Weekend Devo — Destroying False Beliefs

That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." —Numbers 14: 1-4

In Numbers 14 the Israelites make a huge assumption based on several faulty beliefs. First they assume there’s no way they can claim the Promised Land due to the size and numbers of the people inhabiting it.

Their assumption exposes two false beliefs. First, they believe these foreigners were stronger than God. How could they possibly overcome such a hurdle? (Numbers 13: 31-33) They hadn’t even stepped outside their camp and they already assumed the worst possible scenario. Second, they believed God meant them harm.

All this led to their assumption that God didn’t care. They assumed God’s only intention was to let them die, despite the miracles they witnessed at the Red Sea, the Jordan, water coming from a rock, etc.

At times I find myself flabbergasted with their lack of faith, but then I step back and realize how much of an Israelite I am. How many times have I done the very same thing? Things go horribly or don’t turn out as I interpreted they would according to what I think God is doing, and I despair, wondering how God could have left me in such a place of insurmountable odds.

But what if the Israelites had nurtured their relationship more with God? Spent more time in prayer, learned the true character of the God who wanted desperately to give them a land flowing with milk and honey? What if they had reflected back on those past events as reminders of how God had rescued them and provided for their needs over and over again?

Would they have turned from grumbling to thanksgiving?

We can avoid making false assumptions about God by getting to know him better, and the only way to do that is to study the Bible. When we know God’s true character and base our beliefs on that truth, the trials and indecisions of life will not shake us as badly. Because we will know without a doubt that God only wants what’s best for us. Period. Without a doubt.

How do we know that? From God’s Word. Scripture is packed with God’s good intentions to prosper us and give us a future (Jeremiah 29:11). And 1John 4 is the greatest love letter to us from God.

We have two benefits the Israelites didn’t. One, we have God’s complete Word. The second is the greatest example of God’s unlimited love for us—Jesus. Perhaps the Israelites would have saved themselves years of suffering if they’d pursued God more passionately, but what really matters is that we can learn from our brothers and sisters from the distant past.

We have the opportunity to know God more intimately than Israelites did because we have his Son living in us. This is a huge gift! One we can’t squander by letting our pastors and friends tell us what the Bible says. God gave us his Word so that we can get to know him for ourselves. This is where our faith is formed, in a relationship with God through first-hand knowledge of our amazing Creator. Based in truth, not hearsay. And I guarantee you will meet God on the pages of the Bible.

The best part of this pursuit is that it never ends and it never gets boring! Our God is so unique, multifaceted, powerful, and LOVING that getting to know him and growing closer to him is the most amazing journey we can ever take in our lives. It’s transforming and exciting. And it’s the best way to destroy false beliefs.

I’d like to invite you to join me on this fantastic journey. Just start with 5 or 10 minutes a day and seek God in his Word. First ask him to open your heart and mind to hear him. This allows the Holy Spirit to go into action to reveal the most amazing nuggets of truth.

God has a way of permeating every part of our lives with his exciting presence when we truly desire to know him better. And I can tell you from experience that walking with him never gets old.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13

Praying and believing,
Dineen

Partner With God and See the Wonders

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. 

The past couple of weeks I shared with you how I fell off the Hope Train. I have struggled just as you struggle. There are days when it appears God is absent and He remains silent, unaware of our anguish or heartbreak. 

But….. 

Say this with me now, “WE SERVE THE MOST HIGH GOD.” 

I was immediately reminded of God’s faithfulness. You, my friends, jumped on the Hope Train and pulled me back on board, reminding me instantly of how selfish I am. (I mean this in a good way.) You reminded me of who I serve. You reminded me to stop looking at my circumstance and look at my God. 

Thank you! 

How dare I forget all He has done in me and around me? 

I looked at my husband a few weeks ago, convinced he was no different that when we began our unemployment journey a year earlier. Yet, I KNOW the many things the Lord did during this past year. God provided for us financially. In miraculous ways, remember the Woman and the Cow Story. That was God’s miraculous business in an ordinary woman’s life. How about my husband praying in earnest for the first time? Miracles of miracles. How about giving my husband a job and He gave me a job through our book contract AND has allowed Dineen and I to share our hope with others who don’t find us on the internet. 

The list goes on…. truly, and on and on…. The Lord, God held my hand every step of the way. The Lord, God confronted my man then set him on a journey toward heaven. How dare I let a single argument with my husband defeat or minimize the power of God in my life. 

So today, it’s my turn to reveal something to encourage you. God is the God of wonders! 

Why do I always want to make it about me? This thing with my husband, his salvation, it isn’t about me. My roll and responsibilities when I partner with God is to do my part. Period. The end. When I do my part, then God will do the wonders. 

Read the scripture verse at the beginning of this post again then stand with me amazed. We need only to do our part and then step back and be WOWED. 

 This past Sunday, I learned a couple of things we as unequally yoked spouses need to know. (thanks Pastor Josh)

1. Discover and embrace your role in His-story. 
2. Learn obedience by choosing faith over fear. 

My role is to live for Christ. Nothing more. Nothing less, then let Jesus to the rest. And when fear arises such as when I don’t understand why my husband still hesitates or I can’t get all my questions answered or what the end of this journey will result for him, I MUST choose faith. I know the truth and I cling to it with every part of my mind, soul, heart, and strength. 

When I do this, God shows His wonders. I am living in the Promised Land. 

A sinner set free! That would be me. 

As I sat in church Sunday, my husband joined me for the first time in many months. I glanced his way during the morning service and behold; his eyes were closed and his head bowed, and at that moment, I watched him pray in earnest. 

I see the wonders Lord. I see Your wonders. 

I love you Jesus, Lynn

It was Two Teenagers - Who Knew???

This is a story about my mother.

My mom lives in a smallish size town, in western Colorado. Grand Junction is a quaint place, hailed as the gateway to the Great Rocky Mountains. She has lived alone from more than 25 years.....

This story is about the unlikely but the amazing. Join me at Laced With Grace where I am privileged to introduce you to my Mom.  

Read the rest at Laced With Grace today. Be blessed, Lynn

Do You Have a Family Faith Record?

As you know, Lynn and I are writing away on our book project, which wouldn’t even be possible without you, our readers, and a wonderful publisher who believes in our message.

One of the later chapters is about making a family record. If you were to imagine a day in the hopefully-not-too-distant future with your spouse as a believer who wants to know more about what he or she may have missed during his or her years of unbelief, what would you want them to know?

How your children asked to know Jesus?

How you prayed for your spouse?

What God spoke to your heart along the journey?

How God provided in difficult times or major trials?

What would it mean to you to have this journal or compilation of how God moved in your lives, yet weren’t able to share it with your spouse due to their unbelief at the time?

I know I’ve journaled a lot of this kind of stuff in the hopes of sharing it with my husband one day, but it’s scattered over several notebooks. What are some ideas you’ve used or seen to create a faith record of your family’s spiritual journey?

Can’t wait to read your comments!
Praying and believing,
Dineen

In the Ditch. What are your thoughts?

Through this website, I have come to work with several others who counsel women during marriage issues. Last week one of my friends who counsels women, she and I we were discussing via email, the how and why marriages end up in the ditch. Here is a portion of what she wrote.... 

To me, it all seems to start with our beliefs...regardless of what the issue is. I personally feel both her and his beliefs have to change and she needs to seek truth and speak truth to herself and him. What do they believe about men and what do they believe about women. What do they believe about themselves? What do they believe about the other one? What do they value? What do they expect from themselves and the other? 

Most of the time it seems when there is a struggle it is based on "untrue" beliefs, which cause us to behave poorly. 

It infuriates me that women and men have lost their true identity in Christ, and that sometimes the church spends more time fighting between themselves about some doctrine than giving the people from an early age life skills based on the Principles and Promises of God. Hard for me to see the big picture but I want to be a force to bring that kind of discipleship into the church and create an atmosphere for maturity in our walk with God. 

Sometimes I think the church buries its head and gives the impression if we just pray hard enough the Holy Spirit will wave a magic wand and poof...it will be fixed. It also takes work. It takes commitment. It takes practical application of the Word of God. Sorry to rant but I am so sick of what the enemy tries and how unaware we are of his tactics. And how we don't recognize the authority we have in Him and our responsibility to choose! 

Most of all it takes us delighting in Him. The word delight means soft and pliable. Oh if we could all go back to the place of our young days and be soft and pliable in His hands instead of struggling for years with all these issues. I want the next generation to KNOW HIM, KNOW WHO THEY ARE IN HIM, KNOW WHERE THERE POWER COMES FROM! 

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I have to tell you I am in strong agreement with my friends thoughts. So, I put forth these questions and ask you to share with me your thoughts. What is it we believe about men? What do we believe about women? What do we value. What untrue beliefs create constant struggles in marriage? And finally, how do we get this message to the women who are thinking about marriage and who are newly married? 

I am looking forward to this conversation and your advice. Be blessed, Lynn

Weekend Devo — Guest Author, Robert Young

We have a special treat for our weekend devo today. S.U.M. friend and author Robert Young wrote the beautiful piece for us to share. Enjoy and God bless!  ~Dineen

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There is never a time when He is not speaking. There is never a place where He is not present. There is never a room so dark that the ever present, ever pursuing One is not there tapping on the door of our hearts.

"Surely I am with you always, to the end of age."

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

And its not explosions of lights. Not lightening bolts. Its just gentle light. A soft glow that brings hope into darkness.

And because we sometimes look for those explosions or the bonfire, we miss the candle. Because we listen for the shout, we miss the whisper.

But it is in burnished candles that God speaks. Through whispered promises, the warm embrace of a true friend or the touch of another's kindness is where He truly speaks.

"When you doubt, look around; I am closer than you think."

About Robert Young: Following the tragic loss of his son, Robert Young left Canada to pursue a time of healing and strength. Young spent several years renovating an abandoned plantation mansion on the Mississippi River while writing for local newspapers and magazines. During that time of healing, he penned the best selling novel, Three Days With Mary. He currently resides in the Dallas Texas area and is working on two new Christian novels as well as working with Bluefishtv Ministries.

Stinkin' Hard

I am a regular read of Lysa TerKeurst blog. A few days ago she posted the video you will find below. Her blog post was:

Sometimes Marriage is Stinkin' Hard

It is but her message is filled with so much truth. I wrote to Lysa and she said I was welcome to share the video here at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. It is a short but powerful message.

Thank You Lisa. Well said. 

 

You can visit Lysa at http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/

Be Blessed, Lynn

Thankful Thursday - A New Profile Photo

Let us give thanks. It is Thankful Thursday.

We are meeting this month with Iris of Grace Alone and in March we will be at Laurie's place, Women Taking A Stand. Find Thankful Thursday back here in April.

In a few months I will be turning the big five oh. I decided that my profile photo was out of date seeing that is more than six years old. I needed a new photo and called up my friend, Prema of The PB Style. 

She took this ole' gal's face and captured the essence of me in some of her photos. I thought I would share a few with you today. Help me choose.

These are only the proofs. I will upload my profile photo in a few days when I receive the original on CD.

 




Isn't Prema awesome? I adore her and my other photographer buddy, Iris Nelson of Grace Alone. So, I hope to update my profile photo in a couple of days. I am tired of that old one. 

I am thankful for my friend and sister in Christ, Prema. God has gifted you with an amazing talent. Hugs, Lynn

Olympic Fever

Every two years, my husband and I anticipate the Winter or Summer Olympics, our favorite being the Winter. There's just something about watching these athletes give everything they have to achieve their goal of excellence, to win a medal, to make their mark on their sport of choice.

I realized we have watched these Olympics together for 26 years. We watched them when before the split into Summer and Winter events, before the fancy camera work we now have to show us more detail, and before these athletes' lives and stories became almost as important as their performance in the spotlight.

That's the part I find most interesting, the stories behind these athletes so fiercely committed to their sport and their goal. Stories of heartache, set-backs, unfortunate accidents, and trials. Stories of going without to keep pursuing their dream, of their families sacrificing to help them get there, stories of overcoming the odds and still moving forward even when everything told them to quit.

As I watch these athletes and hear of their dedication, I find myself deeply convicted. Why not apply such dedication, such determination to our relationships? What if we put that kind of effort into our marriages—would the world see a dramatic drop in divorce rates? What if when we got married, we were told we were in the race for Olympic Gold?

I know there's a vast difference between athletic competitions and marriages, but the more I think about it, the more I see a common element between these athletes and life in general. That element is two part—choice, then commitment.

These athletes at some point make the choice to pursue their dream and then make the commitment to go after it, no matter what the cost. They are dedicated, intentional, and determined. And I think that's what marriage takes to last, to go the distance, to win the race and finish.

First, to make the choice to love and then make the commitment to stay together. The constant dedication to our spouse, the intentional awareness of the relationship and working to make it better, and the determination to do this on a daily basis.

Like these athletes, we are in training. We continually learn the right techniques and principles from God's Word (1 Cor. 13, Romans 12) and apply them as we go along. When we fall, we pick ourselves up again with the help of our Mighty Trainer, who's dedicated to seeing us through to the end.

The beauty of marriage and unlike the Olympics is this: Where we fall short and lack the strength or ability, God steps in and makes up the difference. He can even turn a failure into success. God doesn't ask us to run a perfect race. He just tells us to keep running so we finish with Him.

And that, dear friends, is gold.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

I Fell Off the Hope Train

I have sat down to write a post for this Monday several different times today. I am having difficulty. 

It's Sunday evening, Valentine's Day. My husband and I had a fight earlier today. We argued over social events. This is a common theme of late in our home. So strange.

However, I am wondering if this is common in your unequally matched home as well. He wanted me to attend a BBQ with him. I didn't want to go. I wanted him to attend church with me. He didn't go.

Okay, is this real enough for you? Perhaps you didn’t want to hear all this but I can bet if you are unequally yoked, this is a common hurt in your life. I will also point out that although my husband and I have made some giant strides closer to healing a ton of our differences, our faith and social gaps still exist to some degree. I still struggle and it still hurts at times. So does he. 

It’s a bummer. I know so many of you are sitting at home on this day are also disappointed with your marriage. Valentine's Day can punctuate our feelings as it calls into sharp focus our romantic and married life. 

So this evening, I am wondering how you make it through this strange cycle we live in. First, we have hope. We see some glimmer of hope because our spouse took a tiny step closer toward God. Then we wait. 

 We wait. And we wait. And we wait…… 

Then whammy! A day like today happens and the reality of just how apart you remain, stirs to the surface and rips at your soul. Disappointment followed by disillusionment. 

So, today I want to hear how you pick yourself back up and jump back on the hope train? Thank you for sharing your life with me. Thank you for listening to me as I share the good, the bad and the ugly with you and you love me in spite of it all. Be blessed, Lynn