THE SEX TALK FOR TEENS

Today I am honored to speak to a group of women on how to have "the talk" with their children about SEX!
This is a current flow of conversation in the BAXTER home. Brittni is beautiful and 11 and Benjamin is handsome and Bold at 14.
 Its very important for our family to constantly be talking about this subject with a reminder and emphasis on the BAXTER'S core values. Enjoy the resources shared and may it be a blessing to your family. I have also included an example of the dating contracts we have put together. The contracts change with age and trust. Again this is just something we do and like because we know the world is a tough place for kids these days.

This material will provide you with wisdom and allow you to be an experienced guide, identifying warning signs or "SPARKS" that start forest fires!

SPARKS always lead to physical passion, the goal today is to give parents free wisdom to formulate GODLY standards for guy/girl relationships that will guide them in the future.

On a personal note, I could have really used these boundaries growing up, I will honestly say they would have helped!

The lesson I am about to share is the lesson we do once a year, then the dating contract is signed.
YOU BET, we do signed contracts in our home.
I am a firm believer in putting core values and expectations on paper and agreeing together as a family.

SPARKS can grow and will turn into forest fires that could damage you and others.
 I have a few close friends that I love to pieces that have been affected by young teen pregnancies. A spark 
 that lead to a big forest fire. These families handled a very hard situation with grace, mercy, love and
 wisdom.

YES fires do happen to what I consider the "best" of families.

I spent time with some of these moms during the initial FIRE and it was very hot and overwhelming for the whole family. The tears, sweat and pain are very real.

In our family this will be the Third year using this material.
My son and daughter both have had the initial devotion or should I say (The serious sex talk from smokey bear) and then signed a contract.
I have a copy of the contract copied and placed into a file. We update this contract yearly and when they mature,  more freedom is permitted. If they break the contract things are removed from their lives. It has been working WONDERFULLY...SO FAR! 
Respectful children that choose to honor God is our goal.

Speaking of goals... as a family we desire to enforce Godly standards to control unwanted behavior in a clear and effective way.

 Our contract communicates and provides clear boundaries. It clearly outlines unwanted behavior and family values while keeping tension and arguments to a minimum. Our ultimate goal is to bring God glory thru our lives. When we sign a contract we agree upon in UNITY what has been communicated.
 I can only hope that this helps us keep running smoothly with our aim to bring God the Glory.
Remember our children will begin to make choices and our effective communication may help them in the future.

Listed below you will find a lesson and then our contract. I pray this will help you in the ever present dilemma of TEEN DATING and even MIDDLE SCHOOL drama!

FOREST FIRE LESSON:

1. What is Smokey Bears slogan?
“Only YOU can prevent forest fires”

This is the same with sparks in guy/girl relationships. These sparks can grow and turn into fires that damage you and others. It will be your responsibility to NOT light   the sparks that can start forest fires in your relationships.

2. When a match is lit to a piece of paper, does it remain a spark?
   (NO, it becomes a flame)

3. What happens when a piece of firewood is soaked in gasoline and touched with a burning piece 
    of paper?  It would not get smaller and go out. It would catch the wood on fire and become a Bigger fire.

4. What would happen if you took the burning log outside to an area of dry grass, leaves Or twigs?     
    A forest fire.

GUY/GIRL RELATIONSHIPS

GOAL: To help our children formulate GODLY standards to
guy/girl relationships that will guide them in the future and at each age and grade level.

MEMORY VERSE: Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love ands peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

FAMILY LESSON: Our children need to understand the connection between sparks that start forest fires and sparks that lead to physical passion that could lead to a forest fire!

Enforcing mature Godly standards to control unwanted behavior in a clear effective way. This is what is
expected, once a contract is signed it is agreed upon in unity by both parties. This will help us all keep running smoothly with our aim to bring God all the Glory~
*Provides structure for the family
*clearly outlines unwanted behavior
*family values
*reduce tension and arguments
*bring God glory thru our lives

I respect that my parents LOVE me and want to keep me safe and on TRACK with Gods plan for my life.
With this in mind, we all agree together on:

 CONTRACT/ A BINDING AGREEMENT

1. This contract keeps our communication flowing about our family values on dating, relationships and 
    physical contact.   DEFINE YOUR FAMILY VALUES BELOW.
     Example: BEN AT AGE 11 6th GRADE :NO DATING or GOING OUT with limited use and time on
     the computer and cell phone.
   (these will change in the future and be updated as he matures)
     We also did not do mixed gender birthday parties at this age.
     create your own guidelines for your family its ok to be different. 

2. I agree that traps are hidden from me and I will RESPECT that my parents want to be my guide
    to identify warning signs.

3. I understand that I have to reach a maturity level before I am granted the privilege of dating.
    Things we're looking for:
    Responsible, trustworthy, shows respect for others, displays self-control, and WILLINGLY
    FOLLOWS GUIDELINES SET BY PARENTS.
   
(When granted the privilege of dating we have a certain set of rules for each male and female. The rules differ with age and gender. Boys and girls need to be taught very different about what cause their sparks.)

4. I will protect my body 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20,  Flee from immorality 1 Corinthians 6:18.
    I understand my parents want my pre teen years to be a time of learning how to think through
    things and make WISE decisions.


5 .I will try with only the help of the HOLY SPIRIT to honor and obey my parents to do what is
    right, this is honoring and pleasing to God.

6.  I BELIEVE God has a huge plan for my life!
    The enemy is out to get me on my trail. BUT I CHOOSE to do what is right even when it is hard
    and uncool.　

　We love you (name) _________ and Together we ask God to help us obey this contract

ALL SIGN BELOW AND COME INTO AGREEMENT

____________________________

____________________________

_____________________________

　

NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU

                                              Today's daily bible reading click here!

Matthew 18:19-20“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them"

Get in agreement with some people about your goals and dreams!

Today I keep telling myself that nothing is impossible with God,  after much thought my husband and I have come into agreement about checking off one of our life goals...
the Chicago marathon. 

We have officially registered with
WORLD VISION/TEAM NORTHRIDGE:
We are part of  250 + runners from our church that will come into agreement to train hard and raise money for a great cause.
(More to come on the cause in future blog)

 I am feeling a bit challenged and scared yet on the other hand I feel ready to lift the bar in many areas of my life. The future journey and work appears high, steep and unreachable.

"God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers and situation is not impossible to you, they are insulting to God. Our prayers should desire divine interventions." Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker

Who we become is determined by how we pray. Ultimately , the transcript of your prayers become the script of your life.

If you want to understand more about how God has written a SCRIPT for your life please check this out!  

Lifting the bar will affect many areas of our lives.

What is God asking you to lift the bar on today?

Are you struggling with getting past the impossible?

He wants to provide divine intervention with your finances, job, marriages, childrens futures and more.

Today's daily word says:  "if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."

Goals are better when relational. I have discovered lately that when you go after goals with another person it just doubles the joy!

Do you have a friend to come in agreement with for certain dreams and goals in your life? When you come into agreement with another person and draw circles around the promises of God together you will:
Bring Victory
Help you make better decisions
Bring the Holy Ghost 
Bring Jesus
Bring miracles
Bring great power
Bring freedom 
Bring deliverance

Our goals and prayers should MOVE God, when God is moved, He moves mountains!
Take a pen a write a praise, prayer and plan. Something happens when you write things down!

Blessings,

 

PAIN IS PART OF GOD'S PLANS!

    A POWERFUL WORD TO HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED!

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
===============================================
Jesus called Peter a stumbling block after he rebuked the Lord for confessing that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priest and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter insisted that such a thing would never happen to Jesus. Selfishness was at the root of Peter’s words. Let’s listen in to how Jesus responded:


“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’” (Matthew 16:23, NIV).

 Peter was more concerned about himself than the plan of God, and therefore presented a stumbling block.

Imagine if Jesus had entertained Peter’s words … “You know, Peter, you are right. That shouldn’t happen to me. That’s not really fair. I have never sinned. Why should I die for the sin of the world? Humankind can deal with its own problems!”
Thank God that Jesus did not fall into the snare.


Here’s my point: How often do those around us—even those with the best intentions—speak the opposite of God’s will into our lives?
How often do they discourage us from following our God-given dreams because of their unbelief? See my recent blog on OTHERS DISBELIEF

How often do others get us stirred up and mess with our feelings?

Jesus was quick to discern the stumbling blocks along the path to His destiny—a destiny that would take away the sin of the world—and He was quick to confront and press through them.

WOW~ How often do I notice my stumbling blocks but have  hard time pressing through.

God had in mind merely human concerns—not even His own concerns. God was using Jesus to SAVE our lives. So glad he did not walk away from the pain!

Jesus said... Not my will, but yours be done even if it kills me.


How often so we stick pain out to see Gods will?

 Jesus was quick to discern and deal with the stumbling block, but that didn’t mean that Jesus immediately cast the one who put the stumbling block in His path along the roadside.
Jesus used wisdom. He knew Peter was an important part in God’s plan to build the early church.


Jesus didn’t cast Peter aside. 

Jesus instead taught Peter the right way to respond: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matt. 16:24-25

 He helped Peter get his focus back on the concerns of God rather than merely human concerns.

We all need friends to keep us focused with the concerns of God in the middle of our circumstances. I am thankful for my friends that teach me about GODS will not my own.

Do you have friends that will help you understand Gods will in the midst of your set back?

Ask God to help you notice the stumbling blocks in your life directing you away from your destiny.

Take time to journal a prayer, plan and praise from today's reading.

Blessings as you GO with God!

WARNING FROM RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS!

TODAY'S DAILY READING

I would like to zoom in on: Matthew 15:6-9

Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[c]”

WARNING!
A RELIGIOUS TRADITION MAY TRIP YOU IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

Religious people are involved with a certain amount of traditional, ceremonial, and dogmatic behavior. We do it automatically, because when we were children, we were simply told to behave and even think in a prescribed way. But do we really experience Spiritual Growth when we visit a church, do a good deed, pray, believe what others tell us to believe, belong to a belief system, grow beards, meditate, get circumcised, wear turbans, etc?

What's the best attitude towards Spiritual Growth when attempting to approach God?


Sometimes we still hear about the necessity to fear God, followed with the usual biblical quotes. However, this idea must have been taken out of context and is mostly used by people who already fear God because of their own perceptions and a general fear of the unknown. There should be no need to go into any lengthy theological argument or discussion - the first commandment extols the opposite of fear, clearly stating that one should: "Love God with all your heart, mind and soul."


You don't really fear anything you truly love and there is no need for it.
Moreover, since God can only be found within, God and our own Pure Being relate in quality like the drop of water relates to the quality of the lake. In that sense, any fear of God would amount to nothing less than fearing one's own Self.


Instead of fear, the right attitude should rather be one of curiosity - a curiosity that can only be satisfied when the result of its inquiries are found.

If you are doing the same spiritual things over and over each day and or week with the same results most likely you are stuck in a tradition and not a relationship.


Luke 12:34 - "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also."


Most religious people believe that direct knowledge of God can only be gained after death as a reward by following a set of rules.


Jews and Christians call their set of rules the "Commandments", and the rules laid out by other religions are very similar, if not the same.


All major Religions agree in essence, but only when we bother to look deeper for the real meaning. If God, as omnipresent Awareness, is at the Heart of our Soul, then it stands to reason that we stand a better chance of discovering this pure Awareness through an act of pure Concentration than by bothering with religious ceremony and tradition (wearing hats, shaving heads, growing beards, drinking wine, circumcision, etc...)


When we look past ceremonies and symbols, religions are not so different in their Path to God after all.


The first commandment requires Concentration.
 Loving God with all our Heart, Mind, and Soul really leaves very little room for any other thoughts. And it is only during these moments of steady tranquillity that God, who is our very own Self at the Center of our Soul, reveals Himself. During such a condition there are no questions like: Did you cut off your finger? or Did you grow a beard?

It is my prayer that this sets you free from any false guilt that others may have placed on you in the church through traditions! 


May we repent from allowing ourselves to be gripped by man-made rules, traditions and holier-than-thou-attitudes so that we can pursue God, the Truth of His Word, and walk confidently in the grace that He has freely given to us with all our heart.

Let us therefore continue to strive to bring our consciences into harmony with the mind of Christ and not be bound by the vein traditions of man.

If God did not write it FIRST and you have to follow a book or person that has spruced up the word of God, you are following MAN MADE traditions.
Seek God and see what He reveals.
.
For me personally it involved leaving my church and traditions many years ago.
God will reveal and lead you through relationship and not religion.


Enjoy Jesus and let Jesus shine through your life. Love God; love people.


I want to hear from you.

Are there any traditions that previously had you bound?

How did you break from it?


What has been the greatest hurdle that you have had to overcome with unfounded traditions?


Share so others can grow!


Blessings,

STAY AWAY FROM OTHERS DISBELIEF

Have you ever experienced a time of struggle because of others disbelief?

Do you desire to be positioned in the best place possible in order to possess all the promises God has purposed for your life?

Gods destiny for your life will be COMPLETE, PERFECT, SATISFYING AND FULL

However, a time will come in which God needs to reposition you so that he may COMPLETE and PERFECT your destiny.
God desires to keep you satisfied and full in your season, lacking nothing until He completes His perfect work.



A sign or symptom in your life that represents a possibility for the need to move or change is UNBELIEF from others.

We can have off seasons in our marriages, relationships, families, jobs and ministries.  During those seasons God may want to reposition you amongst NEW FACES or NEW PLACES.
When I say reposition it does not necessarily mean He is taking you completely out or away from your circumstances but placing you in NEW environments that stretch you to see His promises from another view.

 Many times we stay in the circumstance or situation and its surrounded by disbelief.


DISBELIEF is LACK OF SUPPORT and many times others will "not support" the faith we need to have.

Lets look at today's word: Matthew 13: 58


Jesus said "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and his own house, Now He did not do mighty works there because of their unbelief."



The people closest to Jesus in His hometown including family and friends did not believe in Him or His powers to heal and perform miracles. Jesus needed to move away from that environment.


Others disbelief and lack of support can and will distract us from allowing God to fullfill His calling in our life.

 Disbelief is a STUBBORN refusal to believe, a REJECTION to believe God is up to something wonderful in which He placed in your heart.

When we are surrounded by people with disbelief it hinders the work of faith in your personal life.


In this passage of scripture the others lack of faith hindered Jesus and He did not perform because of their unbelief.

Did Jesus stay in that place of unbelief or did He leave and join God where He was at work?


If you look at Mark 6:6 it states that Jesus MARVELED at their unbelief and THEN... HE LEFT AND WENT ABOUT TO OTHER VILLAGES in a circuit of teaching!


WOW what a lesson we can learn!

Jesus did not let others disbelief keep Him while missing the miracles God wanted to perform through Him.
Jesus was sure of what He hoped for and certain of what He did not see.


Friends don't let allow your circumstances and the lack of others support dictate your destiny!

MOVE ON!


If you stay stuck in the ordinary it will be impossible to experience the extraordinary powers of God.

Disbelief of others will HOLD YOU BACK.


STEP AWAY and realize God has a grand plan. Trust Him and allow him to REPOSITION you.


Maybe God has a new group of friends for you this year?

How about a New church home?

Possibly a new small group instead of the same friends closest to all the details in your life?


When we move to NEW places God arranges NEW revelations that will SUPPORT what He has already planned.


Do you ever get with family or friends that have disbelief in what Christ is doing in your life?


Do you have others that experience fear around you because they are not comfortable with how God is working in your life?

Do others get jealous and push you away?


DO YOU MARVEL AT OTHER UNBELIEF YET KNOW GOD HAS PROMISED YOU SOMETHING SO SPECIAL?


Friends, please do not give up and doubt Gods powerful work in your lives. Allow Him to reposition you.


After REPOSITION comes more POSSESSION.


If you do not allow Him to transition you, it may be the difference between experiencing a DEAD END or a fulfilled DESTINY.


He has a plan for all your DREAMS!


Jesus moved passed the disbelief and God took Him into many NEW PLACES with NEW FACES.

Take a moment to journal your prayer, plan and praise from today's reading.

Blessings,

THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS

WORDS 
         WORDS 
                  WORDS

WORDS: CARRY A THOUGHT AND SHAPE A DESTINY!


Jesus teaches us about words and our communication in Matthew 12:33-37.

Our words carry the power of life or death.

Lets look together at 5 areas of communication

1. WORDS transmit power
In Matt 12:33-37 it tells us the power our words have.
It also explains that we will have to give an account someday for the words we speak.
Remember that God shaped the universe through words. He performed miracles through the use of His words.
God has now created us to accomplish things by wise use of our words.

What is your language like around others?
Power goes out when you speak whether good or bad.

2. WORDS reveal our character
In Matt 12:33-35 it states how the good man and the evil man speaks. 
I  do not want to consider myself evil however, I will be honest. I speak harsh words sometimes with my kids. I tend to be very critical about things and feel very bad after I have spoken.
This is a huge indicator that I need to ask God to help renew my heart and forgive me of my words. I then ask my children for forgiveness.
I was raised in a very critical family and words did more harm then good.
This is an area today in my christian walk that I struggle with.
It helps me to remember daily that: Our words shape our children's destiny daily!
 "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"

3. WORDS determine our reward or 
    judgement.
Matthew 12:36-37
This is to the point in scripture: We will be held responsible in the end for our words.

4. WORDS produce fruit.
Matthew 12:33 says we can either make a tree have good fruit or bad fruit. 
We have huge influence in the way our childs tree grows based on our words!
Our Children are SHAPED by our words and deserve Gods best!

5. WORDS shape anothers destiny
Take time and pray about your words this week. Then go a step further and watch how you communicate with others. If you need to apologize for harsh words, I encourage you to do so right at that time. God will begin to help you in your communication! 
 

HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS

January 17th Daily Word

In today’s Bible reading, we see Joseph in a position of influence, a position God soon used to feed surrounding nations and Joseph’s family during famine.

But how did he become influential?
It began with a wound—being sold into slavery (Genesis 39)—which produced a pearl of usefulness.

Because Joseph drew on God’s resources when humiliated, he became better, not bitter.

He named his second son Ephraim, which means “twice fruitful,” and he said, “God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (41:52).

Joseph could have wasted his life dwelling on the injustices he suffered.

 As a youth, his brothers sold him into slavery, and he was forced to live in a hostile land.

He had to spend his teenage and adult years away from his beloved father.

 Joseph even spent time in prison.

 In spite of all he endured, he harbored no resentment.

In fact, he named his son Manasseh, which means “forgetting.”

 He explained, “For God...hath made me forget.” I tried several times to forget my past with my own strength but I failed a thousand times .

It is not easy to forget our things in our own strength we need Holy Spirit help to that.

What do you need to forget and put behind this New Year?



When seemingly needless suffering invades our lives, we often ask ourselves, “Who needs all this grief?”

 Consider, for a moment, the origin of pearls.


Each pearl is formed by an oyster’s internal response to a wound caused by an irritant, such as a grain of sand. Resources of repair rush to the injured area. The final result is a lustrous pearl. Something beautiful is created that would have been impossible without the wound.

Your WOUND is being created into something beautiful!


Just like Joseph, you have to believe that the sun cannot stay down forever!


During Josephs times of great pain, intense pressure and unprecedent challenge came times of phenomenal opportunity!

I think back on my marriage pains and pressures and I am reminded of the NEW ministry opportunities that have come from that wound. 

God is preparing you for new opportunities in your setback, take this time to prepare so you can share.

Take time to Journal today friend, write down a PRAYER, PLAN and PRAISE from today's word.

Watch how God becomes more involved in letting you know His plans during your pain. Take the focus of the Pain and ask God for the Plan!

Go with God today!

ARE YOU A DREAMER?

This Monday is one of my FAVORITE days because we commemorate the life of a GREAT DREAMER! 

lIFE NEEDS TO BE FULL OF DREAMERS, THAT IS HOW CHANGE HAPPENS!


25 years ago on that day a great leader named Martin Luther King had a driving force:

 A "VISION" to push for racial equality

In the 1950's America, the quality of man envisioned by The Declaration of Independence was far from reality!

People of color black, Asians, Hispanics were discriminated against in many ways.
Martin Luther was a man  with a passion who CHANGED history with the power of a vision mixed with his words and dignity.


GENESIS 41:32 tells us that a DREAM ESTABLISHED by God will shortly come to pass...

"The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon."

GOD HAS FIRMLY DECIDED MANY THINGS FOR YOUR LIFE, HOW MANY REALLY BELIEVE THIS! 

At the beginning of Genesis 41 it tells us how Pharaoh had a DREAM and his mind was
troubled because of this dream.
 
Friends, God designed you to DREAM.

In the process of your dreams God will establish you in peace as HE establishes the dream piece by piece.


A dream is a very specific vision for a very specific outcome.

A dream from God will go through a process which becomes your personal journey with God.

A vision from God will STOP you, SEND you, STRENGTHEN you and STRETCH you!

Keep standing in the revelation every step of the way.


Friends if you do not have a dream, ASK GOD FOR A REVELATION in 2012. He will make sure you find your dream and destiny. It may be a fast process or it may be slow. Keep looking to GOD!

 He will bring you through the fulfillment of your destiny.


Never let go of a dream no matter how long you are wondering in the wilderness.


KEEP CLIMBING God will fulfill the vision for your life! If God has His hand on your vision, you never need to second guess it!


I know God gave me a vision deep in my heart 15 years ago that I would teach the word by convincing, rebuking and exhorting! He keeps moving me closer to this dream as He sees fit for that season.


A dream is a process but it will unfold.


I have been personally tested and stretched each step of the way. But God has always raised me above the circumstances so that I could continue to see the dream.


Do not put limits on what God can do friends, BELIEVE BIG and watch God do the most amazing things through your life!

I HAVE A DREAM! DO YOU?

I WOULD LOVE TO DREAM ALONGSIDE YOU IN 2012!

MAY GOD STOP YOU, SEND YOU, STRENGTHEN YOU AND STRETCH YOU!


DREAMING BIG,

STAY IN THE BOAT DURING THE STORM

JANUARY 11 DAILY READING!

The past year God has been repositioning and stretching me in NEW ways.
I know God is preparing me for higher grounds.
 How about you? feeling stretched? overwhelmed?
or perhaps confused?

Sometimes in order for God to prepare us more for a certain ministry...He allows for our boat to get tossed around by a huge uncontrollable wave.


How has your 2012 been thus far? Off to a rocky start? Not any better then last year?
Try to picture this story and see what God may want you to apply to your life today.


All kinds of waves come into our lives. A blog friend of mine put it this way "Waves can flow from a tide of blessings or come out of a storm" Happy or hard, they can overwhelm us if we end up treading water in our own strength.

TODAY I ZOOMED IN ON THE PASSAGE BELOW:
Matthew 8:23-27 presents a story of Jesus and the disciples getting into a boat and then suddenly a GREAT wave or eruption covers the boat. The disciples panic with great fear crying out "Lord, save us we are perishing!"


Jesus then asks, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Jesus then brought about a GREAT CALM and stilled the wind and the waves.


Strong waves are produced by God to rock our boats so that we discover His presence in our lives!


God loves when we call out His name...when our boats are rocking, LEARN to call out His name  before you get sea sick trying to find all the answers and solutions to every problem.
I was very good at being strong , resourceful and cunning. But my boat never settled and that wave kept me covered in shame, fear, anxiety and a very low self confidence.

The whole time Jesus was sleeping in my boat/ circumstance and DREAMING about my future. Waiting for me to CALL OUT HIS NAME "Lord, SAVE ME!"


Matthew 8: 24 tells us that the boat was covered with the wave but Jesus was asleep. He was peaceful and undisturbed.


 God is always Dreaming for us and ready to calm our storms when we lean on His strength and presence. When we call out His name things change!


When Jesus DREAMS He understands the Wave in our life.


The wave is tossing around the DREAMS of God.

D irection


R ealization


E xamination


A lignment


M otivation


All dreams are outside our comfort zone and will rock our boats.

It's much more dangerous to dream than most people dare to believe.  


Saying you believe in yourself will not guarantee your success, but saying you don't believe in God will
guarantee your failure.

I love that perspective!

If you started the new year with plans and resolutions and made NO room for God,  don't be surprised if your boat is being tossed.
 If the plans did not involve the desire to ask God for His help,  He may be using the storm to get your attention. 


I truly believe that a wave that covers our boat opens our eyes to receive the perspective from above.

If you already have that perspective maybe God is asking you to search and seek deeper this year in that relationship. That means a little more time with God then your scheduled Sundays.

If a wave has come over your boat then Thank God for Dreaming during your storm.

He has a plan for you friend

New direction, something new for you to Realize, a deeper Godly explanation, new alignments for us and fresh motivation to help us through the storms.

You need to fellowship with Him during the storm and trust Him in the storm.

Remember with every great wave comes a higher ground. Allow God to move you to higher places this year!

Do not let the wave of discomfort, disappointment and displacement keep you from reaching the top. God will take you to a place of rest, comfort and beauty. But remember only if you CALL on his name. That was key in today's reading.


I am calling on His name today for certain areas in my life. How about you friend?


Don't wait till the Wave comes over your boat to call on His name because sometimes the waves we experience are not waves of blessings but waves of punishment.

Remember Jonah and the Whale in the bible? Yes, that is a true story of a man that walked away from God and jumped out of the boat he was in!

 Remember, God will use a wave of punishment to purify us and bring us back to God. A great picture is of the story of Jonah in the bible.

Yesterday I received so much feedback and emails on the Blog called CAN GOD HEAL MY MARRIAGE? 

Many marriages are going through storms with huge waves. The boats are tossing! I am praying for you friends. I encourage you to NOT jump out of that boat but to stay  put and call on Jesus. He will calm the storm in His time.

I encourage you to journal today, start with a PRAISE, PRAYER and a PLAN. If this spoke to you apply what God wants to tell you today. If you sit still after reading God will give you the words to write! Try this application today and experience God friends!

Blessings,

If your new to the blog leave a comment and let me know your around! I would like to build a community this year and will be adding and changing to this blog as we go!  

CAN GOD HEAL MY MARRIAGE?

JANUARY 1O DAILY READING

 

Last night my husband and I along with two other amazing couples kicked off the start of the Marriage Builders series at our church.

 We had nearly 100 couples show up to give specific attention to their marriage.

 We broke down into smaller groups  that night and God gave us 23 marriages to journey with the next 14 weeks.
 Marriages that where good, fair and in crisis.
We  had a couple divorced already for 2 years but because of their faith in God and Gods ability to change their individual hearts, they're looking to be fully restored!  WOW!
The stories around the table amazed us both.
 I was also grateful to share our personal marriage testimony and SPREAD hope in every heart present! Whether the marriage is good or bad God wants us to be growing with other marriages.
This is the key to success. 

Marriage takes practice and consistent growing.
Marriage can be very hard.
Marriage is all about love and respect. 

I know what you are going through if you are in a time of pain. 
Pain is real and feels like vinegar on an open sore. But remember today friend that...
 PAIN, PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE PERFECT THE VERY CORE OF OUR BEING.
I also know for a fact that WITH JESUS, HE CAN HEAL ALL WOUNDS.

 In Today's daily reading it states: "I WILL COME AND HEAL HIM"

Matthew 8:1-19 speaks of Jesus healing the infirmities in many lives. I want to stress today that God wants to heal your marriage and all the infirmities that have piled high and wounded both hearts.

You may say, "that Jesus stuff is not my thing," well...I am hear to say ..."It better become your thing!" I was the one that denied the Jesus stuff for a long time friends. If I can help you get out of the wilderness of defeat, I encourage you to just get serious with God. Its the best thing that will ever happen in your life.

You may not be living life the way you want  in the present moment but God has a plan and it's PERFECT!

God says he will never forsake us and will help us through all our circumstances. 

God did not say Ill take you over the problems or under them. He said I will take you THROUGH THEM.

God wants us to cast our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7). 

God is using this time to REFINE an individual.

He wants us to TAKE OUR EYES off of our spouse and OFF OUR CIRCUMSTANCE.

We need to have FAITH and TRUST HIM  that He will do what he says in His word.

Hebrews 11:1 says: Now faith  is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Always Remember, THERE IS NOT A MARRIAGE God cannot heal....no marriage he cannot restore.
 Stamp that in your heart. All it takes is to believe what God said and have faith in His word.
Nothing is too difficult for God. You need to persevere and believe Him. Take God at his word.

God longs to restore marriages..but more than that he longs for you to KNOW HIM intimately Utmost!

God wants a relationship with you.

 He wants you to receive His love and love Him in return.

 He wants you to receive His peace and joy so you can be a light to let others know what they can find in JESUS.

 Never give up believing God for your marriage healing.

God is able and very willing to restore your marriage, because the day you said your vows, you covered it with His blood.

A three-legged stool provides one picture of marriage; one leg represents the husband; another the wife; and the third, God. All three legs are necessary for the marriage to stand.
If one leg breaks, the stool topples.

How is your relationship with God my friend?

When My marriage was a mess, I admit so was my consistency with my spiritual walk.

When God is not working in our personal heart by faith there can be no hope of making the stool stand.


Where does that leave us if our husband or wife is not presently interested in his own healing? We can act on our individual requirement to seek healing for ourselves, and we can ask God to use that process to cause our husbands to yearn for their own healing. This is exactly how our marriage healing played out.

 Nothing will solidify your marriage more than strengthening your walk with the Lord together. Turn to Him; trust Him. He won’t let you down.


Here is something else to think about. 99.9% of the time, the cause for problems in a marriage is due to sin. Sin is a fancy word for not doing things the way God would.
We can sin in our thoughts, actions, and speech. The first step to solving any problem is to define what the problem is. Once this is done, the solution then becomes tactical and prescriptive.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7)


"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1 Peter5:6-8)

Today's Journal Entry

Prayer: Dear Jesus please touch the hearts of every reader today. May they have a heart the yields and desires to get serious with you. Please touch the marriages in our class and the blog readers today. I pray you draw the couples together stronger and if the couple is seperated I pray you glue them with grace back together as you draw them individually to you.


Praise: Thanks for bringing all the couples last night to class. Thanks for healing our marriage. Thanks for using our mess to glorify your name!

Plan: I am excited to invest in our marriage for 14 weeks and do
the work consistently. I plan to respect my husband and love him better. I also plan to come along side any couple and pray their marriage to full recovery!

Please read all of today's daily bible reading located above and find a verse that spoke to you! journal a letter to God and make a few applications!

If you need prayer over your marriage please email me today, my husband and I will pray over your circumstance.
heather@hbministries.com

God has a plan!

Blessings,