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Married Life. April 15 th : Crazy Love April 22 nd : Broken Vessels April 29 th : The Little Things We Do May 6 th : The Devil Made Me Do It May 13 th : Prayer May 20 th : Thunder & Lightning May 27 th : You Make Me Crazy June 3 rd : Journey With Purpose June 10 th : Learning to Love. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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MARRIED LIFE
April 15th: Crazy LoveApril 22nd: Broken VesselsApril 29th: The Little Things We DoMay 6th: The Devil Made Me Do ItMay 13th: PrayerMay 20th: Thunder & LightningMay 27th: You Make Me CrazyJune 3rd: Journey With PurposeJune 10th: Learning to Love
The Odds of Dying from…Lifetime odds of death for selected causes, United States,
2008*
• Total, any cause: 1 in 1
I. SEASONS & STORMS
I. SEASONS & STORMS
When crisis hits, we look for something to hold on to – to
explain the crisis as it knocks us off balance
What do you define as a “storm” in life?
Why do storms come in our lives?Who do we look to first?
Where do you look?
I. SEASONS & STORMS
POINT 1: Seasons of life include storms- Hard times come to every
marriage- expect it- don’t let it throw you
II. WHY?There are generally 2 ways we respond:
As an “Anchor”… Or a “Bobber”
II. WHY?Bobbers Anchors
Surprised by the unexpected Expect the unexpectedBlame others for the “storm” Recognize that often no one is to
blameFeel helpless/Believe they are
wrongAccept helplessness/Know they
didn’t cause itAllow circumstances to
dictate feelingsLet broader life perspective
influence feelingsAct like a “victim” and feel
stuckTake more active role to do
somethingStay paralyzed by storms Adapt to what comes their wayWhich are you? How has it helped you
or hurt you?
II. WHY?
POINT 2: How we interpret the hard times is crucial - my
interpretation of what’s going on will shape my emotions,
perspective, and decisions
III. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORM
Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to
pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are but, more often than not, God
is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is
to be saved, you should go to next.Frederick Buechner (b. 1926)
III. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORM
Scripture gives us a number of reasons why- each calling for a different
response:A. Character is forged through suffering- (Romans 5:3-5; Heb.5:8, James 1:2)• God uses your marriage to forge your
character• God will use hard times to expose our
sin, and our spouses sinAsk god, What is being exposed here? What are you after? Notice your inner thoughts. Notice what you intend to do
III. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORM
Scripture gives us a number of reasons why- each calling for a different response:
B. There is spiritual warfare – (I Peter 5:8 )• Are you making agreements with Satan? • Spiritual attack must be a category we
think in, or we will not win at our marriages
III. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORM
Scripture gives us a number of reasons why- each calling for a different response:C. We are broken people- we work to hide that truth- (Romans 3:23 ) We cannot demand the broken live as whole... God uses troubles to flush us out of hiding- Like asking the one armed girl to swim the English channel
III. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORM
Scripture gives us a number of reasons why-
each calling for a different response:D. There are seasons- could the hard time simply be that? (Ecc. 3:1-8 )
III. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORM
Scripture gives us a number of reasons why-
each calling for a different response:E. The worldly cares and worries- We make our own mess (John 14:27; Matthew 6:4 )We build weak foundations (Matthew 7:24-27 )
POINT 3: Storms Come for a Reason –
Our Task is to Ask: “Why this Storm?”
“Why Now?”“What is There for Me to Learn
Here?”
III. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORM
IV. CALLED TO RESPOND
"What we learn from God about Jesus should prove to us that
suffering and bad things happening to us are not the father’s preferred way of dealing with us, sometimes necessary, perhaps, but never what he would, on the whole, prefer."
Dallas Willard
IV. CALLED TO RESPOND
Morgan Interview
IV. CALLED TO RESPOND
A We are called to perseverance- • By Jesus example- by command- • Certain things you never
discover about God or yourself without going through hard times
IV. CALLED TO RESPOND
Are there any true “victims” of hard times?
B. Own your own part of the hard times- • What are you doing to
contribute to it?• What do you need to do to
change it?
IV. CALLED TO RESPOND
C. Don't go it alone… • Be in community for the sake of yourself
and your marriage- support and encouragement of others – maybe “storms” are meant to build community?
• Live an example of relationships in community- You cannot force people to walk with God or repent, you can only walk with integrity and invite them to do so... Especially your spouse
POINT 4: We are called to respond to storms in ways that
shape our character
IV. CALLED TO RESPOND
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• What’s it like to be on the other side of me? • Are the two of you going through rough times right
now? Have you gone through hard times? What was it about?
• Has the world crept in and stolen life from us? Lord, is there something about the way we live that needs to change?
• How have you been interpreting the hard times? Can you relate to the “jumping to conclusions”? do you tend to blame, or go to fear, or speculation- or resignation?
• What would perseverance address in your character?
DO SOMETHING
Remember... When storms come...• I am loved- Jeremiah 31:3• I am secure- John 10:28-29• I am forgiven- Col. 2:13• God is with me- Hebrews 13:4
Write it on a card... Remember it...