| |
I'm back! Taking a few minutes to write as the Lord inspires.
Any student of the bible will easily realize the relation of a christian marriage and our relationship with the Lord. I recently spoke on the 4 stages of marriage in our church after the Lord showed me some surprising things about marriage and how it relates to HIM.
As christians, as a church, we are very literally married to Jesus. We know there will be a future wedding feast, and that "the spirit and the bride (the church) say come". We are all looking forward to that day! A marriage made in heaven!
God showed me that all too often we don't understand marriage and that our motives for marrying are wrong! Especially with ministers or those who dream of ministry and feel a call on their lives.
Gasp! Choke! What!? Let me explain...
1. Falling in Love: This is the stage that begins with much emotion, excitement and attraction. ends with the "I do", an acceptance of the beloved as the only one in your heart and life. A complete dedication of one's self. The dream of so many.
How like us when we first hear of Christ. We may "see" him from afar, and we are drawn by His beauty, captivated by his gaze, enamored by his kindness, and desiring his tender caress. We tie the knot, so to speak, accepting him into our hearts. We are "married". Do we know what we are getting ourselves into? We promise and swear to Him our fidelity...He is the only one.
2. The honeymoon stage: A time of extacy, intense emotion, passion...all is new and marvelous. It's like a dream. How could we have missed all this? It's what we've been waiting for...for so long:) We've had a personal close encounter with our beloved, our heart has been opened...we've seen each other "naked" without any shame. There are many men who get married soley for this reason. It's a short-lived happiness!
Even so, when we give ourselves to Christ, the first few months, or perhaps the first year, is a time marked by a passionate pursuit, an entwining romance, a cloud-walking spiritual high. The word is so fresh and precious...our times of intimacy so sweet. But just like a natural marriage, we soon learn that we can not spend all our time in the bed (intimacy/worship). A real marriage needs open, honest communication, dedication, and above all service one to another.
3. The reality: Whoa, not as easy as I thought it would be! I'm seeing aspects of my partner that I missed before. They are more demanding of me, and this relationship demands that I change. I can't do what I always want to do! I'm learning new things about my partner and about me too! I'm not as mature as I thought, but ironically this relationship is making me mature. Of course, that depends on whether or not I give my part.
While this stage may be a lot more frustrating, it's also the more rewarding. We are beginning to think alike, talk alike, act alike. They might think something, and I say it...I think it and she does it...any of you that have been married for a while have experienced that. Of course, our marriage is being tested...we come under all kinds of pressure from without. We are under attack daily. But if we both do our part, nothing can separate us. We're together in the good and the bad. For richer or for poorer...
Our ministry and calling is beginning to unfold as we pursure our dreams and calling. Still we long for those times of intimacy, now far and perhaps fewer, but as our communication has improved so too has our times of closeness. Children come from our times of intimacy, but they need to be raised in an atmosphere of communication, respect and comprehension. We have a life and ministry together. This is what we have always desired.
How many young men and women called of God separate themselves and look past the initial honeymoon stage, gazing into the future and seeing their calling unfold with their spouse by their side. They are mature enough to know that they can't stay in the bed forever and that a real relationship is hard work. But they desire their "help meet" for the call of God that is on their lives. So when they meet a young man or woman, they look past the physical, into the heart, above all looking for those traits of character that will enable the other to walk with them in the way of the Lord. The Lord showed me that this is not the correct motive to marry someone.
As christians, in the 3rd stage of our relationship (marriage) with Christ, we come to a realizing that it's not as easy as we thought it would be. We must endure the temptations of others who would take us from our beloved. We are faced with pressure on all sides. Our character is being formed...we move from the times of intimacy to practical service. We learn His likes and dislikes. We learn to submit. We don't always get our way. At times our husband says "no!". But at the same time, we are excited because we begin to fulfill our dreams and visions...These deams and visions are the spiritual "children" that we conceive in our times of intimacy with our Lord. But for these "children" to grow and mature, we must maintain communication and communion with Him. However, we don't love God only to serve Him and raise his "kids". Kids grow up...visions are fulfilled..."whether there are prophecies, they will fail, whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."
4. The Golden years: The honeymoon is a faded memory. The kids have grown up and moved away. Thankfully we did not build our marriage upon them. How many couples find themselves literal strangers under the same roof after the kids have come and gone? The woman you married, who before had a coke bottle figure, now has the figure of a coke CAN! The man you married, well, he's changed too, at least outwardly. You both bear the scars and wear the victories of the years. But since you have patiently and lovingly waited upon each other and established open communication, this is the best phase of your life together. You merely enjoy "being" with one another, not for any special plight or cause or calling. Just being together.
The apostle Paul had passed all of these stages in his walk with the Lord. At the end of his life, he was in the 4th and final stage. He had nothing. He realized he was nothing. And his only desire was to "know Him" (Philippians 3:10). He had a legacy of what he and the Lord had done together, and he longed for the rest of eternity with his Lord, to only bask in His presence and just "be" with Him. That, my dear ones, is the reason for marrying someone. Not to have a life of dedication and service and ministry together. All that has its end someday. Perhaps many pastors could have salvaged their marriage had they not built it around ministry. When ministry is gone, you have the person. And that is far more valuable than any ministry, no matter how great or large it is.
So as you are looking for that special someone, I challenge you to forget about making that person fit your requirements for ministry. Don't ask if that person can carry your vision, or if they have what it takes to run with you and complete the "vision". Don't even look for the perfect "fit" for your vision. I've done that in the past: "Well, I'm called to missons and all she wants to do is teach sunday school". Rather, ask yourself "If I didn't have any of that, no calling, no vision, no church, would it matter if all I had was her/him?" Because the bottom line is that in the end, aside from the Lord, all you will have is that one special person.
After the Lord showed me this, I've aquired a lot more appreciation for my wife. Just being with her is enough. Just being with the Lord is more than enough.
Bless you!
Pastor Adam
|
| |
|
| |
Amen!
Hey everyone, just want to let you know that I am making a trip to the USA in October. I'll be in the states of Michigan, SC/NC and possibly Louisianna. Please pray for a safe journey. I'm traveling to raise funds for our work in Peru.
Also, this appeal is for you who are PASTORS. Please, we need more monthly support as missionaries for the work of God to continue. Maybe you know of a church that would like for a missionary from Peru to come and visit, share the word, minister and share testimonies of what the Lord is doing. Maybe in your own church. Our calendar for next year is open and I can travel in any month if there are confirmations.
I ask you to please pray, and if the Spirit bares witness, let's talk! The anointing on our ministry has increased over the past few months and the Holy Spirit is ministering in a powerful way. Let us come and be a blessing to your church and lives!
God bless you! I look forward to hearing from you all soon.
From Peru,
Pastor Adam Fowler
Fishers of Men Ministries
|
| |
|
| |
| Where are all my kids from ICOG? I really want this to be a place where we all go to find out info on up coming events etc.It's also a safer place than myspace for some people.I used to have myspace,but I got tired of the offer of porn in my inbox and all the stupid childish pop up so I got a Facebook instead but still I want us to kepp this place "alive" for info and like I said,a "safer" place.There are some that struggle with pop ups or posting things they shouldn't so until they gain self control,mychurch is a much better site.However,unless you and I get on her to post,blog,do pictures and stuff,it won't be successful.I'll post an event and you'll say, "I didn't know we were going bowling?" Also as we grow I want to point new kids here as a place to find info.So help me out and when I get slack,call me out! Love you all!
|
| |
|
| |
Whoa! God is trying to tell me something. I haven't gotten the whole message yet, but no worries. I know that as He reveals it, it will make an impact.
Yesterday, in my morning devotion, I was reading Luke 4. This is the passage that speaks of Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for 40 days to be tempted of the devil.
Here's what I noticed: Everytime Jesus refuted the enemy, the scripture He used was from Deuteronomy. 4:3 And the devil said unto him, if thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread. 4:4 And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone. (Deuteronomy 8:3) 4:6 And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine. 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Deuteronomy 6:13) 4:9 And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 4:10 for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee: 4:11 and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone. 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. (Deuteronomy 6:16)
So this got me thinking, "Wow, Deuteronomy must be pretty powerful. I should read, at the very, least chapters 6 & 8." Now, I have read Deuteronomy before, and I never fail to get something out of it. But I went back and read these chapters with a new perspective. If Jesus used this to refute the enemy, how important it must be for us to know this as well!
Then I check mychurch this morning, and what is the daily scripture on my homepage? Deuteronomy 8:1-3.
Yep. God is trying to tell me something.
8:1 All the commandment which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers. 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not. 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live.
The next verse goes on to say:
8:4 Your clothing did not wear out upon you, and your foot did not swell, these forty years.
Imagine that! 40 years of walking around in the desert, and their feet never swelled.
So here's what I know so far: We may have to go through a time of humbling, a time of testing or proving, but even in the midst of it all, God's got us covered. From the top of our heads, to the soles of our feet.
He's cool like that.
I know there is more to be heard in all of this. As He reveals it, I'll keep you posted.
|
| |
|
| |
| Now that school has or will be starting, I want to pose this question; Do You Stand Out? I'm not talking about carrying your bible to class for everyone to see or wearing the latest christian t-shirt that plays off the latest product advertisment.Im talking about "standing out" so that everyone knows that you are a freak! A Jesus Freak! Let me explain what I mean.I mean we are "freaks" because dare to take a stand for Christ.I mean we are "freaks" because we believe that if we put God 1st,it'll all work out and THAT'S why we aren't as stressed out about the test.Im talking about us being "freaks" because we don't have to hang all over our boyfriend or girlfriend like everyone else.Or better yet,you're such a FREAK you don't even NEED a bf or gf to feel special.Do we REALLY stand out? Do your friends come to you in time of need because they know you'll pray for them even though they act like they aren't interested in God? Do people not even invite you to the Friday night party because they KNOW you won't go where alcohol is flowing freely? Do we REALLY stand out? All I know is that Jesus REALLY stood out! So much so that people would mob him when he came to town.So much so that a man would climb a tree just to see him.So much so that a woman would fight her way thru a crowd to just "touch the hem of His garment".So much so that people wanted to kill him! DO WE STAND OUT? Or maybe the right question is........What if we ACTUALLY did?
|
| |
|
|
