SESSION 3 HAPPILY EVER AFTER

· TEACHING

HOW MANY OF YOU WERE LIKE THOSE COUPLES?

-MARRIAGE IS GOING TO BE AWESOME, SEX WHENEVER, YOU ABSOLUTELY DID NOT NEED THE MARRIAGE COUNSELING THE PASTOR OFFERED? NO WAY WE DIDN’T NEED THAT AT ALL........WE WERE IN LOVE!

I THINK PERSONALLY I THOUGHT MARRIAGE WAS GOING TO MAKE ME HAPPY. AND NO DOUBT IT CAN AND SHOULD HOWEVER THAT IS NOT THE CHEIF GOAL GOD INTENDED FOR MARRIAGE.

GARY THOMAS COINED THE PHRASE “WHAT IF GOD DIDN’T INTENT FOR MARRIAGE TO MAKE US HAPPY BUT TO MAKE US HOLY”? (BOOK SACRED MARRIAGE-GOOD READ)

NOTHING BRINGS OUT EVERY CHARACTER FLAW, AND INSECURITY IN ME QUITE LIKE MARRIAGE DOES........

THE HONEY MOON STAGE, FOR US IT DIDN’T LAST AS LONG AS WE THOUGHT. WHY IS THAT?......... WE CAN BLAIM IT ON MANY THINGS BUT REAL LIFE HAPPENS.

BUT I THINK IT SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST LIFE HAPPENING, I BELIEVE IT COMES DOWN TO “ ARE WE ON A JOURNEY OR ARE WE SIMPLY TRYING TO FIGHT THOUGH LIFE TO GET TO AN IMAGINARY DESTINATION?”

LET BE HONEST IF WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER AS A DESTINATION THAN THAT IS IMAGINARY..........

JOHN 16:33 ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””

LAST SESSION WE TALKED ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF FORGIVENESS-FORGETTING THE FORMER THINGS. THE MAJORITY OF SESSION 2 WAS SELF-INFLICTED OR A WOUND FROM SOMEONE ELE.

THIS SESSION BRINGS US FACE TO FACE WITH THE FACT THAT “IN THIS WORLD WE WILL FACE TROUBLE”. IN YOUR MARRIAGE YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE AND MOST OF THAT TROUBLE IS SIMPLY OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.

WE ARE GETTING READY TO WATCH THE NEXT ROUND OF TESTIMONIES AND I WANT YOU TO REALLY LEAN IN, LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. MANY OF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TOTALLY RALATE AND SOME OF YOU THEY WILL BE TELLING YOUR EXACT STORY. I DON’T WANT YOU TO BE CONDEMNED OR HEAVY BY WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH OR HAVE WENT THOUGH. PAY ATTENTION TO “BUT TAKE HEART, I HAVE OVERCAME THE WORLD”.

WHAT GOD DID FOR THEM HE WANTS AND WILL DO FOR YOU.

SESSION 3 MAIN TESTIMONY VIDEO

WHY HAPPILY EVER AFTER?:

WE TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER, BUT WE CHOSE HEA BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID “I DO”, THATS ALL WE HAD IN MIND. NOW IF YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR LONGER THAN 2 WEEKS YOU MAY THINK THAT HEA DOES NOT EXACTLY DESCRIBE MARRIAGE.

AND MOST IF NOT ALL OF US THINK OF IT AS A DESTINATION WHEN IN REALITY I BELIEE IT IS A JOURNEY.

EVEN IF YOU HAD THE BEST MARRIAGE COUNSELING IN THE WORLD, I DON’T THINK ANY OF US WAS FULLY PREPARED FOR WHAT MARRIAGE WOULD BRING.

NO ONE THAT HAS EVER SAID THE WORDS “I DO”, OR THOSE OF YOU PREPARING TO SAY THEM, PLANNED FOR MARRIAGE TO BE AWFUL, WHETHER WE USED THE PHRASE OR NOT WE EXPECTED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER SIGN IN OUR BED ROOM….

FOR US IT WAS A DESTINATION, BUT WE QUICKLY FOUND OUT THAT DESTINATION WAS ONE THAT IS VERY DIFICULT TO FIND. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY WE REALIZED IT WAS A JOURNEY, W/ UPS & DOWNS, BUMPS & BRUISES… A WORLD WITH MANY TROUBLES

WE STARTED OFF THIS WAY W/ HAPPILY EVER AFTER AS OUR DESTINATION THAT WE HAD ARRIVED AT UPON THE KISS THAT SEALED OUR VOWS

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS, MARRIED 2 YEARS AFTER HS, STARTED A BUSINESS & HAD OUR FIRST CHILD BEFORE 2 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.

LIFE BEGAN ROLLING REALLY QUICK…OUR DREAM/DESTINATION WAS HAPPILY EVER AFTER, BUT REALLY WE HAD NO PLAN AND THEREFORE WERE UNEQUIPPED FOR ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD ARISE

AMANDA- I HAD WANTED TO BE MARRIED FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE WE WERE AND IN MY MIND NOW THAT WE WERE GETTING MARRIED ALL OUR PROBLEMS WOULD VANISH…. MOVE UP???

I AM A NATURALLY SELFISH PERSON & AMANDA IS A NATURALLY GET IT DONE AND GIVING PERSON. WHICH IS AN AWESOME THING BUT ITS NOT SO AWESOME WHEN ITS PAIRED WITH A SELFISH SELF CENTERED MACHINE, LIKE MY SELF. IT BASICALLY WAS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. IF I NEEDED OR WANTED SOMETHING AMANDA WOULD FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, CREATING MORE OF A MONSTER….BLACK HOLE OF SELFISHNESS WHO WAS SUCKING IT….

ONCE HE WAS FINALLY READY & WE MARRIED, I THOUGHT, THIS IS IT….HE LOVES ME ENOUGH TO GET MARRIED, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT HAPPILY EVER AFTER

§ AMANDA—I WANTED TO BE MARRIED SO BAD, I WANTED TO FEEL THAT COLT LOVED ME ENOUGH TO MAKE THE DECISION TO CHOOSE ME AS HIS BRIDE, BUT HE FELT WE NEEDED TO BE “READY” AND I HAD TO WAIT ON HIS TIME TABLE.

WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING & FUN HONEYMOON TRIP TO NIAGRA FALLS. I REMEMBER PLANNING ALL THE DETAILS OF THE WEDDING & HONEYMOON, BC I WANTED THEM TO BE PERFECT.

I CALLED TRIPLE A AND THEY MAILED US A MAP THAT GAVE US THE STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS TO & FROM OUR HONEYMOON DESTINATION. WITHOUT THIS MAP WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST, WE DIDN’T HAVE SMARTPHONES, WE HAD TO RELY ON THAT MAP.

NOT TOO FAR INTO OUR VOYAGE WE GOT OFF THE MAP W/O REALIZING IT & WHEN WE MADE THE DISCOVERY WE WERE OFF THE PATH, WE HAD TO FIND OUR WAY BACK TO THE BEST ROUTE. IT COST US A COUPLE HOURS, BUT THANKFULLY WE HAD THE MAP THAT GOT US BACK ON TRACK.

· THIS MAP WAS OUR TRUE NORTH-AN ESTABLISHED POINT OF DIRECTION

WHAT IS A TRUE NORTH? True North is your orienting point - your fixed point in a spinning world - that helps you stay on track. It is derived from your most deeply held beliefs, values, and the principles you lead by. It is your internal compass, unique to you, representing who you are at your deepest level.

BASICALLY YOUR TRUE NORTH IS THE ONE POINT IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEVER MOVES, ITS AN ESTABLISHED, STATIONARY POSITION THAT YOU CAN REFFRENCE YOUR INTIRE LIFE ON TO KEEP YOU TRACKING IN THE RIGHT DIRRECTION.

AND FOR THE CHRISTIAN THAT IS GOD, HIS WORD, HIS PRINCIPLES AND HIS WAYS.

LIKE AMANDA SAID, AFTER WE GOT MARRIED WE TOOK OFF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED MARRIAGE REALLY FAST. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF MARRIAGE WE BOUGHT A HOUSE, STARTED A BUISNESS AND HAD OUR FIRST CHILD. AND FOR THE MOST PART LIFE WAS GOOD AND MARRIAGE WAS GREAT. AND TO BE HONEST THE BEGING OF OUR MARRIAGE REALLY STARTED OF RIGHT. WE READ OUR BIBLES, WAS INVOLVED IN CHURCH, AND EVEN LEAD SMALL GROUPS. WE BELEIVED GOD FOR THIS BUISNESS AND HE MADE THE WAY AND EVEN BLESSED OUR PATH.

BUT BECAUSE MARRIAGE WAS A DESTINATION TO US THAT WE WERE TRYING TO ARIVE AT, WE WERE TOTALLY UNPREPARED FOR WHAT LIFE WOULD THROW AT US.

LIFE HAS ITS WAY OF THROWING CURVE BALLS, AND I QUIT BASEBALL BECAUSE OF CURVE BALLS!

SO THIS BUISNESS REALLY TOOK OFF. AND IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING SEEMINGLY GOING GREAT THE CURVE BALL CAME AND I REALLY WASNT READY. SOMEWHERE AROUND YEAR 5 OR 6 I BEGAN TO FALL INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION. FEAR, ANXIETY AND WORRY PLAGED ME AND GRIPPED MY LIFE. IT WAS IRRATIONAL, DIBILITATING FEAR AND WORRY, BUT IT WAS VERY REAL TO ME.

YOU SEE I BEGAN TO FOCUS ON THIS BUISNESS SO MUCH SO THAT IT CONSUMED MY LIFE. I PUT GOD, MY FAMILY AND PRETTY MUCH EVERY THING ELSE IMPORTANT TO ME ON A SHELF. I FELT LIKE MY LIFE WAS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD A SERIES OF 3-4 PANIC ATTACKS AND THIS WAS TAKING A TOAL ON OUR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY.

THIS LEFT ME CARRING FOR THE KIDS, CARING FOR COLT AND ALSO TRYING TO DECIDE WETHER TO HIDE WHAT WAS GOING ON OR TAKE HIM TO A STRESS CENTER.

AT MY LOWEST POINT I CAME TO THE PLACE WHERE I COULDNT SEE A WAY OUT AND I FELT THE ONLY WAY TO END WHAT I WAS FEELIG WAS TO END MY LIFE. I NEVER DONE ANYTING TO ACT ON THAT FEELING BUT THOSE THOUGHTS CONSTANTLY WERE IN MY MIND. THIS WAS ONE OF A FEW TURNING POINTS IN MY LIFE THAT BEGAN A JOURNEY BACK TO GOD.

§ I DON’T WANT TO PAINT THE PICTURE THAT NOW I HAD A TURNING POINT, OUR LIFE AUTOMATICALLY FELT HAPPILY EVER AFTER, BUT WE DID BEGIN TO RE-ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER TOGEHER

WE FOUND OURSELVES WAY OFF THE PATH THAT GOD HAD INTENDED FOR OUR MARRIAGE AND LIFE. IT WAS VERY DIFICULT, I DIDNT SIGN UP FOR THIS AND ALL THE TROUBLES DEFFINETLY CAUSED ME TO DOUBT WETHER I MARRIED THE RIGHT PERSON OR NOT.

‘YOU MAY BE OFF TRACK RIGT NOW BY NO CHOICE OF YOUR OWN. YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANC IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CHOSE-IT JUST HAPPENED.

MORE THAN LIKELY EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING HAS LOST THIER WAY, BEEN OFF THE COURSE OR MAY EVEN BE LOST RIGHT NOW. I PUT THE ONE THING ON A SHELF THAT IS THE ONLY THING/PERSON THAT CAN GUIDE OUR LIVES.

I HAD A DESTINATION MINDSET WHEN I NEEDED TO REALIZE I WAS ON A JOURNEY.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER DOES NOT MEAN PROBLEM-FREE, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE ARE WALKING OUT LIFE, SOMETIMES REALLY DIFFICULT LIFE, WITH OUR FAVORITE PERSON BY OUR SIDE.

§ HE WAS CONSTANTLY WORRIED ABOUT LOSING WHAT HE HAD BUILT, RUINING OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

§ THIS CONTINUED ON AND OFF FOR 4 YEARS WITH 3-4 TIMES OF FULL BLOWN PANIC ATTACKS, LEAVING COLT A BALL OF WORRY AND AMANDA STRUGGLING TO CARE FOR THE KIDS, COLT AND NOT TELLING ANYONE THAT COLT WAS ON THE VERGE OF A MENTAL BREAKDOWN. THERE WERE MULTIPLE TIMES THAT I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, CHECK HIM INTO A STRESS CENTER OR CONTINUE TO TRY RIDE IT OUT.

DURING THESE STRESSFUL YEARS, WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH, LEADING SMALL GROUPS, TITHING, READING OUR BIBLE, DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS BUT HONESTLY WE HAD STOPPED SEEKING GOD FOR A RELATIONSHIP AND WAS DOING IT OUT OF OBLIGATION.

GOD WAS NO LONGER OUR TRUE NORTH, OUR EST. POINT OF DIRECTION

§ TELL TRUE NORTH STORY

TELL TRUE NORTH STORY

§ MY LOWEST POINT WAS AFTER A PANIC ATTACK, WHEN I FELT LIKE MY ONLY WAY OUT WAS DEATH. THIS WAS DIRECTION CHANGE, WHICH I HAD MANY OF, BUT MY TURNING POINT DIDN’T COME UNTIL I ATTENDED ME AND THE HOLY SPIRT SPOKE TO ME AND SAID THAT I HAD

AS CRAZY AS THIS SOUNDS, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING. MY NORTH GOT SHIFTED TO THE BUSINESS GOD HAD BLESSED US WITH AND I SAW IT AS MY VEHICLE TO HAPPINESS AND IF I LOST THAT, OUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER WAS LOST AS WELL.

JUST ENUF CHRIST TO LOOK AND FEEL GOOD, BUT IN REALITY HE WAS NO WHERE IN THE CENTER, HE WAS NOT MY TRUE NORTH, MY EST. POINT OF DIRECTION….THIS WAS MY TURNING POINT.

§ I DON’T WANT TO PAINT THE PICTURE THAT NOW I HAD A TURNING POINT, OUR LIFE AUTOMATICALLY FELT HAPPILY EVER AFTER, BUT WE DID BEGIN TO RE-ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER TOGEHER

WHICH IS NOT A DESTINATION BUT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED DAY BY DAY WITH THE ONE WE LOVE, WHILE PUTTING CHRIST IN THE CENTER IN ALL WE DO.

HEAVEN IS A DESTINATION/MARRIAGE IS A JOURNEY, HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS A JOURNEY CALLED MARRIAGE.

YES THIS DETOUR OF STRESS, ANXIETY, WORRY, AND NOT KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE IT, TOOK US OFF TRACK & COST US TIME, FOR YEARS WE DIDN’T LIVE THE LIFE OR FULLY ENJOY THE MARRIAGE GOD HAD DESTINED US TO.

THE PIVOTAL TURNING POINT WAS A SUNDAY IN OCTOBER WHEN I ATTENDED MENS ENCOUNTER. GOD CLEARLY AS I HAVE EVER HEARD, TOLD ME THAT I HAVE JUST ENOUGHT OF CHRIST IN MY LIFE TO MAKE ME FEEL GOOD AND LOOK GOOD. BUT IN REALITY HE IS NO WHERE NEAR THE CENTER. THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT I BEGAN TO RE-ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY.

THERE IS SOME OF YOU MEN IN HERE THAT NEED TO RE ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY. YOU HAVE LOST YOUR PASSION, YOU GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. AND SOME OF YOU ARE LEADERS AND YOU LOOK GOOD AND FEEL GOOD. YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR TRUE NORTH-YOUR ESTABLISHED POINT OF DIRRECTION.

THESE PAST 5 YEARS SINCE THAT PIVOTAL TURNING POINT HAS DRAWN US CLOSER TO GOD & TO EACH OTHER

MY STRESS AND ANXIETY WERE HEALED BY DAILY DOSES OF THE WORD AND PRAYER. CLAIM VICTORY

OVER THESE PAST YEARS, GOD HAS LED US TO DEAL WITH ALL THE UNRESOLVED ISSUES WE NEVER KNEW HOW TO HANDLE.

§ AMANDA BEING A FIXER, ALWAYS WANTING ME TO BE HAPPY AND FULFILLED AND I WANTING THE SAME THING FOR MYSELF.

THERE HAD BEEN YEARS OF ME FOCUSING ON MY NEEDS, MY WORRY, MY STRESS, THAT I HAD NO MORE ENERGY TO FOCUS ON HER NEEDS.

GOD HAS TAKEN US ON AN INTENSE TRAINING COURSE WHICH HAS LED TO US BEING HERE AT ISD…

OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS GOD HAS SHOWN US WHAT A TREASURE MARRIAGE IS.

PROVERBS 18:22 “THE MAN WHO FINDS A WIFE FINDS A TREASURE, AND HE RECEIVES FAVOR FROM THE LORD.”

YOUR WIFE IS A TREASURE AND LIKEWISE YOUR HUSBAND IS A TREASURE. YOUR MARRIAGE IS A TREASURE. ITS A SPECIAL GIFT FROM GOD. AND IF YOUR WONDERING IF YOU MARRIED THE RIGHT “ONE”, THE ANSWER IS, IF YOUR MARRIED THEN THEIR THE RIGHT ONE.

EPHESIANS 2:10 FOR WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.

IF WE ARE GODS MASTERPIECE THEN WHEN YOU PUT TWO MASTERPIECES TOGETHER AND, AS SESSION ONE TAUGHT US, WE BECOME ONE, THEN MARRIAGE BECOMES GODS MASTERPIECE. SO IN GODS EYES YOUR MARRIAGE IS A BUITIFUL WORK OF ART. A COSTLY, RARE, GEM THATS VALUE IS IMEASURABLE. THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD VIEW MARRIAGE.

THE PROBLEM IS WE CAN NOT SEE IT. LIFES PROBLEMS, MISTAKES, CIRCUMSTANCES OUT OF OUR CONTROL, THINGS WE DIDNT ASK FOR AND THINGS WE DONT WANT HAPPEN TO US. AND IT COVERS THIS MASTERPIECE GOD MADE WITH MUD.

JOHN BURKE WROTE A BOOK CALLED UNSHOCKABLE LOVE. AND ITS ABOUT THE MASTERPIECE BEHIND THE MUD. HE TALKS ABOUT JESUS’S LOVE BEING UNSHOCKABLE. HE WAS NOT SHOCKED BY THE SIN STAIND LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS. HE COULD LOOK PAST THE MUD AND SEE THE SOUL OF EVER MASTERPIECE THAT GOD CREATED.

AND I PROPOSE THAT LIKEWISE, HE CAN JUST AS EASILY LOOK PAST THE MUD AND SEE THE BEUTY OF YOUR MARRIAGE. WE NEED GODS LENSES TO SEE OUR MARRIAGES THE WAY HE SEES THEM.

SO THINK ABIOUT THIS, YOUR WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU CUT THROUGH AN ALLEY TO SAVE TIME AND YOU NOTICE A PAINTING IN THE TRASH. YOU RECOGNIZE IT, IT RESEMBLES A PAINTING YOU HAVE SEEN BEFORE. SO YOU GO OVER AND PULL IT OUT OF THE TRASH. THIS PAINTING IS STAINED AND COVERED WITH MUD. BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME OF IT, AND JUDGING BY WHAT YOU CAN SEE, YOU REALIZE IT IS A PICASO. ITS A PAINTING POTENTIALLY WORTH MILLIONS. ITS REALLY AN INVALUABLE WORK OF ART BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT IN THE WORLD. BUT IN THE EYES OF MOST PEOPLE IT IS RUINED, THATS WHY THEY THREW IT OUT. BUT YOU KNOW ITS A MASTERPIECE. YOU THINK, WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I THINK IF WE TRULY BELIEVED IT WAS A MASTERPIECE THEN WE WOULD FIND THE MOST TALLENTED, QUALIFIED, AND RENOUNED RESTORER IN THE BUISNESS. HE WOULD PROFESSIONALLY AND CAREFULLY REMOVE EVERY STAIN AND WASH AWAY EVERY BIT OF MUD. AND HE WOULD DO IT IN A WAY THAT TOTALLY PRESERVED THE TREASURE BENEATH. RESTORING IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL DESIGN.

GODS THE GREAT RESTORER, HE IS OUR TRUE NORTH, THE ONE THINHG IN OUR LIFE THAT NEVER MOVES OR CHANGES. HE WANTS TO BRING REVIVAL TO YOUR MARRIAGE.

HOW MANY OF YOU CAME HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR MARRIAGE REVIVED? I THINK MARRIAGES ARE HUNGRY FOR REVIVAL.

THIS PAINTING IS A BUITIFUL MASTERPIECE BY ITS SELF, BUT IT DOES MORE THAN CASUE PEOPLE TO STOP IN AWE OF ITS BUITY. IT POINTS PEOPLE TO ITS CREATOR. THATS WHY WE CALL IT A PICASO OR A REMBRANT..

AND THAT IS WHAT GOD INTENDS FOR OUR MARRIAGES, A DISPLAY OF THE GOSPLE, POINTING PEOPLE TO JESUS. WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOUR MARRIAGE HEALED AND RESTORED, AND YOU GIVING GOD THE GLORY FOR IT ALL, ALL THEY COULD EVER SAY IS “WOW, THAT IS GODS MASTERPIECE”.

I DO AND I STILL DO- I DO IS THE YES AND I STILL DO IS THE JOURNEY.

JOHN 16:33 ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””

WE ALL FACE TROUBLES, SOME GREATER THAN OUTHER, NO DOUBT. MANY OF YOU CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO WHERE I HAVE BEEN. AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE OF YOU THAT MY STORY PAILS IN COMPARISSON TO WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH. AND I KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE.

THE FACT REMAINS JESUS SAID “IN THIS WORLD WE WILL HAVE TROUBLES”

BUT THE BEUTY OF IT IS HE HAS OVERCAME THE WORLD, HE SAID “BUT TAKE HEART, I HAVE OVERCAME THE WORLD”! THAT IS GREAT NEWS UNTIL YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR PROBLEM..........

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR TROUBLES, WHEN MARRIAGE TURNS OUT TO BE NOTHING LIKE WE EXPECT?

WE HAVE TO ADJUST COURSE, WE HAVE TO CONSULT OUR TRUE NORHT.

IF WE ARE OFF TRACK WE ADJUST COURSE. BUT IF WE ARE NOT WE HAVE TO TRUST THE MAP. WE MAY HAVE TO CONTINUE ON THE JOURNEY THOUGH DIFFICULT TIMES KNOWING THAT WE ARE PUTTING JESUS ON DISPLAY.

BUT THE BEUTY OF IT IS WE DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE. MARRIAGE INCLUDES TWO HUMANS AND ONE REALLY BIG GOD.

ISSUES ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW CLOSER TOGETHER.

HEBREWS 13:4 SAYS TO GIVE HONOR TO MARRIAGE & REMAIN FAITHFUL TO ONE ANOTHER IN.

HONOR MEANS PRECIOUS, VALUABLE OR COSTLY. MAY IT BE OUR AIM TO HONOR GODS MASTERPIECE OF MARRIAGE.

PRACTICALLY WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN YOUR MARRIAGE?

§ THE ENEMY WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT HAPPILY EVER AFTER EQUALS PERFECTION, THAT LIFE IS PERFECT. IF THAT IS OUR THINKING, THEN WHEN A LESS THAN PERFECT SITUATION, OR REALLY A BAD SITUATION PRESENTS ITSELF, THEN WE ARE NOT LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER=NOT THE MARRIAGE YOU SHOULD BE IN.

MAKE GOD YOUR TRUE NORTH, ESTABLISH HIM AS YOUR NEVERCHANGING, IMMOVABLE, POINT OF DIRRTECTION.

§ THE MAN WHO FINDS A WIFE FINDS A TREASURE & HE RECEIVES FAVOR FROM THE LORD (PROVERBS 18:22NLT)

BE WILLING AND COMMITTED IN YOUR MARRIAGE. (IT TAKES BOTH OF YOU TO GET THOUGH THE REALLY THOUGH THINGS OF LIFE)

RE-ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY. (SEEK AN REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BOTH TOGETHER AND PERSONALY)

READ A MARRIAGE DEVOTION TOGETHER. (SACRED MARRIAGE DEVO)

PRAY TOGETHER. (WE TALK ABOUT THAT ALOT, ITS IMPORTANT)

OUT DO EACH OTHER IN LOVE. (ROBERTS TALKED ABOUT OUT SERVING ONE ANOTHER, MAKE IT A GOAL TO MEET AS MANY NEEDS YOUR SPOUCE HAS AS YOU CAN EACH DAY)

THOSE ARE SOME PRACTICAL TOOLS YOU CAN USE TODAY. BUT IF YOU LACK ONE THING THEN ALL OF THAT WILL BE USELESS.

DESIRE

DESIRE-YOU CAN HAVE EVERY TOOL IN THE SHED, BUT IF WE DON’T HAVE THE DESIRE TO USE THESE TOOLS THEY ARE USELESS

· IF THIS WEDDING RING THAT I VIEW AS A TREASURED GIFT WAS TO BE LOST

o SAY I WAS GARDENING AND MY TREASURED RING SLIPPED OFF INTO THE DIRT (NEED A LARGE GLASS JAR (WITH SOME DIRT IN BOTTOM), EXTRA DIRT, SHOVEL, RING, SCOOP TO RETRIEVE, LARGE GLASS OF WATER, TOOTHBRUSH)

o IT WOULD STILL BE VALUABLE AND IT WOULD BE A SAD DAY THAT THIS TREASURE WAS MISSING.

YOU MAY NOT EVEN HAVE THE DESIRE TO ASK FOR THE DESIRE AT THIS MOMENT, BUT THE WORD SAYS THAT

o YOUR MARRIAGE IS A TREASURE & MAYBE THIS PRECIOUS TREASURE HAS SOME DIRT ON IT. THIS DIRT MAY BE (TALK SLOWLY, ALLOWING THE MOMENT TO TAKE HOLD WHILE SCOOPING MORE DIRT IN.)

§ INFERTILITY..AN AFFAIR…STRESS….DEPRESSION…LOSE OF A CHILD…HEALTH PROBLEMS….TAKING CARE OF AGING PARENTS…LOSE OF JOBS…YOU CAN FILL IN THE BLANK FOR YOU SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE.

§ IF I KNEW WHERE MY PRECIOUS TREASURE WAS HIDING, I WOULD MOVE MOUNTAINS TO FIND IT AND EVEN IF IT IS DIRTY AND GRIMY IT IS STILL VALUABLE….IT WOULD NOT MATTER THAT IT WAS FILTHY. I WOULD SEARCH UNTIL I FOUND IT AND THEN I WOULD CLEAN IT UP.

§ THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO FOR OUR MARRIAGE

GOD IS WORKING IN YOU GIVING YOU THE DESIRE & THE POWER TO DO WHAT PLEASES HIM- PHILIPPIANS 2:13 NLT

§ MAYBE YOU FEEL THAT YOUR MARRIAGE IS SO DIRTY, THAT IT’S HOPELESS

YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED AN UNFORSEEN SITUATION SUCH AS A LOSS OF A CHILD & YOU DIDN‘T HAVE THE TOOLS YOU NEEDED & YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS STRAINED.

IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU DONT HAVE ANY DESIRE, IF MARRIAGE AND THE ISSUES OF LIFE HAVE YOU FEELING DEFEATED, THEN BOTH OF YOU SIMPLY NEED TO TURN TO GOD. HE IS THE ONE THAT GIVES THE POWER AND THE DESIRE, HIS DESIRE IS THAT YOU SEE YOUR MARRIAGE AS THE MASTERPIECE THAT IT REALLY IS.

§ ********

CALLENGE AND INSPIRE AND PRAYER???????

§ IS THERE ANY AREA OF YOUR MARRIAGE YOU NEED TO VIEW AS A PRECIOUS TREASURE?

WE HAVE OUR MAP, OUR TREASURE MAP IF WE HAVE JESUS AS OUR TRUE NORTH

JUST LIKE WE HAD A MAP THAT TOOK US FROM LICKING MO TO NIAGRA FALLS, CANADA AND IT DID WELL, AS LONG AS WE FOLLOWED ITS INSTRUCTIONS.

BUT ONCE WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION, THE EMBASSEY SUITES OVERLOOKING THE MAJESTIC NIAGRA FALLS, WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT ELSE THERE WAS IN THE AREA, SO WE HAD TO GET ANOTHER LEG OF THE MAP OUT.

IF WE DIDN’T HAVE THE NEXT LEG OF THE MAP, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE HOTEL (MAYBE THAT WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN SO BAD!)

YOU MAY BE IN A SEASON OF YOUR LIFE THAT YOU ARE FACING AN OBSTACLE AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED ANOTHER LEG OF THE MAP.

ARE YOU CURRENTLY IN A SEASON OF LIFE THAT YOU NEED THE NEXT LEG OF THE MAP FOR YOUR NEW DESTINATION?

WE HAVE THE MAKER OF THE MAP, OUR TRUE NORTH, OUR EST POINT OF DIRECTION

HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS

GOD IS WORKING IN YOU GIVING YOU THE DESIRE & THE POWER TO DO WHAT PLEASES HIM- PHILIPPIANS 2:13 NLT

BEGIN TO PRAY THIS

§ SEEK AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

· INDEPENDENTLY & TOGETHER

· READ A MARRIAGE DEVOTION TOGETHER

· PRAY TOGETHER

o WAS THIS HARD FOR US-YES! FOR THE ENTIRETY OF OUR MARRIAGE AMANDA WANTED IT….GO AHEAD.

o HUSBANDS-YOUR WIVES NEED AND CRAVE BEING PRAYED OVER AND ALTHO IT CAN BE HARD TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO HEAR YOUR MOST PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS W/ GOD, QUESTIONING, IF IT IS GOOD ENUF….IT IS

o LADIES, ENCOURAGE YOUR HUSBAND IN THIS, DON’T ASSUME HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT, SPECIAL AND HOW GOOD OF A JOB HE IS DOING-TELL HIM.

o HEBREWS 13:4 SAYS TO GIVE HONOR TO MARRIAGE & REMAIN FAITHFUL TO ONE ANOTHER IN MARRIAGE

· SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT MARRIAGE IS:

· A TREASURE

·

o WE HAVE A VIDEO & WHEN THIS VIDEO IS OVER WE WANT YOU TO PRAY TOGETHER AND IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, PRAY THE PRAYER WE HAVE WRITTEN FOR YOU IN THE BOOK.

· END W/ THE VIDEO OF PRAYING QUESTIONS COMPILATION ALONG W/ ROSS IF POSSIBLE QUOTE ABOUT MY TIME TO LEAD AND ROBERTS OUT-SERVING