[Covenant for Life]

With Hope, that devotional was so right for so many of us on this forum.  Thank you.

Since we have also felt betrayed by our spouses, this devotional also spoke to me.  Enjoy.


The Kisses of an Enemy

Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?  Luke 22:48

It was late Thursday night.  Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples.  He was deeply grieved to the point of death, praying to His Father and sweating drops of blood as the weight of the sin of the whole world was pressing upon Him.  He knew the arresting soldiers were on their way.  To add to His agony, His disciples were asleep … all except Judas.

Judas Iscariot was busily leading the charge against Him.  Judas was a thief and a lover of money (John 12:6).  He sold Jesus out for a mere thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave.  Stop and think about that: Judas sold out the holy, eternal, unfathomable God for the price of a lowly slave.  How tragically amazing!
 
The Bible tells us that it was at the Last Supper, after Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet (Judas included) and instituted the Lord’s Supper (the new covenant in His blood), that Satan entered Judas.  How boldly arrogant and offensive for Satan to enter Judas right in the Lord’s physical presence!  With Satan firmly in charge of him, Judas, a picture of the antichrist to come, went to lead the soldiers to Gethsemane.  He betrays Jesus with, of all things, a kiss.  Isn’t that just like the devil?  It is not enough to merely stab Jesus in the back with betrayal, he has to twist the knife in the process.  Betrayed with a kiss … a kiss straight from hell.   
 
BETRAYAL
 
Can you identify with Jesus?  Have you ever been betrayed?  Have you ever had someone “kiss you” with deceitful kindness so that they could gut you down the road?  Many a wife or husband has experienced the kisses of a “best friend” who subversively steals away the marriage.  Many a friend has experienced the kisses of a “trusted” confidant who goes out and betrays that confidence to the gossipers.  Many a leader has experienced the kisses of so-called supporters who delightfully malign his character behind the scenes.  Can I get an “Amen!” somebody?   
 
What are we to do when we receive the kisses of betrayal from a trusted friend?  Get angry, resentful, and bitter?  Curse God and die?  NO!  We are to do what Jesus did and pray, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  It is amazing how potential bitterness will evaporate in your heart when you pray for the well-being and blessing of those who have hurt you.
 
What are we to do when we are the betrayer?  We are NOT to do what Judas did.  When he saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he was overcome with grief and remorse.  But instead of repenting before God, He returned the thirty pieces of silver and went out and hanged himself.  As Dr. Adrian Rogers has so poignantly explained, “Trying to escape the hell within him, he stepped into the hell before him.”  What a tragic picture of wasted privileges and opportunities was this Judas Iscariot.
 
When you are guilty of betrayal, you must get things right with God and the person you betrayed.  Peter was guilty of betrayal.  In the Lord’s great time of need, Peter cursed and swore and said, “I don’t even know the man!”  And what did Peter do?  He went out and wept bitterly … and repented of his sin ... and received forgiveness from God.  You can do the same!
 
GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY
 
The lessons of Good Friday and Easter Sunday are numerous.  The overarching message is clear, however: No matter what terrible things you may have done, your sins can be forgiven in His name.  No matter how long you may have lived in sin and selfishness, no matter how low you may have sunk, no matter what hurt you may have endured, you can receive a fresh start and a new beginning from the King of Glory!   
 
The Lord really does love you, my friend.  He allowed Himself to be betrayed (He knew what Judas was doing every step of the way) and willingly went to the cross so He could pay for all your sins and mine.  He wants to have a relationship with you that is real, personal, and life-changing.  It starts when you confess your sins and turn from those sins to Jesus.
 
Will you do it?  Will you get things right with God and those you have hurt?  Will you let go of the bitterness you may be carrying over those who have betrayed you?  There is nothing as wonderful as knowing your heart is clean, pure, and free because of the blood of Jesus.  And that can be yours today!

    Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[WhatJustHappened]

I thought this was inspiring...

...
This is what we do because we know that joy is coming. That is what it means to walk according to the Spirit. In fallow times like today or painful times like yesterday, Spirit people prepare for joy because we know it is coming tomorrow or next week or in the next life. All of God’s enterprises end in joy. To walk in the Spirit is to live conscious of and confident in that reality.

http://forwardmovement.org/Today-s-Meditation/

[Covenant for Life]

This is from the Rejoice Marriage Ministry site.

STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE
 
I recently heard of a family that displays a Triduum scene in their home during Holy Week, much like the Nativity scenes one would see during the Christmas season. The display is complete with a cross and tomb, which the parents use as a teaching tool to help their children understand Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. The highpoint of this family’s tradition is Easter Sunday when the smallest child rolls back the stone from the tomb only to discover a burial cloth but no Jesus. After an unusually intense round of egg hunting, the father of this family asked the youngest son if he had rolled back the stone on the tomb. “Yes” replied the boy. “Was Jesus there?” the father asked. “Nope,” said his son, “but don’t worry dad, I found Him over by the television and I put Him right back!”
 
The empty tomb is evidence of Jesus’ divinity. As we peer inside looking for Jesus, we hear the angel say, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Jesus is not here. He has risen! Christ conquered sin and death, something no mere mortal can do. The Resurrection is proof that Jesus is Lord. He is God. His authority is divine making all of His works and teachings divine truth. We follow the way of Christ not because he is a great thinker or positive role model but because He is God.
 
The empty tomb is the source of hope. It is the source of great joy in the midst of turmoil. Imagine being with the apostles on Good Friday after Jesus was crucified. Imagine the disillusionment, pain and despair you would feel at the terrible torture and death of Christ. You would feel great loss and a lack of direction without your leader and mentor. If you are having difficulties in your marriage, are separated or divorced, I know that you can relate to these feelings.
 
Now imagine you are with the disciples on Easter morning. One of your members, Mary Magdalene, is reporting that the tomb is empty. Imagine the confusion and joy that would be bombarding your senses. Could it be? Did Jesus actually do what He said He would do? Did He really rise from the dead? It was not until later in the day when Jesus appeared behind locked doors to the Eleven that they started to believe the reports of Mary Magdalene and others.
 
In spite of the reports, Thomas still doubted and said to the others, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (Jn 20:25). Thomas, like the young boy in the story above, put Jesus back into the tomb.
 
Do you believe the reports that your marriage is dead and buried? Are you ignoring the reports that Jesus can heal broken families? The tomb is empty. Jesus has risen. He is Lord! Do not restrict His power to overcome sin and death by putting Him back into the tomb. He is victorious.
 
May the empty tomb give you hope that Jesus is all-powerful and can do the impossible, even raise a dead marriage from the tomb of divorce. I have seen with my own eyes the power of God in healing a marriage broken by divorce and adultery. Believe the reports given by the eyewitnesses. Do not lose hope for Jesus is Lord over the heavens and the earth. He has risen! Alleluia!
 
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  John 20:26-29
 
Stop doubting and believe!

Dennis L. Wingfield
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

[Mitzpah]

This devotional spoke to me today, those of you who are men could also change the gender here and derive comfort:
David Wilkerson Today

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

OUR GREATEST COMFORT
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

It was necessary for Jesus to take on human nature so He could go through
everything we do on earth — rejection, pain, sorrow, temptation. Though He
was God in flesh, He endured the whole human experience not as God, but as a
human, with all our frailties. That enables Him, our High Priest, to pray for
us with tremendous sympathy: "For in that he himself hath suffered being
tempted, he is able to succour [relieve, aid] them that are tempted" (Hebrews
2:18).

Consider a dear, struggling sister. She loves Jesus but she is feeling
discouraged, cast down, rejected. She thinks, "I've been deeply hurt and I have
no one to talk to who really understands." Sometimes she wonders if God can
forgive her for having such weak faith and she is on the brink of giving up.

Satan stands beside her, accusingly saying, “Look at this one! She has
virtually no faith. What kind of Christian is she, God?”

Jesus sees her hurt and feels her pain. He knows that her faith is weak, that
she is on the verge of giving up, so He comes before the Father on her behalf
and begins to intercede:

"Father, I know what she feels because I've been there. I was rejected by My
own flesh and blood. I was mocked by the religious crowd. Soldiers spat on me
and put thorns on My head. I even cried, 'Why hast thou forsaken Me?' I
sympathize with this woman, Father, and I have washed away her sins. I know she
still has a heart for Me."

This is where Jesus' prayers for us come in: "Father, I would that she be
forgiven for her discouragement. I would that she be given a new supply of
grace from on high. Let the Holy Spirit come upon her with a special renewing
of encouragement and give her a spirit of peace and rest. She is Mine, Father,
and Satan cannot have her!"

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the woman feels encouraged. Grace is given to her
through the prayers of our High Priest. He is touched by the feelings of our
infirmities and He acts in mercy.

[With Hope]

Thanks Mitzpah.  I needed this today.  Feeling anxious again (my mid-week anxieties kicking in).  Also, dealing with discouragement and some temptations as well.  It is interesting too that May 19 appears here (as the author's birthdate I am assuming) as that is my wedding anniversary.  I often see things like this and wonder it they are signs for me to keep hanging on...although at this point I don't know what I am hanging on to.  I am trusting in Him though and allowing Him to lead me...always trying to hear His voice.

I am one month away from my wedding anniversary...wow.  Just now dawning on me.  Normally, by now I would have researched what the 11th anniversary traditional gift is and begun to formulate ideas.  Year 1 was paper - I gave my H framed photographs of locations from his native country.  Year 2 was cotton (I think) and I gave him a cotton hammock...and so on.  It was a silly idea that I came up with to try and push the creative envelope. Our 9th anniversary, the last one together, it was clay/pottery and I ordered a photograph of our family (H, me, baby, cat and dog) and had it printed onto a clay tile.  Shortly thereafter, our beloved dog died and then several months later, H's love for me did too.   

Anyway, sorry to take that one off on a tangent, but thanks for posting it!   

[Still]

From Rejoice Marriage Ministries:


Never Forget Saul

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples...As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  Acts 9:1,3-4

A common question that many of you ask is: How can I believe that God can change my spouse when my spouse says, "I will never, never come back. I never really loved you. You need to get on with your life as I am with mine." I cannot possibly write all the words that prodigal spouses say to their one-flesh mates to destroy any and all of your hope or belief that they would ever change their mind or have a heart transplant to return home. Don't listen to their words, listen to the Lord's Words that He speaks to your heart and in His Word!

We understand why you doubt, question or have unbelief due to your own personal circumstances, and think you should just give up. But, you must believe and never give up on your marriage.

Each year, as I approach July 7, when Bob came home nineteen years ago, I start recalling the circumstances when we were divorced, with him having another person, planning a wedding, and working two hours away from our home. Things looked impossible. Bob was running from God and he often revealed to me how far he was from his Lord.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him."  Jeremiah 17:7

I had to choose after our divorce, as you have to choose today, who you are going to serve and trust. After realizing my sin in divorcing Bob, I repented and turned my entire life over to my Lord and said, "You are going to have to unscramble my life as I have made a terrible mess of it." I surrendered everything to the Lord and asked Him to put my "Humpty Dumpty" back together again. My Lord was my only hope and I knew He was the only one who could help me through the largest crisis in my entire life.

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"  Hebrews 13:6

Our Lord God is in the heart changing business every day. He can and does change men's and women's hearts all the time. God created His children and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all sinners. Your Lord God does not give up on His children.

If you should get discouraged or depressed, never forget about Saul in the New Testament. Pray for your spouse to have a Damascus Road experience. As a devotion today, read Acts, Chapter 9. Saul was becoming the chief persecutor of the early church. Saul was the government's hit man assigned to get rid of Christ's followers. But God, had other plans for his life. Plans that Saul could never have imagined. Your spouse will not know in advance what the Lord is going to do to their life now or in the future. You only are to pray and believe with your Lord God.

Saul was chosen by God to become an ambassador for the Gentiles. It did not matter what Saul had done or what he was doing to the Christians at that time. God had a bigger and a more powerful plan for his life. It does not matter what your spouse has said or has done. God has a plan for them and for your marriage, if you will stand firm, waiting on the Lord to touch your spouse.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Believe God has a plan for you, for your spouse and for your family's future. Bob and I are examples of what God can do. When I was standing for my marriage, I did not expect or know in the future that Bob and I would be writing a daily devotional helping other people around the world encouraging hurting spouses never to give up on what God can do in your marriage.

"Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles…"   Acts 26:16

Our Lord God uses the most unlikely people to confuse the wise. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. There is not one person who is too difficult for the Lord to change their heart of stone. You and I just must continue to pray fervently for your spouse and all prodigals that they will come to their senses. Pray that they will have a Damascus Road experience with their Lord God.  Pray that every prodigal will be obedient to the Lord's voice and fearful of God if they continue live in their disobedience. There are severe consequences to living in sin and in disobedience. Pray for your spouse's eyes and ears to be opened to the Lord's light revealing the need of a Savior and Lord in their life.

May I suggest you pray daily a powerful scripture from Acts 26:18:

"Lord, open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."  Acts 26:18

"Lord, we pray for every prodigal child who is away from you. Lord, we pray this for every spouse, rebellious teenager or lost loved one that is in the pigpen of life. Lord nothing is too hard for You. You touched and changed Saul into a Paul, may You go after the spouses who are in far country of their sinful lifestyle. Reveal Yourself to them as You did Saul by the power of Your Name and Your Blood that was shed at Calvary, bringing them home quickly, suddenly, repenting and wanting to rebuild their marriage. Thank You Lord, nothing is too hard for You to accomplish and we believe in your mighty power. Amen."

Don't give up on your spouse! Remember Saul turning into a Paul!

Be blessed and believe,


Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Ministry Web Site  |  Bookstore  |  24/7 Radio
Donations  |  Chapel Page

[Still]

Not scripture, but something worth reading.

This is by Bob Steinkamp, at Rejoice Marriage Ministries  www.rejoiceministries.org

-------




WHAT DO PRODIGAL SPOUSES THINK ABOUT?   (June, 2000)







We think about how happy we could be with someone else.




We think about how our mate nags us (but that is not really true).




We think about how to leave home without hurting our spouse.




We think (and act) tough, otherwise this thing would kill us inside.




We think like a teen-ager again.




Strange, but we think about how to mold that other person to be

just like the mate we are walking out on.




We think about right and wrong, and about God, and we justify what

we are doing.




We think about sin.




We think about sex.




We think about our spouse.




We think about being single (yet that seems so strange).




We think about being trapped by that other person.




We think how we hope our kids never do what we are doing.




We think about home.




We think how foolish we are.




We think about family times.




We think how much we wish that other person would go away.




We think about death (and about Heaven and Hell).




We think how disappointed our family must be in us.




We think how disappointed our Heavenly Father must be in us.




We think about going home-so simple yet so complicated.




We think about that mate who is praying for us and things seem OK.




We think about talking to someone about going home, but we never do.




We think about being with our spouse when we we are with someone else.




We think we heard from God (but probably not, the way I am living).




We think about home.




We think about wanting just to hear our mate's voice and laughter.




We think about praying, but feel too guilty for God to ever listen.




We think we heard from God again.




We think how we could go home.  It seems so simple now.




We think about that message we are hearing from God, in a hundred

ways, over and over and over again.




We think how much our spouse has changed and wonder if it would work.




We think about how unhappy we are in a counterfeit lifestyle.




We think we heard God tell us to go home!




We think about being forgiven by God and a loving and standing mate.




We think we just heard the mate that we once trashed say, "You are

welcome here." (Your home will never look better than on that day!)




We think less and less about that other person (but it takes time).




We think how God could use us some day to keep other couples out of

the mess that we survived.




We think how grateful we are for a mate who would not forget us

and, "get on with your life," as everyone suggested.




We think about our right relationship with Jesus Christ.




We think that our mate wrote the book on forgiveness.




We think (and we know) that being at home, loving the Lord and a

covenant mate is pure joy.







God bless you,

Bob Steinkamp

Rejoice Marriage Ministries

PO Box 11242

Pompano Beach, FL 33061

www.rejoiceministries.org




==================================================




THIRTEEN YEARS LATER -




It was thirteen years on July 7, 2000 since our remarriage.  What

does a returned prodigal think about now?  I think about a wife who

would not give up, no matter what I threw at her.  I think how for-

tunate I am that she and God continued to love me.  I think about

God using us to help more hurting spouses than could have ever been

imagined. 

[Mitzpah]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[Wed2Him?Whatever.]

There are times we freak out and don't know what to do when what we need to do is to WAIT on The Lord.  WAIT!  Just WAIT!

Micah 7:7
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Zephaniah 3:8
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD…
Hosea 12:6
Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.
Daniel 12:12
Blessed is he that waiteth…
Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Lamentations 3:26
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Jeremiah 14:22
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.
Isaiah 64:4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Isaiah 51:5
My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
Isaiah 49:23
…they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Isaiah 25:9
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Isaiah 33:2
O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Proverbs 27:18
Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
Proverbs 20:22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Psalm 123:2
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Psalm 130:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Psalm 145:15
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
Psalm 59:9
Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
Psalm 62:1
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
Psalm 62:5
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Psalm 69:3
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Psalm 25:3
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Psalm 25:5
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 33:20
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 37:7
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:9
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:34
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalm 39:7
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 52:9
I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
Genesis 49:18
I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

[Mitzpah]

Wed,

I guess God knows that we are impatient... otherwise He wouldn't have to remind us so many times!