Crown or Cancer Podcast

A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
    but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones. – Proverbs 12:4

Am I a crown or a cancer to my husband? Crown or cancer to those around me? Am I a healthy thing or an illness?

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/episodes

Lovestruck- Podcast Book Review

We’re hitting the books with Lovestruck by Sharon Jaynes. I must say, this in-depth description of the Song of Songs gave me a clearer understanding of this biblical book.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/

Show Honor

If I say he’s honored, does that mean I actually honor him? If I say he’s honored, but he doesn’t feel like it, is he being honored?

Tune in to hear what I think about these questions.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/

Before You Vote – Book Review

We’re hitting the books in this episode with “Before You Vote” by David Platt. What are seven essential questions Christians should ask before heading out to the polls?

Is referring to someone as God’s candidate a safe statement? What policies are rooted in biblical truths, and which ones are rooted in preferences?

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/

https://open.spotify.com/show/1eRwq46xm2tQpjvq70Ky1d?si=alg4Odn_SxywcjZxF5XCLw&utm_source=copy-link

Fearing People

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.
Proverbs 29:25 NLT

Valuing people’s opinion over God’s truth is dangerous. What happens is that you place them on a pedestal before God. We wouldn’t admit it, and I don’t think we knowingly do it, but nevertheless that’s what happens.

When pleasing man is more important than God, there’s a problem. When we’re legalizing things that God says is wrong, we’re putting people on a pedestal, and calling it equality or fairness. When I don’t teach what I should because I don’t want to hurt feelings, I’m stepping into a dangerous trap. When I’m afraid to share truth because I’ll lose followers, I’m walking into trouble.

If I base my value in what people say or believe about me I’ve begun to undervalue myself. Trusting God is safety. Trusting what God tells me to do or say is safer than trusting man’s opinion or approval. The safest place in the world is in the will of God, and it may cost followers and friends. It’ll cost you pride and influence, but you’ll be safer than you’ve ever been.

I’ve always loved this quote, “if I live for your praise I’ll die by your criticism.” Today, live for God’s approval and rest in His safety.

What Marriage Did

Can I start with saying that marriage is not a magic solution? What I’m saying in this post isn’t that marriage “fixed” me, but God used it to reveal things to me that I’d been blind to about myself. This really is a true statement I heard from Rick Warren, “marriage doesn’t conceal problems,but reveals them.”

Marriage has pointed out two important s’s in my life: selfish and sensitive.

Marriage has taught me that I’m far more selfish than I realized. And really that I’m far more selfish than I’d ever admit. That’s the great thing about marriage, it reveals things in you that otherwise you’d just ignore.

I’ve noticed how sensitive I am. I’m easily offended by Brandon and I’ve really become a big softie since being married. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely has made me turn more emotional molehills into mountains.

Could someone point these things out to me? Maybe? But reflecting on how I respond or react towards Brandon is what really made it obvious.

Have I tried to change? Yes. Will I be perfect? Nope. How is this encouraging? Easy. I know things I need to change about myself to become a better person.

For many many reasons and in many many ways, marriage has made me a better person. It is the second best decision I’ve ever made and will ever make. It’s because of this decision that I’ve been influenced and am able to grow into a better person. If I don’t know I need to change, I won’t. Thanks to marriage I know what I need to change and through the power of the Holy Spirit I can.

My marriage reminds me of how God uses it to bring us closer to Him. It reminds me of His love for us. And it reminds me that He is patient to see us change. Think about it, I got married when I was 27? For 27 years I’d been living with this root of selfishness that God revealed in a deeper level through my marriage.

My marriage reminds me more than anything of the gratitude that I have for God loving me unconditionally and patiently.

Proverbs 7 – Standards

He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.
Proverbs 7:22‭-‬26 NLT

The Bible really doesn’t mix words about sexual sin. It’s quite clear where it stands about sex outside of marriage along with other hot topics we have up for debate.

We as a society have allowed the double standards we live by. Women just as much as men go right along with these double standards in life. I’ve heard women call other women choice words for sleeping with multiple men probably more than I’ve heard other men refer to them… but this post isn’t about double standards per se.

The chapter before this, Proverbs 6, says that sleeping with another man’s wife is foolish and will cost you your life, in fact that you will destroy yourself. And of course starting this post off you read an excerpt from chapter 7.

It’s a story of a young man who was foolish enough to entertain the adulterous wife who called out. Rather than ignore her, he engaged, and like a curious animal, is now trapped. He is yet another victim of hers.

So the question is, if the Bible so clearly states that sex outside of marriage is wrong, why does our society support it? There are many things our society is in support of that’s wrong, but we’re to a place now where people are almost expected to sleep together while they’re dating. How did we get here?

Movies and books have some blame for sure. But ultimately, isn’t it just our wrong desires that we’ve given in to? Didn’t we like the young man become foolish? We watched something that one time or read it and it stayed. We should’ve ignored but didn’t. And now, here we are.

The hope I have is that we’ll recognize our wrong before it’s too late. The hope I have is that even in a society that condones such sin, Christ followers will be the ones to pray for the conviction of Holy Spirit. The hope I have is that God will do a mighty change in our hearts to recognize His definition of right and wrong and choose right. This was never about double standards, but about God’s standards. Either we choose to live by them or don’t, my hope is the former.

Seven Years

Seven years goes by fast. So much change happens in that time. Changes that are good and changes that are hard.

Seven years ago Brandon and I made a decision that would lead to one of the best decisions of our lives. Agreeably, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is best decision number one. After that, marrying each other.

Isn’t that crazy how important marriage is? It’s not a close second to number one by any means, but it’s the most important decision after eternal life.

We decided to go on our first date seven years ago on Memorial Day. That date led to more, which led to today. Five years of marriage complete, and whole lot of love and patience along the way.

It is with joy that I greet this day, knowing what this day will always mean to me.

God’s Law = Your Benefit

Everything God has put into place has been for our benefit. That is so hard for us to believe and comprehend, but it’s true. God’s laws are in place to help us.

Why shouldn’t you have sex before you’re married? Yes, it not only complicates things, it more than complicates things. Even from a worldly perspective you can see that.

Why shouldn’t you get drunk? Because any time you lose your sense of faculties and ability to make careful decisions it’s not good. I’d say that’s probably clear to all of us.

Why shouldn’t you overeat? Because it will do damage to your body and your health. Isn’t it interesting that these are things that even from a worldly perspective are bad? So what makes its wrong that these are things God said not to do from the beginning?

Simple. The world, people, don’t want to have to answer for wrongs. If God doesn’t exist, then I don’t have to answer to Him. And if He does, and He’s said these things are wrong, I don’t want to worship a tyrant… Yet, we’ll worship ourselves and the world that says it’s okay…

God’s laws are for your benefit. When we don’t obey, we reap the consequences of hurt and pain. And to our shame, we don’t even realize it sometimes.

Am I the one they are hurting?” asks the Lord. “Most of all, they hurt themselves, to their own shame.”
Jeremiah 7:19 NLT

MooreTime Podcast

Here’s the season 5 opener. As the youngsters say we “nerded out” on this one. May the 4th be with you is all we’ll say.

https://mooretime.buzzsprout.com/1006603/10567818-may-the-4th