Valentines Day Special: Part One

Obviously everyone is talking about Valentine's Day because it is just around the corner. Yesterday I was reading She Seeks--another awesome blog geared toward women--and the post was all about being Committed. Just so you know, She Seeks is a blog written by a community of female authors. Committed is this weeks post by Lisa Whittle.

The post itself was awesome but as I was reading the comments I was hit smack in the face with all the problems facing our marriages. Woman after woman talked about their struggles in their marriage. Sometimes they were the problem, sometimes it was their spouse, and your heart just breaks.

That's when I decided that my next few posts will be my Valentine's Day specials and will deal exclusively with love, dating, and marriage. It all starts today.



This song I have included here is called "Dancing in the Minefield" by Andrew Peterson. This first time I heard the title of this song I didn't have a clue what it was about. So take a good listen before you write it off. It's an awesome song about marriage. In a lot of ways, I think the chorus really sums up what marriage should be.

We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for

No matter whether you find yourself in the good times, the bad times, or the in between times don't give up. You are not alone! Cling to Jesus. Cling to your spouse. Be committed! Live by the promise you made to each other on your wedding day. Seek prayer and support. Your marriage is worth it.

More to come...

Walking with God

In my quiet time today, I read a fact that intrigued me. The word "walk" appears over 380 times in the Bible ("Voices of the Faithful: Book 2" p 12). In those 380 times that it appears it has many different uses and subsequent meanings. Sometimes, it is the description of physically walking--as in "he was walking in the garden"(Gen. 3:8). Other times it has a much deeper meaning--"Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you"(Deut. 5:33).

I want to focus on the second kind of walk. So many times you hear about people, especially in the USA, who claim to be Christians but you couldn't tell it by their lifestyle. The Bible speaks about these individuals in Titus and 1 John...

"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." Titus 1:16


"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18

Sometimes God calls us to physically walk around and share His word or to do something for Him, but He always calls us to spiritually walk with Him. Are you walking with God today? Are you walking in His word? Are your actions telling people that you love God and that He is the Lord of your life? I pray that each of us will use this year to have a closer walk with the Lord that people may know we are Christians not only by the words that we say but also by the walk we are living.

Walking thru the Bible:

Walk Faithfully	Gen. 5:22,24; Gen. 6:9; Gen. 17:1; Gen. 24:20; Gen. 48:15; 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 8:25; 1 Kings 9:4; 2 Kings 20:3
Walk in Obedience	Deut. 5:33; Deut. 8:6; Deut. 11:22; Deut. 19:9; Deut. 26:17; Deut. 28:9; Deut. 30:16; Joshua 22:5; 1 Kings 2:3; 1 Kings 3:14; 1 Kings 8:58; 1 Kings 11:38; 2 Chronicles 6:31; Ps. 128:1
Walk in Godly Instruction	1 Kings 3:3; 1 Kings 3:14; 2 Chronicles 7:17
Walk in Integrity	1 Kings 9:4; Prov. 10:9
Walk in Fear of the Lord	Nehemiah 5:9; Prov. 14:2
Walk in Righteousness	Ps. 1:1; Ps. 15:2; Prov. 8:20; Isa. 33:15
Walk Blamelessly	Ps. 84:11; Ps. 101:6; Prov. 2:7; Prov. 19:1; Prov. 28:6; Prov. 28:18
Walk in the Light	Ps. 89:15; Isa. 2:5
Walk in Wisdom	Prov. 28:26

There are many, many more ways that the word "walk" is used in the Bible. If you have some that speak to you particularly or that you would simply like to share, please tell us about it in the comments section.

May you walk in Grace and Peace today.

2010 in Ten Words or Less

I was reading a blog on January 1st that another minister’s wife had written. It was only ten words long but it spoke to me. It wasn’t a poem or a sentence. It was a list. A list of ten words encapsulated this woman’s experiences in 2010. It gave me pause. If I were to sum up my year in ten words or less, what words would I choose? Would we have any words in common? Would they be more positive than negative or vice versa? What memories and experiences stick out and determine the words I choose? Could I even do it—limit myself to ten words?

In the end, I still haven’t made my list. However, I have spent time praying about the things that I have seen and done in 2010 and the things that I would like to do or to do differently in 2011. It has helped me to focus my attention in a few measureable and achievable New Year’s Resolutions. Who knew that 10 simple words could have such depth?

How would you summarize your 2010 experience in 10 words or less?

Big Picture People

Have you ever met that one person who cannot see past the next ten minutes of the day? Everything is dramatic and the world is always coming to an end. Oh wait! We all know teenagers! Sadly, many adults live this way too.


As Christians, God calls us to be big picture people. That doesn’t mean that we have everything planned out to the letter for the next twenty years of our lives (read the dangers of this in James 4), but it does mean thinking of more than the moment. I think you could make a valid case that all successful individuals practice big picture perspective.

When people with big picture perspective encounter choices, crisis, opportunities, and struggles they stop for a minute to think. Before making any decisions they think, “What consequences good or bad could come from how I handle this situation?” Teenagers are notorious for rushing headlong into situations without a moments thought.

For example, if Andrew wants to get a tattoo he should stop and ask himself a few questions. Will I still want this tattoo when I 30+? Is my chosen location for the tattoo appropriate for my future career choice? *Side Note: I know some churches and other ministry employers that will not hire if you have a tattoo at all let alone if you have one on your face!* But many people don’t stop to give these questions and others any consideration.

This lack of big picture perspective has corroded so many things in our lives. Our rash decisions from the past are haunting us now. We regret the people we’ve dated, the jobs we’ve taken, or the places we have lived. Yes, God uses these choices to help us to learn and to influence the person we have become, but just think of the pain and regret that could have been avoided with just a little bit of thought!

Take 5 minutes today and think about how the decisions you are making could be affecting your future. You might be surprised at what you discover!