Train even your weaklings to be warriors. ~ Joel 3:10
The first years of marriage are hard work and looking back on it, I understand why. You've got two independent thinkers who now need to be retrained and shaped so that they will fit into one new mold. When you're married, you're constantly at war. What many couples fail to realize is that the battle is not with or against your spouse. Instead, you need to stand side-by-side or back-to-back with your spouse and fight the enemy, together with Christ, as a united front.
In Ephesians 6:10-12, Paul reminds us that we are a united front in Christ and it's not humans--your spouse or other people--we are fighting against. Rather, we are at war "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Paul totally understood that people can't make us and they can't break us--our enemy is the devil. But, if we are a united front in Christ, then that's all we need.
And while the first years of marriage may be difficult, I believe that's our training ground. We view it as pain and think it's our "breaking ground." However, each warrior must be broken of his or her own "independent" thinking and "retrained" to think and work as a united front. So all the while we think we are being broken, that is the time we are really being trained for battle, trained for war. It is in those training years--and the length of time is different for every couple--that the couple will either "resolve" and determine to hang on, no matter what, or they will "dissolve" and quit, usually just before break-through.
If you're going through a tough time in your marriage, if you're thinking of quitting, let me encourage you to press forward and determine to be a united front with your spouse--not against. For it was Jesus, Himself, who said, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). If we are in Him and He is in us, then what can overcome us? God is looking for warriors and putting them through training everyday. It is only after we have united from our training that we cry out, "And now, O Lord, call out your warriors!" (Joel 3:11)
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Aware
And all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me... ~ David Crowder Band
Often times, we are so very aware of our problems--our "afflictions"-- that we almost have to trip over the realization that they're no longer there...
I remember after Brad's heart surgery how tough it was. His doctors said that it would take a full year for him to recover. I was the only one working and not making very much money. After almost a year, even though Brad had returned to work by then, we realized we just weren't making it, so Brad's mom was kind enough to let us stay with her for a bit. I remember one day, when I was talking to my mom on the phone. I said, "I don't know what it is, but I just can't stop eating. I'm not hungry and there's plenty of food, but I just can't get myself to stop eating everything in sight." What my mom said really helped me. She said, "Your body--your mind--has been in 'survival' mode for so long, that it doesn't know how to stop. When you were by yourself and struggling, your body was determined to keep you alive...and it hasn't caught up to the fact that you're not going to run out of food and starve to death. You need to retrain your mind, so that it knows you'll be ok." I wasn't overweight; I wasn't even really gaining weight, but I just couldn't stop eating and it was freaking me out.
I spent a lot of time after that praying, and my mom prayed. And I started to spend quiet time with God...not everyday, but some. And God helped me. He helped me to retrain my mind. Thank God my mom knows Jesus and has the Holy Spirit inside of her so she'd know what to tell me--words that I would hear. My mind was in a cycle and I needed someone to say, "STOP"! My mind had to "trip" over the fact that God had taken care of us and I didn't have to anymore. Looking back on it, I never had to take care of us, because God always did, but my mind never knew it.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2
Often times, we are so very aware of our problems--our "afflictions"-- that we almost have to trip over the realization that they're no longer there...
I remember after Brad's heart surgery how tough it was. His doctors said that it would take a full year for him to recover. I was the only one working and not making very much money. After almost a year, even though Brad had returned to work by then, we realized we just weren't making it, so Brad's mom was kind enough to let us stay with her for a bit. I remember one day, when I was talking to my mom on the phone. I said, "I don't know what it is, but I just can't stop eating. I'm not hungry and there's plenty of food, but I just can't get myself to stop eating everything in sight." What my mom said really helped me. She said, "Your body--your mind--has been in 'survival' mode for so long, that it doesn't know how to stop. When you were by yourself and struggling, your body was determined to keep you alive...and it hasn't caught up to the fact that you're not going to run out of food and starve to death. You need to retrain your mind, so that it knows you'll be ok." I wasn't overweight; I wasn't even really gaining weight, but I just couldn't stop eating and it was freaking me out.
I spent a lot of time after that praying, and my mom prayed. And I started to spend quiet time with God...not everyday, but some. And God helped me. He helped me to retrain my mind. Thank God my mom knows Jesus and has the Holy Spirit inside of her so she'd know what to tell me--words that I would hear. My mind was in a cycle and I needed someone to say, "STOP"! My mind had to "trip" over the fact that God had taken care of us and I didn't have to anymore. Looking back on it, I never had to take care of us, because God always did, but my mind never knew it.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2
THIS MUCH, and even more
For we are His portion and He is our prize...Oh, how He loves us, oh. ~ David Crowder Band
God didn't create "super beings." There aren't little "Supermen" and "Wonderwomen" running around on Earth. God didn't create us to be robots, unable to think for ourselves or having no feelings or emotions on things. No, God created us just as we are. Now, originally, we were all without sin, but we all had souls--mind, will, and emotion. And even though we now have sin, God loves us just the same, even when we fall. It breaks His heart so much when we do fall, because He loves us so. That's why He sent His Son. "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life," John 3:16.
Jesus came, not to punish us, but to love us. We are His portion--we are all He needs or wants. We are everything to Him. He is God, so He could have left us and created something else, if He wanted. But He loves us so much that He promised to never leave or forsake us, (see Deuteronomy 31:6).
When I was little, my mom taught me how much Jesus loves me. She would ask, "How much does Jesus love you?" Then she would stretch out my arms as far as they would reach and say, "He loves you <---THIS---> much and even more!" Years later, I heard a preacher say that Jesus loved us so much that He stretched out His arms and died for us, nailing our sins, and everything that separated us from God, to the cross. My mom was right! Jesus loves me <---THIS---> much and even more! Thanks Mom, for always trying to show me how much Jesus loves me.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
God didn't create "super beings." There aren't little "Supermen" and "Wonderwomen" running around on Earth. God didn't create us to be robots, unable to think for ourselves or having no feelings or emotions on things. No, God created us just as we are. Now, originally, we were all without sin, but we all had souls--mind, will, and emotion. And even though we now have sin, God loves us just the same, even when we fall. It breaks His heart so much when we do fall, because He loves us so. That's why He sent His Son. "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life," John 3:16.
Jesus came, not to punish us, but to love us. We are His portion--we are all He needs or wants. We are everything to Him. He is God, so He could have left us and created something else, if He wanted. But He loves us so much that He promised to never leave or forsake us, (see Deuteronomy 31:6).
When I was little, my mom taught me how much Jesus loves me. She would ask, "How much does Jesus love you?" Then she would stretch out my arms as far as they would reach and say, "He loves you <---THIS---> much and even more!" Years later, I heard a preacher say that Jesus loved us so much that He stretched out His arms and died for us, nailing our sins, and everything that separated us from God, to the cross. My mom was right! Jesus loves me <---THIS---> much and even more! Thanks Mom, for always trying to show me how much Jesus loves me.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
Friday, August 6, 2010
Lord's Mighty Power
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ~ Ephesians 6:10
We've heard it said before, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood." But how do we deal with that when we see another human in our face about some matter? How do we see beyond the "ugliness" and into the pain? There are two things we must do. 1) Ask the Lord for discernment and enlightenment of our eyes. "Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance," (Ecclesiastes 8:1). The Book of James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him," (1:5). When God opens our eyes to see things as He sees them, we are less likely to judge some one's actions because we can see straight to the pain that's in their heart.
2) Be dressed for success. "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes," (Ephesians 6:10-11). This passage tells us not to worry about fighting anything or anyone on our own, because the Lord is already strong and we can rest in the power that He has. But to "dress for success," we must prepare our attire. For example, when you see news clips about soldiers in foreign lands, you never see them dressed as if they are going to a pool party. That's because they're dressed for success; they're dressed for war. And that's exactly how we need to dress.
Our enemy is not the person who is in our face all the time. Our enemy is the devil and he will use as many tricks and schemes as he can muster to get people to hurt you. He does this because that is who he is, as the Bible tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy," (John 10:10). He doesn't want you to have the joy and the peace and the rest the God has promised you. He wants to win and he will use whatever or whomever he can to make that happen. But we have something better. We have Jesus who said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," (John 10:10). He also promised us that while the devil will be up to his schemes and tricks, we can take comfort in Jesus, who said, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
We've heard it said before, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood." But how do we deal with that when we see another human in our face about some matter? How do we see beyond the "ugliness" and into the pain? There are two things we must do. 1) Ask the Lord for discernment and enlightenment of our eyes. "Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance," (Ecclesiastes 8:1). The Book of James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him," (1:5). When God opens our eyes to see things as He sees them, we are less likely to judge some one's actions because we can see straight to the pain that's in their heart.
2) Be dressed for success. "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes," (Ephesians 6:10-11). This passage tells us not to worry about fighting anything or anyone on our own, because the Lord is already strong and we can rest in the power that He has. But to "dress for success," we must prepare our attire. For example, when you see news clips about soldiers in foreign lands, you never see them dressed as if they are going to a pool party. That's because they're dressed for success; they're dressed for war. And that's exactly how we need to dress.
Our enemy is not the person who is in our face all the time. Our enemy is the devil and he will use as many tricks and schemes as he can muster to get people to hurt you. He does this because that is who he is, as the Bible tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy," (John 10:10). He doesn't want you to have the joy and the peace and the rest the God has promised you. He wants to win and he will use whatever or whomever he can to make that happen. But we have something better. We have Jesus who said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," (John 10:10). He also promised us that while the devil will be up to his schemes and tricks, we can take comfort in Jesus, who said, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Qualified
I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. ~ Ephesians 3:8 (Message)
Have you ever come upon a situation that you needed to speak to: a girlfriend thinking of leaving her spouse, a buddy fallen into drugs, a friend thinking of quitting on life...? But what qualifies us? What gives us the right to speak into people's lives--people we know, people we care about, people we love? If I've gone through something you and you haven't, am I more qualified or are you? If I've done things in my past and you haven't, am I less qualified than you? No!
Neither is less and neither is more qualified than the other. Because it's not about us--it's never been about us and it will never be about us. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 3:7-8: This is my life: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure it had nothing to do with any natural abilities, (Message). Paul is credited with authoring most of the New Testament, and yet he writes, "I was the least qualified..."
If Paul was the "least" qualified, then what makes one qualified? Is it years of study? Time spent on Earth (age)? Is it the number of degrees you've got hanging up on your wall? None of that matters, really. Look at what Paul says makes us qualified, "God saw to it that I was equipped..." It's not "us," there's nothing carnal or physical or emotional or mental that qualifies us. It is God alone and, moreover, it is Christ in us. This is what Jesus says in John 15, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last," (vv 5, 16; NIV). Long, long before our great grandparents were born, God chose us and appointed us; which automatically qualifies us. Now, we have a choice to make in this. If you read more of John 15, you'll see that anyone who does not remain in Christ will be "disqualfied," because we can do nothing apart from Christ, (v 5-6).
If it is Christ alone who qualfies, and you remain in Christ, then you are qualfied. I am qualified. And I don't have to worry about "messing up," for just as Paul said: God handles all the details, and He sees to it that I am equipped. He equips us through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and tells us what we are to say--we need only listen and obey. You are equipped; you are qualified; God will take care of all the details. As you remain in Christ and He remains in you, that qualifies you. You are qualified.
Have you ever come upon a situation that you needed to speak to: a girlfriend thinking of leaving her spouse, a buddy fallen into drugs, a friend thinking of quitting on life...? But what qualifies us? What gives us the right to speak into people's lives--people we know, people we care about, people we love? If I've gone through something you and you haven't, am I more qualified or are you? If I've done things in my past and you haven't, am I less qualified than you? No!
Neither is less and neither is more qualified than the other. Because it's not about us--it's never been about us and it will never be about us. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 3:7-8: This is my life: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure it had nothing to do with any natural abilities, (Message). Paul is credited with authoring most of the New Testament, and yet he writes, "I was the least qualified..."
If Paul was the "least" qualified, then what makes one qualified? Is it years of study? Time spent on Earth (age)? Is it the number of degrees you've got hanging up on your wall? None of that matters, really. Look at what Paul says makes us qualified, "God saw to it that I was equipped..." It's not "us," there's nothing carnal or physical or emotional or mental that qualifies us. It is God alone and, moreover, it is Christ in us. This is what Jesus says in John 15, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last," (vv 5, 16; NIV). Long, long before our great grandparents were born, God chose us and appointed us; which automatically qualifies us. Now, we have a choice to make in this. If you read more of John 15, you'll see that anyone who does not remain in Christ will be "disqualfied," because we can do nothing apart from Christ, (v 5-6).
If it is Christ alone who qualfies, and you remain in Christ, then you are qualfied. I am qualified. And I don't have to worry about "messing up," for just as Paul said: God handles all the details, and He sees to it that I am equipped. He equips us through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and tells us what we are to say--we need only listen and obey. You are equipped; you are qualified; God will take care of all the details. As you remain in Christ and He remains in you, that qualifies you. You are qualified.
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