If our mission from Christ is to “seek first the kingdom of God,” how can a successful, God-honoring marriage not be marked by mission? We’re not told to seek first an intimate marriage, a happy life, obedient children, or anything else. Jesus tells us to seek first one thing, and one thing only: His kingdom and His righteousness (the two words define and build on each other, creating one common pursuit). A successful marriage is not only supported by a kingdom pursuit, but in many ways the pursuit is a prerequisite for post-infatuation intimacy.
Life without this aim, and marriage without this purpose, is going to lose a lot of its luster. “We hunger for this today: cooperating together, meshing, working like a mountain climbing team, ascending the peak of our dream, and then holding each other at the end of the day. God has planted this hunger deep within every married couple. It’s more than a hunger for companionship. It’s more than a hunger to create new life. It’s a third hunger, a hunger to do something significant together. According to God’s Word, we were joined to make a difference. We were married for a mission.”
Being “married for a mission” can revitalize a lot of marriages in which the partners think they suffer from a lack of compatibility; my suspicion is that many of these couples actually suffer from a lack of purpose. Jesus’s words given to individuals in Matthew 6:33 are perhaps even truer in marriage. When we give away our life, we find it. When we focus outside our marriage, we end up strengthening our marriage.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6: 19-21
* Is your marriage one with mission? How can you and your spouse more fully live a life of mission as a couple?
* Ref: The Bible & Breath Spiritual Passion into your Marriage
If your marriage and family feel like a joke or as if they’re bordering on chaos, it’s not anything that God hasn’t seen or isn’t capable of redeeming. So much of Christian teaching today is about us developing “our” gifts, improving “our” talents, reaching “our” potential, yet so much of Jesus’s teaching and modeling is about surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit. Let’s allow marriage to teach us to trust this Holy Spirit. He’s proven Himself. If we truly want to transform our marriages, we must learn the glory of divine dependence.
God will never call us to do something without giving us everything that is necessary in order for us to finish the task. It may not be all that we think we need, but it will be all that we do need. This is not to say the job will feel easy. But God promises through Isaiah, “He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power” (Isa. 40:29 NASB).
Don’t pass over this thought, because it’s crucial: Isaiah 40:29 assumes that God will call us to various tasks for which we lack enough power on our own.
The “secret,” then, to a truly sacred marriage is actually a person, God’s promised Holy Spirit. Because God is such a relational God (meeting our need for salvation by sending His Son), it shouldn’t surprise us that He meets our need for transformation by also sending Himself in the person of His Holy Spirit.
Since marriage is one of the most profound acts of worship any two believers can ever share, it is impossible to be married in a sacred manner without the Holy Spirit being active in our lives, helping us to understand what it means to love, giving us the power to love, convicting us when we fail to love, renewing our hearts when we grow weary in love, and pouring out hope when we grow discouraged in love.
The Lord gives strength
to those who are weary. Isaiah 40:29
But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” Acts 1:8
* Do you lean on the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and your marriage? What is a specific situation where you lacked ability, but were strengthened by the Holy Spirit?
____The Bible & Breathe Spiritual Passion into Your Marriage.
No Gear – All you need is a sturdy pair of sneakers of comfortable shoes to sneak in short bouts all day long.
Healthy Heart – Walking is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, according to a study of 49,000 participants at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA.
Happy Days – A walking workout can boost your mood. a study from the University of innsbruck in Austria found that 20 minutes of brisk walking had positive effects on mood and psychological well-being. The study subjects had type 2 diabetes, but researchers believe the results would translate to those without diabetes as well.
Best For – exercise newbies or those who are considerably overweight, says Fabio Comana, Ms, director of continuing education for the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Start by walking for 10 minutes four times a week adding five minutes every week. (Check with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen.)
RUNNING REWARDS
Extra Time – No secret here: You can burn the same number of calories in half the time as walking.
Less Hunger – Running may suppress your appetite, says preliminary research from the University of Wyoming. After completing 60 minutes of walking or running, participants were invited to a buffet. the runners ate less due to an increase in an appetite-regulating hormone, due to an increase in an appetite-regulating hormone while the walkers had a bigger appetite, though more research is needed to confirm these early findings.
More Smiles – A “runner’s high” has been chocked up to and endorphin release; a 2008 German study found that running has an opioid – like effect in the brain.
Best For – those with no heart or orthopedic issues. However, easing into a running routine is always advisable, easing into running routine is always advisable. Start by alternating four – minute bouts of walking and jogging. Each week, add an additional minute of jogging and decrease walking by one minute until you’re running from start to finish.
I guess I can start by saying there was a point in my life when I was considered ” skinny” I was about 17 and weighed about 135lbs was a size 2-3 I didn’t have any kids, and wasn’t married yet. when I turned 18 I had my first Boy, Got married and started to gain weight. I had my other 2 boys right after the other didn’t give my body enough time to heal between pregnancy, but I don’t count that as an excuse at all. I do have friends that went through the same situation and have 5 kids and went right back to their regular weight and sizes. So being over weight for me is no excuses. It is lack of motivation, and not having the control of eating right. I mean the right things and at the right time.
Something everyone that are over weight or wants to loose weight needs to do. First step is start eating at the right time, the right amount, and the right choice of foods. The heaviest I’ve been was 225 pounds. By this time I couldn’t even look at my self in the mirror with out hatting my self, crying, asking God for help, having hate, and suicidal thoughts. I wanted to die. I hated my self and my body so much I could even have a sexual relationship that I enjoyed with my husband because I would feel so uncomfortable with him. He never judged me, or called me fat, never told me I needed to loose weight, but I would still have those feelings that he didn’t love me anymore or that he would think of someone else while he was with me. Because I was so fat. It’s a horrible situation to be in and very hurtful.
This Picture I was 31 yrs. old –Size 22 — 225 Pounds
In March of 2013 I was diagnose with the blood clotting disorder of Factor II and one of the main reasons was the fact I was overweight. When they told me I was 225 Pounds and that was one of the reasons I almost died, I knew I had to start doing something. After being in the hospital for about 12 days I came home decided to follow along all the things I knew about diet, but I couldn’t follow the exercise anymore. Right there and then I knew I was going to face a big battle. I could no longer go to the gym because of pain, and I had to wait for my DVT and my PE to completely heal. I could no longer eat any greens and a lot of other stuff I can no longer eat because of my clotting disorder. I became discourage.
Thank God I decided to get right back on track. All of a sudden I started to drop weight out of no where, so I started to help my self and cut down my intake, started to drink more water, stopped drinking soda all together , no Diet, No zero , no soda at all. Started drinking my protein shake from Arbonne.com 2x a day some days I only do it 1x its delicious and I add fresh fruits to it.
I make mine with
1 scoop of protein shake, 1 cup of silk vanilla almond milk, 3 strawberries
It’s the best. Makes me full for 4 hours. If you visit the website they have other stuff there like the detox tea, fruit bars… etc. I only like the shake, plus it’s the only thing I’m aloud to have according to my blood disorder even though it’s all vegan and natural.
My results so far have been pretty good…. I don’t go to the gym. All I do is try my best to eat small portions of all the things I like to eat. I don’t cut anything from my diet besides Soda.
because I believe if I do I will end up eating it later in time and gaining the weight all back. So, I’m losing weight very slowly but healthy and I’m not starving myself. 🙂 Bottom photo is most recent from March 13, 2015, still need to lose 50 pounds
Anyone out there doing any diet? workout? That’s working? Care to share?
I would Love to know what you guys are doing 🙂
Little boy, six years old A little too used to being alone Another new mom and dad Another school, another house that will never be home When people ask him how he likes this place He looks up and says with a smile upon his face.
This is my temporary home, It’s not where I belong Windows and rooms that I’m passing through This is just a stop on the way to where I’m going I’m not afraid because I know This is my temporary home.
Young mom, on her own She needs a little help, got nowhere to go She’s looking for a job, looking for a way out ‘Cause a halfway house will never be a home At night she whispers to her baby girl “Someday we’ll find our place here in this world”
This is our temporary home, It’s not where we belong Windows and rooms that we’re passing through This is just a stop on the way to where we’re going I’m not afraid because I know This is our temporary home
Old man, hospital bed The room is filled with people he loves And he whispers “Don’t cry for me, I’ll see you all someday” He looks up and says ” I can see God’s face”
this is my temporary home, it’s not where I belong Windows and rooms that I’m passing through This was just a stop on the way to where I’m going I’m not afraid because I know This was my temporary home.
Suicide among young people is on the rise. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is now the third leading cause of death for youth between ages 10 and 24. Some states even report it as the leading cause of death in this age group. “It results in approximately 4,600 lives lost each year. The top three methods used in suicides of young people include firearm (45%), suffocation (40%), and poisoning (8%). ” Deaths resulting from suicide are only part of the problem. The CDC states, “More young people survive suicide attempts than actually die. A nationwide survey of youth in grades 9–12 in public and private schools in the United States found that 16 percent of students reported seriously considering suicide, 13 percent reported creating a plan, and 8 percent reported trying to take their own life in the 12 months preceding the survey.”
It’s obvious that suicide is becoming a serious problem with our youth.
The telltale signs
There are usually warning signsthat let you know when your teen is struggling emotionally — the kinds of struggles that lead to suicidal thoughts.
Depression. This is not simply a child having a bad day and feeling down. All children have those from time to time. This is about a child feeling depressed day after day — a feeling of hopelessness. You can’t seem to cheer him or her up.
Other suicides. When a fellow student commits suicide, it puts the thought into the minds of others.
Too much stress. Kids are under a lot of pressure in school and far too many pressures at home.
Involved in drug and alcohol abuse. When these abusive behaviors are present, likelihood of suicide increases.
Bullied at school or on social media. We hear continually about bullied kids being so hurt and ashamed that they finally can’t deal with the hurt anymore.
When these factors are involved, it doesn’t mean your child will commit suicide. It just means you need to pay attention, improve your relationship with your child or consider getting some professional help.
What parents can do
These reports are daunting, and parents may wonder what is to be done to stem this tide. No parent wants his child to die — and most certainly not by suicide. Here’s the good news. There are specific ways parents play a vital role in helping prevent their children from committing or attempting suicide. The following are the most powerful things a parent can do.
Create a strong family environment
This is done several different ways:
Eat meals together as a family at least five times a week. This creates a safe place where family members can talk about what’s going on in their lives, laugh and share their concerns.
Play together. Do fun things. Board games, ball games, bowling, picnics, camping — anything fun and wholesome that brings the family together.
Visit relatives. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins bring a great deal of support and love into a child’s life. Make this happen for your family.
It’s reassuring to know that parents, siblings and loved ones care about you. This happens from continual association with each other in the home — in a congenial atmosphere. This doesn’t mean there won’t be arguing at times. That’s normal. It just means you keep the family activities going, regardless. Remember to tell your kids you love them. That matters. They need to hear it often.
Attend religious services
In a recent article, Greg Hudnall, a suicide prevention trainer, says of the youth, “[R]eligion helps them feel a connectedness, and that connectedness is very powerful.” This same article reports that “the students who reported high levels of religious participation — attending services one time per week or more — were half as likely to have contemplated suicide.”
Hudnall goes on to say, “One thing parents and religious communities can do is help youths deal with disappointment, psychological stress and failure.”
Keep a close eye on your child’s behavior and demeanor. To prevent suicidal thoughts, be diligent in involving your child in family activities and religious experiences. These two traditions have proven to be highly effective in curtailing suicide. If suicidal signs persist, seek professional help. It’s a fact that some suicides will happen even if parents do all they can to be there for their children. When this happens, parents who know they did what they could to save their children can, at least, find a measure of peace.
Together, Gary and Joy Lundberg author books on relationships. For more from the Lundbergs on improving communication, see “I Don’t Have to Make Everything All Better.”
Now this article called my attention. Not only because I’ve been suffering from the depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms and having a difficult time these past couple of years of my life more than others. But because I read in a group yesterday, on a board a mother crying out for help because her daughter is a cutter. The daughter just told her about it and she didn’t know what to do. Her husband didn’t understand and wanted to keep quiet about it just between them. (Normal .. Some people are embarrassed ) not something easy to deal with specially if your family is a family that a lot of people look at as a good, healthy family. For an example; My husband is a Pastor and I’m the messed up wife lol. Is how I see it (OOops Joke about it ). Am I embarrassed? I was at the beginning for a long time, but not anymore. and you might ask me. Why not anymore? Well, I’m the one that needs the help, and I’m the one that knows if I don’t get it, or look for the help now things can get worse and than what? Will being embarrassed help me than? So that’s what I did. Regardless of what people might think or will think of me or my family I’m getting the help I need. I don’t care what others think of me or my family. I’m doing this for us. Not for them. So I think it’s very important for You as parents to talk to your kids and be aware of whats going on with them and not just your kids but your spouse as well. Give them the help they need. Trust me as I say this. If your TEEN comes to you and tells you ” Mom or Dad I’m a cutter I need help.” They NEED help, and YOU will NOT be able to provide that HELP they are seeking unless you have the structure to do it all alone and most of us don’t. GET PROFESSIONAL HELP. If you could provide that help they wouldn’t be doing what they are doing in the first place. They would just come and talk to you and solve the problem. They cut to feel relieve, to release the pain, to feel alive. Depression is not something you can wake up one day and say ” Oh it’s all gone. ” Please use the helpful links and seek help.
He will be 17 on Friday, got his first Car, and is ready to drive and MOM is so scared oh boy. This is not what I had in mind when I started having kids LOL… Love my boys to death ❤ 🙂
This is his car gift from Grandma 🙂
The most precious gift in my life are My children and my husband Loving them is all I’ve got 🙂 I know that no matter what tomorrow brings I will always be able to have a smile and be thankful for all I had, have, and will have because God gave it to me.
Thinking Out Cloud 