Bible Passage for the Week

2 Chronicles 16:9 - "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him."

This verse provides such comfort!  The eyes of the Lord are constantly watching the whole earth to be able to give the support needed to those who love Him.  When we have that kind of support we have nothing to fear.  The Lord will provide, guide, and take care of us!

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

Isaiah 43:11 - "I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior."

Sometimes simplicity is nice!  There is no Savior but the Lord and it is as simple as that!  We don't look to anyone other than our Lord for the truth.

This is a great passage to memorize, post around the house and simply repeat over and over again.  No matter what anyone else tells us, we have one Savior!

Cheryl

Intimacy - There Is More To It...

 

1 Corinthians 7:5 –“Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer, but then come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Intimacy – or should I say sexual relations.  Many times when the word intimacy is used that is the first and only thought that comes to mind.  We will take a look at that aspect of intimacy but I want to begin with a different verse.

Psalm 139:1 – “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.”

The first definition of intimacy in the dictionary is… “Close or warm friendship or understanding; personal relationship.” (dictionary.com) To be intimate with someone you are really close to them.  You know them in and out; just as it states in Psalm 139:1 – “O, Lord, you have searched me and known me.” 

That definition paints a whole different picture to intimacy.  Do you know your spouse in and out?  Have you taken the time to listen, to understand, to find out the little details in every aspect of your spouse?  There are years of things to discover within each other! 

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 7:5.  This verse is clearly talking about the sexual intimacy in a marriage.  But what if we deprived each other of getting to know one another in a close intimate friendship?  What if we didn’t take the time to talk with one another?  What if we didn’t spend quality time together with our clothes on?  Do you think satan would use that opportunity to divide a relationship?  YES, he will!!

Intimacy entails a great deal of trust, time, and dedication to one another.  Take time to discover things you didn’t know about your spouse.  Laugh together; cry together; share together; pray together and the intimacy of the friendship will grow.  The trust and dedication between each other will be stronger and satan will not have the ability to come between you.  

Finally, back to 1 Corinthians 7:5 – “Do not deprive one another…”  God created man and woman to be together in a married relationship.  When that intimacy is not there, the devil has an open door to tempt you.  Leave him out of your relationship and grow together in all definitions of intimacy!

Cheryl Durheim 

Bible Passage for the Week

Psalm 92:5 "How great are you works, O Lord!  Your thoughts are very deep!"

The last couple of weeks the bible passages have dealt with following the Lord's plan.  Psalm 92:5 speaks to why we should follow the Lord's plans.  The works of the Lord are great and His thoughts are very deep.  They are beyond what we can comprehend.  So when God asks something of us that seems crazy or the world thinks is crazy - remember the Lord's works are great and He has truly thought everything through!

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.  You are serving the Lord Christ."

Take a moment to ponder how you are working heartily for the Lord.  Are you doing what God has asked you to do?  Sometimes God asks us to do things that we would never have considered.  In fact, society would probably consider those "things" that God has asked us to do as crazy.  They are not crazy!  The Lord knows the big picture and He has a plan where all of the pieces will fall together in His timing.  When we work heartily for the Lord we have our inheritance.  We have the promise of eternal of life.

Work heartily for the Lord - He has amazing things for each and everyone of us to do!

Cheryl 

Offering Support for your Spouse

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

In your wedding vows, if you said the traditional wedding vows, you stated “for better or for worse…”  While saying those words, life was on a high.  What could worse really mean?  Well, worse could really mean many things.  Each couple is going to experience their own “worsts” and will have to figure out how to support one another through those experiences.  But…how do you support one another?

The definition of support is filled with a great deal of action that takes a strong person to fulfill those actions.  To support means to…

1.       To bear or hold up

2.       To sustain or withstand

3.       To undergo or endure; especially with patience or submission

4.       To sustain under trial and affliction

5.       To maintain by supplying with things necessary for existence

(Dictionary.com)

How do you support your spouse?  How do you bear the burdens of your spouse?  Are you patient with your spouse while support is needed?  Are you able to sustain your spouse during trials and tribulations?   No matter how you look at it supporting your spouse takes a great deal of effort on your part.  Not only do you have to bear the burdens, be patient and sustain them while they are under trials and tribulations, you have to know how they want the support. 

This takes us back to the wedding vows or back to the wedding day.  From the time you say I do you are beginning a new life.  A life that includes taking each day to gain a deeper understanding of the person you married.  In doing that, you will discover how each other needs support.  Support can be many things.  It can be listening, taking action, holding one another, crying with one another, praying with one another, sharing with one another or taking a step back to let your spouse have space.  The key is taking the time to get to know your spouse so when support is needed you know how to support.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”   We do not have to carry the burdens alone.  Christ will carry us and give us rest.  As you go through this week take time to see how your spouse needs support.  It could simply be taking out the trash or it could be something that requires a great deal more effort.  No matter what it is, when you take the time to support one another you continue to deepen your relationship. 

Cheryl 

 

Bible Passage for the Week

Titus 3:5a - "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy."

I am so grateful that we have a merciful God; one that saved us despite our inability to do what He has asked. 

As we go through our everyday life and repeatedly make mistakes remember to go to God.  He is a merciful God that has sent His Son for us.  We have forgiveness through Him. 

Cheryl