MINISTRY NOTES

Week of December 27, 2009

Hi Everyone,

A really good marriage can in reflect in a small way, good love for God. A man shared with me that shortly after he and his true love first kissed and she said she loved him, she said expressing her love and trust, "I will do anything you want me to do". He said he always remembered this statement of love. He said he never reminded her of the statement because her love was so constant and overwhelming. He out lived her and he said his only concern for possible regret was did he let her know enough how much he loved her. Early in their love when friends were concerned about having the right partner, he said her love made him be more concerned about being the right partner for her. Can you say to God, "I will do anything You want me to do"? As a child of God, are you concerned about being all God wants you to be?

Marriage Workshop Moment

To refresh what you have learned in our Workshop or entice you to experience our Workshop

"Remember, all marriages can be better, if you use what you learned."

In all marriages you have issues. Most marriages have money issues. Some may have issues of distrust or in-laws or sex, etc. Issues can represent on going subjects of disagreement in a marriage. Events are a surface happening that triggers an issue. For example, if money is tight and a bill comes, it may trigger a disagreement. Or if one person has issues of distrust and the other person comes home late, this can trigger an argument. When an argument is triggered it is a good to call time out and use the Speaker Listener Technique in your discussion. In some young marriages, people tell me this type of discussion is almost a daily occurrence. This could be like not putting air in your bike tires until they are flat. This can damage the tire and it is better make sure they have enough air every time you go for a bike ride. In the same way, instead of waiting for an event to trigger an argument, it is better to discuss issues in you weekly couples meeting. Then when an event happens, the issue may already be resolved.

The Better Half

"When your partner won't support your efforts to make your marriage better"

Without your spouse's support to improve your marriage, you can still pray daily for God's will to be done in each of your lives and your marriage ("all things are possible with God", Mark 10:27 NIV). The above subject is more difficult when your partners will not work on the issue. You can help defuse volatile situations if during good times you bring up potentially volatile issues and try to resolve them when times are going good.

Understanding the Message:

What I share in the message is what I believe God wants me to share. All the direct quotes from God are highlighted in royal purple. Of course the words of Jesus are in red. Rather than follow some made up doctrine, remember that Jesus said that every thing He said (Jn 12:49) and everything He did (Jn 14:31) comes from God. All teachings and all opinions should be supported by what we learn from God or Jesus (see the scripture referred to in the footnote).

Message:

Still Alive

Many months after Jesus was born, a group of wise men from the East came to visit Him1. Some may wonder why I would say many months, since typically their visit is mentioned in most Christmas stories as being at the time of His birth. They even have pictures with them and the shepherds visiting baby Jesus. They even suggest in tradition that there are three wise men possibly from the three gifts, but in reality there is no number mentioned in the Bible. Fact: the only written record we have of Jesus' birth is in the Bible. There are no birth certificates, copies of newspapers, or any type of historical records written at the time, that mentions the birth of Jesus. The record that is in the Bible, apparently from Joseph's viewpoint in Matthew and apparently from Mary's viewpoint in Luke, were part of Hebrew oral tradition originally and were not recorded in Greek until 30 or 40 years after Jesus rose from the dead, and we only have copies of the originals that were made many years after that. It is wonderful that people believe what is in the Bible without knowing Jesus or God personally. This could be called blind faith. Regarding people who do not believe, even if there were definite proof with a video recording, they still wouldn't believe. It is like Jesus said in another situation; "…they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead"5.

The knowledge that the group from the east, often called wise men, came many months later is in details that you can know from reading your Bible. It is recorded that King Herod found out from the wise men, when they first saw the star and then when he tried to kill baby Jesus he had his soldiers kill all babies under two years of age2. This implied that King Herod believed Jesus was less than two years of age but older than a newborn. Most special knowledge people claim to have regarding God or Jesus usually has a simple explanation or is untrue. If I ever say something that is not clear, ask me and I will try to explain. Although some Christians only base their beliefs on what is written in the Bible, God is alive and Jesus is alive today. Yes, John tells us about both being present in the revelation he received3. When we talk to God, when we experience the reality of the one true living God, then we know that all the other details found in the Bible are accurate. How do we know? Many people say God tells them things and maybe it is true and maybe not. It is not our place to "judge" others4. Of course people judge themselves if they claim God told them to do something that God specifically prohibits.

As blind faith is commendable, why does it matter it we know God personally? Jesus tells us that in the end times, "the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved"7. To make our faith stronger it is good to know accurate information, if tradition is not accurate. Knowing Jesus and God personally can help a person have stronger faith and help you stand firm in times of testing. Personally I got to know Jesus first, who then led me to know God personally or Yahveh as He prefers to be called.

Each one of us needs to develop our own personal relationship with God and allow God to reveal Himself to us. An example is the Greek Miracle I experienced where God led me to the exact 5 verses out of 1010 possible verses for a major Greek test. Or where after praying occasionally for over 25 years God healed my eyes and I no longer have to wear glasses after wearing them for over 46 years. By my standards those are big miracles. God can guide you, talk to you and heal you of small problems. For example, you may start feeling the symptoms of a cold and with immediate prayer it is over in hours instead of days like in the past. Remember that Jesus tells us to ask in His "name"6. To start it can be good to ask "yes' or "no" type questions, as you get comfortable with God's voice. Remember that we cannot control God. If we could, we would never have a love one die.

Let's pray:

"Dear heavenly Father, help each one of us to know You better. Help us know Your voice and be stronger in our faith. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit when we need to check a scripture to be correct in our understanding. Thank You for helping each of us to develop a personal relationship with You, in Jesus name, amen."

1. Matthew 2:1-12

2. Matthew 2:7, 16

3. Revelations 21:22-23

4. Matthew 7:1

5. Luke 16:31 (NIV)

6. John 16:26

7. Matthew 24:12-13 (NIV)