Friday, May 27, 2011

A Diamond With Destiny!!

The world-renowned Hope Diamond has not always been revered like it is today!
After traveling from the depths of the earth, it was downsized by more than half its original size, stolen under cover of night during the French Revolution, and thought to be cursed. It has been hocked, sold as costume jewelry, worn by a Great Dane, and played with by soldiers in games of catch!
Finally, when being donated to the Smithsonian, it was mailed in a brown paper bag through the US Postal Service!!!  
But now!!!  This rarest of jewels sits on a pedestal behind bullet proof glass while 7 million people from all over the world flock to admire it each year!
Have you ever felt like the Hope Diamond? Used and abused, betrayed and abandoned, belittled and disrespected? 
There is HOPE!!!
If you place your trust in Jesus Christ, there will be a day when He will take His nail-scarred hand and tenderly wipe every tear from your eye! No more death! No more sorrow! There will be peace and joy forevermore in Paradise!
God sees you as the treasure you are! You are the apple of God’s eye!  Even when you are chased by those who seek your life, you are safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in His treasure pouch! 1 Sam. 25:29 NLT
Wow!! I can’t think of a greater place of honor! In God Almighty’s treasure pouch! Not a more safe, more secure place in this world!!!!
If you believe in your heart Jesus is Lord and confess with your mouth Christ has been raised from the dead, you will be saved! Romans 10:9

Friday, May 20, 2011

Can We Love God and Detest Our Husband?

My heart is so heavy with the way we as Christian women treat our husbands. We are so madly and passionately in love with the Lord and yet we treat the one we chose to be in covenant with, our husband, like he is repulsive to us and cannot possibly get the depths of our spirituality.
 
I have heard so many women say that their husbands are jealous of their relationship with Christ. Their husbands almost feel as though they are having an affair with God. So many women I know do not see a problem with leaving their children and husband on a continual basis to go and “worship Jesus”…long weekends on retreats and constantly “serving the Lord” at church events.
 
If we are genuinely loving and serving the Lord, we will be genuinely loving and serving our husbands! The Bible is so clear on this point.

What husband would be jealous of his wife’s relationship with Christ if as a byproduct she had respect for him (Eph 5:33), was patient with him, kind to him, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, kept no record of wrongs, always protected him, trusted him, hoped and persevered with him (1 Cor. 13).  What husband would mind a hot lover, one who never denied him and enjoyed him thoroughly (1 Cor. 3-5)!!
 
If we know God’s Word we cannot say, “I adore Christ and can’t stand my husband.” For the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20).
 
While my daughter, Leah, waits for her heart’s desire to have a baby, she is learning the most important lesson of her life!
 
As she lovingly submits to her husband and waits to start a family, she is learning to submit and wait on God. As she treats her earthly husband with a kind and respectful spirit, she is learning to treat her spiritual Husband the same way.  We cannot truly be loving one, without loving the other.  
 
The way we act in the physical realm transcends into the spiritual realm.
 
The Lord gave me a picture of Leah loving, respecting, honoring and submitting to Curtis’ authority with such a smile of adoration on her face. Behind Curtis, I could see Jesus with the same expression of love on His face but towards Leah. He felt so honored that Leah was walking in obedience to Him. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when they see the love you have for each other (John 13:35).
 
We cannot say that we are passionately in love with Christ and submitting to His authority if we are not submitting to our husband’s authority…whether or not they are walking with the Lord!  In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives (1 Peter 3:1).
 
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46)
 
Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than the sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).
 
So rather than serving the Lord in the way that seems right, let’s start serving Him the way He asks us to.  Train younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands (Titus 2:4&5).
 
This has to be taught and passed on!! It doesn't come naturally. It is hard and takes divine strength to accomplish!
 
Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time (Galatians 6:9).