2/20/11 cblog, RELATIONAL LIVING, w/ the HELP of GOD; SADDLEBACK CHURCH, ANAHEIM LOCATION [On screen, Tom halladay] m: "..survey..highest everest 5.5 miles high..death valley ..actually dead sea ..highest grossing..lowest grossing zzyzx made $30..highest temp 136 libya.., minus 128 anartica,,.longest marriage ..86 years..may 13 1934 ..on other side..shorter..rships..highs & lows..talk re hope for real rships.., faith hope love..1 cor 13.3. ..will destroy e/other..gal 5.15
God made us relational people..easy in a novel or movie, but how 'bout real life..growing apart ..deep sense of frustration..1st, thank god for differences.., begin by realizing god made us different..(gen 1.27)..work, shop, watch tv, think..differently..bk "men like waffles, women like spaghetti.." ...men think in boxes,..some r empty..,women..swirling twirling bbeautiful...ask man, what thinkin 'bout? Nothing..she can't believe it ..
Two things agree upon, one not necc. ..thank god for differences..god made us to be diff..takes both to see truth."accept one another...".romans 15.7 ..go to god w/ your disappointments..none of us perfect..idealized notion of marriage..so we get disappointed..truth is not even a perf wedding..
Moment born..inundated w/ perfect images ..superman clip ..cartoons all romantic imagery ... ..that set u up for superman but u got goofy..brady bunch..wild bunch..go to god w/ disappointments..god will never forsake..bail out or stick it out ..as a contrast to idealized images..
Neal & robin mccushion ..met. sddlbck..1994 married.. 1999 ..kissed robin goodbye..call at 430..she had headache , hospital, cat scan, massive bleediing..50/50 chance..she's in coma ..day to day..praying..her eyes opened.."I'm thirsty"..mission hosp 3 months..she needed 24 hour care..now I take care of her..Small group, support group, ..thank god every day ..
None of us get what we signed up for.."love never gives up" 1 cor 13.7 ..
3rd, trust god w/ feelings..all time (ps 62.8)..tell god .I feel angry .."can trust god to do what he promised" heb 10.23 ..is love an action or feeling ? Start feeling love, when start acting love..isn't that hypocritical?.no, its human..sometimes we lose feelings of love..Jesus did not feel like going to the cross, but he did it anyways ..
Maybe u don't feel anger or disapp, maybe nothing now..maybe living a lie ..feelings begin to die..where start...tell god feelings..talk to god..as do so..he begins to restore those feelings " bring us back' (lam 5.21)...lament..depressing..but this one good verse..give. back joy...my prayer 4 u..prayer for u..relationship, son, daughter..spouse..begin w/ decision to tell god..
4th, ask god for his direction.."if need wisdom, ...expect answer..." (james 1.5-6)..god should I get married ? Circle word gladly..he will gladly tell u ..must ask..begins w/ faith ...often I forget to ask ..how does he tell u..when I was a new believer..high school..girl..wanted to date,,not sure..asked for god to tell me in a song...turned on radio "dump her dump her..." that's not the way..need to ask eachother..and main thing..god's word. "Living as god intended.." 1 cor 7.17 ..
"God telling me to go to hollywood.be a country western star.." no, its not,,that's not god talking.., I married wrong person..25 years..well the wrong person is now the right person ..god can bring beauty into any rship ..
#5 look to god as your example.man & wife..who is going to get up for baby..if for selfish reasons..won't work for long..need new model."be kind & loving" eph 4.32 , "don't be selfish" (phil 2.3)
Story re ryan & kevin, 5 &3, fighting re waffles..mom says if jesus were here..he'd let the other be first..ryan says u be jesus today..that's not it..struggle uphill or downhill..look for love & power of Jesus in life..strength to forgive ..consider willingness to be honest re faults.."let us stop just saying we love...show by actions" (1 jn 3.18)
