Proverbs 31: A Wife Who Loves the LORD is a Treasure

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Well friends, we've made it to the end of the month and our last proverb. I really was not sure what I would talk about having only read the chapter prior to writing. I have approached this with as much care as I was able. I may have been offensive at times, but I hope above all I was honest to myself and my beliefs. I hope I have encouraged you, as I know being able to write freely has encouraged me.

I knew after reading the above verse, whom this edition would be inspired by. So without further adieu, let's get into it.

I first met my wife, Juliet, in summer 2006 on a mission trip to Mexico. I was added to the list of people going rather late, as I believe someone had backed out last minute. I went as a sponsor of sorts since I was attending college at the time. I readied for the trip and jokingly told my buddy Nick that I would meet a beautiful Mexican gal while there. That's the only time I've been prophetic.

Meanwhile, in Mexico, Juliet Otero was happily working as a translator for mission teams coming to Rio Bravo through Manos Juntas Mexico. Her father, Julian Otero (awesome guy) was a manager or coordinator there (the guy in charge basically-not sure of title). The week our team was going, was her vacation. At the last minute, she had been asked to come help translate for our team due to a need for more translators. She had agreed, not knowing that decision would change her life.

I don't recall all of the details of our first day on the worksite, but I do recall noticing her immediately, and probably creepily watching her work (hey it worked out for good so hang in there). Keith Garrison, one of the adults on the trip, remembers seeing how I looked at her and says he knew that we would get married. I'm not sure I knew at that moment, but she did seem special.

Maybe because of the way he saw me look at her, it was suggested I spend day two playing guitar and entertaining the team. This may also have been due to my lack of manual labor skills. Either way, I "wooed" her with music the next couple days.

On the final day at the worksite, we exchanged email addresses, expecting just to possibly chat a bit online. As soon as I got home, I emailed her, asking if she remembered me and just saying hi.

From what she says, this threw her for a loop as she didn't expect me to contact her...and so the relationship began after a few months of chatting, and me sending videos to her of my singing.

To say that everything aligned just right the day we met would be an understatement. And here is where I will tie it back to the proverb above. God knew how I was constantly feeling like I needed to date someone. He knew that I had finally said I was going to stop looking. He probably heard me brag that I would meet a Mexican girl because I like to think He has a sense of humor. He knew Juliet would show up that week even though she was not scheduled, and He knew I would get to join the trip the last minute. The reason I believe this is because we are both people of strong faith in God. I would have expected (based on stereotyping that I shouldn't do) that she would have been a Catholic, but she was Methodist, like me. Rather than struggling over religious issues, we basically believed the same.

The Bible is very emphatic that if we get married, we are to marry other believers. Now I know many out there may be yoked with non-belivers, and if God has placed that in your life, your job as the Christian in the relationship is to continue to be an example unto them. The greatest joy of our marriage though is knowing we share faith. We have long conversations. We sometimes disagree, but most often, we are of same mind.

And being married to a woman who is of same mind spiritually is the connection God intended. It's right there in the Bible numerous times, and Paul spoke on this as well. We know in our hearts that our marriage will stay strong, no matter the trial, because we are centered on God at the heart.

Do we sometimes fight? Yes. Are we always leading the best Christian lives? No. But I am married to a woman who fears the LORD. And as I've said before,  fearing the LORD is not being afraid, but showing proper respect. We both respect God and strive to keep Him first in our marriage.

The proverb says that the woman who feareth the LORD shall be praised, and I know I certainly praise God everyday for arranging our circumstances the way they turned out. I am thankful for her everyday, whether I always show it or not. She is constantly on my mind even when she isn't my current thought. We are one in holy matrimony, the way it was intended. There is no better feeling than knowing that your marriage pleases the LORD.

Our biggest struggle lately is learning to pray together. I have no doubt we would grow much stronger in our faith, but I am still timid in this regard (and praying out loud in general). The times we have prayed, it is easy to see that she has the faith like a child that Jesus was speaking about. She respects the LORD, but knows He is her friend as well. He knows her heart and what her passions are.

If you notice in a recent post I made about where you will be in 100 years, she wrote something like "that's a niiiiice Jesus." It may seem silly at first, but knowing that she speaks like that when her pure love for something is coming through, makes it a very special comment. It warms my heart.

I don't know if God will have animals for her to care for someday in Heaven, but I know He knows that she gets a special feeling around animals.

I am truly blessed to be in a spiritual marriage. I can understand cynicism in marriage these days with the high divorce rate, but I truly believe that when both individuals are truly putting God first, not just going through the motions, that He will bless the marriage and it will endure.

You probably are thinking, "talk to me in 20 years if you're still together," and of course based on society today that's a legitimate statement. But it is at its heart a statement of unbelief. Marriage was created by God. When your marriage is spiritually sound, God is with you.

If you are the only believer in a two person marriage, pray that God would move the heart of your spouse. You've gotten the first part right by committing to marriage and not just living together, but for it to be truly blessed, you need to be an example to your spouse. Be accountable to God with each other. It is a wonderful place to be.

I hope none of you take offense at this because I am aware that marriages do fall apart everyday. I am a product of a broken home as well. But the Bible is very clear on the subject, so I speak not as an immature young man, but with scriptural backing.

I would just like to close by saying that I love you Juliet, and you are my best blessing from God.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*I hope this month has been a blessing to all of you as it has to me. I am writing simply as an outlet for my thoughts and feelings, and if others can benefit from them, God willing, so much the better.

I will have a mix of spiritual and normal posts from this point on, and actually already have a humorous one in mind. I welcome comments, but am really doing this as an uncensored outlet for myself. I hope as you come along with me on my journey, God will speak to you through my words. I pray God may use me to bless you whether in spiritual or practical posts.

Thank you for your support during this one-month commitment I made to the Lord. Your comments and support have kept me motivated!


Blessings my friends!

Proverbs 30: Talkin' Bout my G-G-Generation

"There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." Proverbs 30:12

Friends, we are living in tough times for Christians. Not yet physically tough, but mentally and spiritually, we are under assault. Many of us might not be fully experiencing it yet, but for those truly living for the Gospel, it will come.

The early church was much different than what it has become. I am all for grace preaching and prosperity, and I do believe God provides for those within His will who give to Him as well, but when we look back to the early days of the church, it was less about prosperity and more about suffering.

Paul writes extensively on the sufferings of the early church, and if I"m not mistaken, all or very close to all of the original disciples died deaths of martyrs for Christ.

Nowadays we preach that God wants us all blessed, and that is true to an extent. But with blessings also come sufferings sometimes. To completely erase the suffering from the gospel is to take away its very heart. It's not our favorite thing to discuss, but being a Christian is not without its costs. IF it were all fun and games and blessings and money falling from the sky, this generation would be clambering at the church doors. As it is, this generation is falling far from Christianity.

Not everyone. There are still many active churches, experiencing great revival. From a media standpoint (and being a Journalism major, this would be my area) Christians are extremely persecuted. Muslims are treated better in the United States and with more respect than even the best Christian leaders. Perhaps our nation bends over backwards for them out of fear. Regardless, popular media does not like Christianity.

Sometimes I don't blame them. Have you heard Christians speaking lately? Have you seen them picketing funerals and cursing people to Hell? I've said before we are called to rebuke, but not to judge. We are to hate the sin and love the sinner. Sometimes our hatred of sin causes hatred of sinner by default. This is NOT ok. I'm guilty of it at times. You are too. Welcome to the club. It's called humanity. God hates it. I hate it. The only people who don't hate that kind of behavior are the people participating.

I am against homosexuality, abortion, and all the hot button issues, but I am against them from a Biblical standpoint. I will not go around condemning them, but I am not going to be afraid of rebuking. In all honesty, I know gay people and I know women who have had abortions, and I see them no differently than anyone else.

What if someone were to project all of your darkest sins on a giant projector for all to see? That wouldn't feel too great. I'm sure likewise it doesn't feel great when Christians are screaming at and picketing specific sins, while simultaneously ignoring their own private demons.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect. I've been guilty of cynicism towards sins that I don't practice. But I also have a laundry list of sin that is equally bad in God's eyes that I would prefer stay between Him and I. I have repented. It is forgotten. Washed clean--but with repentance comes turning from that sin.

There have been sins that I cannot seem to get rid of. No matter how I try, I fall again. I pray for forgiveness and am forgiven, but my human nature fights my desire for a Godly lifestyle. How do we deal with this?

Well according to the Word, we are never going to be perfect. We are made perfect by Christ's sacrifice, but we will never pull it off on our own. Therefore, no matter how repentant we may be, it is always possible to fall back into old habits, sins, temptations, etc...

I believe true forgiveness comes from repenting with a sincere desire to cease and desist. God knows you may fall back again, but He also knows you are marked for Him, and Christ's blood was for this very thing.

The blood of Christ did two important things. Number one is what we focus on the most. It washes away our sins. Perhaps even more importantly though, (number 2 if you will) it satisfies God's wrath/judgment. God hates sin. Humans are born to sin. God loves humans, but cannot be in full fellowship with them unless something covers the sin. Christ died for our sins. His blood is the final piece of the puzzle. We are taught that by trusting in His blood and sacrifice, God's judgment is satisfied. We can fellowship with Him. BUT, it is ONLY through Christ. Christ alone. There are not fifty different paths. There is one. Only one person died for our sins. Only one person serves as mediator between God and sinful man. If you want to fellowship with God eternally, you must be covered by Christ's sacrifice. This is where the terms "Born-again" and "saved" come from. They are straight from the Bible.  These are not scary words. Salvation, born-again, saved, ---I'm still Chris after saying those words. I didn't transform into what you would call a "holy Roller." Or maybe you do see me that way. I hope so. I wasn't always trying to be this close to God. I embrace the stigma of Christianity. I am not ashamed of the gospel, and neither should any Christian be.

Don't let the media wash away your desire to preach salvation by Christ alone. At least for now, no one is physically stopping you. And even if they were, no one said following Christ would be easy. That's probably why He said "take up your CROSS and follow me." Not grab some snacks and a scooter and ride along next to me at a comfortable cruising speed.

There is one chapter left of my Proverbs blogs, and though all of them were unplanned and typed at the speed of thought, I hope some of you, or all of you have benefited in some way.

Once again, allow me to extend to opportunity to those of you who might not yet know Christ as your savior, to pray. Acknowledge you are a sinner. You cannot save yourself, and need Christ's sacrifice to cover your sin and satisfy God's judgement. IT is a free gift, by faith, not works. But once saved, we are called to do good works so that our reward in Heaven will be that much greater.

I hope you have enjoyed the ride so far. Who knows what tomorrow's chapter will bring. Hopefully something wonderful. God Bless!

Proverbs 28 and 29: Alms for the Soul

I included a special blog prior to this one on the 28th, so this is a combination from Proverbs 28 & 29. We are almost through our Proverb a day in January blogging. I am not sure what I will speak to after this, but I thank you all for joining me on this ride. If you have a spare moment, read "Betty Jean Birthday Blog."
------------------------------
"He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse." Proverbs 28:27

"The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it." Proverbs 29:7

Oh, how often I have turned my eyes from someone begging. I am not proud to admit this. It is difficult in our society to distinguish between the truly needy, and those looking for an easy buck. Perhaps as Christians we are called to harken unto the needs of all who seek help--whatever their intention.

I live in Austin where every street corner has someone with a cardboard sign. Some signs pull at your heart, some are hilarious, and others are repeats of what a previous sign said. Sometimes there are men and women, sometimes people disabled, sometimes puppies sitting with them.

I had never experienced seeing so many begging for help or money or work until moving to a larger city. Austin is not huge, but it is a step larger than Oklahoma's cities that I had visited--though perhaps it is confined to certain areas there.

How are we to handle this? If I always had cash on me, I would probably be handing out money left and right...but is it out of wanting to better circumstances..or perceived obligation?

I'm not sure if God is calling me to give a dollar to every person begging for money on the street, but I do know that He said in the Word, whatever you do unto the least of these you do unto me (paraphrase). That's all well and good, but again I don't always have anything to offer, and my human mind wants to try to judge the worthiness of their circumstances. It is common knowledge that here in Austin, many people beg on the street as a second job--and make good money off of people's misplaced generosity.

The times that I have had an extra dollar to give, I've felt helpful--even if it seems minor to me, maybe they really did need it. The best situation I had though was the opportunity to buy a meal for someone. This man had a sign that just said he was hungry--and coincidentally was on a corner near a Wendy's. Juliet and I drove through and got a combo meal with a coke (not knowing his preference it was a good bet coke was ok), and took it to him at the stoplight. His face lit up. This is what he needed. Sustenance. Not a dollar, not two dollars. Not a friendly smile. This particular man needed food.

I don't have an answer to how I should be handling the many homeless in Austin. I did think one hot day I could take them all water---but somehow backed out of that idea.

Let's sum it up then in a general way. If you find yourself in a position to help someone in need, and you have the means to do so...do it. I will work towards this as well. Don't worry about what will happen afterwards--whether they abuse your generosity or humbly accept it. Let God worry about that side of things. Share a good word...buy a meal..give a dollar...whatever you are led to do. Don't prejudge because of cynicism. Let the LORD lead you. If you have nothing to offer, pray that someone behind you will.

It is by grace we are saved through faith, not of works---but once saved, the desire to do good works is within us. We are still rewarded someday--but we should not rely on works for salvation. There is only salvation in Jesus Christ. Whether you find that statement offensive or not is not for me to worry about. You shall know the truth, and it will set you free. The cross was blood shed for our sins, but more than that, it was blood shed to satisfy God's justice...His wrath if I may boldly say. A fully Just and Holy God cannot be in presence with sin--we are all sinners--ergo Christ's sacrifice is the ONLY way you will spend eternity with your loving creator.

Where will you be in 100 years? We will all stand before God someday. If He asked you why you should be allowed into Heaven, what would you say? Would you spit out all of your good works and your accomplishments...or will you trust in Jesus' sacrifice to cover you, and allow you into the eternal presence of God? Christ said you are either for Him or against Him. Isn't it time to take a stand?