For those of you who know us, you know that my husband and I are a reconciled couple. This year marks 20 years of reconciliation for us. 1992 was a rough year for us, to say the least...BUT (one of my favorite three letter words)...BUT...God is faithful! There were so many lessons learned and there is so much gratitude in our hearts for what we went through.
Fast forward to 1999 and to what I believe was God's calling on our hearts...ministering to individuals in marital crisis. God used what seemed to be an "out of control" escalation of couples being torn apart in our church by the ravages of divorce to prompt a deep desire in us to initiate the ministry. I frankly, was angry. I was angry that the enemy of God's sacred covenant of marriage was seemingly winning the battle. So, at first, I did what I do when my emotions are overwhelming...I wrote about it.
The following is what came of that time and actually became the springboard for us moving forward to starting a marriage reconciliation ministry at our church in August of 1999. It is titled, "Are We Greater Than Our Master?" and is based on John 13:16 & 17 NKJ :
"ARE WE GREATER THAN OUR MASTER?"
Whatever happened to "death do us part"?
Why is there a line we don't think we have to cross?
Why is it no sin to give up on one you love?
Why does no one else seem to care that this goes on?
What would happen if you refuse to let go of His promises?
Would you be willing to forgive?
Would you be willing to let go?
Would you be willing to never give up as long as you live?
('Till death do us part)"
Would you live a full life even though you're alone?
Would God meet your needs?
Is our purpose in life to have our needs met?
What lies have we believed for way too long?
What sacrifice would you make to save your family?
Do you really care?
Are your needs the focus of your unhappiness?
If God speaks to us thru our needs, is He saying, "Do
whatever it takes to get those needs met!"?
Who says God's intent is that all of our needs be met all of
time?
Can your life be full when you have needs unmet?
Could it be that God knows what we need more than we do?
Why do we give up so easily?
Can you sense the anger I have?
Do you sense the grief of my broken heart?
Can you not see the MISSED blessings, miracles, healing,
growth, intimacy, integrity and peace that only comes from
being obedient to the law of grace?
When was the last time you "resisted to the point of blood"
against sin? Hebrews 12:4, Philippians 2:8 NKJ
ARE WE GREATER THAN OUR MASTER?
Is sacrifice required?
Would you go to Hell if you don't sacrifice?
Why sacrifice if salvation is assured?
Who do you love the most?
Do you love God that much?
If you see a sacrifice is required in order to be obedient to
your covenant with God, is God not giving you an
opportunity to submit to that sacrifice?
Will He stop loving you if you don't?
Will He love you more if you do?
Will you stop loving Him if you don't?
Will you love Him more if you do?
Could sacrifice be a key to growing closer to God?
Who benefits the most from our sacrifice, us or God?
Jesus was willing to forgive, to let go, to never give up "to
the point of death," why aren't we?
Did He live a full life?
Did He live it in vain?
Did God meet all of His needs?
Would it have stopped Him if God didn't?
Is He angry at our sin?
Is He faithful and righteous to forgive our sins?
Is He grieved over our disobedience?
By His stripes are we healed? I Peter 2:24 NKJ
ARE WE GREATER THAN OUR MASTER?
(Copyright 2004)
In my mind and heart I knew that if God could work through us and save our marriage, then He could do it for others. I realized my biggest enemy, besides THE enemy, was losing hope during our crisis. Hope is a very fragile thing...if we base it on our circumstances.
Job 13:15a NIV states: "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him." We have to dig deep during those dark hours. We have to decide how committed to Christ we really are and to what we say we hold dear.
My prayer for you today is based on II Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV. If you don't have a relationship with Christ to start with, then that is your starting point. Salvation is the reconciling gift that God gives us, but we have to accept that gift. Then, and only then, can we truly become the ministers of reconciliation that He has called all of us to be!
Until next time, remember this, God's Word is so powerful that it spoke the world into existence, He breathed and here we are!...Awesome. I'd say that's something to "sing" about! I pray that we allow that truth sink down into our soul the next time we are tempted to give up!
Songbird
Fast forward to 1999 and to what I believe was God's calling on our hearts...ministering to individuals in marital crisis. God used what seemed to be an "out of control" escalation of couples being torn apart in our church by the ravages of divorce to prompt a deep desire in us to initiate the ministry. I frankly, was angry. I was angry that the enemy of God's sacred covenant of marriage was seemingly winning the battle. So, at first, I did what I do when my emotions are overwhelming...I wrote about it.
The following is what came of that time and actually became the springboard for us moving forward to starting a marriage reconciliation ministry at our church in August of 1999. It is titled, "Are We Greater Than Our Master?" and is based on John 13:16 & 17 NKJ :
"ARE WE GREATER THAN OUR MASTER?"
Whatever happened to "death do us part"?
Why is there a line we don't think we have to cross?
Why is it no sin to give up on one you love?
Why does no one else seem to care that this goes on?
What would happen if you refuse to let go of His promises?
Would you be willing to forgive?
Would you be willing to let go?
Would you be willing to never give up as long as you live?
('Till death do us part)"
Would you live a full life even though you're alone?
Would God meet your needs?
Is our purpose in life to have our needs met?
What lies have we believed for way too long?
What sacrifice would you make to save your family?
Do you really care?
Are your needs the focus of your unhappiness?
If God speaks to us thru our needs, is He saying, "Do
whatever it takes to get those needs met!"?
Who says God's intent is that all of our needs be met all of
time?
Can your life be full when you have needs unmet?
Could it be that God knows what we need more than we do?
Why do we give up so easily?
Can you sense the anger I have?
Do you sense the grief of my broken heart?
Can you not see the MISSED blessings, miracles, healing,
growth, intimacy, integrity and peace that only comes from
being obedient to the law of grace?
When was the last time you "resisted to the point of blood"
against sin? Hebrews 12:4, Philippians 2:8 NKJ
ARE WE GREATER THAN OUR MASTER?
Is sacrifice required?
Would you go to Hell if you don't sacrifice?
Why sacrifice if salvation is assured?
Who do you love the most?
Do you love God that much?
If you see a sacrifice is required in order to be obedient to
your covenant with God, is God not giving you an
opportunity to submit to that sacrifice?
Will He stop loving you if you don't?
Will He love you more if you do?
Will you stop loving Him if you don't?
Will you love Him more if you do?
Could sacrifice be a key to growing closer to God?
Who benefits the most from our sacrifice, us or God?
Jesus was willing to forgive, to let go, to never give up "to
the point of death," why aren't we?
Did He live a full life?
Did He live it in vain?
Did God meet all of His needs?
Would it have stopped Him if God didn't?
Is He angry at our sin?
Is He faithful and righteous to forgive our sins?
Is He grieved over our disobedience?
By His stripes are we healed? I Peter 2:24 NKJ
ARE WE GREATER THAN OUR MASTER?
(Copyright 2004)
In my mind and heart I knew that if God could work through us and save our marriage, then He could do it for others. I realized my biggest enemy, besides THE enemy, was losing hope during our crisis. Hope is a very fragile thing...if we base it on our circumstances.
Job 13:15a NIV states: "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him." We have to dig deep during those dark hours. We have to decide how committed to Christ we really are and to what we say we hold dear.
My prayer for you today is based on II Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV. If you don't have a relationship with Christ to start with, then that is your starting point. Salvation is the reconciling gift that God gives us, but we have to accept that gift. Then, and only then, can we truly become the ministers of reconciliation that He has called all of us to be!
Until next time, remember this, God's Word is so powerful that it spoke the world into existence, He breathed and here we are!...Awesome. I'd say that's something to "sing" about! I pray that we allow that truth sink down into our soul the next time we are tempted to give up!
Songbird
and what a joy you have been to our marriage!
ReplyDeletethanks for being there when we needed you!!
"Being there" is our joy...love u guys!
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