Dale and Jena Forehand
just a regular couple who passionately and candidly share their lives to enlighten, encourage, equip, and empower others in life's relationships www.daleandjena.com
If you are like me, I can ride on the "high" for a few days, but then, busy schedules, fussy kids, bad attitudes, road rage-ers, etc. come into the picture and suddenly the "high" is waning and I find myself back in the usual rut of survival mode. Anybody else with me?
Luke 8 is the parable of the sower and the soil. Jesus is telling about the Word of God as it is scattered upon the hearts of people. In verse 11, He says this, "This is the meaning of the parable: the seed is the Word of God. Those along the path are ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the Word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among throns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering, produce a crop."
There's our answer! Perspective, Purpose, and Praise!
First, we have to have a change of perspective. Satan is going to try to steal the seed of truth scattered on our hearts. Know that as a fact. Be aware. Know it is coming. Welcome it even....because it is teaching your perseverance....how to keep yourself steadfast even in the midst of distractions and struggles. Isaiah 40:31 says "They will soar on wings as eagles". Eagles eyesight is much much stronger than ours. When we gain God's perspective, He raises us up above life's circumstances to see the whole "forest" instead of being overcome with all of the "trees".
Second, purpose in your hearts to "stay in it"! To retain what God has shown you as truth, we must remain in Him. We must marinate in it and meditate on it. Keep it ever before your mind.
Third, praise God for who He is and for the fact that knowing His truth intimately will set us free! Free from getting caught up in the routines of life, in the mundane, in the struggles. Concentrating on His truth and praising Him for it, keeps our minds on Him, keeps us focused on Him, and actually keeps us raised above life's circumstances that tend to weigh us down. When we praise Him, the devil will flee!
The results? A crop! That crop will be the fruit of Christ likeness developing in you. The glory of God developing in you! And as it develops in you, it can't help but overflow from you and then effect those around you! I don't know about you, but that's what I am after!
So, gain the right perspective. Purpose to keep your hearts and minds steadfast on His truth. And praise Him all the time for all things. Let's experience some BIG crops in our lives coming forth in and through our lives! Let's keep the flames burning that God ignited in us! All for His glory!
It was totally worth the 6 hour drive to thank you in person! I can't begin to thank you enough for your powerful message over this weekend. It has been an honor being here listening to you and Dale. God has truly worked many wonders through the two of you. I still play the CD about the "No Way Situation" and cry each time. I realize how close we came to giving it up completely. We are both educators and we see what divorce does to children, yet we were doing it to our 3 year old at the time. Like Cole, he would cry for it to stop. We called it our marriage rut. We just kept digging and digging deeper. Your CD was given to us at a pivotal moment. God sent your CD in the hands of a friend who believed in us. He made us sit down together and hold hands as we listened. (I did not want to touch him...let alone hold his hand)! As we listened, walls began to crumble, tears began to fall, eyes were opened. I have to say that we got back together for our son only!!! However, we did it. Then as the CD stated....we had to "act" like we liked each other and it slowly came back. Throughout the process Bruce gave his life to Christ and the rest is history. Bruce now preaches at a small congregation in the town we live in. We still have problems, but we have the avenue of prayer and grace to get us through it. I want both of you to know that YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!! In HIS service, Brenda McGrew
Hello,
My husband John and I attended the FOM in Osage Beach, MO this past weekend. We will be married a year this October 25th. As newlyweds we struggle with the changes and personality conflicts, finances...etc. that comes with marriage. So obviously this was our first Marriage retreat. Neither of us knew what to expect but the outcome was beyond imaginable.
My husband received Jesus on Sunday October 4th with Dale and Jena by our side. This was the most wonderful thing to happen to us. We learned so much from the stories of the speakers and GOD! This weekend will forever change our lives and forced us back onto the road that the Lord God wants us to be on together.
Your sister in Christ,
Andrea DeWeese
A couple wanted their friends to come to the conference and offered to pay their way. However, after offering, the husband lost his job and they were afraid that they could no longer pay to get their friends to the conference. They remembered, though, that they owned a violin that was no longer in use. A buyer came along and they sold it and got enough money to pay their friend's way to the conference. Their friend prayed to receive Christ as Savior and Lord of his life on Sunday morning.
God is intimately acquainted with all of our ways (Psalm 139) and cares for us so deeply. He orders our steps (Psalm 37:23) to get us right where we need to be to accept Him. And He does abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine, when we simply listen for His voice and follow in obedience (Ephesians 3:20).
Praise our great God!
picture of the group who prayed to receive Christ surrounded at the altar
by other believers and friends....absolutely beauiful!!!!
"may the eyes of your heart be enlightened..."
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