Untitled Sermon (2)

· MARRIAGE EXPECTATION VIDEO

HOW MANY OF YOU WERE LIKE THOSE COUPLES?

MARRIAGE IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!

COMMON THEME-WE EXPECTED HAPPILY EVER AFTER

WE ABSOLUTELY DID NOT NEED THE MARRIAGE COUNSELING THE PASTOR OFFERED

NO WAY WE DIDN’T NEED THAT AT ALL........WE WERE IN LOVE!

WHY HAPPILY EVER AFTER?:

WHEN WE SAID “I DO”

WE EXPECTED HAPPILY EVER AFTER THE MOMENT WE KISSED TO SEAL THE DEAL

HEA IS ALL WE HAD IN MIND-AMAZING, PERFECT-THE COUPLES ALL SAID THIS

WE DIDN’T EXPECT TROUBLE TO HAPPEN

WE ANTICIPATED THE GARDEN OF EDEN…& THEN THE SERPENT CAME

DESTINATION VS JOURNEY MINDSET WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM

WHETHER WE USED THE PHRASE OR NOT

GARY THOMAS COINED THE PHRASE

“WHAT IF GOD DIDN’T INTEND FOR MARRIAGE TO MAKE US HAPPY BUT TO MAKE US HOLY”? (BOOK SACRED MARRIAGE-GOOD READ)

HOLY EVER AFTER-NOT ON ANY SIGNS

THE SIGN THAT HANGS ABOVE OUR WEDDING PIC SAYS AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, IT SHOULD SAY AND THEY LIVED HOLY EVER AFTER

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

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”.

AND MARRIAGE IS NO EXCEPTION

MOST OF THAT TROUBLE IS SIMPLY OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.

WE ARE GETTING READY TO WATCH THE NEXT ROUND OF TESTIMONIES

LISTEN AND LEAN IN

MANY WILL BE ABLE TO TOTALLY RELATE-YOU MAY EVEN FEEL LIKE THEY ARE TELLING YOUR STORY

DON’T LET IT FEEL HEAVY, LISTEN FOR HOPE

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

WOW-WE JUST WATCHED THESE COUPLES GO THROUGH SOME REALLY TOUGH SEASONS & WE SAW HOW GOD BROUGHT THEM THROUGH IT….

OUR MARRIAGE STORY

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS,

MARRIED 2 YEARS AFTER HS-2 YEARS LATER THAN I WANTED!

STARTED A BUSINESS &

HAD OUR FIRST CHILD BEFORE 2 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.

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-IT KEPT US ON TRACK

WHAT IS A TRUE NORTH?

True North is - your fixed point in a spinning world

BASICALLY YOUR TRUE NORTH IS

THE ONE POINT IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEVER MOVES, ITS AN ESTABLISHED, STATIONARY POSITION THAT YOU CAN REFERENCE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE ON

ON OUR HONEYMOON OUR TRIPLE A MAP WAS OUR TRUE NORTH-WE WERE PREPARED

BUT WE DIDN’T HAVE A NORTH TRUTH ESTABLISHED FOR WHEN WE RETURNED TO OUR 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT AS A NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE

WE EXPECTED LOVE WAS ALL WE NEEDED

WE LEARNED THAT FOR US TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE....WE HAVE TO HAVE GOD AS OUR TRUE NORTH

RELYING ON HIS WORD TO DIRECT OUR PATHS

VERY SHORTLY AFTER WE WERE MARRIED COLT & I REALLY STARTED SEEKING GOD

W/O KNOWING THE TERM WE SET HIM AS TRUE NORTH IN OUR LIVES & MARRIAGE

WE STUDIED THE WORD

WE TALKED ABOUT GOD OFTEN

OUR DESIRE WAS TO SEEK HIM FOR EVERYTHING

A YEAR INTO OUR MARRIAGE COLT WANTED TO START HIS OWN BUSINESS

WE PRAYED & BELIEVED THAT GOD WOULD MAKE A WAY

& HE DID! W/IN A MONTH COLT QUIT HIS JOB & STARTED THE BUSINESS HE HAD DREAMED OF

WHEN OUR BUSINESS STARTED IN 2005

GOD WAS WITH US

GUIDED OUR STEPS AND DECISIONS

CONNECTED US WITH PEOPLE

PRAYED FOR WISDOM, FAVOR AND TO BE A CHEERFUL GIVER

THE BUSINESS GREW QUICKLY & WE ADDED EMPLOYEES

WITH THE GROWTH, COLT FELT PRESSURE TO WIN JOBS TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY US, BUT THE FAMILIES OF THE MEN WHO WORKED FOR US

COLT DESCRIBES THAT A DARK CLOUD BEGAN TO COVER HIM

& HE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE FEAR, ANXIEY & WORRY

& AROUND YEAR 5 OF THE BUSINESS, COLT HAD A PANIC ATTACK, WHICH WOULD BE THE 1ST OF 4

LOOKING BACK IT IS CLEAR WHAT HAPPENED-

COLT WENT FROM SEEKING GOD W/ ALL HIS BEING TO

ALLOWING THE BLESSING GOD HAD GIVEN TO CONTROL HIS LIFE MY FOCUS HAD SHIFTED

I FOCUSED SO MUCH ON THE BUSINESS THAT IT CONSUMED MY LIFE.

THIS WAS A TOUGH SEASON-WE HAD 2 YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE TIME & DURING THE PANIC ATTACKS IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO CARE FOR THEM & COLT WHO NEEDED ME CONSTANTLY

I STRUGGLED KNOWING WHAT TO DO

IF I SHOULD SEEK HELP

CONTINUE ON PRAYING WE WOULD WAKE UP & THE NIGHTMARE BE OVER

OR CHECK HIM INTO A STRESS CENTER

THE LOWEST POINT

I REMEMBER IN THE MIDDLE OF A REALLY ROUGH TIME COLT SAID HE WAS GOING ON A WALK

& FOR THE 1ST TIME I FELT SCARED HE COULD HURT HIMSELF

I REMEMBER ASKING HIM IF HE COULD GO ALONE & COME BACK-HE ASSURED ME HE COULD

COLT TALKS ABOUT THIS BEING A TURNING POINT BACK TO GOD

ON THAT WALK IN THE MIDDLE OF A DUG OUT POND, HE FELT NO WAY OUT OF THE MISERY HE FELT

BUT HE ALSO FELT GOD AND KNEW

THE TRUTH THAT GOD WAS FOR ME

& MY FAMILY NEEDED ME

HE BEGAN TO RE ENGAGE IN A JOURNEY BACK TO GOD-B/C GOD HAD NEVER LEFT HIM.

SOME OF YOU MAY BE OFF TRACK RIGHT NOW

NO CHOICE OF YOUR OWN

YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CHOSE

IT JUST HAPPENED

OR MAYBE YOU DON’T HAVE GOD CENTERED AS YOUR TRUE NORTH

EITHER WAY MORE THAN LIKELY EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING HAS LOST THIER WAY @ SOME POINT & THAT POINT COULD BE NOW

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.

DURING THESE STRESSFUL YEARS, WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH, LEADING SMALL GROUPS, TITHING, READING OUR BIBLE, DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS

BUT HONESTLY COLT’ S ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION HAD SNUFFED OUT HIS PASSION

GOD WAS NO LONGER OUR TRUE NORTH, OUR EST. POINT OF DIRECTION, LIKE HE HAD BEEN WHEN WE STARTED THE JOURNEY

BASICALLY WE HAD THROUGH OUR TRIPLE A MAP OUT THE WINDOW & WERE FLYING BY THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS

TELL TRUE NORTH STORY

CRAZY STORY

I DID EXACTLY THAT

MY NORTH SHIFTED FROM MY FOCUS ON GOD TO BUSINESS

BUSINESS WAS MY VEHICLE TO HAPPINESS

IF I LOST IT I LOST MY HAPPILY EVER AFTER

MY TRUE NORTH WAS THE LOUDEST THING IN MY LIFE AT THE TIME.

I WAS BOUNCED AROUND BY LIFE

ITS CIRCUMSTANCES

ITS PROBLEMS & TROUBLES

I WAS A PINBALL AND LIFE WAS THE MACHINE

HAPPILY EVER AFTER WAS ONLY VISIBLE WHEN LIFE WAS PERFECT AND NOTHING WAS WRONG

HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED DAY BY DAY WITH THE ONE WE LOVE, WHILE PUTTING CHRIST IN THE CENTER IN ALL WE DO.

ITS NOT A DESTINATION

HEAVEN IS A DESTINATION

MARRIAGE IS A JOURNEY

HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS A JOURNEY CALLED MARRIAGE.

JUST LIKE THE DETOUR ON OUR HONEYMOON COST US VALUABLE TIME

US NOT HAVING GOD AS OUR TRUE NORTH IN THIS SEASON OF DEPRESSION COST US VALUABLE TIME AS WELL

WE WERE ALLOWING THE STORM OF LIFE TO BLOW US FROM HERE TO THERE INSTEAD OF THE STORM OF LIFE CAUSING US TO TURN TO THE ONE WHO CAN CALM THE STORM.

NOW TO THE THE PIVOTAL TURNING POINT

OCTOBER 2016 MENS ENCOUNTER

I SIGNED COLT UP-WHEN HE ASKED WHY, I SAID B/C MAYBE IT WILL HELP YOU GET YOUR MIND OFF WORK

LEADING UP TO MENS ENCOUNTER

COLT HAD A FINAL PANIC ATTACK THE WEEK BEFORE

HE DID NOT WANT TO GO, BUT HE DID!

GOD SPOKE THAT WEEKEND

YOU HAVE ME JUST ENOUGH IN THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE TO

MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD AND FEEL GOOD

IN REALITY GOD IS NO WHERE NEAR YOU.

THAT WAS THE MOMENT HE BEGAN TO RE-ENGAGE IN THIS JOURNEY FOR KEEPS.

SOMEOF YOU NEED TO DO THE SAME THING

YOU HAVE LOST YOUR PASSION

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

SOME LOOK GOOD AND FEEL GOOD YET GOD IS NOT YOUR NORTH

ITS TIME TO GET BACK IN THE GAME

AFTER GOD SPOKE TO ME AT MEN’S ENCOUNTER, THE STORM WAS STILL AROUND ME, BUT I HAD MY TRUE NORTH SET ON THE ONE WHO CREATED NORTH

THE STRESS AND ANXIETY THAT WERE ATTACKING HIM WERE HEALED BY DAILY DOSES OF THE WORD AND PRAYER.

IT WAS NOT HIS STRESS, IT WAS AN ATTACK

I WATCHED HIM GET UP REALLY EARLY EVERY MORNING & SPEND TIME IN THE WORD & IN PRAYER

TRANSITION POINT HERE

MARRIAGE IS A TREASURE

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.”

MARRIAGE IS A TREASURE

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 THEY ARE 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.

WE ARE GODS MASTERPIECE

PUTTING US TOGETHER MAKES MARRIAGE A MASTERPIECE

SESSION ONE TAUGHT US THAT WE ARE ONE.

IN GODS EYES YOUR MARRIAGE IS BEAUTIFUL

ITS A WORK OF ART

A COSTLY, RARE, GEM, IMMEASURABLE VALUABLE

THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD VIEW MARRIAGE

WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR MARRIAGE THROUGH GODS EYES

NOT EYES STAINED BY THE WORLD AND THE PROBLEMS IT BRINGS

ALL THE PAIN CAUSED BY THESE TESTIMONIES WE HEARD-DEPRESSION, LOSS OF CHILD, INFERTILITY CAN APPEAR TO BE THE PROBLEM

PLEASE HEAR ME, THESE THINGS ARE TRAGEDIES

PUSH US APART

DRAW US CLOSER

MICHAEL & JAMIE TALKED ABOUT THIS-WHEN THEY PRAYED FOR GOD TO HELP THEM CLING TO HIM, HE SENT THEM ENCOURAGEMENT & THEY WERE BROUGHT CLOSER TOGETHER

NATE & JAMIE TALKED ABOUT HOW GOD IS USING THEIR STRUGGLES TO HELP OTHERS

FOR US PERSONALLY , COLT’S DEPRESSION LOOKED LIKE THE PROBLEM

& IT WAS A TOUGH SEASON

HOWEVER IF THE DEPRESSION WOULD HAVE BEEN HEALED ONE DAY & WE CONTINUED THE WAY WE WERE GOING, OUR MARRIAGE WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN OFF CENTER.

WHY CAN’T WE SEE THAT MARRIAGE IS A TREASURE & A MASTERPIECE

HURT & PAIN WE HAVE EXPERIENCED

CIRCUMSTANCES OUT OF OUR CONTROL

THINGS WE DIDN’T ASK FOR, AND THINGS WE DIDN’T WANT TO HAPPEN, & THINGS WE NEVER PLANNED TO HAPPEN TO US

INFERTILITY, LOSS OF A CHILD OR PARENTS, STRESS, DEPRESSION, FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, LOSS OF A JOB, HEALTH PROBLEMS, CARING FOR AGING PARENTS, WHATEVER ELSE THAT HAS OCCURRED IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU DIDN’T EXPECT

YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND DIDN’T HAVE THE TOOLS OR THE MAP AND YOU MAY FEEL PRETTY HOPELESS RIGHT NOW

ALL OF THESE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO COVER THE MASTERPIECE OF MARRIAGE WITH MUD.

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)

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

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

JUST IMAGINE, 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 TALENTED, QUALIFIED, AND RENOUNED RESTORER IN THE BUSINESS. 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.

YOUR MARRIAGE, WHAT GOD CALLS A MASTERPIECE & TREASURE MAY FEEL THE OPPOSITE RIGHT NOW

THE PAINTING IS A BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE BY ITSELF, BUT IT DOES MORE THAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO STOP IN AWE OF ITS BEAUTY.

IT POINTS PEOPLE TO ITS CREATOR. THATS WHY WE CALL IT A PICASO…HE IS THE CREATOR OF THIS MASTERPIECE

AND THAT IS WHAT GOD INTENDS FOR OUR MARRIAGES

A DISPLAY OF THE GOSPEL-POINTING PEOPLE TO THE CREATOR OF MARRIAGE- GOD.

WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOUR MARRIAGE GOING THROUGH CHALLENGES THAT YOU DID NOT EXPECT,, YOUR MARRIAGE BEING HEALED & RESTORED & YOU GIVING GOD THE GLORY FOR IT ALL

IT POINTS THE BEAUTY BACK TO THE CREATOR AND BRINGS HONOR TO HIM.

IT LEAVES THEM SAYING “WOW, THAT IS GODS MASTERPIECE”.

IT GIVES THEM HOPE

WE KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR MARRIAGE REVIVED-WE BELIEVE MARRIAGES ARE HUNGRY FOR REVIVAL-THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE

MAYBE YOURS FEELS A BIT DUSTY W/ DIRT FROM LIFE

OR MAYBE IT HAS A THICK COATING OF MUD

OR MAYBE YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MARRIAGE IN THE MUD AND ARE TIRED OF SEARCHING FOR THE TREASURE

THE CURVEBALLS OF LIFE HAVE COME IN AND TOOK US OUT OF THE GAME

IF YOUR MARRIAGE HAS BEEN PUSHED APART & FEELS MUDDY THE WORD IS STILL TRUE

MARRIAGE IS A TREASURE

THERE IS NO CLAUSE, THE MARRIAGE COVENANT IS A TREASURE, WE NEED PUT ON THE LENSES THAT GOD LOOKS THRU TO SEE IT THE WAY HE DOES

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 OTHER, 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 COMPARISON 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 BEAUTY OF IT IS HE SAID “BUT TAKE HEART, I HAVE OVERCAME THE WORLD”!

THAT IS GREAT NEWS UNTIL YOU’RE 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?

A FEW YEARS AFTER OUR TURNING POINT & HAVING GOD HAS OUR TRUE NORTH

COLT’S MOM WAS DIAGNOSED W/ CANCER

SUPER SCARY & HAD THE POTENTIAL TO KNOCK US OFF COURSE

HOWEVER, THIS TIME WE HAD GOD AS OUR TRUE NORTH, EST POINT, WHO WAS NOT MOVING, EVEN THO OUR WORLD FELT LIKE SINKING SAND

THIS ISSUE DID NOT GO AWAY QUICKLY

WE WALKED A YEAR OF CANCER TREATMENTS & SURGERY

IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS STORM, GOD GAVE US

ROMANS 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

FOR OUR SEASONAL LIFE VERSE

& WHEN WE WERE WORRIED, SCARED, SHAKEN WE WOULD REPEAT THAT VERSE OVER & OVER.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW...

IF YOU ARE OFF TRACK, ADJUST YOUR COURSE- WE HAVE TO GO TO OUR MAP, OUR TRUE NORTH, GOD

IF YOU ARE ON COURSE, BUT THE WAVES & WINDS ARE STILL BLOWING, TRUST THE MAP.

WE MAY HAVE TO CONTINUE ON THE JOURNEY TROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES KNOWING THAT WE ARE PUTTING JESUS ON DISPLAY.

TALK ABOUT PILOT IN STORM

YOU CAN’T TRUST YOUR FEELINGS YOU MUST TRUST YOUR INSTRUMENTS

KEY TO HAVE THE RIGHT INSTRUMENTS

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

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

MAKE GOD YOUR TRUE NORTH, ESTABLISH HIM AS YOUR NEVER CHANGING, IMMOVABLE, POINT OF DIRECTION.

BE WILLING AND COMMITTED TO YOUR MARRIAGE & TO EACH OTHER

(IT TAKES BOTH OF YOU TO GET THOUGH THE REALLY TOUGH THINGS OF LIFE)

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

READ A MARRIAGE DEVOTION TOGETHER. (SACRED MARRIAGE DEVO)

PRAY TOGETHER. (WE TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT,

B/C ITS IMPORTANT) PLAY THE PRAYER VIDEO??

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.

OUT DO EACH OTHER IN LOVE.

ROBERTS TALKED ABOUT OUT SERVING ONE ANOTHER, MAKE IT A GOAL TO MEET AS MANY NEEDS YOUR SPOUSE 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

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

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

IF MARRIAGE AND THE ISSUES OF LIFE HAVE YOU FEELING DEFEATED

COLT IS GOING TO COME UP....

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR MARRIAGE FEELS MUDDY. YOU HAVE LOST THE DESIRE.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER SEEMS A REALITY FOR EVERYONE BUT YOU. YOU FEEL SO OFF COURSE

YOU DON’T THINK THERE IS A MAP THAT CAN GET YOU BACK ON COURSE.

NOT GOING TO EMBARRASS YOU

NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU COME UP FRONT.

WE ARE GOING TO PRAY FOR HEALING TO BE RELEASED, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

___________________________________________________________

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CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE AND PRAYER???????