Archive for October 2009

October 30, 2009

Walking in the Dark

"This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7 (NLT)

I always head for school about the same time every morning. As the autumn season has progressed, my drive has become less and less light until now I am going the whole distance in the dark. I don't live to far from where I teach and there are several students in my neighborhood who walk to school each morning. I have the advantage of my car headlights, but the only time they are walking in the light is when they come under one of the streetlamps.

It has to be tough, walking in the dark. It has to be hard to see the uneven sidewalks or the tree branches that might have blown off in the night. I bet it's even tough to see where the sidewalk is leading. I'm sure they are glad when the street lamp illuminates the way.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2

One important scientific principle that we have all learned is that darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. When Jesus lives in our hearts, there is light. And that light dispels all the darkness of the circumstances we are living in right now. It doesn't make the circumstances disappear; it just helps us to see them in a better light. When we look at things through the light of Jesus' love for us and for our parents, they don't seem as bad as they did in the dark.

One more important Biblical principle that we all have learned is that we can't have fellowship with God if we are walking in darkness. You know how it is to have Jesus in your heart and to live in the light of His comfort, protection and guidance. Isn't this what we want for our parents? Fellowship with God? Light in their lives and in their hearts? A lamp that lights their path and directs them back to God and back home to their families?

"You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall." 2 Samuel 22:29-30

"You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness." Psalm 18:28 (NLT)

It's so hard to see in the dark. Sometimes those who are walking in the dark don't even realize how dark it has become. They just keep forging ahead as the way becomes more cluttered and the light fades from view. You know how your eyes will adjust to the fading light and eventually, even though it is completely dark, you are still able to see, although not as well. It is like that for those we pray for. Their eyes, their ears, their minds, their hearts have adjusted to the darkness until they don't even realize how gloomy it has really become.

"They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken." Psalm 82:5

In the dark, everything looks alike - good and bad. A pile of leaves can look like a big rock that needs to be stepped over. Or what looks like a simple seam in the pavement can really be a branch that will trip you up. It's like that for the parent that you pray for. As long as they are walking in the dark, they can't see where the path they are on is taking them. They can't see the potholes and the obstacles that will trip them up. In the light, these things are clearly discernible. But in the dark, they can lead to trouble.

Your prayers for your dad or mom are like that street light. For a moment, there is light because someone is praying and interceding for them, but then they walk back into the dark. We must continue to pray that the light will come into their lives - not just once in awhile - but all the time. We must continue to pray that the Lord will bring them into the light so that they can become the man or woman of God that He has ordained them to be.

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16

God Bless,
Kim, a stander in Nebraska
http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org

October 16, 2009

It's Not Dead!

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26 NIV

"Mom! Guess what I learned in school today!" exclaimed Marcus. "Math" she said. "I learned about hibernation! Black bears can sleep for seven months without eating, exercising or going to the bathroom!" Mom answered "No, tell me more. How does it do that?" Marcus shared "Well, it eats lots and lots of food in the spring time and summer and builds up a lot of fat. They can gain 30 pounds a week. In the fall, they build a nest out of leaves and twigs. They curl up in a little ball and go to sleep." "No kidding," mom said. "During the summer months, their heart beats between 60-90 times a minute. It only beats 8-40 times a minute while they are sleeping," he said. "WOW! Eight beats a minute? If you weren't listening closely, you might think the bear was dead," mom said.

"Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, 'My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.' So Jesus went with him...While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead,' they said. 'Why bother the teacher any more?' Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.' He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

"When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, 'Why all the commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.' But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by her hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (which means, 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!') Immediately the girl stood up and walked around." Mark 5:22-24,35-42 NIV

"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.' When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.' Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus…Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 'Take away the stone,' he said.

'But Lord,' said Martha, the sister of the dead man, 'by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there for four days.' Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?' So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.' When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!" Then the dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'" John 11:1-5,38-44 NIV

Jesus waited a few days before he left. Why? He could've healed Lazarus. He had healed other sick people. Why not do it again? "No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" is what Jesus said. What a great miracle it is to raise a dead man or daughter! What an amazing way to show what God can do!

Your parent's marriage may seem dead, but it is only sleeping like the hibernating bear. The bear's heartbeat slows down so much that if you don't listen long enough, you may think it is dead. If you sit quietly and listen to God's heartbeat, you will begin to realize that the marriage may seem dead, but it is only hibernating and after a time, it will wake up.

What you're going through is going to bring glory to God. What a great miracle it will be when a marriage that seemed dead is given a new life. What a great way for everyone around you to see what God can do! God is in the business of giving people and marriages life.

Waiting for hibernation to end,
Colleen in Virginia
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org

October 5, 2009

The Little Things

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)

It had been a bad week in my household. Circumstances and events had conspired to make things look really hopeless. And for a minute - just for a minute - I took my eyes off Jesus. The only thing I saw was the mountain in front of me and the only thing I felt was that it was just too big to climb. But God…. (This is one of my favorite phrases from Charlyne!) But God stepped in and gave me a little nugget of gold to hold in my heart. It was then that I knew I needed to look for the little things Jesus blesses me with as I continue to pray for "the big thing."

How about you? How was your week at school? A lot of homework? Any moves or teacher notes? Are you just looking at the big thing? Or are you thankful for all the little things Jesus does to show you He cares? Did you get a good grade on that test you were worried about? Jesus cares. Were you invited to a new friend's house? Jesus cares. Did you get to spend some time with dad or mom this week? Jesus cares. Did the Lord set a piece of scripture before you that you felt in your heart? Jesus cares.

"The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness." Psalm 145:13b-17 (NLT)

We spend a lot of time thinking about and praying about and worrying about our family. We spend a lot of time saying "If only…" It is good to pray for God's blessing on our family and He honors those of us who are standing in the gap for them. But sometimes we get so focused on the "big thing" that we lose sight of all the little gifts from God.

There are blessings to be had all around us if we just look. There's the rainbow in the sky after a fierce thunderstorm. There's the smell of autumn in the air and the colorful leaves as they get ready for a new season. There's an unexpected visit from Grandma and Grandpa. There's the kind word spoken to us just when we needed it. There's the promise in His Word that seems to have been written just for us. All of these little things are hugs from the Lord. Nuggets of gold as Charlyne calls them.

"You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings." Psalm 125:3 (NLT)

Even in the midst of unspeakable heartache, the Lord blesses us. He surrounds us with His love and comfort, shields us from enemy arrows, and sends His angels to lift our feet so they do not strike a stone. Then He sends little blessings our way to let us know that He cares for us. We need to rejoice in these blessings because they are gifts from God. They are His way of letting us know that He loves us and wants the best for us. So even if "the big thing" seems far away right now, we can be thankful and rejoice in the little things.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18

God Bless,
Kim, a stander in Nebraska
http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org


	Archive for October 2009 October 30, 2009 Walking in the Dark "This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7 (NLT) I always head for school about the same time every morning. As the autumn season has progressed, my drive has become less and less light until now I am going the whole distance in the dark. I don't live to far from where I teach and there are several students in my neighborhood who walk to school each morning. I have the advantage of my car headlights, but the only time they are walking in the light is when they come under one of the streetlamps. It has to be tough, walking in the dark. It has to be hard to see the uneven sidewalks or the tree branches that might have blown off in the night. I bet it's even tough to see where the sidewalk is leading. I'm sure they are glad when the street lamp illuminates the way. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2 One important scientific principle that we have all learned is that darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. When Jesus lives in our hearts, there is light. And that light dispels all the darkness of the circumstances we are living in right now. It doesn't make the circumstances disappear; it just helps us to see them in a better light. When we look at things through the light of Jesus' love for us and for our parents, they don't seem as bad as they did in the dark. One more important Biblical principle that we all have learned is that we can't have fellowship with God if we are walking in darkness. You know how it is to have Jesus in your heart and to live in the light of His comfort, protection and guidance. Isn't this what we want for our parents? Fellowship with God? Light in their lives and in their hearts? A lamp that lights their path and directs them back to God and back home to their families? "You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall." 2 Samuel 22:29-30 "You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness." Psalm 18:28 (NLT) It's so hard to see in the dark. Sometimes those who are walking in the dark don't even realize how dark it has become. They just keep forging ahead as the way becomes more cluttered and the light fades from view. You know how your eyes will adjust to the fading light and eventually, even though it is completely dark, you are still able to see, although not as well. It is like that for those we pray for. Their eyes, their ears, their minds, their hearts have adjusted to the darkness until they don't even realize how gloomy it has really become. "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken." Psalm 82:5 In the dark, everything looks alike - good and bad. A pile of leaves can look like a big rock that needs to be stepped over. Or what looks like a simple seam in the pavement can really be a branch that will trip you up. It's like that for the parent that you pray for. As long as they are walking in the dark, they can't see where the path they are on is taking them. They can't see the potholes and the obstacles that will trip them up. In the light, these things are clearly discernible. But in the dark, they can lead to trouble. Your prayers for your dad or mom are like that street light. For a moment, there is light because someone is praying and interceding for them, but then they walk back into the dark. We must continue to pray that the light will come into their lives - not just once in awhile - but all the time. We must continue to pray that the Lord will bring them into the light so that they can become the man or woman of God that He has ordained them to be. "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16 God Bless, *Kim, a stander in Nebraska* http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org October 16, 2009 It's Not Dead! "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26 NIV "Mom! Guess what I learned in school today!" exclaimed Marcus. "Math" she said. "I learned about hibernation! Black bears can sleep for seven months without eating, exercising or going to the bathroom!" Mom answered "No, tell me more. How does it do that?" Marcus shared "Well, it eats lots and lots of food in the spring time and summer and builds up a lot of fat. They can gain 30 pounds a week. In the fall, they build a nest out of leaves and twigs. They curl up in a little ball and go to sleep." "No kidding," mom said. "During the summer months, their heart beats between 60-90 times a minute. It only beats 8-40 times a minute while they are sleeping," he said. "WOW! Eight beats a minute? If you weren't listening closely, you might think the bear was dead," mom said. "Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, 'My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.' So Jesus went with him...While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead,' they said. 'Why bother the teacher any more?' Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.' He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. "When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, 'Why all the commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.' But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by her hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (which means, 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!') Immediately the girl stood up and walked around." Mark 5:22-24,35-42 NIV "Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.' When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.' Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus…Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 'Take away the stone,' he said. 'But Lord,' said Martha, the sister of the dead man, 'by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there for four days.' Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?' So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.' When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!" Then the dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'" John 11:1-5,38-44 NIV Jesus waited a few days before he left. Why? He could've healed Lazarus. He had healed other sick people. Why not do it again? "No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" is what Jesus said. What a great miracle it is to raise a dead man or daughter! What an amazing way to show what God can do! Your parent's marriage may seem dead, but it is only sleeping like the hibernating bear. The bear's heartbeat slows down so much that if you don't listen long enough, you may think it is dead. If you sit quietly and listen to God's heartbeat, you will begin to realize that the marriage may seem dead, but it is only hibernating and after a time, it will wake up. What you're going through is going to bring glory to God. What a great miracle it will be when a marriage that seemed dead is given a new life. What a great way for everyone around you to see what God can do! God is in the business of giving people and marriages life. Waiting for hibernation to end, *Colleen in Virginia* Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org October 5, 2009 The Little Things "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) It had been a bad week in my household. Circumstances and events had conspired to make things look really hopeless. And for a minute - just for a minute - I took my eyes off Jesus. The only thing I saw was the mountain in front of me and the only thing I felt was that it was just too big to climb. But God…. (This is one of my favorite phrases from Charlyne!) But God stepped in and gave me a little nugget of gold to hold in my heart. It was then that I knew I needed to look for the little things Jesus blesses me with as I continue to pray for "the big thing." How about you? How was your week at school? A lot of homework? Any moves or teacher notes? Are you just looking at the big thing? Or are you thankful for all the little things Jesus does to show you He cares? Did you get a good grade on that test you were worried about? Jesus cares. Were you invited to a new friend's house? Jesus cares. Did you get to spend some time with dad or mom this week? Jesus cares. Did the Lord set a piece of scripture before you that you felt in your heart? Jesus cares. "The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness." Psalm 145:13b-17 (NLT) We spend a lot of time thinking about and praying about and worrying about our family. We spend a lot of time saying "If only…" It is good to pray for God's blessing on our family and He honors those of us who are standing in the gap for them. But sometimes we get so focused on the "big thing" that we lose sight of all the little gifts from God. There are blessings to be had all around us if we just look. There's the rainbow in the sky after a fierce thunderstorm. There's the smell of autumn in the air and the colorful leaves as they get ready for a new season. There's an unexpected visit from Grandma and Grandpa. There's the kind word spoken to us just when we needed it. There's the promise in His Word that seems to have been written just for us. All of these little things are hugs from the Lord. Nuggets of gold as Charlyne calls them. "You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings." Psalm 125:3 (NLT) Even in the midst of unspeakable heartache, the Lord blesses us. He surrounds us with His love and comfort, shields us from enemy arrows, and sends His angels to lift our feet so they do not strike a stone. Then He sends little blessings our way to let us know that He cares for us. We need to rejoice in these blessings because they are gifts from God. They are His way of letting us know that He loves us and wants the best for us. So even if "the big thing" seems far away right now, we can be thankful and rejoice in the little things. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18 God Bless, *Kim, a stander in Nebraska* http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org
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