Pursue Them Anyway

God has given me the burden of encouraging couples and families.  It isn't really a burden at all, but a funny things happens when you begin to pray, "God break my heart for the things that break yours."  He actually does and will do it for things that you never noticed before - like marriages breaking up and families falling apart.  After I began to pray that prayer, I received an overwhelming desire to encourage, mentor, and intercede for marriages and families.  Things others may not notice or pick up on, I find myself praying for them.

I recently read, "Thank God that He in all pursues you and responds with love, grace, and forgiveness to your multiple failures."  I agree with that statement and want to encourage everyone to do the same with their spouse or family member.  Yes, they are imperfect and may not do things our way, but let's continue to pursue them and respond to them with the same grace, love, and forgiveness that we ALWAYS receive from Jesus Christ.

Maybe your marriage & family are perfect and couldn't get any better.  However, for those of us with imperfect marriages and familes or for those of us who may even believe that we married the WRONG person, let's treat them like they are the RIGHT person for us.  Very soon you will see the Holy Spirit transform them into what God wants them to be.

This journey is not about us.  Its about sharing our story of redemtion with one person at a time.

There's Beauty in Suffering

Okay so the challenge was issued in our small group yesterday to encourage your spouse to take time to be alone with God.  So today I asked my hubby (although I'm not supposed to ask) if I could have some alone time with God.  He said yes so with my hot cup of cider & The Message Bible in tow I set out for an adventure in the great outdoors - my back porch ;)

Today's verse was Philippians 1:21:

"So how am I to respond?  I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent.  Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!"

I asked God what does this mean in today's terms (as I fully believe that the Bible is still relevant for every aspect of our life).  I glanced around our back yard & settled on our firepit.  A firepit brings warmth & all are drawn to its light.  Whether its family & friends or an intimate time between you & your spouse, people enjoy time spent around a firepit.  The beauty of the flames can be so intoxicating when gazing upon the glory of an open fire, you never give a second thought to the 'suffering' wood underneath it all.  We enjoy it so much we just toss another log on top if the flame begins to die down.

As intimate as it may be, I imagine the fire enjoys bringing warmth to all who are within it's close proximity.  As it dances in the dark, almost teasing you to "Look at me, look at what I have to offer.  I can make you warm, I can help you forge new memories with friends & family."

We too are like the fire.  With Christ in us, we bring light & warmth to others.  Some are innately drawn to us while others may have to be invited.  Still the Holy Spirit helps us mend broken hearts, bring healing to families, and hope to the lost.  All the while, we are suffering for His sake.  A beauty to behold to Christ.  And when His peace that passes all understanding rules our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7) within our suffering, we are a beauty to behold to others.

Encourage each other to take time with God alone & help each other to make this a reality.