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Being Selfless

7/29/2016

Marriage and children are a sure fire way to expose how selfish we once were. Once officially joined to another human being, there is no more room for “mine”. Sometimes there is a long process of deliverance that needs to take place before truly understanding the meaning of one flesh. I’m not implying that we have to give up our individual identities. We all have a special purpose and blueprint ordained by God. Our identities deal more with our spirit. Our desire for “mine” deals more with our soul.

Genesis 2:22-24
22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

To have a successful marriage we must be selfless. We have joined together as one and everything that we do sets a tone in our home. Many times marriages suffer because of the desire of wanting “me time”. This is important sometimes for sanity’s sake, but we have to plan this carefully with our spouse and consider their needs as well. Everyone needs to detox sometimes. It is important that we don’t place our role in our homes as more significant than the other.

In my home, my husband is the bread winner. He works extremely long hours. He often works overtime including his days off. His work ethic is honorable and praiseworthy. I understand his desire for a “break”. Well, if he is at work that often, guess who cooks, cleans, and manages the house? Did I mention that I also have 2 teenagers, 3 toddlers, and one about 6 months in process? Trust me, he understands my desire for a break as well. I am very blessed that he places high honor for my role at home and understands that it’s just as hard, although different, from his.

Needless to say, he doesn’t just go and plan a golf outing the minute that he gets some free time. I don’t just run out the house to get away from it all the minute he walks through the door. These events are well planned and considerately thought out. My husband even calls me when he unexpectedly gets stuck at work or asks if I mind if he stays late. Having said all of that reminds me that it is also much needed to carve out “couple time” to reconnect and stay in unity.

The trials of the day can have us both screaming “Calgon take me away”, lol. The truth of the matter is, that no amount of “me time” will take away our responsibilities and frustrations. The only time that can fix our issues is time spent with Jesus!

Matthew 11:29-30
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

When we connect ourselves to Jesus, our souls find rest. All that fleshy frustration dissipates, our anxieties disappear, and our attitudes change. Once we’ve done that, then we can make plans for our girl’s night out or sports outing with the guys. Fellowship and laughter are good for us.

Proverbs 17:22
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[a]
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Proverbs 27:9
9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart,
And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

Being around our friends keeps our bones from rotting. Pampering ourselves delights our heart. We don’t want to be so consumed with life that we forsake these times. There is a time for everything, but in everything we must be strategic. There might be seasons where there seems to be no break (I’m in one right now), but we can’t let are attitudes take on bitterness and selfishness thinking about what we might be missing. The kids only stay little for a short season and then they are gone. We must learn to enjoy every season of our lives. We have to be selfless to our God given assignments and stop complaining about what we can’t have or do.

I want to encourage you today that you are in the season that God ordained for you. You too will soon get a time for rest, a time to be pampered, and a time to fulfill your desires. Just remember that You are not your own anyway. You belong to Jesus. You also belong to your spouse, but if you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). A time for fulfilment is coming. A time for abundance is coming. Everything that you endure now is preparing your character to handle your next. The journey is ongoing and Jesus the ultimate example of selflessness is with you!

Father, we thank You that You have given us Jesus as a selfless act of love. Forgive us for not always reflecting this in our lives. Help us be more considerate, patient, and enduring. Give us strategy on how to carve out time for all the things that we need to function properly. Help us be thankful and satisfied in every season. Help us to honor the role of our spouse and consider all things when planning to “get away”. We take on Your yoke and find rest for our souls. We give You our frustrations and anxieties. We want to be selfless. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Shut Down The Accuser!

7/22/2016

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I had a dream last night that was strange. I was at a function that was honoring my husband. The room was filled with family, friends, church members, and people I didn’t know as well. There was a lot going on. People were eating, mingling, and very busy. When it came time to honor my husband, a family member stood up and started making accusations about him. They were spilling out shortcomings from his past and trying to discredit the honor that was being placed on him. As I listened to this, I began to feel enraged. Not at my husband for the awful accusations, but at the accuser. I grabbed the microphone and started roaring. I told the people that if we were all judged by our past then we would all be going to Hell. None of us would deserve any honor. I got extremely emotional and shared God’s grace and forgiveness. I talked about His love and how He is willing to deliver us all from our destructive past. The people starting weeping and bowing in the presence of God…..

God honors us when our hearts are towards Him. When we repent and receive Him, He doesn’t hold our past against us. He makes us new and places us on a path of righteousness. It is our job to follow that path. Even when we stay on the right path, they enemy will come to accuse. He will try to attack our character. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. He wants to devour us. Most times he uses people to do this. Too often it is the closest ones that stir up the mess. Thank God that Jesus came to give us life!

John 10:10
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

The enemy hates marriage. He hates covenant and doesn’t want to see God’s people blessed, multiplying and prospering. In my dream, I immediately shut the enemy up by sharing the truth of God’s grace. God released His glory and the people were humbled.

Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

We must stay in unity with our spouse. We can’t jump to conclusions from accusations by bound, jealous, or unsaved people. The quickest way to shut the enemy down is to expose him with the truth. Most times we know the past of our spouse and what God has delivered them from. Just as God has forgiven us, He has forgiven them also. We can’t entertain the words of the enemy by allowing him to speak accusations against our spouse, causing dishonor. When someone speaks badly about them, they are also speaking badly of us. We are one. Our relationship with our spouse represents our relationship with God. Are we going to allow people to dishonor our God? Maybe that is the problem. We have become too passive and politically correct to stand up for our beliefs.

I encourage you today to be careful whose words you entertain. Don’t engage in conversations that will bring dishonor to your marriage. Your tongue is a powerful weapon that can bless or curse.

Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Be intentional about speaking blessing over your marriage. Quickly expose lies with the truth. Don’t let anyone divide what God has put together!

Matthew 19:6
6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Father, we thank You that You are a God of covenant. Thank You for joining us together with our spouse. Forgive us for entertaining thoughts or conversations that come from the enemy to cause division and confusion in our marriage. Forgive us for allowing others to dishonor our spouse. Forgive us for allowing others to dishonor You. Give us boldness and courage to expose evil with Your truth. We will not be moved by accusations from the past or plans that want to divide our marriage. We place honor on our spouse and rebuke all that would come to dishonor. Help us to use our tongues to bless and not curse. Let our marriage give You glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Love Your Spouse Challenge

7/15/2016

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For the past few days there has been a love your spouse challenge that has been circulating on social media. Though I usually don’t participate in the different challenges that pop up, I was inspired to accept this one. The point of the challenge is to promote marriage and inspire others to celebrate their own. In these times where so much hate is being spread and the world is suffering from the sins of the land, I find it refreshing and beautiful to see all of the pictures and posts of people that love their spouse and are still honoring the covenant that they made before God.

It’s funny, as I look through my photos, it has been hard to find ones with just my husband and I. Most of our pictures revolve around the children, so I have to go through hundreds before I get to one of just us. Going through these pictures bring back memories of happiness and milestones. It’s amazing how pictures always capture our best of times. Rarely do we take pictures of our worst moments. It has forced me to focus on our joy that has flooded the memories of any hurt.

I believe this is how God wants our frame of mind to be. When we sin and repent through the new covenant, God forgives and remembers no more.

Hebrews 8:12
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds[a] I will remember no more.”

When we go through struggles in our marriage, once we reconcile, we must forgive and give it to God. If we keep bringing it up, we will open a door to the enemy for bitterness and resentment to divide unity by the bond of peace in our homes. Love holds no records of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5).

To keep the God of peace with us, we must focus on what is positive in our marriage and move forward. We can’t hold on to the sins of the past. The enemy would love to fill our thoughts with paranoia and suspicions. We must resist the temptation to replay bad circumstances in our minds over and over.

Philippians 4:8-9
Meditate on These Things
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Of course, if there are current issues, they must be addressed and conquered. Ignoring problems won’t create a solution. Marriage takes warfare, but once the battle has been won, we move forward in faith. We must trust God for healing and restoration. Only He can heal matters of the heart.

Psalm 147:3
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

God honors marriage and wants to bless and prosper yours. Keep moving forward. I challenge you to go through your own pictures and stir up the memories of good times. Thank God for how He has brought you through and blessed you. Be intentional about focusing on your love for each other.

Father, we thank You for Your mercy towards us. Forgive us for not offering that same mercy towards our spouse and holding records of their wrongs. We want our marriage to represent Your love. Flood our thoughts with memories of goodness and blessing. Help us stay focused on You and resist the urge to come into agreement with lies of the enemy. We come against every lie and false accusation that the devil has used to try to destroy our marriage. We submit ourselves to God and resist the enemy so he must flee. We declare today that we love our spouse and look forward to a lifetime of Your favor, blessing, and prosperity. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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#BLACKLIVESMATTER

7/8/2016

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I am a white woman married to a black man. We have five children who although they are biracial, will be seen by society as black. I am not an expert in black society or claim to understand the emotional and mental hardships that the community goes through based on the history of injustice it has suffered, but being raised in a black community, I realize there are struggles and can empathize with the pain that it’s suffering right now. My heart is broken from the string of events that have been blatantly allowed by America’s justice system. In a country where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is supposed to be our inalienable rights (rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws), black lives have been stripped of their chance by unjust government and people who are “above the law” (based on the lack of any convictions). Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are supposed to be self-evident (obvious truths). The Declaration of Independence itself says that they were endowed by our Creator.

This is where as believers, the rubber meets the road. America has taken our Creator, God, out of everything. God has been mocked and rejected by government and we are now seeing the fruit. What are we going to do church? Are we going to continue to be silent and let our husbands and sons die to lawlessness? It starts with us. Hate is a heart issue that can only be defeated by the love of God. We have to save souls in order to save lives. We have to restore husbands/fathers to their rightful positions. Society is operating in the works of the flesh:

Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[a] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[b] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

It will continue to do so if we don’t take action and Give them Jesus. We can no longer be passive Christians who are satisfied with our own salvation. We have to represent Christ in everything that we do. We have to operate in the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another

The Bible says that we are known by our fruit and also that they will know us by our love. We are also called to love our enemies…. How else can we win them over?

Galatians 5:14-15
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”[a] 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I know this is easier said than done, but consuming one another won’t solve anything. We need to be consumed by the love of God and take it with us wherever we go. We have to plant ourselves in places of influence. We need to be in government, education, media, and entertainment. We have to be decision makers and world changers. God has put a solution in us that can shake the world and turn it upside down like Paul and Silas did (Acts 17:6-7). We all play a part. It is past time to inquire of God what we are to do. We must pray and also take action. We must unify because a house divided can’t stand. We have to humble ourselves and repent for the sins that corrupted our land. We must turn from our own wickedness. God will forgive America and heal our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

We have to pray for the families of the lost. We need to be active in our communities. We have to plant seeds of righteousness in the children. We have to give them hope and a future.

I can’t imagine the internal struggle that comes with being black. I can’t imagine the rage that bubbles up in their hearts as they watch this injustice happen over and over. I do know that God is a deliver and He is the only answer to this cry.

Today I bless the black community. I place honor on the leaders that are working in the trenches to make a difference!

Father we thank You that You are our deliverer. Forgive us for being complacent and not taking action in our own spheres of influence. We need You in America. We pray that the world changers arise and turn the world upside down. We bind up white privilege and arrogance, and loose the equality of the Kingdom of God. We pray that the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with the black community. Give them strength to overcome and hope for their future. We pray that God’s love and all the fruit of the Spirit saturate The hearts of Americans. Let the conviction of the Holy Spirit hover over America and change the hearts of its people. Let Justice prevail and our inalienable rights be restored. Heal our land and let Your name be great above our nation. Jesus, we need You back in our schools, government, and everyday lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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No Ball And Chain

7/1/2016

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People are always amused to know that my husband and I got married on the 4th of July. I always joke and say that “they” always celebrate us with fireworks. The day is filled with all of the things that we love. Family, fellowship, barbeque, good fun, and of course each other. The fireworks are a plus and represent our marriage: exciting, beautiful, hot, loud, and consistent. Just as people look at the fireworks as a symbol of their natural freedom, people are looking at us as a symbol of Godly marriage because we represent Christ.

It’s funny to me the irony of our day being a day of freedom, when the world links marriage to having a ball and chain. But we all know that what the world thinks and what God says are two very different things. People will postpone marriage because they don’t want to be tied down, but will end up living together as such while sacrificing all of the benefits.

Galatians 5:1
[ Christian Liberty ] Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

The yoke of bondage is sin. We cannot receive the benefits of marriage if we haven’t made covenant before God. God cannot bless a relationship that is operating against His will. God honors marriage and wants to bless it. When we become married, we become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). This creates a bond of unity and covenant/commitment that we don’t have if we are just living together.

No man or woman can take away or give you freedom. Freedom comes from Christ alone. If we deny Him of our relationships, then we are a slave to whatever sin that we commit while in them.

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

God’s Spirit brings freedom. His grace will cover our mistakes, but only if we allow His Spirit to deal with it. Freedom comes by living according to God’s Word. His Word is the absolute truth.

John 8:31-34
The Truth Shall Make You Free
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

By no means do I want to bring condemnation on anyone. I just want to expose the lies of the enemy. Fear to commit is brought on by the devil to withhold the blessings that God has for you. If you are with the one that you are called to, there is still time to repent and make it right. If you are with the wrong one, there is still time to repent, cut soul ties, and ask God to connect you with the one that He ordained to honor, love, and respect you. You do not need a spouse to make you whole, only Jesus can do that. Seek counseling and explore God’s Word for all of the promises that comes from freedom in Him. Marriage done His way is beautiful. Contrary to what people think, there is freedom in sex, freedom to be yourself, freedom to pursue your purpose, freedom to enjoy life, and freedom from the doors of the enemy created by the sin of disobedience.

God created marriage for our pleasure. He didn’t want us to be alone. He wants us to have help. He wants us to be an example of Christ and the church. Godly marriages honor God and give Him glory. Let’s bring God’s Glory back to our nation by representing His Word. It starts with marriage that lays a foundation of Christ and imparts it into their children. Let us not forsake His Word to satisfy our flesh. We can no longer pick and choose which parts of the Bible we want to believe. Our nation’s standards have been compromised and we’ve allowed it to happen. America has relinquished its freedom because of sin. Our liberty is dependent on Christ. Let’s get it right and let God back into all parts of our lives, starting with biblical marriage.

Father, we thank You for freedom in marriage. Forgive us for feeling like marriage somehow steals our identity. We do not want to be slaves to sin. We want to find our freedom in You. Help us honor You with our covenant and take pleasure in all parts of our marriage. We don’t want to forfeit our blessing because of sin. If we have not obeyed your Word, expose the devil and show us the truth. We want all that you have for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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SECRET GARDEN

Being Selfless

Shut Down The Accuser!

Love Your Spouse Challenge

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

No Ball And Chain

Bonnie Kay Rimpson

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Categories

﻿SECRET GARDEN﻿

Being Selfless

Shut Down The Accuser!

Love Your Spouse Challenge

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

No Ball And Chain

Bonnie Kay Rimpson

Archives

Categories

SECRET GARDEN