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How Big is God?

June 1, 2020
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Our Daily Bread

The Maker of the Moon

[The Lord said,] “I will be their God and they will be my people.”….Jeremiah 31:33

After astronauts set the Eagle down in the Sea of Tranquility, Neil Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” He was the first human to walk on the surface of the moon. Other space travelers followed, including the commander of the last Apollo mission, Gene Cernan. “There I was, and there you are, the Earth—dynamic, overwhelming, and I felt . . . it was just too beautiful to happen by accident,” Cernan said. “There has to be somebody bigger than you and bigger than me.” Even from their unique view in deep space, these men understood their smallness in comparison to the vastness of the universe.

The prophet Jeremiah also considered the immensity of God as Creator and Sustainer of the earth and beyond. The Maker of all promised to reveal Himself intimately as He offered His people love, forgiveness, and hope (Jeremiah 31:33-34). Jeremiah affirms God’s enormity as He who “appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night” (v. 35). Our Creator and Lord Almighty will reign above all as He works to redeem all of His people (vv. 36-37).

We’ll never finish exploring the immeasurable vastness of the heavens and depths of the earth’s foundations. But we can stand in awe at the complexity of the universe and trust the maker of the moon—and everything else.
By Xochitl Dixon

REFLECT & PRAY: Creator and Sustainer of all, thanks for inviting us to know You and trust You today and forever.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

New Normal

What’s normal for the two of you today? I think it is interesting that I have said so many times, “I know I need to slow down.” Yet, I never did. Nancy and I always spend a lot of time together, but much of it is on the go.

During the past couple of months, we have probably spent more quality time together than at any time in our marriage. A lot of our “go to” places and things have been unavailable. Our normal has changed and I think we have too. It has given us a chance to stop and evaluate our lives together. Coming out of this era of our lives, we want our new “new normal” to be a blending of our old normal and our Covid-19 normal. I think we will be more selective of what we say “yes” to. I think we will be much more aware of when our lives are getting out of balance. I think we have gotten our priorities where they need to be. What about you? Your One Thing today is to take time together to define your new, new normal!

Today’s One Thing: Today, take time together to define your new “new normal!”

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

Corona Survival Guide for Couples

The Ten Commandments of Communication
“Pastor, after six years of marriage, I need a reminder of the Ten Commandments of Communication. That might keep us from attacking each other.”
“Pastor, maybe sometimes you can go over communication rules with my husband and me. I think that would be good for us.”

Those two messages showed up on my phone just one day apart. I wasn’t surprised. As the coronavirus continues to affect our lives, our communication skills become even more critical. Increased pressure and heightened stress put the Christian quality of our words to the test. I think that’s why these wise Christians reached out for help. They wanted to get back to the basics, to push “reset” on their conversational patterns so that their words would speak life and not death. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

Could you use that help too? Whether you’re hoping to lovingly communicate with your spouse, your kids, or the people on the other side of the screen, these Ten Commandments of Communication are a great place to start. I encourage you to read them over, pray about each one, and then prioritize one or two that you would like to work on this week.
May God draw you closer together as you do!

1. You shall not try to “win.”—Our natural/sinful reaction to any argument is to win at all costs. Therefore, mentally remind yourself that this conversation is about loving, not winning. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight” (James 4:1,2).

2. You shall never say, “Never.”—In our desire to win an argument, we often lie. How so? We use words like always and never. “You always say that!” “You never think about what I do.” “You always bring that up!” Unfortunately, these are blatant exaggerations that only make the other person defensive (Exodus 20:16).

3. You shall not interrupt.—When we want to win an argument, we feel the need to interrupt each other. We want to negate the other person’s point by jumping in with our version of the truth. But love is patient and is willing to wait (1 Corinthians 13:4).

4. You shall pick your battles.—Sharing every single thing that bothers you is the quickest way to become a constant critic and a nag. Cast all your troubles on God but choose which troubles to share with your spouse. “Sin is not ended by multiplying words” (Proverbs 10:19).

5. You shall resist OCD (Obsessive Comparison Disorder).—When we are criticized, our hearts obsessively compare our behavior to our spouse’s. Is he serving me? Is she always grateful for what I do? Why doesn’t he remember the stuff that I do right? Did she forget the time that I . . . ? Sadly, OCD is a guaranteed way to continue the crazy cycle, miss your spouse’s point, and make your marriage worse. Instead, listen, empathize, and ask, “What can I do to help?” (Philippians 2:3,4).

6. You shall stick to the subject.—Our hearts hate being called out. Therefore, they desperately search for any other subject to redirect the conversation (“Well, you’re not so perfect either!” “You bring this up after the day I had?”). There might be times to address other issues, but this is not one of them. Focus on the subject that’s troubling your spouse, and you both will be happier faster.

7. You shall not text (or watch the game or play video games or scroll on your phone . . .) and talk.—Love gives its full attention to another. Since no one likes being half listened to, God wants us to give our full attention to our spouse. Consider saying, “Let me finish up this text, and then I’ll give you my full attention.”

6. You shall repeat thy spouse’s point.—When we want to win an argument, we are waiting for a pause so we can jump in and throw a few verbal punches. Don’t! Instead, make sure to repeat, in your own words, the point that was just made. Don’t add your opinion. Don’t agree or disagree. Just prove that you were listening and you understand exactly what your spouse is feeling.

9. You shall admit thy sins.—In order to “win,” we have to justify our wrongs. “I exaggerated because you . . . I interrupted because what you said wasn’t true . . .” etc. But that only fuels a crazy cycle of hurting each other. Instead, admit, with no strings attached, your sins. You’ll be surprised how often your confession prompts theirs. And even if it doesn’t, it’s the righteous thing to do.

10. You shall argue at the foot of the cross.—Bringing Jesus’ love into any conversation changes everything. Look up and see the Savior who speaks patiently and graciously to you at your worst moments. Then look out at your spouse. That will give you the humility to speak as a fellow sinner, instead of a holier-than-thou saint (Hebrews 12:1,2).

Credit: Time of Grace, Mike Novotny
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Serve Faithfully

May 25, 2020
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Our Daily Bread

Unseen Heroes

Aaron and Hur held [Moses’s] hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.—Exodus 17:12

Stories in the Bible can make us stop and wonder. For instance, when Moses led God’s people into the Promised Land and the Amalekites attacked, how did he know to go to the top of the hill and hold up God’s staff? (Ex. 17:8-15). We aren’t told, but we learn that when Moses raised his hands, the Israelites would win the battle, and when he lowered them, the Amalekites would win. When Moses got tired, his brother Aaron and another man, Hur, held up Moses’s arms so the Israelites could triumph.

We aren’t told much about Hur, but he played a crucial role at this point in Israel’s history. This reminds us that unseen heroes matter, that supporters and those who encourage leaders play a key and often overlooked role. Leaders may be the ones mentioned in the history books or lauded on social media, but the quiet, faithful witness of those who serve in other ways is not overlooked by the Lord. He sees the person who intercedes daily in prayer for friends and family. He sees the woman who puts away the chairs each Sunday in church. He sees the neighbor who reaches out with a word of encouragement.

God is using us, even if our task feels insignificant. And may we notice and thank any unseen heroes who help us. —Amy Boucher Pye

Dear Father, thank You for creating me and gifting me in my own unique way. Help me to serve You and others faithfully and to appreciate those You have sent to help me.

REFLECT & PRAY: Unseen heroes are always seen by God.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

Role Model

When you think about your family of origin, what comes to your mind? What comes to mind when you think about marriage? Did you have good, average, or bad role models? Were there things you promised yourself would never happen in your future marriage? Are there other things that you wanted to bring forward when you married? Statistics tell us that at least 1/2 of us didn’t have good marriage role models.

Think about your life today. Is there a couple you admire? A couple that has a good or even great marriage? What do you see in their marriage that you would like to have in your marriage? Today’s One Thing is for you to do together. Take the couple you thought of and together pick out something you see in their marriage that you would like to build into yours. What part will each of you play?
How will you keep it a priority? Will you pray for God to help you build this? Find something you both desire to have in your marriage and pursue it together This is a big step toward having an Awesome Marriage!

Today’s One Thing: Together pick something from a good role model’s marriage and begin building it into your marriage!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

Corona Survival Guide for Couples

Healthy relationships were already hard enough.
Creating and maintaining a you-first, quick-to-listen, how-can-I-help relationship took effort and energy like few other things in our lives. For many of us, the daily choice to love our significant other like Jesus loves us was one of the hardest/most beautiful choices we had learned to make.
And then the coronavirus hit.
In just weeks, what already was hard got harder. Couples were squeezed into small spaces, breathing the same air a bit too often. Gone was the high-speed internet of the office, replaced by the plodding pace of our homes’ Wi-Fi, which spun in nauseating circles as she Zoomed with her coworkers and he tried to upload a work video to Google Drive. New questions filled our home-sweet-homes: Who gets to use the comfortable chair for their “office”? Who has to be quiet for whose video chats? Which parent has the responsibility to read all the emails about sixth-grade virtual learning? What does sex look like in a world where the kids can’t leave the house (and we fear the germs carried home on the bodies of essential workers)?
I could go on.

If you’re in a relationship, this is a scary new world. There are new questions, new conversations, and new challenges to work through.
Which is exactly why I wrote this devotion. So here’s my first encouragement—Seek God.

Back in 2003, in the days when corona was just a beer, I stood before the altar with my bride as our pastor painted a simple yet profound picture of a healthy marriage. He said something like, “Imagine a triangle with God at the top and you two down at the lower points. As each of you personally gets closer to God [his fingers followed the angled lines toward the top of his imaginary triangle], guess what happens to you? You get closer to each other. Closeness to him brings closeness for you.”
Brilliant. And experience has taught me that he was so right.

The closer you and I get to God, the more grace transforms our lives. When we seek him in his Word, we find out that our God is loving, gracious, forgiving, kind, patient, holy, humble, good, and glorious. Through quiet times with chapter and verse, we become thrillingly convinced that we are adored by our Father, made pure by our Savior, and filled with his Spirit. Day by day, God becomes enough for us, satisfying our souls and freeing us from the ugly need to get what we want, when we want it.
King David once wrote, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
And that, it turns out, is what makes a marriage good. Especially in seasons like this.
We will dig into this idea in the days to come, but for now, let me encourage you with my pastor’s advice and David’s inspired words—Seek God. Delight in him. Meditate on who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. Schedule and prioritize time away from the to-do list in order to move one step closer to your Father’s heart.
I know that your world has been shaken up. Old routines were infected and now lay on life support. You are probably scrambling just to get through the day. But when you seek God first, you find out that your heart already has what it needs. Through faith in Jesus, you need to be saved—and you are. You need to be loved—and you are. You need forgiveness for your sins—and there is. You need there to be a plan—and there is. You need hope that things will work out—and they will. You need supernatural power to check all the boxes that God has on his to-do list for you—and you have it.
That’s why I am so grateful that you are reading these words. It means that, even in the midst of the madness, you care about your connection with God. Keep reading. Keep delighting in his promises.

Jesus once said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Because seeking the God of love leads to love. Love for Jesus. Love for one another.
And that is what we need to thrive.

Credit: Time of Grace, Mike Novotny
Better than coffee – Bible study Wednesday 7:30 pm
*No Bible Study 5/27/20 due to holiday week*
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Listen Intently

May 17, 2020
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Hearing the Voice of God

Prayer in its purest form is a love relationship with Father God. It’s an enjoyable relationship, not a religious activity. It’s the privilege of soaring to the very throne room of Father God to touch his face. Our souls are starved for this sense of awe—to speak and to hear from the living God who loves us and is waiting to share his heart with us.
Intimacy does not exist when our relationship is built on one-way speeches. As I pray to God, I’m fully aware that both of us will speak and both of us will listen. As you practice two-way prayer, listening carefully and humbly, you’ll hear him speak. And this prophetic interchange is not just limited to verbal communication. You can also expect to encounter him in other ways. Regardless of how you hear him, this divine encounter will always do two things: it will change you, and it will give you ammunition for spiritual warfare. As you enter into prayer, the Father will not only speak to you, but he will also pray through you. You’ll become one who hears from God in the secret place during your personal alone time with him.
Sometimes people ask me, “How do I know when it’s God speaking and when it’s the enemy? I don’t want to be misled. I only want to listen to the Holy Spirit.” Here are some simple guidelines for knowing God’s voice and discerning when it’s not him, but the voice of the enemy.
• Jesus is a gentle Shepherd, and his voice drips with mercy. Jesus does not condemn your personal worth; but satan is a condemning and accusing intimidator.
• The Lord’s voice is often quiet and deeply internal; satan’s is intrusive and vulgar.
• The Holy Spirit calls and draws us; satan threatens, demands, and drives.
• The Lord’s voice lines up with Scripture; the enemy speaks lies.
• The Lord’s voice will bring a fresh “now” word that will change you and touch you; satan will lock you in the past.
• The Lord’s voice is rooted in hope; satan brings negativity or despair that leaves you feeling hopeless.
• God’s voice inspires us to love; satan inspires us to criticize others.
• Peace comes from God; satan brings anxiety.
• The voice of the Spirit will always glorify Jesus; satan glorifies self.

Credit: www.uncommon.org

Something New.

Last weekend Nancy and I went hiking. It is something we have occasionally done during our marriage. With COVID-19 life, we are looking for every chance we can find to get outdoors. We went to a local lake that has great and challenging hiking trails. We had a blast.

Without so many things that occupied our time in the past, hiking is going to be a new high priority. What about the two of you? What is something you used to do and enjoy that has fallen by the wayside? What about trying something new?

Today’s One Thing: Pick one thing that you will do together.

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

Our Daily Bread

Ruth’s Story

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.—Romans 10:13

Ruth cannot tell her story without tears. In her mid-eighties and unable to get around much anymore, Ruth may not appear to be a central figure in our church’s life. She depends on others for rides, and because she lives alone she doesn’t have a huge circle of influence.

But when she tells us her story of salvation—as she does often—Ruth stands out as a remarkable example of God’s grace. Back when she was in her thirties, a friend invited her to go to a meeting one night. Ruth didn’t know she was going to hear a preacher. “I wouldn’t have gone if I knew,” she says. She already had “religion,” and it wasn’t doing her any good. But go she did. And she heard the good news about Jesus that night.

Now, more than fifty years later, she cries tears of joy when she talks of how Jesus transformed her life. That evening, she became a child of God. Her story never grows old.It doesn’t matter if our story is similar to Ruth’s or not. What does matter is that we take the simple step of putting our faith in Jesus and His death and resurrection. The apostle Paul said, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).

That’s what Ruth did. You can do that too. Jesus redeems, transforms, and gives us new life. —Dave Branon

REFLECT & PRAY: Belonging to Christ is not rehabilitation; it’s re-creation.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

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An Opportunity for Great Joy

May 10, 2020
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It’s a process of faith.

Finding Joy in Trials and Struggles

Daniel has lost more friends and family members than he can count. Living as a refugee in a foreign land, he’s lost loved ones to civil unrest, lack of food and disease. But if you meet him, you’ll likely find him smiling. It’s not a forced smile but one that reflects a joyful heart even in trials. Putting the words “joy” and “trial” into the same sentence might seem unbelievable—even ridiculous. How could Daniel be happy about difficulties? About struggles and hard things?

The first step is to acknowledge once more that happiness and joy are different. Circumstances can make you feel sad, angry, or disappointed, but that doesn’t mean joy isn’t possible. Daniel has joy because he’s found hope: God is with him, God is for him and one day he will dwell with his Lord in mansions of glory. James 1:2-4 says that trials are an opportunity for great joy. That opportunity is a willingness to be transformed by the situation—to change, to learn, to grow. It’s like training for a marathon: Each time you run, you’re pushed a little farther through hurt and hardship. And each time you go a little farther, you become stronger and can endure a bit more as you grow closer to God.

It’s a process of faith.
There’s rarely an immediate joy in the struggle when someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, when you’ve lost your job or when you just can’t seem to conquer that class in school. The circumstances are unhappy, but Scripture reminds us that the struggle is your chance for joy to bloom—like a flower growing out of a crack in the sidewalk. God doesn’t expect you to see your tears as blessings right away. He doesn’t ask that you break into a smile the moment a loved one is lost, or jump up and down when your world seemingly falls apart. All He asks is that you say “yes” to the process. Each time you do, you’ll grow and become stronger. And in time, your joy will bloom even in the midst of great trials.

Things to Ponder: Do you feel like you are in a trial, coming out of a trial, or about to enter a trial?
Why is it hard to find joy in trials and struggles?
What would finding endurance through trials look like in your life?

Credit: www.uncommen.org

Opportunity for change.

This is the 8th week of special Tuesday One Things during the effects of COVID-19. In week one I challenged you as a couple to intentionally grow your marriage during this season. Over the weeks we have talked about a number of things for you to do to help make this happen.

The slower pace had been very good for Nancy and me. I think that sometimes we do not realize how fast-paced our lives really are because it is our “normal.” We have been talking about how much we have enjoyed the slower pace and more time to spend together. Our goal is to not get back in some of the patterns that we were in. We know that will take focus and effort but the results will be more than worth it. What about the two of you? What have you been learning? What do you want to keep as a part of your life post COVID-19? Today, spend some time talking about that together.

Today’s One Thing: Today “say” I love you to your spouse without using any words!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

Our Daily Bread

The One Who Sees

You may be sure that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

“Oh no!” My wife’s voice rang out when she stepped into the kitchen. The moment she did, our ninety-pound Labrador retriever “Max” bolted from the room.

Gone was the leg of lamb that had been sitting too close to the edge of the counter. Max had consumed it, leaving only an empty pan. He tried to hide under a bed. But only his head and shoulders fit. His uncovered rump and tail betrayed his whereabouts when I went to track him down.“Oh, Max,” I murmured, “Your ‘sin’ will find you out.” The phrase was borrowed from Moses, when he admonished two tribes of Israel to be obedient to God and keep their promises. He told them: “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

Sin may feel good for a moment, but it causes the ultimate pain of separation from God. Moses was reminding his people that God misses nothing. As one biblical writer put it, “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).Though seeing all, our holy God lovingly draws us to confess our sin, repent of it (turn from it), and walk rightly with Him (1 John 1:9). May we follow Him in love today. By James Banks

REFLECT & PRAY: Thank You for being “the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). I praise You that though You see both good and bad, You sent Your Son to save and set me free. Help me to walk in loving obedience.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

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Power of Prayer

May 3, 2020
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WLCC’s sermon series “Living in God’s Blessing- Part 3”

Elevated Readiness

In our scripture verse, we see the tail end of the story of David being anointed as the next king of Israel.
What struck me about this story was David minded his own business tending the sheep one minute and became the anointed king of Israel the next. “Oh, by the way, this giant of a man Goliath wants to kill you. Have a beautiful day. ” Sometimes life comes at you fast and you aren’t prepared for it. But David shows why God chose him to be king of Israel. The new role didn’t seem too big for him in spite of the first few days on the job.
When Goliath called out for someone to come fight him, and everyone avoided eye contact, David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” If you read 1 Samuel 17: 31-37, you read that David may have looked way too young, but he was more than able to act on a moment’s notice. It seems David could more than hold his own even against lions trying to take one of his sheep as a snack. But David wasn’t having any of that, and he wasn’t having any of Goliath’s smack talk as well.
Uncommon Questions: Is your readiness elevated when it comes to speaking about your faith in Christ Jesus? You don’t need to be aggressive but speak with Truth and Grace. What do you do to make yourself ready? Saying you are isn’t enough.
Uncommon Challenge: Just as David went about his duties, and by doing so, they prepared him for something greater, you have the same opportunity. Spend time in the Word of God, so you are ready when God calls you into action.
Credit: www.uncommen.org

Our most powerful weapon.

The ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are overwhelming. Our hearts are saddened for those who have lost loved ones and for those who are ill. Then there are our new heroes – the checker at my grocery store, the doctors and nurses and other front line medical personnel. Those who are donating, packing and serving meals. Those who care for the families that have lost a member to this virus.

Each day I hear stories about new heroes. The ripple effects are impossible to count. Those who have lost jobs and businesses. The countless number of seniors that won’t get to walk across a stage this year. The weddings that have been postponed. The industries affected in so many ways. The parents who never wanted to be teachers that now are teachers. The trips, family reunions, basketball and baseball games at all levels that are not happening. I’m sure each of you could add to this list.

With all that is and is not going on, at times I feel helpless and think, “Well, I guess that I could just pray.” Why is the most powerful weapon we have often the last one we use? We have direct access to the Creator of the universe. God was in control before the pandemic. God will still be in control after the pandemic. God is certainly in control in the midst of the pandemic. Just pray? Praying should be our first response – not our last.

Today’s One Thing: Pray together for those on the front lines of this battle and all those affected by its ripple effects. Together surrender everything to God and let Him show you together the way out!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

Our Daily Bread

Infinite Dimensions

I pray that you . . . [will] grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…….Ephesians 3:17-18

I lay still on the vinyl-covered mat and held my breath on command as the machine whirred and clicked. I knew lots of folks had endured MRIs, but for claustrophobic me, the experience required focused concentration on something—Someone—much bigger than myself.

In my mind, a phrase from Scripture—“how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18)—moved in rhythm with the machine’s hum. In Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church, he described four dimensions to God’s love in order to stress the unending parameters of His love and presence.

My position while lying down for the MRI provided a new image for my understanding. Wide: the six inches on either side of where my arms were tightly pinned to my body within the tube. Long: the distance between the cylinder’s two openings, extending out from my head and feet. High: the six inches from my nose up to the “ceiling” of the tube. Deep: the support of the tube anchored to the floor beneath me, holding me up. Four dimensions illustrating God’s presence surrounding and holding me in the MRI tube—and in every circumstance of life.

God’s love is ALL around us. Wide: He extends His arms to reach all people everywhere. Long: His love never ends. High: He lifts us up. Deep: He dips down, holding us in all situations. Nothing can separate us from Him! (Romans 8:38-39).

By Elisa Morgan

REFLECT & PRAY:Dear God, help us pause to ponder Your multidimensional love for us!

Credit: Our Daily Bread

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Make a Joyful Noise

April 26, 2020
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WLCC’s sermon series “Living in God’s Blessing- Part 2”

It’s a different life

We are now several weeks into “Covid-19 life.” Most of us are not crazy about this new normal but we have made adjustments. We are social distancing, we are staying at home, we are ordering food for take-out or delivery, we are watching church online, we are watching way too much Netflix, we are putting puzzles together, we are watching reruns of sporting events, and, you fill in the blank, _____________ . We miss hugging friends and family that don’t live in our home. We miss our favorite restaurants. We miss movie theaters and their popcorn. We miss live sports. 

It’s a different life, and it’s one we did not choose. Didn’t we all think that we were in control of our lives – at least a little bit? Now we know that most of our sense of control was an illusion. I started thinking, “What’s the opposite of ‘control’?” I think it is surrender. In our marriages, I think it is letting go of everything we want to control and putting it in God’s hands. It is looking to Him together every day. He truly has all the answers. He is always in control. No matter what happens, our security is in Him. He is our way out today, tomorrow and every day after that – COVID-19 or not! 

Today’s One Thing: Together surrender everything to God and let Him show you together the way out!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

What do you really believe?

The Bible says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44 AMP). In fact, we give Satan more power over us when we choose to believe his lies.

To believe a lie is to be deceived. But here’s the thing—when people are deceived, they are not aware that they are deceived. They believe that what they think is true and they act accordingly. One of the most difficult tasks I have encountered in ministry is to try to convince someone who is deeply deceived that they are wrong about what they believe.

Let’s think for a moment about how this affects our lives. If we are unaware that Satan is a real threat and we do not know his character, he can easily deceive us and we can end up believing many things that are not true. These beliefs will keep us from enjoying the life that Jesus died for us to have.

What if you lived in poverty all of your life, and when you were ready to die someone told you that your grandparents had left you an inheritance and you had, in fact, been a millionaire for the past 40 years? You could have enjoyed a totally different life than you had. But since you didn’t know anything about the inheritance, you missed out on it even though it was yours all along.

This is what our lives are like when we believe Satan’s lies and do not know the truth of God’s Word! The spiritual and material riches of Christ’s inheritance are amazing, but we miss out on them because we lack knowledge of them.

Stop and ask yourself what lies you might be believing right now that are preventing you from entering into the fullness of the life Jesus wants you to have.

God’s Word is the antidote to Satan’s lies. It helps us to recognize the truth and expose the enemy’s attempts to deceive us. As we read, study and believe God’s Word, we begin to think as God wants us to think. It helps us to be in agreement with Him…and bring to pass His good plan and purpose for our lives.

Pray: God, I ask You to show me truth in every area of my life. As I read and study Your Word, please open my eyes to any areas where I am deceived. Help me to see myself the way You see me so I can walk in the good plan You have for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Credit: Adapted from the book Your Battles Belong to the Lord by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2019 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Our Daily Bread

The singing revolution

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God………..Psalm 42:5

What does it take to ignite a revolution? Guns? Bombs? Guerrilla warfare? In late-1980s Estonia, it took songs. After the people had lived under the burden of Soviet occupation for decades, a movement began with the singing of a series of patriotic songs. These songs birthed the “Singing Revolution,” which played a key role in restoring Estonian independence in 1991.

“This was a non-violent revolution that overthrew a very violent occupation,” says a website describing the movement. “But singing had always been a major unifying force for Estonians while they endured fifty years of Soviet rule.” Music can also play a significant part in helping us through our own hard times. I wonder if that’s why we so readily identify with the psalms. It was in a dark night of the soul that the psalmist sang, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5). It was in a season of deep disillusionment that Asaph, the worship leader, reminded himself, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart” (73:1).

In our own challenging times, may we join the psalmists with a singing revolution for our hearts. Such a revolution overwhelms the personal tyranny of despair and confusion with faith-fueled confidence in God’s great love and faithfulness. By Bill Crowder

REFLECT & PRAY: Father, I thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and Your faithfulness is great. Empower me to sing the song of Your great love—even when I must sing it through my tears.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

Bulletin

Living in God’s Blessings

April 20, 2020
wlcc

WLCC’s new sermon series “Living in God’s Blessing”

GO TEAM!

A couple of weeks ago we talked about the importance of being a TEAM as husband and wife. It is something that is important all the time but probably more important today than ever. What does it mean to be a TEAM during this pandemic? Here are some of the things that Nancy and I are trying to do each day.

1.We check in with each other more often. It can be a simple but sincere, “How are you doing?” Emotions can ebb and flow during these times, so check in often.

2. We ask each other “How can I help?” That helps in coming alongside each other.

3. We do something special for each other each day. Be creative and have fun with this.

4. We find something to laugh together about.

5. We are doing more YouVersion reading plans together.

6. We are praying more during the day.

Today’s One Thing: Together decide on at least 3 things you each will do each day to strengthen your TEAM!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

You have great power in your speech.

The year was 1997. I’d just finished my homework and downed a peanut butter sandwich made with Eggo waffles, and the burning desire for milk kicked in. I hopped over the back of my sofa at the commercial break of Saved by the Bell, flung open the fridge and began gulping down cold milk straight out of the carton. I was satisfied for about 0.3 seconds until I realized…this milk had gone bad, this milk was not my friend. It wasn’t a day or two old, it was over a week old. Needless to say, I puked so hard I dislodged gum that had been in my small intestine since the second grade, and I learned on that day what Matthew speaks of in Matthew 15:10.

The gospel of Matthew tells us that there is something more dangerous than taking in something bad, and that is speaking out something that is bad. When God hears you speak about your meeting as terrible, your car as crappy, your kids as ungrateful, your husband as lazy, your town as small, your house as cramped…His response is: If you say so. You will feel how you speak and find what you seek. Likewise, there is power in speaking out something that is good. At creation, God spoke the world to life. At the incarnation, God spoke Jesus into our world. That tells you something about the weight of words. And it should humble you to know that God has given you the same power of speech. That is part of the terrible privilege of being made in His image. You have great power in your speech that can unleash a forceful fury that can create, tear down, build, heal, or hurt.

One of my favorite stories in Scripture shows what I am trying to communicate. It is from Matthew 8, when a centurion came to Jesus for help because his servant was seriously ill. In response to this man’s plea, Jesus immediately agrees to come to the man’s home and treat the boy. This is where it gets really interesting. The centurion protests that there is no need for Jesus to enter his home. For one, it would be inconvenient for Jesus to have to travel, and secondly, if He entered the house of a Gentile He would be ceremonially defiled and have to go through a cleansing ritual before His daily life could continue. Translation: He would get Gentile cooties. He didn’t want Jesus to be put out while doing him a favor. When Jesus heard this He marveled, because the centurion’s faith was noteworthy. Jesus then turned and spoke 3 incredible words of wisdom that were original to Him long before they were sung by Paul McCartney and John Lennon: Let it be. Matthew 8:13 “as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” This is actually where we get our word AMEN. Amen translated directly into our language means “let it be.” When we say amen we are saying, “may what I have prayed come to pass.” But in light of the response of what happened in this interaction between the centurion and Jesus, our goal should be to pray such a gutsy prayer that with raised eyebrows God would say to you: Amen, let it be. It is up to you whether the self-fulfilling prophecies you articulate become a delight or a dungeon. God’s response to the way you speak is: If you say so.

Questions to ask yourself: How do I speak to myself and others? In what way is my speech positive? In what ways do I have a hard time controlling my tongue? Think of an area of your life you tend to complain about or speak negatively of. Challenge yourself this week, every time you are tempted to complain, to find a way to thank God instead.

Our Daily Bread

Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied……….Ecclesiastes 5:10

As a young man, Duncan had been afraid of not having enough money, so in his early twenties, he began ambitiously building his future. Climbing the ladder at a prestigious Silicon Valley company, Duncan achieved vast wealth. He had a bulging bank account, a luxury sports car, and a million-dollar California home. He had everything he desired; yet he was profoundly unhappy. “I felt anxious and dissatisfied,” Duncan said. “In fact, wealth can actually make life worse.” Piles of cash didn’t provide friendship, community, or joy—and often brought him only more heartache.

Some people will expend immense energy attempting to amass wealth in an effort to secure their lives. It’s a fool’s game. “Whoever loves money never has enough,” Scripture insists (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Some will work themselves to the bone. They’ll strive and push, comparing their possessions with others and straining to achieve some economic status. And yet even if they gain supposed financial freedom, they’ll still be unsatisfied.

It’s not enough. As the writer of Ecclesiastes states, “This too is meaningless” (v. 10).  The truth is, striving to find fulfillment apart from God will prove futile. While Scripture calls us to work hard and use our gifts for the good of the world, we can never accumulate enough to satisfy our deepest longings. Jesus alone offers a real and satisfying life (John 10:10)—one based on a loving relationship that’s truly enough!………….By Winn Collier 

REFLECT & PRAY: Gracious God, allow me to find my true fulfillment and joy in You. Keep me from a wrong view of work and material things.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

Bulletin, Uncategorized

HOPE

April 12, 2020
wlcc

WLCC weekly bulletin to help you start your week with a smile.

Short and Simple – Prayers

One of the things that I want every couple to do is also one of the hardest things for couples to consistently do: pray together. Many couples make a good start but lose their momentum. One of the reasons I hear most often is that the business of life gets in the way. For many of us that reason is not valid today. Many of us have more time together now than we probably ever have. What a great time to begin and keep the habit of praying together daily. 

Here is your template: First, keep it simple. Second, keep it short. This certainly may change over time if you want it to, but for now keep it short. Third, decide together what you will pray for. Fourth, pray. It can be out loud. It can be silent. You can kneel, lay down, stand up – I think God just wants to hear from you. Now that you have your template, agree on a time every day to pray together. If you do it every day for 30 days, you will see God show up and hopefully make praying together a marriage long-term habit.

Today’s One Thing:

Today, begin praying together as a couple every day!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

Pain and Hope
A wise person once said, “Pain is real, but so is hope.”

The Bible says faith, hope and love will last forever. When we hold onto hope, we maintain an eternal perspective. Hope is a gateway, where on one side we stand with open hearts; and on the other is God, waiting to reveal himself. Our hope is Christ, and He is real. When life knocks you down, Jesus stands you back up and walks alongside you. He lights your path. He gives you something to move toward. His blessing and guidance are not something the rich can purchase, rather anyone who longs for communion with the Lord can only attain it by seeking Him. There is provision and abundance in God’s house; it is satisfying to the soul. In his house there is enough for all. And all are welcome.

Pray: Lord, teach me to find true riches in you. Only your goodness can satisfy my soul. I want to walk alongside you, casting all my fears and worries, because I trust that you care for me. Amen.

Our Daily Bread

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life . . . . No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord……..John 10:17–18

The ambulance door was about to close—with me on the inside. Outside, my son was on the phone to my wife. From my concussed fog, I called his name. As he recalls the moment, I slowly said, “Tell your mom I love her very much.”

Apparently I thought this might be goodbye, and I wanted those to be my parting words. In the moment, that’s what mattered most to me.As Jesus endured His darkest moment, He didn’t merely tell us He loved us; He showed it in specific ways. He showed it to the mocking soldiers who had just nailed Him to a cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). He gave hope to a criminal crucified with Him: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). Nearing the end, He looked at His mother. “Here is your son,” He said to her, and to His close friend John He said, “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27). Then, as His life slipped from Him, Jesus’s last act of love was to trust His Father: “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Jesus purposefully chose the cross in order to show His obedience to His Father—and the depth of His love for us. To the very end, He showed us His relentless love……..By Tim Gustafson

REFLECT & PRAY: Every word of Jesus was spoken in love.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

Bulletin

Fear and Faith

April 5, 2020
wlcc

WLCC weekly bulletin to help you start your week with a smile.

Whatever we face, we face it together.

COVID-19 and Your Marriage

How are you doing? How are you and your spouse doing as a couple? Seeing yourself and your spouse as a team may never have been more important than it is now. Stress levels are high. Fear can affect us in many ways. When we let stress overwhelm us and let our fears lead us to dark places, we can be isolated. We can be short, we can get angry, and we can withdraw. 

If you are experiencing any of these, big red flags should be going up. The good news is that you do not have to stay there. In our marriage vows we said things like “for better or for worse,” “for richer or poorer,” “in sickness and in health.” The intent was that whatever we face, we face it together. Ecclesiastes says that, “two are better than one.” Today is the day to come together with God and commit to being a team that is inseparable. That is your One Thing for today.

Today’s One Thing:

As a couple, come together with God and commit to being a team that is inseparable!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething  (It’s free!)

WLCC enjoyed a friendly beard competition. The winners receive a “trophy” and a gift card for a hair cut at Darrell’s Barbershop, Purcellville.
Judging occurred via pictures, rather than in person, authenticity could not be verified. 😊

The Faith to Endure

Suffering produces endurance………Romans 5:3

Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) led an unsuccessful expedition to cross Antarctica in 1914. When his ship, aptly named Endurance, became trapped in heavy ice in the Weddell Sea, it became an endurance race just to survive. With no means of communicating with the rest of the world, Shackleton and his crew used lifeboats to make the journey to the nearest shore—Elephant Island. While most of the crew stayed behind on the island, Shackleton and five crewmen spent two weeks traveling 800 miles across the ocean to South Georgia to get help for those left behind. The “failed” expedition became a victorious entry in the history books when all of Shackleton’s men survived, thanks to their courage and endurance.

The apostle Paul knew what it meant to endure. During a stormy sea voyage to Rome to face trial for his belief in Jesus, Paul learned from an angel of God that the ship would sink. But the apostle kept the men aboard encouraged, thanks to God’s promise that all would survive, despite the loss of the ship (Acts 27:23-24).

When disaster strikes, we tend to want God to immediately make everything better. But God gives us the faith to endure and grow. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “Suffering produces endurance” (Romans 5:3 esv). Knowing that, we can encourage each other to keep trusting God in hard times.

By Linda Washington

REFLECT & PRAY:

Heavenly Father, I need Your help to keep going, even when it’s tough.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

Bulletin

Weekly Bulletin

March 28, 2020
wlcc

A message of Hope for the days and weeks ahead.

March 29, 2020

Featuring Dr. Kim Kimberling

COVID-19 and Your Marriage

I wake up each morning just the way I have for most of my life. I wake up easy and am usually ready to get the day going. The only difference now is that there is this air of uncertainty. The reality of what we are living sinks in some time in the first minute or so that I am awake. What will this day bring? Will the news continue to be difficult to listen to? When will there be good news?

I realize that I have a choice: I can get down and depressed or I can fight back. Nancy and I have chosen to fight back. This is what we are doing. First, we are doing everything asked of us by our local, state, and national governments. We sanitize and wash. We try to protect others as well as ourselves. We are looking at fun, safe things to do together like cooking and playing games. We limit our talk on the virus to new information as much as possible. We count our blessings, and there are so many. In other words, our goal is to live full lives under the necessary constraints we are all dealing with. Are you fighting back as a couple? Your One Thing today is to fight back together in whatever ways work for the two of you!

Today’s One Thing:
Fight back together in whatever ways work for the two of you!

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething (It’s free!)

Would a loving God allow this?      The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.   Psalm 34:18   

Something’s Wrong

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.—Psalm 34:18
The morning after our son, Allen, was born, the doctor sat down in a chair near the foot of my bed and said, “Something’s wrong.” Our son, so perfect on the outside, had a life-threatening birth defect and needed to be flown to a hospital 700 miles away for immediate surgery.
When the doctor tells you something is wrong with your child, your life changes. Fear of what lies ahead can crush your spirit and you stumble along, desperate for a God who will strengthen you so you can support your child.
Would a loving God allow this? you wonder. Does He care about my child? Is He there? These and other thoughts shook my faith that morning.
Then my husband, Hiram, arrived and heard the news. After the doctor left, Hiram said, “Jolene, let’s pray.” I nodded and he took my hand. “Thank You, Father, for giving Allen to us. He’s Yours, God, not ours. You loved him before we knew him, and he belongs to You. Be with him when we can’t. Amen.”
Hiram has always been a man of few words. He struggles to speak his thoughts and often doesn’t try, knowing that I have enough words to fill any silence. But on a day when my heart was broken, my spirit crushed, and my faith gone, God gave Hiram strength to speak the words I couldn’t say. And clinging to my husband’s hand, in deep silence and through many tears, I sensed that God was very near. —Jolene Philo
REFLECT & PRAY:
The best kind of friend is a praying friend.

Credit: Our Daily Bread

LOVE RECKLESSLY


I’m not sure that we treat the great command like it’s the greatest commandment. I have the conviction that if love isn’t easy, we don’t give it. Often, we only offer our love when it doesn’t require much effort. We love our families, our hobbies, and we love donuts. We love the things that are easy, but this world needs people who love in face of disagreement, rejection, and even hatred. I wonder what would happen if we had an out-of-control type of love—one without conditions, fears, barriers, qualifiers, or protectors. What if we loved when it wasn’t easy or convenient? What if we loved God and others recklessly?

We’ve all had moments where we could have extended and given our love away, but instead we chose to do nothing. Doing nothing is the silent killer of the gospel. It’s sort of like boiling our faith down to reducing sin—we can easily think that not doing certain things make us good and holy…but it’s the opposite! It’s doing something that makes us faithful followers of Jesus!

Love sits at the center of a life engaged in doing things that matter!

In the parable known as The Good Samaritan Jesus paints a picture of what it means to love recklessly. The Samaritan didn’t only see the need, but he chose to do something! The story compares the Samaritan’s actions to a Priest and a Levite, who chose to do nothing. It’s interesting that these two people were “religious” people who claimed to love God, yet they avoided the messy, hard situation. How many of us do this in life? We love when it’s easy, we are good people but seem to go neutral when reckless love is required.

The danger for most of us is not that we’ll become bad people who don’t care about things that matter. No, the danger is that we’ll become good people who don’t do anything that matters! Within you lies a person who desires to love. God’s Spirit is pulling you and inviting you to become more of that person. The Spirit never guilt’s you, shames you, or bullies you to become loving.

He compels you!

Thought for the week.
Bulletin