wife was when she truly began praying for her husband.

Both are walking the road of forgiveness and restoration, while primarily working on their individual relationships with God. There are still many uncertainties in this couple’s future, especially in terms of legal issues being finalized with the husband.

But our counselor has seen them grow into different people - being transformed by God and learning to see their spouse differently - through the eyes of Christ. Their story inspires our staff to truly believe that if this couple can walk through this terrible situation, and even amidst the uncertainty, grow closer together and to the Lord, there is certainly hope for every couple that walks through our doors at Marriage Revolution.


MAY 2021 PRAYER REQUESTS:

OUR TEAM: Please continue to pray for our Marriage Revolution Team in Houston, Dallas, and Little Rock. First, that the Lord would be working deeply in our lives, marriages, and families. And secondly, that the overflow of that deep work would be life-transforming ministry to others. 

BROADENING OUR REACH: One of the prayers of the Marriage Revolution Board, leadership, and Team is to broaden our reach to couples. Please be praying as, later this year, we launch a new opportunity to bring biblical help and hope to couples all over our country and around the world! More details coming.

TRAVEL THIS MONTH: Pray for some travel this month for our family. A short trip to see Glen's parents in Tennessee. A weekend trip to Northern Arkansas to see some dear friends. And our kids and some friends of theirs heading to the Gulf Coast of Florida for a week-long vacation. Appreciate your prayers for safe travel and also for good health as well!

MOTHER'S DAY AND FATHER'S DAY: Please pray for Shawn and I to truly honor our parents this year on Father's and Mother's Day. We are also praying that all of us who still have parents who are alive will find appropriate ways to honor them as the Scripture exhorts us. Check out this link to get some ideas how you can do that.

FIRST LOVE AND COMMUNITY: That we would never lose our "first love" for Jesus Christ and the pursuit of a deeply abiding relationship with Him. And after that, we would continue to make it a priority to be deeply connected to Christ-centered community in and outside of our local church. 

Solberg Family Website Links
Marriage Revolution Website Links