Tough Questions

        I was recently at a conference where I was blessed to hear Anne Graham Lotz.  As is her typical package of teachings, she shared her three question approach to personal Bible study.

         Today, I listened as my husband shared of a friend who doesn't live here, but who is in ministry.  The friend confided in Greg, that he and his wife were steps away from divorce!  This information NEVER gets easier for our ears, emotions or spiritual core.  He went on to explain details of what publically appeared as an excellent marriage. He confided the details of their marriage including the years of a lack of intimacy.

         What’s a guy to say? I mean, where did this start?  How did they get to this place in their lives, their homes…their marriage?!?!  Just as Mrs. Lotz has a three point approach to study, we need to find an approach that works with our spouses and with other couples.

         We must learn to ask questions.  There can be more than three, but these questions should be based on a friendship, and filled with humility and a hunger to bring Christ’s healing and forgiveness.

         As you build the friendship, there needs to be an agreement of accountability. Questions may include: Are you having Bible study daily?  What are you currently reading?  Have you been to a doctor lately?  How are your finances?

         Today, I encourage you to ask your friend some tough questions regarding their marriage.  Your questions could include:  How would you describe your marriage?  How would your spouse describe it? How often do you argue? Are you and your husband satisfied with your relationship?  How can I pray for your marriage?

         These questions aren’t meant to invade another’s relationship, it is meant to help keep our marriages in check.  Mrs. Lotz said that her approach to Bible study opened up worlds of enlightenment.  Asking questions of those we care about, can help encourage and expose things in their marriages that can ultimately lead to marriages that bring glory to our Father.

Proverbs 12: 15

The way of a fool seems right to him,

but a wise man listens to advice.

         

Questions???

Being a Mom involves so many questions?  We ask ourselves constantly…what should I do? What does this child need?  When should they be corrected? What should they eat?  What doctor should we us? And ultimately, “Why do they ask so many questions?”

Almost daily while driving from home to school or church we pass a walking track.

We see a host of healthy enthusiasts biking, jogging, roller-blading, those pushing strollers, jumping rope, you name it…they are busy getting healthy. Recently, while driving by the track, we noticed what appeared to be a less than health inspired “group” of people walking.

We knew this because they weren’t in the traditional “uniform” of the “typical track people.”  These groups were wearing jeans and some wore even a more church appropriate attire.  As we passed a second “group” we saw they where carrying a sign that identified themselves as being from a church.

My youngest and I began a conversation filled with questions, “who are they?” and  “why are they dressed like that?”  But the final question came as we passed a little guy carrying a poster board across his back that looked more like a blanket then a message.

His sign read, “Prayer Changes Things!”  To that I smiled.  Hope, on the other hand, almost as if no one was listening asked, “Is that true?”

We had the obvious conversation that would follow such a question.  However I have replayed that moment so many times since that day “Is it really true…does prayer change things?”

Of course the obvious is, it does!  I believe prayer changes things!  I believe all of life is sifted through the providential fingers of our Heavenly Father.

And yet, such bad things happen...have happened, are happening and will happen.  Why can’t God stop those things…or why doesn’t He?

I have thought back to friends of ours in South Carolina, Lt. Clebe and Deanna McClary.  Mrs. McClary's incredibly handsome husband went off to Vietnam to return without an eye, an arm and a limp.  To this day he suffers with the pain of those injuries.  Yet the injuries and experiences he sustained have allowed him to travel and speak in places he could have never spoken to if it weren’t for them.  He shares his salvation experience and invites others to do the same.  Many have come to Christ as a result of his involvement in the Vietnam War.

You know what? Many prayed during that time for him and the war.  They wanted the war over, they wanted our armed forces to come home safe and without injury.  God was answering their prayers and their questions.

Mark Batterson a pastor in Washington DC, says of his salvation experience as a result of watching the movie, The Hiding Place, that he was the beneficiary of  “Corrie ten Boom’s unanswerable questions and unexplainable experiences.”

We don’t have all the answers to our children’s questions let alone ours.  Romans 8: 28 (can we all say it together?)  ALL THINGS work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His good purpose.

Mommy’s we can trust Him with our “unanswered” questions and prayers.  Lets encourage our children to trust Him with all their questions.