Pam and I had 3 young children and the air could get pretty thick at times. I was doing all I knew to do- work, date nights, chores, caring for the car, repairs around the house, praying with her and the children, minimizing commitments that took me away from home, etc. However, it just seemed that no matter what I did she would have a very short fuse and the fuse seemed to be getting shorter by the day. It was taking a toll on me, her, the children and our marriage. Periodically, we would get counseling and we would be all right for a while but not for very long. Counseling would usually reveal that we have a lot to be thankful for and that things could be a lot worse. We would hear stories of the detriment other couples were facing and it would calm us down. Pam would get centered again and the storm would cease. I could back on track and feel at ease. Then, without any red on the radar whatsoever, we'd have a Category 7 hurricane rip through the house and leave us all devastated. I was losing my grip with each storm. Knowing what the Lord expects of us can be confusing at times. What is my calling? What should I be focused on? Am I where I should be in life? The questions can go on and on. However, God is not the author of confusion. Listen to a timeless reminder of the simplicity in What God Expects of Us. Get this ONE THING right and everything else will fall into place. FREE AUDIO
"Do you love me?" That's the question asked in so many relationships. We want to know from the person that we are committed to that they are all in for us. Are we being cared for just for the benefit? Are we being cared for just out of obligation? Or are we really loved because we are known, understood, and loved? We're not the first to have this concern.
Can you live your life without being significant to any one but God? Can you minister to a person and command them to tell no man but to go to their church and praise God? Is there a desire in your heart to be made famous by God? These are the signs that my heart is saying, "Glorify my name, Lord!" We've all reached this moment at least once before we reached adulthood. The world just seemed to be folding in on itself and it seems there's no alternative but to cash in whatever chips we have left and call it a night- "I'm done!" We wouldn't be the first to feel this way. In fact, our most esteemed Himself had one such moment in the garden saying, "Father...take away this cup from Me." Mark 14:36
If you put down your bible, stopped going to church, and disassociated yourself with believers, what would your life be like? Could you sustain a relationship with God without the testimonies of the saints, the written word, and being filled with the Holy Ghost? Abraham didn't have a bible, Torah, church, or a background of a believing family. In fact, his fathers were idolaters. (Joshua 24:2) Yet, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20) Neither did Moses have a bible or a church, but “...He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)
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Aaron ClarkLoving God and teaching others to do the same is my life's work. Archives
October 2018
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