Using all your Strength
Little boy trying to move a rock, he stooped down inched the rock up to his chest straining all his muscles but still could not lift the rock. His dad was observing him. Dad’s asked: are you using all you strength? Little Boy replied: Off course, Yes! Dad said, No, You are not! You had not asked me to help you. I am part of your strength.”
You see when Jesus is in us, God’s Love is in us—He is our strength: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Cowboy out in West Texas
Sweetwater Texas is know for the for the world larges Rattle Snake Roundup. A cowboy was bitten and he had to be rushed into the Hospital. The nurse was taking his information asked him if he ever had and accident before? This question was repeatedly asked by the nurses and he repeatedly and answer no. He finally answered, well, I was bitten by a snake several times and kicked by horses serval times--the nurse replied, were not those accidents? Cowboy answered, those were done in purpose by the snakes and the horses.
Donkey fell into a well.
One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried loudly for hours, while the farmer tried to find something to do to get him out.
Perception: How Poor Are We?
There was a boy, whose family was very wealthy. One day his father took him on a trip to the country, where he aimed to show his son, how poor people live. So they arrived to a farm of a very poor family, as he considered. They spent there several days. On their return, the father asked his son, did he like the trip.
„Oh, it was great, dad” – the boy replied. „Did you notice how poor people live?” „Yeah, I did“- said the boy. The father asked his son to tell in more details about his impressions from their trip“.
„Well, we have only one dog, and they have four of them. In our garden there is a pool, while they have a river that has no end. We‘ve got expensive lanterns, but they have stars above their heads at night. We have the patio, and they have the whole horizon. We have only a small piece of land, while they have the endless fields. We buy food, but they grow it. We have high fence for protection of our property, and they don‘t need it, as their friends protect them.”
The father was stunned. He could not say a word.
Then the boy added: „Thank you, dad, for letting me see how poor we are.”
This story shows that the true wealth as well as happiness is not measured by materials things. Love, friendship and freedom are far more valuable.
This must be how God look at us!
Present of unconditional love
A little girl was decorating a box with a gold wrapping paper to put it under the Christmas tree. Money was tight, so the girl‘s father punished her for wasting almost all roll of that expensive paper.
However, the next morning the girl brought the gift to her father. „This is for you, Daddy” – she said. He opened a box and found it empty, so he became angry again. „Don‘t you know, that when you give someone a gift, it is supposed that there would be something inside it” – he said severely.
The little girl looked at her father with tears in her eyes. „Daddy, this box is not empty, I filled it with my kisses, all for you“.
The father was stunned. He felt so embarrassed that could just put his arms around his little daughter and beg for her forgiveness.
For many years of his life the man kept that golden box near his bed. Wherever he felt sad and downhearted he opened the box and thought of the love that his little child had put into it. He was angry at her but she still loved him anyway. He severely yelled at her, but she still gave him a gift anyway.
Each of us have been given a present of unconditional love from God. It is the most precious possession that anyone could ever had. In the manger, that precious Gift was born and onto the Cross, that precious Gift was hung, but Victory was delivered at His resurrection so you and I can spend eternity with Him.
Roman 5:8 God shows his Love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.
Be a warrior of your dream, a knight of your goal and a soldier of your wishes!
One day a son came to his father for an advice:
– Dad, I can’t do this anymore, – he said, – those lessons only exhaust me, and the result doesn’t change. It must be not destined for me to play football and my dream will never come true.
The father looked at his son with loving eyes and said:
– You know son, every person in life has a dream, a goal of his life. They are the ones that make us do what we are doing, because it’s what we should do. We have to fight for what we believe in, what we feel. In other case, you will simply brake. Once – and for all.
The easiest way is to quit everything and not go until the end, because the path is difficult and we are not used to inconveniences. We want everything to be easy and at once. But the wishes are fleeting! This is how our dream dies, and the goal becomes unreachable.
Gradually, life becomes a routine without depth and meaning. Then one day, we try to forget and start everything from the beginning, we wait for a new day to make our life different. But new obstacles come in our way, and we stop again. We become full of despair and anger for our own helplessness.
But you only need to remember one thing: never give up, fight, battle. It doesn’t matter that you have lost one battle and even dozens of battles. Life goes on! Your biggest enemies are hiding in you – laziness, fear, doubt, indecision. Be a warrior of your dream, a knight of your goal and a soldier of your wishes!
Let Go of the Past
Once there was a free bird. She floated in the sky, catching midges for lunch, swam in the summer rain trickles, and was like many other birds.
But she had a habit: every time some event occurred in her life, whether good or bad, the bird picked up a stone from the ground. Every day she sorted out her stones, laughed remembering joyful events, and cried remembering the sad ones.
A bird always took the stones with her, whether she was flying in the sky or walking on the earth, she never forgot about them. The years have passed, and free bird got a lot of stones, but she still kept on sorting them, remembering the past. It was becoming more and more difficult to fly, and one day a bird was unable to do this.
The bird that was free some time ago, could not walk on the earth, she was unable to make a move by her own. She could not catch midges anymore; only rare rain gave her the necessary moisture. But a bird bravely endured all the hardships, guarding her precious memories.
After some time a bird died of the starvation and thirst. And only a pitiful bunch of worthless stones reminded of her for a long time.
Story about Characters, anger and hurtful actions
A long time ago there was a boy. He was smart, talented and handsome. However, he was very selfish and his temper was so difficult, that nobody wanted to be friends with him. Often he got angry and said various hurtful things to people around him.
The boy‘s parents very concerned about his bad temper. They considered what they could do and one day the father had an idea. He called his son and gave him a hammer and a bag of nails. The father said: „Every time you get angry, take a nail and drive into that old fence as hard as you can.”
The fence was very tough and the hammer was heavy, nevertheless the boy was so furious that during the very first day he has driven 37 nails.
Day after day, week after week, the number of nails was gradually decreasing. After some time, the boy started to understand that holding his temper is easier than driving nails into the fence.
One day the boy didn‘t need hammer and nails anymore as he learned to hold his temper perfectly. So he came to his father and told about his achievement. „Now every time, when you hold your temper all day long, pull out one nail“.
Much time has passed. At last the boy could be proud of himself as all the nails were gone. When he came to his father and told about this, he offered to come and take a careful look at the fence. „You did a good job, my son, but pay your attention to the holes that left from the nails. The fence will never be the same. The same happens when your say hurtful things to people, as your words leave scars in their hearts like those holes in the fence. Remember, we need to treat everyone with love and respect, because it doesn‘t matter, that you say you are sorry, the scars will not disappear.
Bulls Eyes (Peanuts)
The Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant
the story:
- The first blind man put out his hand and touched the side of the elephant. “How smooth! An elephant is like a wall.”
- The second blind man put out his hand and touched the trunk of the elephant. “How round! An elephant is like a snake.”
- The third blind man put out his hand and touched the tusk of the elephant. “How sharp! An elephant is like a spear.”
- The fourth blind man put out his hand and touched the leg of the elephant. “How tall! An elephant is like a tree.”
- The fifth blind man reached out his hand and touched the ear of the elephant. “How wide! An elephant is like a fan.”
- The sixth blind man put out his hand and touched the tail of the elephant. “How thin! An elephant is like a rope.”
An argument ensued, each blind man thinking his own perception of the elephant was the correct one. The Rajah, awakened by the commotion, called out from the balcony. “The elephant is a big animal,” he said. “Each man touched only one part. You must put all the parts together to find out what an elephant is like.”
Enlightened by the Rajah’s wisdom, the blind men reached agreement. “Each one of us knows only a part. To find out the whole truth we must put all the parts together.”
Open Book Test
When I moved here from Tonga, I was then in High School. I was in the 11th. grade but did not entered school until I was in the 12th. grade just because of timing. We go here in May, and the school year was all but over. One of the most surprising things that I encountered in school was “open book test” on one of my classes. I did not know what to make out of this when the teacher announced that the test tomorrow was an open book test. So I asked one of the students, he said, just know where to look at in your text book. So I got home and marked up everything that I thought it was important.
Life is an open book, you just got to know where to look.
Elephant tied to a chair
Young man was at the Circus and he just happen to pass by where they kept the Elephants; he noticed that the elephant is tied with a rope onto a chair. This is a 1200 LBS elephant that is tied onto a chair. He thought, this is very dangerous as the elephant, with no effort, can easily pull on the rope and get away and it could be very dangerous to the crowd. As he was wondering this, one of the trainers pass by, so the young man asked, “trainer, isn’t it dangerous to just ties the elephant with a skinny rope to a simple chair? He can easily get away?” The trainer explained: see young man, when this elephant was just a baby, he was tied with the same rope to the same chair. Back then, he could not get away. So the elephants have been mentally trained and conditioned that they could not get away.
Oftentimes we are tied to a certain condition and mentally enslaved to those things. Jesus has liberated us from the chains of our past.
Who Do we see in the mirror?
A particular man had a workout room in his house. The workout room had mirrors all the way around the room and the ceiling. Thus, when you walk into the room, you will see multiple reflection of yourself all around you. He also had a house dog. The house dog had never been in this room. One day this man left on a business trip. He forgot to lock the workout room; hence, the dog made his way into it and door close behind him and he could not get out. Dog saw his multiple reflections on the mirror, and he started to bark and got angry as if the reflections were attacking him. The door was closed, and the dog saw no way out. Thus, all he can do is aggressively attack the images. On the following day, the owner came back home and found the dog died in the workout room.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.“
- Galatians 6:7
A Dog and his Image
A foolish Dog, who carried in his jaw, A juicy bone,
Looked down into a stream, and there he saw Another one, with Juicy bone
Splash! In he plunged into the pond... The image disappeared The meat he had was gone.
Indeed, he nearly drowned, And barely reached the bank.
Moral of the stories: things don’t always are what they seemed. Grass is not always greener on the other side
Choosing Between Heaven and Hell
This young person died early at a young age. He ascended to the pearly gate and St. Peter met him at the Gate. St Pete flip through his list looking for this young man name and could not find it. St. Pete told the young man, “You are here too early, it is not your time yet. Therefore, what I am going to do is not send you back but will give you a choice.” “You will choose where you want to spend eternity at, between Heaven and Hell.” They took the elevator down to Hell and the young man notice all this beautiful people parting and the music going on, everyone is having fun and a good time. The young man eyes revived, “uhhmmm, this is Hell?” so they went back up in the elevator to Heaven and he notice people up there just worshipping and singing.
They went back to the Gate and St. Pete asked: “Well, have you made up your mind?” the young man said well, “looks like folks in Hell was having a whole lot of fun, I want to go there and join the party.” So they took the elevator down, when they got down there, door open, dead heat, terrible odor, awful sound of crying coming out and Satan came to the door to meet the young man, young man asked, “what happen to the party and the beautiful people having fun and good times?” Satan said, “when you first came out, I was campaigning!”
Moral of this story: be careful Satan is campaigning right now, don’t buy in!
Young Boy and the Outhouse
A young boy on his way to school one morning passes the outhouse by the pond behind the house. Suddenly, he gets a wild urge to push the outhouse into the pond, so with a running start he knocks it over and watches it roll a few times then slowly sink under the surface as he runs off towards school. In class that day, they learn about how George Washington cut down the cherry tree, but when confronted about it he told his father the truth and thus did not get a whipping for the deed. So he decides to use this strategy if questioned about the outhouse he pushed into the pond earlier in the day.
As he approaches his house, he sees his father on the porch widdling a big switch. When he gets close enough his father says, "Boy, I'm only gonna ask this one time... what do you know about the outhouse getting pushed into the pond?"
The boy swallows hard and says, "Dad, just as George Washington cut down the cherry tree, but decided to tell the truth, I must admit to you that I pushed the outhouse into the pond."
With that his dad grabs him by the scruff of the neck and begins to give him a good ole country whippin', but the boy cries out, "But dad, George Washington's dad didn't whip him!"
His dad replies, "Yes son, that is true, but George Washington's dad was not IN the cherry tree when he cut it down!"
4 People 3 Parachutes in a Plane
There was a flight that had only four people on it - the pilot, a young boy scout, an elderly pastor and a scholarly looking gentleman. During the flight the pilot came back and said that they were experiencing engine difficulties and that the plane was going to crash. The good news was that they had parachutes, but the bad news was that there were only three.
Explaining that he had to make a full report of the situation to the authorities he quickly slipped on the parachute and jumped.
The scholarly gentleman stood up next and explained that he had studied at Oxford, Harvard, Yale and other such schools and that he was one of the most intelligent persons in the world. He said that the world needed his wisdom and great learning. So he grabbed a parachute and jumped.
The pastor considered his age and the fact that he had lived a full life and told the boy that he should use the last parachute. The boy scout calmly said, "Don't worry, we'll both be okay." The most intelligent person in the world just put on my backpack before he jumped.
Be careful of what you are not telling
The company had a cocktail reception at a restaurant to celebrate their end of the quarter results. They ended the quarter number one in service and profitability. The General manager invited everyone in the office for a dinner and drinks over at Bob’s BBQ. At the end of the function, the GM notice that the receptionist had little too much to drink; the GM offered to driver her home. Everyone obliged and asked the GM; you are the most trustworthy. The GM took her home and dropped her off at her door. The GM went back home, and his wife was waiting because they had had a dinner reservation already made. The Husband decided not to tell the wife as to why he’s running a little late. The wife got in the car, and they left heading to the restaurant. On the way there the husband notices a high-heel shoe peaking out from the bottom of the passenger seat. The Husband distracted the wife making her look out the window, he reached over and grabbed the shoe and threw it out the window. The wife did not see any of this. They got to the restaurant, the wife got out and was looking all over inside the car. She asked her Husband, have you seen my other shoes?
Baltimore Orioles Reggie Jackson and Manager Earl Weaver
In How Life Imitates the World Series, Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson.
Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could not steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign.
He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager.
Later Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn’t given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May "The Big Bopper" know for his hits, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands.
Second, the following batter hadn’t been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it.
The problem was, Jackson saw only his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game.
We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When he sends us a signal, it’s wise to obey, no matter what we may think WE know.
Empty Your Cup
There is a famous proverb about a teacup. Although there are multiple versions, here is my favorite one:
Once upon a time, there was a Old wise man. People traveled from far away to seek his help. In return, he would teach them and show them the way to enlightenment and how to live a successful life.
On this particular day, an educated scholar came to visit the Old Wise Man for advice. “I have come to ask you to teach me about successful life,” the scholar said.
Soon, it became obvious that the Educated scholar was doing most of the talking and was full of his own opinions and knowledge. He interrupted the Old Wise man repeatedly with his own stories and failed to listen to what the master had to say. The master calmly suggested that they should have tea.
So the master poured his guest a cup. The cup was filled, yet he kept pouring until the cup overflowed onto the table, onto the floor, and finally onto the scholar’s robes. The scholar cried “Stop! The cup is full already. Can’t you see?”
“Exactly,” The Old Wise man replied with a smile. “You are like this cup — so full of ideas that nothing more will fit in. Come back to me with an empty cup.”
Another version
Young man went to find the elder wise man of the village, seeking advice
for he is going through some problems. He found the wise man and this
young man was invited into the house. The Elder Wise man asked, do you
want a cup of tea, young man said yes, The Elder Wise man poured the
young man a cup of tea. Although the cup was filled, he continues to pour,
the young man pointed out that the cup is filled, and it is spilling out. The
Elder Wise man said, If you come here Full, I cannot give you any advice.
As we come here this afternoon, we must empty out ourselves and prepare
to take in His Grace & His Love. He cannot pour His love into us, if we a filled
“Empty our cup so that it may be filled; devoid ourselves and gain totality by filling us with Christ.”
Whoever Takes the Son Gets It All
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed, elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.
As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, a season that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer. On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home.
As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.” As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told everyone of his, not to mention his father’s, love of fine art. “I’m an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the son.
Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture over the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task.
True to his word, the painting went well above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy’s life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.
As the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.
The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation!
Unmindful of the story of the man’s only son, but in his honor, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many claim “I have the greatest collection.” The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent.
“Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the good stuff.”
More voices echoed in agreement. “No, we have to sell this one first,” replied the auctioneer. “Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a friend of the old man spoke, “Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.”
“I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice. Gone.” The gavel fell, cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!”
The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what’s going on here!” The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”
Puts things into perspective doesn’t it? Just as those art collectors discovered on that Christmas Day, the message is still the same: the love of a Father, a Father whose greatest joy came from His Son, who went away and gave His life rescuing others. And because of that Father’s love, whoever takes the Son, gets it all.
Build Relationship that last
Recently, I read an article that stated between 1,700 and 1,800 pastors leave their assignments each month, most due to burnout or marital stress. Honestly, I read statistics like this and tend to think they will never affect me, my circle of friends or my sphere of influence. Recently, however, I had a big wake-up call. A friend showed me an old photograph of four couples that I had the privilege of teaching in bible school. As I inquired about each of them, I was saddened to hear that three of the four couples in the photo had divorced. Suddenly, the statistic I mentioned above was no longer just a number, but had affected me in a personal way.
It seems most relationships in our society are not working well. You have most likely heard and know the statistics. I believe one of the greatest issues for believers is that we have defined our relationships on a contractual, or earthly level, but God defines them quite differently. He defines relationships based on covenant. To have “God-kind of results,” we have to re-define our relationships on a “God-kind of level.”
In a contract, we protect our rights and limit our responsibilities. We want all the benefits of a covenant relationship, but expect to live a selfish lifestyle. Especially as Americans, we want to protect our rights. We have been trained to protect our rights. In covenant however, we give up our rights and pick up responsibilities. In a covenant, there should be sacrifice to the point of death to meet the needs of the other person.
Genesis 2:21-25 shows us God’s pattern for marriage. From this passage we can glean three truths that will help us succeed in our relationships. But we must be willing to re-define them to the standard that God set forth.
First, we see that God started the relationship by cutting Adam and taking out a rib from his side. God immediately took their relationship to a covenant level.
Genesis 2:21-25
21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.
22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”
24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
From this passage, we can learn three RIGHTS that we give up when we enter into the covenant relationship of marriage.
First, we give up the right of priority. We can longer be number one or put ourselves first; we have a new number one when we enter into a covenant. A commitment must be made to our spouse that they are now first, above all other people and endeavors. We see in verse 24, God sets forth that a man should even re-prioritize the dearest relationship he has known when he enters into this new covenant relationship. God says a man is to leave his father and mother. The bottom line is, for a covenant relationship to work, you have to give it the place of priority. The same is true with God. He wants to be number one in our lives. He put us first, so He wants us to put Him first (Matthew 6:33).
The problem is we say we believe this principle, but we don’t always demonstrate it. Oftentimes, we give our best to our job or hobby, yet at home we give our spouse what we have left over. Another danger can be child-centered homes. We have to be very careful to keep a proper balance of priorities in the home because of what it communicates to our children. For instance, I always to try to give my wife a significant gift for Christmas in front of our children. I want to demonstrate to our kids that Dina is number one.
Second, we give up the right of ownership. In a covenant relationship, we give our spouse the right to co-own everything in our lives. It is not my stuff that I am generous with; that is a contract. Everything I have (time, money, possessions), my wife also owns. Nothing is exclusive; my wife has equal and free access to all I have. There is no mine or yours — only ours. One thing is certain: selfish people do not do well in covenant relationships! I believe that when a married couple has separate checking accounts, it can be dangerous to the relationship. It can so easily turn into “his money” and “her money.” I recommend separate accounts for administrative purposes only and to be very careful it does not become “his account vs. her account.”
The third right we give up is the right of privacy. Our spouse should have unhindered access to every part of our lives. There can be no secrets in a successful covenant relationship. Genesis 2:25 says, “now the man and the wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.” They were completely exposed; nothing was hidden from the other. In a secure relationship, our life is an open book. Practically, this means, our computers, email or social media accounts shouldn’t have private passwords we hide from our spouse. In the same way, spouses need to be able to openly share their lives, hearts and struggles without fear of retribution.
In a successful covenant relationship not only do we give up rights, but we also pick up responsibilities. The most explicit New Testament passage on marriage is found in Ephesians 5:22-33.
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.
24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.
29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.
30 And we are members of his body.
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
According to this passage, there are three responsibilities that we pick up if we want to have a successful covenant relationship.
First, we must love unconditionally. Let me go so far as to say that if it is conditional, it is not love. In fact, it is easy to love when things are lovely. In contrast, God’s standard for love in a covenant relationship is found in Christ’s love for us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” At some point, we will be faced with this question — will I love when they don’t deserve it? I am so glad God never withholds His love from us, though so undeserving! Even when we are faithless, He is faithful! A contract is conditional, but covenant binds me regardless of the other person’s performance. This is one reason divorce is against the very nature of God — because on their worst day, when our spouse deserves love the least, they actually need it the most. This is a responsibility in covenant as God designed it.
Second, we should honor respectfully. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that lacks honor on every level. I believe God wants us to put honor back in our society and it can start with our marriages. Honor simply means to place value upon. In verse 26 of Genesis 2, it says, husbands are to make their wives holy. Holy does not mean perfect, it means set apart or special. Sadly, we have a generation of young men that do not know how to treat young ladies. I believe the equal rights movement started in this nation largely because women weren’t being treated properly with honor. Although I do not like the spirit of the movement, it is a response to the fact that we have not had the level of honor that God requires in our marriages.
Thirdly, we pick up a responsibility to submit mutually. True submission is not demanded, it is offered. This same principle of submission is what makes our relationship with God a success. He wants to be first place in our hearts and lives. A successful relationship with God is based on the fact that He is not just on our list but He’s at the very top of our list. We give ourselves freely and completely to Him. Not because He demands it, but we offer ourselves in response to His great and immeasurable love.
Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts, the pot said."
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in you!
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life! Or--as I like to think of it -- if it hadn't been for the crackpots in my life, it would have been quite dull.
Success – be careful when bragging on your kids
Four Men were at the Golf course golfing, the first man says that he will pick up the green fees and meet the rest of them at the first hole.
Down at the first hole one man speaks up and say's "My son is so rich and so successful, as a new home builder that he gave a friend a new home for free"
The second man, not to be out done said " My son is a multi-line car dealer he is so rich and so successful that he gave a friend 2 Cadillac's for free"
The third man, said "My son is in the stock market, he is so rich that he supplied a friend of his a whole stock portfolio for free"
The forth man returns from paying the green fee's, and the first man said "We are talking about our boys how's yours doing?"
"Not so well I am afraid, (I have a daughter—she has too many boyfriends) [turns out he's gay and too many boyfriends.] However, s/he must be good, her/his current three boyfriends gave her/him a free house, 2 Cadillac free and a free stock portfolio."
Rolls-Royce Loan
Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls-Royce to a downtown New York City bank and went in to ask for an immediate loan of $5,000.
The loan officer, taken aback, requested collateral and so the man said, "Well then, here are the keys to my Rolls-Royce."
The loan officer promptly had the car driven into the bank's underground parking for safe keeping, and gave him $5,000.
Two weeks later, the man walked through the bank's doors, and asked to settle up his loan and get his car back. "That will be $5,000 in principal, and $15.40 in interest," the loan officer said. The man wrote out a check, got up, and started to walk away.
"Wait sir", the loan officer said, "While you were gone, I found out you're a millionaire. Why in the world would you need to borrow $5,000?"
The man smiled. "Where else could I safely park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40?"
