The Simple Gospel in a Nutshell

If you don’t yet have a personal relationship with the living God, today is the day of salvation. Invite Jesus into your life, give Him your heart and surrender yourself to His will. It will be the best decision you will ever make entire life.

If you believe in God and that He sent His only begotten Son to die for you, (John 3:16), that you may have eternal life, say this simple prayer- “God, I admit I am a sinner and am in need of a Savior. I believe in You Lord and that You sent Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for my sins through the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross. I receive this free gift of salvation and ask you to come into my life and make it new. You said old things have passed away and new things have come. I want this new life in You, Lord. Cleanse my heart, forgive me for my sins, those in the past, present and future. Thank you for saving me. I am now a new creation and ask for your guidance in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen”

If you prayed the prayer of salvation, congratulations! You now have eternal life with Jesus. No longer do you need to fear death, no longer do you have to persevere extreme trials and tribulations alone. God promises you in Hebrews 13:5, “He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God is your advocate now and with God on your side who could possibly be against you?

The Challenge of a Lifetime

In reading my dear friend and fellow writer, Steve Wallace's blogpost today, I was touched and challenged. He speaks on active evangelism, going out and truly being God's hands, feet and voice. Utilizing ministries already set in place, we as God's kids have an army behind us, strategies have proven success rates and tools to easily share the love of Jesus in whatever way or to whatever capacity God offers us. God has ordained and anointed people and programs, ministries and groups for His children to grow but if we only use these devices for our own pleasure, growth or care, what good do they do us in helping the lost, the blind, the broken and shamed?

If our whole hearts are not in evangelizing the lost, what sad, pathetic, useless individuals we become. God's gift to us was His Son Jesus. Jesus' gift to us was His very life. Our gift to them is what we do with our lives.

No more excuses, no more lies, no more ignoring the pain in others eyes. Search deep within, reach out unconditionally, love so much more and do something. Just a week or so before my husband, son and I left Oregon to move to Arizona, my daughter and I had had the opportunity to visit with a homeless man. We invited him to have breakfast with us at McDonald's but upon meeting him there he decided to just take his breakfast and eat outside alone. Buying him food was of little concern, it was just the tool God used to connect our hearts for a brief time. It was relationship that was the needed ingredient here. One in which this man felt unworthy to have with us. I tried to talk him into sitting at a table with us but he refused only saying why would nice ladies like us want to be with a man who's wasted his life? My heart sank for him and broke as he spoke of such hard times as he was growing up that never got better as he aged. I blessed him and said I would pray for him, and to this day I still do.

We may never know the impact or influence our very presence, Jesus' presence, may have on an individual. But we do know God's words will NEVER return void, so if we don't look for the appointments God gives us, so many will remain broken, shamed and hurting. So many lives will remain the same, and so many will die without ever meeting Jesus.

It's not a choice people, it's a calling. And an honorable and mighty one at that. Using ministries already in place empowers you to do the single most simple act in the world, share the gospel with the lost. You are called to share the love of Christ in whatever way God leads you to as He opens doors of hope and opportunities to share. Will you be that link, that connection to Jesus? If not you . . .than who?

Restoration and Wholeness

Today, I am finishing my article for The Christian Journal in Oregon. The topic is Restoration. Contemplating this topic makes me think of how God restores a hundred fold to those whom satan has taken from. What great love is that? Yet, how much of our time do we really give the Lord? When do we stop to hear His voice? Why is it we are often too busy to slow down for Him? What must we change today that will lead us closer to Him; closer to the One Who misses His time with us? What will it take? Will it take our losing those we love, things we have worked for, friendships we have cultivated or our own self dignity?

The definition of restoration is the act of restoring or state of being restored, as to a former or original condition, place, etc.; the replacement or giving back of something lost, stolen.

Have you experienced being stolen from, ripped off, been deceived or lied to? Then you know the importance of being restored. Health can be restored, relationships healed, items returned and our character brought to light in the presence of God. Restoration is as important as is justice and fairness. Restoration is the whole reason God sent His son, Jesus to die for us. We need restored back unto our God. Someone needed to bridge the gap and Jesus chose to take our place in a sin-filled world with consequences beyond our greatest imaginations awaiting us.

We are living in a world where spiritual acceleration is at every corner. Everywhere we turn is evidence that our time on earth is very limited. There is no more time to choose where we want God to have a place in our lives. Jesus is in the business of restoring lives back to Himself, between ourselves and amongst those who are lost and in need of Christ to save them from themselves. John 10:10 tells us that satan came to steal, kill and destroy, while Jesus came to give us life. Jesus is the restorer of our souls whereas satan harms our conditions, removes us from our positions, and steals our material goods and even our joy God blesses us with. What better way to respond than to thank God for being in the business of restoration and to extend grace and mercy when we have been slighted. Being confident God is turning things around for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes is part of being made whole and being restored.

So many of us welcome restoration with open arms; we seek after it like its substance is that of gold, yet how often do we sit in the presence of the One Whom we seek restoration from, and wait, listen and obey when He does speak to us? It's like seeking the gift but forgetting to recognize Whom the giver of that gift is. We can't have it all our way, heaven is not Burger King. We can't make the rules for they were ordained at the beginning of time by the One Who set the game of life in motion. We surely can't control every circumstance of our lives. Our Father in heaven knows what is best and loves us too much to leave us to our own destruction. Restoration and being made whole is achieved by means of a loving father, an unconditionally loving Son, Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Being restored unto a loving relationship with God through Jesus Christ is at the core of every human's deepest need whether known or not.

Restoration is being restored back to an original position or place. It is being given back something that was stolen or lost. Although gaining our original position or being brought to our previous place is what restoration can be about, often it is the journey to restoration that puts less emphasis on what was stolen or lost and more importance on our relationship with our ultimate Restorers, almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. Enter into restoration today and receive the wholeness God has for you.

The Marriage Code Part II

Knowing the marriage code sure makes a world of difference. Bill and Pam Farrel tell us in their book, The Marriage Code, the username for wives is wife and the password is success which gives her access into a workable relationship with her husband. A woman's greatest desire is to connect with her husband emotionally, spiritually and financially. She wants her husband to experience the same emotional fullness she does. I have to agree with Bill and Pam. Come on ladies, think about it. Do we not want our hubbies to feel the same things we feel, understand how we understand and love us like we want to be loved. Let's be honest now. I know I am guilty of this. What happened to the giving part of the relationship? All of a sudden somehow, somewhere, as wives we begin to get caught up in the selfishness of being a spouse and the next thing you know, life is all about us. Not good....

Bill and Pam also say that the username for husband is husband and the password is security. Using these gives husband's access into workable relationships with their wives. His greatest desire is to help his wife succeed at what she wants to do in life. Meeting a wife's security need first in all things. This goes against a man's most basic instincts, but if a husband accomplishes this task, he draws his wife towards him and the relationship becomes relaxed. All simply because of the marriage code that can radically change a marriage.

Knowing issues within our marriage can make a world of difference once we know how to access the marriage codes that provide succession our husband's and security for us wives.


To purchase their book go to: http://www.farrelcommunications.com/

The Marriage Code

My husband and I have been reading The Marriage Code by Bill and Pam Farrel and wanted to share a few things we thought might interest all who are married, and those who might be one day.

Discovering our own secret love languages has imperical value these days. We can find this language through understanding the secret code in marriages. Living in a world that uses codes has its advantages. We have usernames and passwords that get us into our email, facebook, twitter, eBay, blogspot, myspace, craigs list, amazon accounts, why would we not think there might be a code to delve inside the best parts of our relationships? Well there is. Taken right from Bill and Pam's book are a few tidbits to get yo thinking.

* It is obvious when the code is in place because your relationship works well.

* It is just as obvious when the code is not in place because almost everything is out of sync.

* Entering the marriage code into your relationship is a daily exercise. In the same way that you need to enter a username and password into your computer each time you start it up, your love relationship needs an access code every day.

* The marriage code is based on the most common needs that men and women have.


Relationships are not as simplistic as you may have well found out by now. Men and women have different needs at the core of their very beings. These core needs shape how life is approached and how relationships are interacted within. Bill and Pam believe every person has these two core needs within them; the need for security and success. Security being the belief it is safe to be who we are. Success being the belief that our lives are workable.

Read more each day to find out what makes The Marriage Code such a life changing book every married couple should be reading!Whether you have figured out the marriage code in your own relationship or not, this book will give you keen insight to help other married couples. It can also be a valuable tool used in premarital counseling to give engaged couples an edge on their lifetime commitment of marriage.

7 Steps to a Healthy Marriage

Marriage seems to have become a living contract rather than an eternal covenant. It is proven that half of all marriages within the US end in divorce. (AACAP 2004) These statistics are alarming and escalating at incredible rates. What went wrong? What should have gone right? What can be done about it and does anyone still care? Through many years of working in marriage ministry and mentoring couples young and old, I have discovered seven key components to building a healthy marriage that can last a lifetime.

Be Committed
Commitment is the foremost decision to make before you are wed, beginning with, “from this day forward...” It has been proven that couples with a mind set of believing they are marrying “until death do us part” have a fifty percent greater chance of weathering storms that come their way during their marriage than those who marry believing if the relationship becomes too turbulent, divorce is always an option.
Going into marriage with the attitude that you are committed for life with the one you have married, will make a drastic impact on how every conflict is handled therefore reducing the chances of divorce.
When we marry, we are deeply in love, wishing only the best for our spouses and expecting only the best from them. When we dated our spouses, we always put them first, giving 100% of ourselves, our time and our attention. Their needs, wants and desires became ours. We thought alike, laughed over the same things, and enjoyed believing in one another. Every day was new and fresh with the excitement of what it may have held. Selfishness was not in either spouse’s vocabulary, for each one did everything they could to please the other.
After the wedding, it is easy to get comfortable and think about our relationships as being planted firmly and unshakable. All too soon, the other spouse is no longer top priority. Other things come into play, such as a new job, hobby or interest. One spouse slacks off with responsibilities, and the other feels they are carrying more than half the weight in the relationship. If this is you, a check and balance system should be adopted and both spouses need to comply. Giving 100% at all times means there are no gaps. Both spouses are cared for completely. One spouse may have to change jobs and more hours at work are involved. The spouse with the same routine may need to pick up some of the slack of the other for a time. Giving 100% allows there to be an overlap when one spouse cannot give as much as the other for a time. This system allows needs to be met, responsibilities to be covered providing a peaceful home and joyful relationship that can remain even when tides shift and waters are turbulent. If either spouse neglects more than their fair share, burdens are felt by both spouses and patience grows thin between the couple. If the weight of one spouse is carried for too long, the other will crumble while animosity and grudges can form. Just as a jackhammer is destructive in breaking up good soil, so it can be if spouses do not cover one another in hard times and soften the blows of change. Marriages are give and take relationships. There is always giving, but once in a while, one may need to give more than the other for the time being. This sacrifice of giving makes up for slack, holds things together for a time, and maintains balance long enough for the couple to return to their routines or make the necessary adjustments while depositing richly into their reserves once again. This is what helps weather storms that would ordinarily sink a marriage temporarily treading on shaky ground. Giving 100% never sees gaps, always covers for bumps in the road of life and ensures there is always enough to sustain the marriage.

Power of Apology
The simple word, “I’m Sorry”, is quite powerful actually. Saying you’re sorry can be healing and opens the door to restoration. What could take years to overcome when ignored can be forgiven and forgotten in a moment’s time if only a few words are sincerely spoken. When an apology is left unsaid, bitterness can easily grow in the heart leaving little room for love and kindness to emerge.
Simply say you’re sorry and be willing to make the needed changes to prove your sincerity. The event may or may not have been your fault. Either way, whatever touches our spouse touches us as well. If we are to maintain a healthy relationship with those we love, particularly our spouses, sorry should not only roll naturally but immediately off of our tongues. In marriages, a spouse normally does not want to hurt their beloved partner, but desires to help heal and restore them when they have been wronged. Apologizing does not allow buried offenses to harden and corrode the very walls of the heart. Saying sorry cuts through the pain and opens the wound to heal. A soft answer turns away wrath (Prov. 15:1). When you are approached with a gentle, caring apology, it makes it difficult to remain angry and cold to the one offering reconciliation. Saying you’re sorry begins the necessary process of healing and forgiveness. Saying you’re sorry for offenses you’ve committed makes good relationships better and great relationships outstanding.

Agreement
Being in agreement with one another is very important. Without this vital key in a marriage, boiling arguments are inevitable. Disagreements can create conflict, strife and unnecessary anxiety. Stress will literally rot your bones therefore why not prevent excessive stress from getting the best of you by setting some guidelines for agreement right from the beginning?
Important areas to agree on in the relationship are spending limits whether you are together or apart, individual roles of one another in the home, who the main provider will be and how much supplemental income may be needed from the other spouse. Other things to consider agreeing upon early on the marriage are whether to make major purchases individually or not, who is responsible for balancing the checkbook as well as paying bills, whether education will play a role in either spouse’s life after the wedding or how many children to have and when to begin having them. Discipline of the children, life and death decisions involving insurance, retirement funds and inheritance issues, friendships after marriage, television and music influences in the home are all issues that will arise after the wedding. If an agreement has not been made over these issues prior to encountering them, friction can lead to misunderstanding, quarreling and finally dysfunction. Being in agreement with your spouse creates stability in the relationship, happiness in the home and peace within the soul. Agreeing to disagree on notable topics can make a marriage strong and pliable.

Common Interests
What normally bring two people together are common interests. Where you met, what you were doing and who you were with all have a bearing on whether you want to get to know someone better or not. If the chemistry is not there, chances are you cannot create it later on. Laws of attraction are powerful. As people grow older, changes occur; not just physically but quite often emotionally and socially. It is important to remain involved in some way with some of your spouse’s interests and hobbies. While you both may not have everything in common, enjoying some things together will create harmony and a sense of togetherness into your marriage. When one spouse wants to do something the other does not, often it is a sacrifice of love for the spouse who would rather be fishing than scrapbooking or vice versa to willingly engage in the sometimes dreadful event. Couples still need time alone to enjoy activities apart from their spouses. The blending of two lives in to one does not mean the individual spouse loses them self altogether in their mate. It just means a new life for the both of them takes place and they are joined as one with their own personalities, likes, dislikes and lifestyles blending to complete each other more fully. Taking the time to share in your spouse’s joys and sorrows, fun and sometimes boring events can cause the relationship to grow deeper and closer than ever before.

Forgiving Forever
This is probably one of the hardest tasks to accomplish in one’s life let alone in a marriage. Forgiveness breaks through barriers, speaks in a multitude of languages and is an extremely important factor in a marriage.
Whether you’ve been wronged through an offense on purpose or accidentally, offenses hurt and sometimes they cut to the deepest core of your inner being. Time does heal, but often, time is not enough. Forgiveness does not condone an offense; it only wipes it away, puts it in the past and keeps it there. This is what makes forgiveness such a vital component in a marriage. While married, there will be offenses dealt as well as unfortunate misunderstandings that can lead to feelings of deep pain and trust being tested. Without forgiveness, offenses can be held in the heart, dangled over heads, and used as a weapon against the other spouse causing further complications. Forgiveness paves the way for healing and restoration. Without this essential ingredient, it is just a matter of time before the marriage becomes too burdened down by past offenses that prevent spouses from living in the present or hoping for a future together. Eventually the relationship may dissolve and each spouse goes their own way. Forgiveness is tough usually needs a supernatural element from God to ensure it is final. Both spouses must be willing to seek forgiveness at any cost. Just as love can last a lifetime, forgiveness needs to be forever with no looking back, bringing up old offenses, or holding grudges.
Throughout marriage there can be many reasons forgiveness will be needed. Broken trust is a common occurrence in most marriages. When forgiveness is genuinely offered and accepted, and wayward actions confessed and turned from, the marriage can become stronger and spouses can become closer than they had been before trust was broken between them. Forgiveness is refreshing and may not always be deserved but is truly a treasured gift shared within the marriage.

Communication
Communication is transmission of information and can make or break a marriage. Spouses hold their own opinions to things, have fresh ideas, can encourage, strengthen, comfort, provide insightful thoughts, as well as share deep issues of their hearts. Good communication promotes a healthy marriage in which the couple can grow and succeed in their relationship. Bad communication can rip apart the bond between husband and wife leaving both spouses feeling empty and looking for an escape route.
Many things can break down communication in a marriage such as lack of good listening skills, unclear messages, gender differences and preconceived ideas. Good listening skills are of utmost importance requiring and include eye to eye contact, feedback (asking if what the listener heard was what the speaker was actually saying), timing of the chosen topic to communicate is considered, transparency on the part of both speaker and listener, careful thought in the way the subject matter is presented as well as gesturing by a nod or similar action you are hearing what the speaker is saying. With these steps in mind, decisions can be made harmoniously and conflicts resolved immediately. Issues of major concern might be how many children you want and when to begin having them, where you will live and what careers you both want to purse with each other’s blessing and support, a decision involving the health of a spouse, a change in employment or if an in law should move in, require communication that is both clear and concise. When poor communication takes place there are misunderstandings and fault seeking which commonly leads to blame-shifting. Frustration and high anxiety as well as a distance between the couple that develops and further bridges the gap over time naturally occurs. Communication is like the glue that provides a solid binding material to permanently support indifferences and accomplishments within a marriage. Just as glue hardens and becomes inseparable, so it should be with the covenants made within a marriage.

Being Thankful
Last, but not least, is thankfulness. Gratitude goes far and is remembered long after it is offered. There are so many things in life to be thankful for, and our spouse should be at the top of the list. When we are thankful, it gives us a sense of appreciation we can get from nothing else in life. Through good times and in bad, thankfulness for having met our spouse and committing our lives to them through marriage deepens the relationship.
Think of the times you were thankful and those you were not. Times of thankfulness were far more fulfilling than those times we sulked in our self-pity. Why not choose to be thankful rather than ungrateful? Being thankful humbles and reminds us to look around and be content with such things that we have (Phil. 4:11). Making thankfulness a high priority in our lives not only makes us feel good, but it also makes our spouse feel appreciated which in turn reaps a harvest of gratitude in return. This concept is a wonderful, endless cycle to get caught up in. It seems when we are not thankful, everything in life looks bitter. Skies are darker, flowers lose their scents, people irritate us more and life just seems depressing. Thankfulness in a marriage makes life sweeter and the rewards are bountiful.

Seven Steps to a Healthy Marriage was written with all marriages in mind. Maybe you are newlyweds just setting out on this great adventure with the one you love. Or possibly you are celebrating your twenty-fifth anniversary and want to make changes that would allow you to grow closer to the one you have spent so much of your life with. Perhaps you have less time with your spouse ahead of you than what is left behind you and the richness in your relationship has been thinned to immeasurable amounts. The success of your marriage relies heavily upon the weight of its benefactors. Marriage is not only sacred but is a covenant between you, your spouse and God; the original designer of marriage. If when committing to marriage you are vowing to truly remain married in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, ‘til death do you part - than the health of your marriage is just a matter of exercising these profound steps that will ensure the best chance possible of a rich and loving life together.