Series: Challenges ~ ‘ I don’t have to care for her, I get to…’

Today would have been my parent’s 67th wedding anniversary.

While mom is confused why she is separated from family in a nursing home, 1 month shy of 100 years of age, dad is celebrating in Heaven. This video reminds me of how mom would drive busy roads to a nursing home daily to feed dad and take him clean clothes, this in her 80’s. She was an example for spousal commitment indeed.

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Also today, the sermon was regarding Joseph, the father of Christ. Life of obedience, it’s not always convenient. At the height of his career this exemplary husband decided to start repaying the 40 Years of marital indebtedness he had to his wife that made his career possible.

Wonderful.

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OTHER READINGS: Series: Challenges

I don’t dismiss or envy what you may be facing. Always glad to hear from you, pray for you. While you wait on the Lord in this time, you’ll learn to bless to others. Become equipped. They will need your testimony:

You have hard questions and need wisdom, perhaps start here.

 Answers. 

• Labri Fellowship ~ you have questions. L’Abri communities are study centers in Europe, Asia and America ~ honest questions about God.
• In this article: https://www.brightmoorchurch.org/
• Need a book? Just ask, we have a ‘book exchange’. Take it home, bring it back when/if you’re done. Or drop off a book for us to pass along.

Blessings !

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My Quora ~ under the Quora name of my ‘scribe assistant.’

 

Series: Challenges ~ Why should I have hope?

Oh, let me count the ways. Let not your heart be troubled.

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One grandmother – the English speaking one – seemed to never answer our questions directly. Or did she? She’d invariably say: ‘well, you know what the Bible says, ……..’ And there you have it. Perfect wisdom as its from the author of wisdom, God himself.

If you are in a challenge or know someone that is, you may be looking for answers. I’d ‘challenge’ you to ‘seek and you shall find’.

Shall I look less for satisfaction from God oppressing the enemy or more in the delights of deliverance. If I was preaching this would hence be a ‘2-part series’.

So, God oppressing the enemy vs. your deliverance.

Will God empower you to fell your Goliath who taunted until his challenge was accepted? He was dropped to the ground and his head was taken off, with his own sword no less. Weeks of taunting. No one else was provided to stop the attacks, so God enabled the taunted to overcome the taunter. Could you imagine it would have ended this way? In such utter triumph? I can attest I’ve seen in over and over, in my life, in our home. Such remarkable – and often very personal – details, that we’ve shared specifics when God is bringing those who need to hear His encouragement, and we’ve been placed in the position.

Or will God set you free and let you oppressor to bring his own fate like Pharoah? “I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him” (Exodus 3:19) He did his best to oppress the ‘less fortunate’, and seemed blind to the consequences that came with his God-voice-rejecting actions. Plagues came, people died, finally even his own son! What next? He said: “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.” “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.” Foolishly, he continued to chase after Moses and his people. The story splits in 2 here: the group with Moses had no where to turn, pinned against the sea with Pharaoh’s crushing army in pursuit! They blamed Moses. (Have you been blamed for following the Word of God tested against the Spirits leading, coupled with wise counsel of mature followers of Christ?) You know how the story ends. If Pharaoh had known ‘vengeance is mine says the Lord’ he’d have not drown with his blind followers in battle. What a story the delivered have for discipling others!

Challenge to the challenged:

• Look not to remove the speck from anothers eye until you remove the plank from your own. This could take a while. But you will ‘draw close to God and he will draw close to you’. Who can take down a team such as this? To the married, ‘a cord of 3 strands is not easily broken’.
• “Wisdom in the counsel of many”. Many what, random people? Grandma passed in 1987, but she is wiser now to me than ever before. John Wesley, Samaritans Purse, ministries to the forgotten, lost and hurting, these are my role models. The widow who gives her ‘mite’, she gives everything. Those that care for them that can return nothing? Psalm 1 comes to mind, the definition of a righteous man.  For years I’d look for feedback from those I thought ‘wise’. They looked successful, educated, ‘all together’. As time passed, I’d see how they spent time (secular entertainment, worldly pursuits), I’d see what filled their mind (non-faith based motivational books, secular novels) and then ‘fruit’. If you see ‘fruit’ for the kingdom being produced by their efforts, Fruit of the Spirit in conduct this is good. If you hear God’s word quoted: good. If you otherwise hear ‘the one with the biggest stick wins! (God? not Goliath?), or ‘well, Murphy’s law’ (vs. All things work for good if you love the Lord and follow His purpose), or other such, look for those that consistently start and end with the Lord. They pray with you asap, they give you relevant scriptures and lead you to seek the Holy Spirit, to come into closer fellowships with bible study groups, etc. Then my friend, you will have found a rare jewel, ‘… the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” Proverbs 20:15 
• When and how to act: Test against these –

  

  ‘All the tea in China’ won’t do it!

  1. Scriptural alignment – not only selected out of context verses that might support you otherwise.
  2. Bathed in prayer. Ask others to join in prayer for a leading.
  3. Leading of the Holy Spirit – outgrowth of prayer time.
  4. Timing. Could this be done better later? Or after God opens door(s). Are doors shutting consistently?
  5. Wise counsel.
  6. Keep seeking. Think Ecclesiates for what is of value, Psalms 1, 23, 119, etc for peace, Romans for instruction, and memorize Matt 5,6,7 Christs sermon on the Mount. With that alone you’ll probably find resolve.
• Next step to freedom: Focus on others. Volunteer at the mission. Bring in a homeless friend. Host a bible study. Attend as many studies as you can – with new people you don’t know. Support a local fellowship where your support can make a difference and shares the uncompromised Word of God.  From personal experience I can attest these are all wonderful healing activities.

The Lord Bless you and Keep You !!!

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OTHER READINGS:

I don’t dismiss or envy what you may be facing. Always glad to hear from you, pray for you. While you wait on the Lord in this storm, consider how you will be a blessing to others that need you after this learning time. Become equipped for them. They will need your testimony:

You have hard questions and need wisdom, perhaps start here.

• https://www.rzim.org
  • Difficult Questions. Thoughtful Answers. For over 30 years and across 43 countries, RZIM has met millions of questioners with thoughtful answers concerning faith and God.
• Labri Fellowship
  • The L’Abri communities are study centers in Europe, Asia and America where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life.
• Want to know how infinitely complex scripture is, and why its simple wisdom can be trusted? You may enjoy Learn the Bible in 24 Hours, click on the book picture to “look inside”. You’ll be fascinated. One of many books I pass along to clients/ friends.

Blessings !

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My Quora ‘wisdom’ ~ under the Quora name of my ‘scribe assistant.’

How realistic is it to believe in God?

One of many answers I’ve written, authored under the Quora name of my ‘scribe assistant.’ . 

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I see this passive perspective in many: I don’t believe in “______” – translation: by and large because I’m ignorant of “_____”

The more you study, the more realistic.

At a secular university I took old and new testament classes – when the professors read Psalms in Hebrew, there was a new perspective. Complex simplicity if you will in the original language not present in English. If you are truly interested in the answer, you might start w/ Learn the Bible in 24 Hours, click on the book picture to “look inside”. You’ll be fascinated. One of many books I pass along to clients/ friends.

Here’s your 2 new best friends, so to speak.

• https://www.rzim.org
  • Difficult Questions. Thoughtful Answers. For over 30 years and across 43 countries, RZIM has met millions of questioners with thoughtful answers concerning faith and God.
• Labri Fellowship
  • The first L’Abri community was founded in Switzerland in 1955 by Dr. Francis Schaeffer and his wife, Edith. Dr. Schaeffer was a Christian theologian and philosopher who also authored a number of books on theology, philosophy, general culture and the arts. The L’Abri communities are study centers in Europe, Asia and America where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life.

Blessings !

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Other Quora ‘wisdom’:

• If God wants to punish the world one day, which country does God start with, and why?

  31 Views
  If you believe in a fake God, can you switch to the real God?

  24 Views
  What is something all gods have in common?

  3 Views
  Does God give his blessing every time someone gets married?

  28 Views
  Can God mold a person since birth or is there a certain point in the future where he molds the person? Some people just experience sufferings and tests since they were a child.

  32 Views

Laughter leads to longevity & increasing delight ~ of marriage.

The first few years of a marriage are rife with conflicts, but the emotional weather eventually changes, according to a new study … In time, humor—friendly teasing, jokes, and silliness—becomes more prevalent, and bickering and criticisms decline.

 

These findings, … were reached after psychologists analyzed videotaped interactions of 87 couples who had been married 15 to 35 years, and followed them over 13 years.

 

The study’s conclusions contradict an existing theory that positive emotions fade over time in a long relationship.

• I stand by my perspective that during ‘serious’ or ‘conflicted’ communications, speak: slow, calm, without adjectives, as factually as possible, in short digestable sentences. This is never a time for a ‘joke’…. You’ve been warned ;-).

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Further reading:

• https://qz.com/quartzy/1488362/researchers-found-one-way-that-marriages-get-happier-over-time/

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What’s Discernment?

I was recently asked this question.

First, why do you need it? I’d say simply to carry out the Great Commandment and Great Commission. Isn’t that your life purpose? (I pray it is or will be).

• memorizing scripture passages have helped me in this area … its my starting point for thought/speak. knowing to start there instead of other ‘sources of wisdom’ is key. To me, there is no wisdom that doesn’t filter thru scripture. … I’d rather read Matt 5,6,7 Sermon on the Mount (I can resolve most anything here) than a bunch of don’t-fit-together sayings, quotes and illustrations. Once I turned off media for 1 yr so I wouldn’t get any ‘opinions’ confusing me.

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Further reading:  Here you will find our 2-fold life purpose, vertical worship of God, horizontal discipling of fellow man:

• In Matthew 22:34-46, Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees about what is the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ question in Matthew 22:37-39 saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Following His statements, in Matthew 22:40, Jesus says that everything in the Law and Prophets depends on these two commandments. Strikingly, Jesus ends this discussion with the Pharisees in Matthew 22:42-46 asking them, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” and no one is able to answer.

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Marriage trick #2: Shared Purpose, like horses and the hurting

A great divider of spouses is that which separates. Yet, that which joins together for a

common purpose is one of the great rewards of a most special type of teamwork.

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Consider as much this couple and their purpose in Christ as you further enjoy the testimony of Kim’s hard childhood without her parents.

• Further Reading:
  • God using this couple –
  • https://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/about-cpyr/history-of-cpyr/
  • God raises up the most brokenhearted –
  • http://www1.cbn.com/700club/healing-horses-kim-meeders-story
• Audios:
  • • 3/1: Mending the Brokenhearted: An Update with Kim Meeder Part 1

    • 3/2: Mending the Brokenhearted: An Update with Kim Meeder Part 2

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Videos:

Kim Meeder: A Neglected Horse and Boy (LIFE Today) – YouTube

▶ 8:47

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K0Gx4AAGQA

Mar 1, 2012 – Uploaded by lifetodaytv

The director of the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch tells the touching story of a neglected horse and the boy who …

Kim Meeder Testimony at New Hope Market Place Ministry – YouTube

▶ 9:14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZt_hbWLw9U

Apr 10, 2013 – Uploaded by SIRONEDRAGON

A well known speaker on TV shows as ” Life Today ” with James and Betty Robinson…and author of …

The Power of a Smile – Kim Meeder – YouTube

▶ 5:25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVi6IBaPihY

Jun 22, 2011 – Uploaded by WaterBrook & Multnomah

True beauty is not about how you look… but how you live. Women are constantly bombarded with the lie that …

Fierce Beauty – Kim Meeder – YouTube

▶ 3:12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK6C2si_1pg

Apr 25, 2011 – Uploaded by WaterBrook & Multnomah

Choosing to Stand for What Matters Most http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422033.

Kim Meeder: Redemption on the Ranch (LIFE Today) – YouTube

▶ 13:05

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBDEKIUTm9I

Mar 1, 2012 – Uploaded by lifetodaytv

The author of “Fierce Beauty” tells the story of a horse whose face was crushed and its amazing encounter …

Kim Meeder, co-founder of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch on Vimeo

▶ 4:01

https://vimeo.com › Focus on the Family Canada › Videos

Sep 28, 2017 – Uploaded by Focus on the Family Canada

Kim Meeder, co-founder of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, shares inspirational stories from her ranch, which …

Kim Meeder: When Jesus Took My Hand (LIFE Today / James …

▶ 3:14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZCU_Iviofg

Mar 2, 2012 – Uploaded by lifetodaytv

A woman whose father killed her mother, then himself, tells how Jesus Christ miraculously comforted her in that …

In this touching interview, Troy and Kim Meeder, founders of Crystal …

▶

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83175924338360242/

In this touching interview, Troy and Kim Meeder, founders of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, share inspirational …

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Marriage, finances, and governmental policies.

So says Fox News: “Marriage is a great anti-poverty program. So why does government discourage it?”

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There’s a lot in this article, I’ll simple excerpt it and let you pour coffee and dig in yourself:

• “According to the Brookings Institution, the U.S. would have 25 percent less poverty today if we had the marriage rates we had in 1970 (79 percent of  U.S. adults were married then, versus only 52 percent today). Cutting the poverty rate by a quarter would of course benefit individuals who escape poverty, and also benefit government and taxpayers by cutting the amount that needs to be spent on assistance to poor people.”

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http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/02/11/marriage-is-great-anti-poverty-program-so-why-does-government-discourage-it.html

More good reading:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/02/20/no-time-magazine-marriage-is-not-science-its-mindset.html

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Frank Blunt speaks – on how to listen ;-)

5 Love Languages – infograph form ;-)

If your spouse has a ‘love language of…’, what can you do from column ‘b’ and ‘c’? What alternatives can you use instead of ‘d’?

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Great reasons to marry young

the highest percentage of people ages 20 to 28 who consider themselves “highly satisfied” with their lives are married, as opposed to single or cohabiting. What’s more, the largest number of women who described their marriage as “very happy” tied the knot when they were 24 to 26. A 2010 study found that “the greatest indicated likelihood of being in an intact marriage of the highest quality is among those who married at ages 22–25.”……..

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https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4227924Z

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