Hello friends,
I write to you all today with such a heavy heart. When you work in the ministry, you tend to see the best and worst of the spiritual battles that each person faces daily. You become well aware of the struggles that the human race faces when living the daily grind of life. I got to see one of the most intense spiritual battles unfold before me last week. I went to visit one of my coaches who is also a dear friend. We have had numerous "God Talks" about what He was doing in each of our lives. This time was different-and not a good different. She preceded to tell me that she had been in a relationship for 11 years with a married man and his divorce was final now, and they were going to try to make it work with them now. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. She was very emotional and the conflict on her was just so intense. I walked out after our 2 hour conversation, sat in my car, and just cried. I called my husband and just poured out my heart broken over hers.
This may sound crazy, but my husband and I have been praying for over 18 months about God's plans for the Roberts' family. We just have this overwhelming feeling that God is preparing our family for something. I asked God that day in my quiet time to show me a glimpse of the the calling He had on my life and 3 hours later I was crying out to him with such a burden for all marriages. I felt like Isaiah when God was roaming the earth, and Isaiah overheard God say, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" I overheard God's calling to intercede on behalf of all marriages. I prayed for an hour for every marriage I could think of-including yours! There is no greater relationship, outside of your relationship with God, than your relationship with your husband. If God gives me the opportunity to go out and speak on the subject I would consider it an answer to the question I heard on that day-"Whom shall I send?"
Praying for your marriage and mine!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Love-Hate relationship
Hey Girls!
I have listened to people tell me their stories over the past 6 months and although they have different characters in their stories, the context of the stories are the same. People love them one day and dislike them the next. Some people have no idea where these changed feeling are coming from and some know exactly where these feeling harvest. Nobody knows these type of relationships more than coaches and their families. It is because of these relationships that Coaches build walls all around them and only the horns of Joshua could break them down. It can be anything from playing time to not having as good as season as last year. Whatever it is-it causes loneliness for the coach, the wife, and the kids. So, what do we do?
I was doing my quiet time and guess what I read? Jesus went through the exact same love hate relationship with his followers. In Matthew 21 you can read of his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As He was riding his donkey, people were shouting words of praise, "Hosanna, to the son David. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest." What amazing words of praise and acclimation and only days later would be beaten and crucified by these same people. You hear Peter says things to Jesus like, "Even if I have to die with you. I will never disown you." And as we all know, Peter not only denied him, but did it 3 times. Ouch!
If we want to know what to do when people love us and then hate us, we have to look at the example of Jesus. Jesus said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do." He says we must pray for those who persecute us. He says if someone strikes one cheek, turn them the other.
Are you kidding? Maybe its just me, but it is so much easier to be bitter, bicker, and gripe. After all, they are the ones with the problem-not you. Yes, and these are very human things to think and feel. So how do we follow Jesus' example? We have to remember that although we are human, as Christ-followers we also have the same spirit within us that Jesus had in Him. We can do it because of Christ and Christ alone. Ask Him! He wants to help us become all that He is:) It is our time to be coached by the Head coach!
I have listened to people tell me their stories over the past 6 months and although they have different characters in their stories, the context of the stories are the same. People love them one day and dislike them the next. Some people have no idea where these changed feeling are coming from and some know exactly where these feeling harvest. Nobody knows these type of relationships more than coaches and their families. It is because of these relationships that Coaches build walls all around them and only the horns of Joshua could break them down. It can be anything from playing time to not having as good as season as last year. Whatever it is-it causes loneliness for the coach, the wife, and the kids. So, what do we do?
I was doing my quiet time and guess what I read? Jesus went through the exact same love hate relationship with his followers. In Matthew 21 you can read of his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As He was riding his donkey, people were shouting words of praise, "Hosanna, to the son David. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest." What amazing words of praise and acclimation and only days later would be beaten and crucified by these same people. You hear Peter says things to Jesus like, "Even if I have to die with you. I will never disown you." And as we all know, Peter not only denied him, but did it 3 times. Ouch!
If we want to know what to do when people love us and then hate us, we have to look at the example of Jesus. Jesus said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do." He says we must pray for those who persecute us. He says if someone strikes one cheek, turn them the other.
Are you kidding? Maybe its just me, but it is so much easier to be bitter, bicker, and gripe. After all, they are the ones with the problem-not you. Yes, and these are very human things to think and feel. So how do we follow Jesus' example? We have to remember that although we are human, as Christ-followers we also have the same spirit within us that Jesus had in Him. We can do it because of Christ and Christ alone. Ask Him! He wants to help us become all that He is:) It is our time to be coached by the Head coach!
Monday, February 2, 2009
A world without God
Hello Friends!
I started my day on a somewhat difficult note today. On my way to work, I stopped by the Hospital to see and pray with my husband's cousin and her husband. He was preparing for surgery to amputate his leg because of cancer. At the age of 30! When I got there the families were waiting in the waiting room-2 going in to see them at a time. I wasn't there 2 minutes when a family member came out and said, "Is there a Sarah here yet? They would like to see her next." Feeling bad that I kinda jumped in line, I walked back there. As I pulled aside the curtain, I saw 2 very frightened indivduals and realized they didn't want to see me, they wanted to feel God right now through my prayer.
I know we all know someone going through such times as these and it may be you! You are asking God questions or just seeking his answers. That was me today! I simply wanted to be reminded of what I had just reminded this young couple: God is real and he is here! I was doing my devotion today and this is what I read:
Think for a moment about this question: What if God weren't here on earth? You think people
can be cruel now, imagine us without the presence of God. You think we are brutal to each
other now, imagine a world without the Holy Spirit. You think there is loneliness and despair
and guilt now, imagine a life without the touch of Jesus. No forgiveness. No hope. No acts of kindness.
No words of love. No more food given in his name. No more songs sung to his praise. No more
deeds done in his honor. If God took away his angels, his grace, his promise of eternity, and his
servants, what would the world be like?
In one word, Hell.
I read this devotion and my questions were answered with one simple word:YES! This couple ,because of Jesus, can have hope! This couple, because of Jesus, can have peace! This couple, because of Jesus, can feel compassion!
And because of Jesus, so can you and I! Woo Hoo!
PS. Baby Update- I am now almost 6 months and feel like I am 9 months. Baby boy is doing awesome and extremely active! Praise the Lord!
I started my day on a somewhat difficult note today. On my way to work, I stopped by the Hospital to see and pray with my husband's cousin and her husband. He was preparing for surgery to amputate his leg because of cancer. At the age of 30! When I got there the families were waiting in the waiting room-2 going in to see them at a time. I wasn't there 2 minutes when a family member came out and said, "Is there a Sarah here yet? They would like to see her next." Feeling bad that I kinda jumped in line, I walked back there. As I pulled aside the curtain, I saw 2 very frightened indivduals and realized they didn't want to see me, they wanted to feel God right now through my prayer.
I know we all know someone going through such times as these and it may be you! You are asking God questions or just seeking his answers. That was me today! I simply wanted to be reminded of what I had just reminded this young couple: God is real and he is here! I was doing my devotion today and this is what I read:
Think for a moment about this question: What if God weren't here on earth? You think people
can be cruel now, imagine us without the presence of God. You think we are brutal to each
other now, imagine a world without the Holy Spirit. You think there is loneliness and despair
and guilt now, imagine a life without the touch of Jesus. No forgiveness. No hope. No acts of kindness.
No words of love. No more food given in his name. No more songs sung to his praise. No more
deeds done in his honor. If God took away his angels, his grace, his promise of eternity, and his
servants, what would the world be like?
In one word, Hell.
I read this devotion and my questions were answered with one simple word:YES! This couple ,because of Jesus, can have hope! This couple, because of Jesus, can have peace! This couple, because of Jesus, can feel compassion!
And because of Jesus, so can you and I! Woo Hoo!
PS. Baby Update- I am now almost 6 months and feel like I am 9 months. Baby boy is doing awesome and extremely active! Praise the Lord!
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