Friday, September 5, 2014
Getting UnStuck in Your Marriage
Today on Walk in the Word with Pastor James McDonald, you can listen to advice on getting unstuck in your marriage. Are you stuck? What does that mean? It means that you and your spouse are not moving forward in your marriage in the sense that you are not growing in love with one another. You might think that you can only reach a certain point when it comes to loving your spouse but that is not the case. You can grow more in love even if you think you have love between you or no longer have any. How? Pastor James McDonald tells us that marriage was God’s idea from the beginning and He has a lot to say about how you can move yours forward into health and vitality. Again how is that possible. Whether you are in love or no longer feeling like you are in love, Pastor McDonald provides wise words to either grow more or get back in love. When I listened to his radio program today on Walk in the Word, I heard one thing that stood out for me. The one thing that I knew was important - exclusiveness. This more than anything else is the key. In our relationship with our spouse, as in our relationship with God, (He is a jealous God) we need to share things with our spouse, with God, that we share with no one else. It creates a space/place that is private, even secretive. We confide in our spouse as we confide in God, we exchange certain words that we only share with our spouse, we exchange glances, gestures, and we touch our spouse in ways that are only for him/her. Exclusiveness is key. You have a favorite song, restaurant, movie that you is yours and no one else' s... including conversations about certain topics that belong to only the two of you!
Getting unstuck is about reconnecting with those exclusive things that you share or creating new ones.
Check out Pastor James McDonald's website to hear his radio program on getting unstuck.
http://jamesmacdonald.com/radio/getting-unstuck-in-your-marriage-3/
Inconvenienced for the sake of others!
Americans don't like being inconvenienced... We like to do what we want to do, in fact we feel that we have the right to do only that which makes us happy. Being a Christian means being inconvenienced for the sake of others. What does that mean? It means extending yourself, going beyond your own imagination of what life should be like. It sounds painful to a lot of people since they immediately think that it means leaving the self behind. It does and does not mean that. It depends on how you accept that extending yourself as a calling, a fulfilling calling. It means going out of your way to do for others what you would expect others to do for you. Of course, some people say I don't like others doing for me and I don't expect others to do for me. "If my car breaks down, I will just walk, I don't need a ride". Little do they think it could be on a 100 degree August afternoon and on the freeway with limited shoulder space. "I have my own kids to take care of." Little do they think there could be a day when they are sick and not able to drive their kids to school in the morning."I don't think we would have anything in common, look at the car he drives. Little do they know that he has an awesome slot car track in his basement. "I'd like to host a bible study, but my house is too small." Little do they know that God's house is big enough for everyone.
I am not talking about 'works'. I am talking about paying attention to troubles in your neighbors life, or family members' lives and taking the cross from them when they can't carry it.
I am not talking about 'works'. I am talking about paying attention to troubles in your neighbors life, or family members' lives and taking the cross from them when they can't carry it.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Faithfullness When Faced with Trouble
Faithfulness in times of Trouble... I wrote yesterday about Hosea. He needed to be faithful to God even when His wife could not be faithful to him. Some might say that Hosea should have expected that given Gomer's line of work/situation. Should we go through life expecting things to be as we find them and no more than that??? No, we should expect better always and by doing that we show God that we are faithful to Him,we are in relationship with Him. We can teach our children to expect better, we should teach our children to expect better from others, from themselves. They to teach this is to model it. We can express disappointment but we should also show that we desire more from them and that we are confident in our expectations. You see, speaking as a sociologist, expectations are necessary to live an everyday life as well as one that goes beyond the everyday. If we have high expectations for the everyday, we are thus able to reach higher and beyond the everyday and by doing so we open new doors of opportunity and prosperity. We grow in positive imagination and this is virtuoso.
So in fact, God was asking Hosea to be virtuoso and introduce that into the life of his wife, saving himself and her. It is through relationship that we can be virtuous. Being in relationship with God causes us to be virtuous and this is good for us (for everyone) and this is all that God wants. Therefore, when we face trouble, we are able to see the way out because of virtue through relationship with God. Virtue in our life is God expects because He is with us and we are with Him. He wants us to expect good things, and so we should expect good things even when faced with trouble.
So in fact, God was asking Hosea to be virtuoso and introduce that into the life of his wife, saving himself and her. It is through relationship that we can be virtuous. Being in relationship with God causes us to be virtuous and this is good for us (for everyone) and this is all that God wants. Therefore, when we face trouble, we are able to see the way out because of virtue through relationship with God. Virtue in our life is God expects because He is with us and we are with Him. He wants us to expect good things, and so we should expect good things even when faced with trouble.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
E.K. Bailey on Our Relationship with God
Today, I read the most amazing retelling of Hosea by the late E.K. Bailey. What a powerful voice Bailey had, what a powerful sermon as it is one that fits to our today's culture, struggle with sin, and a message that directly steers us toward understand our relationship with God.
Below is not the excerpt from Bailey's sermon but an interpretation of Hosea and the basic summary of E.K. Bailey's sermon.
In Hosea 1:2 we read, “The LORD said to Hosea, ‘Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom.’” Hosea obeyed, marrying a woman named Gomer, who was unfaithful to him. Why did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute?
To begin with, it is important to realize this command could be understood two different ways. First, and more likely, this command could be one of anticipation. In other words, God may have instructed Hosea to marry a woman who would later become unfaithful to him. The other possibility is that the command was for Hosea to marry someone already known as a prostitute.
In either case, the reason for this unusual directive is specified in the latter half of the same verse: “For the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” God wanted to provide an illustration of His relationship with the people of Israel, who had been unfaithful to Him by practicing idolatry. This theme is carried through the remainder of the prophecies in chapter 1 and the discussion of Israel’s unfaithfulness in chapter 2.
In Hosea 3:1, after Gomer had left Hosea and was living in immorality, the Lord commanded Hosea to find her and buy her back. God was continuing His illustration, except now He wanted to show the greatness of His grace: “Even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods.” Hosea’s faithful love of Gomer was an illustration of God’s faithfulness to wayward Israel. Just as Gomer had been unfaithful to her husband and had to be redeemed, Israel needed God’s initiative to restore their relationship.
The prophet Hosea was commanded to marry an unfaithful wife, and this set up a model of Israel’s broken relationship with God. Israel had been chosen and loved by God yet had been unfaithful to Him by way of idolatry. Just as Hosea redeemed his estranged wife and sought to continue his relationship with her, God promised to redeem Israel and renew their relationship with Him. The story of Hosea and Gomer is an unforgettable picture of God’s strong, unending love for His covenant people.
Below is not the excerpt from Bailey's sermon but an interpretation of Hosea and the basic summary of E.K. Bailey's sermon.
In Hosea 1:2 we read, “The LORD said to Hosea, ‘Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom.’” Hosea obeyed, marrying a woman named Gomer, who was unfaithful to him. Why did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute?
To begin with, it is important to realize this command could be understood two different ways. First, and more likely, this command could be one of anticipation. In other words, God may have instructed Hosea to marry a woman who would later become unfaithful to him. The other possibility is that the command was for Hosea to marry someone already known as a prostitute.
In either case, the reason for this unusual directive is specified in the latter half of the same verse: “For the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” God wanted to provide an illustration of His relationship with the people of Israel, who had been unfaithful to Him by practicing idolatry. This theme is carried through the remainder of the prophecies in chapter 1 and the discussion of Israel’s unfaithfulness in chapter 2.
In Hosea 3:1, after Gomer had left Hosea and was living in immorality, the Lord commanded Hosea to find her and buy her back. God was continuing His illustration, except now He wanted to show the greatness of His grace: “Even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods.” Hosea’s faithful love of Gomer was an illustration of God’s faithfulness to wayward Israel. Just as Gomer had been unfaithful to her husband and had to be redeemed, Israel needed God’s initiative to restore their relationship.
The prophet Hosea was commanded to marry an unfaithful wife, and this set up a model of Israel’s broken relationship with God. Israel had been chosen and loved by God yet had been unfaithful to Him by way of idolatry. Just as Hosea redeemed his estranged wife and sought to continue his relationship with her, God promised to redeem Israel and renew their relationship with Him. The story of Hosea and Gomer is an unforgettable picture of God’s strong, unending love for His covenant people.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Teaching Godly Children - we are in this world but not of it!
Teaching Godly children is a difficult task today, more so than in any other time given the technology at hand and the lack of morals/ethics in today's post modern global world. We as parents have a tendency to spoil our child even just by wanting the best for him/her. But what is the problem with that. The problem is that we may not be leading our children into a Godly life. We may in fact be indulging them and or directing them toward a life of self indulgence and instant gratification. We have to teach our children that though we are in this world, we are not of. 2 Cor 10:2-3 "I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as
I expect to be toward some people who think that we live b the
standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage
war as the world does." John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world".
How do we teach our children this? That is a good question. We must not let children break the rules we set for them in terms of expected Godly behavior. We hold fast to our faith and let our children be witness to that. We do not idolize things which keep us from growing in relationship with God, this is what children need to learn. We teach them to be patient and to be kind yet defensive of their faith and ready to defend their fellow Christian. We do not let them be exposed to windows/doors of evil whether found in music, television, social media or on the streets of the community/neighborhood.
Be steadfast parents and ask God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ for guidance and trust in Him and His social 'Godly' hierarchy - father/husband, wife/mother and children.
How do we teach our children this? That is a good question. We must not let children break the rules we set for them in terms of expected Godly behavior. We hold fast to our faith and let our children be witness to that. We do not idolize things which keep us from growing in relationship with God, this is what children need to learn. We teach them to be patient and to be kind yet defensive of their faith and ready to defend their fellow Christian. We do not let them be exposed to windows/doors of evil whether found in music, television, social media or on the streets of the community/neighborhood.
Be steadfast parents and ask God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ for guidance and trust in Him and His social 'Godly' hierarchy - father/husband, wife/mother and children.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Marriage makes us Holy and Those believing in the Son - Get it all!
Marriage is to make us Holy not happy. However, there is nothing wrong with a happy marriage. But we should not be seeking happiness through marriage. This is a problem today in our instant gratification society. Without God, we are just humans who want to be happy. With God we can be spiritually and eternally happy because God wants us to be happy in a relationship with Him and here with others and especially with spouses; that is why he designed Adam to be with Eve in marriage. But, because of their sin, they no longer lived in their glorified bodies in union in paradise. This is why we cannot be truly happy until we are in paradise once again. That will be but until then, we as Christians must reconcile with the fact that happiness we think we can/have here will never compare to the happiness that awaits us. So whenever your husband disappoints you, ... like the song says 'don't' worry be happy' because true happiness is yet to come.
In view of other problems in this world between people we all know about the civil unrest due to this sinful world we live in which has been followed by unwarranted outcome in the great state of Missouri. How can we be in agreement with one another, how can we get along? These questions are being asked. As Jesus said, "love your neighbor/brother as yourself". That means love your fellow Christian as you love yourself as a Christian. You love yourself because you have been saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ and you can love others (no matter what race/ethnicity/income) because you know that they like you have been saved. This is the knowledge/assurance that all will be made equal, all will be made right in paradise. This is how God was able to give His only Son for our salvation, He was assured that through Him we would be made right and be able to be seated with Him the Father in His Heavenly Place. For those that accept Jesus Christ will be saved, they will get it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There was a wealthy man in Europe many years ago who was an art collector. He had an only son and when that son grew up he too had a talent for collecting art. Suddenly, war broke out in Europe and the son decided to enlist to defend his country. The father disagreed and worried about his son being in harms way. Wouldn't you know it, the son was killed in action. The father was deeply grieved. One day, a young solider appeared at the door of the man's very big house. He said that he was there when his son was killed because his son was saved his life. He apologized to the man that his only son took the bullet for him. He said that he had a picture to give him, a small pencil drawing that he had sketched of his son just before he was killed. The man was very happy to have this simple rendering of his son. He thanked the solider from the bottom of his heart. He framed it and put it first among the many paintings he had in his collection. Soon thereafter, the man died. In his will, he requested that all his art collection be put on auction. Such an auction drew hundreds of people. The auctioneer declared that he was required by the man 'art collector' to start with a simple drawing... so the auctioneer did. No one was bidding, some people yelled out what is this??? Suddenly, a man from the back appeared and bid. It was the soldier that drew the picture... the picture of the man's son. He said "I would like to bid but I have only seventeen dollars and some cents." The auctioneer said "ok, going once, twice, three times... SOLD!" The picture of the man's son went to the artist who drew it for seventeen dollars and some cents. Then the auctioneer declared that the auction was over. Everyone yelled, "what is going on?... we came a long way for this." The auctioneer took out a piece of paper and read from it. "The person who takes my son, gets it all."
In view of other problems in this world between people we all know about the civil unrest due to this sinful world we live in which has been followed by unwarranted outcome in the great state of Missouri. How can we be in agreement with one another, how can we get along? These questions are being asked. As Jesus said, "love your neighbor/brother as yourself". That means love your fellow Christian as you love yourself as a Christian. You love yourself because you have been saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ and you can love others (no matter what race/ethnicity/income) because you know that they like you have been saved. This is the knowledge/assurance that all will be made equal, all will be made right in paradise. This is how God was able to give His only Son for our salvation, He was assured that through Him we would be made right and be able to be seated with Him the Father in His Heavenly Place. For those that accept Jesus Christ will be saved, they will get it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There was a wealthy man in Europe many years ago who was an art collector. He had an only son and when that son grew up he too had a talent for collecting art. Suddenly, war broke out in Europe and the son decided to enlist to defend his country. The father disagreed and worried about his son being in harms way. Wouldn't you know it, the son was killed in action. The father was deeply grieved. One day, a young solider appeared at the door of the man's very big house. He said that he was there when his son was killed because his son was saved his life. He apologized to the man that his only son took the bullet for him. He said that he had a picture to give him, a small pencil drawing that he had sketched of his son just before he was killed. The man was very happy to have this simple rendering of his son. He thanked the solider from the bottom of his heart. He framed it and put it first among the many paintings he had in his collection. Soon thereafter, the man died. In his will, he requested that all his art collection be put on auction. Such an auction drew hundreds of people. The auctioneer declared that he was required by the man 'art collector' to start with a simple drawing... so the auctioneer did. No one was bidding, some people yelled out what is this??? Suddenly, a man from the back appeared and bid. It was the soldier that drew the picture... the picture of the man's son. He said "I would like to bid but I have only seventeen dollars and some cents." The auctioneer said "ok, going once, twice, three times... SOLD!" The picture of the man's son went to the artist who drew it for seventeen dollars and some cents. Then the auctioneer declared that the auction was over. Everyone yelled, "what is going on?... we came a long way for this." The auctioneer took out a piece of paper and read from it. "The person who takes my son, gets it all."
Monday, August 11, 2014
Ephesians 5 and 6 The Lord is the Head of a Christian Household
Ephesians 5 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." I truly have to struggle with my tongue. I want to be an imitator of God and yet I often spew unkind words in hopes of raising my own options. How awful of me. I am a sinner who asks for Mercy and Grace.
Ephesians teaches us to be obedient to God for it is our good that he is after. The way toward our good is to refrain for sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed or obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking...
My problem is that I think everyone is out to get me and this reveals my insecurity and doubt that God has a good way for me no matter what I think I see/do see before me... His good way has been laid out and all I have to do is take it/go with it.
Wives and husbands... more than any other problem in the world today, I see a grave deterioration in the relationships between husbands and wives. There are women who either think that they alone can save themselves or only a rich man/a rich husband can come to their rescue. Husbands today think that only money can save them so they work hard and long hours away from their wives and children. When they come home, having success or not in the work place, look at their wives/children as reflections of either their success or failure or worse see them as not deserving of their success, not good enough to be seen with them not that 'they have made it'.
Ephesians tells us that "wives submit to their husbands for he is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church... too many women interpret this as enslavement when it is not. It is the good way that God has prepared for the wife. Husbands are not let off the hook with God's hierarchy. They must love their wives just as Christ loved the church and give themselves up for/to her to make her holy cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church...husbands should love their wives as their own body. For this is God's way forward for husbands."
Ephesians 6 - "Children obey your parents iin the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise that it may go will with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Pray as a couple, as a family. Let the Lord be the head of your household and live under an open heaven!
Ephesians teaches us to be obedient to God for it is our good that he is after. The way toward our good is to refrain for sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed or obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking...
My problem is that I think everyone is out to get me and this reveals my insecurity and doubt that God has a good way for me no matter what I think I see/do see before me... His good way has been laid out and all I have to do is take it/go with it.
Wives and husbands... more than any other problem in the world today, I see a grave deterioration in the relationships between husbands and wives. There are women who either think that they alone can save themselves or only a rich man/a rich husband can come to their rescue. Husbands today think that only money can save them so they work hard and long hours away from their wives and children. When they come home, having success or not in the work place, look at their wives/children as reflections of either their success or failure or worse see them as not deserving of their success, not good enough to be seen with them not that 'they have made it'.
Ephesians tells us that "wives submit to their husbands for he is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church... too many women interpret this as enslavement when it is not. It is the good way that God has prepared for the wife. Husbands are not let off the hook with God's hierarchy. They must love their wives just as Christ loved the church and give themselves up for/to her to make her holy cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church...husbands should love their wives as their own body. For this is God's way forward for husbands."
Ephesians 6 - "Children obey your parents iin the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise that it may go will with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Pray as a couple, as a family. Let the Lord be the head of your household and live under an open heaven!
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