Posted on Nov 29, 2017 in BLOG, General, Marriage and Family |
“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord…Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;” Ephesians 5:22 & 25
Giving your life for another human being can be one of the easiest things and one of the hardest things to do. You are probably wondering how I could say easy…
Emotions are powerful! When my emotions are running on high for my wife, then it is really easy to give my life for her… When my emotions are not so hot on her, then it is really hard to give my life for her…
God expects me as a husband to give my life up for my wife constantly. Just as following Jesus takes a choice every day, I have found that it takes a choice every day to love my wife in such a way as to give up my life for her.
I have been reading a biography on missionary Jim Elliot, in this book there is a quote where he is speaking of surrendering his life to God. He said,
“one does not surrender a life in an instant – that which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime.”
[1]
I can’t help but apply this to marriage. Having an amazing marriage doesn’t come from surrendering your life at one moment. It takes a lifetime of moments of surrendering your life to add up to an amazing marriage.
Go the distance with your spouse and continue to surrender yourself day by day.
[1] Susan Miller, Jim Elliot: Missionary to Ecuador
, 51.
Posted on Oct 11, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8
Woodstove…check! Firewood…check! Kindling…check! Paper…Check! Matches…check!
This is the first time in my adult life that I have had a woodstove to heat my house. As we are getting closer to the cold season, I have taken some steps to be ready for heating my house. I had my son get the old ashes out of the wood stove. I bought a cord of wood from a guy in the neighborhood. And, I’ve got several boxes of matches!
The first attempt to build a fire was very discouraging. It didn’t go. I put paper in there, some kindling, along with some bigger pieces of wood. It would stay lit for a little while and then go out.
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Posted on Sep 27, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
This morning I went with my wife and boys to their school to pray at the flag pole.
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Posted on Sep 20, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,” Ephesians 5:29
Weeds, Untrimmed Bushes, Brown Grass, Dead Flowers….
That is what my yard looks like… yikes! (For those in Salem, I use that word in honor of Pastor Butler)
I’ve got a lot of work to do on both my front yard and my backyard! Thankfully, it doesn’t all have to be done all at once.
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Posted on Sep 6, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying…” Joshua 1:10
“Dad, we need to talk…”
A few days ago, my youngest son walked into the room and said, “Dad, now that I’m in 6
th
grade, we should have another man talk.”
I have made it a practice to sit down with my boys as they enter into new seasons of their life to prepare them as best as I can for what’s ahead. These talks include things like: their relationship with God, how to treat girls, how to protect their eyes and heart from lust, sex, what God’s view of real manhood is, and more.
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Posted on Aug 30, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“Blessed is the man who listens to me (wisdom personified), watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.” Proverbs 8:34
A week of firsts…first masters level hermeneutics class… first time being Lead Pastor…first time both of my boys starting middle school…
A week like this can seem a little overwhelming…especially when I realize that I don’t have all the wisdom I need to do everything that comes with these responsibilities…
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Posted on Aug 28, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Jesus Talk
“I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You loved Me.” John 17:23
I’m hanging out with youth from our church ALL DAY! We are going to have a GREAT DAY!
A highly important aspect of being an effective witness for Jesus is for His people to be one!
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Posted on Aug 23, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7
Last evening, we took the opportunity to have dinner at friends’ house here in Vancouver. It was a nice time of eating good food together with our families and then having good conversation while the kids played. During our conversation last night, I was reminded of a very important principle for life that I applied to my marriage.
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Posted on Aug 16, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“Let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33
Is Your House Done Yet…?
I’m not sure how many times this question has been asked of my wife and I in the last month, but it is a lot!
Every time someone asks me this question, it makes me think of the laundry list of things I still have to do…here are some things I still need to do: Counter top installation, appliance installation, electrical outlet replacement, trim installation, trim painting, door painting, wall paint touch-up, lower bathroom vanity replacement, kitchen light replacement (x2), caulking in two bathrooms, painting kitchen cabinet doors, resurface two bathroom countertops, build façade wall in basement, and this doesn’t even include the outside…!
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Posted on Aug 2, 2017 in BLOG, Marriage and Family |
Marriage and Family
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4
Roses on the door step, times of lighthearted laughter together, many letters sent back and forth…there are things that I did to grow in my love for my wife and things that she did to grow in her love for me.
Today I get to do something I love to do! I get to lead a wedding ceremony for two people that I love. Not only that, but it is by a beautiful lake in Oregon. I love being married and I love helping others get excited about marriage. I also love helping others learn how they can have a joy filled and successful marriage!
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