mike on marriage

How Greatful?

2008-06-23T05:01:00.000-07:00

I was reading the Bible in Mark 17:11-19 about the story of ten lepers. As Jesus went through a city the ten lepers met Him and asked Him to have mercy on them and their condition. Jesus told them to show themselves to the priest and as they walked that way they were healed of the leprosy. One leper realizing he was healed ran back to Jesus and fell at His feet and worshipped Him. Jesus asked him where the other nine men were and said that only this stranger has come back to give glory to God. So the Lord told the stranger to go for your faith has made you whole.

Where are you and where am I? Are we like the man who came back to worship the Lord after being healed and cleansed or are we like the other nine who just walked away? Makes you think doesn't it!! What about the other nine, did they stay cleansed?

I pray you choose Christ and live and you walk away knowing that faith in Jesus Christ has made you whole.

Time to rest

2008-06-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes after many days of working and trying to stay motivated and positive, it is good to take a day off and spend around the house just watching everything God has made. It is great watching the birds chase each other and sing thier melodies. I also like to see the squirrels and the rabbits run through the yard as the eat continually. It is fun watching the trees blow in the wind and it is exciting watching the garden grow. Yet, the best thing is looking up to heaven and watching for the Lord to come back to take us home with Him.

Keep Watchin and Waiting.......!!

Check out my other blog

2008-05-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

I have another blogsite that my wife and I will be working on together more and you can go to it here..... http://honouryourhusband.typepad.com/mikeonmarriage/

Thankful

2008-05-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Today, I just wanted to give the Lord praise. No matter what happens in this life, how can I do anything but give God the praise. Psalm 92:1-2 says, "It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night,"
--I give the Lord thanks for a wife who loves the Lord with all her heart and loves our marriage and is devoted and committed to us as God has put that love in her. She is truly my best friend and I want to see her happy and fulfilled in every area of her life as we continue to stand in faith for own children.
--I am thankful for a wonderful family of parents and siblings who love the Lord and pray for so many people and also pray for the salvation of those family members who do not know Christ.
--I am thankful for the tremendous friends the Lord has placed into our lives so that we can praise Him together and grow together and pray together and laugh together.
--I am thankful for the church we attend and the gift it is to teach the children about Christ and to sing praises to God and listen and help partake in service and ministry.
--I am thankful for the house we have and that we stay dry and clean.
--I am thankful for all the jobs we have been given and pray for coworkers to be saved.
--Most of all I am thankful for Jesus saving a wretched and detestable sinner like me and that I have been saved by His amazing grace to praise Him and have a relationship with Him and to desire Him and to grow in Him with my wife, and to never stop proclaiming the wonders of the Lord in our life.

A Promise of life through a Savior

2008-04-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

I wanted to try to make a more personal post today and talk about what the Lord is teaching me. The best lessons grow us in Christ and show us how He suffered for us and gave us new life by His power and majesty.

In Romans 4 the Bible says that our father in the faith, Abraham, believed in hope that the Lord would bless him and that Abraham would be a father of many nations as the Lord had promised. But before Abraham even had the faith to believe, God created through His power what Abraham would be, for the Bible states “God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.”

Our lives were dead just like Abraham’s body (as good as dead), and our spirits were dead just like Sarah’s womb (as good as dead) and Christ took their death and ours, and brought life into them. The life that was created for Abraham was their son, Isaac, and the promise of God to the seed of Abraham was attained through the promise in Isaac. Isaac was born through the deadness of Abraham and Sarah and the promise of many nations was brought to life. None of Abraham’s other children were talked about through a promise. Isaac was their promise after they were as good as dead and the Lord gave them the promise of life through their son.

Our spiritual life is exactly the same way. We were as good as dead in our trespasses and sins and Christ came along and gave us new life. He brought us from death to life and we became part of the promise of the seed of Abraham. Our life came through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the only true and living God. Jesus told His disciples that no man comes to the Father except through Him. In Isaiah the Lord said, “For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Just as Isaac was a promise to Abraham as a covenant seed, so was the Lord Jesus a promise of salvation by Father God to all His children. Praise the name of the Lord…….

Always Be Ready!!

2008-03-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

Luke 12: 35 says, "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit."

This is a small verse, but it sure packs a powerful punch. It is saying to be ready for Christ to return and to long for His return and to desire for His return. It should be our desire to want to be with the Lord and to see Him face to face. Lord we want to see you, and be with you!!

How about you? Are you longing for the Lord to come back? Do you desire to see Him face-to-face? Is your hope set on His return so that you will be in heaven with the Lord forever to praise Father God?

I HOPE SO!!!

The Word will always refresh you

2008-03-14T09:42:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when you are reading the Bible, a certain verse will stand out. I was reading the Bible the other day and this verse just spoke out to each of us and I thought it would be good to share with you.

Isaiah 54:10 says "For the mountains may be removed and hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, amd My covenant of peace will not be shaken, says the Lord who has compassion on you.

Thank you Father for your great compassion and love for your children. Thank you that you do not grow weary and fainthearted, but you are strong and mighty and nothing you hold can be shaken or removed. You are our power and shield and our exceeding great reward. Praise the Name of the Lord our God and Jesus Christ who is our life.

Learn self-control

2008-03-07T18:02:00.001-08:00

I know that I can be easily consumed by a matter that is on my mind or heart. It is good to search the matter out, but it is not always good to think about it every second.
I wish my mind was consumed in the Lord, but I know many thoughts and feelings interrupt that time and I get mentally tired and frustrated. Life is to short to be continually focused on matters that do not bring joy and peace and love and kindness, etc. (Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.)
How about you? What do you focus on and how much of your day is spent on the matters at hand? Sometimes it is ok to say that you did your best and that you could not quite get everthing done but you will finish tomorrow. Now just go and spend time with God and your family and laugh a little and be thankful.

I know this is a short post, but I hope this year you find more time for the Lord and for family! God will give you the desires of your heart and you will be able to accomplish so much more.

Time to Step out in faith!

2008-01-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

Have you had times in your life where you feel that the Lord has great things in store?

Well, He does -- and it is time you stepped out in faith and watched the Lord work His powerful sovereign grace to provide and care for your every need as you start being motivated toward the things that God has in store for your life. The Lord will provide for you, be your strength, bless you and make you prosper. He alone fulfills the desires of your heart. HE IS OUR LIFE and we must understand that as His children we are to live by faith and not sight. Life is not about you or me, but it is about the powerful work of God. We do not succeed in life by our own merit, but by the favor and love and power of Almighty God.

These truths can be found in the story of Abraham (our father in the faith). In Genesis the 12th Chapter God tells Abraham to go out from his country and relatives and his father’s house to the land that the Lord would show him. The Lord God then says to Abraham, “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those that bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” vs 1-2.

What incredible favor the Lord bestowed on Abraham. He told him to go, and what He would do for Him, and that the Lord’s blessings would be upon Him.

The Lord does and has done the same wonderful thing for us, His children, through the power and saving grace of Christ Jesus our Lord. If you are a child of God then His favor is upon you. Know matter what your circumstances are right now, God loves you, directs your steps, blesses you and meets your every need. How incredible is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My challenge for the children of God today is to step out on faith and do whatever God has prepared for your life. Jesus has finished His work on the cross by His shed blood to forgive sins and He was raised from the dead to have new life. We have that new life with Him. Christ covered all that sin and shame and we are brand new and complete in Jesus Christ to please Father God and find His total favor.

Remember, get yourself out-of-the-way and step out on faith and live what God has ready for your life. Do not be afraid or anxious, but watch the Lord lead you and praise His name as you enjoy the ride. (Whatever is not of faith is sin!) Interesting statement

God bless and GO!!!

Safeguard Your Marriage

2007-12-08T05:57:00.000-08:00

Are we using wisdom when it comes to doing the work the Lord has for us to do at church activities? It is time for the body of Christ to be wise when it comes to a man and a woman working together.

In our own experience, we have witnessed several marriages crushed by Satan because married individuals gave the devil an opportunity to produce in them all kind of desires for someone else other than their spouse. They worked along with another person who was not their wife or husband.

In Proverbs, it says through the fear of the Lord, a man avoids evil . The highway of the upright avoids evil.

It is time for the church to be wise. God put the husband and wife together for a reason, and we need His Wisdom to get us through all the attacks of satan.

Isaiah 7:15a He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. Choose the right. Keep yourself from compromised situations in the church. If you are married, do not work or be alone with someone of the opposite sex (other than your spouse) at anytime or anyplace. Satan hates marriage and wants to destroy it because God created the institution of marriage.

If you are a child of God, you are married to the Lord. Trust in Him and flee all appearances of evil including being alone with someone else's spouse.

We pray that your marriage is encouraged today. We pray that our own marriage is safeguarded by the Lord.

Mike and Pumpkin

I know you ain't mad at me!!!!

2007-11-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

I know that being in marriage can be filled with great times. I am thankful for those. Also, there can be trying times, and I also sadly know that there are a lot of unhappy people. Many of these people are Christians (or say that they are) and they live a life full of anger and resentment.

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:25-27 NASB

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members one of another.

BE ANGRY, and yet do not SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Speaking the truth in love and uplifting one another is so vital to our prosperity in life. Being real to all your brothers and sisters in Christ and praying for them and speaking words of edification over them and also helping them in times when they mess up or falter in areas can be the key to deeper relationships like the one Christ desires with you. Christ is already deep in love, character, commitment, and patience etc, but He is teaching all these things to us on a daily basis. God is so good and faithful.

Paul states that you can be angry, but do not sin. Do not let that sin take hold of you and bring about thoughts of hate or an attitude of superiority over another person. Be angry at sin and hate the devil and know that he has no other intention than to try and destroy you. Paul states also to not let the devil have an opportunity. Do not give him the satisfaction of stealing your joy by getting between you and the Lord, your spouse, or your friends.

Be angry- sin not- trust in the Lord, forgive one another and watch how the Lord will bring joy into your life.

Who Do You Love?

2007-11-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

What is the desire of your life? Is it having the perfect job making lots of money, or maybe it is having a large mansion on a large tract of land? Many people think that money and status will bring them fulfillment. Their life worth is judged by their possessions.

The Bible tells of a story of men who loved money and desired to be highly esteemed. But what was the Lord's response to them?

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Jesus.
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." Luke 16:14and15 NASB.

So where have you set your affection?

Sin or Godliness
love of self or love the Lord first and foremost
love of sexual impurity or loving your spouse
love of idolatry or a humble spirit
love of improper gain or being a diligent servant
lust of the eyes or having your eyes on Christ
lust of the flesh or having the mind of Christ

We pray that you are not looking to please men or to please self, but your heart's desire is to please the Lord.

(Money is not evil, but the love of money or anything desired more than God is evil. )

*money picture from wikipedia*

Sovereign God my Father -- He called me!

2007-11-14T06:26:00.000-08:00

How beautiful is our Lord and Saviour. How thankful I am He chose me, a worthless and undeserving man that was focused on self and worldly desires and profit. If I had nothing to gain, then it was not for me.

My life changed however when the Lord saved me and transformed my life to His glory and honor and everything I was before became as filthy rags that had no meaning. My desire was for the Lord and to give to others and not focus on Mike and all my needs and desires.

Thank you Lord for your saving sovereign grace that saved an awful sinner like me and made me a godly man that is beautiful in your sight and I am free from sin to do your will and love and worship you. Praise the name of our Sovereign Lord and King.

The Bible says, " But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying Abba Father. "

It also says, " Christ has redeemed us out of the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is every one hanged upon a tree,)

Lastly, it says "the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.

I hope you will realize that if the Lord is prompting your heart and calling you to His kingdom and glory that it is no mistake. He is calling you to Himself, and when He saves you, He takes all your sin and shame on Himself so that you will be presented blameless before God in love. Praise His Name.

Iron sharpens Iron -- So sharpen one another

2007-11-05T05:48:00.000-08:00

I know for my own personal growth in the Lord I want to do things that are pleasing to Him. I want to see things the way He sees them and to think the way that He would think about a situation. God is so faithful to His children and He loves us and nurtures us through every phase of life.

The apostle Paul brings us a wonderful outline of how we can lift up the body of Christ in Colossians 1:9-14.

1. Paul encourages to:

-- pray for the saints continually

-- ask the Lord that they be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all spiritual wisdom and knowledge.

2. Why did Paul say this?

-- so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in His knowledge, strengthened by the power of His might, being steadfast and patient, and joyously giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

3. How did God do all this? Paul explains

-- For God rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Christ did this through the Cross and Him crucified and was raised from the dead. His shed blood was our redemption of sins.... praise His Name)

God is so great and mighty in compassion and judgement and righteousness. Our desire should be to please our Father and the only way is through Jesus Christ His Son. Let your prayer life be filled with edification to the Lord and lift up the body of Christ throughout the world everyday on a continual basis. Amen.

Pleasing the Lord!

2007-11-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

Find out what pleases the Lord!

That is a good statement that has multiple meanings for most people. Some may want to work their hardest. Others may want to spend time alone with Jesus. I know singing is one of my enjoyments so that I can praise my King.

But, what does it really mean to please God? I know this heart of mine needs to be humble and my spirit contrite. This mind needs to pray continuously and I need lips that speak no guile. These feet must not wander to places that blaspheme God, and these hands must not form evil idols or work for unjust gain. (This is just the beginning.)

How about it? What pleases God to you?

Healthy Heart

2007-10-19T19:50:00.001-07:00

I know that in the area of heart health, family history and diet and exercise, all play important roles to keep the heart in good condition. You need regular doctor visits and as you grow older they need to examine your heart every now and then.

Well, I guess the same holds true with your spiritual heart. God's Word says that He did not seek sacrifices or desire them, but He wanted a humble heart and a contrite spirit. (Psalm 51:16-17 and Isaiah 66:2)David was a man after God's own heart because he was a man that was humble and teachable and focused his eyes on the Lord. David made mistakes, but the Lord knew his heart was humble and that he trembled at the Word of the Lord.

How about you? How is your heart and spirit? I pray that they are focused on the Lord and that your spirit is teachable to do anything and everything God has you to do! Worship the Lord Jesus Christ today and believe that He will change your heart. Let it be a spiritually, healthy heart.

Also, I pray for you and myself that the Lord would take selfishness away! I hate greed and selfish desires that reap selfish corruption and anger in the heart. I want to please God and not myself. Amen (preaching to myself here)

Encourage one another

2007-10-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

I think as the years are flying by, I am beginning to appreciate my wife more and more. She is beautiful, caring, compassionate, and cares about me for some reason. I am very thankful and fortunate to be blessed like I am. I thank the Lord that He has given me the love of my life and I am even more thankful that He had every step in putting us together.

How about you? Did the Lord put you and your spouse together? I sure hope so, and I hope even more that as the years go by that you find wonderful and incredible talents that your spouse brings to your marriage. Pick a talent or gift each month that your husband/wife has and encourage them to grow and develop that gift so that they can share it with you and your friends and many others along life's road. The Bible says "as iron sharpens iron, we ought to sharpen one another." It also says to encourage one another each day as long as it is called "Today". I believe that building one another up is part of that sharpening and encouragement. I hope you do too.

Go! Encourage your spouse today and find out or remember the reason you fell in love in the first place and give all the glory to God for putting you together.

Basking in the SUN

2007-09-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

After several days of rain and overcast skies, the mind seems to get a little depressed and the heart, mind and soul long to see the sun poke through those dark days. It seems to me that our spiritual life does the same thing. As we work multiple jobs, desire stuff, do many family things and try to throw in keeping up the home, our minds get cloudy and we need to see the sun through the dark sky. The Word of the Lord is our bright blue horizon that refreshes our innermost being and gives us all we need. The Bible says "The Lord is my light and my salvation: " (Psalms 27:1) and it says "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105. How we should long to see that light and lamp to guide us and lead us as we go through a world that focuses on darkness and turns their face from the true and living GOD, Jesus the Christ. So, I pray that you want to pick up your Bible today and be uplifted in the light of God's word! Bask in JESUS the true Son of God.

Lets run that race--

2007-06-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

The mission statement of this blog is to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ and to uplift our marriage to our spouse as Christ loves the church. Also to encourage one another as we run the course/race that God has assigned to each of His children.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumberance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Christ ran the race with endurance that God planned out for Him and we should do the same, for we are crucified with our Lord and are made complete in Him. It brings joy to our innermost being to fulfill our purpose that God has called us to do. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Amen...

Hebrews 13 states four important factors.
1. Love the brethren -- we should love our family in Christ continually.
2. Remember those brethren in prison and those being ill-treated for they are in the faith.
3. Marriage is to be held in honor and the marriage bed undefiled-- the Lord will judge fornicators and adulterers.
4. Make sure your character is free from the love of money -- be content with what you have been given and thank the Lord for it.

These are actually simple yet profound subjects that we should remember to pray about and uplift, yet they seem hard to do for whatever reason. Regardless, God said to do it and that is why I will do it. It is because of His love for me that I love Him and want to do His will. Amen.

Encourage your husband by Pumpkin (Mike's wife)

2007-05-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13 (NASB)

Encourage your husband daily. It could be in the smallest of ways that show you love him. Here are just a few suggestions.

Tell him that you are proud of him.
Give him a neck rub.
See him off in the morning as he goes to work.
Make his favorite breakfast and tell him that you love him.
Make sure his computer area is kept clean.
Praise him for the things that he does around the house.
Tell him how thankful you are for him and for his hard work.
Gather his Bible, journal, and pen before you go to church so that he isn't looking for it.

There are so many small ways to encourage your husband. Consider the flower. The Lord brings rain and sunshine in order for it to flourish. Small ways to encourage your husband will also make him flourish.

Mike loves blueberry muffins. If your family is a muffin fan, here is a tip for you. I put in my muffin mix a small amount of biscuit mix to make the top slightly crunchy. For every pouch of muffin mix, I add about 1/8th of a cup of biscuit mix. I like it and so does my husband.

Today I added a little more biscuit mix than normal and the muffins turned into muffin biscuits if you can imagine that. They tasted okay but not exactly what I had in mind.

Blessings in Christ,
Pumpkin

P.S. This is Mike and I am blessed to have a wife that loves me, but more importantly she loves Jesus Christ.

Give your spouse some support in the Lord today..!

2007-05-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

I believe my spouse is one of the best out there. She is the most wonderful wife I know and am very greatful for her. I know that the Lord has given her to me and that we have many things to learn together. The marriage road has many curves and hills and bumps, but it has more easy driving and fun road trips than anything else.

This analogy makes me think of the Lord. We as Christians are married to Him and that our marriage is the most important thing. Our roadtrip consists of faith in God to get us through this life as we hope in His love and stand firm in His power. We long for Him to talk with us and to share with us a bit of His righteousness and glory. He is our everything. A marriage made in heaven and full of grace and truth. A marriage that never ends and is full of tender mercies. Praise the name of the Lord!!

The Lord tells us to encourage one another day after day as long as it is called "Today" so that we are not taken by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews) Why not try to find something wonderful in the Lord to share with your spouse. Convey the love of God in your marriage to your spouse and watch God grow your marriage in His power and abilities. With God all things are possible, and that includes having a fulfilling marriage in the Lord first and with your spouse, children and relationships etc..

Hating Divorce and Married to the Lord

2007-05-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

Wow! It seems no one stays married anymore these days. What is the deal? Is there greener pastures somewhere else? Or maybe you are just tired of loving that same person day after day.

I know that in our society today it is considered "ok" in being a single parent and that one parent can raise a child just as good as two. Well I am here to tell you that it is time to stop listening to the hogwash and start realizing the facts that God made a man and woman to have children and to love each other as Christ loved the church. You see, our marriages here in this lifetime are a representation of being married to the Lord. If you are truly a Christian, I pray that the Lord is revealing to you that as a child of God, you are His child and the brother or sister of Christ through marriage. We are the bride of Christ to love Him and to do His will. Marriage is an institution of what God has created and we as a people of God should truly be careful of being so quick to disregard our marriages here in the flesh when they are showing the world of our marriage to Jesus. God's WORD says that HE hates divorce. So, we should hate divorce.

Tell your spouse today that you love him or her and that you are truly blessed that God has given them to you as a blessing to Love Christ more.