Freedom, Responsibility, Love

Yesterday
We cleaned the apartment, washing all the floors, organizing closets, putting everything in its place. We then went to a going away party for Joanna Carlson for a few hours, talking with a variety of people. There was a lady involved in animal rescue. She volunteers at a shelter with 600 animals. She doesn't mind people eating dogs or cats or whatever, but has trouble with how they abuse them while they are alive and how they beat them to death to "tenderize" the meat.

We then went to the foreign language bookstore in Wangfujing. We found the classics section again and picked up a few books. They are cheaply printed and cost only about $2!

On our way home from Wangfujing, we Met Kai on the subway. He came to our Christmas Party, works with Jane Zhang (dentist) and is from Taiwan. He is going home for Spring Festival and will return with his Bible and come to our meetings.

The Daily Bible - Genesis 10-11
This is the listing of Noah's descendants and how they spread out over the world. This explains how all the different nations, languages, and cultures developed from one family of 8 people. It also gives the understanding of how closely connected Adam and Abraham were. They were only separated by about 2000 years, and the links are very close. Adam lived while Methuselah was alive; Methuselah was around until the year of the flood therefore living during a good part of Shem's pre-flood life; then Shem was living until 25 years before Abraham was born. So, they could easily have passed on the knowledge from the early days in the Garden of Eden with a fact checker along the way.

Boundaries in Marriage - What's a Boundary, Anyway?
The Triangle of Boundaries
Freedom - Responsibility - Love; when these three are properly understood and maintained a relationship can flourish and grow very deep.

Protection
One must protect their own heart, mind, and soul from the "bad guys" of the world. This is why locks, doors, and walls are available in homes and hearts. We are to guard our heart!

Self-Control
Not to tell others what they will and won't do, but to say what we will and what do.

Examples of Boundaries
Fences, doors, windows, locks, security alarms, moats, draw bridges, alligators, and on the list could go.

Words
No.
I will not do that.
I will not think that.
I do not permit such behavior in my life.
I will do that.
I can think about that.
Yes!
I must tell others what my boundaries are. I cannot tell them what their boundaries are. I define my realm, my existence. I take control over my actions, attitudes, thoughts, and desires and allow others to understand how I am in control of my life ( - and God is in control of me - with loving words that glorify God).

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for being so fabulous. Thank you for loving us enough to teach us to become fully functioning adults with love at the center of our training. May we love you and honor you with all of our lives. Give us strength to be self-disciplined and ultimately Spirit-disciplined. Grant us your continued blessings so that we can bless others. Thank you for the life of Jesus. Give us more faith, more love, and more hope. Help us to know you believe in us and want us to be your blessing to the world.