Pay Attention to the Little Things

“Things don’t go bad in a marriage in an instant. The character of a marriage is not formed in one grand moment. Things in a marriage go bad progressively. Things become sweet and beautiful progressively. The development and deepening of the love in a marriage happens by things that are done daily; this is also true with the sad deterioration of a marriage. The problem is that we simply don’t pay attention, and because of this we allow ourselves to think, desire, say and do things that we shouldn’t.” Paul David Tripp-What Were You Expecting?

Some examples of everyday things that can snowball into a hazard for our marriages or cause sweet harmony.

• Do you continue to do something you know aggravates your spouse or do you stop out of consideration? (leaving shirts on the floor, crinkling the toothpaste tube, burping out loud, etc...)
• Do you replace the toilet paper roll or leave it for your spouse to do because you have had to do it the last 3 times (or load the dishwasher or take out the trash, etc…) 
• Do you complain about needless things or show gratitude and appreciation for things done right.
• Do you leave for work without a tender kiss for your spouse or do you kiss her and tell her you love her?
• Do you go to sleep at night irritated with one another or thankful to be lying next to the person you love?
• Is it more important to prove you are right or to make your spouse feel cherished and valued?
• Is it more important to point out all your spouse’s faults/mistakes or forgive him/her knowing that love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
• Do you do rude things now that you’re married that you may not have done while you were dating? Is it fair to think that your spouse doesn’t deserve the respect they did while dating?
• If you know your spouse likes something a certain way (and it is perfectly reasonable), do you try to please him/her or do you think it is too much effort?
• Do you always consider your spouse’s feelings before you say or do something?

You get the point, right? It’s the little, everyday acts of love or acts of selfishness that can eventually make or break a marriage. It is a simple fact that although we may think getting our own way makes us happy, selfishness never makes a happy marriage. Putting the other person’s needs above our own is the right thing to do. (Romans 12:10) When we look out for the interests of our spouse, we begin to experience much more love for him/her than when we would simply looking out for our own interests. And that makes everyone happy!

Effort = Reward

Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Recently, a friend and I were talking about doing the right thing even when you don’t see immediate results. It can be difficult to love someone and do everything you feel you are supposed to do and see no response. It can be exhausting to teach your child over and over that they shouldn’t be selfish, but realize how blessed they are, only to have them prove over and over that they still “don’t get it.” It can be frustrating to talk to someone about doing the right thing and getting right with the Lord, only to have them reject what you say. Galatians 6:9 reminds us that we are to persevere. We rely on God to help us keep on keeping on. Life can be hard, but any good thing takes effort.

• A good marriage takes effort and the effort reaps a lasting love and a deep, rich connection that can overcome anything together.
• Godly parenting is unending and sometimes painful, but the results are eternal, children who are lead to Christ, who learn to love and respect God and are a blessing to others.
• Going to church and Sunday school takes effort and sacrifice. We may be tired from a long week or have other things we need to do. But the result is growing in God, developing relationships with other Christians and being a part of something that is bigger than ourselves.
• Being diligent in service to God takes a commitment. It takes time, effort and sometimes tears. But the result is God’s blessing and a feeling of peace, knowing that you are being obedient. And it could mean eternity to someone else.
• Spending time in God’s word and in prayer takes sacrifice. We sacrifice our own fleshly desires in order to draw closer to God. The result is a close, personal relationship with God and a fulfilled life of joy and peace.

Proverbs 13:1 says, “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” We may not always see immediate results, but we should never give up!

What a Day That Will Be

This past Sunday was Homecoming at our church.  Ty Ty Baptist Church celebrated one hundred and twenty eight years.  Wow!  What an accomplishment!  God has truly blessed our church through the years.  I love Homecoming: all the people, the joyful atmosphere, the singing, and the food.  Our congregation sounded beautiful singing together with the church house full.  Of course, part of our celebration included several hymns.  One of which I cannot sing without getting misty eyed.  (Ok, sometimes downright weepy)

“What a Day That Will Be” reminds me what my whole life is about, what my faith is all about.   The chorus goes like this:

                        “What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,

                          when I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace.  

                          When he takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised

                          land, what a day, glorious day that will be.”

I’m getting choked up right now.  It reminds me that all the chaos of this world and the struggles and pain that we face won’t matter anymore on that day when we look into Jesus’ eyes.  We scurry about this life so much, running here and there.  I think sometimes we lose sight of the prize.  My entire belief system, my faith in Jesus, will come to completion on the day when I step into his physical presence.  That’s what it’s all about!

I saw others in church wiping their eyes during that song as well.  Honestly, I don’t see how a born-again believer can sing those lyrics without a tugging at their heart.  That’s what we are living for!  Jesus is who we are living for!  And the day that we see his glorious face is a day that will be unlike any other, a glorious day beyond our comprehension. 

                                    

If you are not ready to see his face, GET READY.  "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved." Acts 16:31 Amplified Bible

Who's Watching?

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 NLT

Have you ever wondered how you would feel if you found out that your conversations were being recorded? What if your actions were being secretly video taped? I have thought about it. It made me cringe. Would I be pleased if I had to play back the way I sounded when dealing with my children? What about a disagreement with my husband? Did I sound respectful or like a nagging wife? What about the attitude I had in Wal-Mart with two children in tow and a crowd of people around? It’s quite possible someone was watching. What about those secret conversations where we are being vindictive or making cutting remarks about someone, gossiping or complaining? Even if no-one else is watching or listening, God is.
This verse reminds us that as children of God, we are representing Christ. Always. At home with our spouse and children, at the grocery store, at a ball game, at work, on social networks…always. Our actions and our words (including how we say them) are to glorify God. I don’t know about you, but I know I have failed at this more than I would like to admit. So how do we go about achieving this instruction? We have to deliberately do it. We have to make a quality decision and a conscious effort to control our tongues and behave in a way that is pleasing to our Father. We know what pleases Him by reading His word. The New Testament, especially Ephesians, James and 1 Corinthians, is rich with scripture about how we should conduct ourselves and relate to other people. But it's not enough to read it, we have to do it. (James 1:22,23) We should dwell on developing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and ask the Holy Spirit to work in us to do so. The Spirit's fruit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Galatians 5:22-23
We can’t control what other people do or what they say, but we can be good representatives of the Lord when we seek to please Him in our words and actions.  By doing so, we are being obedient to God. The second part of the verse says to give thanks to God through Jesus. Being a representative of Christ is not a burden but a privilege and an honor. Let’s make sure to thank him for that blessing.

Whatever we meditate on becomes our words and actions, so let this be our prayer:  "May the meditation of my heart and the words of my mouth be pleasing to you, oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

For further study, see Ephesians 4:17-32.

To Die For

Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am not ready only to be bound but also to die for the name of Jesus." Acts: 21:13

There is a very slim chance that any of us reading this will ever have to die for the name of Jesus. We may be made fun of, talked about, ridiculed, fired or rejected by “friends”, but we probably won’t lose our lives. Although, there are people all over the world who are dying for their belief in Jesus.  I admire and pray them.
Look at the passion and devotion that Paul had in the passage above. What are we willing to do for the name of Jesus? How much do we love him? Are we willing to sacrifice our time? Our resources? Our attitudes and selfish desires? Are we willing to face rejection? Are we willing to let go of pride and humble ourselves before him so that he can use us? Are we ready and willing to say “yes” to whatever it is that God wants us to do? How much is too much?
Jesus left nothing undone when he finished his work here on earth. He made the ultimate sacrifice, a brutally painful and agonizing sacrifice. Do we love him enough to follow him whole-heartily like Paul did? No, we haven’t been blinded by a bright light and heard the audible voice of Jesus, but if we have accepted Jesus as Lord of our lives, we still have the same salvation that Paul does. We are no less saved than he was. God may not be calling us to carry the cross of being an international missionary like Paul. However, He still deserves everything we have and all that we are. Whatever mission field he has placed us in, we should give him our all.

3 Simple Requirements

No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
 
The Israelites wanted to know what kind of sacrifices they should make to the Lord to make up for the way they had neglected him. They suggested sacrificing thousands of goats and even their firstborn children to pay for their sins. (vs.7) However what God required of them really wasn’t a difficult thing: do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly with God. That’s a far cry from sacrificing thousands of goats or your firstborn.

Do What is Right. 
That doesn’t sound too hard right? I think most believers know what the right thing to do is. In most cases, it’s pretty cut and dry. In the instances when it isn’t so clear, we always have the Bible as our guide and the peace of God that comes through prayer. Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Colossians 3:15

Love Mercy
 Mercy is defined as compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy or another person in one’s power. The disposition to be compassionate. An act of kindness, compassion or favor. God’s mercies are new every morning. He has shown mercy toward us by giving us His son, Jesus, and through countless other ways. He requires that we show mercy to other people as well. That’s not always easy when someone has offended us or our children have disobeyed. Yet God requires it.

Walk Humbly With Your God.
There are two parts to this simple phrase. ‘Walk humbly’ and ‘with your God’. We are to allow God to be God and realize our place compared to Him. He is wiser, more powerful and completely holy all on His own. We are also to walk with him, not lagging behind, trying to get ahead of him or going our own way. Walk WITH Him, obediently, on a daily, lifelong basis.
 
These 3 simple things are what God wanted the Israelites to do. This is what he wants us to do too. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do it. Let’s put it into practice to follow these 3 simple guidelines.

Stop Complaining and Start Praising

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. Psalm 71:8

Have you ever noticed that you can’t say two things at once? Come on, try it. You can’t speak two different words or sentences simultaneously. Neither can you think two different thoughts simultaneously. You can go back and forth between different thoughts or words, but you can only think and speak one at the time.
It can be easy to complain. We can do that about pretty much anything. The reason is because we are ungrateful for the blessings we have and/or that we are spoiled and think everything has to go our own way. My kids often complain about the food I put before them. And of course, I tell them that there are many hungry children around the world who would love to eat what they are complaining about. I tell them they should be thankful for the food, even if it isn’t something that they absolutely love.

Now it isn’t just kids who complain. I’ve seen many adults who find fault with just about anything. I admit, I complain sometimes too. But if our mouths are filled with praise, as in the verse above, it can’t be filled with complaining. If we declare the Lord’s splendor all day, we have little room for grumbling and complaining. If we have a grateful heart, then praise will be on our lips, not complaints. We can choose to be thankful for God’s blessings or we can choose to complain.
I highly recommend reading, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were captured and sentenced to work at Ravensbrook concentration camp during the horrible reign of Hitler. Even to Corrie’s surprise, her sister Betsie could find something to be thankful for in any situation. They were forced to sleep in a building far too small for the many women housed there. They slept on cots filled with straw that was contaminated with flees. Because of the flees, the guards would not go into the sleeping quarters. Betsie thanked God for the flees because it gave her a chance to share the gospel of Jesus with her roommates without fear of the guards overhearing. (If they had caught her, she and possibly all who were listening would have been killed.) Wow, that is a thankful heart! That is a mouth filled with praise!
Now, if Betsie could be thankful for flees, surely, we have something we can be thankful for. So, let’s make a decision to have a mouth filled with praise, and declare the Lord’s splendor all day long.