Want a few bite-sized ideas to TAKE YOUR MARRIAGE to the next level?
1. This week, write down 3 things you appreciate about your spouse. Now, tell them! Your won’t believe how much it builds up your better half! I am absolutely convinced we can all learn to be encouragers in our marriages. It’s just like learning a language. Do this every week until it becomes a habit. (You could start with a dramatic, “You are the wind in my sails” or it can be the more casual, “Nobody makes bacon like you!” )
2. Train yourself to say, “THANK YOU” 3 times a day for any show of affection. For some, an act of kindness can be fancy flowers, walking the dog, or the way that spouse makes you feel cared for. For others, it’s the ultimate act of mercy -the diaper change. (#stagesoflife👍🏼)
3. Build gratitude, cultivate kindness, & enjoy your most important person!
Many believers are convinced God is displeased with inability & inconsistencies. This is not true! If there’s EVER a message to Christians, it’s that we really cannot do any of this. Only He can. I cannot save myself & I cannot change myself! This is the glory of biblical exchanged life living. He waits for us to realize our true state of desperate need. He is gentle when we come with nothing to offer. Then -and only then-He can work!
The self-righteous & smug vessel can’t be used by the King. There is simply no room. What would happen if we came to Him moment by moment and asked for help? What if we truly viewed our weaknesses as opportunities for Jesus to explode into our lives? Each second can be sanctified by our need of Him. Today, tell yourself the truth: Your need IS your super power!
What does “miracle” mean? What can the book of John teach us here? Everything ! For me, this book is my foundation. The 7 Miracles of Christ and the 7 Names of Christ given are what makes Christianity completely different than any other faith. Miracles are “intended to “ENGENDER BELIEF” (Thomas Nelson Study Bible commentary) Doesn’t it fit with the FACT that the word “BELIEVE” (in the Greek “pisteuo”) occurs 90 times in this Gospel?!
I. DEFINE MIRACLE -” A miracle can be defined as an act Jesus Christ performed while on earth to confirm his Deity. In addition, the apostles performed “signs” to attest to their divine authority from God. This was the initial building of the early church. Yet, we all use the phrase “It’s a miracle!” when we get a parking place , a free coffee, or pass Algebra. Are there 2 types of miracle? If we define a miracle as “only the things Jesus performed on earth to validate His identity” This is different than the miracles we ask for. If we are thinking of the context of Christ’s visit , then a miracle is the supernatural power of God entering the natural world of mankind. Jesus is alive & His miracles exhibited His Messianic title. It would seem that this kind of miracle is finished because Jesus said “It is finished!”
What now? Can’t we get some miracles too, today? Yes! God is unhindered by anything! He loves it when His kids ask Him for something because He is a good father. Our role is ask & pray, ask & pray, ask & pray. He may “Yes!”or He may say “no”. Yet, we keep knocking! Sometimes the “miracle” we think we want could actually hurt us and He is acting as Protector. He has a huge plan perfectly synched and can see all things throughout all time. Yet, maybe He wants to give us a miracle to demonstrate His power and increase our faith. Maybe He wants to say “yes!”
II. JESUS’S Miracles in John
TURNING WATER TO WINE
HEALING THE OFFICIAL’S SON
HEALING THE LAME MAN
FEEDING THE 5,000
WALKING ON WATER
HEALING THE BLIND MAN
RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD
III. What can we learn?
Miracle #1 Ch.2:1-11 Turning Water to Wine-Jesus’ power over natural objects-He is Creator.
MIRACLE #2. Ch. 4:46-54 Healing the Official’s Son-Jesus’ power over death (and the fact the boy from a distance!) show He is not contained by space.
Miracle #3Ch.5:8 Healing the Lame Man (on the Sabbath!). Our lessons here are “Jesus is LORD over the Sabbath”, that He can heal, and that we are to rejoice in His healing!
Miracle #4Ch.6:1-15 Feeding the 5,000! The truth to learn here is only GOD can create. I always love to imagine the little boy who shared his lunch…he must have been proud that Master Jesus used his little gift to feed thousands!
Miracle#5 Ch. 6:16-21 Jesus walking on the water must have shocked the disciples. Lesson here? He has complete control over nature….and consequently, my life!
Miracle#6 Ch.9:38 A man, blind, ALL his life and Jesus gives him the glorious gift of sight. Perhaps the first face he saw was Christ’s! I love the man’s defense of Jesus and the way He worshipped Him.
Miracle #7Ch. 11:1-25 Raising of Lazarus. Unquestionably, my favorite miracle of all time! The final miracle proves HIS power to raise the dead and that He will raise us someday too because we “have believed in Him WHOM He has sent”!
Learn the ways of Christ & study how He performs the impossible in human life. Ask for your miracles-but always after thanking Him for His!
