Are you ready for the truth?

Insights:

Everytime I read or hear a good quote or idea, I write it down. Then every so often, I go through them and think about things I would like to share with you. This week’s Insights will be brief because I want to give you something to process for yourself and for your life. I want you to hear a lot more of you and a lot less of me. 

Pray for the people you love the most and the people you like the least. 

I can knock the first part of this out of the ballpark but the second part is often a strikeout. It's hard for me to pray for people that rub me the wrong way. If you are like me in any way at all, in our world today there are a lot of people that fit into that “rub me the wrong way” box. And that is really what I would rather do with them - put them into that box and put the lid on it. But then…in the words of Dolly Parton, “there was Jesus.” 

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.” Luke 6: 27-28 MSG. 

Now, I would love for you to stop right here and spend some time processing what Jesus' words mean to you.

Next Steps:

  • Make a list of all the people you do not like, whether you actually know them or just know of them.

  • One by one, pray for them.

Real change in our world always begins with just one heart changing. The only one you can control is yours!

Here’s a great clip from my conversation with Faith Eury Cho about unveiling the presence of God.

Quick Hits

This Week’s Quote:  

 Sam Walton

Samuel Moore Walton was born on March 29, 1918 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He was an American business magnate best known for founding Walmart and Sam's Club, which he started in Rogers, Arkansas and Midwest City, Oklahoma in 1962 and 1983 respectively. In 1998, Walton was included into Time's list of 100 most influential people of the 20th Century.

  • Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They're absolutely free and worth a fortune.

  • One person seeking glory doesn't accomplish very much.

  • Celebrate your successes. Find some humor in your failures.

This Week’s Trivia Question: 

What bird has eyes bigger than its brain?

Did You Know:

There's a world record for the most world record titles.  It belongs to Brooklyn, New York resident Ashrita Furman, who's held more than 700 Guinness World Records in his lifetime, ranging from heaviest shoes walked in (323 pounds) to most baseballs held in a baseball glove (26)

Something to Talk About:

Would you rather never take your shoes off (even in bed and the shower), or never wear shoes again?

Awesome MarRiage This week

This Week’s Trivia Answer:

  • An ostrich!

Kim KimberlingComment
Do you ever feel like giving up?

Insights:

Do you ever feel like God isn’t hearing your prayers? What if you are praying for something that you think that God can not only do but also it’s something that God would want to do and still - nothing? Maybe it is for your marriage, for healing, for your finances, or your kids. Do you ever feel like just giving up because God does not seem to be listening? If we are honest, most of us have felt that way at some time in our lives. 

In the Old Testament, we learn about Moses, who was used by God to lead God’s people out of Egypt and into a land that would be their own. The journey took 40 years and Moses died before entering this “Promised Land.” God put Joshua in charge of the Israelites as they finally entered the land they were to take and claim as their own, according to God’s promise.

In the book of Joshua, God brought the Israelites to Jericho, a city fortified with a strong wall and gates that were tightly shut. It was then that God said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king and all its strong warriors.” 

What happened next is something we can all relate to. God told Joshua to have the people march around the city of Jericho. They followed His instructions, but nothing happened. The next day, the same thing. In fact, they did it for six days in a row. Six days walking around Jericho and nothing. What was God doing? Was He going to do anything? 

Then came day seven. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city wall not once, but seven times. Then the priests were to blow on their horns and the people were to shout. The city walls of Jericho collapsed and the Israelites walked in and seized the town.

This is what I have learned about prayers that seem to be going nowhere: My timing and God’s timing may be different. I may pray over and over for something and see no results but that does not mean that God isn’t listening. Sometimes, God teaches me in the waiting. Maybe what I am praying for is not really as good for me as I think it is and God gives me something better. It comes down to trusting God to be who He says He is.

I think about the Israelites marching around that city for six days. They had to be frustrated, wondering why they were doing this. They could not see from day three what God would do on day seven. What if they stopped on day six and walked away because they felt God was not giving them Jericho? They would have missed the fulfillment of God’s promise to them. 

Bottom line: God is always faithful and always good. Don’t ever stop on six because seven is close at hand.

Next Steps:

  • When do you feel your prayers are not heard?

  • Have you ever given up on God?

  • Spend time writing down the things God has done for you and keep it close for those times you feel He is not listening because He is.

Nancy and I talked about finding purpose in marriage for our Marriage Changers this month.

Quick Hits

This Week’s Quote:  

 Fred Rogers

Fred McFeely Rogers was born on March 1, 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He was better known as Mister Rogers; an American television host, author, producer, and Presbyterian minister.  He was the creator, showrunner, and host of the preschool television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which ran from 1968 to 2001. He received more than 40 honorary degrees and several awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1997 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999. 

  • Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.

  • To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.

  • When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'

This Week’s Trivia Question: 

What was the last letter to be added to the English language?

Did You Know:

There's a world record for the most world record titles.  It belongs to Brooklyn, New York resident Ashrita Furman, who's held more than 700 Guinness World Records in his lifetime, ranging from heaviest shoes walked in (323 pounds) to most baseballs held in a baseball glove (26)

Something to Talk About:

What is the single most important goal you want to achieve in the next ten years?

This Week’s Trivia Answer:

  • The letter “J”. It dates back to 1524. Before “j” became a letter, the letter “i” was used for both “i” and “j” sounds!

Kim KimberlingComment
When Was the Last Time?

Insights: When Was the Last Time?

Nancy and I recently spent a week in our favorite place in the world next to our home. We love the beach and the white sand and the beautiful turquoise water of Cancun. Our first trip there was to celebrate our 25th anniversary and we have been back many times over the past 29 years. 

That first trip to Cancun was our first trip alone together in way too many years. It was a much needed jump start for our marriage. At that point, we were just existing together too much of the time. For us, just being alone together was special. Combining that with the beauty of God's creation created many awesome memories. Each trip is a little different than the others and each holds something special for us. 

When was the last time the two of you took a trip together? You don't have to spend a lot of money. That's not the point. The point is to create a few days away to enjoy being married. I talk a lot about the distractions of life. Getting away from them and just focusing on each other can be marriage-changing. 

Here are some ideas: 

  • Find a bed and breakfast inn close by and go for a weekend.

  • Travel to a nearby city and explore it together.

  • Go to the mountains or a beach or a lake.

  • Be creative with your own ideas.

Here are a couple of guidelines:

  • Don't go into debt. Plan a trip that fits your budget.

  • Turn your phones off as much as possible. 

If you are wondering what to talk about, use this link to find great downloadable Conversation Starters, such as our “Creative Questions to Ask Your Spouse” series, at awesomemarriage.com. 

As you are reading this, there are probably a lot of reasons coming to mind telling you why you can't do this. My answer to that is, “you can.” So take step one and begin planning your special getaway today. I promise it will make a difference in your marriage. You will get back in touch with the reasons you got married in the first place.

Next Steps:

  • Make a budget for your trip

  • Decide when and where you want to go. 

  • Book it!

The Reality of Eternal Rewards with Jordan Raynor

Quick Hits

This Week’s Quote:  

Ron Howard

Ron Howard, director, producer, screenwriter and actor, was born on March 1, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma. His roles as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days preceded his prominence as a director and producer. He received two Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013 and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions in film and television.

  • There is something inherently tough about Americans. They will not accept defeat.

  • I've worked with Bette Davis, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda. Here's the thing they all have in common: They all, even in their 70s, worked a little harder than everyone else.

  • If you're not out there taking some risks, if you're just coasting along with your wins, then you're not really trying.

This Week’s Trivia Question: 

Spotify Singles provides artists with the opportunity to cover a song of their choice by one of their musical heroes. With over 154 million streams, what is the most streamed Spotify Single?

Did You Know:

A blue whale’s heartbeat can be detected up to 2 miles away and the blue whale’s heart weighs almost 400 pounds!

Something to Talk About:

What was your favorite class in high school and why?

Awesome MarRiage This week

This Week’s Trivia Answer:

  • Harry Styles “Girl Crush”

Kim KimberlingComment