'...the Father seeks...worshippers.' John 4:23 NAS
When we fail to worship God we always find a substitute, even if it ends up being ourselves. Worship is a universal urge, hard-wired by God into every fiber of our being. It's as natural as breathing. Jesus said we were made this way because 'the Father seeks...worshippers'. Depending on your religious background you may need to expand your understanding of worship. For example: worship is more than just music. We say, 'At our church we have the worship first, then the teaching.' No, it's all done for God's glory! If worship is just music, then what about all those people who can't carry a tune at all? Also remember, worship is not a style. The music style you prefer says more about you than about God. One person's music preference often sounds like noise to another. But not to God-He loves 'joyful noise' and all the varieties it comes in. (Psalm 100:1) Also, worship is not just for your benefit, but for God's. When you say, 'I didn't get anything out of the service today,' you worshipped for the wrong reason! Yes, there are personal benefits, but we don't worship to please ourselves. Our highest motive should be to exalt God in whatever we do. Finally, worship should not be confined to church; as Martin Luther said, 'A dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God.' The secret of worship is in doing everything 'as unto the Lord'. The Bible says, '...because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as...dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him...' (Romans 12:1 GNT) That's what it means to worship!
Blessings in Christ! I'm back from Texas. Had a great time on the campus of Christ for the Nations for Zach's licensing and Zach's Graduation and I even got their new CD release 37 and heard them play some of the new songs. It's awesome. Hope to see you all this week in one of our fuel groups or men this Saturday @the BBQ. If you were not @church yesterday you missed an encredible message by my wife on restoring your soul. Thanks Amy for a great job! Be blessed and bless somebody else this week...you are loved!
'If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth...' Luke 16:11 NLT
We never really own anything; it's just a loan. It was God's property before we arrived, and He'll lend it to somebody else after we're gone. Our selfish culture says, 'If I don't own it, why should I take care of it?' Those who understand God's will live by a higher standard. They say, 'Because God owns it, I'll take even better care of it!' In God's Kingdom, '...those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust.' (1 Corinthians 4:2 NCV) To illustrate this, Jesus told the story of a businessman who entrusted his wealth to his servants while he was away. When he returned he evaluated and rewarded them accordingly: 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21 NIV) When you make the most of what God has given to you He promises three rewards. First, you'll be given commendation: 'Well done, good and faithful servant!' Next, you'll receive promotion: 'I will put you in charge of many things.' Finally, you'll be honored with a celebration: 'Come and share your master's happiness.' For many of us, money is the greatest test of all. Jesus addresses this: 'If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of Heaven?' (Luke 16:11 NLT) There's a direct correlation between how you use your money, and the quality of your life. So the question is: could the way you're handling your money be preventing God from blessing you with more?
'...these things happened...as examples...' 1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV
A pastor was building a fence while the neighbor's 12-year-old son watched. The pastor smiled and said, 'Are you interested in carpentry?' 'No,' the boy replied. 'I just want to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer!' You are the only Bible some people will ever read, and they're watching to see how your life lines up with what you profess. Some are hoping for confirmation of the life-changing power of Jesus; others for a chance to say, 'See, Christians are all hypocrites!' We want to set a good example, but sometimes we fall short. And as humbling as it is to mess up, God uses those failures to '...[make] it clear that our...power is from [Him], not...ourselves.' (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT) God doesn't gloss over the shortcomings of even the most notable saints. They're 'examples...written down as warnings for us...' (1 Corinthians 10:11 NIV) Abraham, the 'friend of God', lied about Sarah being his wife (Genesis 12:10-20). Moses, the mighty leader, got angry and disobeyed God. David, a man after God's heart, committed adultery and then tried to cover his tracks with murder (2 Samuel 11:15). Peter, head of the church, denied Jesus not once but three times (Luke 22:54-62), and John Mark gave up and went home during a missionary trip (Acts 15:38). They're all in there, warts and all, and Paul says, 'If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.' (1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT) So don't get discouraged when you stumble. Get up, admit your mistake, apologize to the people involved, ask God for forgiveness, forgive yourself, learn from what happened, and move on.
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your...life...' Ecclesiastes 9:9 NAS
Marital happiness requires an environment of unselfishness. Two people deciding to live out what Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount will find happiness together. Each beatitude (what our attitude should be) begins with the word 'blessed', which means 'happy'. True happiness is found in humility, a readiness to repent, gentleness, patience, being unassuming, loving what's right and just, pure-heartedness, and peacemaking. These are the qualities that make a marriage go the distance. And notice, they're the opposite of selfishness! An un-crucified self is the worst possible marriage material. The wedding ring symbolizes unending commitment, but the key to lasting marital happiness is to superimpose it over the cross, the symbol of death to self. Self will put an end to love; love will put an end to self. Marriage is the ultimate invitation to growth in unselfishness. Living with another imperfect person pushes us to mature, mellow and master the art of relationship-enhancing self-denial. Paul writes, 'Excel in showing respect for each other.' (Romans 12:10 GWT) The test of a loving relationship lies in putting our partner's needs before our own. Asking, 'Whose good am I seeking in my handling of this situation?' reveals our real heart attitude, prompting us to put our partner first. Deliberately deferring to them applies the cross to self and the flesh, and promotes our marriage. The more self dies, the more our relationship lives! '...a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed.' (John 12:24 NCV)
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your...life...' Ecclesiastes 9:9 NASContentment is the key to a happy marriage. When asked what makes us contented in marriage, we inevitably point to things our partner does, or their characteristics, that please us. When asked what makes us discontented, we indicate what they do, or are, that displeases us. We focus on what's right or wrong about them, making ourselves happy or unhappy. But contentment is an inside job! It's how we react to others. Our attitude is the real issue. The problem's not what we see or hear, it's how we see or hear it: '...The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear...with hearing.' (Ecclesiastes 1:8 NAS) The eye and ear-our perceptions-are the culprits. That's why God says, '...be content with such things as you have...' (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV) We must choose to see things differently, in ways that don't make us unhappy. The controls are in our hands, not our partner's! Contentment is a choice. '...I have learned...to be content.' (Philippians 4:11 KJV) We learn contentment by considering how much harder others have it, asking God how He wants us to use our challenges and lacks for our growth and our partner's growth, and-remembering Erma Bombeck's advice-'The grass is always greener over someone else's septic tank.' Benjamin Franklin said, 'Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and half shut afterwards'. Finally, we can learn contentment by praying for the courage to change what we can (especially our own attitude), the grace to accept what we cannot (most things are acceptable when we stop resenting them), and the wisdom to know the difference.
'Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your...life...' Ecclesiastes 9:9 NAS
To be married and happy you must understand that love is a choice, not a sensation. The old Righteous Brothers' song You've Lost That Loving Feeling may make your toes tap but it won't make your marriage work. 'Feeling' is the fruit, 'doing' is the root. Your will is where the solution begins. God wouldn't have commanded, 'Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church...' (Ephesians 5:25 NKJV) or '...teach the young women to love their husbands...' (Titus 2:4 NCV) if love was a feeling and not an act of your will. When the will leads, the feelings follow. So let's correct four misconceptions about love. First, its foundation is not emotion, personality, beauty or sex-in other words, sources of pleasure. These things don't bring lasting happiness. What's needed is commitment, character and a Christ-like disposition.
Secondly, think you can't love your partner? Check with God. 'We love because He first loved us.' (1 John 4:19 NIV) If you're loved by God, you've got love to give, because '...love comes from God...' (1 John 4:7 NIV) You don't have to initiate it; just give what has been given to you!
Thirdly, think you've 'run out' of love? No, you've just abandoned the source: 'God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.' (Romans 5:5 NIV) Tank up on the Spirit's supply and you'll have lots of love to give! Finally, investing yourself in your partner causes even a dead love to live again. 'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.' (Matthew 6:21 KJV)
'Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your...life...' Ecclesiastes 9:9 NAS
Good morning! It was my pleasure to lead a young lady to Christ and to pray for her yesterday. Will you pray with me for her continued growth in her relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope the word came alive in your hearts. The next couple of days we will be focusing in the area of marriage. If you are not married, please read because you might learn something about relationships that can be used in other areas of your life. Enjoy!
Counselors reckon that less than 25 per cent of marriages today are truly happy. What does it take to be one of them? Thinking about marriage in God's terms, not selfish terms. From God's perspective, happiness in marriage depends on distinguishing fact from fiction. The world of movie magic creates unrealistic expectations. To enjoy life with your spouse every day, you must re-examine your thinking. Every marriage is made up of two flawed people: 'For all have sinned and fall short...' (Romans 3:23 NIV) That includes you and your partner. It's not that we don't know this, it's that we keep forgetting it, or hoping we're the exception to the rule. Expecting perfection is nave and will keep undermining your relationship. Happiness in marriage depends on coming to terms with your mutual defects and dealing with them realistically. Recognize fiction; deal with facts-especially in certain vulnerable areas. For example, finances. Practice tithing, generosity, delayed gratification, and fiscal discipline. Secondly, personal appearance. Always try to look your best, but accept unchangeable features-both yours and your partner's. Ageing is God's idea, so accept it with dignity and become wiser with it. Thirdly, lifestyle. Happiness is about comfort and contentment, not materialism and pride that lead to crushing indebtedness. Then, courtesy. Small kindnesses, considerate acts and words are low-cost, high-yield investments. Finally, physical satisfaction. The greatest satisfaction results from providing satisfaction for your partner. Self-focus, manipulation and demanding your way can never match God's unfailing system: 'Give, and it shall be given unto you...' (Luke 6:38 KJV)
