Marriage on the Rocks!

Marriage on the Rocks!

Marriage is permanent because God established it from the beginning. He took the rib of man, and made woman. God brought her to the man, who said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called woman for out of her man this one has been taken.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. Genesis 2:22-24.

Throughout your marriage, your partnership, you are working everyday on perfecting your human love. It is through this gift of God and this natural process that you work toward the good of each other, bear children between you and educate them about love between human beings and ultimately the love of God.

Sometimes life can seem overwhelming. You pack your days with much to do, leaving no time to enjoy each other, get pleasure from quiet time, or engage in powerful prayer. You must be responsible enough to take a look at your life when you are feeling anxious, irritated and overwhelmed and figure out what is challenging your peace. It is not weakness to discover and there is no shame in being honest when the tasks in your life seem too much to bear.

You are an adult and you are entitled to “time out.” As a woman you might seek companionship of a girl friend, an evening out to dinner, a day at the spa, or time at the mall window shopping. As a man you might enjoy time spent with other men, tinkering in the garage, or working on a project or car. Give each other the time and means to regroup, rejuvenate, de-stress and have growing experiences even if it is means being without each other for an hour or an evening.

If you have children it is extremely important for the two of you to have time away from them also. This special time together will allow you to keep fresh and recall the qualities you admire about each other. The more you highlight the good in each other, the less faults will rob you from due respect and love.

It’s important to recognize that your mind, emotions and body are not designed to run ragged and on automatic pilot to work, cook, clean, wash, transport children to and from school, sports, extra curricular activities, shopping for clothes, food, etc., all the while dealing with the hardships and dilemmas of life. Life can get overwhelming and get to be too much for anyone! Work together and make changes that will make life less complicated and stressful.

Love is about caring and being compassionate about what the other thinks and feels. Love is also compromise because we are not the same. You will never “always” see eye to eye. You may as well come to terms with the fact that you must “agree to disagree” about many things you experience together. However, we should always be working together toward harmony for the sake of love. You may not always see the other’s side or understand another’s reasoning. You are not in your spouse’s head and you can’t rationalize another’s thinking process. What you can do is talk about your concerns and work on solutions that are fair, mindful, harmonious and beneficial to all parties.

When life get’s tough there is no reason to feel you need to escape or sever ties to the life that you’ve built. There is nothing in this world that should be allowed to take from the love you have between you and those in your house of peace.

Your life was not meant to be a source of unhappiness. People were not designed to be a thorn in your side. Debt was not a part of God’s plan for you. You were created to know and give love, have abundance and share it, live with and offer hope, know happiness and cause it, share love and give it to all.

You have been raised by your parents or guardians who have taught you many things. You have exceptional, good, ordinary, sad and perhaps even traumatizing memories from your past. Therefore, it’s important to realize that everyone is different. It is through your childhood and right through adulthood that you form your likes, dislikes and opinions about life, marriage, rearing children, and religion.

Throughout your marriage you will implement values you cherish, traditions that you want to hold on to, pass on ideals and good morals that you believe have helped you to grow up and be a person who values human life, has respect for himself and others, and loves God above all.
It is your responsibility however, to recognize when you are not following in the path of love. If you are unable to recognize your shortcomings yourself then your spouse should approach you with kindness and tenderness to open your eyes so that your direction can be routed again to love. You should also receive this offer of love without struggle or contest. Ironically, sometimes the most eye opening epiphany’s come from the mouths of your own babes. The honest “truth” that comes from children is startling and eye opening and should be viewed as a blessing to you.
Your children imitate what you do. It is for you to be mindful and notice what you have taught your little ones. When it is clear that love has been pushed to the wayside, is it for you to put it back at the center of your lives where it belongs for the sake of goodness and righteousness to your spouse, children, family and all humankind.

If your child puts his hand to fire and gets scalded, you would immediately take his hand away from the fire to protect him. You would show him to be conscious of the danger so that he would not intentionally scald himself again. The same goes for you. When life’s circumstances have burned you or when relationships have turned sour you must modify your mindset, behavior, seek protection, and wholeheartedly seek peace and love.

In an effort to retain peace and love sometimes, alone you will bring damaging issues to another’s attention. There may be a time you must do it in a group. It is important to reconcile. If the others causing harm do not see then you must protect your family and keep them out of harm’s way. Pray for the offenders and forgive them their trespasses against you.

Although you may be at a different level of your faith and healing than your spouse, it is not for either of you to judge what the other does. But rather, respect one another’s decision as long as it is with love at its core. If a person can forgive another and still have encounters then that one shall continue on that course and with that relationship. However, that does not mean that the other must subject himself to the same if reconciliation was not possible. You must not talk down to people. You must not allow others to demean you, your spouse or your children. You must refrain from gossip and judgment.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4

You can approach any situation, person or persons and say just about anything with love at your core. You must be careful not to be intentionally hurtful or crude. Sometimes you must keep the door open and give others many opportunities to make things right. You may get frustrated when others have cold and hardened hearts and are not responding as you would. If you have the strength to bear the hardships then continue to try to help. But the fight may not be yours to take on. The problems of others may be bigger than you. Be wise with which battles you take on for they should not destroy your home. You are not called to solve the problems of the world. However, you must maintain peace and love in your own household.

Cherish your spouse and your children. You are God’s holy family and He wishes to bless you daily. At the end of the day be thankful for what you have today, for the memories you hold in your heart, for the lessons that make you a better person, and give praise to God for the life he has in store for you!

When the going gets tough, love more! You are a pillar of strength. Your marriage is built on rock. It is solid, unyielding, concrete, dependable, trustworthy, and reliable. Reach into the deepest part of your spirit where you have a firm and sound foundation. Everyday through acts of love you will bring to light the strength and love in your core. You will love when others can’t because God loves you with all your faults. Go beyond your emotions and think with that righteous spirit inside you. You are made of rock! Hence, so is the strength of your marriage and home!

Prayer for Personal Leadership

Prayer for Personal Leadership

Lord ~

I pray that I will be forthcoming and helpful to those who reach out to me today.
I pray for strength to keep my path straight and lead others by example with the utmost integrity, holy insight and conscientious guidance.

I ask for veracity and truthfulness so that I may steadily offer genuine comfort to others.
I pray that my heart does not harden nor grow tired so that I may be blessed and reap powerful gifts and lessons from the wearisome and precious moments presented to me whether through trials or joy.

I pray for consistency and stability so that I may receive gifts of true satisfaction and authentic fulfillment that will come from helping others in deed and prayer, both of which I am capable.
I pray for a coherent and receptive mind as I study my bible and continue to train and educate myself with Your Word so that wisdom, hope and harmony are the first, last and unwavering provisions on my tongue.

I ask that you bless me with empathy, strong values and excellence in attitude so that only the finest offerings of advice and counseling from me are tendered for upright interpretation and encouraging reasoning.

I pray that my thoughts and words work together in unity and exemplify Your Will so that others will accept the clearest, choicest and divine of options to assimilate into their lives.
I praise and thank You Lord for blessing me with a peaceful and contented heart from the love You reveal to me daily in abundance.

I thank you Lord that through my service to others I will more intimately experience Your mercy, grace, love and the pleasures of life You desire for me.

Amen.

Inspired by:
2 Timothy 2:3 Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
2 Timothy 2:11-13 This saying is trustworthy:

If we have died with him
we shall also live with him.

If we persevere
we shall also reign with him.

But if we deny him
he will deny us.

If we are unfaithful
He remains faithful,
For he cannot deny himself.

If the truth be told . . .

If the truth be told . . .

When we are confronted with the truth, we must not look to our past beliefs or behavior for backing. When the truth is before you, you must humbly accept it, declare its truth, fix what you must in your lives and move forward in love and unity.

Inspired by: Acts 22:1-21 Look it up! It’s great reading!

A whole new world!

A whole new world!

Everyday, many times a day, sadly, we pass judgment on one another. We have all committed sinful acts that live in our “private” consciences. At other times in our lives and for others who are less mindful we may have never, or with regularity, examined our consciences. Therefore we lack or blatantly ignore our private “set of laws”, hence, our morals and values. Therefore, we may have convinced ourselves of our own righteousness and carry no guilt or, even worse, fear of God. However, there is a knot that twists in the pit of our stomach or an ache in our heart that wakes us and jolts us to a reality that we may or may not face. It is our God given conscience that reminds us of “right and wrong”. If we claim to be faithful people then we must live under God’s rules of love. God simply asks us to live in love and it is before Him that we will stand to be judged ourselves. If we judge then we shall be judged. Judgment does not equal unconditional love, kindness, support and forgiveness. You love God whom you have never seen. Therefore, just as God does, you must love your brothers and sisters whom you do see and who are children of that same God. Therefore, it is fitting to ask for what reason do we finger point and reveal other’s sinful acts before others when we, in fact, have our own sins grave or small to account for? To make ourselves feel better? To be the first to gossip and have credit for “the scoop of the day?” For retaliation or to see our brother or sister suffer and be publicly humiliated? Whatever the reason, none is good enough to justify passing judgment and passing it on by gossiping to hurt someone. There should be no “but” in our thought process with respect to love and forgiveness. “But you don’t understand, he . . .” We may know very well the people who have been affected, afflicted or hurt by another’s ordeal. Granted, there may be a time we may need to help another and get involved. What we need to become conscious of is for lack of a better phrase and forgive the harshness of the comment, “don’t put our noses in where they don’t belong.” Our family, friends and neighbors’ faults should not be the subject of conversations or the details of which should not be hashed over a meal, the water cooler or the news. If you have a personal grievance against another it must be addressed with them personally in an effort to resolve ”with love” unsettled matters. If we have chosen to turn our thoughts away from dealing directly with this grievance, perhaps there is a reason far beyond our understanding for having tucking it away in the recesses of our minds for days, months and even years. Past that personal encounter whether it resulted in resolve or un-acceptance of fault, we are called to pray for, forgive others, and still love. It is not ours place to spread gossip and cause undue additional harm to another. That person too has a conscience. We will never know what another feels, how they suffer in heart or body, how they would wash their hands of evil deeds, or how deep with regret one might live. It is not for us to crucify, torture and make one’s life miserable sometimes to the point of death of a spirit or literally of a life. Only God knows our sins, our hearts, and it is before Him that we all will answer.

Grave sin reveals itself like a blast of dynamite, while more menial sins may be camouflaged by our minds that have been desensitized to our evil ways and come across as ordinary acceptable ways of being. Because people are so detached from the church and their faith practices we lack an immediate and conscious responsibility for our everyday and extraordinary actions. We could easily be forgiven by God for a heinous crime by a truly repentful heart, and perhaps not be for less significant sins that we knowingly push to the side making less of them in our own minds, comparing ourselves to another.

So that we might become” awakened and improved followers” of Christ who gave us the example of perfection and the ways of God, let us examine our consciences as they may fall under the Ten Commandments that have been given to us as our foundation of God’s love.

We might pose questions to ourselves that resemble these:

Have I gone to church or prayed to God halfheartedly or unwillingly or perhaps simply stopped praying altogether? Did I use God’s name in vein (OMG), curse, poke fun of God, Jesus or any other saint or tell a lie under oath (“I swear” on the bible, my mother’s grave . . .)? Did I not go to Church on Sunday, work to an excess so as to inhibit the worship due to God? Have I been a bad example, showed a lack of respect to others, failed in my responsibilities to myself, spouse, children, friends or ill or lonely family members? Was I envious of others, angered easily, neglect my health, get drunk and get carried away by glutton? Did I rape, molest, murder, or desire revenge against someone who offended me, tease, quarrel, or cause harm by my actions or words? Did I have impure thoughts, conversations that solicited promiscuity, look at indecent pictures, and did I lead others to circumstances that could lead to sin? Did I have sex out of marriage or engage in heavy petting and necking while dating? Did I steal from work, family or friends? Did I neglect to pay my bills, harm anyone by deception to get my way, or am I materialistic? Did I tell lies (white or any other color)? Did I reveal a secret with undue cause? Did I willfully and with malice fail to protect another?

“Do not forsake the work of God,” said St. Paul in his letter to the Romans and thus the message to us is the same. We should not take Godly matters into our own hands. Therefore, upon an examination of our now conscious behavior we can “clean house” so to speak so we can set in place more firmly the strong foundation necessary to be not just “good,” but “great,” ambassadors of Christ.

We, God’s capable and equipped people, let us now, today, let go of our burdens, secrets, worries and cast our cares to the One who will take them. Praise God and be thankful and happy for the answers He provides to life’s ups and downs that we will see when we know better the love of God. Be part of what will bring harmony to our world. Forgive and be merciful and you will come to know God better. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was sent here to deliver an incredible message. We will meet His Father someday. You will be ready, because you live with the love of God in your heart!

Explore and get to know the depth of your love for God. In so doing, you will look upon the people of the world with different eyes. You are an influential person. In your daily life, you are surrounded by many people that you can influence. By your heightened awareness “put into practice” your spiritual actions and you will encourage and motivate others to follow not in your footsteps, but in those of the One who was sent herewith righteousness and glory. For God sent His Only Son to save the world! You are part of that world! A whole new world!



Inspired by Romans 14:1-23

Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. One person believes that one may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. The one who eats must not despise the one who abstains, and the one who abstains must not pass judgment on the one who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on someone else's servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. For one person considers one day more important than another, while another person considers all days alike. Let everyone be fully persuaded in his own mind. Whoever observes the day, observes it for the Lord. Also whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while whoever abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God. None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why then do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;

for it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God."
So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God).

Then let us no longer judge one another, but rather resolve never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; still, it is unclean for someone who thinks it unclean. If your brother is being hurt by what you eat, your conduct is no longer in accord with love. Do not because of your food destroy him for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be reviled. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit; whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by others. Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another. For the sake of food, do not destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to become a stumbling block by eating; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Keep the faith (that) you have to yourself in the presence of God; blessed is the one who does not condemn himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because this is not from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Want a piece of this?

Want a “peace” of this?

Most of us feel as though we just couldn’t fit another activity or another person into our lives. Rather than living a life we enjoy, our lives seem like a bag stuffed to its brim, ripping at the seams, and like a ball rushing and spiraling down a steep hill. Oh where, oh where, will it all stop? As much as we gripe and complain about all we have to do we still manage to squeeze in the next emergency or favor for someone that was not on the list. At the end of our busy days, we might breathe deep releasing anguish, sigh in exasperation, cry to express our emotions, laugh to bring relief to a heavy heart, feel dead and void that tells of our sadness or depression, and on some unique days feel somewhat content and accomplished.

But at the end of the day what brings you peace? For that matter what gives you peace in the morning, at the peak of day, at your most trying times, and at rest. “Peace,” you ask? “Can I buy that? Does it come in a bottle by the gallon?” Many of us do not know where to obtain it. We might jokingly and superficially question, “Really, where do I find it? Is it in my workplace, my head, at home, on the telephone, in my bed, at the market, in the car, in the shopping mall, in my pocket, or on my nose? Where?”

Society does not spend their time seeking peace. You might say we seek chaos. Yes “chaos.” Chaos is disorder, confusion, commotion, disarray, turmoil, madness, mess, unruliness, shall I go on? The funny part is that these things are hard to live with and unwelcoming, yet we choose to greet madness over peace, simplicity, and righteousness.

It is easier to ignore something that is not jumping up and hitting us in the face. It’s easier to remain the same, because we know “we can do that”! Jesus is our source of peace and He is not into violence. In fact, he suffered at our hands and didn’t fight. No, He’s a different sort. He’s waiting for you to come and when you are ready “He will bring you rest.”

Peace is missing from this world’s people. It has not found its way or been accepted into enough hearts. Peace may be what you just might be lacking too. Your heart ironically was designed by a “special heart maker.” He’s the cream of the crop in his field. His name is God. You might have heard about Him. There are many books written about Him. This same “heart maker” is also a fabulous “gift giver” and is very generous. You should get to know Him too! Amazingly enough, He made the heart so that it would know love at its greatest and would find peace in everyday. It has the potential to beat at a healthy steady pace and to keep a rhythm and warm spiritual feeling that is music to God’s ears and incredibly produces an abundance of grace from His heart. This heart if used properly would avoid many less than desirable heartaches and surely would make resting at night a breeze. Did you know that our special hearts have a special feature. They easily adapt to change and accept goodness whole-heartedly (No pun intended J.). In fact, goodness makes them flourish. However, unbeknownst to us, it is being limited and constricted by the way we live our lives.

Wonderful peace comes at the expense of giving up trials, grief, worries, sadness, busyness, and gossiping. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Peace is calm, quiet, stillness, tranquility, silence, harmony, and serenity. Do you think you might be ready for a different way of living? Do you think you might know why you don’t know it? Why you don’t experience it? Do ya think it’s something you might want a whole lot of? Ughhh, yeah!

This generation is at a wonderful crossroads in time. We have the luxury of learning and knowing the church’s history. We have modern technology that puts information at our finger tips and wonderful historians and writers who have documented our faith so that we would have truth and the answers at hand.

It’s time people for a bona fide “time out”. It’s time to get to know Jesus! He is the Prince of Peace! Jesus came so that we might have hope, love, true happiness and an eternal life (of course “eternal” comes after this life).

So where do you find Jesus? Well, you can call on him in your workplace, in your head, at home, on the telephone, in your bed, at the market, in the car, and in the shopping mall. (Well maybe not in your pocket or your nose.) Jesus is everywhere and is tuned in to you 24/7.
Jesus worked on generations of people to build churches so that you could spend time with Him. Have you spent time in one lately? He’s also touched many hearts with “a calling” to His work. These “called individuals” conduct bible studies, organize and keep motivated groups of faith and church ministries to help others.

You too have “a calling” but you’ve been too busy to hear, see and feel it. Take time out for you and find peace and discover “your calling.” Finding peace will not take away things from your “to do” list, but it will put life’s priorities into perspective. You will learn to eliminate useless worries, tasks that are time wasters and will be able to better focus on enjoying your life. One more thing that you will notice. You will be drawn to a whole group of people whom you’ve never noticed before and will become aware that they noticeably “seem different and happy.”
In church every Sunday, there are passages shared from the bible that tells us about the past. Take that message and keep it in your heart, in your thoughts, and in your actions all week. Use different resources to obtain readings that you can incorporate daily into your life. Be mindful of the day that these wonderful actions become habit. Imagine the day when Jesus is your biggest influence. Someone one day will say to you, “You seem different. How are you doing?” You will smile and respond, “I am fabulous. Life is good. I am happy, thankful, and grateful for all my blessings.” It will be then, in that moment, and many other moments and times in your life that you will know that you have found PEACE!

Peace be with you! With out new hearts, let us go in love and serve the Lord!


Inspired by 1 Sm. 3:1-0, 19-20

During the time young Samuel was minister to the Lord under Eli, a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”

Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” Bu Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet. The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me. Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the Lord.

I AM LOVE . . . I AM LOVE . . . I AM

I AM LOVE . . . I AM LOVE . . . I AM

From heaven comes my spirit and strength
From God above I bring blessings to you
I possess great power beyond imagination
And miraculous works to help you

You are loved beyond human comprehension
Pay it forward from the depth of your heart
Protection from harm and guidance will come
Through my grace you’ll know where to start

Believe in Me and Pray to Your Father
For God’s great Kingdom surely awaits you
Trust in me for all your needs
I am my Father’s Son and will not fail you

I shall dwell in your heart through your faith
And will go to great lengths to bless you
Treasure your life for I died for your sake
I am your Lord, the Son of God who loves you

I am love . . . I am love . . .
I am.

Inspired by Ephesians 3:1-21

MY IMMINENT PRAYER

MY IMMINENT PRAYER
(A personal prayer of hope and love)

Lord Jesus Christ,

Today I receive your love for my life
Without sin I will keep your commands.

I reserve your hope for times of despair
With my life I trust in you Lord.

When conflict arrives and sits at my door
I’ll seek justice and truth for my tongue.

In good times and bad I’ll seek a true heart
With Your compassion and love at my core.

When self consumes me I’ll pray for your light
You will guide me though darkness and more.

When the storm is calm and all is good
I give thanks to You, my ever loving Lord.

Inspired by:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
On your own intelligence rely not;
In all your ways be mindful of him,
And he will make straight your paths.


Proverbs 3:19-24

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth
Established the heavens by understanding

By his knowledge the depths break open
And the clouds drop down dew

My son, let not these slip out of your sight
Keep advice and counsel in view

So will they be life to your soul
And an adornment for your neck

Then you may securely go your way
Your foot will never stumble

When you lie down, you need not be afraid
When you rest your sleep will be sweet.