Does a man’s decision to marry negatively impact his service to God?
December 17, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Marriage
I found this post while browsing on Parchment and Pen, by C. Michael Patton. In it he discusses how his wife Kristie responded to his interest in making sacrifices to become a missionary in Europe. First, let’s take a look at what he wrote, then I’ll comment. This post is the meanest thing I have ever written on the blog. Please don’t read it, especially if you are a woman.
Now I don’t know any of the details of Mike’s life, so I am just using his words as a springboard to make some points of my own. Nothing mean I say applies to Mike or his family. I am trying to talk about my own experiences trying to reconcile my faith with women.
Mike starts admirably by explaining how, as a married man with two children, he became excited about a plan for preaching and defending the gospel in places like Europe, where there are very few Christians evangelizing.
He writes:
When I got home, Kristie attempted to probe for the passion and the source of my excitement. I held back some naively thinking it was going to be a surprise. I wanted to walk her through all I had learned and let the excitement build in her as it had in me. I told her everything we had been learning doing my best to work without the pins. I explained to her how much of a famine for the Gospel existed in other parts of the world. Then, when the time was just right, I gave her the “good” news: “We are going to be missionaries!!!”
I don’t think Mike’s expectations on his wife are realistic given my experiences with Christian women.
Now I’ll talk about my experience, not about Mike’s story. In my experience, women often (70%) approach Christianity as a subjective experience, not as objective knowledge. So that means that they are not going to find what is written in the Bible as more authoritative than their own feelings, which they may be projecting onto “God” without the benefit of logic or evidence. That is why most women are usually not very interested in Christian knowledge, like theology or church history, and especially apologetics.
Most women in the churches prefer subjective experiences like singing, community, prayer, rituals, etc. The fact of the matter is that many women resent the idea that Christianity might be objectively true, because the truth of Christianity would limit their ability to conceive of Christianity based on their emotional needs. The majority are certainly not interested in learning about God as he is, and then in shaping their lives to serve him in the most effective ways, regardless of the cost. The majority prefer to spend their time reading Stephanie Meyer instead of Stephen Meyer. Dan Brown is also popular because it allows them to doubt the Bible when the Bible disagrees with their intuitions.
Note: there are exceptions of course. I know one women who read Signature in the Cell (!). Another woman I know read FOUR Tom Sowell books in two months. Actually some of the strongest denunciations of Christian women comes from other Christian women. One woman once told me that she never attended all-women Bible studies, and another told me angrily that her women’s group spent more time on arranging the table settings than in choosing the speaker for an event! As well, the best book on the Christian worldview is written by Nancy Pearcey. Etc. And of course, there’s Michele Bachmann, who asks her husband to take her to hear Ravi Zacharias for her BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
He continues:
Since then I have seen this situation more times than I can count. It is usually always the same: a zealous husband who has become embittered against his wife because she will not follow him in his zealousness. One good friend just got a divorce because his wife did not want to become a missionary. He thought it was the Lord’s will and he believed her unwillingness was keeping him from a “greater good.” Now, after the divorce, his immaturity has disqualified him from taking that step even by himself. Another friend is becoming embittered toward his wife because her focus is elsewhere. Their marriage is suffering. I could tell many more stories, but I don’t want to betray anyone’s confidence.
Friends (and especially young zealous husbands or soon to be husbands), don’t make the mistake of having your passion for ministry end your marriage. You first ministry is your marriage. If you don’t get that, you are not qualified for ministry. In the spirit of Priscilla: Do you not think that God is powerful enough to call you both into ministry or do you think he only has enough power to call one of you? If so, then he is not a God worth your time anyway. In short, if God does not call your wife, he is not calling you. Period.
Well, I agree with Mike that once you get married, unless you’re married to Jan Craig, then you can pretty much kiss your ministry good-bye. You have to uphold your marriage first, and God comes second. If your wife blocks your ministry, then you’re stuck with no ministry. He’s right about that. Which is why I don’t get married. What most women want, in my experience, is to make you like them so much that they can control you. But if they see that you are resisting and evaluating them critically, they give up and move on to easier prey. They have no intention of trying to help you to achieve your vision. You are just a tool in their toolbox for pursuing happiness.
What does the Bible say in 1 Cor 7:1-28?
1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.
8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.
9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion
25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are.
27Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.
28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
And in Matthew 19:12, Jesus says:
12For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
I have seen theologian after theologian explain these verses away, rather than incur the wrath of women in the audience. But it seems to me the verses are pretty clear. Don’t marry. (Note: there are exceptions – I think a marriage to Michele Bachmann would be an ennobling experience).
The only virtuous reason for a man to get married is when he is convinced that he can do better for God with that woman by his side than they can do as singles. Once a man gets married to someone who wants to live a secular life of pleasure, he’s stuck – he can’t break up the marriage to save his ministry. Mike is right about that. So that’s why I say again to men – DON’T MARRY! Marriage gets in the way of your commitment to God, unless you are very careful to find a wife who will support you in your ministry.
Look at Mike’s bio page:
I am Michael Patton, the primary contributor to the Parchment and Pen blog. I do a lot of stuff and love teaching theology. In fact, I have been blessed enough to be able to make my living doing so. I am married, have four kids (two girls and two boys). Got married to the most beautiful gal in the world.
If you click through, you will see a picture of his wife in some sort of beauty pageant. But right away I am concerned because I am suspicious of women who enter beauty pageants.
Now forget Mike’s pretty wife, and let me make a comment about men and sexual attraction.
Most Christian men become interested in women because of sexual attraction (unless you’re me, and you have visions of little homeschooled William Lane Craig and Michele Bachmann clones dancing in your head). I think that many men today rely far too much on physical attraction, they start the physical contact way too early which destroys their objectivity. And most men don’t take the time to screen women to see whether their stated beliefs are grounded. They just take the women, and their stated beliefs, at face value. And what this means is that God is being left out of the relationship – his needs don’t matter. What matters is the physical attraction.
I have a friend with a PhD in physics who is an elder in his Calvinist church. His wife has never read an apologetics book. Not even The Screwtape Letters. She says that logic and evidence don’t apply to Christianity. She knows God through her intuition, not through the Bible, because the Bible was written by men. And Christianity is really about doing whatever she wants to be happy. She reads Dan Brown and she gave him Dan Brown to read, too. She doesn’t believe in Hell, and she thinks Jesus was married. She views her husband as a tool for serving her. She has a pretty appearance, so he never screened her statements of faith. His eyes were blinded by a sexual attraction.
One of my friends has married well, and his wife is 100% perfect in every way. They had a good long courtship, with pre-marriage counseling, and were very strict about physical contact. (They were both virgins when they married in their late 20s). And that is the only way to do a courtship – they put God’s needs first and they knew exactly what vision they were pursuing. I think that men need to look for women who treat God as a real person, with a distinct character of his own. (She was a missionary for a year in a very nasty part of the world). On her evening off from being a stay-at-home mom, she answers apologetics questions for unbelieving seekers. This woman was screened very well.
http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/does-a-mans-decision-to-marry-negatively-impact-his-service-to-god/
quotes from danae dobson’s "let’s talk!"
December 17, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Relationships
so i’m totally gifting this book to someone for christmas jokesters, but not before i skim it and glean some valuable insight from it… the book is by danae dobson and is entitled: let’s talk! good stuff for girlfriends about god, guys, and growing up. gold.
“My brother, Ryan, and I use the word cool to describe everything from cars to movies. It’s a reliable way to reveal how much we like something. If I say something is cool, that means it’s extraordinary — at the top of my A-list.
“Well, you know what? God is cool! (2, footnote: “God Is Cool!” is based on an article by Jerry Vallotton in The Clause, April 1984. Used with permission.) In fact, he’s so cool that there aren’t enough words to describe him!”
I’m just wondering why a phrase as simple as that had to be used with permission? Is that shit trademarked or something? If so, that’s just WRONG</em..
“Suppose you’re attracted to a guy at church. He’s funny, intelligent, and totally gorgeous. You smile and flirt a little when you’re around him, just to let him know you’re interested. He reciprocates, and before long your wish has come true — HE ASKS YOU OUT ON A DATE!…
“… Some of you may think dating is a bad idea, and there’s certainly a valid argument for that point of view (see “Waiting for Dating?” on page 123). But whether you are already hitting the scene or just wondering what to look for in a future husband, it would be a good idea to think through some of the basics.
“First, keep in mind that you should not even consider going out with non-Christian guys. Period! There’s too much at stake to take a chance on an unbeliever, so I recommend that you not “go there.”…
“… Sometimes a red flag will pop up when you first meet someone. I’m reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:20: ‘By their fruit you will recognize them.’ I often think of this verse when it comes to the opposite sex. I can usually get a hint of where a guy is spiritually within the first five minutes of conversation. Can you? If you’re uncertain, just watch for the clues. If he brags on himself, talks about money too much, or mentions a wild party he just attended, then move on. There could be a rotten piece of fruit on that tree!”
“Why does God tell single people to abstain from sex? Let’s analyze this for a moment. His commands in the Bible are for our benefit — and they are designed to keep us from creating disastrous situations for ourselves. Consider this: if I decide to jump off a one-thousand-foot cliff, I will die when my body hits the ground. That’s a fact. Gravity was designed by God, but not for the purpose of punishing me for my folly. His physical laws govern the universe, and those who defy them are destined to suffer the consequences. So it is with God’s moral laws. They, too, are as real and predictable as the principles that govern the world around us.” (SERIOUSLY?? HAHAHAHHA)
“True story #1: Kyle wanted to do things his own way. He went through several relationships and slept with each of his girlfriends. His frivolous lifestyle was fun and exciting — while it lasted. Kyle currently lives in a state of regret over a baby that he fathered and is struggling with child-support payments. Despite Kyle’s misery, the baby will be the one who suffers the most for Kyle’s mistakes…
“True story #3: Kimberlin dated Matt for two years before agreeing to have sex with him. She knew it was wrong, but her decision was easy to rationalize. After all, she and Matt were in love — they would soon be engaged. You can imagine her shock when Matt broke up with her for someone else. Kimberly is now recovering from a broken heart that took a long time to mend. She admits that the pain wouldn’t have been so severe if she hadn’t slept with her boyfriend. Now Kimberlin knows that she gave away something precious that she should have saved for her husband.
“True story #4: After a party one night, Gina succumbed to having sex with a male friend — just a brief, casual encounter, for the sake of a little fun. Where is Gina now? Currently married, with herpes simplex disease. It is incurable and will plague her for the rest of her life.”
i don’t really believe these stories for a sec. someone out there must exist with these stories, but i doubt the author knows these someones.
oh, religion, i find you so funny.
http://hellomynameisvee.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/quotes-from-danae-dobsons-lets-talk/
May the man of God Rest in Peace
December 16, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian School
Even though I am both pentecostal in theology and practice, I do not always prescribe to some of the practices of my pentecostal/charismatic counterpart. I do however respect what a lot of them have done not just a preachers but as businessmen. And Oral Roberts is one of those men. I will not bore you about his life history (please see his website for his details). But I will tell you what I appreciate. I appreciate the fact that he started from nothing and allowed God to birth a ministry through him. Not just a “church” ministry but a Christian University. MANY people before him had visions and goals but very few allow the work of God to be done in God’s timing. Another thing that I like about him, he died at 91 years old STILL serving GOD. How many people that you know have started and stopped in the Christian faith? So for all you have done Dr Roberts, people you ministered to, people who you have blessed , ministers you have helped educate through your school. “WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”
http://love2live4christ.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/may-the-man-of-god-rest-in-peace/
Lesson 9: Holy Spirit, Disobedience and the Body of Christ
December 15, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian School
If you don’t mean business with God, do not read any further!
After being part of this in-depth study of the Holy Spirit and His leading, you will be held accountable. You will have a clear understanding of what it means to be a Spirit-led Christian. If you fail to respond to His leading or return to a life of sin, it will be much worse for you. If you do, you have decided not to obey, be disobedient, and will come away with a hardened heart toward God. The Lord may forgive acts committed against Him in ignorance but for those believers who have been led into all truth, judgment is harsher for falling away from the path chosen for you.
20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit, “and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud (2 Peter 2:20-22).”
“If you have escaped… [then] are entangled in it and overcome…”
Peter tells us ignorance is bliss in this scenario because to have such knowledge and return to your former lifestyle is not just mere folly, it is absolutely dangerous. If you refuse to be Spirit-led, God is the only one who can have mercy on you, in other words. Judgment is sure to follow you for stepping outside His divine order for your life. This gives greater meaning to Christ’s words to His followers in Luke 6:46 NLT,
“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?” After making this statement, the Lord shared the story of two men who built homes. 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete (Luke 6:47-49 NIV).”
There is a cost associated with your decision, good or bad. You and your family will pay dearly; what will your disobedience cost those you love? Do you relish watching your life wash away before you as the Lord reminds you that your life must be founded upon Him and His finished Work at Calvary? The opposite is true if you follow His lead; you will be rewarded handsomely, openly, and beyond measure.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again (Luke 6:38 NIV).”
Have you ever been berry picking? When I was a youngster, my parents used to take us blackberry picking. The whole afternoon was wrapped around one purpose: to get enough berries for a magnificent cobbler. Occasionally, we would get extra and Mom would whip up a few jars of jam. The lion’s share always went to that blessed blackberry cobbler my family dreamed about and salivated over until it was served piping hot, ladled with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and sot with mother’s love.
Those are priceless moments just as the love of the Father touching our lives is priceless. Any attempt at measuring the blessings of God upon us is futile; they are boundless and eternal. We simply cannot out-give God. On the other hand, what will your disobedience cost you or those you love? Is disobeying the Lord worth putting all those precious memories at risk?
“For it is no empty word for you, but your very life…” (Deut. 32:47 NLT)
God means what He says; He says what He means. Make no mistake. No idle words are spoken where the Lord is concerned. This is not a fluffy Sunday School lesson. God is not kidding around. He does not think your ability to commit your life as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him (Rom. 12:1-2), is cute; nor will He cut you any slack once you have full knowledge of the truth. Letting go and letting God is easier said than placed into practice. What if His will requires you to make a few sacrifices? Listen up: doing His will might mean you have to give up a few things. He may call you to service in another zip code or another country altogether. He may ask you to leave all you know and love behind that He might show you a more abundant life in Christ than you could ever have if you stay where you are until you die.
But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house (Matthew 13:54; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44).
A prophet is never accepted in his/her own country. This truth is present in all four gospels. Not all messages are present in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What does this tell the believer? It tells us that the Lord wanted us to know this, remember it, and abide in Him taking no thought for the place from which we hailed but all your thoughts and desires should be focused on the land to which you are going! We can see Christ’s life and his inability to minister to the people of Nazareth. Why? It was too close to home for Him to be of any effect.
Being Spirit-led might mean that you have to lose some associations. Rest assured though, if you are following the Holy Spirit’s direction as every Christian should, certain associations will get rid of you long before you have a chance to say your goodbye’s to the old life and group of buddies. “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Mark 8:34 NIV).” Then, we have those who say they want to follow Christ but cannot relinquish the old life before taking up his/her Cross. Look at Christ’s response to a certain ruler.
“ 18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, 30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting (Luke 18:18-30 NIV).”
At the risk of being annoying I will say it once more: doing God’s will is not optional once you know the truth. Should this be a problem? It should not be for the believer.
“A new heart will I give to you and a new spirit will I put in you…”
We were designed to love Him and do His will.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).”
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:36 NIV).”
There is not a gradual process. It’s an actual heart transplant, folks. If you have the new ticker that Jesus gave you, you are going to want to live for him. Why? The Spirit of the Living God dwells within you and he cannot strive alongside lukewarm attitudes, indecisiveness, noncommittal relationships, and false professions of Christianity pushing a social gospel that He never endorsed or preached. Even if this path seems right to modern man, it is wrong in the eyes of God.
Without the Spirit, it is impossible for the human being to discern such things as Paul exhorts:
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV).”
Christ had a similar conversation with Zaccheus as told by John the Beloved in the third chapter of the book of John.
16″For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.[g] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God (John 3:16-21 NIV).”[h]
There is no mistaking those things which are of God (and those which are not). A situation birthed in sin, is not of God. A situation brought about by Him that later became sin, was not His Will. His Spirit brought about the scenario that pleased Him; sin took that scenario to a terrible end. Judgment is certain. Make no mistake. God is not mocked. He is not a liar. You reap what you sow; harvest always comes for the believer. You do not take a bad situation, pray over it, and ignore the root sin problem. The Lord will continue to judge your life until He makes Himself clear, clear enough for you to repent of your sin. For example, do not ask the Lord to bless your new marriage when your old relationship was ruined by your infidelity. Do not ask the Lord to put His stamp of approval on your sin. That is what you are asking, whether you married your accomplice or not. It was sin; you always pay for sin. God never changes His mind when it comes to sin. Sin is sin; it is stench in the nostrils of a holy God and He will not tolerate sin in the lives of the redeemed.
Have you ever known someone who continues to live complacently but professes Christ. This person monetarily prospers and by all outward appearances looks blessed of God? Do not be deceived. It is a façade. Have you seen in their closet lately? Would the secrets in that closet make your mother blush? Would you blush? You just might and it would not take long for you to see this person does not live a surrendered life. Rest assured, the devil will never bother this person. They will financially prosper as long as they ride the fence, profess Christianity, and give those who live their faith a bad name. Why is that so, you might ask: the devil takes care of His own. Not all who cry “Lord, Lord” will enter Heaven’s gates regardless of how many professions of faith they have made. They may cry “Lord, Lord” but they do not do what He says. A person with a new heart led of the Spirit does not have to be told twice. Pleasing the Father is ‘second nature’ and is a joy to serve the Lord.
I invite you. The Spirit says ‘come’. Pick up your Cross and follow Him. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit any longer. You are accountable. I pray that you will make the right choice and answer His call today, whatever and wherever that call may be. Be blessed!
http://tdmitchell.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/lesson-9-holy-spirit-disobedience-and-the-body-of-christ/
Unmet Expectations
December 15, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Marriage
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” or so the song goes. But is it really? I have found often times this time of year is full of trouble – the kind that is unavoidable, which leads to a wealth of temptations to self-pity and sadness. Unmet Expectations for a perfect Christmas season can set us up for great disappointments.
I have talked with numerous couples going through large problems – financial, relational and physical. It’s the kind of difficulty that can’t be pushed aside. It follows you wherever you go.
We can be tempted to forego a regular date night simply because we don’t feel up to it. This reveals a misunderstanding of what it means to have a date. As husband and wife it’s important to have time alone to reconnect about all of the issues of life. Sometimes it’s all good and sometimes it’s quite challenging. If your Christmas is leaving much to be desired this year, try lifting your eyes above the trouble and remember the trouble Christ endured to bring us freedom from our self-pity and sadness. Christmas is about redemption – God becoming man to set us free to love Him and others more than ourselves.
Maybe you’re not going to get the one gift at the top of your list. Maybe you won’t get to enjoy a romantic stroll through brightly lit parks while carolers serenade your way due to the sickness or schedule of your spouse. In either case our unmet expectations can be a great opportunity to experience the true meaning of Christmas – love, true love that leads to repentance.
It is the most wonderful time of year because we remember the One around whom our lives revolve. It’s all about Him. He is Emmanuel – God with us – God with you!
http://theromanticvineyard.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/unmet-expectations/
Where Your Treasure Is…
December 11, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Finance
- Time to examine your priorities.
Written by Matt Wegner Founder and Lead Counselor, Matt Wegner Financial Coaching, www.mattwegnercoaching.com
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) It’s been said that you can learn a lot about someone by looking through their trash. I don’t think you have to go to such extent. It’s pretty easy to see where someone’s heart is by simply looking at their belongings. Do you have that neighbor that spends all his time waxing his three sports cars every weekend? Do you know someone that’s spent more on his bass boat than his retirement plan? How about the hunting enthusiast who has every weapon, tool or gadget known to man but can’t keep his lights on because he is late on his payments? Or the sister-in-law who has enough shoes and clothes to outfit a small army but doesn’t have enough spare change to drop a few coins in the red kettle at Christmas time? Where do you think their heart is? It’s pretty obvious their heart is in their earthly treasures.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with following your passions and dreams to have a good balance in life. I want you to have the things that make you happy. But the keys here are balance and defining happiness. Let’s define happiness for a moment. You can’t buy happiness. You can buy a lot of fun, but there’s always that burning desire for more, for something bigger and better. More money or more “stuff” won’t get you the long-lasting happiness that everyone seeks. The happiest people don’t have everything they want. They want everything they have.
Now bring in the balance. We are constantly making excuses for lack of action in different areas of our lives. I often hear that we just don’t have time to sit down and do a budget together, or to track our spending, or to work out, or, or, or. But more often than not the truth is that we have plenty of time. We just don’t use that time wisely. Think about how much time you spend watching television or talking on the phone? What if you spent that much time and energy on your finances or your family? Now there’s an idea. Think of all the things you could accomplish if you turn off the t.v. one or two hours a week. Finding a good balance in your life comes from examining your priorities and deciding what is truly important, then living according to those priorities.
If you’re not sure where your priorities are, look at your check register and see where your money is going. Your treasures will be stick out like a sore thumb if you take a step back and look at it objectively. This Christmas, take some time to examine where your treasures are and ask yourself if your heart is in the right place. When your heart changes to the right place, the right treasures are not far behind.
- Matt Wegner
Matt Wegner is a personal finance, career, small business and leadership coach focused on teaching his clients the tools for L.I.F.E. (Living In Financial Excellence). Learn more about Matt at www.mattwegnercoaching.com
http://mattwegnercoaching.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/where-your-treasure-is/
Walking in the light
December 11, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Relationships
How does walking in the light of righteousness and truth affect our fellowship with God and others?
http://mygreatestsurrender.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/walking-in-the-light/
Silent Night
December 11, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Parenting
I’ve heard this song thousands of times but it struck me differently the other day.
When Jesus was born in that manger 2000 years ago, there wasn’t any festivities, no funfare and not even a holiday declaration. Surrounding Bethlehem, people were in famine, in fear, uncertain and some are hopeless. Then the Savior was born, in that humble manger because no one wants to take them in. 700 years after the prophesy of Isaiah for a child to be born of a virgin, Jesus was born.
No longer do we put our hope on anyone else but the one true Messiah.
Are you groping in the dark? Do you feel lonely? Do you feel alone, unloved, unwanted or unappreciated? Do you seem to have it all but still not satisfied?
It’s Jesus you need, the source of light, and the one true light. To light your darkness and you would never feel alone ever again. Let Him in your heart this Christmas and enjoy the real reason for this season.
Merry CHRISTmas!
See you all 3 and 5pm services at Victory Greenhills.
http://lawrenceuy.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/silent-night/
Free matrimonial services in india
December 11, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Marriage
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http://kjnarang.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/free-matrimonial-services/
Freebie Friday - Monthly Give Away
December 11, 2009 by Christian Bloggers
Filed under Christian Marriage
Since tomorrow is the 12th of December, and since we don’t post on the weekends, we have decided to offer our monthly give away today! Have we mentioned that we love this part of our blog? It’s so much fun randomly drawing a name and blessing them with a special gift!
This month we’re giving away a new devotional titled, “The Love Dare Day By Day: A Year of Devotions for Couples”. We happened upon it in a bookstore and thought this would be the perfect gift for the last giveaway of the year. So…enough rambling…who’s our winner?
Cissy Vanlue!
Congratulations, Cissy! We pray your marriage will be greatly enriched as a result of this helpful resource. Thank you for joining our Vineyard! To the rest – this book would make an excellent gift for your married family members and friends. Order now while there’s still time!
NOTE: Want to be included in our monthly giveaway on the 12th of next month? Simply sign up to join our blog in the right margin or join our Fan Page on Facebook! Either way, your name will be entered every month. It’s our way of saying thanks and Merry Christmas!
http://theromanticvineyard.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/freebie-friday-monthly-give-away/