Christian Spouse Swap

Christian Spouse Swap | by Dave Bruskas, a network pastor, for Mars Hill Church

“There is nothing Christian about swapping spouses, right? Right! Jesus made it clear that marriage is for life between one man and one woman living together as one flesh. There isn’t room for another person in this equation. Nor is there an option for trading up.” [Excerpt from linked article.]

• Click the linked title to read full article on Mars Hill Church’ Blog.

What with all this chatter about marriage from Mars Hill Church I thought it fitting to share the linked article posted by a network pastor there.

We’ve all seen or heard about the popular TV Series about spouse swapping. Well, the linked article looks at it from a Godly spiritual point of view.

At some point in our lives we get this attitude that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. My joke about that is that it’s because the septic tank is over there!

In the linked article it discusses being a new person in Christ. When we surrender, repent and seek forgiveness and accept Yeshua, The Messiah, as our savior the Holy Spirit enters in and we became like new creatures. In doing so we are changed people. Our marriages take on a whole new point of view.

As marrieds we need to be surrendering our marriages to Yahweh and allowing a marriage makeover.

I recall, in 2009, after God shook, rattled and rolled me and my husband’s marriage. We both had our baggage and issues. We entered into marriage carrying that baggage and issues along. In all that happened God took all that baggage and tossed into the rubbish patch to be lost forever. We became new creatures and got a new lease of our marriage. We were like newlyweds.

God loves each of us so much HE doesn’t desire us to be miserable. There’s going to be conflict as we each have our opinions, attitudes and personalities. That doesn’t mean we have to be completely different all together. God’s words in Genesis talks about leaving our parents and cleaving one to another, marriage, and becoming one in HIM. It’s hard to be one when we’re trying to be two. We each need to take responsibility and compromise a bit to make things work out. We each have strengths that the other doesn’t have. Working together as one creates a strong bond holding it together.

Do you need a marriage makeover? Invite God in and allow Him to do a spouse swap and create a new couple in HIM.

Prayer: “Dear Father God, I lift up the marrieds out there that need a marriage makeover. I pray that they will seek You and allow You to work a miracle in their lives. I pray You will meet their needs. I thank You in advance for hearing and answering my prayer. In the name of The Messiah, Yeshua. Amen.”

2012 Life Scripture

There’s this following of God’s children. We like to express a life verse for each year and do our best to share throughout the year how the LORD’s working that out in us. Some are choosing one word for the year. Some of us are taking it a step further and using scripture that speaks to us about that one word.

I’m not unlike the rest. I’ve chosen my word and found scripture that speaks to me. I’ve posted that life scripture over at my other blog. You can find it here.

Visit. Check it out. Let me know what you think. If you’ve not participated in the past; it’s not too late to join in. Pray. Seek direction from God. Post. Let others know. Praise God!

Marriage Is All about Jesus

Merry Christmas, disciples!

Linked below is an article that explains and clarifies how marriage is all about Jesus. Part of the article says:

• “Marriage reveals that we have demands, not expectations. When we don’t get what we want, we feel entitled to sin and justify our actions as we do. (James 4:1–3).”

Click here ===> Marriage Is All about Jesus | The Mars Hill Blog, & read how it’s so.

Imitating or Idolizing

“Imitation keeps Jesus as the goal. Idolatry makes being like that person the goal.”Trisha Wilkerson

“If you are imitators of God as dear children, your adoration will be proved to be sincere.” Charles Spurgeon

Are You Imitating or Idolizing?

It’s time for some reevaluating! A time to reflect. What am I reflecting though? After reading the linked article by Trish Wilkerson I was convicted. I realized that I’d been idolizing Godly women in my life.

I crossed a line I didn’t even realize existed. A line that was invisible to me. It’s a huge red line now. The only way I will cross it is if I totally ignore it and blatantly disobey God.

My guide is the Bible, God’s Word. As Trish mentions in her article, the Bible has plenty of Godly examples for me. The Biblical models have the examples of what a Godly woman is. I simply need to look in the mirror and know that I’m a reflection of GOD. And so do each one of you, ladies.

1 Corinthians 4:15-17
¹⁵ For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. ¹⁶ So I urge you to imitate me.
¹⁷ That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.
1 Corinthians 11:1
And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-2
¹ Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Prayer: Dear Father God, I lift up all the women in my life, real and online, that we would be imitators of You, not each other. In Yeshua, the Messiah’s name, amen.

Believing the impossible

[MARRIAGE]

Image from T. Suzanne Eller linked in original article

When marriage is hard: believe in the impossible.

I can totally relate to the linked article…

Cick here => Original post.

A new defense

We wake up each day and expect to have a great day. To have great relationships.

Then, BOOM! We encounter someone who really rubs us the wrong way. Immediately, an emotional response. In our mind we’re ripping this person a new one. We’re running through all these scenarios in our mind of what we would like to do to this person.

The person senses my awkwardness of the moment and sees anger in my eyes. The person immediately becomes defensive and does something to further push my buttons.

Step back and think about what’s happening. Why such hostility and animosity?

Proverbs 17:22 says:
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 also says:
Don’t be quick-tempered, for anger is the friend of fools.

I become weak and a fool when I am hostile. Weak minded.

My blog friend, Suzie Eller, posted this today:
“Walking in a new direction: a defensive move”

I now see things in a new light. I have a new defense. Honestly, I already knew I was supposed to do it this way. I was stubborn and sinful. Unwilling because I felt it wasn’t my fault. Fault.

Everyone, including me, says, “it’s not my fault.” We need to own up to our emotions and take responsibility for ourselves. Don’t waste the energy trying to blame everyone else. Allow the LORD to break the hardness around your heart. Allow HIM to soften you up. Show kindness, love and care.

Once I let down my guard and allowed God to soften my heart I changed. The animosity and hostility melted away. I simply showed love and kindness that flows from God. I’m not the judge.

Don’t take everything personally. People around you will seem different in a good way.

Marital Maturity

Marriage: Grow in unity or apart?
Mature and Endure | The Resurgence

We tend to get trapped. It’s easy to go our separate ways and do our own thing. We are rarely on the same page with regard to our faith and beliefs. Once we’re trapped in the singleness mentality it’s hard to get out.

I like how Pastor Phil Schmitt shares about his own marriage in the link above. He talks about the age levels of growth.

“Just like a growing child, our marriage has gone through many phases in 18 years: newborn adjustment, taking our first shaky steps, toddler temper tantrums, the “reasonableness” of a 5-year-old, the sharp learning curve of a 4^th grader, and the identity struggles, legalism, and narcissism of a teenager.”

For many it’s just too hard for them to endure through these stages of growth. They opt out. They get divorced. When there are children involved it’s not that easy. There’s still interaction. They tend to struggle through that too.

God never promises it was going to be easy. See John 16:33: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

God instructs married couples to love one another. Even in our vows we say in the marriage ceremony: “In sickness and in health, for better or for worse, to honor and cherish; in wealth or in poverty; until death do we do part.”

Staying in infancy only places our marriage among childishness. Thinking of the behaviors associated with the young makes me cringe. Not maturing indicates some serious mental dysfunction between the couple. All we have to do is look at the tabloids to see what this does to marriage.

Growing up. We must. If we want to have a lasting relationship with God at the helm we are to search out God and His Word to guide us. We must be accountable to the Holy Spirits prompting.

I know for myself I’ve fallen prey to the mess of immaturity in my marriage. When we allow the “me” mentality to take over we become spoiled temper tantrum throwing toddlers. This leads to nothing but turmoil. We fell hard. God scooped us up. Loved us. We surrendered. The Holy Spirit showed us grace like I’ve never experienced before.

We forget it’s not about us. It’s ALL about God!

In one book I read some time ago I learned that all of life is a test of our faith. It helps us become better characters in Christ. When we remove “me” and replace it with “God” we see things from a different perspective. God’s word tells HE doesn’t see things as we humans do. His timing is not our timing.

Acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s leading and allow your marriage to mature in unity with God. Remove “me” and replace it with God.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly God, Father Yahweh, I lift up my friends and my own marriage to YOU and seek Your guidance in having a Godly marriage that will honor and glorify You. Help us to remove “me” and put YOU. Thank You for the blessings of Your grace, hope and mercy to guide us. In the name of The Messiah, Yeshua, amen.

Letters between wives

My husband and I started attending a new church after we moved to a new home in a different city during the Christmas season of 2010. I had been doing some research online about the church and watching sermon videos from the church. We liked what we saw and heard. The best part about this church is all the encouraging and supportive resources available for marriage.

One such resource is the church blog. I got totally connected online with the church so that I could read and listen to whatever I could relating to marriage. Today as I’m reading the news feedback on Facebook I saw a post for a new segment in the blog series for wives and marriage. I hadn’t come across this series yet. So, out of curiosity I started reading. Well, I was just so excited, because, well, it goes so well with this blog of mine. So, I’m going to reference the series in this post so that all you wives seeking support and encouragement in a biblical and Godly sense can read that series.

The series is called: Dialoguing Wives. From Mars Hill Church.

In the first part a newlywed wife questions a seasoned wife for advice. The newlywed wife questions whether she made the right choice in marrying her husband. Read it and find out how it turns out.

I found the scripture references and questions at the end by the seasoned wife to be helpful in searching inside myself and seeking God. After you read it come back and post what, if anything, it does for you.

Here’s a scripture referenced in the post:

• “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23–24

{where your glory abides}

Psalm 26

1 By David: Vindicate me, ADONAI, for I have lived a blameless life; unwaveringly I trust in ADONAI.

• Clear my blameless and unwavering life, because I trust You, ADONAI.

2 Examine me, ADONAI, test me, search my mind and heart.

• See for Yourself, ADONAI, put me to the test, investigate my mind and heart.

3 For your grace is there before my eyes, and I live my life by your truth.

• Right in front of me, is Your grace, Your truth do I live by.

4 I have not sat with worthless folks, I won’t consort with hypocrites,
5 I hate the company of evildoers, I will not sit with the wicked.

• I don’t hang out with blatant sinners. I hate keeping company with them.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence and walk around your altar, ADONAI,
7 lifting my voice in thanks and proclaiming all your wonders.

• Wash my hands, I will, in purity; standing before Your altar, ADONAI, lifting praises, thanking and declaring all Your miracles.

8 ADONAI, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory abides.

• I love Heaven; the place where your glory abides.

9 Don’t include me with sinners or my life with the bloodthirsty.

• Exclude me from the sinners or my life from the cruel violence.

10 In their hands are evil schemes; their right hands are full of bribes.

• Their hands are filled with wicked plots, and full of illegal rewards.

11 As for me, I will live a blameless life. Redeem me and show me favor.

• As for me, I will live innocently. Set me free & approve of me.

12 My feet are planted on level ground; in the assemblies I will bless ADONAI.

• My feet are firmly set on a flat foundation and in the presence of Your people; I will bless ADONAI.

In today’s society, this is simply a dream. We can strive for this and be obedient to Yahweh allowing Him to work in our lives. Yet, all the clamoring of the people around us speak otherwise. Sinners are in abundance. Even me. We are influenced by media of all sorts, the people around us and even so-called christians.

Romans 12:2 tells us: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

I strive to be an example for Yahweh. If people are repulsed by it, that’s their problem and I can pray for them. People may ignore my efforts, however, Yahweh is in control. His truth will prevail in the end.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, I lift up we sinners and pray for our pardons from sin and that we will fall on our faces before You seeking Your truth in our lives instead of living a lie. I thank You for the redeeming gift of Yeshua, the Messiah, to vindicate us, clearing our names from hell and allowing us to spend Eternity with YOU. In the name of the Messiah, Yeshua, AMEN.

Isaiah 55

This scripture speaks for itself. Praise and worship ADONAI with me!

1 “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You without money, come, buy, and eat! Yes, come! Buy wine and milk without money – it’s free! 2 Why spend money for what isn’t food, your wages for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well, you will enjoy the fat of the land. 3 Open your ears, and come to me; listen well, and you will live – I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the grace I assured David. 4 I have given him as a witness to the peoples, a leader and lawgiver for the peoples. 5 You will summon a nation you do not know, and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you, for the sake of ADONAI your God, the Holy One of Isra’el, who will glorify you.” 6 Seek ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby. 7 Let the wicked person abandon his way and the evil person his thoughts; let him return to ADONAI, and he will have mercy on him; let him return to our God, for he will freely forgive. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says ADONAI. 9 “As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth – it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.” 12 Yes, you will go out with joy, you will be led forth in peace. As you come, the mountains and hills will burst out into song, and all the trees in the countryside will clap their hands. 13 Cypresses will grow in place of thorns, myrtles will grow instead of briars. This will bring fame to ADONAI as an eternal, imperishable sign.