With our new MMM distributor comes a feature which tells us who has opened their MMM that week. To be a better steward of the gifts our faithful supporters have given us, we have set the automated list settings to delete the email address of any individual that has not opened the MMM within a 6 week time period.
Thanks for reading and thank you for your commitment to your marriage and marriage ministry!
Blessings!
Dave
"strengthening marriages and binding broken hearts"
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday Marriage Minder - "Making Up For Lost Time"
Dreams can be a great thing. Having a dream motivates us - spurring us on to achieve great things. However, sometimes the pursuit of a dream can leave casualties in it's wake. Consider the following:
He was achieving national acclaim in his field. Public appearences, magazine articles, radio and television spots were becoming commonplace for him. National corporations were pursuing him with promotional contracts and he was expected to become one of the next big names in the industry. His friends became those who could best further his rise to fame. To most within his sphere of influence, he appeared to have it all.
Left in the shadows; however, was his wife and his children. Sure, he loved them but his dream and the subsequent drive for success was first-place in his life. Even more sad, his once close relationship with God became even lower on his list of priorities. He would often pray, "Lord, don't come back until I've accomplished..."
The story goes on to reveal a change. A changed heart, a changed life and a changed dream. God blessed him by allowing a devastating financial loss and a abrupt change in the direction of his life.
God has faithfully restored a sincere love and focus on Christ, family and others in his life. Just as God promised to restore what was taken from the children of Israel in Joel chapter 2, God has restored blessings far over and above the desires of his heart.
Recently, he told his wife that someone wanted to talk with him about his old life. His wife questioned him as to his response. He simply stated, "That man has been dead for years."
Robin's smile was priceless - God is a master at making up for lost time. God has restored those years!
For Marriages and Families,
Dave & Robin Kidd
Questions of the Week
1. What does your priority list look like?
2. What motivates you, in your marriage, your family, your life and/or your ministry?
3. How has God changed your dreams as a couple?
He was achieving national acclaim in his field. Public appearences, magazine articles, radio and television spots were becoming commonplace for him. National corporations were pursuing him with promotional contracts and he was expected to become one of the next big names in the industry. His friends became those who could best further his rise to fame. To most within his sphere of influence, he appeared to have it all.
Left in the shadows; however, was his wife and his children. Sure, he loved them but his dream and the subsequent drive for success was first-place in his life. Even more sad, his once close relationship with God became even lower on his list of priorities. He would often pray, "Lord, don't come back until I've accomplished..."
The story goes on to reveal a change. A changed heart, a changed life and a changed dream. God blessed him by allowing a devastating financial loss and a abrupt change in the direction of his life.
God has faithfully restored a sincere love and focus on Christ, family and others in his life. Just as God promised to restore what was taken from the children of Israel in Joel chapter 2, God has restored blessings far over and above the desires of his heart.
Recently, he told his wife that someone wanted to talk with him about his old life. His wife questioned him as to his response. He simply stated, "That man has been dead for years."
Robin's smile was priceless - God is a master at making up for lost time. God has restored those years!
For Marriages and Families,
Dave & Robin Kidd
Questions of the Week
1. What does your priority list look like?
2. What motivates you, in your marriage, your family, your life and/or your ministry?
3. How has God changed your dreams as a couple?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday Marriage Minder - "Forever-Bump"
1 Cor 7:28b NIV
...but those who marry will face many troubles in this life...
This past Saturday, upon returning home from our Sweetest Day lunch date, my wife Robin and I were met at the door by the smiling faces of our four kids. After inquiring as to what the smiles were about, the kids proceeded to tell us that they had been discussing the symbolism of wedding rings. An odd conversation for teens and kids for sure. Apparently, one of the twins told the younger ones that the rings symbolized "Forever" because a ring has no beginning and no end-a ring keeps going round and round.
Our son, Alex, being a bright young man of 11 years (today) questioned his brothers about the woman's ring, having a setting and diamond. "So for a woman, it's forever-bump-forever-bump-forever-bump." As they were telling us this Robin and I couldn't help but to laugh.
After my laughter subsided, the scripture above came to my mind and I thought how problems come into our marriage that when worked through together, serve to strengthen our marriage and bring relational growth.
Yesterday, I quoted that same scripture in a conversation with a friend while standing in the church foyer. Then, again, in a couple's workshop, yesterday afternoon, this same scripture was quoted by another friend of mine. Each time that this occurred, Robin and I would look at each other and smile - each one thinking - "forever-bump-forever-bump".
In marriage as in Christian life, God allows trials and tests - "troubles" if you will, to refine us and shape us and our marriage into something better. The key is staying the course after hitting the "bump" of the trouble.
If there was never any adversity, would there ever be any growth? Far too often, we hit a relational "bump" and allow ourselves to be thrown way off course. However, if we expect the bumps in our marriage, if we are prepared for the bumps, then we can better navigate through them and stay the course of forever - on earth with our spouse and in preparation for eternity with Christ.
Marital and relational bumps are sure to come. Enjoy the journey and learn from the bumps. Allow those things to strengthen your marriage. The next time you experience a "bump" in your marriage, look at your rings!
For Marriages and Families,
Dave
...but those who marry will face many troubles in this life...
This past Saturday, upon returning home from our Sweetest Day lunch date, my wife Robin and I were met at the door by the smiling faces of our four kids. After inquiring as to what the smiles were about, the kids proceeded to tell us that they had been discussing the symbolism of wedding rings. An odd conversation for teens and kids for sure. Apparently, one of the twins told the younger ones that the rings symbolized "Forever" because a ring has no beginning and no end-a ring keeps going round and round.
Our son, Alex, being a bright young man of 11 years (today) questioned his brothers about the woman's ring, having a setting and diamond. "So for a woman, it's forever-bump-forever-bump-forever-bump." As they were telling us this Robin and I couldn't help but to laugh.
After my laughter subsided, the scripture above came to my mind and I thought how problems come into our marriage that when worked through together, serve to strengthen our marriage and bring relational growth.
Yesterday, I quoted that same scripture in a conversation with a friend while standing in the church foyer. Then, again, in a couple's workshop, yesterday afternoon, this same scripture was quoted by another friend of mine. Each time that this occurred, Robin and I would look at each other and smile - each one thinking - "forever-bump-forever-bump".
In marriage as in Christian life, God allows trials and tests - "troubles" if you will, to refine us and shape us and our marriage into something better. The key is staying the course after hitting the "bump" of the trouble.
If there was never any adversity, would there ever be any growth? Far too often, we hit a relational "bump" and allow ourselves to be thrown way off course. However, if we expect the bumps in our marriage, if we are prepared for the bumps, then we can better navigate through them and stay the course of forever - on earth with our spouse and in preparation for eternity with Christ.
Marital and relational bumps are sure to come. Enjoy the journey and learn from the bumps. Allow those things to strengthen your marriage. The next time you experience a "bump" in your marriage, look at your rings!
For Marriages and Families,
Dave
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday Marriage Minder - Broken Heart
Luke 17:1-3 NIV
Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves."
*This week’s MMM is especially close to my heart and has been the most difficult to write. If you are expecting wit, wisdom and decent grammar, then you will probably be disappointed. However, I am asking you to read my broken heart in the lines to follow. As I studied the above verses, their implications became very real to me. I sat for hours writing this, praying, crying and deleting lines only to retype them again. I believe I am just going to go "all-in" and unburden my heart. The unsubscribe tool is at the bottom of the page. - Dave
Youth! I love to be around them. I love speaking in their services. I love their goofiness and their passion. Having spent several years as the head of the youth committee for a denominational district, I loathed "aging out" of the youth leader ranks. My experiences with youth groups has left a soft spot in my heart for teens.
Every time I'm in a church service, I find myself glancing at the young people." Are they engaged in worship?" "Are they connecting with the message and, more importantly, with God?" These questions flash through my mind.
In recent years, I have noticed a disturbing trend that appears to be everywhere. Besides the "youth group section", I notice more and more disconnected teens in the pews. I am always glad to see them in the service, but so many appear to only be there, physically. What breaks my heart is that a large majority of these kids in focus come from a background of family dysfunction. Look at their faces and one can see the emptiness, pain and confusion. Browse the public social media sites and you can read the posts of despair, depression and anger.
The pastors and counselors, who comprise the majority reading this e-votional, can attest that teens, whose Christian parents are struggling in their marriage or have divorced, are often struggling with their relationship with God. I know their pastor’s heart breaks as well. Their hearts break because this breaks God's heart! There isn't a week that goes by that I don't counsel, in some way or another, a hurting teen whose parents not only can't get it together, but refuse to allow God to get them together. In the above verse, Jesus had even stronger words for anyone causing a youth to stumble which literally includes causing them to walk away from their relationship with God. (Do a word study on the Greek - "skandalizo") Thankfully, God's grace reaches far beyond this; however, the pain inflicted on young lives is tragic and I believe that Christ will expect an account as he judges the believers.
I could write paragraphs, but it would only be to convey the idea that we can keep watching the teens in our churches walk away from the faith, or we can mobilize through God's power and minister or minister more to the primary influence'rs of these teens - their parents. We can touch a teen for Christ by investing a couple hours each week, but what would happen if we reached their parent's marriage or the wounded heart of a single parent?
Want to keep more teens for Christ? Touch the parent(s).
As always, the greatest thing that we can do is to heed Christ's warning in verse 3 - "Watch Yourselves". I am recommitting to that watch over my own life. The stakes are too high in the aspects of young lives and marriages. Also, there is coming a day when I will stand before God.
For Marriages and Youth,
Dave
Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves."
*This week’s MMM is especially close to my heart and has been the most difficult to write. If you are expecting wit, wisdom and decent grammar, then you will probably be disappointed. However, I am asking you to read my broken heart in the lines to follow. As I studied the above verses, their implications became very real to me. I sat for hours writing this, praying, crying and deleting lines only to retype them again. I believe I am just going to go "all-in" and unburden my heart. The unsubscribe tool is at the bottom of the page. - Dave
Youth! I love to be around them. I love speaking in their services. I love their goofiness and their passion. Having spent several years as the head of the youth committee for a denominational district, I loathed "aging out" of the youth leader ranks. My experiences with youth groups has left a soft spot in my heart for teens.
Every time I'm in a church service, I find myself glancing at the young people." Are they engaged in worship?" "Are they connecting with the message and, more importantly, with God?" These questions flash through my mind.
In recent years, I have noticed a disturbing trend that appears to be everywhere. Besides the "youth group section", I notice more and more disconnected teens in the pews. I am always glad to see them in the service, but so many appear to only be there, physically. What breaks my heart is that a large majority of these kids in focus come from a background of family dysfunction. Look at their faces and one can see the emptiness, pain and confusion. Browse the public social media sites and you can read the posts of despair, depression and anger.
The pastors and counselors, who comprise the majority reading this e-votional, can attest that teens, whose Christian parents are struggling in their marriage or have divorced, are often struggling with their relationship with God. I know their pastor’s heart breaks as well. Their hearts break because this breaks God's heart! There isn't a week that goes by that I don't counsel, in some way or another, a hurting teen whose parents not only can't get it together, but refuse to allow God to get them together. In the above verse, Jesus had even stronger words for anyone causing a youth to stumble which literally includes causing them to walk away from their relationship with God. (Do a word study on the Greek - "skandalizo") Thankfully, God's grace reaches far beyond this; however, the pain inflicted on young lives is tragic and I believe that Christ will expect an account as he judges the believers.
I could write paragraphs, but it would only be to convey the idea that we can keep watching the teens in our churches walk away from the faith, or we can mobilize through God's power and minister or minister more to the primary influence'rs of these teens - their parents. We can touch a teen for Christ by investing a couple hours each week, but what would happen if we reached their parent's marriage or the wounded heart of a single parent?
Want to keep more teens for Christ? Touch the parent(s).
As always, the greatest thing that we can do is to heed Christ's warning in verse 3 - "Watch Yourselves". I am recommitting to that watch over my own life. The stakes are too high in the aspects of young lives and marriages. Also, there is coming a day when I will stand before God.
For Marriages and Youth,
Dave
Monday, October 5, 2009
Marriage Auto-Pilot
Phil 3:13-14 NIV
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I'm a bit of an aviation buff. I've always been fascinated with planes and flying. Recently, I was reading an article that detailed the events leading up to a devastating plane crash. It seems that up until the time that something went wrong, the plane was on auto-pilot.
Surprisingly, the most difficult aspect of learning to fly is the seemingly simple act of flying straight and level. An auto-pilot feature makes flying a plane much easier as it, in its simplest capabilities, causes the plane to maintain a compass heading. Straight and level flying simplified. However, when left unattended, an auto-pilot feature is capable of flying a plane into the side of a mountain.
Pilots are taught and trained that an auto-pilot feature still needs to be programmed and monitored. It will cause the plane to fly only in the direction the pilot programs it to. Plus, a basic auto-pilot will not automatically cause the plane to climb in order to gain altitude to clear a mountain peak. Failure to program an auto-pilot feature properly or simply turning it on and then forgetting it can lead to disaster.
In marriage simply saying "I do" without understanding what one is saying "I do" to. Or. To think that "I do" said once will suffice for the entire marriage, rather than "I did and I still do", can lead to equally devastating results.
Auto-pilots for planes are helpful. Auto pilots for marriages are devastating. If we are not calculating our motives, monitoring our thoughts, words and actions and investing in the future of our marriages, chances are, we're on auto pilot.
The Apostle Paul's words to the church in Philippi apply as well to the marriage relationship as it does to what the marriage relationship represents. If we are content with where we are and are unconcerned about where we are going we could be headed straight into a mountainside. One of the most common statements heard about plane crashes and marital conflict is, "We never saw it coming."
An acquaintance of mine has a life saying. It says, "Grow daily or die gradually." What are you doing for your marriage in order for it to grow? Or. Is your marriage on auto-pilot?
For Marriages,
Dave
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I'm a bit of an aviation buff. I've always been fascinated with planes and flying. Recently, I was reading an article that detailed the events leading up to a devastating plane crash. It seems that up until the time that something went wrong, the plane was on auto-pilot.
Surprisingly, the most difficult aspect of learning to fly is the seemingly simple act of flying straight and level. An auto-pilot feature makes flying a plane much easier as it, in its simplest capabilities, causes the plane to maintain a compass heading. Straight and level flying simplified. However, when left unattended, an auto-pilot feature is capable of flying a plane into the side of a mountain.
Pilots are taught and trained that an auto-pilot feature still needs to be programmed and monitored. It will cause the plane to fly only in the direction the pilot programs it to. Plus, a basic auto-pilot will not automatically cause the plane to climb in order to gain altitude to clear a mountain peak. Failure to program an auto-pilot feature properly or simply turning it on and then forgetting it can lead to disaster.
In marriage simply saying "I do" without understanding what one is saying "I do" to. Or. To think that "I do" said once will suffice for the entire marriage, rather than "I did and I still do", can lead to equally devastating results.
Auto-pilots for planes are helpful. Auto pilots for marriages are devastating. If we are not calculating our motives, monitoring our thoughts, words and actions and investing in the future of our marriages, chances are, we're on auto pilot.
The Apostle Paul's words to the church in Philippi apply as well to the marriage relationship as it does to what the marriage relationship represents. If we are content with where we are and are unconcerned about where we are going we could be headed straight into a mountainside. One of the most common statements heard about plane crashes and marital conflict is, "We never saw it coming."
An acquaintance of mine has a life saying. It says, "Grow daily or die gradually." What are you doing for your marriage in order for it to grow? Or. Is your marriage on auto-pilot?
For Marriages,
Dave
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