Protect Your Marriage!

Married Couples Special Event - Protecting your Marriage

Where?  Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale
When?  Friday, May 16, 2014

Re-Post by Byron Mondok

Believe it. Your marriage is under attack.

But surrendering is not an option. As a community, a church, and a family, we need to stand with each other and protect our marriages.
On Friday, May 16, we’re going to work together as a church to do just that. During our time together, we'll hear from special speakers Dr. Bob and Rosemary Barnes and Nate and Allie Larkin as they discuss everyday attacks as well as more serious, unseen threats that can be devastating to your marriage. Lead Pastor, Doug Sauder and his wife Suzanne, will also conduct a separate interview with Dr. Bob and Rosemary Barnes. Finally, everyone will have an opportunity to participate in an open Q&A session, hosted by all six of our speakers.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Bob and Rosemary Barnes

Long time friends of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Bob Barnes is president of Sheridan House Family Ministries, a ministry that mentors young, marginalized people and turns them into productive parents and citizens. Family counseling programs at Sheridan House have revolutionized the future of families all across South Florida.
Dr. Barnes challenges men to live passionate yet sacrificial lives. Men need to allow God to transform them into something they weren’t before. Real change takes place when we engage with God and live like true believers.
Rosemary leads Bible studies attended by hundreds of women across South Florida.

Nate and Allie Larkin

Nate Larkin was one of those guys whose secret sexual sins found him out. He was a pastor living two lives. Through the grace of God and support of his wife Allie, Nate’s life was turned around. Their story of redemption is now used to bring help and healing to lives, relationships and marriages wrecked by sexual sin.

Pastor Doug and Suzanne Sauder

Doug Sauder is lead pastor of Calvary Chapel, overseer of the church’s Family Ministry, and president of 4KIDS of South Florida—a state-wide foster care ministry. 4KIDS works with churches, organizations, and government agencies to build a culture of orphan care in an effort to impact our community, our state, and our country.


Over the years, Doug and Suzanne have opened their own home to abused and neglected children and have two adopted sons.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to better protect your marriage.

A Heart Like Our King

For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 samuel 16:7

God has blessed me with 3 children, a 7 year old girl and 2 boys ages five and two.  I adore and love them all; however, my personality is more suited with the quiet, calmer, doll playing, coloring type.  So when we found out we were having our second boy I just laughed and said God must have a sense of humor.   

While raising my boys has been a stretch for me since I don’t like allowing them to do anything they can get hurt doing, I have so enjoyed the Lords guidance in raising them to be little godly disciples.  Recently while reading “The Jesus Storybook Bible” the Lord gave me a wonderful illustration for my 5 year old, who loves showing us his big muscles.  

The bible story was based on Samuel going to the house of Jesse looking for the next king.  It basically said to be a God appointed king you don’t have to be the tallest or the strongest or even look like a king, you only have to have a heart like our KING, full of love.  So while my son may want to look big and strong and seem tough, which is totally fun, it has been a great learning experience to share with him what God adores in him and that is a heart full of love and compassion for others. 

Lord Jesus I pray for all these mammas reading this blog to have wisdom while training their children about Your ways and how they are so different from the world.  I pray for patience when a situation arises that gives us the opportunity to turn our children from the world towards You.  We love you Lord!  Amen!   

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News.  Our purpose is to please God not people.  He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

Anxious to Help

I went to my first Unmasking Anxiety class the other night at our church.  Our speaker covered a lot in two hours so when I went home I had a lot to talk about!  But one of the main things I learned was that we have the power to change what we are thinking.  God made our brains able to direct the rest of our bodies to do some amazing things like have the strength to give birth (or go through c-sections).  He also allows us to think thoughts that will send messages (via chemicals*) to our bodies that allow us to feel anxious, scared, or sad (for the proper times).

For homework we were asked to research verses with the word “thought” and I found Proverbs 12:5, “The thoughts of the righteous are right”.  That goes along with Philippians 4:8 which has helped me a lot when I think of something that prompts anxiety in me.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

Then I read another interesting verse in Proverbs, “But counselors of peace have joy” Proverbs 12:20b.

The day after my class I had the opportunity to share with our son how he can choose a different way of thinking.  We were at a park with a carousel and he didn’t want to go on unless I was sitting with him in the seat because he was NOT getting on a horse, of course.  J I was armed now with Scripture and with a tiny bit of sensible knowledge.  Just set your pattern of thinking to be healthy rather than something poisonous like, “something is going to happen to me!” or “oh I will be afraid”. 

Let’s stir each other up to think TRUE and right thoughts.  We will help our kids to set those habits that will help them throughout their lives to thrive in Christ rather than wallow in worthless thinking.

*I am not a medical professional.

EVERY Mom Must Watch....Happy Mother's Day!

Tonight I saw the movie "Mom's Night Out" with some ladies from church. It was a great film. It highlighted the important things in the life of a mom. I sometimes can narrow in on what is not important, but may seem pressing at the time. My mind can get preoccupied with that kind of stuff...causing me to miss the simple sweetness of my kiddos.

Once I got home, my husband showed me a video seen on Facebook and I was so blessed. It reiterated the same message the movie honed in on: my role is important. It has value. 

My prayer is that as you watch this clip... it will emphasize that your kids focus on the great rather than the crazy...and you have value!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/the-video-every-mom-must-watch_n_4181007.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Lord, help us to parent the way you do, and be reminded of the impact we can make when we are seeking your face daily. Help us to enjoy the little moments in life that highlight how our children are fearfully and wonderfully made.

In Route

Tonight. 

Well, I have completed the first leg of our travels. 

I’m in route. 

Actually, it’s a route that started three years ago (OK maybe 21 years ago.) 

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      Whenever it started…it continues.  This particular venture started when this blog began.  Our son began college three years ago and tomorrow…he graduates!

      My baby.  My big mushy, cuddly little guy will walk across a stage and get a diploma.

      The route began when we left him on campus.  I remember bawling as we left him to begin his college career.  Uncontrollably.  I mourned. I was inconsolable.  I didn’t want to leave my baby 771 miles and three states from our home.

       Tomorrow the route will include more than a degree.  He has learned to live with a lot of different people.  He has learned to study late into the night and to write papers that look more like chapters in a book.  He learned how to cook and wash clothes and how to manage money and time.  He has found godly friends and learned how to balance a social life while having a role as a resident assistant and holding down a part time job.

      I’m proud of our little guy.  He has done a great job in college.  He will do a great job in life.

      I’m not sure if I’ll cry on Saturday. But I know I’ll be proud of him.  Three years ago I didn’t know where this route was going to lead us.   God has certainly done far more than I ever imagined or thought.   

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     We haven't always recognized His route but we are grateful for His uncompromising love and presence. I don't know where the next route will lead in our parenting.  I don't know if it will be easy and smooth or difficult.  What I do know is I want the Lord's plans, I want His best and I want to follow Him as I remain in the role as the mother of our three children!  Proverbs 16: 4 "The Lord has made everything for His own purposes." Proverbs 16: 1  "We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands."

All Heaven & Earth Stood Still

The other day I was getting ready for company to come.  The kids were outside playing on “Matthew’s Castle” (jungle gym with slide, swings, etc.).  It was a very nice afternoon.

But all activities halted the moment I felt there was something wrong outside.  I don’t even know if I heard anything of alarm but I surely felt it.  I dashed outside in my apron, goggles on my head and tongs & potholder in hand (I had been deep-frying chicken wings).  The moment I saw her on the ground I knew something was wrong.  At this point the tongs & potholder were thrown into the dirt & I was scooping our 2 ½ year-old out of our dirt – I mean lawn.  Jordan is such a little gymnast, such strong arms and legs.  She can climb up anything and hang like the Olympians (well, ok maybe just in my mind).  So to see her on the ground was like that whole time all heaven and earth stood still without breath, without a bird flapping a wing, without anyone blinking an eye, without the slightest breeze. 

I wonder what Mary felt like.  I wonder what Jesus felt like.  I wonder what John and other believers felt like as they watched Jesus receive the many whips, or when he fell in the crowd carrying the cross, or when he released his last breath.  Jordan was fine, just all dirty and crying probably from the shock of falling.  Jesus told us a parable of how much we are worth in Matthew 10:31.  How much would he halt everything He is doing so he could pick you up from the dirt/lawn, hold you tightly then dust you off, look into your precious eyes and say, “I love you so much.  You are going to be okay….”  We need that sometimes as mommas. 

Matthew 10:31 “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Lord, I pray that each momma knows how incredibly precious and priceless she is.  Help her to never give up caring, loving and protecting her little ones.  There is no one more precious and utterly perfect than You, Jesus.  Please help us worship You in fullness of joy each day and as the Day approaches help us to be spiritually minded with care for people all around us.

Little Ears Are Listening and Learning!

Recently, our little guy and I went to the beach.  He's almost three and he loves to introduce himself to "new friends" (strangers).  "What's your name?", he asks. We're working on the appropriate sequence of an introduction, whereby you introduce yourself first, then inquire of the "new friend's" name. Most of the time, though, it goes like this, "What's your name?" Then I remind him to introduce himself first.  Well, this particular morning, we had a departure from the usual script. 


Here's how it went:


I had parked the car and saw an adorable little family approaching.  Husband, wife and a toddler boy in a stroller.  Realizing I had been smiling at them and thinking of my own son, who was still in the car, I felt the need to say hello and explain that we have a little one their guy's age, just so they don't think I am totally weird for smiling at them too long.  So I did, and they stopped and waited to meet my little guy.  True to form, my little guy gets out of the car and says, "What's your name?"  Before I can remind him to introduce himself first, our "new friend" says, "John."  Below is their exchange.


My little guy: "Oh, you're St. John!"
John (amused): "No, it didn't go very well for him."
My little guy: " Yes, you're John the Baptist!"
Then, just to be clear, "You're John who baptized Jesus!"


Now, our son has two Uncle Johns and must have met another John along the way, but this particular "new friend" named John reminded him of the illustration of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River.  This illustration accompanies the adapted rendition, titled, "John Baptizes Jesus", found in his, The Baby Bible Storybook for Boys.  It's even funnier that I looked it up to reference here, and our "new friend" does look very much like the illustration here of John the Baptist!  In addition, the illustration is of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River and the picture looks like a beach scene and we ran into this John at the beach, so I can totally see where our little guy was coming from!

I share this because I hope it makes you smile, but also to encourage you to keep imparting the word of God upon your children's hearts and minds, at all ages.  Even the littlest of ears are listening, their minds are relating and their sweet little hearts are loving it! 




“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 19Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. - Deuteronomy 11:18-20, NLT