15 in 5: Marathon Marriage

2 Timothy 4:7,8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith...(NIV) Anyone with experience in running will tell you that a Marathon isn’t something that you casually prepare for.  You can’t be a couch potato one day and expect to lace up your tennis shoes the next and run a marathon.  If someone were crazy enough to even try that it would surely end up in pain, exhaustion and maybe even hospitalization.  Marathon runners take months, even years to prepare for one race.  Some say that if a marathon is a part time interest then you can expect to get part time results.  True, dedicated marathon runners dedicate every waking hour to developing their endurance, increasing their stamina and fueling their bodies.  Every decision they make in their daily life ties back to their success in that one race.  We all need to realize that we can’t expect to hear a series on Marriage and Families and take ourselves from being totally lax and inattentive to being the perfect relationship athlete.  The pressure that would put on our family relationships would be pretty destructive.  However, we need to start the training process.  We have to make a conscious choice to get off the relationship “couch” and take an active role in developing our marriage.  Are you taking a part time interest in your marriage but expecting lasting results?  There are so many of us who assume that after the “workout” of dating the wedding is the end of the race, but we couldn’t be more painfully wrong.  That was just the starting line; that was when the gun went off and the real race began!  Running this marriage marathon we can expect to experience pain (yes, your spouse will say and do things that hurt you), exhaustion (of course there will be days you are tired of trying), and we may even get off course (other things will distract us from each other) but this is exactly why we need to condition ourselves for these roadblocks.  If we fuel our marriage with the word of God, forgiveness, patience and understanding then we will be able to increase our endurance and press on toward the goal.  A marathon isn’t a few series of sprints where we take a break in the middle and hope for the best.  We have to set our eyes on what’s ahead.  “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal” (Henry Ford).  So, get off the couch, lace up your shoes….let’s start training for the long haul. Prayer Points: ·    ASK God if you’ve been investing part time in your marriage (relationships) and expecting full time results…listen for His answer ·    PRAY that God will show you the ways you can stop the marriage sprint and commit to the long haul ·    DO something this weekend that will be an investment in the future of your marriage ·    THANK God for helping you see your marriage through HIS eyes You are God's Best Pastor DonGibson

15 in 5: Mirror, Mirror

I COR 13: 4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (NIV)

We spend so much time every day checking our reflection.  When we wake up we shake our head and wonder how we will ever control that bed head, before we walk out the door we take one last glance to make sure we are presentable to the world.  We catch our reflection in the store window and think, “wow, I am lookin’ good today”.  Needless to say, we are pretty familiar with the person we see in the mirror.  But what if the mirror is skewed, what if you catch yourself looking in one of those warped carnival mirrors? Some of them may make you look shorter, taller, fatter, thinner…some even make you look like a bobble head!  If we spend enough time looking in an inaccurate mirror we begin to forget what our real reflection looks like and eventually we will begin to believe the lie!

You and your spouse were created in the image and likeness of God. Marriage speaks to the world about the Nature of God.  Individually we are created to be His reflection to the world, but together in marriage we are more than just His reflection. Together we are a reflection of His love, His forgiveness and WHO HE IS!   From the beginning of time the enemy has been attempting to warp the reflection of God. Since he cannot hurt God, he will try to hurt you (His image) or your marriage (His reflection).  If you are damaged to a point that your marriage suffers, then not only are you defeated but so are your children, grandchildren and generations to come!   We must see our marriage as God does, as a reflection of Him.  The longer we see our marriage in an inaccurate reflection, the more likely we are to buy into the lie and forget what a real marriage looks like. 

Have you forgotten what the reflection of your marriage really is? Do you want to know what a real marriage looks like? It’s simple, examine the nature of God.  He is loving, kind, gentle, merciful, humble…here’s a hint… compare your marriage to I Corinthians 13:4-7.  If you examine the reflection of your marriage and you aren’t seeing the traits of God then you are looking at a jaded version of the truth God has for you and your spouse.  Don’t pass down that crazy carnival mirror reflection to the next generation.  Take the time to see the full picture and know what you and your marriage are reflecting to generations to come. 

Prayer Points:

·    PRAY that God will show you how to reflect HIS attitudes in your marriage

·    ASK Him to protect your marriage from the one who seeks to destroy

·    THANK Him for showing us who HE is through our spouse

You are God's Best!

Pastor Don Gibson

15 in 5: Joy-Full, Joy-Full We Adore Thee

Job 8:21

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. (NIV)

 

When asked “what makes your mom the most happy?”  A four year old girl answered with a grin and a giggle “Daddy”.  Followed by the question, “So what makes Daddy most happy?” the same grin and giggle replied “Mommy”.  This little girl was fortunate enough to be able to recognize that her parents not only loved each other but took joy in each other. 

We plan the wedding of our dreams, walk down the aisle and have a blast on our honeymoon but no one really tells us where to go from there.  We know we are supposed to love in sickness and health and all that, but does anyone tell us we need to find joy in our marriage?  Are we ever told we can actually kick back, relax and enjoy each other?  What a concept that would be.  It’s so easy to get bogged down with the everyday chores of life like going to work, paying bills, doing the laundry, wrangling the kids or grandkids that we forget there is a person standing right in front of us.  This person once was the thing we thought about most, the source of our smile, the reason the second hand on the clock crept along until the next second we could spend together.  But now they are standing there a few years older (maybe more) and we begin to wonder where all the joy we used to feel when they walked into a room has gone?  The joy is still there but we tend to bury it under hurt feelings, fights and unfulfilled expectations. 

Well, all that stuff just doesn’t sound like any fun, so why not do a little relationship house cleaning?  This may be easier said than done but God doesn’t desire for us to live in the difficulties of marriage, He delights in our joy!  God created Eve for Adam as a gift, she brought Him great joy!  Can you imagine them as they laughed together watching the monkeys swinging from branch to branch or possibly even got in a water fight in a lagoon?  God wouldn’t have created laughter if He didn’t want us to participate, especially with the one person we have chosen to walk through life with.  Imagine how your kids or friends would react if you and your spouse started actually delighting in each other.  How would your marriage, your attitude…your life change if you stopped holding on to the offenses and started finding ways to have fun!  Go ahead….jump in with both feet, the water’s fine!!!

 

Prayer Points:

·    PRAY that God can help you let go of any offenses against your spouse

·    THANK Him that His Joy is your strength!

·    DECLARE that today you will find a way to laugh with your spouse

·    REJOICE that God designed us to enjoy the gift of marriage

You are God's Best!

Pastor Don Gibson

15 in 5: Smashing Statistics

Luke 6:26 “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests!.... Your task is to be true, not popular. (The Message)

It’s the norm of society to expect a broken, blended or BLAH marriage.  It is expected that wives will degrade and talk down about their husbands and that husbands will complain and irritate their wives.  Isn’t that what the media has flashing in our faces all the time?  Think back to the decade of your youth, your parents or grandparents… did television depict the same marriage and family relationships that it does today?  Could you ever dream of June Cleaver gossiping with her neighbor about Ward because he came home late and didn’t take out the garbage?  Or can you imagine Pa Ingalls talking with Mr. Edwards about all the money Caroline had spent out shopping and how selfish she was? 

Long gone are the Leave It To Beaver and Little House on the Prairie Days when marriage was a partnership between people who loved each other.  It has been a gradual process but somehow we have arrived at a place where the word “family” has no definition at all.  In our workplaces we are encouraged to look out for #1. In our activities it’s all about win, win, win!  How do we break that mold and smash the statistics that tell us our marriage will end in divorce, hurt, pain and brokenness?  Is that what we have to look forward to???  God has a different plan. 

God wants us to keep our priorities straight:  FIRST> build a foundation on Him, SECOND> Honor your marriage.  Can we truly honor our spouse if we are looking out for ourselves all the time?  Can we honor our family if we make our marriage a competition?  To show honor we can’t always be on the defensive and looking to blame.  We have to break through the boundaries that others have set before us and be the difference.  Instead of allowing your marriage to be one of the statistics, why not smash those statistics and rise above, be the example.  It won’t be easy and you can’t do it alone because you have attacks coming at your marriage from all sides.  When you feel tempted to share a not so flattering story about your husband or wife….Stop!  When you want to complain and fit in with the others who are bashing…Don’t!  It will take a conscious effort to smash those stereotypes but your family is worth fighting for.  God knows the plans He has for you so get ready, society is watching. What will they see in your marriage? What is the difference?

Prayer Points:

·    THINK about a marriage or family you admire – ask God to show you why

·    PRAY that God will show you how to honor your spouse more

·    WATCH for times you can brag on your spouse or family to others publically

·    THANK God for this opportunity to show society something different

You are God's Best!

Pastor Don Gibson

15 in 5: A Strong Foundation

Luke 6: 48-49 “If you work (MY) words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.” (The Message)

The definition of the word foundation is: “A body or ground on which other parts rest or are overlaid, typically below the surface”.  When a contractor starts to build a house they must first survey the land to find out what they are working with, then they will set a foundation in place.  The more unstable the soil is, the deeper they dig to anchor the foundation.  If this step is overlooked it will most likely result in huge cracks, shifting or complete destruction.  Some of the issues with a weak foundation can be repaired, but it will be costly and time consuming.  In most cases a weak foundation causes damage that cannot be reversed. 

While the foundation of a home is obviously instrumental in how successful that home withstands the test of time, you have probably never been over to dinner at a friend’s house and complemented them on their impeccable foundation or driven by a house and thought “If I could only have their foundation my house would be rock solid”.  Foundations get overlooked, stepped on and seriously under-appreciated.  This same fact rings true in the lives of our marriages and families.

The culture of America today is to build first and worry about the foundation later.  We have marriages built on infatuation and families started before marriage.  We stand in the rubble scratching our heads and wondering WHY?  It’s simple…the foundation must be established before the structure can withstand!

In looking to our model for marriage in the Garden of Eden, Adam had a perfect relationship with God.  Nowhere does the Word state that Eve perfected Adam’s relationship with His creator.  Eve was a gift to Adam to help him on Earth but before he received this gift, he was in right relationship with his eternal foundation.  In order to build a strong marriage and strong family we must take the time to individually assess our personal relationship with God.  The amazing thing about God (Our Master Builder) is that unlike human contractors, HE is able to reestablish a foundation underneath all our mess and prevent potential disaster from causing us to crumble; all we have to do is ask. 

Prayer Points:

·    THANK God for being our eternal foundation

·    PRAISE God for each member of your family (call them out by name)

·    ASK God to restore your foundation so that your family can withstand hardships

·    DECLARE that everything you do today will be grounded in Christ

You are God's Best!

Pastor Don Gibson

15 in 5: Warning: The Final Letter

Three letters are compiled here into the final letter for the church, We Are Church. We must prepare now and be READY. Please don’t take this lightly, this is divine instruction… don’t ignore the warning. Your preparation and response to these compiled letters will be the proof of your true desire. Soon, the door will be shut! Where will you be? Letter One: Listen to what I say. I know what you are doing. Everyone may think you are alive but you are dead. Wake up! You have only a little strength left, and it’s almost gone. Try to become stronger. I have found that you are not completely obeying God. Remember the teaching that you were given and that you heard. Hold firm to it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come when you least expect it, just as the thief in the night… or as the bridegroom with the ten girls. A few of you have not dirtied your clothes with sin. You will walk with me in white clothes, because you are worthy. Everyone who wins the victory will wear white clothes. Their names will not be erased from the Book of Life, and I will tell my Father and His angels that they are my followers. If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Letter Two: I Am the One who is holy and true and I have the keys.  When I open a door, no one can shut it. And when I shut a door, no one can open it. Listen to what I say. I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door that no one can close. You were not very strong, but you obeyed my message and did not deny that you are my followers. Now you will see what I will do with those who belong to Satan’s group. I will make them kneel down at your feet. They will know that I love you. You obeyed my message and endured. I will protect you from the time of testing that the entire world must go through. I AM COMING SOON! Hold firmly to what you have and no one will take away the crown that you will be given as your reward… if you have ears to hear, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Letter Three: I am the One called Amen! I Am the faithful and true witness and the source of God’s creation. Listen to what I say. I know everything you have done, and you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other. But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. You claim to be rich and successful and to have everything you need. But you don’t know how badly off you are. You are pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Buy your gold from me, it has been refined in fire and it will make you rich. Buy white clothes from me. Wear them and you can cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy medicine for your eyes so that you will be able to see. I correct and punish everyone I love. So make up your minds to turn away from your sins. Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together. Everyone who wins the victory will sit with me on my throne, just as I won the victory and sat with my Father on his throne. If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit say to the churches. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord. The all-powerful God, who was and is and is coming, (Rev 3 ESV). The hour is near. Live in constant expectation, because the future will soon be a thing of the past… Please don’t ignore the warning. Be the One, We Are Church – Get Ready. Prayer Points: ·    Praise God that your name is in the Lambs Book of Life ·    Acknowledge to God that you are not perfect, and ask forgiveness for sin ·    Pray that your life may bring glory and honor to Him ·    Ask Him to help you Be the One, the Church, always prepared and ready You Are God's Best! Pastor Don Gibson

15 in 5: You and You Alone

Luke 12:35 35 Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning You can wait forever on an opportunity, but an opportunity will not wait forever on you. Without discipline and self-control you can never be the person you want to be. Its cliché, but becoming the best you starts with the little things. If you’re going to jump out of the airplane, you must check and use your own equipment. If you’re going to an interview for the job of your dreams, you must go to the interview. If you’re an athlete,you must take the drug test. If you’re a ballerina, you must practice the curtsey and the Deboulé. Another person’s faith will not cover your admittance into heaven. This is one step that you must take solo – You and You Alone. Don’t wait till it’s too late.  Your relationship with God cannot be bought at the last minute, at any price. You must be prepared, be ready!  You’re being called to a higher level. To whom much is given much is required. The enemy doesn’t fight you for where you are, he fights you for where you are going. Take note!  You don’t need people’s approval… all you need is God’s approval. Mathew Henry stated, “There are many who care not to live the Christian life, yet want to die the death of righteousness.” The Bible states that you are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in you… if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9). God is your source, come to Him while you still have time. The great news is that He works the night shift as well as the day shift. He’s readily available 24x7. Renew your mind by reminding yourself that your transformation to higher levels is taking place. Don’t allow people to negatively impact your thoughts. God has destined you to victory… break addictions, bad habits, negative thoughts. The path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter. You truly have so much in you! It’s not your circumstance; it’s your tenacity that makes you tough. You never know how tough you are until you’ve been tried. As you go higher, your circumstances and surroundings will change. You must adjust to the thinner air. Breathing is different in higher altitudes. If you truly follow Jesus, He’ll take you where the air is thin and the climate is cold. You must prepare! He has the key to the mystery of “you”, the Church. You must choose to follow Him to the high place to unlock your mystery. The secret to your potential is with Him. You must chase Him to find out who you are destined to be, who He created you to be. Go outside your comfort zone. It’s you and you alone that will make this happen. Will you Be The One? We Are Church – Ready. Prayer Points: ·    Thank God for wisdom and discernment in knowing what to do and when to do it ·    Confess to Him that you need Him to make you ready to move ·    Ask Him to help you boldly enter into warfare knowing the enemy is already defeated ·    Pray for God to unlock your secret potential and destiny  Your God's Best! Pastor Don Gibson

15 in 5: Faux or For Sure

Romans 8:9 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Fellas, by now I’m sure you’ve learned that the ladies like the REAL DEAL. From little girls to mature, wise women, ladies expect nothing less than the best. If you don’t have the money to buy the ring she likes, keep holding off on the engagement or surprise anniversary ring until you can get the cut and clarity that she expects. Anything less than the best and you may be sitting in the dog house till the cow jumps over the moon. It’s amazing how even elementary girls know the difference between a fake Louis Vuitton and a real Louis Vuitton. When it comes to style, gold, diamonds and couture, a woman can spot the faux from the for sure! There are some people who call themselves a Christian, look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, carry a Bible like a Christian, go to church like a Christian and desire to go to heaven like a Christian. They think of themselves as a Christian, yet ultimately they are unprepared. They are the faux, not the for sure. It’s very possible to look like the real deal, with your Christianity on the surface while never allowing it to penetrate who you are and change your life. Normal life goes on at work, at school, on the weekend and in your sleep. The world goes on as police officers respond to calls, firemen put out fires, hospitals care for the sick, stores open, restaurants serve, and mechanics fix cars. Athletes train and compete and rivalries continue. The routine of life keeps ticking as we wait for the moment to stand face-to-face before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Check yourself. You’re being called to a higher level and BIG things are about to happen in your life. It’s time to prepare.  Don’t get caught being a faux and not for sure. Recalling the parable of the bridesmaids, it was foolishness, negligence and laziness that caused them to miss the groom while the others were for sure in their preparation and slept in peace and security knowing they had fully prepared for the groom’s coming. Are you for sure today?  Are you sleeping in peace and security or are you in a deep sleep of laziness and indifference? There is a new day coming. The King knows the faux from the for sure. You can’t pull the wool over His eyes. Be confident, secure, prepared and committed. Don’t ignore what you know to be important. The closer it is to His coming, the more important it is to be prepared. Will you Be The One, We Are Church – Ready. Prayer Points: ·    Praise God that He forgives you when you make mistakes ·    Rejoice that His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting ·    Ask Him to forgive and change your foolish ways ·    Pray that He will release in you who He called you to be You are God's Best! Pastor Don Gibson

15 in 5: Buzz-Worthy Behavior

Welcome to the Lord’s team! It’s time for you to get ready for your BIG challenge, a wrestling match. You've learned the basic moves - Footwork: You Are the One, the Church, called to go into the world. Technique: You've learned how to share the Gospel and make an impact in the world. The Hold: Through Christ, you give hopeless people something to hold on to. The Mentality: You are destined for victory. Now, it’s the final training session and it’s your time to be called up! It’s time to think on the level of your calling, Buzz-Worthy! It’s imperative that when your situation elevates, your mentality elevates with it. When situation is elevated above mentality, soul wrestling happens in Christians.  Let’s be real… if this happens you’ll find yourself stretched between two levels: that which was behind you and that which is before you. An upward calling wrestles with a downward craving. Two forces can pull you completely apart, its soul pulling. It’s the love of two places that tears you apart; married but want to be single, professional but want to have the party life with the good ole’ boys, a Christian but want to dabble in the ways of the world. You’re split between two levels. Many famous personalities openly speak about praise and worship, speaking in tongues, and their faith but at the end of the day they are torn between faith and pleasing the world. Unfortunately, they hold back because they are afraid of “how it will go over”. So many people say they are Christians but fail to deliver. Being READYspiritually doesn’t just happen. It comes as a result of the intentional habits/practice/actions that you build into your life. If you think that you can depend on a once a week Sunday morning service to provide all your spiritual needs…. You are wrong! You’ll be torn apart before the match ever starts. In the journey to Be The One, your biggest opponent will be yourself. It’s not the stress from the outside world that conquers you. It’s the internal stress. Take it step-by-step. It’s a gradual process. Realizing that life is a process will help you keep your sanity and build your strength. Your habits and attention to spiritual discipline will develop a champion inside of you. Take time for prayer and being alone with God - His Word, acts of service towards others, moral faithfulness, and loving obedience are your daily training. Prayer, study and application! Don’t be a sour Christian advertising Christ with your clothes, jewelry and bumper stickers. No, no, no! It’s fearless, confident Christ-like Buzz-Worthy Behavior that you must display!  This type of behavior and mindset will make your life powerful in the world. Get ready, prepare and be Christ-like with Buzz-Worthy Behavior. Big things are in your future… We Are Church – Are you READY? Prayer Points: ·    Praise God that He may let you bend but never lets you break ·    Thank Him that when you are weak, He is strong ·    Pray for your discipline and spiritual training to make you a champion for His team ·    Ask for victory in your wrestling match with “self” Don Gibson

15 in 5: Don't Be the One Left Crying at Midnight

Matthew 24:44 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  ESV Imagine this… one man, ten women and the opportunity of a lifetime to hand pick a bride to serve you, please you, cater to you, and love you like no other. Ladies, it’s your opportunity to dress your best, and shine like the beautiful, gorgeous star that you are. It’s time to put your best foot forward as you meet the groom! A few guys out there are thinking, “What a lucky guy…” Now, here is the twist…there were originally ten ladies waiting, but five made an epic mistake. They arrived unprepared and had to leave to get their necessary items, just hoping to make it back in time. Upon the handsome groom’s arrival, five crème-dele-crème ladies who were mature, successful, caring, eager-to-please, and wise stood ready for the opportunity to start a new life.  In the middle of the rose ceremony to pick the bride, the other five foolish girls return yelling and screaming at the door. Unbearable, outlandish yells are heard coming from the other side of the door, “Sir, sir, let me in!” Unfortunately for the foolish ladies, they missed the opportunity of a lifetime. They stood in a crowd of like-minded fools crying at midnight because they failed to prepare. Those who prepared stood in the grace of their dream man, an opportunity of a lifetime. This particular story may sound like a television show that airs for those interested in bachelors or bachelorettes, but it’s a parable which Jesus uses to tell what the kingdom of heaven is like. You must prepare yourself for the present and the future. In school and in business there is a saying that holds true: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. If you’re going to make it today and you want success tomorrow, you must always be prepared. If there is one thing that Jesus consistently and continually preached it was that we need to be ready.  If you are going to live a RADICAL lifestyle, you must get ready and be prepared. Over and over again He states, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Math. 24:44 NIV). The five foolish girls could be living in the year 2013. They were so caught up in the moment that they didn’t look to the future and plan for what they needed. People these days are the same way. People live paycheck to paycheck. Others are so busy on their Facebook account that they don’t have time to prepare for the next day, week or month.  Then there are those that eat fast food every day or every other day and neglect your body (your temple); are you thinking long term when you load your body with chemicals and harsh additives? Most obviously, look at the morals of America and the lives of a vast majority of Americans… it’s all about NOW-NOW-NOW. Are we really preparing for the future, our children, our grand-children? Rising debt, who knows if social security will be around, education is falling by the wayside… There is a massive moral disconnect between faith and ethical moral behavior in our country and even within the church. If you are going to declare, claim and live a truly blessed life you must be on top of your game, you literally have to be in the game. Coaches who make it to the Super Bowl or World Series don’t get there by impromptu play calling, no practices and an unhealthy team. The team who prepares puts in the extra effort by having off-season practices on top of the regularly scheduled rigorous season practices, and it’s the team that finishes STRONG despite the adversity or opponent… this coach/team comes out the winner. You must apply this to your life… make it a lifestyle.  Nothing worth having is easy. Go the distance, be prepared… Will you Be The One? We Are Church – Ready! Prayer Points: ·    Praise God for giving you revelation knowledge of His plan ·    Thank Him that He has given you resources to prepare for His coming ·    Pray that God will open your eyes to see and ears to hear Him above all things ·    Ask Him to show you the way and guide you to ultimate victory in Him Don Gibson