FIREWORKS ~ MARRIAGE~ and ~My BeachBoy

FIREWORKS ~ MARRIAGE~ and ~My BeachBoy

We are approaching my very favorite time of the year, 4^th of July week!!  There is nothing like it.  Hot sunny days, waterfront activity, family, cookouts, bonfires and the FIREWORKS on our very own waterfront!!  Over the years we have celebrated this grand freedom week with various traditions.    When the kids were pre-high school years we hauled the boat to Auntie Ann’s cottage on Long Lake near Traverse City and not only took in the 4^th of July festivities in TC, but also the Cherry Festival.  I adored those years.  Twelve years ago we bought our cottage here at Pine Lake and this definitely is a longing fulfilled with the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

I am geeked about FIREWORKS; if you have not figured that out yet.  When it comes to marriage there can be two different kinds of fireworks.  There are the positive fireworks and the negative fireworks. 

Positive fireworks are the kinds that cause you beam inside and out.  The sheer excitement of absolute contentment, joy, pleasure, passion, adventure all wrapped up into one big glorious grand finale of …it just could not get any better than this.  Several things must transpire in us as couples to cultivate the glorious blaze of spectacular fireworks in marriage each day.

·         Environment ~ we have to be willing to create an environment that is conducive for the cause.

·         Attitude ~ you have heard it said it is all in the “tude”, that’s right!  We choose how we will perceive things.  We can look at that cup half full or half empty…it really is up to us.

·         Self denial ~ Blessing and serving one another is contagious.  According to God’s Word we are to build-up and edify one another. 
Romans 14:19(NKJV)
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. . 

·         Laughter ~ the Bible says:  Proverbs 15:15 b (NLT) …for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. 
Proverbs 17:22 a (NLT)  A cheerful heart is good medicine, …   

Negative fireworks are like those M-6’s people light off and throw near you, when you least expect it; a huge bang that scares the b-geebies right out of you.  Nothing beautiful to look at, no spectacular, only a big bang, and a blow-up that leaves emptiness.  How does this happen in marriage.  Take away all of the above points and you will be prime candidates for a big blow-up of emptiness!

Yesterday Dan and I had one of those moments that could have gone either way.  We could have experienced the big bang or the glorious grand finale.

Dan and I are the truest of “lakers” and he is my beach boy, down to the core!  One of the things that attracted me most to my hubby was his gorgeous natural curly thick locks.  Through our entire marriage Dan’s has had some kind of curls on his head.  Sometimes he keeps them longer but even when he cuts his hair a little shorter, there are still some curls left.  I have styled Dan’s lovely locks before but have never given him a haircut.  I have always left that to the professionals.  However for some strange reason yesterday I decided to give him a haircut.  The more I cut the worse he looked until finally all his hair was shaved off.  Now you must realize our daughters have never seen their Dad with a shaved head and I personally do not think his hair was cut this short even when he was at OCS (Officer’s Candidate School / military).  Leah our oldest daughter was here to witness the damage. We laughed so hard I thought I would pee my pants.  When Dan looked in the mirror other than saying I could never come near him again with clippers….he took it like a real trooper and was happy we got such a good laugh at his expense!  Bless his heart, now you know why I love him so…fireworks happened yesterday and they were the glorious kind!!

For more about marriage...be sure you buy your copy of:  WE PROMISE ~ 18 Foundational Stones for an Unshakeable Marriage ~ available now ~ click on the WE PROMISE link, on the right side of blog home page.

JOYFUL

JOYFUL

When you hear the word joyful, what comes to your mind?  How would you define joyful?  According to Webster (pg. 466), joyful is a strong feeling of great happiness; delight; a state or source of contentment or satisfaction; anything which makes one delighted or happy.

A few days ago during my devotional time I ran across a scripture that expresses what joy is according to the Word of God.  It seems I am drawn to this Psalm and have been reflecting on it.  Meditating upon Psalm 119; I realized most of us have it all wrong.  Even Webster does not have it right; unless he was to correlate his definition to the fact that, joy is only possible if Psalm 119 has been applied or fulfilled in your life.

Lord Jesus it is my desire to live in a continuous joyful state.  I pray that Psalm 119 would be my life and that of your people.  Amen

Psalm 119:1-16 (NLT)

    Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD.
    Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
    They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
    You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
    Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!
    Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.
    As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!
    I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! Beth
    How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word.
    I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands.
    I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
    I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
    I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.
    I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.
    I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.
    I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

THIS MAGIC MOMENT

THIS MAGIC MOMENT

We have all had those magical moments we wish we could freeze in time.  I often say; “Kodak moment”.  That special moment hopefully caught on camera as a permanent reminder of a scene which just transpired.  You know this special scene will never replay itself, only in a memory unless you catch it on camera or video.  Now if you have an old digital camera like mine you miss most of those moments because of the delay factor.  Unfortunately no matter what I set my camera for it seems it takes about five seconds between shots. 

When we were raising the girls many times I would pray; “Lord forever etch this in my mind, do not let me ever forget this moment.”

What can we do as married couples to create a magical moment in marriage?  Is it possible to take a moment in time of an ordinary day and make it magical?

The Eyes Have It

The scene:

You are at a gathering.  You and your spouse are in different areas of the room with other people.

The Magical Moment:

Fix your eyes on your spouse.  Be oblivious to your surroundings.  Do not take your eyes off your spouse.  Once your spouse has made eye contact with you…smile slightly and mouth the words:

“I love you, you are so hot.”

Slowly move toward your spouse never breaking eye contact.  Once you have reached your spouse gently slide your arm into theirs.

Song of Songs 1:15(TMSG)
Oh, my dear friend! You’re so beautiful! And your eyes so beautiful—like doves!

And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too
By the look in your eyes

By Doc Pomus

 

Have you flirted with your spouse today?

 



THE BUCKET LIST

THE BUCKET LIST

There seems to be a great insurgence of referrals to; The Bucket List.  Advertisements on Yahoo, MSN, Fox, FaceBook and Sunday it was on the front cover of Parade Magazine inside the newspaper.  Now all of this whoopla is to encourage us to complete our bucket list.  The bucket list consist of those wild throw all caution to the wind adventures that we all dare to dream about doing, self seeking thrills which get the adrenaline pumping or places that give you the awe factor of serenity. 

Several years ago there was a movie called, The Bucket List.  The movie was centered on two older men who were roommates in the cancer ward at a hospital.  These two unlikely men struck up a friendship at deaths door and decided together they would help each other fulfill their “bucket list”.  Together they set off on an adventure to bring fulfillment to their life before they "kicked the bucket".

Tim McGraw sings a song called; Live Like Your Dying.  Here are a few lines from that “bucket list” song:

How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man whatcha do?

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

He said "I was finally the husband,
"That most the time I wasn’t.
"An' I became a friend a friend would like to have.
"And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,
"Wasn’t such an imposition,
"And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.
"Well, I finally read the Good Book,
"And I took a good long hard look,
"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,

Now I have to admit, I would like to try out a few of those adventures and all of us would do well to; love deeper, speak sweeter, forgive, and be the kind of spouse we should be!

What moved me to thinking about all of this is; I have never heard anyone mention they have a “spiritual bucket list”.  A list of adventures, dreams, goals that they want to complete for the Kingdom, before the coming of our King.  Can you imagine what that list might look like!  What one person, empowered by God could do if their mission in life was to fulfill their “spiritual bucket list”?  But you know this is such as Holy thing I feel ashamed to call it a “spiritual bucket list”, it makes this calling of the Lord feel cheap and unworthy of a Most Holy God who is worthy of all praise and adoration.  Isaiah caught a mere glimpse of this Most Holy God and he was awe struck with the revelation of what a sinful man he was. Isaiah was completely undone.

Isaiah 6:1-7(NKJV)
In the year that King Uzi died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one cried to another and said:      “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;     The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.  So I said:      “Woe is me, for I am undone!     Because I am a man of unclean lips,     And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;     For my eyes have seen the King,     The Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth with it, and said:      “Behold, this has touched your lips;     Your iniquity is taken away,     And your sin purged.”

God is so good, He has a way to cleanse us and use us for the sake of the Kingdom!  In verse 8 Isaiah is consumed with the chance to be used by the Lord.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:      “Whom shall I send,     And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people:

We as God’s people have been given a clarion call, The Great Commission.  Just as Isaiah was commissioned to speak to the people of his day, we also as God’s people have a commission to fulfill to the people of our day that should outweigh any extravagant - high adventure, self-seeking physical “bucket list”.

Matthew 28:18-20(NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:15-18(NKJV)
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

One day I must stand before my King, the King of kings, the Lord Almighty and give account of my life.  The Book of Remembrance will be opened.  

Malachi 3:16(NKJV)
    Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,      And the Lord listened and heard them;     So a book of remembrance was written before Him     For those who fear the Lord     And who meditate on His name.

Revelation 22:12(NKJV)
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. 

Lord Jesus help us have a glimpse of who you are, just as Isaiah did.  May we recognize how holy You truly are and give You all the reverence, honor and glory You are due.  Cleanse our lips, purify our hearts …Lord here  am I, send me ~ empower me ~ enable me ~ to fulfill exactly what You desire ~ for the Kingdom of God.

Revelation 5:11-13(NKJV)
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,  saying with a loud voice:      “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain     To receive power and riches and wisdom,     And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:      “Blessing and honor and glory and power     Be to Him who sits on the throne,     And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

I have experienced just about every phase of life now.  I wish I could say; I gave my utmost for His Highest every day. 

I have much I must do yet for the Kingdom of God, I wasted many years.

Reflecting back over the last few years, something unexpected has transpired.  I am dreaming very big, I never planned on writing a book but I did (wow God really can do anything).  Now what can be done with this tool full of the Word of God, focused on creating and establishing unshakeable marriages? 

If a marriage can be changed to be a reflection of Jesus Christ and his bride, then…a family can be changed.  If a family can be changed, then…a neighborhood can be changed.  If a neighborhood can be changed, then…a city can be changed.  If a city can be changed, then… a state can be changed.  If a state can be changed, then… a nation can be changed! Let’s dream big people of God…what can we do for our King?

Revelation 22:13-17(NKJV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

PRAYER POINTS FOR MICHIGAN

PRAYER POINTS (FOCUS) FOR:

 PRAYER FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

FRI. JUNE 3^RD 5:30P-6:30P

Thank you for joining us to pray for our Great State of Michigan.  Even if you cannot come to the GR Festival of Arts and pray in person, we thank you for setting time apart to pray wherever you may be at that time.

The Bible says:

2Chr. 7:14-15 
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.

• Humble ourselves
• Pray
• Seek the face of God
• Turn from sin / repent

Then the Lord will:

• Hear from heaven
• Forgive our sins
• Heal our land

In Esther 4:12-14, Esther was called to take a stand….for such a time as this.  As a people of God I encourage us to stand…take a stand and call on the Name of our Lord.

I would like to suggest an order for prayer:

• Acknowledge and exalt the Lord, give Him the honor that is due to Him.
• Thank Him for all He has done in sustaining us and all He will do to deliver us.
• Repent of our sins individually, repent for our churches, communities, cities and state.  Isaiah 59:2 (NIV) states:  But your iniquities (sins) have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.  Let us come to Lord with clean hearts. 
• Repent for the lack of Holy Reverence that is due to our Lord; there is such a lack of respect and awe that is due to our most High King Jesus.  Godly fear needs to be restored in MI.

Request:

• Pray the people of the Lord will grow into deeper maturity in Christ Jesus; in to the depths of His richness.  Pray the people of Michigan will be the spiritual leaders of this nation.
• Pray for all church, city, and state leaders; that their hearts would turn toward God and they would follow His leading.  Pray the Lord will use them to lead this state in righteousness, integrity and God fearing honor.
• Pray for the economic recovery of Michigan specifically western MI.  Pray that all will be restored that was lost and abundance will come, far greater than that which was lost.  Pray Michigan will be the leader in jobs and a leader in the economy.  Pray all that the Lord has purposed for MI. will be fulfilled.

THE LORD DESIRES TO HEAL OUR LAND

Thank you for joining us in praying for our great state, may God bless you abundantly richly, beyond all measure!!

In Him,  Dan & Penny