If you are going through a difficult place in your life … or if you are trying to process an event that doesn’t make much sense … or if there is a painful memory that makes you wonder, “Where was God in that?” … check out this short video clip:
Now, go eat a cookie and know that God IS working out something good.
Do you like being around people? Or maybe a better question is: Do people like being around you?
In the case of Jesus, the answers are “yes” and “yes.” Check this out:
When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that He was back home. Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. (Mark 2:1-2)
People like being with Jesus.
They invited Him to their weddings…
They invited Him to their parties…
They invited Him to their dinners…
And when Jesus showed up somewhere, people flocked to that house.
If you and I are Christians—followers of Jesus Christ—the same thing should be said of us: People should like having us around, and they should like being around us.
Researchers have found that the biological responses of your body and brain to being “in love” only last two years. So guess when most newlyweds begin experiencing problems in their marriage? Yep, you guessed it: about two years into marriage.
After the in love buzz wears off, what can you do to maintain a happy, fulfilling marriage? Quite simply you have to choose to see only the best in your spouse.
Solomon was so wise to write to us that our spouse should be the only one who captivates us … the only one who satisfies us … the only one who keeps making our hearts go pitter-pat! When we choose to see the best in our mate, we can keep that in love buzz going for the life of the marriage.
Check out this excerpt from a WebMD article (you can read the full article here)—
Most often, self-assessments are grounded in reality, the researchers write. The way we see ourselves is fairly accurate. The way we see others, they continue, is often shaped by hope. With that in mind, they took one partner’s self-assessment at face value and compared it to the other partner’s assessment, as well as that partner’s description of his/her ideal partner.
For example, John’s ideal mate is funny and warm. And that is how he chooses to see Jane, who he has just married, despite the fact that Jane describes herself as moody and distant. Will John change his tune over time and come to regret his marriage to Jane? Or will his positive—if skewed—view of his wife help maintain his happiness?
Fortunately for John, the researchers found the latter to be true. In tallying the data, they discovered that those who did not idealize their partners when they got married tended to be more dissatisfied with their marriage by the end of the study compared to those who had an unrealistically idealistic view of their partner. Those in the “idealistic” group tended to be happier and more satisfied with their marriage.
In other words: you will bring out of your spouse what you see in your spouse.
Do you want a fun-loving wife? See her as your favorite playmate.
Do you want a confident husband? See him as a strong, self-assured provider for your home.
I like how the Apostle Paul states this (especially in the Amplified Bible)—
However, let each man of you without exception love his wife as being in a sense his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband—that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly.
Just as God sees the best in you and loves you for who He sees you becoming, love your spouse and see only the best in him/her.
I’m getting ready for week two of our Overloaded series, so I’m really digging into a lot of articles and reports about relationships. I believe that the biggest victim in our overloaded lives is our relationships.
Why? Because for relationships to flourish, they need lots and lots of time. Relationship development cannot fit into a nice, neat timeframe. Relationships are fluid: sometimes they need more time and sometimes they need less time.
Dr. Tim Elmore has a great blog post called A Missing Ingredient As We Teach And Parent Our Kids. His thesis is that we have to teach our kids how to think for themselves. But to get to that place, we need to come alongside them to help learn to do this. He suggests —
What do all of these have in common? They all require parents to have enough time in their schedule.
Can I make one suggestion on where to start? Dinner time.
For your close relationships to thrive, love is best spelled T-I-M-E. Make sure you have plenty of it!
This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.
Stronger
If we believe in a state of mind He produces in us, we will be disappointed, because circumstances will come in our lives when these works of Jesus Christ are shadowed over; but if we believe in Him, no matter how dark the passage is we shall be carried right through, and when the crisis is passed our souls will have been built into a stronger attitude towards Him.
From Facing Reality
Job certainly went through a “dark passage”! Yet in the midst of it he said, “But principled people hold tight, keep a firm grip on life, sure that their clean, pure hands will get stronger and stronger” (Job 17:9).
And as David passed through his “dark passage” he confidently stated—
I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
He saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
He surrounds and defends all who fear Him….The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. (Psalm 34:4-7, 19)
My friend, hold on to Jesus. Hold on! He will carry you through, and you will build a stronger faith.
Today is Ash Wednesday: the start of the season of Lent. For the next 46 days, people all around the world will be preparing themselves to celebrate Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday.
Whether you have celebrated Lent for years, or you aren’t quite sure what Lent even is, I’d like to suggest a great tool. I love how YouVersion has made the Bible so accessible. Not only in multiple languages and a variety of translations, but via smart phones and the web, it’s so easy to read the Word.
There is a daily devotional plan now available for the Lent season. You can access it by clicking here. This is a 46-day Bible and devotional reading plan. I started it today, and I encourage you to read along with me.
Let’s keep learning more and more about the amazing work Christ did for us on Calvary, and what our response to His atoning work should be. As I tweeted this morning:
In the midst of his despair, Job uttered this amazing truth about God:
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. When He passes me, I cannot see Him; when He goes by, I cannot perceive Him.
The wonders of God are all around me, His miracles occurring moment by moment; breath by breath.
Reflect for a moment on the miracle of your next breath…
If I’m exercising, this whole process accelerates. If I’m sleeping, this whole process slows.
This goes on breath by breath by breath throughout your entire life, all without your conscious effort.
This seemingly “little” miracle keeps me alive, yet when was the last time I stopped to praise God for it? I am a man of pitiful praise. I need to be more aware of God’s miracles and wonders around me. I need to become a man of perpetual praise.
The Ephraimites, armed to the teeth, ran off when the battle began. …They forgot what God had done—marvels He’d done right before their eyes. (Psalm 78:9, 11)
Forgetfulness breeds fear.
Even though the Israelites / Ephraimites had seen what God had done for them, they forgot. And when they forgot, they ran away.
How do I keep re-remembering?
If you feel fearful, it may be because you have forgotten what God has done for you. If you want to win the battle you’re facing, keep re-remembering what God has done.
What are you going to do to keep re-remembering?
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. (Proverbs 11:17)
There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want. (Proverbs 11:24)
The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it], but a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it. (Proverbs 11:26)
Pretty straightforward…
If you want others to help you later, help others now.
If you want God to bless you later, bless others now.
If you want people to honor you later, be honorable now.
It will only come back to you IF you throw it first!
As I was in the midst of studying for our series Overloaded, there was one thought that kept coming back to me time and time again—
And then the news of a tragic, unexpected death comes crashing into all of my local newsfeeds.
Wes Leonard was a star athlete for the Fennville High School Blackhawks. This 16-year-old played quarterback for the football team, and forward for the basketball team.
Last week the Fennville basketball team put their undefeated season on the line in their final regular season game against Bridgman. The game was tied at the end of regulation. As overtime was running out, the Blackhawks turned to their star player. And Wes Leonard deliver: hitting the game-winning shot as overtime expired!
The other Blackhawk players lifted their hero into the air and celebrated their undefeated season. But just moments later their joy would turn to shock, and then to sorrow. Wes collapsed just minutes after the game ended. Even though medical personnel worked valiantly on him, Wes Leonard was pronounced dead at Holland Hospital.
There were no outward signs of any medical issues. It wasn’t until the autopsy that the corner discovered that Wes had an enlarged heart, which led to the post-game heart arrhythmia, which caused this 16-year-old to have a life-ending heart attack.
I pray we’re never too busy to have deep, meaningful relationships.
I pray we make the most of every opportunity to connect with our friends and family.
I pray we live without the regrets of unspoken words of love.
I pray we realize more and more that every moment is special.
I pray that you can overcome the overload in your life that may be robbing you of capturing every special moment that comes your way.
Craig T. Owens 