God promises to rebuild and renew our relationships

Many people feel that they have to be in control of every situation. Unfortunately, this attitude doesn't go away when they get home. In fact, it's often intensified in an intimate relationship. Sometimes piety is used to control a spouse. The problem, of course, doesn't lie with God's laws but with our own sinful nature. God must be the one in charge - not us. God promises to rebuild and renew our relationships when we place him in charge of our lives. Allow God to be the one who is in control of your marriage. When you get this, both of you will be equal partners before him.

 Undoubtably you have heard about a husband who gives his wife a dozen roses or a wife fixes her husband a special candlelight dinner after doing something that he or she regrets. While gestures are signs of remorse for wrong actions, they don't get at the root of the problem. Giving a gift does not mean that our hearts have truly changed. Don't become like Pharisees and offer tokens of gestures that are meaningless. Give your spouse the gift that truly demonstrates your love: kindness, understanding, and, above all, mercy.

We live in a culture where we're told that our interest and desire should not be subject to anyone else - if we want something, we deserve to have it. A good marriage involves thinking first of someone other than yourself. Don't make your spouse a second - class citizen in your home. Treated him or her with the same love and respect that you want in return.

Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God. Romans 8:5

By Pastor William Wheat
www.lifelovefaith.com

It is time for judgment to begin.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.1 Peter 4: 12-17

A marriage is also built on “progressive revelation.”

A word that is used frequently when people refer to a married couple is commitment. “They really seem like a very committed couple.” “Their commitment to each other was apparent after that he lost his job.” “Her illness really tested their commitment.”

While it’s true that commitment is an important part of a successful marriage, the most important ingredient is love. You can be committed to a job but not love it. You can be committed to paying your taxes but not feel any affection for your W2 form. The same is true for a married couple. Commitment will serve you during the best and worst of times. But love will transcend the mundane activities of your lives together and ensure that you will forsake all others for the one you vowed to cherish as long as you both shall live.

 

God's revelation to his people is progression. The deeper the relationship you have with your spouse and have with the Lord, the more he will reveal himself to you. In the verse 1 Corinthians, Paul shares God's promise that someday, when we go to heaven, God will show us his complete glory and we understand  everything perfectly that now seems confusing.

A marriage is also built on “progressive revelation.” One of the joys of married life is the chance to completely know another person. By sharing each other's hopes, fears, triumphs, in tragedies, the love and devotion a couple have for one another will grow and mature. Remember just as you don't have to completely understand the ways of God to serve him faithfully, you also don't have to figure out such mysteries as why your spouse put syrup on your cottage cheese to love him or her with all your heart.

 

Life is unpredictable. Each day we are confronted with decisions and events that causes anxiety and uncertainty. One of the great comforts of the Christian life is knowing we can rest in the assurance that God is in complete control. Just as Jesus said that our Heavenly Father is even concerned about the sparrow that falls from its nest, we are guaranteed that he cares about us infinitely more.

If you and your spouse are going through a time of hardship or indecision, turn your cares over to the Lord. If he can calm the winds of the sea, he is more than able and willing to meet your needs and reveal his will for your lives.

 

By William Wheat (Pastor)

God has an ultimate purpose.

The devil is responsible for all the sin, sickness, sorrow, suffering, crime, poverty and death on this earth. He has brought sects, divisions, enmity, strife, skepticism, unbelief, and worldliness into the Church of Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him, do not perish, but have eternal life.

God has an ultimate purpose.

 

Son, the Son of His love, should in all things have the preeminence. He is before all things and by Him all things consist. He has been appointed heir of all things. For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the Cross. He suffered humiliation, rejection, and death to redeem, by God’s infinite grace, a world of sinners in despair and utter ruin. Nothing but the grace of God can redeem a single member of the human race.

If you will fall in with God’s present plan, submit to His will and turn the government of your life over to the Son of God, you will share His glory ages after He has consigned Satan to the lake of fire. Then and only then will He let you into all of the secrets that you need to know, and answer all the whys that He thinks you ought to know.

Ephesians 4:31-32

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Signs of Christ's return

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

—Acts 1:9-11

1. The coming of Christ will be instantaneous and worldwide. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." —Matthew 24:27
2. The coming of Christ will be visible to all. "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." —Matthew 24:30
3. The coming of Christ will be audible. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." —Matthew 24:31
4. The resurrection of the righteous will occur. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." —1 Thessalonians 4:16
5. In one single event, the saved who are alive at Christ's coming will be caught up together with the resurrected to meet the Lord in the air. "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." —1 Thessalonians 4:17

Love A Gift From God for couples

Jesus Is Born in Bethlehem
Matthew 1:18 – 25

Where are the facts concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: his mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of stern principal, decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn't want to publicly disgrace her.
As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “don't hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning ‘Savior’), for he will save his people from their sins. This will fulfill God's message through his prophets-
Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and he shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God is with us”).
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded, and brought Mary to be his wife, but she remained a virgin until her son was born; and Joseph named him “Jesus.”

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome
Romans 1:8-15
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

Proverbs 1:7 – 9
How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord. Only fools refuse to be taught. Listen to your father and mother. What you learn from them will stand you in good stead; it will gain you many honors.

Highlighted Verse
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Romans 1:11 – 12

 

Summary
A common theme in situation comedies on television is for a husband or wife to come home after a bad day at work and begin to take his or her frustrations out on the other member of the family. Over the course of the next 30 minutes everyone becomes angry at the person who started the whole thing until something happens and make them all realize how silly they've been. Right before the credits roll it down they vow never to fight again – a promised that last until the following week or until the show is canceled, whichever comes first.
Although Paul was writing to the Christians in Rome, his words ring true in the lives of couples today. Encouraging your spouse is one of the greatest privileges of married life. If your husband or wife is going through a difficult time, regardless of the circumstances, be spiritual blessing by listening to his or her problems and praying together until God resolves the situation.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, guide us in our adventure of spiritual openness with one another. Give us the words to say that will encourage each of us to live according to your promises and your divine will. Let each of us be a blessing to the other.