After thirty-three years of wedded bliss, the light dawns on a new day of enlightenment. Apparently, with my marriage contract, I inherited a highly favored position. It didn’t come with a new car or a fancy business card. There was no power lunches, no business suits, or conference calls. It came without all the perks of a Wall Street financial wizard. The hidden agenda and fine print to this highly favored working contract encompassed every area of my new relationship with my husband. Our future happiness depended on my understanding and accepting this responsible position.
After twenty years of frustration, bitterness, and unfulfilled expectations, the weight of this hidden agenda crashed down upon my wedded bliss. My ignorance of this responsible position clouded my vision of marital happiness. Ignorance isn’t bliss in any relationship. Peace on earth and good will to all men and women requires an understanding of your mates hidden agendas and lofty expectations.
When you and I enter into any relationship without stating our expectations of another, your mate suffers from their unfulfilled desires. Ignorance caused many an argument or sleepless night. Many a harsh word damaged the romantic moments. How do you and I enlighten our mates to their hidden agenda?
Try humor! Even though it took many years for me to laugh about my blunders I understand that if anything goes wrong in this household, "I’m responsible." We laugh about it now. But there were many years of anger, hurt, and sleepless night. His hidden agenda eroded my contentment and fractured my future happiness.
Try organization! My husband couldn’t fine his tools if his life depended upon it. He tries. But organization is not one of his best attributes. He loses bills, tools, clothing and just about everything. With our future happiness in mind, I return all tools to their proper spaces. All manuals and important bills are filed neatly away in my office desk. Sooner or later, in the middle of making dinner, I hear this, "Honey, where is my …….?" With the smoke detector screeching and a cat clawing my pant leg, I dash down the stairs to retrieve the item in question. There is never a dull moment in our household. With his short-term memory loss each question needs an answer that very moment. My husband’s mind operates differently than mine. At that very moment my responsibility is dinner not fetching a tool – not according to my mate. The head on collision with our hidden agendas clashes with our future happiness.
Try acceptance. Short-term memory loss is difficult for anyone. I can’t change my mate. Only Jesus Christ can enhance another’s memory. Love is more than a warm feeling. Sustaining the peaceful relationship in any marriage requires that you and I uncloak our hidden agendas and lofty expectations. Grace and love clouds the shortcomings of others.
Only the love of God living in our hearts overflows into the frustrating moments.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Blistful Ignorance
Ignorance is not bliss. Neither are powerful weapons in the hands of the inexperienced warriors. Only the wise and discerning soldier understands the danger of ignorance. If a warrior knew beforehand that their enemy targeted the storehouse house for a robbery, would he leave the front door open? If he did, his ignorance caused the removal of his weapons. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace." Luke 11: 21 NKJV
Often I wondered if the problems plaguing our churches and God’s people resulted from their ignorance of the weapons at their disposal. With few Sunday morning sermonettes declaring the dangers of our warfare, where do we turn for enlightenment? Is that enlightenment found in our Sunday school lessons? Perhaps! Only if the teachers understand spiritual warfare and are listening to the Holy Spirit. Make no mistake about it; we are in a war – "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood." Ephesians 6: 12 NKJV. How do we overcome our ignorance of this spiritual battle?
Firstly, we understand that our enemy is satan and his army of wicked angels – no ignorance there. However, ignorance to the enemy’s tactics might become a problem. He will try every trick in the book to overpower and destroy God’s children. Satan tempted Christ in the desert. "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Knowledge of scripture overcame Christ’s need for food. Satan didn’t stop there, remember this temptation on the cross: "And saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27: 40 NKJV) Stripped, beaten beyond recognition and barely alive, Christ stood His ground. Don’t think that satan wouldn’t tempt us at our weakest point. We must know our weaknesses and rely on the risen Christ for our strength during our satanic temptations. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Corinthians 12: 10 NKJV)
Ignorance of your weakness would result in heartaches and pain or even your rewards in heaven. Jesus fought Satan’s temptation with scripture. Only the word of God is living and powerful enough to bring down a lie. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4: 12 NKJV) If the church and the body of Christ are guilty of anything, it is the willful ignorance of scripture. If you doubt this, the next time you attend a religious gathering listen for scripture in the messages. In the good old days, our Sunday schools challenged the young people and adults to memorize scripture. How often are you challenged to memorize a chapter or even a book of the Bible? This practice was common in the last century. Before beginning to train on our powerful weapons, we must understand that scripture thoroughly equips us for Christ’s purposes. "That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (I Timothy 4:1 7KJV) Do you know your weakness? Are you ignorant of the scriptures regarding your weapons? Remember that ignorance isn’t spiritual bliss!
Copyright 2007 Patricia Charlton
Often I wondered if the problems plaguing our churches and God’s people resulted from their ignorance of the weapons at their disposal. With few Sunday morning sermonettes declaring the dangers of our warfare, where do we turn for enlightenment? Is that enlightenment found in our Sunday school lessons? Perhaps! Only if the teachers understand spiritual warfare and are listening to the Holy Spirit. Make no mistake about it; we are in a war – "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood." Ephesians 6: 12 NKJV. How do we overcome our ignorance of this spiritual battle?
Firstly, we understand that our enemy is satan and his army of wicked angels – no ignorance there. However, ignorance to the enemy’s tactics might become a problem. He will try every trick in the book to overpower and destroy God’s children. Satan tempted Christ in the desert. "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Knowledge of scripture overcame Christ’s need for food. Satan didn’t stop there, remember this temptation on the cross: "And saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27: 40 NKJV) Stripped, beaten beyond recognition and barely alive, Christ stood His ground. Don’t think that satan wouldn’t tempt us at our weakest point. We must know our weaknesses and rely on the risen Christ for our strength during our satanic temptations. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Corinthians 12: 10 NKJV)
Ignorance of your weakness would result in heartaches and pain or even your rewards in heaven. Jesus fought Satan’s temptation with scripture. Only the word of God is living and powerful enough to bring down a lie. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4: 12 NKJV) If the church and the body of Christ are guilty of anything, it is the willful ignorance of scripture. If you doubt this, the next time you attend a religious gathering listen for scripture in the messages. In the good old days, our Sunday schools challenged the young people and adults to memorize scripture. How often are you challenged to memorize a chapter or even a book of the Bible? This practice was common in the last century. Before beginning to train on our powerful weapons, we must understand that scripture thoroughly equips us for Christ’s purposes. "That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (I Timothy 4:1 7KJV) Do you know your weakness? Are you ignorant of the scriptures regarding your weapons? Remember that ignorance isn’t spiritual bliss!
Copyright 2007 Patricia Charlton
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
On Your doorstep
Hospitality is a natural human tendency implanted by the grace of Jesus Christ within the human heart. We often enjoy sharing our worldly wealth with others. Many friends and even strangers enjoy a dinner party or a back yard barbecue. When our phone rings we often answer with a friendly greeting. Deep within our hearts, the welcoming grace of Jesus Christ overflows to all within our reach. However, often God’s children lack the wisdom and discernment regarding the potential enemy outside our door.
The enemy innocently lurks around the next corner. Their dress and speech is engineered to deceive. They carry a Bible and other literature but within the disguise lurks an insidious enemy – the spirit of lies. The next time your doorbell rings, don’t ignore the Holy Spirit’s warning: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist." (II John 1: 7 NKJV) I warn you, don’t be taken in by the spirit of lies. Not everyone that knocks on your door or rings your doorbell is beneficial to the saint. The word of God warns "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son." (II John 1: 9 NKJV)
The extra literature and books according to their interpretation are false. Beware regarding the cunning deceitfulness. Their truth includes many roads to heaven. I warn you! Many have fallen for they clever scheme of deception. All the rules and regulations added on to the word of God only ensnares an unsuspecting seeker of truth. The enemy standing at the door looks, acts, and even talks like a true believer, but something is missing. At that moment when your doorbell rings, listen to this counsel from the Holy Spirit: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." (II John 1: 10: 11 NKJV)
God says what he means and He means what He says. Don’t let a deceiver into your house unless you desire to share in their evil deeds.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Charlton
The enemy innocently lurks around the next corner. Their dress and speech is engineered to deceive. They carry a Bible and other literature but within the disguise lurks an insidious enemy – the spirit of lies. The next time your doorbell rings, don’t ignore the Holy Spirit’s warning: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist." (II John 1: 7 NKJV) I warn you, don’t be taken in by the spirit of lies. Not everyone that knocks on your door or rings your doorbell is beneficial to the saint. The word of God warns "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son." (II John 1: 9 NKJV)
The extra literature and books according to their interpretation are false. Beware regarding the cunning deceitfulness. Their truth includes many roads to heaven. I warn you! Many have fallen for they clever scheme of deception. All the rules and regulations added on to the word of God only ensnares an unsuspecting seeker of truth. The enemy standing at the door looks, acts, and even talks like a true believer, but something is missing. At that moment when your doorbell rings, listen to this counsel from the Holy Spirit: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." (II John 1: 10: 11 NKJV)
God says what he means and He means what He says. Don’t let a deceiver into your house unless you desire to share in their evil deeds.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Charlton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)