Defeating Depression Part I [Charismatic Devotional Thread]

Kad-Esh Shabbat Letter 16th of June MAP Ministries ^ | 16 June 2006 | Rabbi Baruch, Bishop Dominiquae Bierman

[JockoManning]

THE POWER OF PERSISTANCE


Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”


Then Yahveh said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8


Throughout my entire walk with Y’shua I have noticed that He loves those that persevere and persist and never give up. Just like this widow that kept on going before an unrighteous judge until finally he gave in to her. So many times YAH gives people a vision and they quit because of the opposition and the heat of the battle.


But we must understand that opposition, persecution, rejection and adversity is not the time to quit. It is only the time to persist and to persevere. Never give up doing what YAH told you to do! If He spoke to you, He will carry you through and defend you, in fact He will not move UNTIL you put yourself all out for Him and for the vision that He has given you. When you think that you are about to fail, to sink all of a sudden He will show up for you and He will get all the Glory!


When Israel had exited Egypt after 430 of bitter slavery, they found themselves between the Red Sea and the fearsome Egyptian army that was chasing them to annihilate them. Nevertheless Moses persevered and kept walking with the entire nation though he knew fully well that he was coming to a dead end- The Red Sea! It was The Almighty Himself through the Cloud of Glory that led them to a dead end! Many times when you are doing Yahveh’s will you will find yourself in a place of impossibility where you can be made a laughing stock unless He shows up!


It is in that place that you need to press through and persevere in obedience, no matter what He tells you to do! Moses extended his rod and the sea parted! The rest is history! The widow kept on making a fool of herself before the unjust judge and he yielded. How many times have we been afraid of making a fool of ourselves by following God’s instructions all the way to the end?


I want to encourage you today to “get out of your box” and put yourself all out to obey Him all the way. It may cost you “your reputation” and even some friends that will be ashamed of you and full of the fear of men, but when He shows up YAH will get the Glory! And you will go down in history as a SOMEONE! You see; we never hear about the “nobodies” in the Holy Scriptures!


We only hear about the “someone’s” and those “someone’s” always had to make fools of themselves by obeying and believing Yah! Just to name a few examples: Abraham, Elijah, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Peter, and Mary Magdalene and of course Y’shua the King of the Jews Himself! They all persisted and persevered in spite of all opposition making a fool of themselves before men in order to glorify God!


They changed the course of history and so can you if you function in the same humble spirit that is a daring spirit!


We are fools for the Messiah’s sake, but you are wise in the Messiah! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 1 Corinthians 4:10-12


Paul changed history because he was willing to be made a fool for Messiah’s sake and of course he was mocked, cursed and reviled! However 2000 years later he is constantly quoted by every Christian that respects himself as the ultimate authority in Christian matters! But how many would be willing to put themselves all out as this Jewish Apostle?


You see, Paul- Shaul was not a Christian theologian, he was a Jewish apostle and the true apostolic will cause you to become a fool in the eyes of men in order to please and glorify God! We need to recover the true Apostolic-Prophetic spirit, in fact The Messianic-Apostolic-Prophetic spirit that our Jewish forefathers have left us. We are called to rise up and persevere to the end! Though we might be fools before men, we will become a SOMEBODY in the eyes of YAH!


Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by the Messiah Y’shua to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20, 21


We love you and care for you,
Your friends in Israel,
Rabbi Baruch and Bishop Dominiquae Bierman

[JockoManning]

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture: Mark 10:22

It Is Hard to Enter


The kingdom of god stands over against all other kingdoms--that is, against all other authorities, sources of power, objects of trust. It is hard to enter the kingdom of God--not because an angel is set to keep us out, not because God would surround Himself with a highly selected elite, but because the condition for admittance is renunciation of all other kingdoms.

The wealthy stranger who ran up to Jesus, knelt, and inquired how he might receive eternal life "went away with a heavy heart" (Mk 10:22 NEB). He did not want to pay the price of entrance--a shift in the source of his trust, from money (which seemed concrete and dependable) to this "Good Master" who asked everything visible and dependable in exchange for what was invisible and seemingly very undependable.

Every day we are asked which kingdom we choose. Is it, in the last analysis, "thine" or "mine" which I most desire? What is it that my most earnest prayers are directed toward?

[JockoManning]

ATTITUDE:

Once there was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today". So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M, " she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"



Attitude is everything.

+* +* +*

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[JockoManning]

When All Your Plans Come Crashing Down, by Patrick D. Odum

 

 

 

            Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:12 TNIV).

 

          Adam Sutton had plans. He intended to ask his girlfriend, Erika Brussee, to marry him, and he planned to do it in a way she would remember for the rest of her life.

 

          There's no doubt she'll remember it. But Adam's plans didn't exactly work out as he intended.

 

          The nineteen year old from Rome, Georgia, told Erika that they were going out on a date. Their date was to the town's airport, where the couple got onto a small chartered plane. Adam's plan was to have family members hold up a sign reading, "Will you marry me?" He would then open the box containing the engagement ring he intended to offer to Erika. Definitely memorable.

 

          It started to go bad almost immediately.

 

          First off, the sign was partially obscured and Erika only saw the word "marry" as the low-flying plane flew slowly past it. That was the second problem, the "low" and "slow." Too low and too slow. The plane stalled, and nosed into the tarmac from which it had just taken off.

 

          Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt in the crash, though the pilot was knocked unconscious and Adam had to pull him to safety. Adam and Erika ended what was supposed to be their engagement flight in an ambulance.

 

          Adam was finally able to propose to Erika in the mbulance. After all that, thankfully, she said, "Yes!" This despite the fact that the ring box was empty when Adam opened it. The ring was apparently lost in the crash.

 

          Adam Sutton had plans. Most of us do. We make plans because, well, what else would we do? We have hopes, aspirations, goals, and so we make plans. Most of us chart some sort of a course through life; it changes, of course, evolves. We modify it as our priorities change, or as obstacles make some of our plans unworkable. "Many are the plans in the human heart."

 

          Think about some of the plans you've made. Career plans. Family plans. Plans for education, for retirement. Investment plans. Some of them have probably panned out, right? Gone pretty much as you intended? Some others probably haven't. Maybe you haven't found the career you want yet, or gone as far in your chosen field as you had hoped to have gone by this point in your life. Maybe your retirement plans haven't worked out as you wanted. Hopefully, your plans haven't crashed as dramatically as Adam Sutton's, but if you're like most of us, not everything you've planned has gone just like you intended.

 

          Sometimes that's just because there's no way to see every possibility, plan for every eventuality. Sometimes our plans don't pan out simply because circumstances change, or maybe because they weren't realistic to begin with -- my childhood dreams of playing Major League baseball fall into that category!

 

           ... It started to go bad almost immediately.

 

          Other times, our plans fail for other reasons, reasons that we can't easily explain. We struggle to understand, we ask why, we suffer through disappointment, frustration, anger, or depression. Maybe, as time passes, we learn to live with the disappointment and move on to other plans. But not always. There are times when the failure of our plans can have permanent and sometimes debilitating consequences.

 

 

 

          "Many are the plans in a human heart," says the proverb, "but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." On its face, that isn't remarkably comforting, is it? Sounds like a dismissal of human plans, a trivialization of our aspirations and hopes. It almost sounds cynical, like we shouldn't even bother to make plans. Why bother? After all, how often do those plans that clutter and crowd our hearts come about as we envision them?

 

          That's one way to read it, I suppose, but there's a better alternative. The proverb doesn't say that we should stop making plans. It doesn't intend to discourage our dreams and hopes, and intentions, but to put them in perspective. While our plans often don't work out as we had intended, God's always do. The plans God conceives in his heart always come about exactly as he conceives of them, because for him the conception and the working out are one in the same.

 

          What he envisions in his heart comes to pass. "My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please," God promises. "What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do" (Isaiah 46:10-11 TNIV).

 

          More important than the many plans that sometimes seem to fill our hearts near to bursting are the never-failing plans of God. In the end, when all the plans that meant so much to us will be a memory, if that, it will be what he has intended and put into effect that matters.

 

            In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will ... When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14)

 

          Chosen. Predestined. The purpose of his will. Marked. Seal. Guarantee. God's plans include us; his great purpose is to redeem those who belong to him and make good on his promises to grant us an inheritance in his house. The best-laid plans that we can make won't assure anything of that scope. God's plans are as big as putting the whole universe right through Jesus Christ. But they're also as narrow as giving you hope, peace, security, and life.

 

          You know, sometimes I'm convinced that our plans don't work out as we envision them simply because God knows better than we do. I think sometimes the inexplicable failure of our plans is due simply to the grace of God – he stands in the way when what we plan isn't good for us, or would in the end lead us away from being a part of his plans for us. I know, we prefer to think of grace as permissive. But there are times when the most loving thing God can do is to prevent us from having what we've convinced ourselves that we need.

 

        So the next time you find your plans headed for the tarmac, I pray that you'll be reminded of the God whose plans never fail, and of the plans he has for you. Oh, it might well still hurt. But maybe, mixed up with that hurt, you'll be able to find reason for hope and even joy.

 

          Plan on it.

 

            May he grant your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans. (Psalm 20:4 NLT, 1st Ed.)

 

Patrick D. Odum <patrickodum@dignity.com>.

 

 

[JockoManning]

Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2 Joshua 1:7 Titus 2:3-5 Joshua 23:6-8

Pass It Along

Joshua 23:6-8

Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.

Pass It Along

Sometimes we wonder why God allows certain things to happen to us. "Why did God allow my child to die?" "Why was I stricken with cancer?" "Why do I have to face such a struggle with finances?" There's no one answer that fits every situation. But sometimes God allows us to undergo certain experiences so we can pass along the things we learn to those following us.

As he assumed the leadership of Israel, Joshua faced times of great fear and uncertainty. In the midst of those difficulties, God encouraged him with the exhortation, "only be strong and very courageous" (1:7). Furthermore, the Lord commanded him, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth . . . that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it" (1:8). Joshua had learned a great deal from the hardships he suffered and, as he approached the latter years of his life, he shared this wisdom with the ones who would be leaders after he was gone.

As God's people, we have a responsibility to pass on to the younger generation those truths God has taught us. Some call this "mentoring." The apostle Paul exhorted both Timothy and Titus to encourage the older generation to be teachers and encouragers of those who are younger (2 Tim. 2:2; Titus 2:3-5).

Don't waste the wisdom God has shared with you. Sometimes younger people don't seem to want to listen, so be creative in your mentoring. Learn to pass on truth in the form of stories or even write them in a notebook. Don't let the truths God has taught you go to waste.

[JockoManning]

Then are we servants of God, then are we the disciples of
Christ, when we do what is commanded us and because it is commanded us.

-- John Owen

[JockoManning]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 24:13

Not For Sale

Joshua 24:13

"I [God] have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant."

Not for Sale

During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, was working in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her and offered to buy food for some of his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him what he wanted. Roosevelt could not understand. He cared about his men, and he was willing to pay for the supplies out of his own funds. So he went to the surgeon in charge, who said to him, "Colonel, just ask for it!" A smile broke over Roosevelt's face. Now he understood--the provisions were not for sale. "I will ask for it," he said, and when he did, he got the food at once.

Joshua reminded the people that all they possessed--their land, their cities and their vineyards--were not the result of their own efforts. Certainly they had confronted the enemy. Obviously they had engaged in many dangerous and bloody battles. But those victories were not the ultimate source of their possessions. Instead, all that they owned was a gift from God.

God is not in the retail business. All of our good deeds, our generous gifts, our religious activities could not begin to buy our salvation. But God is willing to give it to us. When we receive Christ as our Savior, all that God has is ours for the asking.

Enjoy God's gracious gifts today. Thank Him for providing them without price and without cost. They are yours not because you buy them, but because God gives them.

[JockoManning]

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet

Seed and Yeast


When we see things we believe need to be changed, most of us are impatient to see them done at once. The kingdom of God does not operate spectacularly, with a sudden rush of irresistible force, but rather like seed and yeast. These are small and wholly unimpressive and go to work only when buried. They need an appropriate medium in which to generate change, but the life-principle is there, latent but powerful, ready to begin the slow and marvelous process of transformation.

Our prayers for change--in people, in situations--are summed up in the old petition, "Thy kingdom come"--but when we ask for that we are asking for what may seem an excruciatingly drawn-out business. We will need the patience of the farmer and the baker who, having done the one thing needful, then quietly (and with calm faith) wait for the thing to happen.

[JockoManning]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 24:15

You've Got to Choose

Joshua 24:15

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

You've Got to Choose

Sometime ago many newspapers carried a story about a woman who was divorcing her husband after discovering he had two other wives and several children by each of them. His explanation? He couldn't bear the thought of hurting any of them, so he had married all three. He was a traveling salesman, so he was able to carry out the farce for several years. Rather than facing a hard choice, he took the easy way out.

Once established in the Promised Land, the Israelites also were confronted with a multitude of choices. And the choices weren't necessarily easy. They could worship the gods of Egypt. These were gods that their parents had known from their long years of servitude. Familiarity made that tempting. On the other hand, the gods of the Amorites, the nation they had conquered, offered opportunities to indulge the flesh, which many likely found attractive. Some may have stood betwixt and between, but Joshua was not afraid to make the hard decision. Boldly he declared, "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."

Choosing to serve the Lord is not always an easy decision. Sometimes it means going against the religious beliefs of your family. Other times peer pressure and the desire to "fit in" make us hesitant to declare openly our commitment to the Lord. Many people find it easiest to behave like a chameleon, changing colors to fit whatever group they happen to be with. But that only temporarily avoids making the hard decision.

Today, decide to take a stand. Whom will you serve? Will it be yourself? Will it be the gods of pleasure or wealth or ease? Or will you choose the God who loves you? Making a decision for Christ may be hard, but it's a choice you will never regret.

The easy choice is seldom the right choice.

[JockoManning]

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture: Mark 4:33


Able to Receive

A young woman asked recently why it is that godly professors in her seminary are on opposite sides of certain doctrinal fences. A partial answer is that we know only in part. None of us sees the whole truth, and what we do see is "through a glass darkly." We are at different stages of the journey.

Sometimes I sympathize with the author of Psalm 119--"Gusts of anger seize me as I think of evil men who forsake Thy law"--and wish I could force people to accept what I see as truth. Jesus did not force them. "With many such parables He would give them His message, so far as they were able to receive it" (Mk 4:33 NEB).

There may be some who are willing but not able to receive, others able but not willing. Only God can be sure who's who. We are to be faithful in transmitting the message and willing to respect the hearer. If God grants him freedom of will to receive or reject, so must I. If he is as yet unable to receive it, I must entrust him to God, remembering the narrow limits of my own understanding as well.

[JockoManning]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: Exodus 17:10 Exodus 24:12-13

Clap and Cheer

Exodus 24:12-13

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them." So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.

Clap and Cheer

Little Jamie Scott was trying out for a part in his school play. His mother knew he had his heart set on being in the play, but she feared he wouldn't be chosen.

On the day the parts were awarded, apprehensively she picked him up after school. To her surprise, Jamie came rushing out, his eyes shining with pride and excitement. "Guess what, Mom!" he shouted. "I have a part! I've been chosen to clap and cheer."

God calls some of us to be in the limelight; others He calls to "clap and cheer." At this point in his life, Joshua was asked to do the latter. It would be 40 years before he became the leader of Israel. In the meantime, he was a supporter and assistant to Moses.

And he did it well. Whether it was battling with the Amalekites (Ex. 17:10) or providing moral support as Moses met with the Lord on Mount Sinai, Joshua served the Lord by being an encouragement to the His servant.

Those whom God calls to serve Him in leadership face many challenges. Often they carry deep responsibilities and heavy spiritual burdens. At times they are the target of malicious gossip or hurtful behavior. You can understand how important it is that they have around them some mature believers who are there to "clap and cheer" for them. What a blessing such encouragement can be!

Have you given any thought to how you might be an encouragement to the servants of God whom you know? Who encourages your pastor or his wife? Who cheers on the Sunday school teacher or the workers at the homeless shelter? What can you do today to lighten their load and lift their spirits?

Too many are prone to criticize and complain. Perhaps God has a part for you. Commit yourself to "clap and cheer" and you'll be the hit of the play.

Be a cheerleader, not a jeer-leader.

[JockoManning]

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture: Acts 4:29-29

Enable Thy Servants


Many of our prayers are for a quick and easy solution. God is more glorified in his people when they exhibit his grace under pressure. When Peter and John had been discharged by the rulers, elders, and doctors of the Jewish law with orders not to speak again in the name of Jesus, the Christians prayed about it--"They raised their voices as one man and called upon God." Their prayer was not, "Make these people stop persecuting Thy servant," but, remembering the word of prophecy concerning how the Messiah was to be treated, they asked God only to notice what was happening to his servants and to enable them to speak with boldness (Acts 4:29 NEB).

We, too, may bring any difficult situation to our heavenly Father, laying it before his eyes, and asking not for instant escape but for "enablement"--for strength to sustain the burden and do what we ought to do without the fear of man.

[JockoManning]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: Exodus 32:17-18

Deceived by the Noise

Exodus 32:17-18

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." But [Moses] said: "It is not the voice of those who shout in victory, nor is it the voice of those who cry out in defeat, but the voice of those who sing that I hear."

Deceived by the Noise

Lost in the jungle, a man sought desperately to find his way to safety. His strength was ebbing fast. Suddenly he heard what he thought was a bell tolling in the distance. Surely civilization must be near by. Valiantly he struggled on, but never seemed to draw closer to the sound. Finally he fell to the ground exhausted, never to rise again. The uncanny call of the South American bellbird, which sounds like a reverberating "toll," had struck again. Instead of offering the weary traveler promised safety, it lured him to his death.

Joshua made a similar mistake. When he heard the sounds of shouting, his military mind immediately assumed he was hearing the sounds of battle. But Moses, experienced in the ways of human nature, realized it was something even more sinister. What Joshua mistook for the sounds of potential physical danger, Moses recognized as the sure sounds of serious moral danger. Instead of war, it was the noise of debauchery and immorality.

Satan is a skilled noisemaker, and he loves to disguise the reality of sin with deceitful noise. He cloaks his wicked ways with words that sound lofty and noble. He hides his lies and deceit beneath raucous laughter, emotional appeals or apparent sincerity. The consequences, however, are spiritual disaster or even death.

Don't be fooled by the noise. Always take what you hear back to the Word of God. If it's not consistent with the Bible, take no heed to it no matter how good it sounds.

Check out the words you hear by the Word you trust.

[JockoManning]

MARRIAGE RESTORATION

Gary and Mona Shriver: After the Affair

By Tim Smith

“As I was coming home that night, that was one of the toughest things I ever had to do in my life. I was going to confess to my wife that I’d been having an affair. There wasn’t a place in my life that wouldn’t be affected by this revelation.”

Gary Shriver hid his secret for three years. The other woman was his wife’s best friend.

He says, “One baby step after another, we got a little bit more intimate and a little bit more intimate. Eventually it fell into a sexual relationship. I didn’t think we were vulnerable but that’s where it ended up.”

A co-worker confronted Gary about his sin.

“He sat me down and said, ‘Gary, I think you’re having an affair, and you really need to do something about this.’ It was the perfect opportunity. God was leading me there, shouting and saying it was time to do something. I just agreed at that point. I said, ‘You’re absolutely right.’”

Gary continues, “So then I picked up the phone, and I called my senior pastor. He agreed to meet with me. On my way home that night I stopped by his office. We talked and I confessed everything to him.”

The worst part was still to come.

Mona recalls, “When Gary walked through the door that night, I could tell by one look on his face that something horrible was wrong. I remember thinking that somebody had died. But he came, sat on the bed and said, ‘I’ve betrayed you.’”

“I confessed everything to Mona,” Gary says.

In making that confession to his wife, Gary felt an incredible weight lift from his shoulders. But at that point, Mona had a decision to make….

“We left the house,” she says. “We needed to talk, and our children were in bed. So we left the house and went to the office and talked briefly. He asked me if I wanted a divorce. I asked him if he wanted a divorce. Neither one wanted a divorce… In terms of fault and blame, everybody wants to find something to blame -- someone at fault. If you can pinpoint exactly how this occurred, then maybe you can prevent it from ever happening again.”

“Obviously this was my fault. I’m the one that did this,” says Gary. “It’s not that we didn’t have issues as a couple. Don’t get me wrong. There is never an issue big enough that would ever justify adultery. That needs to be said and underscored right here.”

“One of the things that was such a deep need for me personally was I needed hope that we could heal,” Mona says. “We desperately wanted to be able to sit across the table from another couple that could look us in the eye and say, “You can heal from this. You can make it. It is possible.’ Quite frankly, we didn’t know if it was possible. We certainly didn’t know how to do it.”

Gary and Mona persevered. They spent time in counseling and in prayer. Healing came one day at a time and with it hope.

“We’re wiser now,” says Mona. “There will always be issues, because Gary and I are two individual human beings. We are not perfect and our relationship is not perfect. But the difference now is that when we encounter issues, we deal with them. We recognize them earlier. We don’t just shove them under the mat because it’s a little uncomfortable. We’re both more willing to give.”

It’s been more than a decade since the affair, and now Gary and Mona have started a support group for those going down the same road.

“Satan is a great deceiver, and the world out there says [to] throw it away,” says Gary. “’You can’t make it through this, this is too tough. You can’t get through this.’ You can. We are here to prove that. Mona and I have been through this. So if they hear anything out of this today, just know that there’s a loving God. Jesus Christ is willing to heal their relationship.”

“Not only can they make it through, but it’s worth all the pain,” says Mona. “Maybe the only reason you would consider doing that is because you believe in God and you know that would be the desire. That’s okay. You can start there. We would just encourage you to recognize that there truly is hope for healing. It can be done. It’s worth it.”

Message Board: What can Christian couples do to keep their marriage together after an extramarital affair?

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[JockoManning]

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet

Limitations Are Gifts


Yesterday as I was reading my brother Tom's book, The Achievement of C.S. Lewis, I was admiring again the scope of his knowledge, his ability to comprehend another's genius, and his wonderful command of English. By contrast my own limitations seemed severe indeed. They are of many kinds--analytical, critical, articulatory, not to mention educational. But my limitations, placing me in a different category from Tom Howard's or anyone else's, become, in the sovereignty of God, gifts. For it is with the equipment that I have been given that I am to glorify God. It is this job, not that one, that He gave me.

For some, the limitations are not intellectual but physical. The same truth applies. Within the context of their suffering, with whatever strength they have, be it ever so small, they are to glorify God. The apostle Paul actually claimed that he "gloried" in infirmities, because it was there that the power of Christ was made known to him.

If we regard each limitation which we are conscious of today as a gift--that is, as one of the terms of our particular service to the Master--we won't complain or pity or excuse ourselves. We will rather offer up those gifts as a sacrifice, with thanksgiving.

[Quix]

Thanks.

BTW, about to head home.

[JockoManning]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: Philippians 1:6 Numbers 11:27-29

Zealous for What?

Numbers 11:27-29

And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, "Moses my lord, forbid them!" Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!"

Zealous for What?

How easy it is to misplace our zeal. Around 1420 A.D., "golfe" or "the Gouf" became so popular that King James II of Scotland feared the pastime placed the country at risk in its ongoing war with England. He reasoned that his men were spending too much time chasing the "golfe" ball and too little time practicing archery. Consequently the king persuaded his government to pass an act of parliament banning "golfe." Obviously, his zeal was misplaced, not to mention ineffective.

Joshua also had a misplaced zeal. As the assistant to Moses, he considered it his responsibility to make sure his master's power and influence were not threatened. Since part of Moses' authority stemmed from the fact that God spoke through him, the thought of others prophesying or speaking for the Lord disturbed Joshua. In his enthusiasm to protect his master's position, he was ready to hinder the proclamation of God's Word.

Over the centuries, God has used many instruments to proclaim His Word. Sometimes these instruments possessed questionable motives. The apostle Paul noted that some "preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely" (Phil. 1:16). His conclusion? "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice" (v. 18).

Our zeal must primarily focus on the message, not the messenger. If the Word of God is being faithfully proclaimed, let's rejoice. God sometimes chooses the least likely to speak for Him. If someone is not a true spokesman for Him, God will take care of that. We need not worry.

Be zealous for the message; God will judge the messenger.

[JockoManning]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: Numbers 13:16 Numbers 13:1-2

Fulfilling our Responsibilities

Numbers 13:1-2, 16

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.

These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.

Fulfilling Our Responsibilities

The British naval hero Lord Nelson took his responsibilities very seriously. During his life he conscientiously served his nation in its ongoing conflict with France and Spain. Fatally wounded in the battle at Trafalgar, Nelson said before he died, "Thank God, I have done my duty."

Joshua carried heavy responsibilities as well. He was a leader among the people of his tribe. He was one of 12 chosen to spy out the land of Canaan. Later he would become Moses' right-hand man in leading the armies of Israel against their enemies. In fact, Moses gave him the nickname "Joshua," which means "he shall save his people." That was a tremendous responsibility to live up to as well. Yet with God's help, Joshua was able to come to the end of his days with the confidence that he had successfully fulfilled all the duties God had given him.

Most of us discover early that life has many obligations. There is schooling to complete, a family to raise, a job to perform, a church to support, bills to be paid, and so much more. And, if God calls you into leadership, there are usually additional commitments that come with your position. Some days can seem a bit overwhelming.

But don't be overpowered by it all. With God's help, you also can complete your responsibilities. When you get swamped, take time out, get alone with God in some secluded place, and read His Word for encouragement and strength. Ask God's Spirit to refresh you and to provide the wisdom you need to successfully fulfill all that is set before you. Be faithful to your obligations and discover the satisfaction of a life well lived.

Being responsible before God is being responsive to God.

[ladyinred]

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through the Messiah Y’shua. Philippians 4:6,7

Thank you for reminding me of this scripture. I am going through some hard things right now, and find myself having anxiety attacks. I used to repeat this verse to myself all of the time during times of trouble, but had not thought of it until seeing this.

I feel that God has reminded me that He is in charge and that I can trust Him to handle the problem. I have been trying to handle this all by myself, and as a result, am having physical problems because of it. Bless you for posting this!

[Salvation]

Depression is such an influence on today's society. Many don't have God in their lives and so they don't know where to turn. They just stay depressed. Unfortunately then, this leads to addictions and other problems.