PROPERTIES OF SALT (cont).
4. Salt has value.
We can't live without salt. Too little and our body's sensitive electrolyte system becomes imbalanced.
In New Testament times, salt was used as currency. It's actually how the Roman soldiers were paid, in salt. At that time, salt was collected from the Dead Sea. The salt was crystallized together with other minerals that had to be extracted. Salt remained and the leftover minerals formed a white residue that was not useful and was thrown onto the road and trampled under feet. This is what Jesus refers to in the later part of verse 13.
Matthew 5: 13b "But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
How about you? Are you a useful witness for Christ or worthless--selfishly living for yourself or selfishly doing good to be seen or to receive a false sense of higher standing with God?
5. Salt dissolves.
Just as salt is not meant to remain in the salt shaker, so as Christians we are not meant to live in selfish seclusion in a life without service to our king. As the salt of the earth, we are meant to be used up in furthering God's kingdom (preserving the lives of others).
If we consider our own life and the mess we are and where God has taken us, is it not so breathtaking that God would choose to use us. I feel I am an unworthy candidate of the grace of God, but then again, if I was worthy grace would have no value.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found. I was blind, but now I see.
*The abundant life involves the thrill of risk. Let's get back on mission with God!
**Write me and let me know some of the ways you/your family are taking risks for the kingdom. I will publish them on my blog (first names only) so we can all receive encouragement and insight together on how the body of Christ around us is living for Him in this day and age.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Stay Salty, part deux y three
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
PROPERTIES of SALT
2. Salt makes us thirsty.
Ask yourself this, do others see evidence of something they crave in me? The way I live my life should make others thirsty for Christ.
3. Salt is Common
We don't need to be the smartest or most talented person alive. The point is we belong to Christ and have purpose in Him. (See I Corinthians 1).
Draw attention to Christ not yourself.
Matt Chandler is a pastor Kendall and I enjoy following on podcasts. He says, "God is not glorified in my awesomeness." Totally true, neither are God or others impressed because we think we are "all that." Common and humble do not equate to weakness though for when we are weak God's greatness is seen through us and we are mightily strong in Him.
Be watching for the fourth and fifth properties of salt to be posted soon.
*Principles taken from the study of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7, women's Bible study, the Village Church, Texas).
PROPERTIES of SALT
2. Salt makes us thirsty.
Ask yourself this, do others see evidence of something they crave in me? The way I live my life should make others thirsty for Christ.
3. Salt is Common
We don't need to be the smartest or most talented person alive. The point is we belong to Christ and have purpose in Him. (See I Corinthians 1).
Draw attention to Christ not yourself.
Matt Chandler is a pastor Kendall and I enjoy following on podcasts. He says, "God is not glorified in my awesomeness." Totally true, neither are God or others impressed because we think we are "all that." Common and humble do not equate to weakness though for when we are weak God's greatness is seen through us and we are mightily strong in Him.
Be watching for the fourth and fifth properties of salt to be posted soon.
*Principles taken from the study of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7, women's Bible study, the Village Church, Texas).
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Stay Salty
Notes from my Bible study
This week I will be posting things I have been learning from my Bible study. Over the course of the week I will share five properties of salt...five ways you can remain an effective witness for Christ.Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
Have you ever wondered why Jesus would refer to believers as salt? I mean He could have chosen a multitude of other substances. Below are some unique properties of salt that make Christ's analogy more clear to us.
PROPERTIES OF SALT
1. PreservativeAs a preservative, salt helps to prevent decay/spoiling of food. If we reason from the analogy that believers are salt and the world is meat, then it makes sense that believers resist the spread of sin throughout the world.
It is also important to note that salt MUST have contact (even be rubbed in) with meat to fulfill its purpose. Even when the salt is rubbed into the meat it is very easy to tell the difference between the meat and the salt.
As Christians there are two unhealthy extremes to be applied here. One, we stay within our Christian bubble and have little to no contact with the world OR two, some Christians want to look as much like the world as possible. Both are WRONG. An example my Bible study teacher gave is tofu, it wants to look/act like meat but it isn't even close.
When we fall into either of these two extremes, we (as the salt of the world) are not preserving anything. We are losing our effectiveness as salt in the world around us.
Only when the Church is different will it attract the world (though it may hate the Church's message at first).
Read the book of Jude (yes, all one chapter of it) and you will find that we are charged with the responsibility of contending for the Truth.
Challenge: Pray and ask God to reveal to your heart if you are living in one of the two extremes. Are you preserving His Truth or have you become ineffective?
Stay salty my friends.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Advent, kiddos & mysteries of the faith
No, Advent is not Catholic. I say this as a reminder to myself. I am not sure why but growing up I always associated Advent with Catholicism, like I did with Ash Wednesday. Weird I know, but I am weird so you all shouldn’t be surprised by that. JThis very day we find ourselves enveloped in the season of wonder, of mystery, of Majesty. Advent is a practice that my husband and I have begun to observe for the past several years. Very simply it’s a season of expectation, awaiting with eager longing. Even if you aren’t particularly nostalgic, and the whole lighting of the Advent candles isn’t your thing, perhaps you could consider waiting every day. Take time daily from now until Christmas Eve to be still in God’s presence and reflect on the meaning of this season. Try to get up early or go to bed late or center your thoughts before you drift to sleep. In the still and in the quiet, reflect on the wonder of Christmas. My calm, centered mind goes to a place that says—God didn’t have to create me but He did. I don’t have to be a part of His plan, but I am. God in all His Majesty left what our eyes have yet to behold to come to a place as messed up as ours to bring us to a Place as great as His. He loves us SO much. How He must have ached for Home, how He must have longed for us all to understand while we continued to reject Him. How heavy His feet must have felt every step of the journey of every day nearing Calvary. So much awe in this season, so much joy….and with it so many questions. Yet, not all questions are meant to be answered, to be known by us. God reserves for us mysteries in the faith, but these mysteries need not frustrate us. If I am honest, I know my bend is to be frustrated when I don’t have answers. Do you know who is a great example for me? Kids. The eyes through which a child sees the world are so beautiful, so honest, and their faith is the same. This season I am going to exercise my own child-like faith. I am going to press myself to appreciate the joys and wonders of Christmas. I am going to be delighted with a country decorated in lights, with the gatherings of family and friends, with all the songs and all the cookies and the little girls’ dresses that glitter and sparkle….It’s all for you Lord Jesus. You are so worth it. You are so amazing. We celebrate You! There is no better season.FUN WITH KIDSWhile you are learning from your kids, of course they are always learning from you. Here is a fun way you can teach your kids about Advent and Christmas and Jesus in a unique way. (We can’t wait to try this with our own kiddos some day).1. Come up with something fun to do with your kids this weekend or next but DON’T TELL THEM.
2. Make a countdown to the day of fun, or remind them of the special thing to come every day but don’t give it away.
3. In the process of keeping the surprise a secret, of course your kiddos will be really excited. As they are excited, teach them about how exciting it was years ago for those who waited and expected Jesus to be born any day. Teach them this is the same excitement we can have every day because Jesus is going to come again and He is going to make this earth so cool when He does. This whole, big party of Christmas is for Jesus and it’s so great!
Precious little compares to seeing kids in joy and wonder….precious little.It really doesn’t take much people…;-)
PRAY FOR YOUR HUSBANDThis week we pray that our husbands will lead our family in being reverent to the mysteries of the faith. We pray that our husbands will encourage us to ask questions that press us into God and His Word and all the while encourage us to rest only in Him knowing there are some things meant to remain mysteries, for we are not God but man.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Pray For Your Husband
Dear God,
I pray that my husband will not be money hungry, not willing to get money by questionable means, not greedy, not deceitful but of clear conscience.
A verse often misquoted regarding this subject is 1 Timothy 6:10. I have heard many say that money is the root of all evil when actually God says the LOVE of money is the root of all sorts of evil. Money can be an idol if we love it and serve it and put our trust in it or God can use it to accomplish great and mighty things for his kingdom (like adoption--read on).
Like so many of the prayer blogs I post, this prayer is for my husband but it is a challenge to me in particular. I have been idolizing money for years unbeknownst to me. It came sneekly, deceptively. I didn't love money just for all the things it could buy me...I let money control me. I gave to money things that belonged to God--my fears, my trust. God is graciously opening my eyes to the truth and leading me on to trust in Him (read my story below to see how).
It is hard to be a man in today's society and down economy. It's hard to be wife who trusts in God to provide through her husband but it is NOT impossible. God created man with the abilities and gifts and talents unique to providing for his family. As a wives, we are to come along side our husband and help him. We can help our husband by encouraging and thanking him for working hard for the family. We can discourage him by our discontentment bred through things like Pinterest and a host of other things. I love Pinterest just like the next girl, but if I am not careful, I start thinking I "need" to have a new this or that or redecorate or paint or what have you. There may be a time for that but it seems I most often want things at the most inconvenient times financially and that puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on my husband.
Getting personal--You know, when I look back at my behavior over the years, I have really had a problem trusting God with our finances. Here is one example. Many of you know Kendall and I are pursuing the Lord's lead for us to adopt. We feel incredibly blessed that God would call us to do so, but for reasons only He perfectly knows, He has asked us repeatedly to wait. We have prayed and prayed and sought the counsel of wise pastors and elders. When we pray together, we know right now God is asking us to pay off some bills (medical, student loan, car) so I can transition to a full-time stay-at-home mom. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt this is what God has asked us to do. I know God has reasons that are good and perfect and right for all He does. Still, I have a tendency to think this should happen today, so if the money isn't coming in as quickly as I want it to, then I starting thinking how can I do this quicker on my own (instead of praying and relying on God). It's like I was saying...God I think I will trust money instead because I know it will get me there faster. (as if) In my eagerness to obey God's call to care for orphans, I was disobeying God by not trusting in Him. I put myself in the driver's seat of my life when I didn't even know which way to turn next. How can I reduce all our bills, how many possessions can I sell to make this happen sooner? It's not wrong to sell our possessions for His will or to reduce our spending or live wisely with what He has given us but what is the motive? Is God asking me to do this or am I doing this because I am not trusting and waiting on God? Kendall and I take finances very seriously as stewards of dollars that belong not to us but to God. I am blessed to have a husband who is a financial planner and is wise in planning for our family. He shows me and reassures me that we are living wisely. We are giving to God first. We are obedient to God with our money. I still felt the need to contribute to get things done faster. I held umteen garage sales and sold much of my clothes on eBay. My husband began to question my motives in doing this. I didn't even realize that I was robbing us of God's blessings because I was working so hard to get it done on my own (and getting nowhere quickly I might add). I have since stepped back and let God be God....He really doesn't need my help--He does a pretty good job on His own. :-) I have stopped all of it. I continue to pray and rest in God and His will and it is so freeing. God is continuing to provide for us and bless us in abundant ways as we wait on Him. He knows exactly what we need just as He knows the needs of the birds, the animals, the plants and the rest of His creation. He also knows there are some of His little ones in the world who need families and He knows that we are eager to obey His command, and when He says "go" we will run to bring those kids to our home.
Thank You God,
Thank You God for guiding our family and leading us. Thank you for the freedom that comes when I trust You know best, when I step back and follow You in prayer and faithfulness. Life is not about money. Life is not about kids. Life is not about me becoming a mom. Life is not about me. This life, my life is for You Lord. Every day. May I not spend my days counting the what ifs and the what nexts but in serving You, in knowing You and living out the call of the Gospel on this earth. Thank you for centering me in Your Truth and in eternal perspectives.
Holy God, we are Yours. Amen.
I pray that my husband will not be money hungry, not willing to get money by questionable means, not greedy, not deceitful but of clear conscience.
A verse often misquoted regarding this subject is 1 Timothy 6:10. I have heard many say that money is the root of all evil when actually God says the LOVE of money is the root of all sorts of evil. Money can be an idol if we love it and serve it and put our trust in it or God can use it to accomplish great and mighty things for his kingdom (like adoption--read on).
Like so many of the prayer blogs I post, this prayer is for my husband but it is a challenge to me in particular. I have been idolizing money for years unbeknownst to me. It came sneekly, deceptively. I didn't love money just for all the things it could buy me...I let money control me. I gave to money things that belonged to God--my fears, my trust. God is graciously opening my eyes to the truth and leading me on to trust in Him (read my story below to see how).
It is hard to be a man in today's society and down economy. It's hard to be wife who trusts in God to provide through her husband but it is NOT impossible. God created man with the abilities and gifts and talents unique to providing for his family. As a wives, we are to come along side our husband and help him. We can help our husband by encouraging and thanking him for working hard for the family. We can discourage him by our discontentment bred through things like Pinterest and a host of other things. I love Pinterest just like the next girl, but if I am not careful, I start thinking I "need" to have a new this or that or redecorate or paint or what have you. There may be a time for that but it seems I most often want things at the most inconvenient times financially and that puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on my husband.
Getting personal--You know, when I look back at my behavior over the years, I have really had a problem trusting God with our finances. Here is one example. Many of you know Kendall and I are pursuing the Lord's lead for us to adopt. We feel incredibly blessed that God would call us to do so, but for reasons only He perfectly knows, He has asked us repeatedly to wait. We have prayed and prayed and sought the counsel of wise pastors and elders. When we pray together, we know right now God is asking us to pay off some bills (medical, student loan, car) so I can transition to a full-time stay-at-home mom. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt this is what God has asked us to do. I know God has reasons that are good and perfect and right for all He does. Still, I have a tendency to think this should happen today, so if the money isn't coming in as quickly as I want it to, then I starting thinking how can I do this quicker on my own (instead of praying and relying on God). It's like I was saying...God I think I will trust money instead because I know it will get me there faster. (as if) In my eagerness to obey God's call to care for orphans, I was disobeying God by not trusting in Him. I put myself in the driver's seat of my life when I didn't even know which way to turn next. How can I reduce all our bills, how many possessions can I sell to make this happen sooner? It's not wrong to sell our possessions for His will or to reduce our spending or live wisely with what He has given us but what is the motive? Is God asking me to do this or am I doing this because I am not trusting and waiting on God? Kendall and I take finances very seriously as stewards of dollars that belong not to us but to God. I am blessed to have a husband who is a financial planner and is wise in planning for our family. He shows me and reassures me that we are living wisely. We are giving to God first. We are obedient to God with our money. I still felt the need to contribute to get things done faster. I held umteen garage sales and sold much of my clothes on eBay. My husband began to question my motives in doing this. I didn't even realize that I was robbing us of God's blessings because I was working so hard to get it done on my own (and getting nowhere quickly I might add). I have since stepped back and let God be God....He really doesn't need my help--He does a pretty good job on His own. :-) I have stopped all of it. I continue to pray and rest in God and His will and it is so freeing. God is continuing to provide for us and bless us in abundant ways as we wait on Him. He knows exactly what we need just as He knows the needs of the birds, the animals, the plants and the rest of His creation. He also knows there are some of His little ones in the world who need families and He knows that we are eager to obey His command, and when He says "go" we will run to bring those kids to our home.
Thank You God,
Thank You God for guiding our family and leading us. Thank you for the freedom that comes when I trust You know best, when I step back and follow You in prayer and faithfulness. Life is not about money. Life is not about kids. Life is not about me becoming a mom. Life is not about me. This life, my life is for You Lord. Every day. May I not spend my days counting the what ifs and the what nexts but in serving You, in knowing You and living out the call of the Gospel on this earth. Thank you for centering me in Your Truth and in eternal perspectives.
Holy God, we are Yours. Amen.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Pray For Your Husband
This week our prayer for our husband is:
That he would not be thin skinned (not a pushover), not quarrelsome but peaceable, discreet, not quick tempered, not one to throw insults. May he not speak with loose, confusing or deceptive words. May he not be proud/vain (with no chips on his shoulder).
A man who is humble and loves God. A man who in his calm spirit will stand up to his wife when he sees her straying from biblical principles. A man who speaks with wisdom, not profanities, not prideful insult. Isn't that the man we all pray our husbands to be, a man like Christ?
Many of you may read the blog "Grace Full Mama." My husband actually introduced me to it. Her July 13, 2012, post entitled "A Kind Wife," moved me and caused me to give pause both to the kind of husband this man (like my husband) is as well the type of wife I think I need to be vs. what my husband needs/desires. This husband's response melted my heart. It is that of a humble man after the Lord's own heart. Read this brief blog post and consider how God may be challenging you through it:
http://gracefullmama.com/a-kind-wife-2/
That he would not be thin skinned (not a pushover), not quarrelsome but peaceable, discreet, not quick tempered, not one to throw insults. May he not speak with loose, confusing or deceptive words. May he not be proud/vain (with no chips on his shoulder).
A man who is humble and loves God. A man who in his calm spirit will stand up to his wife when he sees her straying from biblical principles. A man who speaks with wisdom, not profanities, not prideful insult. Isn't that the man we all pray our husbands to be, a man like Christ?
Many of you may read the blog "Grace Full Mama." My husband actually introduced me to it. Her July 13, 2012, post entitled "A Kind Wife," moved me and caused me to give pause both to the kind of husband this man (like my husband) is as well the type of wife I think I need to be vs. what my husband needs/desires. This husband's response melted my heart. It is that of a humble man after the Lord's own heart. Read this brief blog post and consider how God may be challenging you through it:
http://gracefullmama.com/a-kind-wife-2/
Friday, September 6, 2013
Pray for your Husband
This week's prayer for our husbands is one I am DEEPLY passionate about. The Truth.
In our world today, we are taught that there are many ways, many truths so we should all be tolerant of one another. That is a blatant lie from the pit of hell. As Ravi Zacharias aptly notes, the definition of truth in and of itself is exclusive. You get what I am saying here? If truth didn't exclude some things then it could not be truth at all and its very existance would deteriorate. Something is either truth or a lie. Similarly, something that is light cannot also be darkness. It is either light or dark. We don't need Webster's dictionary or reason or logic to come to this conclusion (although ultimately they will), we run everything through what God says. In John 14:6 Jesus tells us that He is THE way, THE Truth and THE life. John 17:17 we read that God's Word is Truth. Anything apart from that is false/a lie. If God says it is wrong then it is wrong and not to be questioned. If God says obey then obey. Some today who label themselves believers will quote Scripture to stand on a soap box for many social issues; however, sadly they twist the meaning of God's Words to be convenient for them. This is no longer truth but deception. Christian friend, if you are not daily in the habit of feeding on God's Word, you will not know what He says and so you are in great danger of being seduced by the lies of society...and when that happens a lie will come in your ear and you will interpret it as Truth. This cannot be beloved sisters, not for us or our husbands or our families. This is precisely what Jude warns about in the New Testament. He is writing a letter to his fellow believers and you and I telling us to contend for the Truth. To contend means that we stand together against difficulties/debate the opposition. When Jesus is truly our Master, we do not mince our words and beliefs. We are either for Him or we are against Him. What caused Jude to write this letter is still happening today. There are those even from within the Church who stir things up and debate and follow the ways of world around them, the world that is enticed by the lusts of the flesh. These spread deception among believers and because they are part of the church body/same congregation or label themselves as a believer, they seduce many true believers. Yes, these who behave in this manner are not true believers at all. These (as Jude puts) turn God's Truth into licentiousness. They take what the see in the world and they dare to manipulate the chosen of God to believe homosexuality is okay because ___________, or abortion is okay because ____________, or any other way of belief or religion/another person follows by following a god who does not exist is okay because _____________. We have GOT to be careful who and what we are listening to and who and what we are calling gospel. Satan works in every way he can on this earth including from within the church. He is coniving, deceiving filth who NEVER tells a bit of Truth ever. If it seems fishy or manipulative satan is behind it...not God. Friends, let us be in the Word and know what it says. This is an issue to stand on, to draw a line in the sand over for your family. Defend the Truth. Let us not be like those who are easily moved from one conclusion/opinion to the next. Those who follow the opinions of the world reason like the world. The world reasons by instinct and 'oh this feels right, or oh this is what my mind/heart tell me is true, this is what I decide is right for me'....they make their decisions like unreasoning animals who are led my instinct and by things they really do not fully understand (Jude 1:10). When you pray for your family and pray for your husband and leader of your family this week pray that he:
Knows what he is talking about--irrefutable, not able to be put to shame, not able to be discredited with strict regard for the Truth. Pray that he know the Bible and how to use it to spur people to knowledge or to stop them in their tracks if they oppose the Bible...give stimulating doctrine and show when people are wayward.
Something I would like to draw your attention to is a mens' conference coming up this fall in three locations. My man is going to the Indianapolis conference. I pray that you would pray over this and allow the Lord to lead you to encourage your husband to go. This is important. This is a conference regarding what I just addressed. This is about men being men and acting like it. Men standing for the Truth and defending their families amidst an age of deception when even those among the Church have fallen asleep. It is time for the Church to wake up. It is time for deception of the darkness in our day to be challenged. We are the light of the world. We have to shine a light in the darkness. We have to speak out or the rocks will do it for us.
"Act Like Men Conference"
http://actlikemen.com/
Hamilton, Ontario October 4-5, 2013
Long Beach, CA October 18-19, 2013
Indianapolis, IN November 8-9, 2013
If your husband would like to attend with my husband, feel free to email Kendall directly kendallkoens@yahoo.com
In our world today, we are taught that there are many ways, many truths so we should all be tolerant of one another. That is a blatant lie from the pit of hell. As Ravi Zacharias aptly notes, the definition of truth in and of itself is exclusive. You get what I am saying here? If truth didn't exclude some things then it could not be truth at all and its very existance would deteriorate. Something is either truth or a lie. Similarly, something that is light cannot also be darkness. It is either light or dark. We don't need Webster's dictionary or reason or logic to come to this conclusion (although ultimately they will), we run everything through what God says. In John 14:6 Jesus tells us that He is THE way, THE Truth and THE life. John 17:17 we read that God's Word is Truth. Anything apart from that is false/a lie. If God says it is wrong then it is wrong and not to be questioned. If God says obey then obey. Some today who label themselves believers will quote Scripture to stand on a soap box for many social issues; however, sadly they twist the meaning of God's Words to be convenient for them. This is no longer truth but deception. Christian friend, if you are not daily in the habit of feeding on God's Word, you will not know what He says and so you are in great danger of being seduced by the lies of society...and when that happens a lie will come in your ear and you will interpret it as Truth. This cannot be beloved sisters, not for us or our husbands or our families. This is precisely what Jude warns about in the New Testament. He is writing a letter to his fellow believers and you and I telling us to contend for the Truth. To contend means that we stand together against difficulties/debate the opposition. When Jesus is truly our Master, we do not mince our words and beliefs. We are either for Him or we are against Him. What caused Jude to write this letter is still happening today. There are those even from within the Church who stir things up and debate and follow the ways of world around them, the world that is enticed by the lusts of the flesh. These spread deception among believers and because they are part of the church body/same congregation or label themselves as a believer, they seduce many true believers. Yes, these who behave in this manner are not true believers at all. These (as Jude puts) turn God's Truth into licentiousness. They take what the see in the world and they dare to manipulate the chosen of God to believe homosexuality is okay because ___________, or abortion is okay because ____________, or any other way of belief or religion/another person follows by following a god who does not exist is okay because _____________. We have GOT to be careful who and what we are listening to and who and what we are calling gospel. Satan works in every way he can on this earth including from within the church. He is coniving, deceiving filth who NEVER tells a bit of Truth ever. If it seems fishy or manipulative satan is behind it...not God. Friends, let us be in the Word and know what it says. This is an issue to stand on, to draw a line in the sand over for your family. Defend the Truth. Let us not be like those who are easily moved from one conclusion/opinion to the next. Those who follow the opinions of the world reason like the world. The world reasons by instinct and 'oh this feels right, or oh this is what my mind/heart tell me is true, this is what I decide is right for me'....they make their decisions like unreasoning animals who are led my instinct and by things they really do not fully understand (Jude 1:10). When you pray for your family and pray for your husband and leader of your family this week pray that he:
Knows what he is talking about--irrefutable, not able to be put to shame, not able to be discredited with strict regard for the Truth. Pray that he know the Bible and how to use it to spur people to knowledge or to stop them in their tracks if they oppose the Bible...give stimulating doctrine and show when people are wayward.
Something I would like to draw your attention to is a mens' conference coming up this fall in three locations. My man is going to the Indianapolis conference. I pray that you would pray over this and allow the Lord to lead you to encourage your husband to go. This is important. This is a conference regarding what I just addressed. This is about men being men and acting like it. Men standing for the Truth and defending their families amidst an age of deception when even those among the Church have fallen asleep. It is time for the Church to wake up. It is time for deception of the darkness in our day to be challenged. We are the light of the world. We have to shine a light in the darkness. We have to speak out or the rocks will do it for us.
"Act Like Men Conference"
http://actlikemen.com/
Hamilton, Ontario October 4-5, 2013
Long Beach, CA October 18-19, 2013
Indianapolis, IN November 8-9, 2013
If your husband would like to attend with my husband, feel free to email Kendall directly kendallkoens@yahoo.com
Monday, August 26, 2013
Pray For Your Husband
This week our prayer for our husband is that he would be accessible--being a friend to believers, strangers and foreigners.
Luke 6:32 "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners to that."
When I think of accessibility, an iphone or iPad or some electronic device comes to mind. In our world we are attached at the hip to our electronics and social media at times like a drug. It can be challenging to step away and see a world that we are literally walking past as we multi-task and text as we walk and run erands. How much harder we are making it on ourselves to have connections with real, live people face to face. Also, isn't it just so much easier to befriend someone you really like verses someone who is inconveniencing you or someone who you find annoying or someone who is rude or mean or smells bad, but that is not consistent with the character of the God living within us. Part of the problem is that we tend to elevate ourselves, somehow thinking we are better than another. What gives? It warms my heart to no end when I witness my husband being "inconvenienced" because of the Spirit in him causing him to behave in such a way. My socially apt husband could make friends with a brick wall. His personality shines as I watch him talking to perfect strangers as though he has known them his whole life. I could use more of that. I also remember a time we were driving down the road and a man in a wheelchair was having a hard time crossing the street, and he pulled over and got out of the car to help this man. I could be more like that. I think what I may love most of all is when I have gone with my husband to visit strangers in the hospital--strangers who are awake on ventilators (as he once was). We go to take Jesus to a hospital unit where depression prevails and few leave alive. I watch as he allows Jesus to speak through him giving hope to shut-ins and praying over them in the name of our beloved Jesus. I want others to see Jesus in me that way.
You see, when we pray to the Father on behalf of our husband, our husband changes to become more like Jesus and because of the God-created order of life, we in turn observe the change and implement it in our own lives. When your husband becomes more like Christ so will you.
Luke 6:32 "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners to that."
When I think of accessibility, an iphone or iPad or some electronic device comes to mind. In our world we are attached at the hip to our electronics and social media at times like a drug. It can be challenging to step away and see a world that we are literally walking past as we multi-task and text as we walk and run erands. How much harder we are making it on ourselves to have connections with real, live people face to face. Also, isn't it just so much easier to befriend someone you really like verses someone who is inconveniencing you or someone who you find annoying or someone who is rude or mean or smells bad, but that is not consistent with the character of the God living within us. Part of the problem is that we tend to elevate ourselves, somehow thinking we are better than another. What gives? It warms my heart to no end when I witness my husband being "inconvenienced" because of the Spirit in him causing him to behave in such a way. My socially apt husband could make friends with a brick wall. His personality shines as I watch him talking to perfect strangers as though he has known them his whole life. I could use more of that. I also remember a time we were driving down the road and a man in a wheelchair was having a hard time crossing the street, and he pulled over and got out of the car to help this man. I could be more like that. I think what I may love most of all is when I have gone with my husband to visit strangers in the hospital--strangers who are awake on ventilators (as he once was). We go to take Jesus to a hospital unit where depression prevails and few leave alive. I watch as he allows Jesus to speak through him giving hope to shut-ins and praying over them in the name of our beloved Jesus. I want others to see Jesus in me that way.
You see, when we pray to the Father on behalf of our husband, our husband changes to become more like Jesus and because of the God-created order of life, we in turn observe the change and implement it in our own lives. When your husband becomes more like Christ so will you.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Pray For Your Husband
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
"There is no role in our modern society that suffers greater neglect as far as God is concerned than that of the father. Not only has God given men the incredible privilege of imitating Him as Father, He has placed upon the shoulders of fathers an incredible responsibility." --Jonathan Perz
This week our prayer is for our husbands and our children. If you are like me and do not have children, I would encourage you to pray as though you have them already. I am already praying for the salvation of the children God will entrust me with in the future.
For this week our prayer is that our husband would be attentive to our children and have our children's respect. That our children are believers in the One true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
"There is no role in our modern society that suffers greater neglect as far as God is concerned than that of the father. Not only has God given men the incredible privilege of imitating Him as Father, He has placed upon the shoulders of fathers an incredible responsibility." --Jonathan Perz
This week our prayer is for our husbands and our children. If you are like me and do not have children, I would encourage you to pray as though you have them already. I am already praying for the salvation of the children God will entrust me with in the future.
For this week our prayer is that our husband would be attentive to our children and have our children's respect. That our children are believers in the One true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Pray for your husband
I Peter 3:12--For the eyes of The Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayers.
This week we pray that our husband will be committed to us, his wife--a one-woman man.
Pray also this week for yourself that you will remain in the Word so that you will be ever mindful of the woman, the wife, the Helper God created you to be. We were created to be helpers not naggers and know-it-alls. We can make our husband's desire to be the man God created Him to be (the man we need him to be) so much easier....or we can drive him onto the roof or into the desert.
Proverbs 21:9,19 "It is better to live in the corner of a housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." "It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman."
This week we pray that our husband will be committed to us, his wife--a one-woman man.
Pray also this week for yourself that you will remain in the Word so that you will be ever mindful of the woman, the wife, the Helper God created you to be. We were created to be helpers not naggers and know-it-alls. We can make our husband's desire to be the man God created Him to be (the man we need him to be) so much easier....or we can drive him onto the roof or into the desert.
Proverbs 21:9,19 "It is better to live in the corner of a housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." "It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman."
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Pray for your Husband
It all began with one email--it now begins with one blog...
Several years ago my husband started sending emails to his buddies entitled "pray for your wife." Today several hundred men receive an email every week with a short devotional and a prayer to claim over their wives. I have seen amazing growth in myself as a result of my husband praying for me, and I see dramatic change in my husband when I in turn pray for him.
Why is it then that such a simple thing as talking to God about your best friend can seem arduous...like a chore? Because the enemy wants it that way. We are not going to stand for it. Ladies, it is our turn to rise up and make a difference in this generation with every day we have been gifted on this earth. Sometimes it can seem like prayer is not enough but in reality it is everything. When we pray to God, we are calling upon Him to move heaven and earth to hear our cries over our husbands to raise up real men who are strong, faithful, courageous, hard workers who contend for THE TRUTH and aren't satisfied with make believe and video games. You want a real man? Then stop talking at him and instead get on your knees every day and petition Your Creator to mold Your husband to the man He has created him to be. God cares. God wants to hear from us. God listens. So when you pray approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing that in His perfect time, God will work in your husband in ways you could not have dreamed possible.
One last reiteration. It is not your responsibility to change your husband. It is your responsibility to give God consistent opportunity to change YOU. That is only accomplished by being in the Word and talking to Him every single day. It is worth it.
What are you waiting for? If this sounds good to you, then subscribe to my blog and I will send out a weekly update on something new to pray over your husband that week.
Love you girls!
+Andi :-)
Romans 8:31b, 34b
If God is for us, who is against us? ...Christ Jesus, who is at the right hand of God, intercedes for us.
PRAY FOR YOUR HUSBAND:
May my husband be well thought of, a pattern of good deeds and works. May there be no grounds for accusations but rather good reputation with him amongst believers and non-believers. May he be investigated and proved above reproach.
Several years ago my husband started sending emails to his buddies entitled "pray for your wife." Today several hundred men receive an email every week with a short devotional and a prayer to claim over their wives. I have seen amazing growth in myself as a result of my husband praying for me, and I see dramatic change in my husband when I in turn pray for him.
Why is it then that such a simple thing as talking to God about your best friend can seem arduous...like a chore? Because the enemy wants it that way. We are not going to stand for it. Ladies, it is our turn to rise up and make a difference in this generation with every day we have been gifted on this earth. Sometimes it can seem like prayer is not enough but in reality it is everything. When we pray to God, we are calling upon Him to move heaven and earth to hear our cries over our husbands to raise up real men who are strong, faithful, courageous, hard workers who contend for THE TRUTH and aren't satisfied with make believe and video games. You want a real man? Then stop talking at him and instead get on your knees every day and petition Your Creator to mold Your husband to the man He has created him to be. God cares. God wants to hear from us. God listens. So when you pray approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing that in His perfect time, God will work in your husband in ways you could not have dreamed possible.
One last reiteration. It is not your responsibility to change your husband. It is your responsibility to give God consistent opportunity to change YOU. That is only accomplished by being in the Word and talking to Him every single day. It is worth it.
What are you waiting for? If this sounds good to you, then subscribe to my blog and I will send out a weekly update on something new to pray over your husband that week.
Love you girls!
+Andi :-)
Romans 8:31b, 34b
If God is for us, who is against us? ...Christ Jesus, who is at the right hand of God, intercedes for us.
PRAY FOR YOUR HUSBAND:
May my husband be well thought of, a pattern of good deeds and works. May there be no grounds for accusations but rather good reputation with him amongst believers and non-believers. May he be investigated and proved above reproach.
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