But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Acts 9:15-16
Saul whose name was changed to Paul just had his “Road to Damascus” conversion and Jesus was already saying that Paul was going to suffer for his name.
This is not the good feelings/goose bumps Christianity. Some modern day preachers are not equipping the saints for the future. Good feeling Christianity reminds me of romantic love. My daughter watches these television shows where the bachelorette women are trying to win the heart of the bachelor and a woman is talking about pouring out her heart and soul to a man. It sounds suffocating to me. It’s infatuation and it will only last a short time. I wish love was all roses with no thorns. Jesus was referred to as the “Rose of Sharon.” I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Song of Solomon 2:1
A relationship can become more like Old Spice aftershave, as far as the longer you are around each other, the more you take each other for granted. I liked it when my husband would take a couple of trips with his work male friends snow skiing or whitewater rafting and when I was a chaperone for my daughter's high school journalism class and went to Atlanta, Georgia and Washington D.C. Being away from each other made the reunions sweeter. Usually by year ten or sooner in marriage, you have to think of ways to add new spice in a relationship. The book of Revelation warns about leaving our first love for the Lord like marriage and it’s sometimes easy to do with the difficulties or the cares of this life. Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4
I am looking for that sweet reunion in heaven with Jesus and my loved ones!
One of the reasons relationships become like Old Spice aftershave is because a couple may become very comfortable around each other. The relationship is like a great pair of shoes that fits your feet well and you like wearing them every day. Once a good pair of shoes wears out it's hard to find a pair of shoes that are comfortable again that you can wear every day that fit your feet as well. Newer shoes can pinch your toes and don't feel the same. I've been going barefoot in life and I'm stubbing my toes, but I’m looking forward to finding another great pair of shoes soon that fit my feet comfortably. In the meantime, I’m trying to enjoy the process of trying on shoes. I was laughing thinking how my parents were married over fifty years and when my dad’s shoes wore out he duct taped them. The older generation knew how to make things last. The shoes I'm looking for don't mind getting wet or going dancing.
A more realistic Hollywood television series of life (from a book) is Little House on the Prairie episode where Laura Ingalls and her husband lost their farm crops in a hail storm and were losing their house by being repossessed by the bank after they lost their farm crops. Then when they were trying to sell their home, a tornado destroyed it, and Laura's husband lost his health to a crippling illness. He lost his will to live for awhile. Finally, his will to live started coming back gradually and he started learning to walk and got back on his feet mentally, physically and financially in life. This is an extreme example like Job in the Bible which can happen to some people.
If you are professional athlete or musician it’s talent along with countless hours of practice. The more I get up and sing and play guitar in front of people, the more confidence I have. If you are good student it’s studying (unless you are extremely gifted and you can do Math equations and accounting in your head). If you are going to not be a lazy Christian than there are a “couple of rules of thumb.” A rule of thumb refers to shortcuts to solutions to new problems that resemble problems previously solved by experienced workers.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12
Do not be weary in well doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not (do not give up). Galatians 6:9
And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. 2 Thess. 3:13
Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Cor. 4:1
There is a season to sow in life and then there is a season to reap what you have sown. I believe God will put us in a place to start sowing various gifts/encouragement either in our lives or other people’s lives before you start reaping benefits in your own life.
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck up what is planted; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you Hosea 10:12
Lottery Christians vs. Thomas Edison Christians
I heard a minister say that the bigger victories in life are the ones that you have the greatest struggles! I struggled many years to find the right job, the right college degree, the right house, the right friends, the right church, the right ministry gifts that God has called me to walk in, and praying for my family member’s salvation, etc. I struggled several years to find the right husband and finally got it right which it's a disappointment he did not live very long.
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Hebrews 4:10-11
Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:24
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
There are two types of Christians I meet. One type is that God is going to do everything for them and then other Christians are the “Thomas Edison” Christians. The one I adhere to is Thomas Edison or Henry Ford mentality which is at first you don’t succeed try, try again. Thomas Edison had several failures before he invented the light bulb.
“When Thomas Edison was interviewed by a young reporter who boldly asked Mr. Edison if he felt like a failure and if he thought he should just give up by now. Perplexed, Edison replied, "Young man, why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp." And shortly after that, and over 10,000 attempts, Edison invented the light bulb. “Thomas Alva Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.”
Before David killed Goliath with his stone and slingshot, he killed a bear and a lion and I believe he practiced like many of us practiced as children shooting tin cans with BB guns, shooting our arrows at the bulls eye targets, or a dart game. David used a natural talent, but he depended on God to help him with his natural ability. David recognized the Philistine had no covenant with God (uncircumcised).
Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 1 Samuel 17:36; David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45
To ride my bike at five years old, I fell down many times and scraped up my legs, but kept getting back on my bike. Once I learned to ride a bike, I did not have to master it again. I did rather crazy tricks on my bike also and “pushed the limits” as far as riding it backwards, riding the handlebars and standing up on the seat. I believe it’s the same in marriage. I’ve mastered a good relationship so I believe it’s like riding that bike.
Some people’s lives may sometimes be like winning the lottery. The perfect house, church, car, job, and mate for life just came along and they did not have to go search for it. Maybe for them money “grows on trees.” That has not been the case for me where I’ve not done my part in obtaining those things. Such as Jesus telling Peter to go fishing to obtain the coin and pay the taxes. I had to go fishing through an single’s ad for a husband. God gave me a former great fish with a great job and loved the Lord so after having one great fish with great benefits I want another great fish! Great fish require deep sea fishing with a stronger line, a stronger pole and sometimes a pair of extra hands to reel in the big fish -- which is God's help.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22
---Now that I’ve found all these good things in my life, I know when I get remarried I have to consider the field I’m buying. A Proverbs 31 woman considers the field she buys. When I scoping out a guy like recently who has 40 acres in the country he inherited, I know I’m the one that would be selling my house. Then I have to consider is the commute worth it to work, do I like his relatives, his church and friends? I know some people will say “love conquers all." Love considers all these things and the benefits/costs when buying the field! A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. V. 16 She considers a field and buys it; Proverbs 31:10
When I met my husband he was divorced with physical custody of his son. His ex had custody of his daughter who came to live with us four months after we were married. The house at the time we were able to afford of what he was paying her alimony every month and trying to sell a house in Greenfield, Indiana was not large enough for his daughter to have her own room. For awhile she shared a room with one of my daughters and then she started sleeping in the Family Room. Her sleeping in the Family Room was a problem. My husband asked before we bought our first house together if I wanted to live in his house in Greenfield that his ex-wife and him lived in and I determined “No I did not want to live in his ex-wife and his house!” For one thing I’m a city girl and did not believe any of my girlfriends would come to the corn fields of Greenfield to visit me, the inside was outdated and it was a small ranch house and we had six children total. The only benefit of his house in Greenfield is that it had an indoor swimming pool and spa which we could go enjoy on occasions until he sold it but it was not large enough.
All these details have to be worked out when one is scoping out a marriage partner. I’m thinking about these things before I start laying a heavy foundation of a relationship as far as completing the building. When you are married straight out of high school most of the time you don’t have these issues of relocating for a house, job, church and friends. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Luke 14:38
I had an interview at a job that is a think-tank. I considered it would be nice to work for a prestigious place. When I interviewed for the position, the three women who interviewed me told me the manager was demanding, had gone through several administrative assistants, and was hard to work for and would require overtime. When I asked if the overtime was advance notice because my husband got tickets sometimes at the last minute to go to Verizon concerts or the Pacer’s games at work, they said, “We will be glad to use the tickets for you.” After they told me about all the problems with the manager being hard to work for and the demands of the job, they asked if I had any questions, and I said, “One question, Why would I want this job?”
I don’t want Santa’s rejected toys, like I don’t want other’s rejected jobs. I don’t want men that have gone through many women. I was fortunate my husband only had one other relationship in his life (very uncommon) and that was his ex-wife. It’s like playing with a jack in the box and instead of a jack, a snake pops out. Or Toy Story where the neighbor kid takes off the head of one toy and puts it on another toy so there are several misfit toys running around. Personally God, I would rather stay single and barefoot in life than get a misfit toy. If my parents gave me a defective toy at Christmas, I would give it back to them to take back to the store and buy me another toy or I will take an orange for Christmas!
If something is from God it’s a good gift:
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17
If a woman or man is a snake inside he is not from God! You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Matthew 23:33
Life has been a series of puzzle pieces that I have to put together. Like scavenger hunts I went on during Girl Scouts or as a teen where we would find one of the pieces of the puzzle and then the next part of the puzzle would fit together that gave us the clue to find the treasure. I remembering searching for a used house for my family that had a fenced in yard, 3-bedroom, full basement, 2-car garage in Wayne Township at a low price range. After looking all over the west side of town, I wondered if that used house could even exist. Then my realtor called me about a house and that just came on the market and we made a bid on it right away. It was like the house was “just” for us. I had to let my realtor know what I wanted and I went looking at other homes that were not what I wanted before I found the perfect house for us that I was looking for. My realtor was excited he finally found us the right house after several months.
Dr. Henry Cloud said that if you ask 200 women out on a date and they all turn you down than you are 200 people closer to meeting the right person for you. God is excited as my heavenly Father when I find the answers to what I'm looking for in life. When I land the right job, house and husband. I’ve found those “best deals” are usually the men that just come on the market like that house. They have determined that they are ready to move on with their lives. It’s the fresh fish/catch of the day or getting to the garage sale early to get what you want before everything is picked over.
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10
When I wanted to buy a new a car I look at what type of car would fit my needs and then I got manuals and looked at computer reports on the type of car I wanted to buy. I researched the job before I went and interviewed for the job. I’ve had jobs where I got the job by default (where I walked in and no one could type 65 wpm) and it had been vacant for six months, but the higher paying jobs I found an ad in the newspaper, sent in a “eye catching” resume and cover letter, put on my best wardrobe suit, perfume, did my nails and knocked them out with my interviewing. I also gave them a printed portfolio and letters of references and a list of reference which or my current job, they telephoned everyone of the people on my reference list. The type of job I want in the future requires an electronic digital portfolio.
I’ve also noticed there is a “courting” period with a job like dating where you are on your best behavior during probation. If a person is showing up late the first few months, I don’t think they will keep their job for very long. I think it is amazing to me that many Christians will say that the perfect spouse will just sort of come along magically. My 14+ year marriage did not come along magically, I shook a tree to find him (got out of my comfort zone in placing an ad). I have found for everything in my life, there is a part I’ve had to play in life. I’m an actor in a play. God’s created the play or the works that he wants me to do. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Some people if they are desperate for a job they will have to settle for what is available. My sister and I did that in the past as far as not checking out various options but only looking within our church and that did not land us a very good lifetime spouse. The main part is honoring and cherishing. If a person honor and cherishes you in marriage they won’t be bickering at you and criticizing you all the time.
When I meet many widows or widowers they had become dependent people on their spouse for various roles. We all need a support system and I miss my support person which I’ve tried to find more support from my family and friends. It is different because they are too busy to give you the daily support like I experienced in having a husband. I’ve gotten over the extreme loneliness, but I still miss companionship I had in marriage. My first mother-in-law lost her husband to a heart attack and it was back when they only had one car and she did not drive and she did not balance a check book. She had to learn to drive a car and my brother-in-law took over Power of Attorney over her financial decisions when she was making unwise decisions. I like a man who is an Al Borland type that is a Mr. Fix It, but there have been times in life I’ve tried to fix things on my own.
One time my car mechanic wife showed me how to change valve cover gaskets. I changed them and I felt “out of my league” in being a grease monkey so I just hire a person to fix things when I need it most of the time. I can handle paint all over my hands, but did not like grease. My niece fixed a starter on my van for me. As women or men, we can go to classes for cooking or sewing or learn a different trade. When someone in my neighborhood lost his job in the airline management business during 9/11 he went back to college at IUPUI and took classes to teach mathematics in high school.
God is in this struggle or cocoon called life with me. Every day when I wake up in the morning, I know I can face today because greater is He in me than he is that is within the world. I’m capable of handling anything that happens because of the greater one who lives within me. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
God, the creator of the universe could have chosen to live anywhere in the world and yet he chose to live inside our spirits/hearts. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
*Because he lives I can face today.
Because He Lives
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!
Words: Bill & Gloria Gaither
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