Settlers, Rebekah, Painful Maturity

Yesterday
The guys study is always enjoyable! Especially yesterday, when we talked and talked about different things.

We had Sal and the Sviridov family over for pizza and games. It was a fun night. We played to rounds of Settlers. Jaime did most of the work on the pizzas, then decided to bake a very scrumptious cake (oatmeal with walnut glaze). After washing up the dishes and putting everything away, we didn't get to bed until at least 12:30am. I decided to sleep in... maybe it was 9 am when I got out of bed, but I woke up around 6am (didn't have my phone handy, not sure of the time, but it sure felt like it) and decided to go back to sleep. I purposely left my phone (which doubles as my bedside alarm clock out of the bedroom) so I wouldn't be tempted to impose some limit on how long I slept.

I realize more and more how competitive I am and how much it affects others. Jaime encourages me to relax, enjoy the game and let others enjoy it as well. I am enjoying it, but I usually get attacked... I need a better strategy. I can't just build and build, cause people decide to attack me the entire game. I think I'll try for a more subtle approach and lower my emotional involvement.

The Daily Bible - Genesis 24
Abraham sends his servant (probably Eliezer of Damascus) to get a wife for Isaac from among his people. Abraham prays for an angel to go before the servant to make the journey a success. The servant prays as he arrives at the well outside the town. God answers all their prayers and Rebekah returns with the servant to meet Isaac as he is meditating in the field. They wed. I wonder how happy were they? Did they ever fight? Was there a honeymoon period and then some big adjustments to be made or were the roles so defined in their culture that it was a fairly smooth transition?

Boundaries in Marriage - Applying the Ten Laws of Boundaries to Marriage
Law #6: The Law of Evaluation
Pain and injury. Many people consider pain to be a bad thing, but sometimes it is necessary for improvement. Think about a baby being born. There may be no injury, but there will sure be a lot of pain. What about exercise? It is fraught with pain... no pain, no gain. Many times I am sore after working out, I sweat, I feel a little tired, or something else. But the rewards of the pain, I am actually healthier because of it.

Injury is altogether different. Sometimes birth can injure the mother, sometimes exercise can cause injury too, but that doesn't stop us from either of them. Many times people need to mature, but are afraid of the pain it will bring. Maturing isn't easy, just getting old is so much easier. But people need to experience times of pain to become all that God wants them to be.

"Just because someone is in pain doesn't necessarily mean something bad is happening."

Prayer
Thank you Lord for being my God, for loving us all so much that you would give Jesus to us. Thank you for my wife, who is such a servant and example of your blessing on my life. Help me to honor you and her more each day.