He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
-Hebrews 12:26-27
God is a master strategist. I know that is not one of the Hebrew names that you are familiar with like Jehovah Jireh or Jehovah Rapha, but it is still true. He is Jehovah Strategist. He is the master planner. He knows the end from the beginning. Because He knows the outcome He also knows what is needed to get you to your expected end. He knows the right tools and the right amount of pressure that needs to be applied to ensure your perfection. He orchestrates the right conditions to produce what is needed in you.
Sometimes He sees that what we need is a good shaking -- something to arouse us from our complacency. He often uses a gentle shaking like one used to wake up a sleeping loved one. He uses this type of shaking to make us aware of where we are or what is happening around us. This could be in the form of a casual comment from your spouse or a pattern you begin to notice yourself. These aren't huge things, but you know if you leave them unchecked they can create larger issues. Much like tremors that happen days before an earthquake, the "little shakes" let us know that something bigger could be happening under the surface. We should pay attention to these things.
Then there are times that He uses earthquake-level shakes. These are the things that test your foundation. Think of the big attacks on your marriage -- finances, issues with parenting, infidelity. Note that God doesn't necessarily cause these things, but He does use them. These things attack the core of you. You can only bounce back from them if your foundation (and the foundation of your marriage) is secure. Think about it. When earthquakes occur, the structure may fall, but if the foundation is secure the building can be rebuilt. This level of shaking makes you assess what you believe and even if rebuilding is possible, but it can be used to make your marriage stronger than it has ever been.
I am in this level of shaking in my life. I am experiencing tremors -- new opportunities, questions in my career, the end of summer, and I am experiencing earthquakes -- two more kids entering college, moving, new ministry, and changes in my relationships. Though the shaking is not happening in my marriage directly each of these things effect my marriage and how I interact with my husband. Neither the tremors or the earthquakes are fun, but I have finally embraced the fact that both of them are necessary. The shaking in every area of my life is making me evaluate what is necessary and what is not, what is valuable and what is not, what has served its purpose and what has not, and what to carry forward and what to leave behind. The shaking is making me examine my foundation and make sure that it is secure in Christ. Ultimately, the shaking is making me better.
As your marriage (and life) faces the shaking of the Lord be sure that you are anchored in Christ. Examine your foundation. Check for cracks. Look for gaps that need to be filled. Then thank God that He is the author and finisher of this process. Trust that whatever falls off while He is shaking your life needed to go and be thankful for what remains.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Monday, July 24, 2017
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:5
John does not always do what I want him to do. I know that is not a news flash, but it is true. He doesn't always do things the way I want him to do them. I wish he would do things the way I think they should be done (when I want them to be done and how I want them to be done), but he doesn't. Many times this causes me frustration and anger. Of course, I feel that I know what is best. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. Either way, he gets to choose. He has free will, and I don't get to control it.
I felt myself getting bothered today because John seems to be taking longer to do something than I want him to. I feel like I could just do it myself and get it done quicker, but it is not my place. I Gently, God showed me that this was a trust test. Not a test about my trust in John, but a test about my trust in God. Is John my source or is God my source? Do I believe that God will take care of us? Do I believe that God will work things out for our good? Yes, John is my husband, but he is not God. He is a provider not THE provider. He is a resource not THE source. He is my friend and my lover, but he is not my all-knowing, ever-present, all powerful God. So, instead of fretting about what John was doing and how long it was taking, I decided to thank God for using this time to do what He needed to do.
Perhaps, there are some things you would like changed about your spouse. Maybe you would like them to do some things differently. Are you trusting God even when you don't understand the actions of your spouse or are you trying to figure things out? Whose understanding are you leaning on? Can you trust God in the meantime? Can you believe that God will work in and through your spouse for the greater good? Rest in the fact that you are a child of the king, and He will protect and keep you. No need to nag. No need to argue. Rest and trust. Believe the God of the bible. Believe every word that He has said concerning you. Trust in God!
Proverbs 3:5
John does not always do what I want him to do. I know that is not a news flash, but it is true. He doesn't always do things the way I want him to do them. I wish he would do things the way I think they should be done (when I want them to be done and how I want them to be done), but he doesn't. Many times this causes me frustration and anger. Of course, I feel that I know what is best. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. Either way, he gets to choose. He has free will, and I don't get to control it.
I felt myself getting bothered today because John seems to be taking longer to do something than I want him to. I feel like I could just do it myself and get it done quicker, but it is not my place. I Gently, God showed me that this was a trust test. Not a test about my trust in John, but a test about my trust in God. Is John my source or is God my source? Do I believe that God will take care of us? Do I believe that God will work things out for our good? Yes, John is my husband, but he is not God. He is a provider not THE provider. He is a resource not THE source. He is my friend and my lover, but he is not my all-knowing, ever-present, all powerful God. So, instead of fretting about what John was doing and how long it was taking, I decided to thank God for using this time to do what He needed to do.
Perhaps, there are some things you would like changed about your spouse. Maybe you would like them to do some things differently. Are you trusting God even when you don't understand the actions of your spouse or are you trying to figure things out? Whose understanding are you leaning on? Can you trust God in the meantime? Can you believe that God will work in and through your spouse for the greater good? Rest in the fact that you are a child of the king, and He will protect and keep you. No need to nag. No need to argue. Rest and trust. Believe the God of the bible. Believe every word that He has said concerning you. Trust in God!
Monday, July 17, 2017
Monday's Marriage Moment -- Mary or Martha?
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38 - 42
Have you ever thought about the many roles you play or the many things you have to do? If your life is like mine the list can be daunting. In a single day you could: get up early, have devotional time with God, exercise, cook breakfast,go to work, run errands, wash clothes, clean, fold and put away clothes, spend time with family, visit a friend/loved one, pick up grocery, attend a meeting, take a child to practice, etc., etc., etc. Over a period of time those things can add up and quickly seem overwhelming if not kept in the proper perspective. You must prioritize. Our society promotes having a balance of work, family, friends, and the like. My problem with that is that balance implies that somehow I am going to get all of these things to be equal. They can't be. They don't have the same level of weight -- importance. My family is of more importance to me than time spent on myself. My devotional time is more important than my work. You have to decide what is most important, but I am sure that you will agree that every aspect of your life has a different level of importance.
Martha faced this dilemma of priority in Luke 10:38 - 42. Jesus and his crew were visiting her home (that she shared with Mary), and she was stressed. She was busy with preparations. I am sure that you can identify. When you are excited about guests coming you want everything perfect. You want the food to be great. You want the house to be spotless. There is much to be done. The problem is that Martha was so entangled in what she needed to do that she forgot why she was doing it. Jesus, the Messiah, was sitting in her house. She got so caught up in the stuff that she missed what was most important -- fellowship with our Savior.
Don't get so caught up in what you are doing that you forget why you are doing it. Don't forget so caught up in taking care of your family that you forget the family that you are taking care of. Don't get so distracted by work that you forget why you are working. Don't get so overwhelmed in the ministry God gave you that you forget the people that He gave you to minister to. Take the time to do the important stuff, but you must remember what is most important. There is nothing that weighs the same as being in God's presence! Stop trying to balance it all and put it in proper order.
May God bless you as you seek His order this week!
Luke 10:38 - 42
Have you ever thought about the many roles you play or the many things you have to do? If your life is like mine the list can be daunting. In a single day you could: get up early, have devotional time with God, exercise, cook breakfast,go to work, run errands, wash clothes, clean, fold and put away clothes, spend time with family, visit a friend/loved one, pick up grocery, attend a meeting, take a child to practice, etc., etc., etc. Over a period of time those things can add up and quickly seem overwhelming if not kept in the proper perspective. You must prioritize. Our society promotes having a balance of work, family, friends, and the like. My problem with that is that balance implies that somehow I am going to get all of these things to be equal. They can't be. They don't have the same level of weight -- importance. My family is of more importance to me than time spent on myself. My devotional time is more important than my work. You have to decide what is most important, but I am sure that you will agree that every aspect of your life has a different level of importance.
Martha faced this dilemma of priority in Luke 10:38 - 42. Jesus and his crew were visiting her home (that she shared with Mary), and she was stressed. She was busy with preparations. I am sure that you can identify. When you are excited about guests coming you want everything perfect. You want the food to be great. You want the house to be spotless. There is much to be done. The problem is that Martha was so entangled in what she needed to do that she forgot why she was doing it. Jesus, the Messiah, was sitting in her house. She got so caught up in the stuff that she missed what was most important -- fellowship with our Savior.
Don't get so caught up in what you are doing that you forget why you are doing it. Don't forget so caught up in taking care of your family that you forget the family that you are taking care of. Don't get so distracted by work that you forget why you are working. Don't get so overwhelmed in the ministry God gave you that you forget the people that He gave you to minister to. Take the time to do the important stuff, but you must remember what is most important. There is nothing that weighs the same as being in God's presence! Stop trying to balance it all and put it in proper order.
May God bless you as you seek His order this week!
Monday, July 10, 2017
Monday's Marriage Moment -- 5 Wisdom Keys!
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
Our marriages face all sorts of challenges. Some of those challenges are huge and may seem insurmountable. Some of them are not as daunting. Many of them could be minimized if we would employ practical wisdom. So, today, I simply want to share with you practical wisdom I have learned (sometimes the hard way) over the years of my marriage. Here are 5 tips that can help every marriage.
Proverbs 4:7
Our marriages face all sorts of challenges. Some of those challenges are huge and may seem insurmountable. Some of them are not as daunting. Many of them could be minimized if we would employ practical wisdom. So, today, I simply want to share with you practical wisdom I have learned (sometimes the hard way) over the years of my marriage. Here are 5 tips that can help every marriage.
- Some things are better left unsaid. We do not have to vent every emotion. We do not have to be right all the time. There are going to be times in marriage that you have to think things and not say them. Now, I am not talking about hiding all of your feelings or suffering in silence if you are in a dangerous situation (if that is the case I urge you to seek appropriate help).
- Timing is everything. Perhaps unloading all of your emotions on your spouse the minute they walk in the door from work is not the perfect time. Maybe trying to have a serious and important conversation while your husband is watching the playoffs or your wife is watching her favorite show is not the best idea.Be sensitive to the timing of your discussions will produce better results.
- Watch your words. Once something has been said it really can't be taken back. The old adage that sticks and stones can break our bones, but words can never hurt you is a complete and total lie. Words hurt. Words scar. Words cause damage. So, we need to be careful what we say to our spouse and what we say about our spouse. We must be careful to uplift them and not demean them to other people. **We should never talk down about our spouse to our children. This does damage to both the spouse and them**
- Forgive as quickly as possible. We all know that we need to forgive people, but I have learned that we need to do it quickly. If we don't address issues they begin to fester in our hearts, and we can become bitter and resentful. Before you know it, you are harboring resentment from 10 or 15 years ago. Everything starts being filtered through the lens of past hurts. We must work towards forgiveness, and we must do so expeditiously.
- Seek forgiveness as quickly as possible. It is often easy for us to focus on what others have done to us, but we may not own our part as quickly as we should. If you know that you have offended or wronged your spouse ask for forgiveness. Own your actions or words and humbly request forgiveness so that your spouse doesn't begin to feel that the relationship is one-sided.
Seek wisdom this week!
Monday, July 3, 2017
Monday's Marriage Moment -- Take Care of It!
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
-Genesis 2:15
My father taught me that if you service your car and keep the oil changed regularly it will last a long time. No matter what the outside of the car looks like, if you take care of what is under the hood, it will continue to take you where you need to go. It doesn't take a lot to keep your car serviced. Many places will do an oil change for around $20.That occasional $20 can save you thousands down the road. We understand this when it comes to vehicles, but the same can be applied to marriage. It requires regular maintenance. You can't keep a good one going without some "tune ups" and service. You and your spouse will need to check in with each other. You will need to make time for just the two of you. You will need to make sure that things are not "misfiring". Taking care of the little things along the way will save you from huge issues down the road.
In short, dear heart, you need to take care of your marriage. We take care of our children. We take care of our responsibilities. We take care of laundry, but we don't often take the time to take care of our marriages. You can't leave a car sitting in your driveway for years and expect it to run like it did before you left it there, right? So why would you allow your marriage to sit idle for years and expect it to be as effective and powerful as it was before? You must invest time and effort into your marriage just like you do friendships. We can't think that once we say 'I do' that all the work is done. Not so! Honestly, it is just beginning.
So, I am asking you to invest in your marriage. Take care of it like the prized possession that it is. Invest your time. Invest your energy. Invest yourself. Do the little things that will keep it operational for the long haul. You won't regret it!
-Genesis 2:15
My father taught me that if you service your car and keep the oil changed regularly it will last a long time. No matter what the outside of the car looks like, if you take care of what is under the hood, it will continue to take you where you need to go. It doesn't take a lot to keep your car serviced. Many places will do an oil change for around $20.That occasional $20 can save you thousands down the road. We understand this when it comes to vehicles, but the same can be applied to marriage. It requires regular maintenance. You can't keep a good one going without some "tune ups" and service. You and your spouse will need to check in with each other. You will need to make time for just the two of you. You will need to make sure that things are not "misfiring". Taking care of the little things along the way will save you from huge issues down the road.
In short, dear heart, you need to take care of your marriage. We take care of our children. We take care of our responsibilities. We take care of laundry, but we don't often take the time to take care of our marriages. You can't leave a car sitting in your driveway for years and expect it to run like it did before you left it there, right? So why would you allow your marriage to sit idle for years and expect it to be as effective and powerful as it was before? You must invest time and effort into your marriage just like you do friendships. We can't think that once we say 'I do' that all the work is done. Not so! Honestly, it is just beginning.
So, I am asking you to invest in your marriage. Take care of it like the prized possession that it is. Invest your time. Invest your energy. Invest yourself. Do the little things that will keep it operational for the long haul. You won't regret it!
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