Here’s your answer to yesterday’s Bible Trivia:
Did you have the correct answer to the Bible trivia? You can read about the run-in David’s servants had with King Hanun in 1 Chronicles 19.
#Bible Trivia #WCM
One of my favorite Disney stories is Cinderella. I’ve always been a person that roots for the underdog, so perhaps that’s why this story has always been a favorite. In the animated movie, there is the scene where Cinderella and her step-sisters learn of the upcoming ball. They are all full of excitement – as any young girl would be – especially when they learn that the prince is to choose a bride from all the eligible young ladies. The mean step-sisters flit around, each thinking so highly of themselves that they would be the chosen girl to marry the prince. As Cinderella mentions going, her step-mother gets an evil glean in her eye and says, “Yes, of course, you can go…” and then she drops a bombshell with one two letter word – “if.” If she got all the chores done. If she had something suitable to wear. If. The evil-step mother sabotaged Cinderella with just the word “if.”
Joash (also called Jehoash) was only seven years old when he was crowned king of Judah. And in our verse for the day, the young king receives a great complement from the writer. The Bible tells us that as long as the priest, Jehoiada, instructed him, the young king did what was right in the sight of the Lord. In the midst of many evil kings, this young king wears the crown and did what pleased God. But then the bombshell drops with “Even so.” The New King James uses just one word – “But.” Joash did what pleased God – Even so, he left the fertility shrines.
As soon as Jehoiada had Joash crowned king, he made a covenant between God, the king, and the people that they would be God’s people and they all went to the temple of Baal and tore it down, broke the altars and images and killed the priest of Baal. They started out well – but they didn’t finish the job. They left the shrines in place and the people still sacrificed and burned incense there, along with many immoral, sexual sins. By not 
ridding that nation of all the idol worship, Joash left a door cracked open for the people to return to idol worship. We might say, “yes, but he was a better king than others that ruled before him.” And that is true. However,anytime we leave the door of sin cracked open, Satan will stick his foot in the crack and swing the door wide open – and that’s what happens to Joash and the people. In 2 Chronicles 24 we learn that as soon as Jehoiada died, Joash and the people “left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.” (verses 17-18). As a result, Joash’s servants take action and they assassinate him and make his son king in his place (2 Kings 12:20-21).
What started out as a compliment ended up being critical. We should never underestimate the power of small words such as “if,” or “but” or “even so.” We’ve all had those kinds of moments.
She had felt called to be a missionary, but she had to get married and he wouldn’t go.
He would have been promoted, if he had better work attendance.
They could have avoided divorce. Even so, he couldn’t stop flirting with his secretary.
She tried losing weight, but couldn’t resist chocolate.
He felt God called him to the ministry. Even so, he was too afraid to quit his well-paying
job and go to seminary.
If someone were writing this verse about you and said: “[Insert your name] did what 
pleased God all the days of his/her life. Even so…” how would the sentence be finished for you? We can live all the days of our lives in a way that pleases God, but then not do that one thing or not finish the task and in doing it, we invite sin into our lives. Would you confess the “even so” to God now and ask for His forgiveness? Would you repent and turn away from your “even so?” Would you close the door to it and never go back?
We should also never underestimate the people that God puts in our lives to help steer us in the way we should go. Can you identify a “Jehoiada” in your life? Do you listen to this person of Godly wisdom? If that person was somehow no longer a part of your life, would you continue in the wisdom he or she planted in you – or would you return to the life you had before they entered your life?
#finishwell #evenso
Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.
This week’s featured design:
Remember those who sacrificed all so that we could live with the freedoms we so richly enjoy. This week’s design features a patriotic them for Memorial Day.
Available in tees for women and girls, mugs, bags, and other products. Here’s a sample of a few of the products you can choose with this design. Check out all the available products in the Spreadshirt shop. Also available in the Teespring shop
This week’s featured items from Christian Book Distributors will help you get ready for the Memorial Day weekend. Order early as shipping times are taking a little longer than normal.
Memorial Day is May 25th: ORDER NOW
 |
God Bless the USA Heart Plaque
By Barbara Lloyd / Blossom Bucket Inc Red, white and blue Americana Patriotic heart wall sign
|
 |
One Nation Under God, Land of the Free, Canvas Framed Art
By Carpentree, Inc |
 |
God Bless America, Canvas Framed Art
By Carpentree, Inc Vintage Patriotic Collection of fine wall art, with frayed natural canvas above a striped art backdrop.13″ x 19″ clean and contemporary dark frameVintage style in trend, patriotic look. Textured appeal. Star-printed shape of the United States of America; God bless AmericaPowerful patriotic wall accent. |
 |
Soldier’s Prayer Figure
By Dicksons Beautifully detailed figurine, kneeling soldier in prayer on realistic wood-look base, features a plaque with engraved prayer by Alda Maria. Resin figure; 4.5″ x 5.75″; packaged in colored gift box. Hear Our Prayer Collection.A Soldier’s Prayer |
 |
John 8:36, Liberty Cross with American Flag
By Carpentree, Inc Printers’ Block Collection of fine inspirational gifts; wall decor with the raised, dimensional detail of lettering in artisan styles, combined creatively for display in your home.
|
 |
God Bless America, Small Flag
By Tina Wenke / Carson Home Accents
|
 |
God Bless America, Small Applique Flag
By Carson Home Accents
|
 |
God Bless America Tie
By Eagles Wings Proudly show-off your love for God and country with this beautiful patriotic tie! Features God Bless America on a stars and stripes background; 100% silk; dry clean only. |
 |
God Bless America, Photo Frame
By Carson Home Accents Photo frame in patriotic stars and stripes design
|
 |
God Bless America Pie Plate
By Divinity Boutique Serve up Americana at your summer table. Glossy blue 10″ fluted ceramic pie plate with red, white and blue inspirational design. God Bless America…”Bless is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12. Microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe.American as apple pie, or whatever your favorite is; rustic farmhouse charm for the kitchen. Patriotic pie plate |
 |
America, God Shed His Grace On Thee Hanging Jar
By Divinity Boutique Decorative mason jar with vintage wire hanger handle, trimmed in rustic red white and blue with stars; patriotic quote God Bless America. Glass jar is 6″ x 3″; may be used as a tealight holder, snacks, or home decorNot for microwave or dishwasher, but a country accent for your counter, shelf, or desktop |
 |
God Bless America Wall Cross
By Carpentree, Inc |
 |
Bless Our Nation (Constitution) Small Flag
By Russ Cannizzaro / Carson Home Accents Garden-size flag design, readable from both sides
|
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage
By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press
There’s no doubt that marriage is hard work. Yet it can also be one of the most fulfilling relationships you can experience, outside of your relationship with God. However, many marriages leave God outside of the relationship. Godly marriages do not happen without cultivating it, investing in it, and putting God first in your individual lives and in your marriage.
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
• Scripture to memorize and meditate on
• Conversation Starters
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
• Romance Builders
• Relationship Builders
• Personal reflections
• Date ideas
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
We’re booking for church and ministry events. (Due to COVID-19, we are only tentatively booking for events after September 2020 based on the recommendations as issued by the CDC and our government officials.)
Julia Bruce is an engaging speaker, CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, and author of God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars. Julia’s book is for Christian couples who seek a closer relationship with each other and with God. The book contains 365 activities for couples to work through together for a year of intentionally growing their relationship. The activities include scripture memory, conversation starters, personal reflections, guided Bible studies, romance builders, relationship builders and date night ideas. The book started out as daily posts on Wellspring’s website to encourage couples to develop Godly marriages and they quickly became the most viewed pages of the site. Julia feels God led her to organize the collection of posts into a book format that couples would be able to work through year after year. She enjoys going to churches and ministry events to talk about how the activities in the book will develop stronger marriages that are centered in Christ, which will then create stronger families.
Currently, Julia is finishing her second book, entitled: Help! No one said ministry was about spiritual battles and difficult people! In this book Julia uses her studies in psychology and professional counseling to take a Biblical approach to self-care to help people serving in the ministry not burn-out, give-up, and walk away from the call God placed on their lives. Whether your ministry position is volunteer or the senior pastor, this book will help you recognize the areas in your life that are depleted and need a little TLC so you can keep doing what God has called you to. You’re assignment in the Kingdom of God is vitally important! Keep an eye out for this book when it is released and see how Biblical self-care can keep you serving God. Julia can bring these concepts to your next ministry staff retreat to help your ministry team refill, recharge, and renew their heart for their area of ministry.
After years of envisioning the idea and concept of Wellspring Christian Ministries, Julia decided to take a leap of faith and merge her vocational, collegiate, and life experiences and make the dream God put on her heart a reality. Today we reach people world-wide through blog posts, speaking events, and devotionals. With a strong burden for our nation, Julia has a passion to see a revival sweep across our land and many of her writings and speaking events have a theme of calling God’s people to humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face as they repent of sin and tune their hearts to following God’s will and His commandments.
Her message will engage individuals, inspire teams and transform the heart that is prayerfully seeking to live a God-first life. As the Holy Spirit speaks through her messages, He will work in every willing heart to create a life that is wholly sold out to God.
Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus made it clear that everything He did was an act of obedience. In John 5:19, Jesus stated that He could do nothing on His own. He watched for where God was at work, listened to what God told Him, and followed in obedience – even when obedience might not have made sense to those around Him.
How many times do we feel “called” to something and then we jump in and start making our plans? If we have not taken the time to sit in prayer and listen to God’s full instructions, then we risk failing at the task God has called us to do or at least making a 
big mess of it. Then we begin to question the call or we start looking around at others doing a similar task and wonder how they got there. In reality, it doesn’t matter how they got there because their road “there” might look totally different than the road God places you on.
Sometimes we feel called to something and begin to research it and get advice from others. That’s not a bad thing, unless we skip the step of seeking God first. If God has called us to something then He already has a plan for how to get us there. Jesus knew that the whole point of coming to earth was His death, burial, and resurrection so that we would have the hope of salvation. What if when He started His ministry on earth He went straight to the cross? If He had, how many people would have missed out on being healed? How many people would have missed out on having 
demons tossed out of them? The woman at the well would have never met the living water. The 5000 would have missed out on being fed with just five loaves of bread on two small fish. There would have never been disciples to spread the gospel. There would have been no sermon on the Mount. There would be no Lord’s Prayer as a model to teach us how to pray. There would be no parables to teach us how we should live. And the New Testament would have been whole lot shorter! If we try to take the fast track to get where God is taking us, then there will be many people who would miss the impact God wants to make on their lives through us.
John 5:19 is a verse that we all should all should apply to ourselves. Read the verse again and this time, insert your name in the blank: Most assuredly, Jesus says to you, _______ can do nothing of him/her self, but what he/she sees the Father do, for whatever the Father does, _________ also does in like manner. Can you truly say that about yourself?
#dontgetaheadofGod #eyeonGod
Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.
This week’s featured design:
Remember those who sacrificed all so that we could live with the freedoms we so richly enjoy. This week’s design features a patriotic them for Memorial Day.
Available in tees for women and girls, mugs, bags, and other products. Here’s a sample of a few of the products you can choose with this design. Check out all the available products in the Spreadshirt shop. Also available in the Teespring shop
This week’s featured items from Christian Book Distributors will help you get ready for the Memorial Day weekend. Order early as shipping times are taking a little longer than normal.
Memorial Day is May 25th: ORDER NOW
|
God Bless the USA Heart Plaque
By Barbara Lloyd / Blossom Bucket Inc Red, white and blue Americana Patriotic heart wall sign
|
|
One Nation Under God, Land of the Free, Canvas Framed Art
By Carpentree, Inc |
|
God Bless America, Canvas Framed Art
By Carpentree, Inc Vintage Patriotic Collection of fine wall art, with frayed natural canvas above a striped art backdrop.13″ x 19″ clean and contemporary dark frameVintage style in trend, patriotic look. Textured appeal. Star-printed shape of the United States of America; God bless AmericaPowerful patriotic wall accent. |
|
Soldier’s Prayer Figure
By Dicksons Beautifully detailed figurine, kneeling soldier in prayer on realistic wood-look base, features a plaque with engraved prayer by Alda Maria. Resin figure; 4.5″ x 5.75″; packaged in colored gift box. Hear Our Prayer Collection.A Soldier’s Prayer |
|
John 8:36, Liberty Cross with American Flag
By Carpentree, Inc Printers’ Block Collection of fine inspirational gifts; wall decor with the raised, dimensional detail of lettering in artisan styles, combined creatively for display in your home.
|
|
God Bless America, Small Flag
By Tina Wenke / Carson Home Accents
|
|
God Bless America, Small Applique Flag
By Carson Home Accents
|
|
God Bless America Tie
By Eagles Wings Proudly show-off your love for God and country with this beautiful patriotic tie! Features God Bless America on a stars and stripes background; 100% silk; dry clean only. |
|
God Bless America, Photo Frame
By Carson Home Accents Photo frame in patriotic stars and stripes design
|
|
God Bless America Pie Plate
By Divinity Boutique Serve up Americana at your summer table. Glossy blue 10″ fluted ceramic pie plate with red, white and blue inspirational design. God Bless America…”Bless is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12. Microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe.American as apple pie, or whatever your favorite is; rustic farmhouse charm for the kitchen. Patriotic pie plate |
|
America, God Shed His Grace On Thee Hanging Jar
By Divinity Boutique Decorative mason jar with vintage wire hanger handle, trimmed in rustic red white and blue with stars; patriotic quote God Bless America. Glass jar is 6″ x 3″; may be used as a tealight holder, snacks, or home decorNot for microwave or dishwasher, but a country accent for your counter, shelf, or desktop |
|
God Bless America Wall Cross
By Carpentree, Inc |
|
Bless Our Nation (Constitution) Small Flag
By Russ Cannizzaro / Carson Home Accents Garden-size flag design, readable from both sides
|
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage
By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press
There’s no doubt that marriage is hard work. Yet it can also be one of the most fulfilling relationships you can experience, outside of your relationship with God. However, many marriages leave God outside of the relationship. Godly marriages do not happen without cultivating it, investing in it, and putting God first in your individual lives and in your marriage.
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
• Scripture to memorize and meditate on
• Conversation Starters
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
• Romance Builders
• Relationship Builders
• Personal reflections
• Date ideas
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
We’re booking for church and ministry events. (Due to COVID-19, we are only tentatively booking for events after September 2020 based on the recommendations as issued by the CDC and our government officials.)
Julia Bruce is an engaging speaker, CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, and author of God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars. Julia’s book is for Christian couples who seek a closer relationship with each other and with God. The book contains 365 activities for couples to work through together for a year of intentionally growing their relationship. The activities include scripture memory, conversation starters, personal reflections, guided Bible studies, romance builders, relationship builders and date night ideas. The book started out as daily posts on Wellspring’s website to encourage couples to develop Godly marriages and they quickly became the most viewed pages of the site. Julia feels God led her to organize the collection of posts into a book format that couples would be able to work through year after year. She enjoys going to churches and ministry events to talk about how the activities in the book will develop stronger marriages that are centered in Christ, which will then create stronger families.
Currently, Julia is finishing her second book, entitled: Help! No one said ministry was about spiritual battles and difficult people! In this book Julia uses her studies in psychology and professional counseling to take a Biblical approach to self-care to help people serving in the ministry not burn-out, give-up, and walk away from the call God placed on their lives. Whether your ministry position is volunteer or the senior pastor, this book will help you recognize the areas in your life that are depleted and need a little TLC so you can keep doing what God has called you to. You’re assignment in the Kingdom of God is vitally important! Keep an eye out for this book when it is released and see how Biblical self-care can keep you serving God. Julia can bring these concepts to your next ministry staff retreat to help your ministry team refill, recharge, and renew their heart for their area of ministry.
After years of envisioning the idea and concept of Wellspring Christian Ministries, Julia decided to take a leap of faith and merge her vocational, collegiate, and life experiences and make the dream God put on her heart a reality. Today we reach people world-wide through blog posts, speaking events, and devotionals. With a strong burden for our nation, Julia has a passion to see a revival sweep across our land and many of her writings and speaking events have a theme of calling God’s people to humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face as they repent of sin and tune their hearts to following God’s will and His commandments.
Her message will engage individuals, inspire teams and transform the heart that is prayerfully seeking to live a God-first life. As the Holy Spirit speaks through her messages, He will work in every willing heart to create a life that is wholly sold out to God.
Jesus had just had the encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. If we back up to the beginning of chapter 4 in John’s gospel, we find the Pharisees had heard that Jesus and his disciples were making and baptizing more disciples than John so He left Judea to go to Galilee, but he had to go through Samaria on His way for His destined meeting with the woman at the well. In verse five we find that Jesus was weary from His journey, so He sat by the well, positioning Himself in the exact location for His destined meeting. The disciples don’t arrive on the scene until verse 27, marveling that He is talking with a Samaritan woman. In verse 31, they demonstrate their concern for Jesus and encourage Him to eat something. His response was, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” The disciples totally miss what Jesus is talking about and wonder among themselves who could have brought Him something to eat. So Jesus explains – “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” What was the work that Jesus was sent to do? Luke 19:10 tells us, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Ultimately, for Jesus, that meant dying on a cross and rising again, but for this day, it meant talking to an outcast Samaritan woman who would bring her entire village to Jesus.
As Christians, each one of us has been given the same task: to seek and to save that 
which is lost and to make disciples. Jesus’ last words to the church before He ascended into heaven were, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20, HCSB). We all might do that in a different way. Some preach, some write books, some teach a small group, some tell coworkers, friends, and family about Jesus, some leave a gospel tract along with a tip at a restaurant, and some sing praise and worship songs. None of us are saved to just sit in a pew. As long as we are still on earth, we have a task, an assignment to do. What assignment have you been given?
Jesus was committed to His task all the way to the cross. How committed are you? Jesus set His priorities by what His Father wanted Him to do. What do your priorities look like? Jesus was willing to go to Samaria, even though the devout, strict Jews avoided it due to fear of being defiled if they went through it. Instead, they would bypass Samaria and take much longer route around it just to avoid it. But God gave Jesus an assignment in Samaria – and He obediently went and won an entire village to belief in Him. Are you willing to go the places no one else will go?
For some who work in ministry, the question of commitment has not been about priorities or willingness – it is more about how much ministry takes out of person. Ministry is hard work. Not just because the task is hard, but also because people in ministry often invest themselves emotionally into the lives the people to whom they minister. If people in ministry do not practice self-care, they risk burnout and/or compassion fatigue. If this is you, then God is asking you, “Will you finish the work to
which you have been called?” For Jesus it wasn’t enough just to do the work His Father sent Him to do – He also had to finish it. Imagine for a moment if Jesus developed burnout and compassion fatigue. If anyone ever deserved a burnout and compassion fatigue moment, it was Jesus! But if Jesus sat down one day and said, “I’m too tired to go on. I think I’ll quit this business of working out everyone’s salvation.” Where would that leave us today? Dear person in the ministry – pastor, music minister, small group leader, deacon, conference speaker, children’s worker, nursery worker, youth pastor…whatever your ministry field is – what if you sit down and say, “I’m too tired to go on. I think I’ll quit.” How many people would die without Christ as Savior because you quit? Like Jesus, it isn’t enough that we do the will of God – we must finish the task to which we have been called.
#makedisciples #seekandsave
Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.,
As of May 12, there have been 81,663 deaths in the U.S. and 291,257Â have died world-wide. For the most current data regarding the virus, visit the John Hopkins University website.
The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method.Â
#Chronovirus #fastandpray #judgement #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM
Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.
This week’s featured design:
Remember those who sacrificed all so that we could live with the freedoms we so richly enjoy. This week’s design features a patriotic them for Memorial Day.
Available in tees for women and girls, mugs, bags, and other products. Here’s a sample of a few of the products you can choose with this design. Check out all the available products in the Spreadshirt shop. Also available in the Teespring shop
This week’s featured items from Christian Book Distributors will help you get ready for the Memorial Day weekend. Order early as shipping times are taking a little longer than normal.
Memorial Day is May 25th: ORDER NOW
|
God Bless the USA Heart Plaque
By Barbara Lloyd / Blossom Bucket Inc Red, white and blue Americana Patriotic heart wall sign
|
|
One Nation Under God, Land of the Free, Canvas Framed Art
By Carpentree, Inc |
|
God Bless America, Canvas Framed Art
By Carpentree, Inc Vintage Patriotic Collection of fine wall art, with frayed natural canvas above a striped art backdrop.13″ x 19″ clean and contemporary dark frameVintage style in trend, patriotic look. Textured appeal. Star-printed shape of the United States of America; God bless AmericaPowerful patriotic wall accent. |
|
Soldier’s Prayer Figure
By Dicksons Beautifully detailed figurine, kneeling soldier in prayer on realistic wood-look base, features a plaque with engraved prayer by Alda Maria. Resin figure; 4.5″ x 5.75″; packaged in colored gift box. Hear Our Prayer Collection.A Soldier’s Prayer |
|
John 8:36, Liberty Cross with American Flag
By Carpentree, Inc Printers’ Block Collection of fine inspirational gifts; wall decor with the raised, dimensional detail of lettering in artisan styles, combined creatively for display in your home.
|
|
God Bless America, Small Flag
By Tina Wenke / Carson Home Accents
|
|
God Bless America, Small Applique Flag
By Carson Home Accents
|
|
God Bless America Tie
By Eagles Wings Proudly show-off your love for God and country with this beautiful patriotic tie! Features God Bless America on a stars and stripes background; 100% silk; dry clean only. |
|
God Bless America, Photo Frame
By Carson Home Accents Photo frame in patriotic stars and stripes design
|
|
God Bless America Pie Plate
By Divinity Boutique Serve up Americana at your summer table. Glossy blue 10″ fluted ceramic pie plate with red, white and blue inspirational design. God Bless America…”Bless is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12. Microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe.American as apple pie, or whatever your favorite is; rustic farmhouse charm for the kitchen. Patriotic pie plate |
|
America, God Shed His Grace On Thee Hanging Jar
By Divinity Boutique Decorative mason jar with vintage wire hanger handle, trimmed in rustic red white and blue with stars; patriotic quote God Bless America. Glass jar is 6″ x 3″; may be used as a tealight holder, snacks, or home decorNot for microwave or dishwasher, but a country accent for your counter, shelf, or desktop |
|
God Bless America Wall Cross
By Carpentree, Inc |
|
Bless Our Nation (Constitution) Small Flag
By Russ Cannizzaro / Carson Home Accents Garden-size flag design, readable from both sides
|
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage
By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press
There’s no doubt that marriage is hard work. Yet it can also be one of the most fulfilling relationships you can experience, outside of your relationship with God. However, many marriages leave God outside of the relationship. Godly marriages do not happen without cultivating it, investing in it, and putting God first in your individual lives and in your marriage.
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
• Scripture to memorize and meditate on
• Conversation Starters
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
• Romance Builders
• Relationship Builders
• Personal reflections
• Date ideas
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
We’re booking for church and ministry events. (Due to COVID-19, we are only tentatively booking for events after September 2020 based on the recommendations as issued by the CDC and our government officials.)
Julia Bruce is an engaging speaker, CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, and author of God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars. Julia’s book is for Christian couples who seek a closer relationship with each other and with God. The book contains 365 activities for couples to work through together for a year of intentionally growing their relationship. The activities include scripture memory, conversation starters, personal reflections, guided Bible studies, romance builders, relationship builders and date night ideas. The book started out as daily posts on Wellspring’s website to encourage couples to develop Godly marriages and they quickly became the most viewed pages of the site. Julia feels God led her to organize the collection of posts into a book format that couples would be able to work through year after year. She enjoys going to churches and ministry events to talk about how the activities in the book will develop stronger marriages that are centered in Christ, which will then create stronger families.
Currently, Julia is finishing her second book, entitled: Help! No one said ministry was about spiritual battles and difficult people! In this book Julia uses her studies in psychology and professional counseling to take a Biblical approach to self-care to help people serving in the ministry not burn-out, give-up, and walk away from the call God placed on their lives. Whether your ministry position is volunteer or the senior pastor, this book will help you recognize the areas in your life that are depleted and need a little TLC so you can keep doing what God has called you to. You’re assignment in the Kingdom of God is vitally important! Keep an eye out for this book when it is released and see how Biblical self-care can keep you serving God. Julia can bring these concepts to your next ministry staff retreat to help your ministry team refill, recharge, and renew their heart for their area of ministry.
After years of envisioning the idea and concept of Wellspring Christian Ministries, Julia decided to take a leap of faith and merge her vocational, collegiate, and life experiences and make the dream God put on her heart a reality. Today we reach people world-wide through blog posts, speaking events, and devotionals. With a strong burden for our nation, Julia has a passion to see a revival sweep across our land and many of her writings and speaking events have a theme of calling God’s people to humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face as they repent of sin and tune their hearts to following God’s will and His commandments.
Her message will engage individuals, inspire teams and transform the heart that is prayerfully seeking to live a God-first life. As the Holy Spirit speaks through her messages, He will work in every willing heart to create a life that is wholly sold out to God.
There is a story about Andrew Jackson and his childhood friends. His friends had a hard time understanding how Andy, as they called him, became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They each had known other people who had greater talent, who were smarter, who more better off financially – but never succeeded. As the friends were reminiscing and talking one day, one of the said, “Why Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.”
Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say, ‘Three times and your out?'”
“Sure they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat. He would never stay ‘throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andy would throw him and be the winner.”
Things never changed for Andrew Jackson. No matter what he faced, he just wouldn’t stay ‘throwed’! It was that perseverance and determination that served him well throughout his life, including as a general and as the President.
Life has a way of pulling the rug out from under us and knocking us off our feet over and over again. We’ve all experienced it. Some throw in the towel and give up but some of us just won’t stay ‘throwed.” We get up again. Dust ourselves off. And we go for it one more time. These are the people of courage – hope – faith – and they trust in the omnipotent Father to see them throw and provide all they need – even when God’s provision comes in unexpected ways.
In the Bible, Joseph is a man that just wouldn’t stay “throwed.” In his life, his brothers plotted to kill him, but threw him in a dry cistern instead, he was sold by his brothers as a slave, taken into Egypt, sold again to Potiphar, promoted to head of Potiphar’s household affairs, falsely accused by Mrs. Potiphar for attempted rape, thrown in prison, promoted to command of all the other prisoners, forgotten about in prison and then at just the right moment in time he was remembered, brought out of the prison to interpret two dreams that Pharaoh had which resulted in Pharaoh making Joseph second in command in all of Egypt with on Pharaoh himself over Joseph.
Joseph could have sulked, despaired, and sunk into a depression in the pit as he realized how much his own brothers hated him. He could have become angry and bitter when they sold him as a slave. He could have given up on God when he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. He could have turned to Egyptian gods when he was forgotten and left in prison. But what we see is a young man who never forgot about the God of Israel. Joseph probably wondered more than once what God was doing with him and perhaps he couldn’t see that God was preparing him to save all of Egypt and beyond from a period of seven years of famine.
It’s easy for us to read the story of Joseph and get to the end and understand how all the events of Joseph’s life played out and see how God orchestrated things so that Joseph was at the exact place he needed to be for God to use him in saving millions of people from starving to death. But the story we read in about 30 minutes constitutes years of Joseph’s life. How many times must have Joseph laid in bed at night and asked God what he was doing. He must have prayed every night for God to get him out of prison and back home. But if God had answered those prayers, Joseph would not have been summoned to Pharaoh to interpret his dreams that warned of the coming famine.
Yes. It was Joseph’s brothers who sold him with not even an ounce of remorse. In fact, they turned and sat down to eat dinner. But they were not the ones who sent Joseph to Egypt. God was sending him there for a reason. All along God was providing for what was coming, but God also had to strategically place Joseph in places that would grow him and prepare him for what God had in mind for him. As the pampered, favorite son of Jacob, Joseph would have never ended up 2nd in command of Egypt. He would not have been trained to run a household or a country. But even in the bad circumstances, God was with him, working in his life to strategically put him where he needed to be so that when Pharaoh had disturbing dreams, Pharaoh’s cup bearer would remember the person who had interpreted his dreams and tell Pharaoh about him.
We know that Joseph never forgot God or blamed him because when he stands before Pharaoh he give God the glory for interpreting the dream. In Genesis 50, Joseph says in verse 20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” God’s purpose for all Joseph went through was revealed and Joseph saw how God provided for them all in a very unexpected way.
Maybe you’ve been knocked off your feet. Maybe you’ve been asking God, “What are you doing?!” Maybe your don’t understand right now, but will you stay ‘throwed,” or will you rise and give it your best? Will you trust that just as God was working in Joseph’s life, that He is also at work in yours? God is never surprised at the unexpected turn of events in our lives. He is always at work in every moment of or life, orchestrating, preparing, and moving us toward His divine plan – trust Him in the process. Get up. Dust yourself off. You’re heavenly Father who loves you with an everlasting love is with you in pit. Trust His plan.
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Don’t forget to memorize this week’s memory verse:Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Our verse last week focused on humbling ourselves. This week, we’ll focus on praying.
Will you commit to praying with us in 2020 that God will revive His people, renew our faith, and redeem our land? We feel such an urgency and desperation for revival. If God is moving your heart for revival, write your revival prayer in the comments along with your state or country.Â
#revive #renew #redeem #revivalinAmerica #revivalin2020 #WCM
