Weekend Quote (Sat)

Idolatry is not only the adoration of images…but also trust in one’s own righteousness, works and merits, and putting confidence in riches and power. ~ Martin Luther

KEEP YOUR LOVE, YOUR HEALTH, AND YOUR FAITH IN GOD STRONG.

Train yourself to be Godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8....It takes work to keep the flames of romance burning brightly. Kind words, helpful deeds, a listening ear, the willingness to share (remote doesn't count), time together- all are like logs to be placed on a fire, carefully, tenderly, at just the right time and in just the right way. A fire requires skillful stoking, or it will slowly die. In the same way, our bodies need attention. We must eat right, get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, etc… Taking common sense measures to stay healthy is a precious gift we give ourselves and our spouse. It’s also a way to thank God for the bodies he gave us. To remain steadfast, marriage and health demand effort- is it any different in our faith with God? The bible speaks of our need to be encouraged, built up, and strengthened in our faith. We must work out spiritually to keep our faith in shape. It’s important to exercise your body. It’s important to exercise your heart and your love. But it’s even more important to exercise your faith. How will you apply this to your life and your marriage today? Train yourself to be Godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 It takes work to keep the flames of romance burning brightly. Kind words, helpful deeds, a listening ear, the willingness to share (remote doesn't count), time together- all are like logs to be placed on a fire, carefully, tenderly, at just the right time and in just the right way. A fire requires skillful stoking, or it will slowly die. In the same way, our bodies need attention. We must eat right, get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, etc… Taking common sense measures to stay healthy is a precious gift we give ourselves and our spouse. It’s also a way to thank God for the bodies he gave us. To remain steadfast, marriage and health demand effort- is it any different in our faith with God? The bible speaks of our need to be encouraged, built up, and strengthened in our faith. We must work out spiritually to keep our faith in shape. It’s important to exercise your body. It’s important to exercise your heart and your love. But it’s even more important to exercise your faith. How will you apply this to your life and your marriage today?

ALWAYS BE TOTALLY HONEST AND OPEN WITH EACH OTHER.

An honest answer is like a warm hug. Proverbs 24:26.... Every person has a deep need for intimacy, to know and to be known by another human being. The first man, Adam, felt this need even in the Garden of Eden as he gazed over the wide variety of animals and realized there was none like him. The God gave a wife to be his loving companion. At first there were no secrets in paradise. “Although Adam and his wife were both naked, neither of them felt any shame” (Genesis 2:25). Adam and eve enjoyed perfect intimacy, both physically and emotionally. But after they disobeyed God, they felt the need to hide- from God and each other. Wrongdoing was the enemy of intimacy and trust. When you think about it, why would you want to hold anything back from your spouse or deceive your beloved in any way? You might gain some short term peace. But there is much to lose in the long run. True intimacy begins by being completely honest with God. Confess your short comings to the Lord and receive His forgiveness and acceptance. He’ll give you the power to change. You will no longer feel the need for even the smallest deception. Best of all, the intimacy you long for- with God and with each other- will grow.

YOU HAVE TO LIKE EACH OTHER- NOT JUST BE ABLE TO TALK. BUT REALLY COMMUNICATE!

Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Ephesians 4:3.... Your marriage is affected by the quality of each of your individual relationships with God. Blessings come to you as a result of your faithfulness to Him. As 1 John 1:7 promises, “if we walk in the light, God Himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another.” Your primary responsibility is to keep God’s commandments and live in a manner pleasing to Him, emulating Jesus in your attitudes and behavior. God changes you and your spouse into loving people as you both spend time with Him, and you then begin to relate to your spouse in a way that encourages closeness, unity, affection, and love. Nurture your relationship with God through reading bible reading, prayer, and obedience. Let God bring His blessing upon your marriage by letting Him teach you loving ways to communicate to your spouse. Today is the perfect day to invite or re-invite Christ back into your marriage!

LEARN TO BE UNSELFISH. ALWAYS PUT THE OTHER’S INTEREST FIRST

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others. Philippians 2:4.... It is healthy for a married man or woman to pursue personal interests and engage in individual activities. This provides an outlet, a sense of freedom, perhaps some exercise, and interaction with others- plus, it makes for a more interesting, well rounded spouse, which keeps the conversation at home lively! However, the level of your involvement in these pursuits must be weighed carefully against the effect it will have on your marriage. We must consider our partner’s needs as well as our own. Recognize how precious and limited the resource of time that God has given you as a couple. Your spouse has a large stake in any decision you make concerning how you spend your hours, because every choice has important ramifications for you both. Too much time apart will both erode the unity and deprive you both as a couple. What can you do today to put your spouse’s interest first?

NEVER GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT WITHOUT SAYING, “I LOVE YOU”- AND MEANING IT!

He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4.... As husband and wife, you have a wonderful chance to connect with each other meaningfully every night as you retire for the evening. If you take the time to embrace one another and speak tender words of affection. It’s such a comfort and a joy to drift asleep wrapped in the arms of your beloved, with the words, “I love you” echoing in your ear. You not only sense your spouse’s love, you can almost feel God’s touch and hear his voice! It’s a gentle reminder that He is always watching over you, even as you sleep. Have you come to a place where you simply take each other, and the time God has so graciously together for granted? Remember:” Love must be sincere” (Romans 12:9).

Weekend Quote (Sun)

O God, I have tasted thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to know Thee; I long too be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Weekend Quote (Sat)

God impoverishes only to make rich, becoming in secret Himself the substitute for all that He takes away from the soul. ~ Jeanne Guyon

YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER- EVEN SHOPPING!

My goal is that they would be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. Colossians 2:2.... Life can get so busy that you and your spouse feel more like alienated college roommates than a married couple. How can you get quality time together? Sometimes doing the simple things you have to do anyway can provide opportunities to spend time with your favorite person. Why not get groceries together? You can talk as you walk down the aisles and fill the basket you can make dinner prep or cleanup a very special time as well. Doing the simple things in life together can keep you both in tune with each other because you have regular opportunities to talk over things while you get the things done that need to be done anyways. Take some time and look at your schedule. Think about the things that have to be done each day and find ways of sharing those tasks together!

IF YOUR SPOUSE GETS BOSSY, JUST STAY SWEET!

Gracious speech is like clover honey- good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body. Proverbs 16:24.... Attitude is contagious! It’s amazing how much influence you and your spouse have over each other. You can be moving along in your day, humming a tune, having a great day; but when your spouse drifts by like a little dark cloud, scowling and blocking the sun, ever notice how quickly your sky turns grey? The choice becomes yours. You can either allow yourself to get dragged down into a sullen disposition and provoked into an argument, or you can smile, speak kindly, and spread some sunshine of your own. God calls us to shine light where there is darkness, to respond to bad with good. What will you do today to shed light in your marriage?

MARRIAGE IS NOT FIFTY-FIFTY—YOU BOTH HAVE TO BE WILLING TO GIVE MORE!

Serve each other with love. Galatians 5:13.... We are called by God to long serve one another. Being married gives you the chance to serve another person every day, in ways both large and small. Don’t just give 50 percent, being content to pull your half of the load and worrying about whether your partner is pulling their half; give 100 percent of your effort. If you ask, God will provide you with the energy you’ll need. When you see something that needs to be done, don’t think about whose job it is- simply do it. And don’t seek accolades or gratitude or favors in return. Whatever you do, don’t keep score. Marriage is not a contest in which you and your spouse are pitted against one another. Rather, God has placed you on the same team so you can strive together in victory. How much more will you give today?

TALK THINGS OUT AND NEVER GIVE UP!

Don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9 Each spouse carries a unique load of emotional baggage into a marriage. All of us, too a greater or lesser extent, bear painful memories and relational scars from our formative years. This baggage can cause communication problems between a husband and wife. Often, a person will hear a message vastly different from what their spouse intended to convey. These misunderstandings are common and lead to much conflicts in marriage. Choosing words carefully can help you avoid some of them. Misunderstandings are sure to come, and when they do, the best way to deal with them is to keep communicating. Never give up trying to express your feelings, and never give up trying to understand your spouse. Communication can be hard work, but the rewards are worth it! What will you do to better communicate to your spouse?

WEEKEND QUOTE (Sun)

O God, show me your glory, I pray thee, that so I may know you indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say too my soul, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow you up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name. Amen. A.W. Tozer

Weekend Quote (Sat)

God is not satisfied until there exists between Him and His people a relaxed informality that requires no artificial stimulation. The true friend of God may sit in His presence for long periods in silence. Complete trust needs no words of assurance. A. W. Tozer

A GOOD MARRIAGE IS GIVE AND TAKE- BUT MOSTLY GIVE!

My own vineyard is mine to give. Song of Songs 8:12.... You possess an incredible gift that you can give your spouse. In fact, you own a vast array of gifts that you can bestow on your partner. The choice is yours. Will you keep your gifts locked up and hidden away, or will you joyfully and willingly present them to your mate as an expression of your love? The asset to which you hold the title, the gift that only you can give, is YOURSELF. Examine the contents in the box before you wrap it, and you’ll discover that there are many little gifts, individually wrapped, waiting to be shared. These are the gifts of time, effort, attention, openness, respect, patience, humility, kindness, touch, laughter, thoughtfulness, romance, acceptance, sacrifice, and compromise. The gift of yourself truly is one that keeps on giving. How will you begin to apply this in your marriage today?

WHEN YOU GET INTO AN ARGUMENT, TAKE A GOOD LONG WALK TO COOL DOWN.

A fool gives vent to anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 26:11.... Some people think it’s always better to express feelings than to repress them. But in the heat of the argument, emotions arise that often are better left unspoken, for thoughtless words can cause frightful damage to a loved one’s heart and soul. And a wound inflicted in an instant may take months to heal. So why not call a “time out?” Cool off and talk about it later. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” The Word of God doesn't say you have to resolve every issue by sun down- simply leave your anger behind. They’ll be time for problem solving tomorrow!

GIVE EACH OTHER PLENTY OF SPACE TO GROW!

God, who began a good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. Philippians 1:6.... To truly love your spouse, you want to see them realize their full potential- physically, intellectually, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually. We are called to “grow in the special favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). God wants us to become mature, especially in our ability to trust Him and follow His instructions. Therefore you must give each other room to grow. This may mean encouraging your spouse, self-sacrificing for your spouse, and sometimes it also means giving your spouse room to suffer. James 1:3-4 says, “For when you faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” What will you do today to encourage your spouse’s growth?

SHARE RESPONSIBILITY!

God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.” Genesis 2:18.... Looking back at the garden of Eden- God molded for us an incredible plan to assign one partner authority and responsibility, while the other serves as helper. The helper’s role is to offer suggestions and advise, but the leader is the one who decides which course of action to take. The helper must agree to abide by the leader’s decisions. In this way, the work can progress, with both partners laboring together in harmony. And if something goes wrong, it’s the leader’s responsibility—with input from the helper, but no reprehensions- to determine how to make it right. The next time a task presents itself, pull out the captain’s hat (real or imaginary), draw straws, cast lots, or find some other way to figure out who should wear it this time, and hand the other person the first-mate’s cap. Or simply say to your spouse, “okay, today I’m Gilligan, and you’re the Skipper! What is keeping you from sharing responsibility?

NEVER CONSIDER GETTING “UNMARRIED” AS AN OPTION

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. 1 Corinthians 13:7.... How deep was your commitment settled prior to your wedding vows? Every couple should look each other in the eye and solemnly agree, “Divorce is not an option.” If both spouses own this commitment, if they truly lock the door once and for all, they will have made tremendous progress in building a marriage to last a life time. This commitment produces the immediate benefits of both partners experiencing a sense of security, a sense that their hearts are protected, that the relationship can be trusted and there is hope for the future. Do you focus on the problems within your marriage or worry about being abandoned, and entertain notions of escaping? The Word of God says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will received what He has promised” (Hebrews 10:36). God will surely see that you both get the reward you have earned. Have you committed yourself to your marriage for life? If not, maybe it’s time you did…Let your spouse know!

Weekend Quote

We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God. ~ A.W. Tozer

Weekend Quote

God and man Exist for each other and neither is satisfied without the other. ~ A.W. Tozer

PUT EACH OTHER FIRST. DO EVERYTHING WITH YOUR SPOUSE IN MIND

The Son of Man did come to be served, but to serve. Mark 10:45.... There are two ways to go about marriage. One is to think about your needs; the other is to concentrate on the needs of your spouse. If each partner selfishly demands that the other meet their needs, the relationship will be characterized by disappointment, resentment, and bitterness. On the other hand, if each partner lovingly strives to fulfill the other’s need’s the marriage will be characterized by mutual satisfaction, gratefulness, and joy. If you trust God’s wisdom and focus on your partner’s needs, the likelihood is you’ll be doubly blessed! You can’t find an easier day than today to put this into practice for the rest of your life!

REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE APPLIES TO YOUR SPOUSE!

Do for others what you would have them do for you. Matthew 7:12.... What is your duty has a husband or a wife? Jesus once said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘ Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the other demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). Who is your neighbor? If, as a married person, you were to ask Jesus this question, He would tell you that you have many neighbors, the closest of who is your mate. Be the best of neighbors to your spouse! Treat your partner exactly as you want to be treated- with honor, respect, gratitude, gentleness, civility, patience, kindness, humility, politeness, thoughtfulness, forgiveness. God’s command to you, His desire for you, can be summed up in one word. How will this change your marriage today and forever?

ALWAYS BE HONEST, FAITHFUL, AND TRUE TO EACH OTHER.

ALWAYS BE HONEST, FAITHFUL, AND TRUE TO EACH OTHER. I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called faithful and true. Revelation 19:11.... Marriage is the greatest, most intimate opportunity you will have in your life time to minister to another person. Only you can’t do it on your own. To make the most of the opportunity, you must look to Jesus to both teach you and make you able to love each other. You begin by learning more about Jesus and striving to emulate His perfect love. He is the only one that can change us. The secret of the Christian life is that Jesus Himself turns us into new people- the loving kind. “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on new self’(Colossians 3:9-10). Spend time talking with Him about teaching you to love and making you more like Jesus today.

IF YOU SPEAK IN HASTE, APOLOGIZE WITH HASTE, TOO!

Rash language cuts and maims; but there is healing in the words of the wise. Proverbs 12:18.... Harmful words come so quickly! Emotions rise, and before the rational mind can intercede, haste causes the tongue to lash out angrily, wounding the person most dear to you. You feel regret, but then pride prevents you from speaking words of apology, words that soothe hurt feelings and restore your relationship. You have two enemies to contend with: haste and pride. If you lose the fight with the first, you must win the battle with the second, or the war may be lost. If haste defeats you, and you find you have sinned by saying something you shouldn't have, subdue your pride and apologize. In short term, pride brings a temporary breakdown in your relationship; unchecked, it could result in the collapse of your marriage. SAVE your marriage. Dispense with pride by humbling yourself and offering a heartfelt apology. Is there an apology long overdue…owed too your spouse?

ALWAYS BE BEST FRIENDS WITH YOUR PARTNER

This is my lover, this is my friend. Song of Songs 5:16... What is a friend? Acquaintances, even close friends and family members, will walk with awhile along life’s road and then depart, but Proverbs 18:24 says, “A real friend sticks closer than a brother.” In your spouse, God has blessed you with a friend for life, who will share the panoramic views and the difficult terrain- and one day celebrate with you the journey’s end. “If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.” A loving spouse will pull you up, affirm your worth, and encourage you to strive ahead. Your best friend is the one you want to with most, the one you choose to talk to first whether the road is smooth or rough, the with whom you want to share your thoughts and feelings, the one whose opinion and advise you seek. A best friend is all of these. But mostly, according to Proverbs 17:17, it is someone who cares deeply: “A friend loves at all times.” May your best friend always be your spouse! What will you do today to demonstrate your love is at ‘ALL TIMES” to your best friend, your spouse?

Weekend Quote

There are two reasons for loving God: no one is more worthy of our love, and no one can return more in response to our love. ~ Bernard of Clairvaux

Weekend Quote

The greatest need of the human personality is to experience God Himself. This is because of who God is and who and what man is. ~ A.W. Tozer

EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS-JUST STAY TOGETHER AND WORK THEM OUT!

I look pp to the mountains- does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth! Psalm 121:1-2.... God wants to ensure that you and your spouse are not alone in your marriage- He wants to be an integral part of your union. He is always present, always available, always ready to help you through any difficulty if you will follow His commands. Inevitably trouble comes. Often a disagreement will break out, tempers will flare, and soon an impenetrable wall has risen between you. Communication has broken down, leading to isolation, frustration, and despair. God has unlimited perspective; He can see over a wall. He perceives with utter clarity and can lay bare the root of the problem. Sometimes it is a simple misunderstanding. Sometimes God will provide one of you with insight into the other’s deeply felt and unexpected needs. In any case, God will reveal to each of you your share of the blame and prompt you to humbly seek forgiveness, leading to reconciliation and unity. Then you can rejoice, saying, “He tore down the wall” (Eph 2:14). Make God a partner in your marriage today; and He will make your marriage strong for all your tomorrows!

DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; Your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. Psalm 128:3-4... Families today are pulled apart in so many ways. Business keeps everyone on the run, with little time to share a meal or meaningful conversation. Television, computers, video games, and CD players isolate family members within the home; and work, school, sports, and myriad of entertainment options separate them without. A husband and wife must intentionally make time to spend together as a couple, and time for everyone to interact as a family. This doesn’t preclude the above activities; doing together is more rewarding than just being together! The secret is to resist the pull toward disconnection. Pray about this. It may take some creativity and effort in today’s individualistic culture, but with God’s help you can keep you marriage and family intact. After all, His promise in Psalm 128 include the blessing of togetherness. How often are you actually doing thing s together?

LOVE ALWAYS TAKES MAINTENANCE- KINDNESS IS A BIG PART OF THAT!

Be kind to one another; tenderhearted. Ephesians 4:32..... Maintenance to your home requires a great deal of money, time, and effort. A broken shingle must be replaced, a torn screen mended, a squeaky hinge oiled, a leaky tap fixed. Yet how great it is to live in a house where the roof keeps out the rain, the windows keep out the bugs, the doors swing freely- and never the sound of a dripping faucet is heard! While “love maintenance” may not require a lot of money. It does require a lot of time and effort, and of course, kindness. Observe the interactions in your house, and then compile a “to do” list (and a “not to do list”). Pay special attention to the little things, which make such a big difference in a relationship. The bible says (twice!) “A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping” (Proverbs 19:13). It’s a warning husbands should heed to as well. Get busy on those lists and discover how enjoyable and long-lasting a well maintained marriage can be!

LEARN TO BEND AND NOT BREAK

Blessed is the man who trusts on the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. Jeremiah 17:7-8.... Throughout you marriage life has a way of throwing a wrecking ball right in the middle of things. Business layoffs, family illnesses or injuries, financial crises, time pressures, break downs in close relationships, problems at work, misunderstandings at home- all these, and some far more devastating, threaten to snap a marriage n two and bring it crashing to the ground if a couple is unable to endure the blows. If your marriage is to survive you must possess a kind of supple strength. Sometimes supple strength involves a willingness to adapt to change. It means letting go of circumstances you are trying to control and leaving them to God. When the dust finely clears, the landscape around you may be drastically altered, but your marriage remains intact, standing firm, and continues to thrive in its new environment. Are there some places YOU need to bend in our marriage?

PART OF HAVING A HAPPY MARRIAGE IS DEVELOPING SIMILAR INTERESTS.

Come dear lover- let’s tramp through the countryside. Let’s sleep at some wayside inn, then rise early and listen to bird-song. Let’s look for wildflowers in bloom, blackberry bushes blossoming white, fruit trees festooned with cascading flowers. Song of Songs 7:11-12.... Friendship is such an integral part of romance. The joy of sharing experiences- sights, sounds, tastes, aromas, sensations- will abound as a husband and wife explore and revel in the delights of God’s creation. Having fun and enjoying life together is one of the greatest benefits of married life, and it forms a tight bond that can cement a marriage through the years. Spouses truly should be best friends. Developing common interests helps ensure that you and your spouse will draw closer together over time rather than slowly drift apart. Best of all, It fosters an intimacy that goes far deeper than friendship, because it involves one of the chief ingredients of a happy, successful union- quality time shared together. What will you do today to begin building the friendship part of your marriage.

ALWAYS TREAT YOUR WIFE LIKE A LADY

Husbands,be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect. 1 Peter 3:7... Showing a woman honor and respect involves so much more than chivalrous gestures such as holding a door, rising politely at the dinner table, or laying one’s coat over a puddle of rainwater. A husband’s treatment of his wife like a lady begins with his attitude toward her. Do you truly value your spouse, or do you take them for granted? Do you view your wife as a gift from God, or as more of a burden, “the ol’ ball and chain”? The bible describes a wife of noble character as her husband’s crown” (Proverbs 12:4), “worth far more than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). A Godly wife is a treasure to be cherished, deserving her husband’s highest compliments and praise. God is calling wives to be true ladies, kindhearted and worthy of respect; he is calling husbands to be gentlemen, and to give their wives the honor they have earned. How will you demonstrate this in your marriage today?

TAKE THE DAYS ONE AT A TIME. SOON FIFTY YEARS WILL PASS- BUT IT WON’T SEEM LIKE IT.

Oh, satisfy us early with your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14.... A lifelong marriage is built day by day. It is made of days that seem momentous and days that seem mundane. Yet everyone is important. Everyone is indispensable. As you and I live out each day with our spouse to the fullest potential, sharing its joys and challenges, our days will steadily join together like the masonry in a sturdy brick home, forming a relationship that is solid and secure. Such a relationship, built on the sure foundation of faith in God and commitment to each other no matter what the days may bring, WILL STAND FOREVER! What will you do today that will make today momentous rather than mundane?

NEVER LET A DAY GO BY WITHOUT TELLING EACH OTHER, "I LOVE YOU."

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25:11... The words “I LOVE you” are powerful. They can build you up individually and strengthen you as a couple. They can encourage you and remind you of your lifelong commitment to each other, of the reasons why you chose to walk through this life together. Those words never wear out and they never go out of style. STOP….right now take a moment with your spouse…hold hands, gaze into each other’s eyes, and whisper “I LOVE YOU.”

TAKE TIME TO WORK THINGS OUT

Many waters cannot quench love; rive cannot wash it away. Song of Songs 8:7 There have been many times in our marriage when the difficulties life brings; have made us feel like we were in the midst of raging waters. It was easy for me to panic in that fear of being overwhelmed. Until I was reminded that I am not fighting alone. God has promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2). Trust the Lords promise, call out to Him, and cling to Him. He’ll take you safely to high ground. What is the single most important problem you need to work through today in your marriage?

YOU CAN ALWAYS WORK THINGS OUT IF YOU WANT TO

There are three things that will endure- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13.... There have been times when I have felt that things were at their worst, and during those times I have been tempted to give up not only hope but question my very faith. I have wondered why God would allow us to suffer such awful circumstances, when I’ve done my best to obey Him. But the Word tells us that once we are in His hands, He will never let us go. Our faith maybe tested, but he won’t allow it to die. Maybe you’re in a season where you’re feeling the love between you has grown cold, and there seems to be nothing left between you. Be reminded like hope and faith, LOVE never completely dies. Trust God despite every reason to quit, He will prove Himself trustworthy. He will rekindle the embers in your hearts and fan the flames until they are burning steady and strong. For the rest of you...what will you do today preparation for the strength of your marriage during the worst of times?

Communicating Kindness

Kindness is communicating that someone is valuable through our actions (Smalley). How will you communicate kindness to your spouse today?

WORK AT BECOMING CLOSER

This is my command; love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 There are an abundance of things I can do to foster feelings of romance, but if I want to experience true intimacy with my wife, I must first plumb the depths of Christ’s love, then give her a love that runs as close to those depths as possible. The journey toward intimacy with your spouse lies along the pathway of obedience to God. We are commanded to love each other as Jesus loves us. What would loving your spouse like Jesus loves us look like? What would you do to reach that kind of love? If it means flowers, do it. If it means picking up dirty laundry, cleaning the bathroom, bathing the kids, encouraging them, or giving them a quiet moment at the end of the day, DO IT. Take the time to become closer today!

DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO EXPRESS YOUR LOVE

DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO EXPRESS YOUR LOVE Little children, let us not love in Word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our hearts before him. 1 John 3:18-19 True love- everyone’s searching for it. But how do you know if you have it? How do you and your spouse express your love? Take a moment and write down those things that quickly come to mind. How many of those ideas you wrote down moved beyond the materialistic? Perhaps you, like me came up with many awesome ideas of gifts, and should certainly be used from time to time, but none of those things can prove your heart to be true. The ONLY way to know if you have true love is to see whether it stands the test of time. Has it endured hardship, boredom, and pain? Has it weathered life’s busyness? Has it withstood the pressures of job, family, and home, the stresses of middle and old age? Time alone will tell. Respect each other, encourage each other, and serve each other minute by minute, hour by hour. You determine whether the love you have is true over time…You can begin right now!

NEVER GET TO OLD TO HOLD HANDS

NEVER GET TO OLD TO HOLD HANDS I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Psalm 73:23-2 It is said that it starts with a tiny fist wrapped around a mother’s finger. It continues with a young hand held gently in one much larger. It endures through puppy love, adolescent relationships, and courtship. And if we are wise, it extends into marriage, through middle age, beyond the golden years, to the very end of life. Why would two people ever stop holding hands? Hold your spouse’s hand throughout your life together; don’t ever let it go until the day when you've fulfilled every marriage vow and finally release it from your grasp, placing it lovingly, trustingly into the hand of God!

HAVE FUN JUST BEING TOGETHER

HAVE FUN JUST BEING TOGETHER 1 Timothy 6:17 God…gives us richly all things too enjoy In all the busyness of your life; when was the last time you took the time to simply have fun with your spouse? Solomon said, “I commend the enjoyment of life” (Ecclesiastes 8:15). Have a good time with your spouse. Enjoy each other’s company. It doesn’t have to take a lot of money (or any for that matter) to have fun if you think of creative ways to be lighthearted and playful together. Have trouble with creativeness…Reflect on the One who provides you with so many blessings. Who fashioned and breathed to life the incredible person with whom you delight to share it all! Go ahead-Have some FUN!

YOU ONLY GET OUT OF MARRIAGE WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT

Whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Several years ago we owned a house and had our front yard re-landscaped. New grass, a new flower bed arrangement with a water fountain, and new ground cover along with new flowers. After the installation was complete. I was not able to merely sit back and enjoy the new landscape. No, I had to work continuously keeping the weeds out, the ground cover cut. I had to constantly water everything, and the lawn had to be mowed each week. If your marriage is going to last a life time, it requires the same level of devotion and energy. Each must be available to the other when needed, fully present, ready to listen, to talk and to act. Both spouses must pour their heart and soul into the landscape of their marriage, making whatever sacrifices necessary to ensure success! The payoff is a rich, healthy, loving relationship that lasts. Sound Good? Devote time and energy to your marriage.

Weekend Quote (Sun)

It is the ordinary method of the Spirit of God to convict sinners by the law. It is this which, being set home on the conscience, generally breaketh the rocks in pieces. It is more especially this part of the Word of God which is quick and powerful, full of life and energy and sharper than any two-edged sword. ~ John Wesley

Weekend Quote

A zealous man feels sinners by the law. It is that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him. Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach the work and give money, he will cry and sigh and pray. ~ John C. Ryle

Daily Word

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10. In contrast to the wise of this world (who cannot even conceive the greatness of divine salvation), those who love God know and partake of His blessings. The quotation is based on Is. 64.4, but includes other ideas of the OT. The idea of divine searching (searches everything), emphasizes God’s omniscience, particularly His power to see what is invisible to humans. It does not imply that the Holy Spirit needs to seek knowledge of the Father that He otherwise lacks. The Spirit probes the depths of knowledge for our benefit. Spend some time and chew on this for a few moments. How does your walk with Christ change today understanding that the Spirit is probing the depths of God for your benefit?

Daily Word

None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8. Unbelievers (none of the rulers of this age) are still part of the old age and so have not received God’s wisdom. Paul emphasizes this point by focusing on the most influential members of society. It shouldn’t surprise anyone today as they watch all that is taking place in the world around us. We fail miserably at focusing on influential people in our society. Why? Perhaps it is because we have failed just as miserably influencing those on our own block, neighborhood, on our jobs. Around our city. If we have failed here how we can possibly expect to stand toe to toe with those who are influential elsewhere in our society?

Daily Word

But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages of our glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7. This passage should not be interpreted (a secret and hidden wisdom of God) as a reference to mysteries accessible only to superior Christians. The riches of the gospel, through “hidden” during Old Testament period, have now been revealed by the spirit. Eph. 3:2-6 makes plain that the word “mystery,” used by Paul to emphasize the distinctiveness of his message to the Gentiles, has a strong temporal meaning. The “mystery” is a truth that “was not made known…in other generations”; it was kept “secret from the ages.” But now the truth has been clearly revealed to those who have the Spirit, who live in “the end of the ages.” Take some time in the Word today and let its mysteries be revealed unto you!

Daily Word

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 1 Corinthians 2:6. The word “mature here translates “perfect.” The apostle does not have in mind a special category of elite Christians, and the idea that may have been present among the Corinthians. The expression here is no doubt equivalent to “spiritual,” referring to the influence of the Holy Spirit. The mature or spiritual person is the person who has the Holy Spirit. Since every true believer has received the Spirit, every believer is spiritual and can understand God’s wisdom, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Where would the body of Christ be today if they put as much emphasis upon imparting Spiritual wisdom to others as they do chasing after signs, wonders, speaking into someone else’s life as the church designated prophet?

Daily Word

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my method were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ! Corinthians 1:2-5. Taken by themselves, these verses might suggest that Paul was timid, uneducated, and unable to speak with the force and eloquence. Both the book of Acts and Paul’s own two letters prove otherwise. “Self-confidence,” if it rests on arrogance concerning one’s own strength, reflects a desire to be independent from God. Paul had learned that God can use human weakness to show forth His coming glory. Because he knew that men and women will be persuaded only “in demonstration of the Spirit and power,” Paul used his talents and training with full confidence. This is a foundational portion of scripture(s) for those afraid to witness their faith. It’s not about you it’s ALL about God and what he can do through you. Your nervous, so was Pau, you feel weal, so did Paul…the only difference between you and Paul is that he put more trust in God than himself and allowed the power of God to work through him. It’s your turn…TODAY!

Daily Word

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come to you proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2:1. Paul must be referring to (when I came to you) to his first visit to Corinth, recorded in Acts 18:1-7. Influenced by Greek culture, some of the Christians in Corinth may have been critical of Paul for not using the rhetorical techniques (with lofty speech or wisdom) of their contemporaries. Paul focused on the message of the cross, so that the Corinthians would put their faith in Christ who was crucified rather than in the ability of human messengers. The message you share must be more about what Christ has already done for them than what he will do for them. Anything short of that produces a false convert…period!

Weekend Quote (Sun)

We cannot come to Christ to be justified until we have first gone to Moses to be condemned. But once we have gone to Moses and acknowledge our sin, guilt, and condemnation, we must not stay there. ~ John Stott

Weekend Quote S(at)

Whatever we make the most of is our God. ~ Martin Luther For those who worship Idols, the idols’ silence gives the worshiper an illusion of permission to sin, to rise up early and embrace the pleasures of sin.

Daily Word

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that know human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-31. This principle, (no human being might boast in the presence of God) which Paul underscores in vs. 31 by quoting Jer. 9:24, provides the foundation for the biblical doctrine of salvation: It is a gracious gift from God that rules out human boasting. What have you been boasting about lately?

Daily Word

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were noble birth. 1 Corinthians 1:26. Salvation, by its very nature, does not depend on human values. Even those in the Corinthian church who might have been justly admired could not have claimed that they were chosen because of their good qualities. Rather, God has mercy on all who acknowledge their sinfulness. Whom will God have mercy on today because you were an obedient vessel reaching out on God’s behalf?

Daily Word

For the Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25. Paul identifies precisely what the world finds offensive (we preach Christ crucified) about the gospel. Possibly these words also reflect the reason for Paul’s opposition to the gospel before his conversion. The thought that the messiah (God’s anointed) had been hanged on a tree and had come under divine curse was intolerable to many Jews. God’s wisdom and power (Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God) are not abstract forces but personal qualities that manifest themselves fully in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to me that today it appears that it is the “believers” who chase after signs, and challenge one another with the wisdom of God in regards to what the word means. We’ve gotten so busy in our attempt to manufacture the qualities of God within the church that we’ve become blinded to the lost and dying world around us. The power of the gospel has become insignificant in our own eyes before it ever reaches theirs. Today, take some time to mediate on the power of the gospel…then go forth and apply it!

Weekend Quote (Sun)

No man knows the brightness of the gospel ‘till he understands the blackness of those clouds which surround the Law of the Lord. ~ Charles Spurgeon

Weekend Quote (Sat)

The moment God’s Law ceases to be the most powerful factor in influencing the moral sensitivity of any individual or nation, there will be no indifference to Divine wrath, and when indifference comes in it always brings in its train indifference to salvation. ~ A.N. Martin

Daily Word

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21. This passage is filled with intense irony. Those who are wise according to the standards of this world think the gospel is foolish (the folly of what we preach). But even the most “foolish” thing about God is wiser than human wisdom. God can use the simplicity of the gospel to demonstrate that real foolishness belongs to those who oppose him. The arrogance of human wisdom blinds unbelievers to the truth. Jesus thanked His Father for His good pleasure in hiding these things from the wise and learned but revealing them to the little children. Be reminded today, that those in the world see the things of God as foolishness because they are blinded. It is God, and God alone who is able to remove the clouds from their eyes. None the less we continue to plow and plant the seed... So “happy farming” today!

Daily Word

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1:20. It is not clear whether Paul intends a sharp distinction between these three categories (wise…scribe…debater). Possibly the first is general in character, while the other two are specifically Jewish scribes and Greek teachers. Much of Paul’s theology is built on the basic opposition (this age…the world) between “the present evil age,” and the coming age, which has already dawned for those who received the spirit.

Daily Word

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-19. According to the bible there will be two types of response to the gospel arising from God’s elective purpose (perishing…being saved). This truth does not make God responsible for the perishing of unbelievers; they perish because of their own sin and stubborn impenitence. Those who believe and are saved, on the other hand, are those who are “called.” This is one of those that always stirs it up…If Jesus died for everyone…then He failed because many die every day in their sin and according to His Word they shall spend eternity in the lake of fire…However, if Jesus died for those whom have been “called” than His death has accomplished fully the purpose by which He was sent! This is always a tough one for folks to wrap their heads around…but none the less…our command is to go forth and preach the gospel. To plant, water, or reap…makes no difference…just do something!

Daily Word

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1 Corinthians 1:17. The Corinthian church had an unhealthy regard (words of eloquent wisdom) for rhetorical display. Paul will focus attention on what true wisdom is (in upcoming verses). In this verse he reminds the Corinthians that the power of his own preaching did not depend on such skills. In the opinion of those who are wise according to this world, proclaiming (cross of Christ) the crucified Lord is foolishness. Paul therefore treats “wisdom” and “the cross” as opposites. Be reminded that regardless of how well educated a man maybe. NO one can stand against the power of your testimony! I’m not knocking education by all means get all that you can…but never back up, back down, or back off from anything the world puts in front of you!

Weekend Quote (Sun)

We Christians too often substitute prayer for playing the game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but a blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism…To your knee, Man! And to your bible! Decide at once! Don’t hedge! Time flies! Cease your insults to god. Quit consulting your flesh and blood. Stop your lame, lying, and cowardly excuses. Enlist! ~ C.T. Studd

Daily Word

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except for Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 1 Corinthians 1:13-16. With this question Paul anticipates one of his fundamental teachings about the church. Just as a physical body, though made up of many members is one, so also the church, which is the body of Christ, cannot be divided. One of the greatest hindrances of the church today is its lack of unity. Today, take a moment and reflect your role…are you adding to or taking away from the unity of the body of Christ?

Daily Word

For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarrelling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or” I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:11-12. Reported means to “show,” “make clear,” or “reveal” something. Chloe’s people may have done this by oral report. Chloe’s identity and her location are unknown, as well as whether these “people” are friends, business associates, family, or from her household. Apparently the Corinthian were divide into factions on the basis of who baptized them. Paul new Apollos well. His rhetorical skills were impressive, and the Corinthian Christians had received him gladly after Paul’s departure. Cephas is the Aramaic equivalent of the name Peter, and both names refer to Peter the apostle. Unlike Paul, Cephas was married and had traveled to Corinth with his wife. Apparently one faction in Corinth, claiming to be above it all, took the slogan “I follow Christ.” Many today carry on in the same manner when they talk about which church they attend, or which denomination they belong to. The truth is, in Christ we are of one body…the body of Christ

Daily Word

I appeal to you brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10. This exhortation (I appeal to you) begins the body of the letter and announces Paul’s primary concern. He has heard that the unity of the Corinthian church has broken down. Many of the problems addressed in this letter reflect the spirit of dissension that was in the community. When it comes to maintaining the unity around you are you adding to it or taking away from it?

Daily Word

Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by who you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. There is no condemnation on the final day for those who, like the Corinthians, are in Christ Jesus. They already have been justified and, in a sense, even sanctified, so no one will be able to bring a charge against them at the judgment. The Corinthians’ have a long way to go before their behavior matches their status before God, but Paul is confident that God, who is faithful, will make them what they should be. How does your behavior as a follower of Christ match the status given you by Christ through the eyes of those around you?

Daily Word

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge- even as the testimony about Christ was being confirmed among you-so that you were not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3-8. The Corinthians were tempted to become puffed up by their gifts of “knowledge” and of speaking “in tongues” (in every way you were enriched). Paul needs to rebuke them for their moral weakness and abuse of those gifts, but he does not deny or minimize the blessing they have received. Paul encourages his readers by assuring them that God, who began a work of grace in them, can be trusted to complete it (will sustain you). Indeed, they will be presented “guiltless” at the time of Christ’s return. God has given each of us spiritual gifts to be used for His purposes in furthering the body of Christ until His return. Do you know what He as gifted you with, and if so are you diligent in honoring that which has been given you for His purpose?

Weekend Quote (Sun)

The true function of the Law is to accuse and to kill; but the function of the gospel is to make alive! ~ Martin Luther

Weekend Quote (Sat)

Secure sinners must hear the thundering of Mount Sinai before we bring them to Mount Zion. Every minister should be Boanerges, a son of thunder, as well as a Barnabas, a son of consolation. ~ George Whitfield

Daily Word

To the church of God, that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord and ours: 1 Cor. 1:2. The word “saints” calls attention (sanctified…called to be saints) to the distinctive status of God’s people. Paul often uses it to identify the Christians to whom he writes. The description “sanctified” underlines this aspect of Christian life. The Corinthians’ were plagued by ethical problems and this letter touches repeatedly on the subject of sanctification. At the very beginning Paul calls special attention to it. Significantly, however, he encourages them in a pastoral way by reminding them that they are sanctified. The goal of holiness is realistic because God has already changed their hearts. The ground that Moses once stood upon was holy. So holy in fact that he was told to remove his sandals. Nothing about the piece reality was any different than the reality five feet in any direction…except that God called it holy. YOU have been sanctified…set apart by God, and called to be saints with all (not just some)!

Daily Word

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 1 Cor. 1:1-1. An apostle is one commissioned directly by Christ as His authoritative messenger. Paul stresses the significance of his office elsewhere. Some of the problems in the Corinthian church involved challenges to Paul’s authority. Has it ever occurred to how many problems are caused in the church today because people challenge pastoral authority? Everyone loves the pastor until he brings correction or rebuke. Then because of a lack of maturity people run off to the next church. Remember today that the “Man of God” that stands before you in your house of worship was placed there by God, and if God has led you there it is your responsibility to honor his authority rather than challenge his authority!

Daily Word

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings. James 1:1. James Identifies himself as a slave of God and of Chris. A bond servant is one purchased and owned by a master or “Lord.” This indicates not only humility on the part of the writer but a profound testimony to his conversion to faith in his earthly half-brother as his redeemer. James is a servant to both God and Jesus, a crucial theological bracketing. Today most everyone calls themselves Christian, and most have made a decision to believe but not a commitment to follow. Do you live your life purchased and sold out to Christ, or are you living more like your on a lease/rental agreement?

Weekend Quote (Sun)

The Law searches to the dividing asunder of joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Its excessive light strikes us like Saul of Tarsus, to the earth, and makes us cry for mercy. ~ Charles Spurgeon

Daily Word

The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations parish from his land. O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. Psalm 10:16-18. God is covenant Lord. The lament concludes with a strong statement of trust in God, who delivers the weak from oppression. Men terrify, but God overrules the wickedness of men. There are many around us each day caught up in their own oppression. How can God use you to strengthen someone’s heart today?

Daily Word

The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” Psalm 10:11-12. In the mouth of the wicked, this would attribute a weak memory to God (God has forgotten), or perhaps indifference to human suffering. Either way its blasphemy, and the faithful mention it to God in order to stir him to action that prove the wicked to be wrong…as you will see in the following days verses. Remember this next to your going through something and think that God is nowhere

Daily Word

His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws them to his net. Psalm 10:7-9. Sins of speech are the focus here these verses. Paul alluded to this in Romans 3:14 when he wrote that “no one was righteous”. The metaphor (sits in ambush) of the wicked in ambush is well known from proverbs 1:11…If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush innocent blood without reason”. The wicked prefer to work in darkness (stealthy), not in the light. The wicked is portrayed here as a hunter of the helpless. When was the last time you considered the “sins” of your speech? How often do we say things without thinking the consequences of our words through, and what the effect might have on those around us? The verses above speak of the wicked and are intentional. How much deeper the pain inflicted by ne seen as believer…

Daily Post

His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” Psalm 10:5-6. From the perspective of the oppressed (prosper at all times), it appears the oppressor has no troubles. This attitude of self-trust (I shall not be moved) brought trouble to the psalmist himself. Confidence must be in God, not in one’s own ability. How often we seek confidence in ourselves; whether it be in the small things or the bigger things in our lives…perhaps if we practiced putting more confidence in God in the smaller things in our lives. We would learn to trust God in the greater things in life…thus finding the intimacy with him we so often desperately seek.

Weekend Quote (Sun)

So pure, so just, so uncompromising is the Law of God, that when it is really understood, it makes us quail, and brings us to our knees. ~ Charles Spurgeon

Weekend Quote (Sat)

Ah! How foolish we are! How we repeat the folly of our first parent every day when we seek to hide sin from conscience, and then think it is hidden from God. ~ Charles Spurgeon

Daily Word

For the wicked boast of the desires of his soul; and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, there is no God. Psalm 10:3-4. The wicked persons ethical judgment (boasts…renounces) are up-side down. He should bless the Lord and reject the greedy. Telling a non-believer about the love of Christ and pointing out the benefits of restoring a marriage, curing an addiction etc…only feeds into the greedy desires of the soul. However, when you first teach them the Law of God that they may understand precisely why they are wicked and greedy; only then will they be in a position to fully understand the curse upon them and seek to the Lord and reject the greedy.

Daily Word

Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In ignorance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. Psalm 10:1-2. This psalm has no title, it was likely combined with Ps.9. Taken separately and calling on God the psalm would be an individual lament, bemoaning the wicked who victimize the righteous and calling on God to restore justice. The psalmist is more troubled (Why…do you stand far away) by the apparent absence of God than by his enemies. Today, many continue to cry out…”why, O Lord, do you stand so far away” and “Why do you hide your face in times of trouble?” Yet those very same folks crying out fail to recognize that the only time they are interested in God or His help are during those times of tragedy or trouble, and never once do they accept or recognize their own part in what has caused that distance between themselves and God. Today, will you draw closer to God or push Him farther away?

Daily Word

For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O, Lord! Let the nations know they are but men! Psalm 918-20. The phrase “the poor and needy” is a fixed expression in the OT, and the words often appear frequently in parallel. The meaning is frequently literal poverty, but the words may also be used figuratively to express total dependency on God. Poverty is not of itself meritorious, but God gives special attention to the cries of the oppressed. Jeremiah equates bringing “justice and righteousness” to the “poor and needy” with knowing God. This was an explicit responsibility of those in power.

Daily Word

The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in their work of their own hands. The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:15-17. The wickedness of such enemies will come back to haunt them. Remember it is the people who create a nation…and ALL those that forget God are considered enemies. The Lord continues to make Himself known. You as a follower of Christ are either furthering or hindering in His process. In which direction will you lead today?

Daily Word

Be gracious too me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates in the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. Psalm 9:13-14. In these verses this song moves to a prayer for deliverance from affliction. The previous threat (vv.3-6) makes it clear that others are yet to come, while the decisive victory has displayed God’s commitment to protect and preserve His people. The result of God’s answer to the people will be further praise in worship. How often do you give praise to God outside the comfort of your home or the weekly church service? Are you one whom is recognized for praising God in public?

Weekend Quote (Sun)

To be “spiritually minded” simply means to look at earth from heaven’s point of view. The spiritually mined believer makes his decisions on the basis of eternal values and not the passing fads of society. ~ Warren Wiersbe

Weekend Quote

Taking up a cross and dying to myself sounds more like torture. We think that such a decision would make us miserable. Is that what it means to follow Jesus? We wake up every morning and commit to misery. But when we die to ourselves and completely surrender to Him, there is a surprising side effect to dying; we discover true life. In a twist of irony, we find that giving up our lives gives us the life we so desperately wanted all along. ~ Kyle Idleman

Daily Word

Sing praises to the Lord who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Psalm 9:11-12. The afflicted should know that God is present with them in their world. (Seeks Blood) God does not let wickedness go unpunished. Often times we look at the horrific things going on in the world around us, and wonder where God is. Be reminded today that regardless of how the circumstance appear on the outside of any situation; God hears the cry of the afflicted and NO wickedness goes unpunished. Nothing man can do in the eyes of man’s justice can compare to the wrath of God’s justice!

Daily Post

But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the people with uprightness. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:7-10. And yet another reminder of that our God is more than a God of love…He is a God of justice. He doesn’t forsake those who seek him. The question is…Are you seeking Him according to your terms or His?

Daily Word

You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. Psalm 9:5-6. To be remembered no more (blotted out their name), contrasted with God’s name which will be praised forever. History has a way of repeating itself. No matter how big or small the enemy may be that you are facing; God has demonstrated His actions of bringing it to an end and leaving it in ruins. We must remember that His timing is not necessarily our timing. Our job is to stay focused in Him with both thanksgiving and praise!

Daily Word

When my enemies turn back, they stumble and parish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. Psalm 9:3-4. This is a statement of future hope (when my enemies turn back), not past reality. The psalmist is not confident in himself (throne, giving righteous judgment), but in God’s character as the righteous judge. Sometimes as we go through situations it appears that being a follower of Christ causes us to get the short end of the deal. From a worldly perspective we may come out looking weak or unjustified. But rest assured as a child of God…He maintains our just cause. In the end His purpose is better than ours could have ever been.

Daily Word

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O most high. Psalm 9:1-2. The Hebrew word (wonderful deeds) refers to the great acts of God, His intervention in human affairs, as at the Exodus from Egypt. Today, take some time and to look back at God’s intervention throughout your life. Maybe you will find some times where looking back today ended up being more of His wonderful deed then it appeared to be at that time!

Weekend Quote (Sun)

“All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning.” ~ Oswald Chambers

Weekend Quote (Sat)

“I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived’. So it is with work-righteous and the proud unbelievers. Because they do not know the Law of God, which is directed against them, it is impossible for them to know their sin. Therefore also they are not amenable to instruction. If they would know the Law, they would also know their sin; and sin to which they are now dead would become alive in them.” ~ Martin Luther

Daily Word

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all the sheep and oxen, and also all the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas, O Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth. Psalm 8:4-9. This passage is applied to Jesus in Heb.2:6-8. He was a perfect man as well as God. Jesus is the model of redeemed humanity and restored human dominion over creation. In the vastness of the universe (what is man) and against the greatness of God’s power, man is little. The Hebrew word ‘elohim, here translated “heavenly beings,” usually Means “God”, but it can mean “divine beings.” If God were in view one would have expected, “you have made him a little lower than yourself.” The “cultural mandate” (dominion) of Gen. 1:28 divinely confers on humanity the authority and responsibility for governing earthly life.

Daily Word

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above all the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set into place. Psalm 8:1-3. The subject of this hymn is the excellence of God in His works of creation, a major theme of the wisdom literature. The Psalm can be called a wisdom poem. It ponders God’s exaltation of lowly humanity in giving them dominion over creation. The personal, or covenantal, name (Lord) of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. A title (our Lord), which can be translated “governor” or “master”. He is our Lord because He has established His covenant with His people. The second verse of this Psalm is prophecy fulfilled by Jesus (Matt. 21:15-16). Take some time today to meditate on His majesty and glory…when was the last time you gave some thought to Him in that area of your life?

Daily Word

If a man does not repent, God will wet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, an on his own skull his violence descends. I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the most high. Psalm 7:12-17. Evil returns upon evil doers. God’s anger toward the persecutors shows itself by turning their own schemes against them. To those who only preach the love of God be reminded that the wrath of God is every bit as real and equal.

Daily Word

Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. Let the assemblies of the people be gathered about you; over it return on high. Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous—you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. Psalm 7:6-11. These verses of the Psalm are a call to God to arise as judge. The singers see their requests as a part of the larger picture: God is a righteous judge, to whom all the peoples of mankind, and not just Israel, are accountable; thus His anger and indignation are directed against those who threaten His faithful ones (the righteous, and the upright in heart). In the Psalms, judging is more often than not a saving action, God intervening on behalf of the innocent and oppressed. (In English the word “judge” tends to focus more on condemning than on rescuing.) The particular deliverance, then, is part of God’s larger project of putting the whole world back to its right order. Meditate on the point shown here that the psalmist recognizes and understands the importance of his righteousness before God, and therefore in faith confidently goes before God knowing His heart and mind will be tested.

Weekend Quote (Sun)

On the invitation Jesus gives us to follow Him there is an RSVP date and it reads: TODAY. The word tomorrow is not in the Holy Spirit’s vocabulary. Regardless whether or not you are a unbeliever, new believer, or how long you have believed. When Jesus calls us to follow, He means right now. He means today! ~ Kyle Idleman