I Love My Wife
Happy Valentine's Day! Four years ago I asked my wife to marry me and the crazy part is that she said "yes!" God's grace is real because of the amazing gift of my wife, Cassidy.
The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22
1) She is an awesome wife - Cassidy grows more beautiful inside and out the longer we are married. She is the greatest partner and companion to me. She balances me in my weaknesses and spurs me to become more like Jesus in our marriage and life.
2) She is patient - For those that know me, this is a big one! Her patience with me and others reveals her heart to show the love of Christ.
3) She is kind - I'm grateful for the kindness she pours out on those who need encouragement. Her kindness is attractive to those who need the love of God.
4) She has my back - I'm thankful for her commitment to me and support. She breathes life into me, especially when I am struggling.
5) She is peaceful - I'm grateful for a wife that does not live off of drama but seeks peace and forgiveness.
6) She is grateful - Cassidy is grateful for even the little things. She makes the most of every situation (ex:financial, circumstances)
7) She is a committed friend - She is my best friend. She knows me inside and out and unconditionally loves me. She is a great friend to others and has compassion on others.
8) She will be a fantastic mom - Cassidy is great with children. Her loving heart will be a blessing to our children.
9) She is faithful to God - Cassidy is focused upon bringing God glory in life. She is committed to using her gifts to see Him glorified. Her music is glorifying to God and is a ministry of the gospel. Her faithfulness will matter in eternity!
10) She is forgiving - Cassidy does not hold grudges very long. She is quick to forgive and love people. She wants peace, joy and love in all areas of life. I'm grateful that she extends forgiveness to me.
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30
This is only 10 of the thousands of reasons I love my wife!
What are you grateful for in your marriage relationship?
Relationships > Programs
#6: Relationships > Programs. When I began student ministry I had ideas but many times they were just that, ideas! In any ministry context there are certain aspects that require programming. Setting up a scheduled time to worship, train leaders and have events. What I learned is that people hunger for relationship. More importantly, a relationship with Jesus Christ. My understanding of student ministry was to make sure all of my plans, schedule and program was spotless. My mentality was based on what I perceived from other ministries, conferences, books and blogs. What I easily missed was building relationships with the students. I missed the very people because I was busy establishing a "program." As a leader in ministry, our desire should be to meet people at their point of need with the love of Christ. Programs are simply a facilitator to gospel-centered relationships. The program is simply a tool. The only way to make a lasting impact on a person is to build a relationship that is based on how Jesus build relationships. He built relationships with those who the culture deemed "invisible." Jesus applied grace to those who followed Him because He knew who they would become was more important than their current identity. I don't remember Jesus counting the disciples? Jesus was invested in the relationship more than their performance.
I have missed this principle many times. I remember trying to apply the same approach to each student expecting the same results. The key is building a relationship that builds a bridge to their soul. Everyone is different but they all have the same needs: Salvation, love, acceptance, belonging, grace, encouragement, hope and trust (to name a few).
Know what is happening in their lives. In order to lead people, we must get to know each person's personality and background. What might work for one student, might not work for another due to their expectations. I have come back to this same principle now over seven years later. Why do some students lose their passion? What do we do when students lose heart because of unwise decisions that keep them captive?
Relationship matters more than church attendance and their performance. I have missed this principle many times in ministry. We have high standards for our students because we love them. What we have to realize is that our love for them must be filled with grace. Challenge them, but not always. Pray for them.
If our "programs" have good numbers but the students are not growing in their relationships have we missed it? The same applies in other areas of the church:
- If the gospel is only shared during the sermon, the church is missing the point of evangelism.
- If the Bible is only read in the sermon or small groups, the church has missed the point of spiritual growth.
- If the only time we pray is at dinner, we have missed the point of relationship with God.
God is not impressed with our slick programs, funny videos and current worship songs. God wants us to be a bridge in order to extend His redemption story into their lives. I pray our relationship with God will overflow into the hearts of those we serve. Let it be more about the relationship with others than the performance of a program.
Is it more about the program or relationship? What are your thoughts?