Marriage: A Life's Journey

I was sick yesterday so here is my last entry for this series that I'm reading through.  


Philippians 1:27
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Tie Yourself to the Mast

Are you unhappy in your marriage? If so, you might be interested to learn that two-thirds of unhappy couples who stay together say their relationship is significantly better within five years. To achieve that, it’ll require you and your spouse to “tie yourselves to the mast.”

In Odyssey, Homer’s epic work, Odysseus encountered the mysterious Island of the Sirens. The creatures inhabiting the island possessed enchanting voices that distracted sailors from their journey, imprisoning them forever. As Odysseus’ crew passed by, the creatures sang their beautiful song. But Odysseus knew the dangers. He put wax in his crew’s ears and ordered that he be tied securely to the ship’s mast to prevent him from being lured away by their seductive melody. Odysseus also commanded they stay true to their course no matter how bad their circumstances seemed.

Marriages in our culture have become more transient. Too often we’ll throw out relationships at the first sign of trouble. But God created marriage to be a covenant – a deeply binding commitment designed to help us weather our most difficult circumstances. But it requires us to “tie ourselves to the mast.” You have to dismiss the voices that try to lure you away from your marriage or convince you that divorce is an easy answer to your troubles.

If your marriage is unhappy, it’s not too late. Commit your relationship to a course of growth and healing. With hard work and faithfulness to God, you and your spouse may discover the relationship you’ve always dreamed of. 

Marriage: A Life's Journey

I missed my personal bible study time yesterday so today you are going to get a double dose.  I hope that's alright with you? 

Yesterday - 2/6/2014
Hebrews 13:4
"4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."(NKJV)

Epic Love in Marriage:
In the blockbuster movie Titanic, audiences were infatuated with the love story between the main characters, Jack and Rose. It was a romance of such epic proportions it could only exist in the movies, right? Well … not so fast.

Aboard the Titanic when it sank in the Atlantic Ocean’s frigid waters on April 15, 1912, there was a married couple. As the terror of that tragic journey unfolded, the couple knew that after forty years of marriage they were about to spend their last moments together. “Women and children first” was conventional protocol at the time, of course, which meant that the woman would have to leave behind her beloved husband. But when the moment came, she refused, saying, “As we have lived, so we will die … together.” Numerous accounts of that night indicate the couple then settled into deck chairs and held hands, waiting for the inevitable.

The phrase “‘til death do us part” lies at the heart of traditional marriage vows. Unfortunately, its meaning has become more of a romantic novelty than a sacred, God-honoring commitment. And that’s why few couples are able to have in real life the marriage they’ve so often dreamed about. You see, the amazing love illustrated in the lives of this couple doesn’t magically arise in a moment of crisis. It’s the result of a husband and wife living out their love for one another and honoring their marriage vows each and every day. 






Today - 2/7/2014
Ephesians 4:15
"15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" (NKJV)

Loving the Stranger:
You wouldn’t marry a complete stranger, would you? Well – surprise! – if you’re married, that’s exactly what you’ve done.

On our wedding day, we all innocently believe the same myth: that we know and understand the person we’re marrying. But every newlywed eventually discovers that getting to know the depths of someone’s heart takes years. That’s the nature of relationship, especially one as intimate as marriage. So in that sense, we all marry a stranger. We’re in love with what little we know about our spouse, but we don’t know them. Not really.

Maybe that’s why Stanley Hauerwas defines a successful marriage as “learning how to love and care for the stranger to whom you find yourself married.” What does he mean? Simply this: In countless ways, the person we commit to on our wedding day will not be the same person five, ten, or twenty years from now. In fact, neither will we. Marriage changes us. So does raising children, careers, the aging process, and other significant events in our lives.

That’s why it’s important to understand that marriage is not a stopping point where we instantly know our spouse fully and completely. It’s a journey through life between a man and woman, both of whom continually grow and change across their years together. As one speaker said, “When people get married, they tend to believe they’ve found a finished statue, when in reality, they’ve merely found the block of marble from which their spouse will emerge.” Commit to loving your spouse and helping them grow more Christ-like each day. 

Marriage: A Life's Journey

Proverbs 4:25-27
"²⁵Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."

Drifting in Marriage

Good marriages are like a relaxing canoe ride when the winds are calm and the lake water is as smooth as glass. You just have to be careful you don’t drift.  I would consider my marriage a great marriage.  We have our rough times and our great times.  We do everything we can to allow God to be the center of our marriage.  Is it easy?  No, because we, our flesh, our personal wants and desires get in the way.  Once we realize that God is guiding us as a couple, we start focusing on His wants and His desires and our marriage is strengthened by that. By having Him as the center point of your marriage, you will grow closer together instead of drifting apart.  Trust me, that drawing closer has happened so many times because He has redirected our thinking on Him instead of the things of this world.   

I had a roommate in college, his name was Craig. Craig decided to ditch classes one day and go canoeing.  So Craig left, grabbed a canoe, and set off for a quiet day on the lake. That day there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and almost no breeze, so the water was completely still. Letting the canoe come to rest in the middle of the lake, it dawned on him: it was after hours, and no other boats were out. So he did the only sensible thing. With an extra life jacket for his pillow, he nestled in for a short nap. An hour later, he woke up to voices. Somehow his canoe had beached along the shoreline of a camping area. Craig realized there was a current in the water and a breeze in the air he hadn’t sensed.
They’d caused him to drift, and he ended up somewhere he never intended to be.

Like that canoe, marriages often drift. There’s no obvious conflict or struggle, just subtle distractions that lull spouses asleep. Couples hardly notice they’re losing interest in one another until they end up somewhere they never intended to be.

Fortunately, there’s an easy solution. Be intentional about the path your relationship is taking and keep your eyes focused on the Lord. It may not take as much effort as you think, but these small course corrections can change your marriage.

Marriage is important and not to be taken lightly.  I love my wife and thank God for her each and every day.  I know that at some point in time she will be reading this today so, Emily Plemons, I love you and I thank God for not allowing us to drift and for always bringing us closer together.   

Marriage: A Life's Journey!

Matthew 19:6
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
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Traditional marriage vows include the phrase, “Till death do us part.” Unfortunately, these words have become something of a ceremonial cliché rather than a statement of deep commitment to God and another human being.

Travel through our country’s small towns, and you’ll likely come across an array of honorable folks who still seal their agreements with a handshake and who consider their word an unbreakable bond. In the business world, contracts are much more formal, of course, crafted with highly detailed legal jargon that reads like a foreign language. Whatever form these commitments take, the purpose has always been the same – to offer protection, not when everything is running smoothly, but when things fall apart.

Commitment is perhaps no more important than when it comes to marriage. It provides strength and stability when a relationship encounters challenges. Unfortunately, many couples take an opposite approach when things turn sour – they run, rather than digging in their heels when commitment requires it the most.

As a married man myself, it's important to invest in things that will strengthening your marriage, not tear them down.  Trust me, I understand that relationships can encounter serious difficulties that are not easily resolved and I will admit, I am at fault most of the time (and that's hard for me to fess up to), but it's true. 

In looking at our society, we have the highest rate of divorce in the world and it's evident that most marriages rush too quickly toward marriage break-up instead of diligently working to restore a relationship back to health.

Commitment is foundational to surviving conflict. It enables us to focus on honoring God and serves as the fuel for us to work through our struggles with persistence and determination. The next time you find yourself in a heated disagreement with your spouse, commit to drawing closer together instead of running away.

Simple or Change?

Proverbs 1:22
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. (NKJV)

SAY WHAT? Simple folk do simple stuff all the time, but this way of living is wrong.  After all, fools don't like to learn.  Let's break this down.

 Change. Whether it's at school this week, at home today, or how we act in private when we think no one is looking or listening, we all know we have some things in our lives we need to change.  Solomon is trying to get what he calls "simple" people to change.  Are you simple? Have you taken the easy way out of life, always doing what your peeps do without really applying yourself?  Today that ends.  Don't be like the simple ones, or like the mockers who mocked the religion, or like the fools (great word choice) who hate knowledge.  Change, Change and take everything to the top level.  Be true to God's ways, and get knowledge as you go. 

So how do we live it out? Stop doing what is easy for you.  Stop working beneath your potential.  Stop following those fake friends that are supposed to be "What's Hot" because they don't do homework, they cut school, they watch the wrong things on TV late at night (You know).  Be your own person and CHANGE. 

Today I want to make this my prayer and I hope you will to.  Lord, help me today to live my life at the right level.  Help me do what I am supposed to do and not just get by on what is easy so I can fit in with friends and peers.  God help me to change for real. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

True stars

Today is a day of anticipation and yet a day of waiting upon The Lord.  There are so many thing that are happening in my life at this point in time that are overwhelming but great at the same time. God has His hand over all of that no matter what I try to DO. What I have to learn is to rely on that more and more everyday and grow within Him through that reliance.  

With new opportunities comes new responsibilities.  The responsibility of spreading the Gospel is the most important, in my opinion.  I pray that through Gods leading I can accomplish everything that He asks of me. I think about Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  God is going to be with me and give me the courage and strength to whatever is needed to accomplish His will.  

I read in Daniel 12:3 that "Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.Many people try to be stars in the world of entertainment, only to find their stardom temporary. God tells us how we can be eternal "stars"-by being wise and leading many to God's righteousness. If we share our Lord with others, we can be true stars-radiantly beautiful in God's sight!

This path that God has me and my family on I pray is a path that continues to glorify Him. Preaching and teaching His word is one thing but living it is another. I hope that my life is an example to other of what The Lord Jesus Christ has done for me. Living it out and striving to please Him and not man is what we are here to do. Praise be to God!  

New Horizons

It has been a while since I have been on and posted anything.  I have been, you could say, up to my ears in stuff.  Life stuff, work stuff, kids stuff, stuff upon stuff.  There has been a lot of things that have gotten me down and picked me up.  Stretched me thin and lined me out.  Throughout everything I have been trying to see Gods hand through the fog of stuff.  I have prayed and prayed and I know that God has heard me but it is His answer to those prayers that sometimes and most of the times I miss.  Either because I am in the way or I am letting other things drag me down.

I read today about Daniel.  I thought that was pretty cool. Daniel 6:10 says, "10 but when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God."  Daniel stood alone. Although he knew about the law against praying to anyone except the king, he continued to pray three times a day as he always had. Daniel had a disciplined prayer life. Our prayers are usually interrupted not by threats, but simply by the pressure of our schedules. Don't let threats or pressures cut into your prayer time. Pray regularly, no matter what, for prayer is your lifeline to God.

I have noticed that I have been doing the opposite of Daniel.  I have been praying and praying but the interruptions just keep getting bigger and bigger and greater and greater.  I haven't allowed God to fully take full reign of my prayer life....until a few weeks ago!

In the midst of all the running around and trying to seek out His will for my life, my family's life, I heard Him.  God opened a door and showed me a way.  Now this way is not 100% open but it's a way.  Towards Him and towards His plan for our lives.  I don't know what is going to happen or how things are going to play themselves out but I know that God is in control and that He is leading no matter what I try to do.  The good part about all of this is, is that as I pray now I know that there is nothing getting in the way of that prayer.  I don't the details and I don't know the ins and outs but I know that God has His hand upon my family and the new beginnings and new things on the horizon are going to be exciting.  No matter what takes place I know that we are in His will and there is nothing or no one that can take me out of His plan.  As long as I am following Him, leading my family in His direction, and seeking His face everything else will fall into place.  As the scripture says, "33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matt. 6:33.

Praise be to God!