A time of listening to His voice

On Saturday night (9/11) Anna and I spent the ride home from NJ reflecting on where God has us and where we thought he was taking us.  Anna shared some thoughts, but a large part of the conversation was my venting and fighting off feelings of anxiety, lack of trust in God and not being able to spiritually see through the “rubble.”

With the baby asleep in the backseat, the car in front of our apartment building, Anna and I looked at each other and took a deep breath.  Anna closes her eyes and began to share some final thoughts.  Here are some of the major points she hit:

1. God is supplying us with His grace for this difficult season – 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
2. This difficult season is preparing us for what’s ahead – Romans 5:3-5
3. God is faithful to us – Romans 5:5; 8:28; 2 Timothy 2:11-13
4. The work He’s preparing us for is near – Ephesians 5:16 (prophetic)

As Anna spoke, I never felt the impulse to respond.  At that moment I knew God had particular words to share to both of us – and He was using Anna to share them.

After speaking the last words, she broke into tears and said, “thank you, Jesus.”

Jesus is a shepherd and he cares for his sheep.  John 10:3 tells us that he “leads them.”  John also tells that the sheep “know his voice”, implying that he speaks.  Of course, he speaks mainly and ultimately through the Scriptures, but also through the Spirit which he’s placed in the believer.  The Spirit “will guide us in all truth…and glorify [Jesus].” (John 16:12,14)

My encouragement: Husbands, love your wives by leading them in reflections of everyday life and aligning it with what God has to say in Scripture.  This allows for your wife to develop and cultivate spiritual maturity and/or whatever gifts God has given them.  Wives, love your husbands by encouraging them.  Your gifts and maturity are a priceless contribution to the team.

These will aide to reflect Jesus and honor the Father.  Continue to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus!

Making decisions that honor God and build you up

In retrospect, (in the very short time of our marriage) Anna and I have found that the greatest challenge in our marriage has been in the area of decision – making.

We make decisions every single moment of every single day.  We make good decisions, we make bad decisions.  We make decisions that hold a great amount of significance on our lives, others that don’t hold as much.  What’s our next career move? Which college do I choose? Should I have chinese or salad for lunch?  Is it the right time for kids now in this season of our lives?  Decision – making is an element of life we cannot escape even if you wanted to, because ironically, that would a choice in itself.

In the Bible Jesus refers to himself in this light, “the Son can do nothing of his own accord…because whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”  For those of us that pursue a Holy Spirit empowered, Jesus centered, Father honoring lifestyle, this statement by Jesus is key to our christian living.  This, alongside other major decisions Jesus was involved in (Mark 1:35, Luke :12-14, John 17), demonstrates that before he taught, before he preached, as he served, in choosing the disciples, prior to taking up the cross that he would be murdered on, Jesus sought the Father.  Paul, the dude that wrote about 75% of the books of the new Testament, made similar statements:

• “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”
• “whatever you do…do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
• “In love…[the Father] chose us”

Certainly both Jesus and Paul want our decision – making to be in light of God and the proper place he should take in our lives.  The third statement listed is taken from Ephesians 1 where Paul brings us in to God’s bigger picture.  “In love…[the Father] chose us”, that from eternity, God considered, counted the cost and lovingly made a decision to pursue and choose us.

So how can we reflect the same approach in our decision – making?  As I said before, this a season where Anna and I have been moved to dig deep in God’s word to in order to make wiser, discerned (clear-cut) decisions to better honor God and build our trust in him.  Here are some portions of scripture that have been helping us move in this direction:

• “solid food is for the mature…those who have their powers in discernment trained by constant practice” – Hebrews 5:14
• “you are light in the Lord…try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” – Ephesians 5:8-10
• “be transformed ny the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern the what is the will of God” – Romans 12:2
• “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” – Colossians 3:15

Discernment and wisdom that leads to God – honoring decisions take work.  We won’t get it right all the time, but we have a gracious and redeeming God that leads us through it.  Read through Scripture and observe how men and women of the faith made decisions.  Pray for wisdom, understanding that “God…gives generously to all, without finding fault.”  Count the cost of the decision and then trust in the words of Jesus, “I am with you always.”

In the words of a good friend, “Plan.  Pray.  Decide.”

Marriage in light of Jesus

Life’s ultimate privilege…that we “may know You…” In Hebrews 7, Jesus is seen as the “perpetual”, everlasting Priest. In the Gospel of John chapter 17, we see him performing those duties as a priest, coming on behalf of humanity in what is known to be called the High Priestly Prayer. Recognizing the title of this prayer and shedding some light on Jesus’ person, we can understand that what follows is of substantial importance. Jesus, the Son of God, says in verse 3 of chapter 17 of John, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” In its original language, Greek, The word used for “know” is ginosko. This word is similar to the word used in Genesis 4:1, which in Its original language of Hebrew is yada. the idea of these two words is to convey the utmost sense of “life giving” intimacy. You see, these two words in Jewish circles are considered idioms to express the sexual intimacy between a husband and wife. The beautiful thing about God’s people, in their beginning stages, was that every activity they were involved in, whether mundane or not, they dove in them with heart, soul, mind and effort. (Deut. 6:5)

My wife Anna and I have only been married a year, we’ve been together for five. We have, without a doubt, gone through our fair share of ups and downs. In our one year of marriage we’ve experienced the extremes of both life and death. Yet, thats not the reason for this blog. Our hope is that the Spirit of God, through our marriage points you to the exclusive and divine counterpart of the earthly relationship between Husband and Wife: our Marriage with Jesus Christ! (Ephesians 5:32) God called the prophet Hosea in the Old testament to marry an unfaithful and adulterous women, Gomer. God commanded Hosea to remain faithful despite his wife’s infidelity. Finally in 6:1-3 of Hosea, he challenges God’s people to “press on to know the Lord.”

Marriage consist of a man and women “becoming one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). In the first Letter to the Corinthians 6:16,17, Paul reminds them of this mystery, but then gives it to us straight…no symbolism, no analogies…”BUT the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

“We Do, Jesus! We do…….you may now KNOW your Groom!”

“…loved…and gave Himself up for her”

Husbands! Wives! How can we live out the profound significance of the Cross of Jesus in our marriage?!