WEDDING SEASON MEANS EXCITEMENT, STRESS, JOY, AND DEEP EMOTION.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED LONGER THAN 20 MINUTES, YOU HAVE A FRESH MEMORY BEHIND EVERY ONE OF THOSE WORDS!

• EXCITEMENT (“GOD FINALLY BROUGHT HIM!”)
• STRESS (“HOW MUCH WILL THE WEDDING COST?”)
• JOY (“WE REALLY GET TO BE TOGETHER ALL THE TIME!”)
• DEEP EMOTION  (“THANK YOU, GOD.”)

If YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED LONGER THAN 5 YEARS, THEN THOSE WORDS MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

• EXCITEMENT (“WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!”)
• STRESS (“HOW MUCH IS THE HOUSE GONNA COST?”)
• JOY (“HE GOT A JOB!”)
• DEEP EMOTION (” THANK YOU, GOD, “)

YOUR MARRIAGE SEASONS CHANGE, YET YOUR GOD IS THE SAME.

HE WILL BLESS YOUR MARRIAGE IF YOU ASK HIM. HE IS THE GOD OF RENEWAL!

LIFE TOGETHER-WE LOVE IT!

My friend, Mary, added this pic and I thought “That is EXACTLY how I feel living under a GOD OF GRACE WHO LOVES ME NO MATTER WHAT! This is how I praise and (prayerfully) this is how I want to live. Arms lifted high-RECEIVING.

Lately, I find myself in awe of the overwhelming vastness of GOD’S GRACE.  Is grace really free or do I need to do some things because I am in a  ”divine pay-off” relationship with God?

Am I living in GRACE or LEGALISM?

GRACE IS UNMERITED FAVOR-no question-but I think the depth of this would shock us. We often think of the word “SIN” as an action or thought when it can also be a state. Why does it seem as we live in 2 worlds? The busy, daily grind when we don’t think about God at all on Tuesday, yet we can experience the spiritual HIGH of a Sunday morning. TORN.

I CORINTHIANS 3 TEACHES US THERE ARE  3 TYPES OF PEOPLE. 

1. “NATURAL MAN” (one not knowing Christ as Savior)
2. “CARNAL MAN ”(person having come to know Christ, but not obeying Him as Lord)
3. “SPIRITUAL  MAN”( person having trusted Christ as Savior & obeying Him.) With Romans 7 as our guide, we are stuck! When you can, read ROMANS 6-8 in one sitting. If you want, write down what you see. GOD’S incomprehensible GRACE breaks that ridiculous chain that we all wear- STRIVING FOR GOD TO LIKE US!

When I look through these chapters, I think, why do I do what I do?  If I am a legalist, it’s  because a vine of deceit has woven itself around me that says “work for God”or sadly, impress others with my devotedness.

If I live in GRACE-REAL FREE GRACE-I walk with God BECAUSE I’M RESPONDING to Him in BROKENNESS. I know, I mean really, I can’t do it. I can’t obey without God’s Spirit, I can’t desire time in His Word without His gentle hand, & I want to be self-centered at least 30 times a day. YET, HE WAITS….KINDLY, WITH OPEN & GENTLE HANDS & ALWAYS A BETTER WAY!

CHECK YOURSELF WITH THESE QUESTIONS. THEY HELP ME!

1. WHY am I doing this activity (bible study, speaking, or serving in the church kitchen)?
2. Do I believe God would STILL love me if I didn’t do these activities? Do I RECEIVE His kindness ?
3. Do I “feel good” about myself when I do “religious things”?
4.  Do I reckon myself dead and crucified with Christ and that nothing good dwells in my flesh? I love it that LIFE STARTED AT A SYMBOL OF DEATH- A TOMB! ANY GOOD IN ME IS HIS GOOD.
5. I have to ask God to break me any spiritual pride, really, to help me see the true state of our humanity. When I do, I am be surprised (maybe discouraged, sometimes?). Then,& only then, do we awaken to see OUR COMPLETE NEED AND HIS MAJESTY…and THAT IS GOOD.

May our lives be open to Him in True Humility,

Tristie 

MY DEAR FRIEND, MARY, JUST ADDED THIS BEAUTIFUL PIC OF 2 RINGS! SO, I THOUGHT, “I SHOULD RESPOST THIS FOR THE NEAT PIC AND THE MESSAGE GOD PUT IN MY HEART!”

BLESSINGS!  

Literally, as I prayed about what to share today, the LORD brought this critical area to mind. I’m excited to share these ideas with you because I love practicality in seeing GOD change me and my situations. 

The most important relationship you will ever have is with GOD. The second most important relationship is with your SPOUSE. ’Nuff said. We all have a habit of digging deep into the Word, joining Christian groups, and offering help in the name of Jesus. BUT, has it occurred to us that while we can cover First Base…we HAVE to run to SECOND? Your marriage says (perhaps) more about you than anything. 

Let’s get to it-How can we see a new MARRIAGE with our spouse?

• REALIZE NO MARRIAGE IS PERFECT! This should encourage you-because we are humans with a sin tendency. If your marriage was perfect, you couldn’t see GOD CHANGE YOU or the situation! GOD LOVES TO BE NEEDED!
• I BELIEVE WE ALL WANT TO GROW IN THIS AREA! I  HAVE NEVER MET A WOMAN OR MAN WHO SAID “AH, IT’S OK. THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.” Baloney. If someone says that, they DON’T want it to work or (more likely) they are afraid. Perhaps they don’t know HOW to love their spouse in the way the spouse wants or needs.

ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO CHANGE!

We don’t like this one. We have to admit we are not perfect nor “know everything”! We have to come in humility and (here’s the winning ticket!) ASK FORGIVENESS at times! I promise you-if you learn the “language of forgiveness” , your entire life will change …in every relationship. Not just “Hey, sorry.” But, knowing who you are before God and looking that person in the eyes and saying “WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?” I have seen marriages saved because of this simple question asked in humility.

FORGIVE. FORGIVE. FORGIVE.

 STEP OUT OF THE EMOTIONAL VORTEX & ASK YOURSELF “IS THIS ISSUE WORTH ME BEING UNKIND?”
Here’s the scoop.  Let’s say you are a wife & you get into the habit of nagging, sarcasm, and belittling. What’s worse….IT BECOMES HABIT!! ASK GOD TO TRAIN YOUR TONGUE NOW TO SPEAK WORDS OF LIFE AND NOT DEATH! 

Of course, there are times when you need to confront (extramarital affairs, abuse, or indebtedness) your spouse. This should involve counseling and real solid work to understand and love each other by faith. I am talking about the “nit-picky” stuff that piles on. 

If you were not with your spouse, how would he or she speak of you?

 HONOR YOUR WIFE WITH KIND WORDS. HONOR YOUR HUSBAND BY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BUILD HIM UP!

MEN, you can almost guarantee  your wife  will honor you by your sacrificial love & words of life.

WOMEN, your husband will stand 3 inches taller knowing you are his biggest encourager!

YOU READY? I KNOW IT CAN BE SCARY-BEING VULNERABLE IN A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP. SIT DOWN WITH YOUR SPOUSE AND TELL THEM HOW YOU WANT TO GROW. THEY’LL APPRECIATE IT. NOW,  ASK GOD TO BUILD A STRATEGY FOR A GREAT MARRIAGE IN 2012!

First, give him a smooch.

TRISTIE FISHER, JANUARY 2012