LOVE YOUR SPOUSE

MY PLACE OR YOURS?

God hardwired us to reign from the beginning of creation.

But instead of being KIND stewards, we start to show dominion over people.

Many times you may find yourself spending time trying to dominate your spouse or avoid being dominated by your spouse.

When you pray, “…Your kingdom come…”  (Matt.6:10)  you are asking God to let his kingdom take priority over yours.

There will now be such a struggle going on inside of you.

You are now in a FIGHT with two kingdoms.

Just think about how you have spent your whole life expanding your own kingdom.

You have worked at INCREASING your income, your education, your influence.

Anything which you have invested your time, energy and money in, you will grow very protective of.

Our human nature is to react with HOSTILITY when people challenge our kingdom.

The moment we ask for Gods kingdom to come, we threaten our own kingdom.

Any castle with two kings in it is in for a big CONFLICT.

There can not be two kingdoms, one of them has to leave.

What kingdom principals are you LEARNING?

In what areas of your marital life are you applying them?

If you are serious about asking God for His kingdom to come into your life, this is an ENORMOUS marriage makeover.

When you ask him into your life, he does not come to speculate; He comes to take control.

Phil.2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.”

When you put your selfish ambitions in front of your marriage it will lead to a CHAOTIC lifestyle.

You can silence self -promotion in your marriage and turn to service with humility.

What is God teaching you as you pray “…thy kingdom come…?”

Where God is given loving obedience, and is king of your heart, that is where the kingdom of God is.

We need to realize that we are living in a kingdom of DARKNESS.

Our marriage takes a big toll because we are living in the kingdom of darkness.

How many ways are you under the Kingdom of darkness.

1.  You can be under the darkness of ignorance.

Eph.4:18 “…having their understanding darkened…”

2.  You can be under the darkness of pollution.

Rom.13:12 “…works of darkness…”

Pride in your marriage darkens the glory of God in your soul.

3.  You can be under the darkness of misery.

Ex.10:21 says the darkness of Egypt was so thick “…it might be felt…”

Who has the spiritual rule in your heart?

There are TWO kingdoms fighting for it.

Which kingdom do you resist when it is challenged.

Your own selfish ambitious promotion or the promotion of Gods kingdom?

Where is your heart?

The Kings place or yours?

NOTE:  Tomorrows post will have new encouragement to help your marriage be successful.

THE FUN BUS  (Part 2)

CONTINUED FROM PART 1:

“Now,”  Jesus said, “I have a ride home all lined up for you.  I have been getting the driver ready for Me and for you while you were out riding The Fun Bus.”  Jesus turned me around, and I saw my wife Charlyne.  She was smiling and looked so peaceful and happy.  I could tell by the way that she talked to Jesus that they knew each other well.  I wished that some day I could know Him that way.

“Honey,” the wife of my youth said, “Jesus and I want you to come home now. You have three children and a wife who need you.  I have been talking to the Lord about us all the time you have been out riding on THE FUN BUS.  I have forgiven you for everything, and the Lord will also, if you will only ask.”

Wow!  I never thought that Charlyne would come up the creek to get me.  How could she ever want me back?  After all, she knew a lot of what went on while I was aboard THE FUN BUS.  I was to ashamed and hurt to climb in with her.  I wanted to so badly, but I just couldn’t.  What would others say if I came back to the wife whom I had walked out on?

I started walking down the road of life.  I knew that Charlyne was not far away, standing and praying for me, and that I could go with her at any time, but I had my pride.  No one could put me so far up the creek that I could not make it on my own.

My feet were blistered and I was whipped, but I kept my shoulders back, and walked with a good stride.  No one could ever know how much I hurt.  I started out to have a good time, and I was going to be happy.  No one knew it, or so I thought, but this path was killing me.

What hurt most of all was to look over to the creek that ran parallel to my road and to see happy couples floating by.  The places that rent tubes in Bryson City all have their initials on their tubes in huge letters.  I did not know what GL was until I yelled to one of the other men floating by.  “It’s ‘God’s Love.’  Friend, that’s the only way to have fun making it down the creek.  Say, where’s your wife, and why are you walking instead of tubing?”

“She left me,” I lied back, “and I am walking because I enjoy walking.”

“Doesn’t look to me like you are enjoying things very much,” he shouted as he and his wife floated out of sight, around a bend, in two big GL tubes.

The Fun Bus came by several times, offering a ride.  Once or twice I almost got in, but each time I remembered how Jesus had looked when He sent that driver away.  I wished that there had been no Fun Bus in my life.  How I wished that Charlyne and I were there having a good time together floating by on GL tubes, the best on the mountain.

I saw Charlyne drive by several times.  Not once did she stop and beg, nor did she threaten or manipulate me to come home.  She was just there.  I asked myself why she looked so happy and I was so miserable.  We were both divorced, but now she radiated love.  Not until a long time later did I realize that her car was traveling on GL tires and the love that I saw in her was the love of Christ.  Then it happened.  Jesus came by again.  He looked at me with the same eyes that had send The Fun Bus scampering.  The Lord spoke only three words.  “Bob, go home.”

Suddenly it all came together for me.  I turned around and Charlyne was there, but The Fun Bus was gone.  I climbed in and started home.  Just a bit farther ahead, we passed that couple on the GL Tubes.  He excitedly pointed me out to his wife and both gave us a big thumbs up and smiled.  They knew what had happened.

That has been a while ago.  If I can do anything in this life for the Lord, it will be to help keep other husbands and wives from taking “The Fun Bus.”  My friend, there is no fun to be had on Satan’s bus.

Bob Steinkamp

Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

THE FUN BUS  (Part 1)

NOTE:  This is an article that I felt you would thoroughly enjoy reading.  Bob who was a prodigal returned home after being divorced and was remarried to his wife for another additional 23 years before the Lord took him home to Heaven.

The Fun Bus Story

There is a big van that can be seen around Bryson City.  It is from a campground a few miles away.  Painted on both sides of that vehicle, in huge letters, is an invitation to ride The Fun Bus.  That bus carries people to Deep Creek for tubing.  I suspect that the driver carries his excited riders as far upstream as possible, and then picks them up down below after they leisurely float down-stream on their rented tubes.

Years ago, I used to flag down another fun bus and hitch a ride.  The driver of my bus was always willing to stop for anyone who wanted to ride with him.  In fact, if he notices an individual walking a certain direction, he has no hesitation to stop and to offer a ride.  I often felt guilty riding with him, and not paying, but after all, it was called The Fun Bus.

One day The Fun Bus carried me further upstream than I had ever been before, but the driver did not come back for me.  I discovered the driver delights in taking people up the creek and then leaving them there.  I had been hitching a ride on the wrong Fun Bus.  The one I continued to flag down came not from a campground, but from Satan’s playground, and was being driven by the enemy himself.

That day when I found myself up the creek of divorce without a bus, the evil one was nowhere to be seen.  I now understand that he delights in staying just out of sight, but always ready to offer another ride, not toward home, but farther on up the creek.

After I discovered that I had been deceived, The Fun Bus came by and offered me another ride into a non-covenant relationship with another woman.  I was tired and hurt from the path of life that I had been traveling, and stood at the door of The Fun Bus, almost ready to climb aboard, when Jesus passed by.

The devil driver began to tremble when he saw that the Lord whom I had once served faithfully was there.  I must tell you that I did also.  You see, back in the 70’s I had asked Jesus to forgive me for all the trips on Satan’s Fun Bus that I had ever taken.  I received God’s free gift if eternal life that will some day take me to Heaven.  Now that will be some trip!

Later, I had even surrendered my life to the Lord’s service.  Back then, I tried to avoid The Fun Bus, but I suppose time just changes things.  the driver used to pass and honk at me often.  One day I accepted just a short ride with him.  The next day, it was a snap to ride on just a bit farther.  Soon, I was riding anywhere that THE FUN BUS from Hell would take me.

That day, when I found myself up the creek, Jesus put His loving arm around my shoulders for the first time in a long while.  He had been attempting to do that for a long time, but I had been pushing Him away, much like a pouting child.  I did not know that the Lord considered me to be one of His pouting children, and that He was not about to give up on me.

With His arms around me, Jesus and I walked right up to the door of The Fun Bus.  “He won’t be riding with you any longer,”  Jesus said to the driver.  At the same time, He gave me the warmest squeeze that I had ever experienced.  That was exactly what I had been searching for when I boarded The Fun Bus in the first place.  “He still owes me all those rides, ” the enemy squealed.

The Master looked him straight in the eye, and said, “Bob’s debt to you is paid by My shed Blood.”  The Fun Bus driver did not take that well.  He trembled, and sped off.

Part Two on tomorrows post.

PASSWORD TO MARITAL SUCCESS 

In today’s life, we often find that we do not have time to focus or listen.

We would like God to speak to us about our family life but God doesn’t leave VOICEMAILS or E-MAILS.

Our challenge is not to find time for God but to find the courage to stop our distractions for Him.

You create and empower DISTRACTIONS.

You choose to turn on your computer, carry your cell phone, watch TV, and schedule activities.

Jesus left us a pattern for prayer in our life in Matt.6:9 “After this manner pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

The word “manner” means “according to this model.”

The word “hallowed” means “set apart and holy.”

When we pray this, we are acknowledging that God is holy and honored.

Are you living a “holy” life that displays he is your father?

Are you dedicating yourself to live a marital life that reverences all that God is?

You are COMMANDED to honor God’s name.

C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in.  Aim at earth and you get neither.”

“Hallowed be your name” in essence states “we declare our desire and intent to live differently.”

You need to not just say the words, but show it by godly character.

Are there areas in your life that are not “hallowed?”

Are there areas in your marital life that God cannot write his name in because they are not  “hallowed?”

If you do not pursue holiness in your marriage, it will not be successful.

Heb.12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

If you and your spouse hold different standards of right and wrong (ethics) then true forgiveness cannot be given or received.

Don’t wallow in pain and shame.

Is there an area in your sexual life that you are HIDING?

Is your social life filled with holiness?

When praying “Our Father” without a holy life, it shows that you assess his love on purely human terms.

As you pray “Hallowed be thy name…” God will walk into the darkest closets in your life.

Ex:  Have you ever walked into one of your child’s rooms and it stunk.  You couldn’t bear the smell.  God knows how to clean and straighten up things to make it fit for his dwelling.

If you have a child-like life, you are in a position for a blessing.

The password to MARITAL SUCCESS is praise and worship.

Psa.22:3 “God inhabits the praises of His people.”

Have the COURAGE to stop right now and add time to praise and worship him in your daily life.

NOTE:  Tomorrows post will be an encouragement to make your marriage successful.

SEVEN MARITAL RESULTS from the LORD’S PRAYER

The unity and success of your marriage is determined by earnestly seeking God in prayer.

There are three different levels of praying the Lords prayer that depends where you are at that time.

THREE LEVELS OF THE LORD’S PRAYER.

 First, there is LIP SERVICE.  When you meet at church or when you are alone you usually pray out loud.

Second, there is the MIND LEVEL.  This is praying inwardly when you are busy doing something that frees your mind up to meditate on God.

Third, there is a HEART LEVEL.   This is the cry of passion that should be done privately because your heart will reflect on your face.

SEVEN RESULTS TO EXPECT

Praying the Lord’s prayer daily will change your life and redirect your future success in your marriage.

First, this action will magnify God daily because you are praying, “…Hallowed be Thy name…” You will grow as a Christian and learn what he expects from you as a wife.  Heb.11:6  “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Second, you will live by better principles when you pray, “…Thy kingdom come…” You are asking God to bring his holiness, his agenda and his perfect plan into your life and marriage.  Your marriage will prosper by living according to God’s laws.

Third, God will give you guidance when you pray, “…Thy will be done…” You are asking God to guide you into His plan and purpose for your marriage.

Fourth, you will receive more answers from God.  When you pray according to God’s will, with all your heart, God answers.  Marriage will always be hit with issues and we always will need answers to life’s tough questions.

Fifth, you feel clean when you ask for forgiveness because you receive that confirmation that God has forgiven you.  This happens when you pray, “…Forgive us our debts…” You can be free of sin and feel it!

Sixth, it will help you to rise above your circumstances and be victorious over your marital problems.  You will experience this when you pray, “…Lead us not into temptation…”  When you pray against temptation, you are asking God to keep you away from situations that will destroy you.

Seventh, you will petition God to protect you when you pray, “…Deliver us from the evil one.”  At this point, God will place a protective shield around you and your spouse.

Get yourself organized!!!

Have a checklist of times that you will set to pray.

Have a prayer list of items you need to pray for your marriage.

Do it now!!!

Don’t give place to the enemy another minute!

NOTE: Don’t miss tomorrow’s post, which will help you to have a successful marriage.

NOTE:  Many of the comments and outline is from the book, Praying the Lord’s prayer by Elmer L. Towns

IS GIVING UP THE PAST A GOOD IDEA?

JACOB AND ESAU had a lot of baggage between them, a lot of hurt and resentment.  Jacob so feared his brother, in fact, that he essentially bribed him with gifts to buy his own safety.  Digging up the painful past was absolutely the last thing he wanted to do!

While it is true that those of us who have accepted salvation through Jesus have received a new nature (2 Cor.517), the truth is that past sins have left us with scar tissue that affects how we respond to one another.  There are enough challenges in marriage without saying,  “We’re not going to talk about those issues that have shaped our lives.”  You must get into the issues and create some level of understanding.

A marriage has to be built on a love-based commitment: “Perfect love casts out fear” (1John 4:18).  You can’t risk hiding something important from your spouse, thinking, If I share that, she’ll reject me!  When you do that, your relationship is controlled by fear, not love–remember Esau?

When love encounters past mistakes in the loved one, it says, “I embrace you.  I receive you.  I accept you.  I cherish you.  And, yes, I forgive you.”

NOTE:  This article was take from Family Life Marriage Bible by Dennis & Barbara Rainey.

NOTE:  Tomorrow there will be a new post to  assist you in making your marriage a success.

SATURDAY – QUESTION & ANSWER  

Question #1.  We are feeling a lot of marital stress in our marriage due to our financial situation.  What can we do to reduce this stress?

Answer # 1.  My husband just showed me an article from “The Daily” called “Sinking feeling.”  It is by Ashley Kindergan from 8/13/11.  They did a survey and the question that was asked was the following: In which area are you feeling the most stress as a result of your financial situation?  27 % of the people they asked answer that finances they felt brought the most stress in their marriage.  That is almost 3 out of 10 marriages.  These results are devastating to a family.

I will share some principles from God’s word concerning how to be stress-free and worry free.  I will use a list and comments from an excellent book called “Internal Affairs” by Dr. Larry Hutton.

You can have control of your emotions and have a life with no stress.  Fear will paralyze your faith and worry is derived from fear.  Faith is a reaction from the heart based on something God has said.  Fear or worry is a reaction from the mind or emotions based on something your circumstances (or the devil) has said.  Worrying never brings peace or joy.

Worry does not empty tomorrow’s problems, it just empties today’s strength.

To worry is sin.  Rom.14:23b says, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  Worry is causing destruction in peoples lives and it is just as wrong to worry as it is to commit adultery or murder.

1Peter 5:6-7 tells us to cast our cares on the LORD because he care for us.  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.”

Look at what the cares of the world do!  Mark 4:18-19 “…And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

If you allow yourself to continually worry, you are no better than a drunk.  Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with…drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unaware.”

In Luke 10:38-42 is the story of Mary and Martha, two sisters.  Martha was worried, Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard the word.  Worry cuts you into billions of pieces.  All the great men of God encouraged themselves in God and in His word.

1.  Humble yourself by casting your cares upon the Lord.

2.  Like Mary, continually stay in God’s word and obey it.

3.  Like David, encourage yourself in the Lord.

4.  As Isaiah said, join yourself to the Lord and exchange your weakness for God’s strength.

5.  Like Jehoshaphat did, seek the Lord and let Him fight your battles for you.

6.  Like Psalms says, give thanks to the Lord and magnify Him instead of your problems.

7.   Like Paul & Silas did, pray and sing praises when things are not going well.

8.  Finally, become spiritually minded and allow righteousness, peace and joy to fill your cup to overflowing.

Doing the above things will cause us to be total overcomers in the realm of our emotions.

NOTE:  Tomorrows post will contain more marital insight to make your marriage a success!

LOVE DOESN’T TAP OUT

Have you ever had your spouse “let you down” at some point along the way?

I’m sure, if the truth be told, you have let your spouse down also.

Human beings, and especially spouses, FAIL each other at one time or another.

1Corinthians 13:8 “Agape (love) never faileth…”

Love will last forever!!

Paul concludes POWERFULLY in 1Cor.13:8 that Gods love is forever!

Paul was trying to tell us that Gods love never disappoints or fails.

God’s love can always be counted on because it is always RELIABLE.

The way to get this love is to “die to self” but you cannot manufacture love.

Agape love never falls into ruin.

What is the difference between the world’s love and agape?

The SOURCE!!!

Agape has a source that is supernatural and that is a “supernatural God.”

Our constant challenge is to tap into that SOURCE.

Agape adapts to all circumstances and any country.

Does your love for your spouse fail more often than you would like?

That is because we are human beings and our love “taps out.”

As you grow in Christ the quality of “unfailing love” is manifested to our spouse.

As we obey the word of God, we daily progress in Christlikeness.

How do you feel when your spouse falls from the HIGH position they hold in your life?

How painful is it when you see a fellow warrior fall or stumble in battle?

Doesn’t this” let you down”?

God’s love is reliable and it is constant.

We are God’s CONDUIT for his unfailing love.

Remember, we cannot manifest this agape on our own strength.

Are you having a problem loving a spouse who is UNLOVABLE?

What with man is impossible, with Christ it is Him-possible!

Seek what is going to have enduring VALUE to your marriage.

Agape (Love) never “TAPS OUT!”

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help you make your marriage a success.

SPOUSES, DON’T THROW IN THE TOWEL

Do you remain firm in your love for your spouse when faced with hard circumstances?

1Cor.13:7 “…Love …endures all things…”

The word “endures” in the Greek is  “hupomeno” which means to stay under or remain.

In secular Greek, “hupomeno” was a military term used to refer to an army who is holding a position at all costs.

This would be a person who is under a heavy load but refuses to surrender to defeat.

He will stay put and refuse to leave because he knows that he is where he is suppose to be.

Do you endure in times of loneliness or loss?

If you are filled with the love of God and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, you can endure pain and suffering.

The early Christians and the apostles were able to endure suffering and torture, due to agape (love)for God.

Agape never quits or throws in the towel.

Are you patient and loving with your spouse with no desire to reject or retaliate?

Do you bear up under circumstances that seem impossible?

Example:  The formica japonica ants can lift and carry five times their weight.   God created them to endure hardness.

We were not made to endure heaviness without the infilling of Gods Holy Spirit.

When your spouse is not successful at their attempts are you still cheerful and still standing?

We can never talk ourselves into agape (love)because we have no power within us.

Be honest with God and say, “I don’t love my spouse right now!!  I’m angry and have bad thoughts.”

You need to ask Jesus to fill you with His high-level love.

Here is an assignment for you to reach that higher-level.

• Write down the 11 qualities of love in 1Cor.13.

As you think of each one, how are you measuring up?

Which ones are you strong in?

Which ones are you weak in?

Which ones do you need in your life right now?

• Memorize 1Corinthians 13.

There is nothing more important in your life than letting God perfect His love in you.

Say, “I’m committed to be here in my marriage and to stay here and to work out our marriage.  I am not quitting no matter what the cost or time is to me.”

Don’t throw in the towel!

Jesus didn’t carry a towel with Him to Calvary.

Don’t carry one around in your marriage.

NOTE:  Tomorrow there will be a new post to help you succeed in your marriage.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

The greatest spiritual gifts that the LORD left us are faith, hope and charity.

The Apostle Paul said in 1Corin.13:7, “…Love…hopes all things…”

Hope is not merely a “future state of happiness.”

In the secular world, they see “hope” as future expectations.

What is the difference between biblical hope and secular hope?

It’s the source!   Hope in a LIVING GOD!!

Marriages suffer from stress within and from outside.

Do you at times feel like a ship at sea in the middle of a storm tossed to and fro.

If we aren’t careful, that can take a toll on us and destroy our marriage.

Don’t become a prisoner of negative influences or it will tear your marriage apart.

When we gave our lives to Jesus, we became a captive to the hope we have in Jesus.

“Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope.  Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.”

Remember that we have His promise, as prisoners of hope, that He will restore double to us after each trial.

Our hope is not based on “wishful thinking!”

Biblical faith is founded on faith in the factual content of the gospel.

• Jesus’ death was due to our sins;
• Jesus was buried;
• On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead;
• Because we believe this, we are believed to be righteous.

Because of these facts, we have hope in our marriage.

Believers are energized by Holy Spirit who dwells in us and gives us that living hope.

All believers have hope but it is not “pie in the sky dream”.

This is a firm assurance that enables you to confidently face the problems around you.

Be confident that Jesus will keep all His promises.

Biblical hope is the certain expectation of God’s blessing, based on God’s faithful actions.

Jesus taught them not to be anxious about the future because that future is in the hands of your loving Father.

Hope right now can help you be satisfied with the joys of this life.

Hope provides the urge to live a pure life.

Hope helps us to be patient.

God wants to help your marriage grow stronger together.

Put your hope in Him.

NOTE:  Tomorrow there is a new post to help make your marriage successful.