Romans 15:30

"I have one request, dear friends: Pray for me. Pray strenuously with and for me-to God the Father, through the power of our Master Jesus, through the love of the spirit..." Romans 15:30

What does it mean to pray strenuously for someone?  Does it mean that you are praying more than you have ever prayed for them?  Does it mean that you are praying while doing jumping jacks?

Strenuous is defined as vigorous, active, energetic, and extreme effort.

I think Paul means that I should skip sleep or eating so that I can devote my energy to praying for someone.  I might even possibly skip out on a hobbie or sitting on the lawnmower so that I can pray for them. Devoted attention and energy given to prayer.

So, who are you praying for strenuously?  Pick a day this next week and pray for someone strenuously!
(Suggested Reading: Romans 15:23-33)

Romans 14:1

"Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do.  And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with - even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department.  Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently." Romans 14:1

Isn't it true that you will always find someone you don't agree with?  Of course it is true.  But in all of our debate and arguing over our convictions, we've missed the testimony we display for the rest of the world to see. While we are proving our point, the world sees hostility and disunity.

Paul teaches us in this chapter that God is at work in each believer.  The way in which He works in you may be different than the way He works in me.  Because we both have different backgrounds. There are things in my life that needs some attention while not in yours and vis a versa.  God speaks to both of us and what I do know is that while God will lead us both through different experiences and convictions, He will lead us to the same destination.  Kneeling side by side in worship of the One who rescued us.

Are you kind and gentle with others who don't agree with youo or have the same convictions? Or, do you spend all your energy trying to prove that you are right?
(Suggested Reading: Romans 14)

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

You and I naturally learn how to live life by what we see going on around us.  We automatically pick things up.  If you see someone cheat another in a business deal, you will learn to cheat as well.  It doesn't mean you will, it's just that you've learned that there are times you may need to cheat.  If you see someone gossip about another, you will learn how to gossip as well.  If you see someone pay their taxes, you have learned that you should pay your taxes.  Our minds are formed by the decisions of those around us.  If you don't believe me, watch a father and son spend time together.  You will see that child start to mimic their father without the father being aware of it.

Paul tells us to intentionally protect our minds from the dangerous ideals that we pick up from this world and allow the spirit of God to teach us how to live through what we learn from the Bible.  When we read it and allow it to influence us, we will begin to see God's will for our lives which is good, pleasing and perfect.

So who are you learning from today?  Those around you or God?  Pick up your Bible or get a bible app and start reading today.
(Suggested reading: Romans 12:1-8)

Rediscovering Christmas

This month I've been preaching about Rediscovering Christmas during our church worship services.  Why? Because we or at least I get so caught up in the traditions and commercialization of the season that I(we) have a tendency to crowd out the story of God's redemptive plan for the world.

I know that most of you know the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.  You would have to close your eyes and cover your ears in order to not see and hear this story mentioned on TV, in conversations or even on the radio.  The problem is that the story becomes chatter and it's hard to really understand chatter.  You may lean in, focus real hard and try to drown out the noise around you in order to hear it but unfortunately it still sounds like chatter.  That's what happens to me around this time of year.  And then it's all over and I look back and think, where did December go?  I want this Christmas season to be different. I need this Christmas season to be different.

I get busy trying to get the Christmas lights up, find and decorate the tree, find a good parking spot so I don't have to carry the bags so far away from the building I just invested my life savings in.  Oh, wait.  This is supposed to be about Jesus.  I really don't want to leave Him out.  His birth into this world is why we celebrate in the first place.  What can I do?  Why not go back in time and re-discover the beauty of this powerful moment in God's redemptive plan for saving you and me?

The first thing I did was to turn to the Gospel of Luke and read the story once again.  Why not take some time and reread it yourself?  Read Luke 2:1-20 or click to view (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A1-20&version=NIV ) 

This baby boy is the promise of God the Jews had been waiting for, for 400 years.  And here He is.  It was said that He would make things right that were wrong in this world or at least set things in motion to be made right.  And He did.  He would reveal His glory to and through unsuspecting people.  And He did.  All through out the bible, God seemed to be at a distance, but in this baby boy, He would visit up close and personal.  And here He is. 

What that means is, God is faithful to the promises he makes.  God will restore the brokenness in our lives and in this world.  God will show his power and glory in me and through me and He wants me to know that He is not some distant creator but a close friend.  Wow.  That is what Christmas is all about.  That is why He is so special.

Take some time and rediscover the beauty of God's story this Christmas and Have a Merry Christmas! 

Marriage Under-Construction: The well of intimacy goes deep!

Wells have always fascinated me. A well feeds my home but it doesn't quite look like this picture.  While I was in Ethopia, some of the locals, a missionary and I loaded a truck to find the nearest well.  With empty containers in the back of the truck, we made our way through the bumpy terrain and found the well we would be pumping for water.  It didn't look like this picture either.  It looked like a teeter totter with a spout to retrieve the water.  We filled jug after jug.  Some of the locals filled their jugs, balanced them with a long stick and carried them home.  I appreciated the truck and so did my back.

I've seen a few wells like this picture that are no longer in use.  They fascinate me because I want to know how deep the well goes.  There are some wells that I can't even see the bottom.

This is a picture of marriage.  There is so much more to marriage that awaits us.  The well goes deep.  The question is, will I explore the depth of my marriage?

When was the last time you learned something new about your spouse?  Are you looking for something new?  Many times we become familiar and start to loose the passion in learning about who we married.  We think we have them figured out the first year of marriage.  It is highly unlikely that you know everything there is to know about your spouse.  Take some time and just look at them.  Listen to them.  Find out what stirs passion within them.  Find out something new that makes them smile.

When was the last time you said something intimate to your spouse?  I'm not talking about, "Hey baby, you interested?"  I mean, when was the last time your commented on her beauty or intelligence?  When have expressed something that you admire about him?

How about serving your spouse for a change?  When was the last time you did something for them that they normally do, like wash the car or sweep the floor?  That would get my motor running to see my wife washing the car in more ways than one!

How about touching your spouse in such a way that communicates that they are loved and appreciated?  Sex is a great way God designed for us to touch intimately.  Enjoy your spouse and allow them to enjoy you.

You will find that intimacy with your spouse goes deep.  There is so much more for you.  What are you waiting for?  In the words of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "I'm diving in!"

Marriage Under-Construction: How differently do you communicate?

Do you remember finding two empty cans and tying them together with yarn?  My sisters and I do.  Every child at one time or another will try to see if this works.  My children have tried it and suspect yours, if you have children, have too!  The only problem is that it doesn't work.  How often have we said that about our communication with our spouse? Phrases like, "You don't understand what I'm saying." or "Why can't you see what I'm trying to say?" are spoken throughout the marriage relationship.  Until.  Until what?  Until we learn that each of us communicates quite differently than the other.

My wife and I attended a marriage conference a few years back.  The conference was called, "Weekend to remember."  We had a wonderful time together, without kids, a private bedroom, talks about improving our marriage and time.  During that weekend the conference speaker was talking about the different ways we communicate.  He said that some of us are Land the Plane kinds of speakers, which are people who want to find the shortest path to the goal.  They are the readers digest kind of communicators.  Also, there are Enjoy the Ride communicators.  They relax and tell the whole story.  Every detail.  Which of these two are you?

Then there are Sharing your feelings kind of communicators.  They share how they felt about everything. Not the facts kinds of communicators.  They only share the facts.  Which are you, facts or feelings?

Finally, there are Thinking out loud people who ask questions, interrup, makes comments as they think of them.  The Let's take turns like to listen completely, think through and then take their turn in sharing.  They dislike interruptions.  Which are you?

My wife and I sat next to each other listening to these things and started to identify which ones that reflected us.  We were opposites.  No wonder we didn't communicate well with each other.

Maybe you and your spouse are in the same boat.  Maybe that is why you stuggle in understanding each other.  Give each other a break and try your best.  Be patient with each other and forgive each other when the time comes that you need to.

  

Marriage Under-Construction: Do you understand each other?

I loved the television show, Home Improvement.  I still do.  You can watch some of the episodes on youtube.  For me, I couldn't wait for that familiar tune and manly grunt to start the shoe.  One particular episode, Tim was not understanding what his wife Jill was saying to him.  Later on in the show, Tim is talking about saftey on the job site and how good communication makes for a safe place to work.  Holding a stop sign in the air, Tim said, "When a man, holding a stop sign, says 'stop', he means stop.  If a women held up a stop sign, it would mean, "If you really knew me, you'd know what this means."  And over the next ten minutes Tim and Jill would learn how to communicate so that each other knows what the other means.

There are times that I don't understand my wife.  I'm sure she would say the same thing about me.  There are moments I tell you that we are speaking a foreign language to each other.  Have you ever felt that way with someone you love?  How do we pull this thing together?

1.  God's Word teaches us to listen for understanding and then respond thoughtfully.  James 1:19 says to be quick to listen.  To really understand what the other is saying.  Then you can respond well.  How is your listening skills? Are you really listening or are you just quiet, thinking about how to respond?  Do you find yourself really understanding what the other is saying?  How often are you saying, "I'm sorry. I misunderstood what you were saying,"? 

2.  Be willing to forgive each other for the lack of understanding and seek to understand.  Colossians 3:13 says to forgive each other with the same intensity as Jesus forgives you your sin.  Are you will to forgive them?  Can you accept the fact that misunderstandings happen?  Will you do your best to communicate more clearly?

I remember this saying, "Seek to understand, then to be understood."

Ask God to help you and your spouse to understand each other better and as you do, God will improve your marriage!