Relationships

 

 

 

 

Every once in awhile it's a good idea to take an assessment of your role in  your relationships.  Do you do your part and give or are you a taker and just take whatever you can get?  All relationships require you to give in order to receive from each other. This includes your romantic relationships, family relationships, your friendships and acquaintanceships.  As important as this is in our human relationships, it's even more so in our relationship with God.

Are you one of those people who when life is going good you neglect God because you don't feel you need him?  Or are you one of those people who when trouble strikes you turn away from God because you think he's neglected you?  So many times you hear about the person who has been hurt by their church, a family member, a loved one or life circumstance and they use this as an excuse to turn their backs on God.  How many times have you wanted to use God as a genie?  Letting him out of the bottle to grant your wishes and then returning him to the bottle till you need him again some day.  We need to cultivate our relationship with God through all circumstances both good and bad.  God's love is unconditional.  But it's up to you to receive it and return it.  Don't let your daily life be your priority without Him.  But let Him be your day's priority.  No relationship can survive without communication ... so talk to Him and listen.  Read His word and listen.  Gather with the body of Christ, pray and listen.
The most important response you can give to God is to receive His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  If you have not done this - today is the day of salvation.

 

For he says, I listened to you at the time of my favor.  And the day when you needed salvation, I came to your aid.  So can't you see?  Now is the time to respond to his favor!  Now is the day of salvation! 
2 Corinthians 6:2
(TPT)

There is no power above us or beneath us - no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God's passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! 

Romans 8:39
(TPT)

 

~ Randy and Joan

God's Protection

 

 

Sometimes I like to take a trip back in time and revisit the things God has done for me.  Even before I was saved and a follower of Jesus, His love protected me.  This story takes place in the late 70's.  Having experienced a failed marriage I decided to reward myself with a new car.  I spotted a shinny blue Corvette and made it mine.  After leaving the dealership I headed to the first drive through and bought a six pack of beer.  I continued the pattern of drinking and driving throughout the day, even though common sense told me it was stupid. By evening I was primed up and ready to go party.  By midnight I was finding it hard to function and went home to sleep it off.  Before going to bed I had to look out the window at my shinny new toy and couldn't resist one more drive.  I ended up at a local bar until I heard last call ... closing time.  A friend and myself decided to get one last drink and go for a ride.  A few minutes later traveling at a high rate of speed, I lost control and failed to negotiate a curve.  The fiberglass exploded as the car hit the ditch and flipped through the air three times.  The car came to rest upside down in the ditch.  There was no escape and that's when fear and panic set in.  Realizing we were uninjured finding a way out was a priority.  I'll never forget the sounds of the hissing and popping of the hot car parts that were left.  That's when I became aware that gasoline was pouring in on us.  Fearful of an explosion we were kicking at the windows and doors trying to make an escape without success.  Looking back it's almost as if an angel opened the passenger door and let us crawl out of the wreckage.  Early that morning after assessing the situation and looking in the mirror, I noticed my scalp was covered in tar and bits of gravel.  It was then I realized that as that car with the T-tops blown off, slid down the road upside down, God protected me.  Fractions of an inch further and I would have crushed my skull.  I would like to say that I fell on my knees and got saved at this moment but I did not.  Although my life did begin to change.  God was drawing me in.  I'm ashamed of some of the things I've done in my life, but amazed at how God turned those things around and used them for my benefit.  After three years and a few more wakeup calls I did receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  I've been following him ever since.

Note:  We were not wearing seat belts and yes I did get charged with a DWI.

God's protection is not a magic force field that keeps us from harm.  But it does work in ways we do not understand.  Amen!

 

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God's perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. 
Romans 8:28
(TPT)

~ Randy and Joan

 

 

 

 

 

The Vintage Mailbox

 

 

 

 

In this self-centered world, it’s hard to keep a romantic relationship going strong. Remember it's the little things that count.  What would happen if communication with your spouse was a little more romantic?  How often do you send a love note to your spouse?  ... not often enough (if ever) and that's sad. I know, we’re not in high school anymore... but all the more reason that nobody would expect to open an envelope and find a love note or a card with "I'm praying for you", “I miss you” or “I love you” written on it. It’s easy, and the notes or cards can be left anywhere to surprise your spouse. I know from experience how amazing it feels to have your spouse do something like this for you.  We have a vintage mailbox and Randy and I take turns leaving each other a love note or card in it.  To tell you the truth it sets my heart a-flutter just wondering when I might find my next mail delivery. 

 

Proverbs 25:11

Winsome words spoken at just the right time are as appealing as apples gilded in gold and surrounded in silver.

(TPT)

 

Father help us to remember how important it is to speak words in love.  Help us to keep the passions of marriage stirred up.  Help us to remember that you have given us to each other as gifts.  We pray that we choose our words carefully and graciously speak life into each other. Help us to be still and listen when wisdom requires us to do so.

 

~ Randy and Joan

 

 

 

Trust

 

 

Being a Pilot, I was making a flight that I had made many times before.  I was out over a large body of water making a slow sweeping turn and I lost my horizontal line of reference.  I could no longer tell where the sky ended and the water began.  At first I felt a slight state of confusion and then fear set in.  I knew the proper procedure was to look at and trust the planes instruments but I kept trying to figure things out on my own.  As a state of panic started, I could no longer feel the plane's movement.  I allowed the onset of spatial disorientation.  Reverting back to my training I fixed my eyes on the planes control panel and trusted what I was seeing.  A calm began to set in. This flight ended safely because I put my trust in my training.

How many times do we do this in our spiritual walk.  We  take our eyes off Jesus and just like Peter we begin to sink.  We let fear steal our joy and cause us to not carry out God's assignment for our lives.  It's vital that we trust His instruments for life.  They are His word, prayer, praise and worship and keeping holy the Lord's day. You will experience trials in life. But if you allow the Holy Spirit to train you in God's ways and put your trust in Him, His joy will be your strength and His peace will fill you to overflowing.

 

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
(NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 

Proverbs 3:5
(NIV)

Lord help us to at all times put our trust in you. 

We will keep our eyes focused on you and trust not in ourselves. 

Lord your ways are perfect and we want your will to be done. 

 

~ Randy and Joan

Am I Good Enough?

 

For if you embrace the truth, it will release

true freedom into your lives.

John 8:32

(TPT)

You know someone and you think she's your best friend.  You think she's giving you good advice.  She has a hidden agenda.  Her intentions are to destroy your faith, your confidence and your relationships.  She's here to dismantle your dreams and even God's purpose for you.  She can make you doubt yourself and all you know as truth. If you give her the chance she will put you in bondage.  She wants to control your every thought, word and action.  Believe me she's not your friend!  Who is she ... INSECURITY.  She's dangerous and it's time to say goodbye to her.

 

Remember ... God's truth is and always will be greater than our insecurity.
God accepts you (1John 3:1)
God will not leave you or let you go (Romans 8:39)
God is your defender (Exodus 14:14)
It is God who opens doors for you (Psalm 37:23)

Lord, help me break free from the bondage of insecurity.  I confess I've listened to the lies of the enemy more than I've listened to your words of truth.  Lord, help me understand I am loved, I'm perfectly and wonderfully made and accepted by You just as I am.  Help me to discern when I'm listening to lies instead of Your truth.  Help me to fix my eyes on You.  Help me to focus on all You have done for me.

 

~ Randy and Joan

 

 

Forgiveness

 

You might find yourself being hurt or offended by a friend,

family member or loved one.

A wise person demonstrates patience, for mercy means holding your tongue.  When you are insulted, be quick to forgive and forget it, for you are virtuous when you overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:11
(TPT)

When you have been hurt and/or offended by someone and you let it sprout in your heart, bitterness and resentment take root.  It will grow in your conscious and unconscious thoughts and if you let it, it will even influence your actions.

Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity and insults.  But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another.  Has God graciously forgiven you?  Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ's love.

Ephesians 4:31-32
(TPT)

 Lord so many times we feel entitled to hold on to our hurts caused intentionally or unintentionally by another.  Your word teaches us over and over how blessed we are when we forgive and don't allow our being offended to take up real estate in our lives.  Your word and Christ example on the cross teaches us the enormous importance of forgiveness.  Help us to forgive, forget and move on.

 

 

~ Randy and Joan

 

FEAR

The word "fear" and the terms "fear not" and "do not be afraid" are mentioned in the Bible numerous times.  Yet how many times do we find ourselves gripped and paralyzed by fear. 

I can remember being a little boy about pre-school age and going to the court house with my dad to get a title transferred.  Upon entering the building there was a guard, a deputy sheriff.  For some reason the sight of this man, seeming to me to be larger than life in his imposing uniform filled me with fear.  So instead of following my dad to the title office I walked off in another direction and got lost in the building, setting off another wave of fear.  So you can imagine my relief when my dad found me and comforted me, explaining that the officer was a friendly man and not to be afraid.

How many times in life has the enemy caused us to fear and shrink back from God's plans.  The enemy uses lies as one of his tactics.  Fear itself is a lie because if God is for us who can be against us.  We all experience things that want to cause us fear.  It could be health issues, finances, jobs, relationships and real or imaginary phobias and the list goes on.  But the fact remains, the word of God says "Fear Not" and "Do Not Be Afraid".  Are these words of comfort or God's commands?  For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13) (NIV)  If you allow your fears to grip you, you will view them as King Kong, an imposing creature several stories tall, climbing the Empire State Building of your life.  But in reality the movie monster was only three and a half feet tall.  If you have accepted and know Jesus you are authorized to use the power of His name.  And in His name there is no place for fear.  Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with unattainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him.  And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with His super abundance until you radiate with hope! (Romans 15:13) (TPT)

~ Randy and Joan