Lord, bless every rock
Do not make Your favor as fragile as a butterfly
It lands for a moment
then is gone as the wind blows
I can not embrace such fancy
I would stumble and destroy
that which You sent to bless
Rather make Your blessings firm
May they stand through time’s test
Make them like the rock I can stand upon
Then I will praise You
“Many a man claims to have unfailing love,
but a faithful man who can find?”
This particular proverb fell into another category. It asks a question that forces introspection from the reader. When we consider this proverb, we see from God’s perspective as He looks on the sons of men to see ‘if there are any who understand, any who seek God’. The answer, as in Psalm 14, is a mournful one: no one. I believe this proverb along with psalms like Psalm 14 help us to see the need for Jesus to come. For my family, I called it the ‘Longing’ proverb. This ‘longing’ for One to come and fulfill what we cannot, is echoed throughout the Old Testament.
For us, as we considered how Jesus fulfilled this proverb, we were encouraged to think on His unfailing love and on passages like 1 Corinthians 1:9 that spoke of how we are invited to share fellowship with Jesus.
Though the proverb is mournful because Jesus had not yet come, we are filled with joy because He has! He is Wisdom’s Fulfiller and is the fullness of God, Colossians 1:19.
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19
Who can find Him, this Man who is both Faithful and True? Only those who believe in Jesus and call on His name.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
Don’t fall for it.
God has shown you
something so much more.
Don’t fall for it.
Don’t chase after illusions.
You know you’ve seen what’s real.
A place beyond comparison.
Don’t chase after illusions.
Don’t be distracted.
What they say is a lie
and you know it.
Don’t be distracted.
Don’t turn from the path.
Temptations never
lead to blessings.
Don’t turn from the path.
Don’t panic.
You aren’t being left behind.
Everything has its time.
Don’t panic.
Don’t give up.
The only way to fail
is to quit.
Don’t give up.
Don’t lose hope.
It’s not as fragile
as you think.
Don’t lose hope.
I started thinking about my challenge in the previous WATILITSTP post: to stop-viewing-porn/seeing-someone-other-than-your-spouse and I thought this may be helpful. Here’s a list of thoughts. I’m sure there is more and better stuff out there, but this is too big to ignore.
Top 10 Ideas to get rid of Porn/the other person:
1. Get to know the Holy Spirit. He will bring to mind thoughts that will bring you to the only sure ground.
2. Get rid of the source. Whether it’s your computer/tv/phone, whatever it is get rid of it.
3. Join a trusted accountability group. Get help, don’t rely on your own strength.
4. Join a recovery type group. There are plenty of ones available. XXX Church, Conquer Series, etc.
5. See a professional Christian counselor. They can help discover keys to help equip you.
6. Think strategic like during a war. Know your strengths and limits. Highlight weaknesses and address them: ‘R’ movies, compromising magazines, relationships, facebook, etc.
7. Make sacrifices. A lifestyle of a living sacrifice helps erode temptation.
8. Change up schedules. Avoid a routine by filling your time with different things. Set goals for what you want to accomplish.
9. Hang up a picture of Jesus where you can see it prominently throughout the home. I know it sounds silly, but visual help is good to have.
10. Repeat every day: “I am a child of God. He loves me, so I love Me.” Then do the previous points.
There was a freedom I met in the Spirit.
It allowed me to breathe, not perform.
Visions I never would have believed possible
flooded my mind. I let go of everything I knew
and found unspeakable joy. Limits were gone as I regarded Him
at work in me.
That was yesterday.
Shackles that I never fully let go of returned.
The warm comfort of slavery, of my cell
called me from the stars
and returned me to the earth.
O, would that I could return to the stars
Nothing mattered there
He could take me anywhere
Let me tell you of them, of Him
the Maker of the stars.
I know you won’t believe me, you can’t
you would feel justified pulling me back
It is not your fault, it is mine.
But I tell you now of yesterday, of my clarity
It was something to behold.
It was something to behold.
Life is hard at times, very hard.
It is never ok
to take it out on your kids.
Turn to God instead
and pray.
I wonder about Peter’s second time on the water. I bet he was thinking he wasn’t going to sink that time. He would keep his eyes on Jesus. His faith was strong. He even kept his clothes on.
Splash!!!
I can relate.
John 21:7
Here’s an attempt to help:
Take a week/month and do these 10 things (If there is another person/porn outside of the marriage take a week/month break from them. I know this is ‘of course’ and should be for all life)
1. Get a babysitter. Kids don’t need to pick a side.
2. Don’t say anything to each other for a day. Only write each other notes.
3. Go on a date. Dress up for it. Make it special.
4. Get each other a present for the date. Guys: get her jewelry/chocolate, Girls: get him cologne/wine etc.
5. Feed each other dessert. The more awkward the better.
6. Do something the other spouse likes: movie/ice skating etc.
7. Take a walk together somewhere. It has to be at least 1 mile.
8. Look each other in eyes for 10 min. Don’t talk. You can blink/not a staring contest.
9. After 10 min. pray for each other still looking in each other’s eyes. It has to be a positive prayer.
10. Tell each other 10 positive things about each other.
Do this every day/night with each other. Take off work. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 out loud together and take communion giving each other the elements.
After The Week (kids and work are back)
1. Write a note a day for 10 days saying a positive thing about each other.
2. Begin each day praying with and for each other.
3. Look each other in the eyes for 1 min. each day.
4. Embrace every day.
5. Read a chapter of 1 John together as a family each night.
After The Week After The Week (Testimony Time)
1. If problems persist begin communicating about them through notes. Write them from the other’s perspective.
2. Begin seeing problems as the enemy. Write down each one and make a plan to defend each other from them.
3. Look at your relationship as a castle. Write down/discuss weak points in the walls.
4. Write down 10 ways you would attack the other person if you were the enemy.
5. Write down allies/10 ways you can help defend them.