Lighten Up In Your Marriage

               I watched the introductory session of a marriage seminar the other day with a guy named Mark Grungor.  Mark is a pastor who leads marriage seminars designed in way that is non- threatening  to unbelievers .   

                His intention was to get people to laugh in their marriage, to see the humor and joy that exists between the differences in a man and woman.   The session was hilarious for me because I personally can relate most of what he was describing.

                This first session talked about the difference of mindset in a man and woman.  For example, men are able to do focus on one thing at a time and do it very well.  We compartmentalize each and every area of our life and each of those compartments has a name.  Women on the other hand can manage to do multiple things at a time.  Their “wiring” is that everything is connected somehow.    I’ve heard this put a different way before: men are like waffles (the syrup can only go into indivudal compartments) Women are like spaghetti (able to combine everything at once).

                 One of the “compartments” he talked about for men was the “nothing compartment”.  This is a sacred part of our brain that we hold very dear.  It is in this box where a man retreats from the chaos of the world around him.  And it’s true J I love that compartment.  It was interesting to see the non-verbal responses off the men in the audience.  For some, it looked like they were insulted that he would even bring this up.  It was funny.  And that was the point.  He encouraged us to “lighten up” in marriage, have fun with it and to see each other’s differences as an opportunity to get closer together.

Looking For God Among The Broken

                Pastor Dave Peterson was the guest in our class last week.  Dave is a busy man.  He is busy fulfilling the work of the Lord with a heart of compassion.  He works mainly with people who are broken, dying and suffering.  

                I learned quite a lot from listening to Dave.  My eyes were opened to see God in way that I honestly have not even thought about.  Personally, I haven’t dealt with much brokenness, death or suffering.  However, Dave shed light on something new for me.   He said, “we can’t just look for God among the beauty.  We have to look for him where he promised to be.  Look for God in the brokenness too.  As Christ revealed himself on the cross, God was present among all the brokenness.”

                 Here is man who see’s life through God’s eyes.  It can be so easy at times to ignore those who are broken and suffering.  However, in Isaiah 58 that God is among the broken and is faithful to restore. 

                 “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard…then your llight will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday….you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwelling.”

                   I have learned to look for God in brokenness.

Shared Wisdom

   

       Recently, I had again the privilege of listening to older man speak to a classroom of young men and women.  In this classroom was a group of young adults who desire to live for God and serve Him in any way, shape or form.   The man’s name was Otto Wegner.  As we listened to him share what he has learned over many years of living a life in complete devotion to God I couldn’t help but be mesmerized at his wisdom.  

        It was difficult to take notes because listening with undivided attention was of more benefit.  He did however; share many of his own “proverbs” that he lives by.  I’d like to share them with you. 

·         Being obedient to Jesus is a mental issue.

·         In Gods economy, if you’re obedient, there is always a surplus.

·         When I work, I work.  When I pray, God works.

·         God didn't give so that we could keep.  It comes in the flow, not in the keeping. 

·         We teach what we believe, We reproduce who we are

·         The presence of God's people guarantees the presence of God.

·         Responsibility + Accountability= Maturity    

·         Almost anybody can't count how many seeds are in an apple, but we get to know a God who knows how many apples will come out of a seed.

          Think on these for awhile and see how they help you to look at things through God's perspective.  

Learning from the Past with C.J. Ortega

                When embarking on a new life adventure, such as leading a church, it’s not uncommon to expect success straight out of the gate.  Success being defined as progressively moving forward in the task God entrusted to you.  From what I’ve learned recently, both from experience and other Pastor’s testimonies, succeeding in your mission on the 1^st attempt isn’t a guarantee.

              

                 I believe God calls individual people for specific responsibilities.  What I find interesting is the Greek meaning for the word “calling” in Ephesians 4.  The word used is klesis, which is defined as an invitation to the responsibilities God has assigned for you.  Just because someone is invited to accept these responsibilities doesn’t guarantee success from the start. 

              

                 There is something very beneficial from making mistakes in life.  Pastor C.J Ortega shared his thoughts “One lesson I’ve learned in church planting is that I don’t want to dismiss my past experiences when it went bad, because there is so much value in what you learn from those experiences.”  This notion of learning from your mistakes is very true, especially in ministry.  What I have found is that if things aren’t going the way we had hoped or planned, then it requires me to draw closer to God. 

                If God has entrusted us with specific responsibilities, then He also needs to be the source in which we gain direction.  I think God allows us to make mistakes, because in those mistakes it forces us to depend on Him and to trust Him so much more.  What I have learned is when I’m in that humble and vulnerable state, that is when he reveals Himself and teaches me how to overcome the adversity.