Blog Archives

Building A Winning Team

2/26/2016

Do you know the plans that God has for your marriage? God does, even if you’re unsure. Once you became married, if you are a believer, you became a team in God’s division to advance the Kingdom of God. Each of our marriages play a different part. My team will have different strengths and weaknesses than your team. We will strategize differently and execute the plan differently. As long as our methods don’t step out of the realm of the Word of God, then anything goes. The possibilities are limitless. The awesome part is that even in our weakness, God is strong and we never have to compete against our division. The only team we fight against is the devil’s and we do that in the spirit!

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

When we fight in the spirit and put on our armor, we will become more in tune of what our purpose is. As we push back the enemy, God will reveal strategy and give us understanding.

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV)
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The only way to stand against attacks against our marriages is to be strong in the Lord. We can’t do it by our own understanding or power.

Ephesians 6:14-18 (NKJV)
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--

We must stand in truth, righteousness, peace from knowing/believing the gospel, faith, salvation, the word of God, prayer, and watchful perseverance. If we build our marriage wearing this uniform, then our team will always win. That is our purpose, to always win! When we submit our marriage the Lord He will direct us and work everything out for our good.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God has called each of our marriages for a purpose, so when we love God, He will work everything out for our good. We can’t lean on our own understanding or that from man’s opinions. We have to trust God, acknowledge Him in everything, and He will show us which way to go. We will learn along the way and grow into our purpose. My life is way different than I have ever expected it turn out. When I was a child I never imagined that I would be a stay at home Mom of 5 children. Honestly, on paper, it doesn’t make sense. Our decisions as a family often seem foolish to others, but because we have been led by God and trust in His promises, He has always provided. We are richly, deeply, blessed beyond anything that I could have imagined. I love my life and am so grateful to be playing on the winning team!

Father, we thank You for being the best coach ever! Forgive us for not wearing the armor that You have provided. Forgive us for leaning on our own understanding and doing things based on what seems right to the world. We submit ourselves and our marriages to You. Teach us how to wear our armor. We love You and seek You to reveal what path that we should take next. We want to build a winning team that will help advance Your kingdom and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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What's in Your Eye?

2/19/2016

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Being a married believer is the ultimate test of Christian character. It is a true measurement of our inward parts and the areas that we still need deliverance. It is easy to put on a mask for a couple of hours and play nice with others, especially when they don’t hold relevance in our inner circle. It is not so easy to hide all of our flaws with those who are the closest to us, in this case, our spouse.

When we become frustrated with ourselves, it is so easy to see all of our spouse’s flaws. We can dissect them and recognize root causes and generational curses, while our stuff sits deep in our souls waiting for the perfect opportunity to manifest. They always seem to explode out of nowhere after festering for a while. It’s always the littlest thing. We let things build up ignoring the pile until one day, boom, the straw that breaks the camel’s back!

Matthew 7:1-5(NKJV)
Do Not Judge
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

It’s not that we can’t help remove the speck, but we first have to be sure that our eyes are clean and clear! When we feel ourselves rising to the occasion to add to foolishness, we must first evaluate our response. Responding in our own dysfunction will only cause the speck in their eye to go deeper and splinter the vision of our spouse. A hard response will distort their vision and even if we are right, they won’t be able to get past their scarred vision looking at our flawed eyes!

The key is to take care of our self first. After all, this is a fruit of the spirit (self-control Galatians 5:23). This means checking ourselves; our response, attitudes, words, motives, and filters. Once we evaluate these things, we may calmly approach our spouse in love by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

This may seem like a long process, but it can all happen in moments. If we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He will immediately convict us, search us, and draw us to repentance. It will only be a long process if we are being hard- headed and rebellious.

People are watching us. Some people are cheering us on and looking for an example. Others want us to fail so that they can say I knew their God wasn’t real. It is our responsibility as believers to show the love of God to everyone, but it must first start at home!

1 John 4:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Seeing God Through Love
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

We love our spouse regardless of their flaws and help them along the way as they help us. Let’s not be hypocrites. Let’s continue to bring our flesh to the Lord as we seek to be perfected in His love.

Father, we thank You for marriage. We thank You that You have given us a companion to enjoy our journey through our purpose. Forgive us for trying to fix our spouse before looking in the mirror. We realize we are far from perfection and want people to see God’s love when looking at us. Help us use self control and seek deliverance in areas that challenge us. Make us clean so that when our spouse does fall short, we can help them in love and not bitterness. We want our marriage to be an example that gives You glory and draws people close to Your presence. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Love Is.....

2/12/2016

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Love is all consuming. It is an intentional heart posture that is filled with the presence of God.

1 John 4:16 (NKJV)
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

God is everywhere. He is with the sinner as well as the saint. He is in all things, and moves through everything. He sees all, hears all, and knows all. We cannot hide from Him. Once we receive Jesus in our hearts, we become aware of His presence. His Spirit then dwells in us to guide and comfort us through our journey of life.

Psalm 139:7 (NKJV)
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

With that being said, there is a difference with God being everywhere and us being in His presence. To be in His presence is to know Him intimately. It is resting in a place of safety and love. It is being filled with His Joy. This fullness can only be found by intentionally pursuing His fellowship.

Exodus 33:14 (NKJV)
14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

God wants us to look for Him with all of our heart. Sometimes we can’t see Him in our situation but He promises that if we seek Him then we will find Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

I believe marriage is the same way. After all, it is supposed to mirror the relationship that Jesus has with us. Sometimes we get too comfortable being around one another. We go about our day routinely knowing that our spouse will play their role and we will play ours. We are together in the same location, but we haven’t spent time in each other’s presence. This is a dangerous place to be in. God gave us covenant to become one flesh. When we lose intimacy (emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually) with one another, then we become frustrated, doubting, bitter, just to name a few.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God never left them. They were the ones that separated themselves from God’s presence. They didn’t resist temptation and were ashamed to be in the presence of God.

Genesis 3:8 (NKJV)
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Sin always leads to separation. We open ourselves up to sin when we stop pursuing each other’s presence. If we are no longer communicating with our spouse the enemy will send a “good” listener. If we are no longer affirming their purpose, the enemy will send an “encourager”. If we are no longer being romantic, the enemy will send a “flirt”. There is always a counterfeit to look good as a replacement in times of weakness. We must actively pursue each other and recognize when “something” is off. There is never an excuse to break covenant with our spouse and each one is accountable for their own actions. I am just saying that not pursuing the presence of our spouse can open a door of sin that they may have a hard time resisting to open.

The good thing is that there is always hope. Even when we fall short God provides a way of reconciliation.

Acts 3:19 (NKJV)
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

We have to be quick to repent. We must seek God’s forgiveness and that of our spouse as well. Even in the “little” things admitting that we are wrong will open the door to healing and forgiveness. We must be humble towards each other and recognize when we are wrong. We must be compassionate towards our spouse and see their hearts as God sees them. Isn’t this what Jesus exemplified? We must dwell in the love of our spouse just as we bide in the love of Jesus and He in us. This is what love is.

John 15:9 (NKJV)
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

We come into God’s presence by thanking, praising, and blessing Him.

Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

If we are feeling disconnected to our spouse, we can reconnect by doing the same. When we thank, praise, and bless our spouse we are opening a door to intimacy. It shows that we are actively pursuing their presence and not just their existence!

Matthew 18:20 (NKJV)
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

When we submit to one another to glorify the Lord, He is also with us. Therefore, who can then separate us! When we stay in God’s presence, there is a 3 fold cord that holds us together.

Love is….. an active word. Love is…. the Word being active!

Today let love be active in your marriage. Thank your spouse, praise your spouse, and bless your spouse. Get into their presence and choose to love them how God loves them!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7(NKJV)
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Father, we thank you for Your presence. We thank You that You first loved us so that we may love You back. We thank You for the example of Love that Jesus has given for our marriage. Forgive us for not pursuing the presence of our spouse. Help us be intimately and actively in Love. Let us experience joy, rest, and fullness in our marriage. Let the Word be active in our love for one another. Give us creative ways to thank, praise, and bless our spouse. Help us always be quick to repent to receive Your refreshing. We want to abide in You and also with each other. Let us be known by our love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Touch Down!

2/5/2016

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When I first got married, my husband used to come home from work and make sure that I was the first person that He greeted. The girls would fight for His attention, but he would always make his way towards me first. He kept this up when our son was born and when the next girl was born, but when our youngest baby started walking, I think it became impossible.

I imagine him like a quarterback walking through the door. He has the ball and everyone wants it. He decides to run instead of pass, but the other players try to take him down. By the time that he makes it to me (usually finishing dinner in the kitchen,) He has two babies in his arms, one holding his leg, and two more at his ears. The spotlight is on him and suddenly I become invisible (accept when I go to the bathroom. They always follow me there!).

We have tried to follow the model: God first, spouse second, kids third, job fourth and everything else last. This is the way our heart posture should be, even if circumstances cause us to look differently. The truth is that the children “need” to experience love and attention from their daddy. This will help them understand the love of their Daddy God as they get older. Although I want my husband’s attention, I know God’s love for me and cannot get bitter trying to make my husband be what God is supposed to be to me.

Having children in a marriage is a season. They will quickly grow up into adults using what we have imparted into them as a tool to make their own decisions. Having children is a blessing, but changes the dynamics of our marriages.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)
Everything Has Its Time
3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

Being a stay at home mom can feel lonely at times, leaving us thirsty for adult interaction and grown up attention. Even when out and about with the kids, everyone always acknowledges them first! This also affects our husbands. The spontaneity that once existed is now overtaken with schedules and clingy babies. We must learn to enjoy the time we get alone with our spouse and intentionally affirm our unconditional love. We have to find creative ways to keep our covenant love a priority. Loneliness stems from thoughts that come from the devil. God is always with us and we are never alone! When we do things for Him, then our thoughts change.

Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV)
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.

He might not be able to get to me until the fourth down, but when he does, I need to be in the end zone expecting a touch down! He has to be intentional about getting to me, and I can’t give up before the fourth quarter. In the meantime, we must enjoy the game and let the kids run the halftime show. I might seem invisible now, but when I catch that final play, I become the MVP!

The point is, not to let the children define your marriage. Work as a team and understand your season. Sometimes, we get tackled. Sometimes, we drop the ball. Sometimes, we completely miss! Stay in the game. Let God’s Word be your playbook. Know your position on the team. You are not invisible. God sees every effort and has strategically positioned you to win.

Ecclesiastes 9:11(NKJV)
11 I returned and saw under the sun that--
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.

Circumstances are always changing and we can do nothing in our own strength. Our efforts are subject to time and chance, but God will cause us to be victorious if we trust in Him.

Father, we thank for our marriages. Forgive us for not always putting You first. Forgive us for being selfish and letting thoughts of loneliness creep in. You are always with us. When we keep You first, we know that everything else falls in order. We know our children are a blessing and not a hindrance to our marriages. Keep us focused on the end result. Give us creative ways to find quality time to spend with our spouse. Help us be strategic and intentional about submitting to one another in love. We give You glory and praise for our covenant. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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SECRET GARDEN

Building A Winning Team

What's in Your Eye?

Love Is.....

Touch Down!

Bonnie Kay Rimpson

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Categories

﻿SECRET GARDEN﻿

Building A Winning Team

What's in Your Eye?

Love Is.....

Touch Down!

Bonnie Kay Rimpson

Archives

Categories

SECRET GARDEN