And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28
I am preparing for a trip, and I am being super diligent about making sure that things are prepared for my family while I am gone. I am making sure clothes are laid out for Malia (left to her and her dad who knows what she will wear to school). I am making sure things are ready for John to prepare dinner. I am making sure he has a list of events and activities while I am gone. I am being intentional about making things simple and easy for John while I am gone. I couldn't help but realize, however, that I am not this intentional under normal circumstances. Why don't I have this same diligence for the times that we are together? Why am I not intentional about preparations for the week to make things are simple for him on a normal basis. Don't get me wrong, I never try to make things hard for my husband, but I know that I am not this focused and intentional on a regular basis. Intentional means done on purpose or deliberate. We sing about God being intentional -- we want to know that He is working all things out for our good. Yet, are we demonstrating that with our spouses? Are we making sure that we are deliberate with our actions and choices so that they work out for their good. Are we deliberate with our time? Do we maximize it so that time spent with them is of good quality? Are we intentional with our words? Do we ensure that they are loving and purposeful? Are we intentional in meeting their needs and desires? Yes, we certainly know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes, but since we are heirs of Christ and his ambassadors on earth shouldn't we demonstrate that same sense to our spouses? I am confident that you are doing well in this area, but can't we all come up a little higher? Challenge yourself this week to be intentional in demonstrating your love and appreciation for your spouse. I am sure the results will work for your good!
Monday, October 31, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Monday's Marriage Moment -- Stronger Together!
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
-Romans 15:1
Today is one of those days that I realized how beautiful marriage truly is. John had an accident today and lacerated two fingers on his dominant hand. After a significant amount of time in the ER, and considerable pain meds and stitches, he is resting well. He was a trooper through several injections, multiple pokings and proddings of the injured fingers, and repeating the same information over and over. While he soldiered through there were still some things that he could not effectively accomplish. He couldn't take his jacket on and off. He couldn't sign his name. He couldn't drive. He needed my help. I had the privilege of being strong in areas that, at least for today, he was not so strong. I had to be his hands in several instances. I didn't complain because he wasn't able to do things. I was happy to assist John in his time of need. I began to think of all the areas that he is strong in that I am not: seeing big picture, problem solving, not worrying, and the list goes on and on. Maybe you are the more organized spouse. Perhaps you are better with money. Maybe you are better with managing the details of the home. Don't belittle your spouse or complain because that is not your spouse's strength. Thank God that it is yours. Then thank Him for the areas that your spouse is strong and you need support. God has united us with mates that complement our strengths and supplement our weaknesses. He says it beautifully in Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 -- two are better than one; because they have a reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Covenant Keepers, you are not alone. You definitely have someone to help you up! Let's spend this week lifting and covering our spouses.
-Romans 15:1
Today is one of those days that I realized how beautiful marriage truly is. John had an accident today and lacerated two fingers on his dominant hand. After a significant amount of time in the ER, and considerable pain meds and stitches, he is resting well. He was a trooper through several injections, multiple pokings and proddings of the injured fingers, and repeating the same information over and over. While he soldiered through there were still some things that he could not effectively accomplish. He couldn't take his jacket on and off. He couldn't sign his name. He couldn't drive. He needed my help. I had the privilege of being strong in areas that, at least for today, he was not so strong. I had to be his hands in several instances. I didn't complain because he wasn't able to do things. I was happy to assist John in his time of need. I began to think of all the areas that he is strong in that I am not: seeing big picture, problem solving, not worrying, and the list goes on and on. Maybe you are the more organized spouse. Perhaps you are better with money. Maybe you are better with managing the details of the home. Don't belittle your spouse or complain because that is not your spouse's strength. Thank God that it is yours. Then thank Him for the areas that your spouse is strong and you need support. God has united us with mates that complement our strengths and supplement our weaknesses. He says it beautifully in Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 -- two are better than one; because they have a reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Covenant Keepers, you are not alone. You definitely have someone to help you up! Let's spend this week lifting and covering our spouses.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Monday's Marriage Moment -- He is a Keeper
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
-Psalm 32:7
God is a keeper. He is a preserver. He is a restorer and a repairer. As I look at photos and videos from my hometown I can see that God is a keeper. Roads have been washed away. Homes have been flooded. Cars have been submerged and abandoned. Yet, other than loss of power and minor property damage, my loved ones are safe. Hurricane Matthew has been a great reminder that God is a shelter in the time of storm. I thought of the great keeping power of God so much this weekend as I watch my husband serve. I remember early in my marriage desiring that my husband would go to church with me. I remember praying that we would be able to serve together, and that he would develop a thriving and personal relationship with God. I remember the many acts of manipulation and foolery I did to try to make him do what I thought he should do. I am so glad that I didn't push him away. It would be easy for me to say that I have always been the perfect one. After all, I have been in relationship with the Lord for years, but that would not be true. Yet, God, has kept us. This weekend I watched my husband get up early to go serve the women at church. I watched him take a nap so that he could get back up later to check on some minor flooding that was happening at the church. I have watched him over the last few months call and encourage men to come out and fellowship. I have seen him minister to men who were lost and hurting. I have witnessed him becoming the man that God created him to be. All of this happened without my interference other than praying and believing. What is my point? God is a keeper. Even in the midst of external challenges God has not just kept my marriage, but He has blessed it. He has kept John and I together, and He has grown us through the process. It is my belief that He can keep you and your marriage as well. That is why I am so passionate about marriage in the body of Christ. I know first hand that God can do amazing things if we submit to Him. Whatever you may be facing today know that God is able to keep you. He is able to restore you. He is able to grow and strengthen you. If you and your spouse are willing participants, God is able to take your marriage to an amazing level. The challenge, if you are willing to accept it, is to cast your care upon the Lord--pray and trust Him--and leave it there. Let God keep you. Let Him be God, and you be His willing servant. He is a keeper!
-Psalm 32:7
God is a keeper. He is a preserver. He is a restorer and a repairer. As I look at photos and videos from my hometown I can see that God is a keeper. Roads have been washed away. Homes have been flooded. Cars have been submerged and abandoned. Yet, other than loss of power and minor property damage, my loved ones are safe. Hurricane Matthew has been a great reminder that God is a shelter in the time of storm. I thought of the great keeping power of God so much this weekend as I watch my husband serve. I remember early in my marriage desiring that my husband would go to church with me. I remember praying that we would be able to serve together, and that he would develop a thriving and personal relationship with God. I remember the many acts of manipulation and foolery I did to try to make him do what I thought he should do. I am so glad that I didn't push him away. It would be easy for me to say that I have always been the perfect one. After all, I have been in relationship with the Lord for years, but that would not be true. Yet, God, has kept us. This weekend I watched my husband get up early to go serve the women at church. I watched him take a nap so that he could get back up later to check on some minor flooding that was happening at the church. I have watched him over the last few months call and encourage men to come out and fellowship. I have seen him minister to men who were lost and hurting. I have witnessed him becoming the man that God created him to be. All of this happened without my interference other than praying and believing. What is my point? God is a keeper. Even in the midst of external challenges God has not just kept my marriage, but He has blessed it. He has kept John and I together, and He has grown us through the process. It is my belief that He can keep you and your marriage as well. That is why I am so passionate about marriage in the body of Christ. I know first hand that God can do amazing things if we submit to Him. Whatever you may be facing today know that God is able to keep you. He is able to restore you. He is able to grow and strengthen you. If you and your spouse are willing participants, God is able to take your marriage to an amazing level. The challenge, if you are willing to accept it, is to cast your care upon the Lord--pray and trust Him--and leave it there. Let God keep you. Let Him be God, and you be His willing servant. He is a keeper!
Monday, October 3, 2016
Monday's Marriage Moment -- Start Over
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22 - 23
My computer crashed this weekend. Note that I did not say that the battery died, or it needs a new charger. No, it crashed. Everything that I have saved on the hard drive of that computer (several years of information, documents, plans, etc.) is gone. My draft for my next book -- gone. Sermons I have ministered over the years -- gone. Letters and files -- all gone. Even a presentation that I needed for work this morning -- gone. So, I have a choice to make. I can lay down on the floor of my office and have a good old "hissy fit" complete with screaming and crying, or I can start over. I can take the new computer that I have now and simply begin again. Yes, I am frustrated and saddened by all the things that are gone, but I realize there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. Crying won't change it. Fussing won't change it. There is nothing that I can do to change it. So, I choose to move forward. I'll start the book over. I'll try to salvage documents that I have emailed to people, and then I will create new ones as needed. I'll learn the lesson that losing all that information taught me (save everything to an external drive or drop box!!!), and I will move on. Do you feel like you have lost some things over the years? Have you put lots of time and energy into something only to realize that whatever it is has "crashed"? Start over! I am sure that there are areas in your life that need a fresh start anyway! Who says that you can't have a fresh start in your marriage whether you have been married 2 years or 20 years? Who says you can't have a fresh start in your ministry? You can. Determine that whatever is gone is really gone. Pick up the pieces, learn the lessons, and move forward. There is so much life left to be lived. So many dreams left to see fulfilled. Don't spend one more day focusing on what was or what you lost. Focus instead on the opportunities that you have in front of you. Determine to start your day over. Start your week over. Start the rest of your life over. God gives us new mercies everyday. We need to take full advantage of them. Maybe your morning had a rough start. Can you begin again now? Leave the events of this morning behind and determine to have a great day going forward. Maybe your spouse said something that bothered you. Can you choose to start over with them and move forward? Whatever the case may be, you can start over!
Lamentations 3:22 - 23
My computer crashed this weekend. Note that I did not say that the battery died, or it needs a new charger. No, it crashed. Everything that I have saved on the hard drive of that computer (several years of information, documents, plans, etc.) is gone. My draft for my next book -- gone. Sermons I have ministered over the years -- gone. Letters and files -- all gone. Even a presentation that I needed for work this morning -- gone. So, I have a choice to make. I can lay down on the floor of my office and have a good old "hissy fit" complete with screaming and crying, or I can start over. I can take the new computer that I have now and simply begin again. Yes, I am frustrated and saddened by all the things that are gone, but I realize there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. Crying won't change it. Fussing won't change it. There is nothing that I can do to change it. So, I choose to move forward. I'll start the book over. I'll try to salvage documents that I have emailed to people, and then I will create new ones as needed. I'll learn the lesson that losing all that information taught me (save everything to an external drive or drop box!!!), and I will move on. Do you feel like you have lost some things over the years? Have you put lots of time and energy into something only to realize that whatever it is has "crashed"? Start over! I am sure that there are areas in your life that need a fresh start anyway! Who says that you can't have a fresh start in your marriage whether you have been married 2 years or 20 years? Who says you can't have a fresh start in your ministry? You can. Determine that whatever is gone is really gone. Pick up the pieces, learn the lessons, and move forward. There is so much life left to be lived. So many dreams left to see fulfilled. Don't spend one more day focusing on what was or what you lost. Focus instead on the opportunities that you have in front of you. Determine to start your day over. Start your week over. Start the rest of your life over. God gives us new mercies everyday. We need to take full advantage of them. Maybe your morning had a rough start. Can you begin again now? Leave the events of this morning behind and determine to have a great day going forward. Maybe your spouse said something that bothered you. Can you choose to start over with them and move forward? Whatever the case may be, you can start over!
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