Today's thought...

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!"
Proverbs 16:16

The riches of this world mean nothing. What we must have is the wisdom to live in the world, but not of it, just like we are commanded. This is also true of our marriages, in that we must focus on wise, understanding communion with one another, rather than live in our marriage the way the world says we should. Focus on this today, and honor the Lord through it.

May He bless you!!!

Today's thought...

"The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor."
Proverbs 15:33

We should all endeavor to be known and seen as honorable. It should be the legacy we leave for our children. But remember that the fear of the Lord must be ever-present, because our children see us more than the rest of the world. Humble yourself, hold onto your reverent fear, and honor God through this!

May He bless you!!!

Conflict

Today, our Pastor continued the marriage series by diving into the topic of conflict. He listed several great points which are the cause, and several practical remedies and fixes. Please know, though, that these principles are for use in every marriage... not just the hurting ones!

But I would like to take a moment and echo only one; the need for prayer. Every husband should be praying for his wife already, and vice versa. This should be an ongoing practice, and it will strengthen each spouse's relationship with the Lord, which will strengthen their relationship together. As our Pastor said, with God in the center, anything is possible!

Take a moment tonight and pray over your spouse. They don't necessarily need to know you're doing it... He knows you are!

God bless you all!!!

Understanding

"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
1 Pet 3:7

So my pastor got up and started speaking about marriage today. Talk about speaking my language, right? And he did a phenomenal job. Just phenomenal.

I would like to point out, though, that since my wife was not present, I felt as though some of the message was lost on me. I didn't have the opportunity to "turn to your partner and say (encouraging words)." However, I did send my wife a text message to express that I love her more today than ever. And for those other husbands who were in the same boat with me this morning, I am proud of those of you who thought to do so, as well.

What I did get to see, though, was the reaction of the couples as they did turn to each other and speak. It is an interesting thing, to watch and listen for the conviction of words like "I love you," or "you're different, and I'm okay with that." I have to say, I was impressed with the couple sitting next to me. They are mentors of my wife and I, and are more seasoned that we are (trying to find a polite way to say older), and were sitting close to each other. As they turned and said what the pastor asked, they both began to giggle, as though they were still in their teens. There were inside jokes a-flyin', and neither one ever let go of the others' hand. And it was a truly AWESOME sight to see the truth in their eyes and hear the power in their voices when they said "I love you" to one another.

And then I thought about how much I missed my wife this weekend, as she was away with friends for a relaxing weekend. And I cannot wait to share these moments with her. And I pray that we show that same affection for each other as we gain "seasoning" in our life! It also reminded me of how truly vital mentor couples are, especially for us husbands.

So today, I ask that you dig into your church congregation and find a mentor couple to connect with. If you already have one, go visit them today or call them on the phone. (Especially us husbands.) And ask them the question, "What does 'understanding way' mean in your marriage?" You might be surprised how much insight you gain into your own wife! And then, sit down together and pray over greater understanding with your wife. I promise, you won't regret it!

God bless you all!!!

For her...

I return to you tonight, humbled and thrilled with my choice to lay low for a while. I pray blessings on you all, and I will explain my brief absence.

I became so enthralled in making other marriages work and offering advice to people I have never met that managed to forget the one marriage that truly matters more to me; my own. I have this issue with most things, as I leap in head first, not thinking about the consequences, and not focused on the effects in the immediate. Nothing truly negative ever comes of it.

I had to step back for a moment and take stock of a few things. And you know what I realized? I am a truly blessed man!!!

My wife is so encouraging, so supportive and so amazingly adaptable to all of the ideas I have. And she just keeps going, pushing forward while pushing me forward, with no thought for herself. And my greatest earthly strength comes solely from the support she gives me. Knowing she's behind/beside me allows me to put everything I am into something... ANYTHING... and have absolutely no fear of the outcome.

But here's where I falter; I forget to acknowledge and appreciate those qualities about her. I forget to offer encouragement back. I forget to speak her love language. I fail to remember that God chose her for me, specifically. I treat her like a person... not like a gift from the Most High.

I want to take a moment and say thank you to; the one God blessed me with; my partner; my adviser; my love; my very best friend; my wife; my LIFE!!! I love you, Lamb... more today than yesterday. And I'll love you more tomorrow than today... and I cannot wait for the Lord to help me to open my heart just that one extra sliver to show you more of it! It is why I wake up happy, and why I sleep soundly. Every day that I see your face is the single greatest day of my life.

Your Chicken loves you... always has, and always will.

God bless you all!!!

Work

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Col 3:23

Even as we have this trying economy upon us, we must remember that we are fulfilling our purpose to the Lord in all that we do. It is not about how, where or who we serve on this earth, but about the spirit with which we do it.

The same is true of our marriages. We are commanded, men, to "live with them (our wives) in an understanding way" and "love our wives as Christ loved the church."
1 Pet 3:7 & Eph 5:25

So tonight, make your "whatever" about your marriage... and then keep it that way tomorrow, the next day, and for the rest of your lives together, till death do you part!

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.
Joel 2:16

No expansion is required here. Brides and bridegrooms, leave your proverbial chambers and come together. Consecrate your assembly (your home or meeting place). Bring the whole family in, and pray together.

Bring your family back to the Lord, and start with the primary relationship in the home... your marriage!

God bless you all!!!

Finish it!

I have to say, when I started the study into Proverbs, I had no idea that it would turn into a book. But it has. And I have now printed and bound four copies of my very own 140 page book, because I finished my race.

I felt a need for this work, and God led me through an amazing journey, and now I am sharing this work with family, friends, and one person of interest who shall, for the time, remain anonymous.

It's a lot like when I felt a need to marry my lovely and wonderful wife... and God is still leading us through an awesome journey... and we share this journey with everyone we know.

Be certain of this above all: we will finish this race!

Pray together that your race will be run with focus and determination. Look to the Lord and each other for encouragement, not to the world. And know that you have prayers coming your way, wherever you are in whatever situation.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 5:21 - For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths.

QBQ - Am I trying to hide something from my omniscient and omnipresent God?

There are many things we can do to fool others in this world, but not one of us can do anything that God does not see. He sees all things, even matters of the heart... and that is where we must remain the most vigilant! Honor the Lord by looking deep into yourself and confessing what you are attempting to hide.

May He bless you!

Cleansing Together

Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.
Joel 2:15

Come together tonight to pray.

I pray that your time of prayer would be a blessed time, with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit right beside you.

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave a blessing - grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
Joel 2:14

To further the thought from the two previous days, we are all asked the question of "why not?" What really would be the harm in trying it God's way, after all?

I know there are some who will say, "What if it doesn't work?" To them, I respond with my brothers and sisters in Christ by stating this: what will you do when it DOES work?

It may seem silly to some to go through things like this, but growing closer to each other and to God is never an exercise in futility.

Pray together today that you would take an introspective look into the "Why not" being posed to you here. Realize that you have more to gain by trying than by sitting and watching... trust me on that one!

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Joel 2:13

An old tradition was to rend (or tear) your clothing when in mourning as a symbolic gesture. But the Lord, right here, tells us not to bother with symbolism... get down to the real business!

In 4th Wall Fashion, I say to you to rend your JOINED heart. Rend the heart that beats within both of you as one flesh, and return to the Lord.

So today, as you spend time with your spouse, find a moment to rend your heart in prayer together, asking for a deeper step in the cleansing process.

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."
Joel 2:12

Return to Him. Return to Him together, and place Him in the very center of your marriage.

This passage of Joel is titled "Rend Your Heart," and is specific instruction from the Lord for how we are to return to Him and gain revival. This is the first of ten verses in this passage that we will cover.

Pray together tonight, for the ability to return to Him. Be certain of this, though, you will have to return as individuals AND as a couple.

God bless you all!!!

Random 3

Yet again, I walked into Church this morning knowing what I was going to talk about, and God changed my mind! And then, when I brought forward the Scripture that I was led to speak about, our teacher had a reference from the SAME VERSE 20 minutes later. Divinely planned, I tell ya!

And then, tonight, I was thinking about the privilege we have to worship God openly, and I was reminded of the Parable of the Talents. I have said before that this is the story of my life, as I have buried my own talents far too often. But as I sat and listened to Steve Green perform at our church tonight, he made a statement that I couldn't ignore.

He spoke about the universal language of music... and what a privilege it is to be able to speak it! And this is true of all talents in this life we have been given.

Pray tonight, again, that your talents would come forth in both of you. Pray that you will find the courage to stand up and share them fearlessly, spreading the Kingdom with encouragement the way that (literally) only you can!

God bless you all!!!

Food for Thought

Just a quick thought tonight, for any of you who have couple friends where one or both might not know Christ; you need to meet them where they are!

If they think of the saved as never having any fun, up tight, tea-totaling rule sticklers who refuse to associate with anyone but their own kind, then we will NEVER win anyone to the Lord.

Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:17b

If the Son of God wasn't above association with the sinners of the world, then we cannot be above it either. He is the example, beloved brothers and sisters... and we must follow.

Pray tonight that the couples you encounter would see Christ's love in your marriage. Reflect the love you have been shown, and let others see the light within.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 22:10 - Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.

QBQ - What can I do to ensure I am not the mocker?

I have said it before, and I will say it again; people are watching you for your mistakes. Even those that you may choose to show trust to and confide in will have thoughts about the words and inflections you choose. Always remember to be what you say, and to say the right things!

May He bless you!

Service

What are we called for? What is our purpose? What is the best thing we can hope to aspire to?

Service.

We are to serve the Lord. We are to serve His people. We are to serve each other. And we are to do so with a heart of joy and peace, knowing that we are, in every way, advancing the Kingdom of God through our service.

Pray together today that you are of the proper mindset towards each other, and to the world. Remember that it is not what other people do that compels you to serve, but what God has inspired in you.

God bless you all!!!

Joyful Noise

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1

So I am a singer... and I tend to keep that hidden from people. I am extremely shy about it, and nervous always when in front of others to perform. Well, with one exception; my wife.

I can sing in front of her till the end of time, and it will not make me the least bit uncomfortable. I love to sing around her! Moreover, I love to sing to her! But today, I found something out about myself that I had not known.

I was sitting with one of the Worship Leaders of our church, singing as he played, and my glasses were fogging up. I started to think about the way I sounded, and then I felt my voice going flat. I stopped, apologized, and we got back into the song. Just then, I removed my hat and glasses, and closed my eyes, and began to sing for God... not for me... and a wave of peace came over me like a cool breeze.

Now I can add a second exception to my "not scared to sing in front of" category, in the person of this Worship Leader. But, more importantly, I can add an entity to this list as well; God. I have always sung in front of God, as He is always there. But today, I sang FOR God, knowing He was RIGHT there!

Not everyone is a singer, and not everyone is musically inclined, but everyone has a hidden talent for something that God can use to expand His Kingdom. Pray together today that you and your spouse would discover (if you haven't already) the hidden talents that you can each use to advance the Kingdom. And then pray that you will go forth and do it! It's not easy at first, and I'm still a little shaken that I did this today... but the greater reward is going to be worth it!!!

God bless you all!!!

Responsibility, cont.

"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives."
1 Tim 3:1-2

Boy, oh boy... could I tell you some stories about how my wife won me over. There is no one better at winning over than my bride, and no one smoother at slipping in truths from the Word. To continue our discussion on Cleansing with the responsibility of the wives, I think it is wrapped up neatly in this verse.

We, too often, take our wives for granted, and pay far too little attention to the things they do for us. But, even for the most unemotional, stereotypical male, there are those moments when we wonder why she is doing all of these things for us? And (sorry about this one guys) our well-hidden insecurity comes bubbling forward in these times.

I remain amazed at my wife, for how she does everything she does. She truly is an inspiration to me!!!

Pray tonight with your spouse that your respective responsibilities would come with little difficulty to you. Remember that God has joined you together. Keep that moment when you smiled and said "I do" fresh in your mind, and never lose that!!!

God bless you all!!!

Consistency

Okay, I know I said I would keep it just to the one question today, but then my wife's exercise video guy said something. He said that it's easy to get out of shape, and difficult to get back into shape. But if you show up for the program, and do the work with consistency, then you will be fully amazed at the results!

And then I started thinking about how true that is in a spiritual sense. How much effort does it take to slide backwards? How hard is it to just let go of conviction and fall? Not very... and that's scary! But getting back up after the fall is not that easy. It takes determination, focus, and (you guessed it) consistency.

And just like the workout program, you have to GO TO THE WORD and actually DO THE WORK if you want to SEE THE RESULTS. Exceptional concept, isn't it? And yet, as simple as it sounds, I would be chief among those who allow the simplicity of it to fly right by me. But it is ALL about going back to the basics, and doing the work.

Fundamentals are, in fact, the building blocks of EVERYTHING!!! Sports, music, speech, writing... these all have their respective set of inviolable fundamentals. Faith is the same way.

Pray together tonight that you will find the consistency to keep on your path. And thank God for the spouse you have been blessed with to hold you accountable to that end!

God bless you all!!!

Labor Day!!!

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Psalm 127:1

Just a quick question today; did the Lord build your house? If not, has He been invited to reinforce it now?

Pray together tonight that the Lord would make His presence known in your home.

God bless you all!!!

Random 2

I planned out what I was going to open our Sunday School class with this morning... I had it all laid out on paper. I had practiced my opening remarks about wisdom, as related to Proverbs 18:6, and I was ready to go.

And then I got to church, went up to the choir loft, and began to sing "Thank You, Lord," and my whole morning changed for the better!

All of a sudden, as I raised my hand to the heavens while singing to God, I realized that I needed to speak about "random" things in the world. And then we went to our class, and I did just that. I mentioned the verse from Jeremiah 29:11, and discussed how many things have to be in such amazing precision for us to end up right where we have, and I believe that it was well-received.

Then our teacher began to speak about the "coincidental" people that God placed in our teacher's path as we covered Mark 3. And then I realized just how good God truly is.

Today can ONLY be the work of the Spirit... and it all leads back to the original comments made on "Random" things in a previous post.

Thank God today for the path that you have taken... and for the path that will continue to be yours, wherever it leads! You and your spouse are together for a reason; there is no doubt about that. Pray for God's will to be revealed in your life, and be blessed for doing so!

God bless you all!!!

Saturdays.....

I usually don't get to spend Saturday with my family, but I happen to be on vacation for this one and the next. It is such a joy to be home with all of them, laughing and playing... really brings peace.

I wish I had something more to say this evening. However, all I am left with is that we all should pray with our family, FOR our family. And that has to start with the primary relationship in the home, the husband and wife.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 18:6 - A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

QBQ - Am I careful enough with my words, regardless of where I am?

Just like everyone is watching us, they are also listening to us. All of those around us are listening and waiting to see if our words match our demeanor. Honor the Lord by ensuring that your words and your actions are in line with one another.

May He bless you!!!

Foot in Mouth

Somehow tonight, I have managed to let my pride slip back into my speech.

I forgot, for a moment, that my calling is to build people up... not tear them down.
Eph 4:29

But thanks be to God for the wonderful and loving wife He has blessed me with! She saw right through my hypocrisy, and called me out on it. (Thank you, Lamb!) It is always helpful to have a close friend, loved one, or spouse be willing to tell you when you've gone too far.

My "too far" was to state that I would pray for this man, when I do not know him. You might say, "that sounds like a great thing to do!" But the truth is that he and I stand on opposing sides of a political issue... and he used the Lord's name in vain... and I told him that such usage of the Lord's name is not befitting of an educated person, and that I would pray for him.

As my beautiful bride pointed out, I was condescending in that moment, and not reflective of the love of Christ. And I thank her, and thank God for her.

Pray tonight that you will be receptive to the truths that you lay upon each other. After all, no one knows your spouse better than you do! So when a harsh truth is brought out, remember that it is for your benefit.

God bless you all!!!

Responsibility

"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money."
1 Tim 3:2-3

To follow the theme of our cleansing, we must dive into the responsibilities of the husband and wife. Listed here is a shortened list of qualifications that a husband must have. And be certain of this, my brothers in faith, there is not a passage before or after this one that says "as long as she is doing her part."

That's one of the hardest things about marriage, I think. As the leader of my home, I am to conduct myself in a Godly manner, regardless of how my wife acts. Why would I do something like this? Why try to be respectful and loving when she's mad? Because... and grab hold of something before you read this one... GOD COMMANDS ME TO DO SO!

Nowhere in the Bible does the Father, the Son, the Spirit, or any of the prophets or apostles say that you must treat your wives with respect as long as it's fair to you. You and I are given a command to "love our wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
Eph 5:25

What does this mean? Sacrifice. Servant-minded leadership of the home. Standing firm to assume responsibility for your family's actions in the eternal sense. Being ready to face judgment for all in your care. This is what real husbands and fathers do. The CHOOSE to be the last, serving the family first; and through this choice, the family esteems them to be the head.

Pray together for God's understanding to come more clearly to you both today. Spend time thanking Him for the plans we are a part of.

Husbands, specifically, pray for your hearts to be strengthened by the Spirit to assume the Godly responsibility that is yours and yours alone. Pray that you will be ready, willing and able to stand for your entire family at the judgment seat of Christ. And remember, when God searched the garden after the original sin to find Adam and Eve, "the Lord God called to the man."
Gen 3:9

And then BOTH of you thank God for the redemption that comes only through Jesus Christ!

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land."
2 Chron 7:14

Prayer and confession require a constant attitude of humility. And the Lord offers us a way out of suffering, sin and death in this verse. Be humble and pray.

But there is more that is given here than just this... He also states clearly that we must turn from our wicked ways. REPENTANCE! We are flesh; meaning we are flawed, failed, fallible creatures that forever flail to find fulfillment. But if we turn from those sins (and make no mistake, beloved ones, we all have them), we can grow closer to God. And He will listen to us and forgive!

And He also promises to heal our land. Think of your land as your home. Now, if all of us took this one passage, spread it around a little, and affected enough homes in our great nation, would our literal land be healed??? Something to ponder on...

Pray tonight with your beloved gift from the Father that you would experience the healing of whatever ailment affects your land. Pray that you would turn from your own wicked ways and seek His face. I promise you, it will be in those moments that you hear Him speak!

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matt 17:20-21

Faith is such a key ingredient to revival... especially in marriage. If you do not possess the faith needed to see your spouse as God sees him/her (completely blameless and without sin, through the blood of Jesus), then you will never get past the issues and opportunities that exist.

Faith in God to allow you that peace is also crucial. Your peace comes through Him, you know... and no matter how hard you try to forgive in your own power, it is only God who has the power to forgive, and only through Him can true forgiveness be achieved.

Pray together tonight for the faith needed to bring forth revival. Spend time praying that your mustard seed will move the mountain that exists in your life. Because on the other side of that mountain is what we all yearn for; peace.

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
Heb 12:14

I posted a longer article about Holiness last month, and those points are just as relevant this month... and they will be every day until the end of time. The walk of a Christian is to increase our holiness and grow closer to Jesus.

But always remember, we do not seek justification, we enhance sanctification. His cross justifies us; how we carry ours will sanctify us!

Pray together tonight for the proper method to carry your crosses. Deny yourselves and step forward in expectancy of the greater reward that IS to come!

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 9:12 - If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

QBQ - Does my mouth keep me from the rewards God wants me to have?

Everyone mocks something in life. The question here, though, is what if I did not mock anything? What if I submitted to all in humble service to the Lord, and not to men, for the glory of His Kingdom? Those watching me (and there are people watching us all) might see Christ's love in that act of true selflessness! Die to live... die a little to my selfish desires and thoughts, to live the abundant life God has promised me. There would be no better way to honor the Lord than this!

May He bless you!

Cleansing Together

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
Phil 3:12

Even Paul, probably the greatest conversion in history, was still working on his sanctification. After such an amazing turn around from his earthly life to following Christ, we generally think of people like Paul as being "already there." But he was not, and he knew it... and that is where his wisdom had, and still has, all of its strength!

Continue to pray with your spouse for an enhanced sanctification. Seek the Face that makes all things new with all your heart tonight, and pray that you would view this process from Kingdom perspective. And remember, it is not your names that you are attempting to glorify... it's His.

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."
2 Cor 7:1

We, as Christian husbands and wives, do have the promises of eternal life and salvation from our sins. So why aren't we actively chasing our own holiness? And, as a husband, I would pose this question specifically to the men; why aren't we leading by example?

Make no mistake, we are not talking about justification... this is a process of sanctification that is on-going and ever-growing, bringing us closer and closer to the likeness of Jesus. His cross justified us for all eternity; but how we carry ours will sanctify us further.

Spend time today with your spouse in prayer for the cleansing of yourselves. Your audience is important, and they must learn from you how this is done... because the world will teach them otherwise, and never stop.

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
Prov 28:13

Confession is a key element of repentance. And as we all go through this process together, I can assure you that it does get less difficult. As a local saint in my church says, "when you are chasing sanctification, you begin to truly hate unholiness in your life."

Those "pet" sins become easier to spot, more difficult to justify, and far simpler to deal with. And remember, if it were not for Jesus and his sacrifice at Calvary, NOT ONE HUMAN BEING ON THE PLANET could measure up to the standards God has set before us. Jesus makes it possible!

Pray together today, thanking Jesus for your ability to boldly approach the Throne and cast your sins and cares on Him. Spend time confessing whatever the Spirit is showing you. Empty your heart and cleanse your thoughts... because Kingdom purposes are all that matter.

God bless you all!!!

Prayer for the Children

So tonight my church had our first Prayer Walk of the local schools. We prayed over the campuses, for the faculty, staff, students, and parents. We prayed for the buildings and the land. We walked around with hands lifted high, unashamed and feeling blessed for the boldness to do so!

I do not say this to bring glory to myself or the church, but to bring glory to God. Without the boldness that He gives us, we could not do this. Without the freedom that He allows us, we could not do this. Without the love that He shows us, we could not do this. Without Him, we are nothing... nothing... nothing at all.

If you haven't been a part of a similar exercise in your community, I encourage you to see what you can do to begin one. Our children are our future, and the world for them is far more dangerous than it was for us. They need the prayer more than anything!

And even if you don't get the chance personally, know that my team is praying for your children tonight, and will continue to do so.

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Jam 4:8

As a couple, your quest in marriage (in an earthly sense) is to draw nearer and nearer to each other over time. The closer you get to each other, the better your relationship is.

This is also true of your relationship with the Lord, both as individuals and as a couple. Every day you are required to wash your hands clean and purify your hearts and thoughts. We are created flawed... it is inescapable. But the closer you grow to God through chasing sanctification, the smaller that flaw will seem.

Spend time today praying together, and then perform an exercise for each other; wash each others' hands. Pray over the sink and each other, and then wash the hands of your spouse, in a symbolic gesture of aiding them in removing the stains of sin. We are a team. We need to support each other in all things... especially cleansing!

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalms 139:23-24

Yesterday I asked that you and your spouse get together and spend time allowing the Spirit to reveal unconfessed sin. Today, to expand on that premise and seek true heart revival, I ask that you do the same and enhance it with the above verse. Ask God directly to show you what lies within the depths of your hearts, and then drag it into the light.

Your relationship with each other, as well as with the Lord, will be strengthened from the boldness to perform this act of faith. And even though it seems difficult, the Spirit will aide you! He always does!

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 16:13 - Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.

QBQ - Am I speaking the Truth, or hiding comfortably in the back?

We all face our moment of decision; will we or won't we stand up for the right thing? I encourage you, as Paul would, to stand up knowing that our reward in Heaven is greater than anything on earth! Honor God by standing firm to the Truth!

May He bless you!

Cleansing Together

"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."
Psalms 66:18

Hiding and keeping your own "pet" sins keeps you from the power that God wants to bestow on you. This is also true for your marriage. Get down on your knees with your spouse today, and each of you take the time to confess your sins to each other, before God.

The trust and love involved in the act of confession is immense. And the more time you take, the more the Holy Spirit will reveal to you. I guarantee you, it will be a blessed time.

God bless you all!!!

Cleansing Together

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jer 29:13

Many of us wish for true revival to come. However, revival begins within each Christian. Spend time today, separately and together, focused on cleansing your heart to seek the Lord completely.

You can shine your light for all to see, and help to begin the revival!

God bless you all!!!

The Pilgrimage of Marriage

So there I was... waiting for the 9 PM hour to roll around on the night of my wedding... standing in my suit, looking at the guests, and realizing that I was embarking on a true life-long journey! And out she came!!! The epitome of all beauty, walking towards me with bouquet in hand, ready to take this journey with me. This is where we began our pilgrimage.

So often, people think of pilgrimage as merely an action. However, as I was sitting in a lecture by Christian George (author, Sex, Sushi & Salvation and Godology), he pointed out that pilgrimage is both an action AND an attitude. He referenced the many times in the Word where people are traveling from one place to another to perform good works. Most heavily, he spoke of a three-year walk that this one guy took all over the Jewish world. What was His name??? Oh, right... JESUS CHRIST. He was constantly on a pilgrimage to spread the Good News, and it was, for Him, much more than an action. His attitude about the whole thing is what made it so powerful for others. I believe that this is why when He would tell people to follow Him, they could not refuse.

Also, as I looked through the notes about Christian's lecture, I ran across a verse that proves my belief in the Pilgrimage of Marriage fully. And as I read it, I thought back to that night and all the things racing through my head before my bride entered. Would it last? Would we be happy? What would the fighting be about? Where would we live? How many kids? So on and so on, until finally she came and stood on my left, and we were married. But regardless of where we decided to live, or what the fights would be about, or how many kids we would have, we were now two aliens paired together to live in the world, but not of the world, and had to avoid sinful desires.
1 Pet 2:11

In fact, as Christian spoke, I was reminded of the pilgrimage I have been on for the last eight years, and I thought of the one crucial rule to pilgrimage; DO NOT STOP! So often in this world, we give up on our race before we finish. But, as so many people point out throughout the Bible and all history, completion of your race is of the utmost importance, whether you win or lose or land in between. Finish strong! And remember, the race must go on, even while we wait. John Waller puts it best in his song, "While I'm Waiting," saying that he will be running the race, even while he waits. (And, in case you haven't noticed, our Christian church was born while people waited on God... in fervent prayer together... on a pilgrimage of the heart to be stronger and bolder in faith for the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 2:1-4

So we have been running our race, and have fallen down at times and gotten back up. We have slowed and sped up. We have had a fairly "normal" pilgrimage thus far, but with one exception. We started this marriage on a Friday night, and on the following Sunday morning, I was the first man my wife ever invited to share her faith. I was informed that I was to become a spiritual leader of our home, and that it was my responsibility. It was overwhelming at first, but I went to church with her. (I was already a Christian, just not a member of any given denomination or church.)

We have been Baptists ever since, and I have truly begun to embrace my role as the Spiritual Head of our family. It is sad to admit that it took this long, but the race has never stopped. And it will not stop. Ever.

The key to this was when we both realized that our own egos HAD to be put down. And I do not mean put down as in setting them down on the floor for a moment... I mean put down like an incurable animal. PUT DOWN FOREVER. It is in the moments when we forget this inevitable truth that the enemy finds his way into our home. It is in these moments that our 4th Wall begins to crack. But, blessedly, we can call upon the One who never faces impossibility!
Jer 32:27

Today, I ask that whatever your denomination, whatever your core beliefs about worship and prayer, discuss them with your spouse and further your own pilgrimage of marriage. And spend time in prayer both separately and together, cleansing your heart before the Lord, so that you might approach your next leg of the race with a clear mindset of what must be done. And, as I always pray for all of you, if you are not involved somewhere in a church, please reach out and find one to plug into. The greatest advancements in any marriage happen with Christ at the center, and that is fact in BOTH the Bible and the secular world we live in, statistically proven.

So take time today to pray together. Pray about what the race looks like for you, and what it should look like for those watching you... because they are watching you. Whether it's your kids or co-workers or family members or friends, your pilgrimage is on display every day. Honor the Father who created all things, including you and your marriage, by running the race well. And never forget, the one member of the crowd watching that really matters.... that's Him!

God bless you all!!!

To learn more about Christian George, visit www.christiangeorge.org and buy one of his books!

Top Of My Lungs

"At the top of my lungs, I will sing, 'HALLELUJAH!' You're the One who saved me; the One who gave me this life I live... forever more!"

I cannot put into better words the expression of this song by Phillips, Craig and Dean. It is one of the songs that I yearn to hear every day to remind me that I, too, should be shouting from the rooftops! These three men are definitely correct in this chorus. And it applies to so many things!

So why don't we all shout like that? It says in the song that we should make a "joyful noise," just as it says in so many places in Christianity. So what is stopping us???

Fear. Fear of proclaiming, as we have been COMMANDED, the Truth of the Word.

The fear of being proud of who we are and Whose we are seems to be a constant that we cannot overcome in our tolerance-based society. The blessing here, though, is that God is bigger than any constant... He is the ONLY Constant!

This chorus also speaks to the blessing of marriage. How many affairs happen because of the adulterer not speaking up about who or whose he/she is? How many happen where one party has no idea the other is married? I bet that if statistics were taken on that subject, the outcome would be baffling!

Speak up, brothers and sisters, and do it with joy! Proclaim from the mountaintops that you are joined in the eternal bonds of Holy Matrimony, blessed by the Father, and filled with the Spirit, with Christ in the center! In doing this, you further honor the Lord, and His institution of marriage.

Along with that, find one person today to share your faith with. Stand up for the Man who died for you, and share what it means to be a Christian husband/wife. Stand up for the faith that you cling to when times are tough, but do so with an exalted voice of praise! Paul did it with regular beatings, chains, imprisonment, hunger, thirst... and throughout most of that, he was STILL witnessing for Christ! He knew that the reward of Heaven is greater than anything on Earth.

So many times in life, we decide to keep quiet about things. I pray that the blessing of marriage in your life will NOT be one of the things that you keep quiet about! Take time tonight to thank God for the spouse you have. And pray together that the Lord will bless your marriage and keep it sacred.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

QBQ - Have I challenged or encouraged someone today?

So often we go through life with only ourselves to think of. Take time today to embolden or encourage a friend. It is a true sign of true friendship to be willing to give and receive such truths. Honor God through this, and be iron!

May He bless you!

Random...

So, just a curious question... how many things have happened to you today that you thought were random or coincidence? Better yet, how many things have happened this way in the last week? Or the last month? Or how about your entire life???

There are those who believe that their choice of spouse (note that I said that they believe that THEIR choice of spouse) is totally random. But I would submit to you a different thought; not one thing in your life or mine has been random. Everything in life; everything in creation; is all a part of the Master's Plan!
Jer 29:11

We were created by Him, for His pleasure and purpose, and will be used by Him whether we wish to be or not. God is in control; ALL OF THE TIME! No power on Earth or in Heaven can surmount His.
Rom 8:28

For instance, if I were to recount the endless list of "random" things that have led me to this point, with this church, with my wife, with both of our upbringings, with our passion to change the legacy of our families... trust me, you would become extremely dizzy if I went any further. But then I began to look at things in a different light; His light! And now that I can see clearly, I realize that every little turn, every step, every word and interaction has led me to this exact point. God has placed me EXACTLY where I am supposed to be, to do His will and spread His Kingdom. And I will serve with gladness.
Josh 24:15

Just know, brothers and sisters, that your spouse is a gift from God. He invented marriage. He does not make mistakes. Do you honor that gift you have sitting beside you at the movies???

I ask tonight, in 4th Wall fashion, for you to pray with your spouse for the will of God to come through in your life. I promise you, there is nothing in life more fulfilling that to be living and walking inside God's will for you! I further promise that it can be discovered... you just have to be still enough and quiet enough to hear it.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and all your plans will succeed.

QBQ - Have I committed this day to God?

This really is something that we should be asking ourselves every day, brothers and sisters. Did you wake up and commit to God that today would be for His glory, and the spread of His kingdom? As we learned at the conference, "THY kingdom come, THY will be done." Easy to say, hard to do.

May He bless you!!!

Prayer and Discipleship Conference, Day 3

Man, oh man... does my brain HURT!!!

But what's better still, and I do not want anyone to miss this point, my heart hurts, too. And that, dear friends and beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, is the truth!

Today was filled with truths, from a finalization on a lecture about Faith from our local saint, who, while hoarse and ill and seemingly too far behind in his presentation to be able to finish, managed to stand firm, speak clear, and use the time allotted to complete the packet; all by the grace of God! And, also by the grace of God, we were all blessed to see the Lord working through this man, as we always are. Thank you, dear friend and teacher, for sharing what the Lord laid on your heart!

So then I went to a class given by one of our Associate Pastors, designed around going the second mile as a disciple. Please note, it's not the extra mile, but the second mile. I learned about what the first required mile was from a historical and legal stance, and then learned that the first mile was a requirement... and that it still exists today! There are so many who are walking that first mile out of nothing but obligation, and are moaning and groaning the entire time. And I can speak on this, because for two years I have been one of them! I have served in Pre-School Ministry for two years, always saying that I didn't want to be there. The second miler, though, chooses to keep going. CHOOSES!!! With all the testimony of the Roman soldiers that we have to rely upon, isn't it possible that there is something to the choice to continue? No one ever promised it would be easy. In fact, the loud booming of "take up your cross" seems to tell me that it will, in fact, NOT BE EASY. But if we choose, with joy and a servant mindset, then God will bring us through anything we encounter!

And then another breakout speaker for the afternoon who spoke about the necessity for deep personal cleansing. There is a litany of scripture attached to this concept, but let me just summarize with the statement that we cannot see the manifest power of God until we are ready for it, inside and out! And, if we don't pray correctly, then we will not be ready.

Which leads us to the highlight of the evening, our final keynote speaker, who talked about... you guessed it... PRAYER! In discussing the Sermon on the Mount, he brought up several now-familiar points. Prayer is work; prayer is not easy; right-minded prayer will avail much; wrong-minded prayer will avail little; prayer increases faith; God must be the center! My wife and I both were moved to tears as this Pastor stood and shouted at us that the only way to have an effective prayer life and be able to know that you have been heard is to pray properly. And he is absolutely correct.

This conference, like last year, has been a blessing and a joy to all who attended. In the spirit of the conference, I ask, as always, that you pray with your spouse tonight. But instead of praying about what you need, why not take a crack at praying to God for what His will is in your life? The main theme has been prayer, but the underlying theme has most definitely been surrender... so live out that classic hymn, and proudly proclaim, "I SURRENDER ALL!"

God bless you all!!!

Prayer and Discipleship Conference, Day 2

All I have to say is wow.

From a gut-wrenching two-part introduction to Faith, brought forward by a true saint within our church, to a young man with wisdom ten times greater than his age allows who speaks of spiritual disciplines of old that MUST be reactivated in us, to a powerful man with a true and Godly heart who seeks that we should all understand the meaning and power of corporate prayer, this day was absolutely filled with blessing!

Our local saint doesn't speak to our congregation often, but when he does, we all take notice. Unfortunately, my wife was unable to attend these portions of the day. But the topic was just a small one... you know, just faith... nothing major. (Total sarcasm, in case you didn't get that!) And, as a married couple, there truly is nothing more important in our walk than faith. It gives us the purpose to move forward with the teaching of each other and our children. It allows us to know that better times (the for richer part) are indeed ahead of us and our current situation (the for poorer part). If there were a CD/DVD set to buy, it would be of this true saint of our church. He is, in no uncertain terms, a reflection of the grace that God has bestowed upon him, and his words are worth hearing.

The second man, younger than I but wiser than most, was intriguing. He spoke on the Spiritual Discipline of Pilgrimage, and I must say that I was moved. I, now more than ever, truly desire to see some of the places where Jesus traveled and performed miracles. And I want my wife by my side when I go. There is an unspoken additive to this point that is to the pilgrimage of marriage. The speaker is absolutely correct in all he says about pilgrimage being an action AND an attitude. And what greater pilgrimage than the one that never ceases, produces life-long fruits, earns great rewards for good work, and multiplies faith on faith and love on love for all of life; I speak, of course, of marriage. I must admit, though, that I never thought of it this way until today. (Thank you for that, Brother!)

The third, a man whom I was blessed enough to sit by for a long lunch, spoke to the power of praying together as Christians. We all know of the power a married couple has when their hearts are aligned behind the same purposes, so I won't dwell here for long. But imagine that power multiplied by one thousand couples, their children, and the friends who had not yet married! The families alone would be capable of lifting that mountain, splitting it in two, and casting it into the sea! The philosophy brought forward of S.A.M.E. H.E.A.R.T. Prayer is phenomenal, and allows us to look at how we pray and why. It also begs the accountability question, do I practice these simple principles as I lead my family at home in prayer? Or am I always asking God to fix something else without offering the praise that He alone deserves to receive from me daily?

And then, as the time of Corporate Prayer ended and our Keynote speaker came to the lectern, a wave of calm washed over us all. We listened with ears to hear as this speaker covered the "double-portioning" that Elisha received. (No coincidence that a double-portion is what we should seek and a marriage is double the people in unified flesh, I think.) We went through the life and times of this Man of God, from his wealth to his obedience without question, to his eventual transformation into a truly compassion filled man. We covered his name, as it transformed with him along the journey. We covered the differences between him and his mentor, Elijah. And all of this led us to one point; God uses anyone, from anywhere, and if you have lived a faithful life for Him, you can ask for a double-portion of the Holy Spirit to move you in the works God has planned for you! We are all on the mission field, every day... make no mistake, there are people watching you everywhere you go just to see you slip! But just as the mic went out and our Worship Leader stated so plainly, "the devil's gonna try, but he aint gonna win here!"

That last sentence, I believe, deserves an AMEN!

And so, it is with a humble heart tonight that I beg you to pray with your spouse. Pray in reverence about the AWESOMENESS of God. Pray with thanksgiving for the creation that you are, and for creation itself! Pray in humility for the sins that we have already been forgiven of, before our births, at present, and any uncommitted ones. Pray for guidance and direction in your calling. And pray for patience and love. But, above all else, whatever you pray about... do it together!

God bless you all!!!

Prayer and Discipleship Conference, Day 1

Months of planning, preparation and prayer... registration... parking lot duty... packets and hand-outs... people from many states across the nation coming to our church for one purpose... to encounter God through prayer!

Tonight began the 2nd Prayer and Discipleship Conference at Spring Baptist Church. It is, as it was last year, a three day venture into fervent prayer for change. The difference here, though, is that all of the speakers, including our own Senior Pastor, speak to the change of the only person anyone can ever change; themselves! Accountability is a key component of this conference, just as it is in any Christian walk, and I thank God for that!

Tonight we heard some amazing praise and worship from the Celebration Choir and Orchestra, and were blessed with the words of our Senior Pastor and one of the other Keynote Speakers. Their respective messages, although not planned to align, were brought together in the story of the clearing of the temple. As our pastor spoke of it, he made reference to the "big" questions that we all must ask ourselves. First, do I really love Jesus? Then, would I give up my life for Him? And lastly, will I serve Him with abandon? The temple merchants, I believe, would not have been able to answer "yes" to these questions.

I answer tonight from the 4th Wall Perspective, which relates everything to the Holy union of marriage. The first question does need to be answered as an individual, but then it must be answered again as a couple. Do we really love Jesus? The reason it must be answered individually is because if I love Jesus, I can then properly love my wife and children. Together, if we really love Jesus, then our children will be able to see a model of what love is, how it works, and know how they should give and receive love when they depart from us to begin their lives as adults. This love and the teaching of it through action is definitely Kingdom Work!

Second, would we give up our lives for Him? Again, this question will require individual answers, and prayerfully I say that they will be the same resounding YES! In this question is the direct and literal question of would we die for Christ. But there is also the spiritual matter of whether or not we will die to ourselves, thereby embracing the Grace afforded to us through the Cross. Only through this "death," which is often symbolized by the cross (semantically speaking), can we attain life! And if we are aligned in this, then our "abundant life" will be further enriched by the good work of two! The good Kingdom Work of two.

Lastly, will we serve Him with abandon? Again, individual answers first. But if we are resolute to truly love Jesus and lay down our lives for Him, then service with abandon is almost a foregone conclusion! How could we not spend every morning and night, meditating on the Word and prayerfully approaching our Father in Heaven?!? How could we not heed the call to ministry or missions?!? How could we not move forward in our walk with Jesus, both as individuals and as a couple?!? Again, true Kingdom Work here... along with the ability to show our onlookers what a true follower of Christ is.

As the first Keynote Speaker took the lectern, he spoke of the specific passage that contains the temple clearing story, along with a hidden parable in the fig tree. In a powerful and humbling display of wisdom and understanding, the speaker related Mark 11:1-24, in sections, to Old Testament prophecy. I know understand that Jesus did not curse the tree... he was sad that it would not produce fruit, and made a statement to that effect. Then upon pressing the ethereal fast-forward button, the tree died more quickly than anyone expected.

But as Peter approached and noticed, Jesus spoke to him of faith in God. The tree was diseased and withered from the roots upwards. This same thought has now been applied to the temple, with rotting roots, fruit being produced out of season, and an eventual death of disease from a hollow place at the center. The speaker relates this to our rediscovery of the power of praise, which is important; but also to out forgetfulness on the power of prayer, which is what Jesus said His house should be known for.

We were then educated on the famous "name it and claim it" verse in Mark 11:24. This verse actually hearkens back to Zechariah 14:3-4, and tells of the coming of the Son of Man, and the division that will inevitably occur. And, even in this, Jesus explains through the parable that the Kingdom should be the FIRST priority... everything else is second.

How should we married folk respond to this? With prayer, and only prayer. I beg you tonight to pray with your spouse about praying more. Spend time on your knees together, on your faces. Pray with open hearts to the Lord who loved us and desired us enough to send His Son to die for us... surely that is worth a few minutes of our limited understanding of time.

And if I wanted to feel, touch and see the Hand of God move inside my church tonight... all I can say is thank you, God! To feel His presence as we prayed together can only be described as awesome.

And if there is anything my wife and I can pray about for you, feel free to reach out to us.
4thwallministries@gmail.com

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

QBQ - How can I better demonstrate reverence before my God?

Once again, I will make the statement that people are watching you... just as they are watching me. Our attitude towards everything in all creation demonstrates our devotion to Him. Show wisdom by thinking about the awesomeness of God before you speak, and honor the Lord through this!

May He bless you!

Stay Strong

How does that song go? The Newsboys are such masters with their wording! "Stay strong, you are not lost... come on, fix your eyes ahead... there's a new dawn to light our way!" I love this song, because it first popped into my ears after a large and colorful "discussion" with my lovely and amazing wife; who, of course, was right (and I do mean that literally).

We were into secret shopping at the time, and I was heading south to a specific mall for a specific store shop with our oldest child. We had "discussed" whether the whole family would go, just her and the eldest, just me and the eldest, etc. To top all of this off, it happened immediately after leaving our Sunday School class! Great stuff, right?

So we end up deciding that the oldest and I will go, and it's clear on the south side of town. In Houston, that usually means over an hour of driving. While on the way, my oldest fell asleep, and I was left to my thoughts. To keep him resting, I decided that I would listen to the radio... I do love some Christian radio! (Side note, to date it has been almost three years since I listened to any secular music, and the added peace of that choice is wonderful!)

And then it happened; "Stay Strong" by the Newsboys came on, and I was enamored. After a long and colorful "discussion," any spouse can feel discouraged. But I was moved by the words that we should press on for the "prize that lies ahead." Because for married couples, it truly is about the marathon, and not the sprint.

I called my wonderful wife and immediately apologized, explaining in my limited capacity the Kingdom Moment that had just occurred, and she graciously accepted and forgave me. And it is that way with so many things! Granted, I think the goal is to not mess up as much or as badly, but I thank God that she forgives as He forgives... COMPLETELY!!!

If there were one point I would like for you to take away from this, it would be that God, through Christ, has forgiven us completely. Our sins, past, present and future, are non-existent in His eyes because of our relationship with His Son. If He forgives so totally and completely... and we are to walk with Him and in His ways... you see where this is going, right?

Take a moment tonight and pray together for the strength to see each other as God sees you; washed white as snow, with your sins scattered as far as the east is from the west. Pray in love tonight for the wisdom to see right past all of the human failings, through to the blessing in flesh that is your spouse. And thank God for that!!!

God bless you all!!!

Joshua 24:15

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

I have to admit, I never heard these words until after I was married. I had no idea how my household would serve at all, and all that was on my mind was what mattered to me in an earthly sense. And then our first child was born.

I began to contemplate how I could be a better husband and father, and thought of hundreds of ways to improve myself! And then I set out to do it all at one time... and guess what happened???

I failed. The fatal flaw of flesh is frustrated failure in frivolous frontiers. (I am a fan of alliteration.)

And then I found myself feeling depressed and insignificant, thinking that there was no way I could ever make the changes needed in my life. I am, after all, only human. So I guess people are just going to have to accept me the way that I am. And if I decide to serve in a church, then I will do so. But if I don't, then so be it.

As I am certain you can imagine, this did not go so well for me. As I kept the world and my own selfish desires at the forefront of my thoughts, so did my wife. We did not, either separately or corporately, focus on where we should be serving or how to do it. And we received exactly what we put out... nothing.

Don't get me wrong, we weren't losing everything or homeless or hungry. We found many blessings in life, and chased after most things in our own power. We didn't give the glory to Him, and we patted ourselves and each other on the back over and over for all that we had accomplished. And we made it pretty far, if I do say so myself.

So I decided to let God have a crack at changing me, from the inside out. And, brothers and sisters let me tell you, it has been AWESOME!

We decided to turn our focus; and I cannot begin to describe the joy that has followed!!! We are serving in so many different ways now that it seems impossible to have a moment without the thought of serving God. And that is amazing to me! If only we had started on the right foot, we would probably be much further along than we currently are... but there's still time. God is now the center, and our relationship with Christ is the key to understanding our love for each other and our children.

I would say to you today that you should never be discouraged by the way things look right now. We did not start with God as our primary focus, but we got there. You can, too! That is why, as you pray tonight with your spouse, I urge you to read through this passage of Joshua 24 together. See the way they looked at service, and be blessed from their conviction! After all, once you've tried it in your own power and failed, what's wrong with letting the Creator of the universe take the wheel?

God bless you all!!!

Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1 (NIV)

This was written to men, and I believe that it speaks to men, as a gender... but I also believe that it speaks to men, as a species (to include women). Obvious points are to not infect your body with poisons and such, and the need for exercise is implied. But I also think there is another requirement.

As the body is filled with the spirit, it is necessary to maintain a positive spirit. Otherwise, your body is nothing but an amplifier of negativity. The point of focus here, for men and women alike, is that positive and encouraging thoughts and words are powerful and important.
Eph 4:29

Take time tonight to lift up your spouse, both verbally and in prayer. Thank God for the gift you have been given.

God bless you all!!!

Friday's thought.....

Prov 31:29 - "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

QBQ - Do I show enough love and appreciation for my wife?

Our wives are our greatest supporters, gentlemen. Show wisdom by honoring them for who they are and all they do. They are, each one, a gift from God; honor that!

This husband at the end of Proverbs 31 knew that his wife needed encouragement. So why do we tend to forget so often that our wives need the same, if not more, focused and devoted praise for all that they are in our lives? We get busy... the phone won't stop ringing... the kids are crying... the dinner is burning... the dishes need to be done... there's laundry to fold... you see where this goes, right? And before you know it, you've gone off to bed without praising your wife for all that she is.

It is our first responsibility to ensure that our wives are cared for, and this includes encouragement. Different for everyone, of course, but nonetheless vital to the strength of our marriages. Vital to our love for each other. Vital to our children's capacity to understand what love truly is from dad to mom... and how they will give/receive that love when they are married.

Spend time tonight thinking of a way to praise her for who she is. And, like a close friend and mentor of mine once told me, perhaps you could let her win the ice cream race this time. (Little esoteric humor there... sorry 'bout that.)

God bless you all!!!

Holiness

What do you think of when someone refers to another person as "holy?" The majority will say things like: robed, reserved, somber, solemn, quiet... boring has come up before... as has perfect. People so often fail to understand what holiness really is for a Christian. It is not an outward action or set of actions, but an inward RE-action that comes from allowing Christ into your heart and life!

I heard some powerful words tonight, from a powerful Christian man who came to speak to our Discipleship class. I will hit the main points, as there is too much knowledge in his wisdom and speech to write down.

1. When you are saved, you are washed clean, and all of your former sin has been erased forever.

2. At this point, you become holy through Christ.

3. Your holiness never leaves; but the degree to which you chase it is up to you.

4. Your holiness is progressive, always growing; each back-slide halts the process, and only confession can move it forward.

Powerful words, from a powerful man, empowered by the All-Powerful Most High God. I have been blessed to sit in his presence and learn from his years of service to God. And I agree with him 100%.

Are you chasing your own holiness as a member of Christ's Church? Are you enrolling in places where you can extend your understanding of the Lord our God? Is it your "determined purpose to know Him?"
Phil 3:10 (AMP)

I can tell you that the chase is not an easy one. But I can also tell you that it does grow more natural to chase after your own holiness. And as you acclimate to the truth that you are made holy through your relationship with Christ, your understanding of how deep that holiness goes will expand.

One thing you should know, though, is that your holiness ONLY exists through Him, and your relationship with Him. Nothing you can ever do in your own power on this earth will EVER grant you the blessing and privilege of holiness. No work can ever put you on that mantle; no repeated act, no matter how good, pure or well-intentioned; NOTHING AT ALL... but His perfect grace has already made that transformation in you, the moment you become a Christian!
Eph 2:8-9

I challenge you tonight to spend time in prayer asking God to show you the path to your personal growth in holiness. Seek His will in this, and blessings will abound from above. And the next time you go to a worship service, pay attention to your actions and level of worship to the Creator of the universe and all things in it.

And after that, spend time together, as a couple, praying for the same purpose. As He created the marriage covenant, it is holy. As you are a Christian, you are holy. As your spouse is a Christian, he/she is holy. Therefore, your marriage IS HOLY! Honor that, and honor Him.

God bless you all!!!

Debt

Debt... even typing the word out sends chills up and down the spine of both my wife and myself as we sit here. And when she saw that I was serious about this entry, she decided that tonight would be a great night for her to put our oldest to bed. Oddly enough, she fell asleep upstairs for about thirty minutes.

So, for starters, what is debt? Put simply, debt is money owed to someone else. In a more complex view, it can be not only a cause, but also an effect of divorce. (Kinda weird that they both start with a "D," huh?) In fact, uncontrolled spending habits, when mixed with an economy like the one we are currently weathering, along with low wages generally lead to an increase in debt; which leads to an increase in arguments over money; which can lead to divorce; which leads to more debt on both sides. Even Shakespeare knew that you should "neither a borrower nor a lender be." So why do we get into debt in the first place?

Wait a sec... my name starts with a "D." You don't think that means... nah!

Well, the house is an easy explanation. Most people do not have enormous sums of money just sitting around, waiting for the home purchase to come up... but they could! Imagine what your life would be like if you actually HAD saved your allowance and your first earnings, and then made intelligent investments with it. And as for the automobile debts, all I can say is that we all fall victim to the dreaded trade-in ploy, and the promise of no negative equity based on rebates. I know, because I used to sell people on it every day. But there are a growing number of people unwilling to pay the notes for more than four years, and some who are waiting it out until they have the cash in hand before making a purchase! Awesome!!! (Sounds like something we might all want to make our children do, huh?)

But credit cards... those are another animal altogether. And, as I read in an article today, I believe that it is symptomatic of one or more Biblical principles. Greed, poor communication, selfishness, gluttony, lack of self-discipline... these things all relate to how a married couple interacts with each other, as well as to the Bible itself. In popular American society, the whole idea is to get bigger, better, faster in almost everything. There is no stability in that; no security in that; no structure. (Much like the way your interest rates are with a credit card!) And we begin to see how the root of all evil (the love of money) is slicing into the very core of the first relationship in any home; the marriage! If ever there was an example of being "in this world and not of it," this would be the poster-child.
Rom 12:2

I'll not claim to be free of these chains myself, as we are not yet complete with our plan. But we have one. I will also admit that we do not execute as well as we would like. However, I can tell you this with absolute certainty: we tithe more now than we ever have, and have started to embrace our role as stewards of His blessings. That alone has eased so many things! Because embracing who we are, and Whose we are, along with the responsibilities thereof is a HUGE part of the life we have chosen to live.
1 Pet 4:10

I implore you tonight, both husbands and wives alike, to spend time looking over finances and praying together... TOGETHER. Stand up for the legacy that you have chosen to leave behind by taking an active role in how it plays out! We did, after all, make the bold statement, "Until death do us part." And, as I recall, there was another phrase in there, "for richer or poorer." And, like everyone, I truly hoped that the "poorer" part would never come. But it did. And then it passed. And it may come again. That is life. That is love. And I wouldn't trade the hard work to see it through for anything!
Eccl 4:9

The more important part, though, is being ready for it. Reinforce your wall with some financial wisdom and planning. That way, the "money monster" has less chance of getting inside!

God bless you all!!!

Criticism

When was the last time one of your friends or acquaintances offered you constructive criticism? There are so many times that we, as individuals and as couples, begin to believe that we are right... sometimes (especially in my case) to a fault. In truth, most of my pride-filled moments of arrogance about my own correctness have ended in horrid embarrassment.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
Proverbs 3:7

But what about when we do this as a couple? Or, worse yet, what happens when we husbands refuse to lend an ear to the "wif-dom" that exists within our own home? Sometimes the wisest of all men is the one who realizes that there is GREAT wisdom in listening to his wife. (Okay... in my case it's closer to like 98.99% of the time.) We are, after all, to treat our wives as "joint heirs" and equals. Therefore, when we come up with a less-than-good idea, a little criticism could be just what the doctor ordered!
1 Pet 3:7

Aside from that, what about those times when we run into a roadblock in our marriage, and then guess who comes over??? That one couple that seemingly never has arguments or dissidence or even heated discussion... and they want to tell you how to fix it! But, and here's the tough part of all of this, why do we react as we do? We almost always jump to a position of defense, claiming that it is no one's business. I think it comes down to the simple human trait of pride. Especially as men, we do not want to seem as though we need any assistance in relating to our wives. And as for the wives, they do not want the appearance and inference that things are not perfect. We all have this picture-perfect Donna Reed image in our heads, and we spend so much time trying to live up to these unrealistic expectations that we end up wasting most of our time! Oddly enough, I was watching an episode of a favorite show of mine, and one character asked another, "why is it that when it comes to relationships, people refuse to take advice from those that have already been through it?" So........... why is that???

I cannot answer the question for you, because I have done my fair share of the song and dance that is refusing to take advice. However, as I think about how we are called to live, it seems to me that another character trait should supersede the pride; accountability. And, as we are called to support each other, we should also be held accountable to each other. After all, with prayer to start it off, followed by a healthy discussion of (the most often simple perception) a problem, a few open and honest comments among close friends in a safe place, and a prayer to close there should be no issue with simply taking advice. Throughout life we seek out mentors in all areas; work, school, bible study, etc. But when you got married, did someone suggest that you get a Mentor Couple? No one told us that...

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 13:10

Did we give up, though? No. We have found so many people that have been open about overcoming the normal hills and mountains that married couples sometimes have to tackle. And we have been blessed from the hearing of their trials and successes!

If I could add one closing thought, though, I would say again that accountability is the key. And when I speak of accountability in this or any other article, please know that I speak specifically of personal accountability. I cannot sit around and wait until my wife does something nice for me before I do what I should as a husband. And the same is true in reverse. Finally, if we as married couples agree to hold ourselves up to this light, commit to fervent prayer for strengthening of this, His will, for our marriages, and never step away from our path... wow.
Eph 5:22-28

God bless you!!!

Focus

How much does your work life affect your home life? I'm trying hard tonight, and praying harder, to keep them separated... but the financial part of my brain is wanting to drift into tomorrow and formulate an attack plan for maximum gains! How many people will we see? What will they be interested in? Will our outreach program remain as successful as it has always been? The problem here is that when I think on these things, I neglect the time that I have with my wife and children. And, in case you're wondering, my first job as a husband and father is to NEVER neglect my wife and children.

The irony in all of this worry is that I am constantly telling my wife that worry is irrelevant and unnecessary. I stand firm on the belief that worry serves no purpose at all, for what is going to happen is STILL going to happen... whether you worry about it or not. I think back to a book I read about escaping the "disease" of worry (as the author put it), and the verse he cited from the book of Matthew.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 6:34

And then I try to console myself with fantastic visions of what could be, if the circumstances all went in my favor. I think of amazing achievements in the workday, increase in financial blessing, and the ability to free our family of any remaining debt within the next 7 months. (Figuratively, of course... I mean... it's not like I sat down for three hours one day and calculated with exact precision how quickly we could be out of debt or anything...)

A prudent man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24

But these flights of fancy take me nowhere but back to square one. And there I sit, not playing with my small children and enjoying time with my wife. Not focusing on the fact that their formative years are passing by so quickly, and these are the times when I should be the most involved. Not paying attention to the house work, assuming that it will somehow just "get done." And worst of all, not giving the honor to my wife that is afforded to all working moms; a little time to relax in peace and quiet.

What do I have to show for all of this??? Nothing but wasted hours. Time, which waits for no man, is literally just flying by me. And I am allowing the most precious moments of my life as a father to slip away with it.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Matthew 6:27

If I could say one thing about this tonight, it would be this... turn your phones off when you come home. The office will still be there tomorrow, and I would bet that there isn't much you can do after you've left for the day to increase your already-completed productivity. Spend time in prayer tonight, and commit to setting time aside when you get home. Be intentional about it, and let nothing stop you... because the enemy is that persistent, and we should be, too!!!

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and all your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3

God bless you!!!

Friday's thought.....

At the end of the week, we all need a little boost to remind us of who we are... and Whose we are. I post them all in reference to Proverbs with a QBQ (question behind the question) to spur accountability. Because without accountability, we can never grow.

Prov 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
QBQ - Are my pride and spirit a blessing or a burden?
We are all capable of letting our pride ruin things. Show wisdom by retaining your humility; honor the Lord through this!

May He bless you!!!

Psalm 127:1

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."
Psalm 127:1a (NIV)

This verse is so commonly referenced in conjunction with marriage. And rightly so! When my marriage began we both were Christian, but not on fire yet. She was a member of a local church, and I was.... well.... let's just say I was not.

And we weathered our fair share of storms together in the past eight years. But it started to get easier when we realized that God needed to be our first focus... not ourselves. It is so easy to forget that point, you know?
Matt 6:33

I would say to everyone that the first focus of your marriage needs to be your relationship with the Lord. First as individuals, and then as a couple. This is the best way you will find your purpose in His plan, and your rightful place in your own home. And trust me, you ARE a part of His plan.
Jer 29:11

But moreover, as we discuss the "builders" of the "house" (you know, ourselves), we find that the building cannot be completed without help from God. And, in the 4th wall concept, it would be fairly difficult for me to hold two walls and my wife to hold the other two, and then Hurricane Beelzebub could roll right through us! Blessedly, we do not have that worry! Three of our walls are built and sustained by the Lord, and cannot be harmed.

And so, I conclude where I began by saying that our 4th wall is all we have to focus on. As a believer, you have no fear from the other three walls... because He is holding them up!!!

God bless you!