The House You're Building

Prepare Your Heart: 2 Samuel 22:22-29 and Matthew 5:27-30.   Read these passages and consider the purity of your heart in regards to your faithfulness to your current or future spouse. So in thinking about teaching on this section I thought it might be interesting to get some statistics.   When I googled this, it was overwhelming!   So many different statistics and sources.      It is the internet so this may not be valid so I decided not to share it, as I didn’t find a site I felt was reputable.   I also searched on Focus on the Family.   There is a good article here http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce_and_infidelity/affairs_and_adultery.aspx that gives you an overview of the topic.   Of special interest to me was the part on how to avoid being in an affair.   No matter what your personal story is in regards to this topic, all of us can take the time to consider our lifestyle and the things we are doing as Chris...

And Mary said, Behold the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.    And the angel departed from her.   Luke 1:38 Today I was treated like a servant and I didn’t like it.   Instead of a submission in joy, instead of seeing an opportunity, I felt unappreciated.   The thoughts began in my head, justifying why I should not make the situation easy for the recipient of my help.   I knew I needed to come to God to sort out my pride issues. Daily when I go to work, I pray for the students, families, and staff members God has for me to serve.   I pray that I will see these as opportunities and not burdens.   I have to pray that when I am treated like a servant, I will respond in humility as I am constantly tempted to make much of myself.   It is a prayer I’ve had to pray daily as I am busy and tempted to focus on my tasks, and not see the people that need me as interruptions to my work.   For the r...

Prepare Your Heart: Read Mark 7:14-23.   Pray about the motivations behind your actions.   When circumstances befall you that are frustrating, do you blame it on external sources, or see your own heart’s response and sinful nature as the culprit? Today we are going to look at some things that trip us up in our faith, issues of self-control.   I’m a very passionate person, and as a result need lot of reminders to slow me down from responding.   Often when I respond too quickly, I get caught up in sin.   My temper is quick and I’m not often patient.   This happens often while parenting.   A lack of patience is a common confession in my prayer life.   Read Proverbs and take note on what you learn. Self-Control ·          10:25 ·          21:5 ·          25:8,28 ·      ...