Marriage Anchors

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where?” How many of you remember singing this song at camp or in Sunday school? What a great song with a great message. I am learning (the hard way as usual) that “Joy”,  like love, is a choice. It is not so much a warm, bubbly feeling I get from people, things, or experiences. Rather, it is a moment by moment decision to hold the hand of my Savior Jesus and choose by faith to possess a glad heart.  

Now it is time for True Confessions.  I am not joyful or glad much of the time. I find that I have allowed the disappointments in life, the set backs, and the outright royal shafts that come to cloud my judgment and my faith. Like the Apostle Peter on the Sea of Galilee and during the night of Jesus`s arrest and mock trial, I tend to quietly groan in grumbling and, at times, fear.   During these times, I take my eyes off of my Jesus, my Great Shepherd, and lower them to this world, with its intrigues, its pressures, and its troubles. I might not be alone in this. Right?

I do confess I am ‘missing the mark’ for this is what sin is. Sin is an archery term. It is the ‘sin’ distance which measures by how much my arrow misses the mark of perfection on the bull’s eye.

  Sin is a condition which misses the perfection of God.  

Like Peter, whether, sinking in the drink or slinking in denial, I am the opposite of joyful when I do this. I really desire that God gives me the Spirit-directed power to choose joy as well as to choose love. These two are like loyal roommates. One is not without the other. Please pray this for me. I will pray this for you.

“And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”   (Nehemiah 8:10c  ESV)  

Please send us you comments or prayer requests to: [email protected]

The Gospel https://marriageanchors.com/2012/05/18/your-anchor-dont-leave-port-without-him/

As I’ve gotten older, almost 67 now, having experienced one heart attack and other health issues, I have come to the humbling conclusion that I’m not 21 anymore. Why…I’m not 40, 50, or even 60 anymore. Those of you brave souls who’ve hit 60 know what I’m talking about. I’m not the man I used to be. Well…that might actually be a good thing. Ha! Thank God He is not nor has He ever been finished with me. In terms of godly character, I know I am not yet the man He is making me to be. That is good news!

My physical status does, however, affect my emotional condition. I don’t  have the strength nor the energy that I once had. Cleaning out the eaves on that ladder just doesn’t motivate me anymore. I am learning to face reality. I cannot do everything I used to be able to do. I get tired much more easily. This is humbling. Can some of you relate?

My God is not finished with me yet. That’s the great news. Seasons of life change. But His desire to extend the Kingdom of His Son never changes. He, if we are willing and available, will use us and our prayers to reach many souls for Christ.

I want Heaven populated with as many souls as possible. I pray you do as well. Let’s serve Him with the strength and character He gives us. Let’s pray for each other that we fill Heaven together.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  (Philippians 1:6  ESV)

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  

                                                                                                      (Philippians 3:14  ESV)

Please send us you comments or prayer requests to: [email protected]

The Gospel https://marriageanchors.com/2012/05/18/your-anchor-dont-leave-port-without-him/

Is it just me or is Wednesday the toughest day to get through? I remember back when I was a cadet at the Academy. Wednesday was like being half way on a swim across the English Channel... during a storm! My studies, parade practices, Obstacle Courses, room inspections, inspection in ranks, and the general ongoing pressure of the Spartan academy lifestyle left me drained.

Even now, Wednesday is my longest day with leading aBible Study at 7 AM 25 minutes from home. Sometimes I crave a nap because my energy reserves are depleted by mid day. Do you like Wednesdays? Some call it Hump Day. Wednesday dinner in the Cadet Mess Hall was the best meal of the week. It was steak night. Occasionally, they’d toss in a lobster. I guess they were trying to help us get through the week. It helped.

Sometimes life throws us more than just a tough Wednesday. Some of you, right now, are going through rough seas that are weeks, months, and even years long. The drain and pain of life is bitter and, at times, almost unbearable. We’ve been there. Barbara and I want to be in the prayer trenches with you. Remember two things. First, you are not alone. Jesus is with you and so are many others, in spirit and in prayer. Second, this difficult time will not last. There will be an end.

The Lord cares. He will not abandon you. He will carry you through the storm.

” You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah”   (Psalm 32:7 ESV)

 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10  ESV)

Please send us you comments or prayer requests to: [email protected]

Here is the Gospel:  https://marriageanchors.com/2012/05/18/your-anchor-dont-leave-port-without-him/

“One of the scariest days of my life!”  You’ve probably had one. Some of you have had more. I was a Second Lieutenant Platoon Leader stationed in Germany. The year was 1976. The day: May 6th. It was 9 months to the day and my young wife was at the Hospital giving birth to our 1st child. All appeared joyful and happy on the surface.

Back then, I was not allowed in the delivery room. There I sat all alone in the rather cold, undecorated waiting room.

Suddenly, the German doctor bursts through the door with fear on his face! He blurts out  with a heavy German accent, “Ve are going to try to save da baby undt your wife! Ve might lose both. Ve tink da cord iss wrapped around da baby’s neck. Da baby’s heart rate is too low. Vee are going to perform a radical, emergency C-Section.”

He then rushes back through the swinging door.

I am left there utterly alone. No cell phone. No other people. Nothing. Fear gripped me. Here we were in a foreign country in an old WWI refurbished Hospital in Stuttgart.  And I might lose my wife and new child in a matter of minutes.

Although I had been a born again Christian for 6 years, my maturity level as a follower of Christ was abysmal. Yes, we attended church here and there when I wasn’t on maneuvers and we went to a Bible Study once in awhile, but I was deep inside a people pleaser living a carnal existence. My soul may have been saved but my feet were firmly planted in the world.

My heart raced. I felt a heavy panic. I cried out to the Lord! “Help!” The Army moved us permanently back to the States. We settled in Colorado Springs, Ft. Carson, near Denver’s big military hospital.

Some how God pulled us through.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) has become like a friend. “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Sara. Soon to be 42, is married with 3 beautiful children. She is the oldest of 7. Let us pray for those of us who are facing scary times and difficult trials. And let’s help and encourage each other if we can.

Please send us you comments or prayer requests to: [email protected]

Here is the Gospel:  https://marriageanchors.com/2012/05/18/your-anchor-dont-leave-port-without-him/

When was the last time someone was kind to you? I remember there were certain times in my life when people chose to be kind to me. I didn’t particularly deserve it. One time I was about 8. I was skating at the community rink. I wasn’t any good. This older kid was a bully and was skating towards me really fast and threatening to smash over me. I was scared!

At the last second, an older boy who lived two houses away from ours, jumped in front of me taking the hit from this bully. This kind Neighbor’s name is Keith. I was both relieved and grateful. Awhile back, I bumped into Keith at Culvers, a local restaurant. We had such a great chat. He and his wife were there, both now retired, and our friendship connection had not changed. Kindness lasts.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

Let us pray for each other that we would obey this command.

Please send us you comments or prayer requests to: [email protected]

Here is the Gospel:  https://marriageanchors.com/2012/05/18/your-anchor-dont-leave-port-without-him/

I’m learning afresh that Jesus is with me all day and all night by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit. This morning, in the quietness of my heart, He said, “Jim...do not fret. It only leads to evil.” Interesting.....

Psalm 37:8 ESV says, “Refrain from anger, forsake wrath. Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”

I was fretting these last weeks over something basically unimportant. Typical. The word “fret” in the Hebrew means “a slow burn”: Like burning a large pile of leaves. Hmmm. I’m good at that. How about you? Let’s pray for each other that we will obediently choose to stop fretting over those piles of leaves in our hearts that frequently tend to smolder and smoke. Let us cast these troubles unto Him, King Jesus, the Shepherd and Savior of our souls.

Please send us you comments or prayer requests to: [email protected]

Here is the Gospel:  https://marriageanchors.com/2012/05/18/your-anchor-dont-leave-port-without-him/

He is risen but much of the world does not know or embrace this!

We are facing very challenging times. There is trouble in the land.

God's holy, sacred, and ordained institution, marriage, is under direct broadside assault. Perversion is the darling of our culture. Evil is good. Good is evil. Many churches are listing.

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is being attacked and watered down by many. Churches by the droves are faltering and adopting a social justice, human flourishing, humanistic approach to the Christian faith. The Bible, the Word of God, is not looked upon by many as the final, absolute, inspired, inerrant authority: God's timeless Words breathed into human authors without error.

These apostates say the Bible "contains" the word of God but that human error, cultural changes, and knowledge and understanding have replaced humble submission to "that which is written". This is the end times apostate church: Looks good. Smells good. Does good things. But it is evil and deceptive!

These gifted apostate leaders are Ambassadors of Hell.

This should not surprise us. The devil wants to destroy marriage, family, missions, and the local church. These are God's hallowed instruments that he uses to pass on a godly heritage and win, build, and send souls into the world for the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. The devil does not want Hell robbed of souls soon to be going there.  He doesn't want Heaven filled. He wants lost souls to remain lost and damned forever.

The devil also knows that there is no greater tool in God's plan to win lost souls, mend or prepare them, and then send them out to reach others for Christ than His ministering agent: MARRIAGE.   Chuck Swindoll says, “Home is where life makes up its mind.” 

With all the political and moral turmoil, godless arrogance, and nonsense that we see via our national media and offices of political power, Barbara and I are focusing on just a few things:

• This Easter Week we are focusing on Jesus and His Word. Consider this: Read out loud together sections of the Bible's Easter story each day this week. Discuss it. Then pray together out loud. We actually pray each night in the bed at bedtime. We pray out loud and we either cuddle or hold hands. We call it "Cuddle Praying". Most Christian couples, we find, refuse to do this. Amazing! This praying together as one is what the devil hates. He adores isolation. Praying together out loud in humble, teachable love is what God loves and works mightily through! God loves oneness.

• Because the Spiritual Warfare has been intense lately, Barbara and I are focusing on our marriage, not letting anything including family and ministry get in between us.  What's best for your marriage will be best for your children, your work, your in-laws, and your church.

• Finally, we want to focus on and thank God for you and we want to pray for you specifically by name. Please e mail us your chief, confidential prayer requests to  [email protected]

• We'd be honored to email you all of our free biblical materials anywhere in the world for you to use, share, copy, translate, and publish at no cost to you. We want to give our lives away for the Lord Jesus! We want to advance toe Gospel.   [email protected]

Barbara and I ask the Lord to bless and encourage you this Easter.

Have a peaceful, blessed time focusing on Jesus. Let your heart not be troubled. He has overcome the world!    John 16:33

He is Risen!

• Would you like to know for sure that you are saved from your sin, have eternal life, and will be in Heaven someday?  Go to:  https://marriageanchors.com/2012/05/18/your-anchor-dont-leave-port-without-him/

Further insight: https://marriageanchors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/175-Daily-Devotionals-for-You.pdf

• Read: http://christinprophecy.org/articles/apostasy-in-the-church/

• False teachers:  https://www.the-highway.com/keller-false-gospel_Williams.html

• The danger of The Gospel Coalition:   https://fortheloveofhistruth.com/2013/09/24/the-gospel-coalition-the-new-calvinisms-attack-on-the-bible-and-its-epistemology/

Jim & Barbara

Note: By God's grace, we have sent our free biblical materials in PDF format via email all over the world to 1332 destinations in roughly 80 countries. We give all permission to print, translate, share, and publish...all free. The recipients are mostly small local churches in the 10/40 window. We also send our children's books to orphanages. Please visit our website: marriageanchors.com

Online giving to our ministry: https://give.cru.org/give/View/0139150
Our CCC donor account number is #0139150

Our Prayer:

For God to raise up Hearts and Homes to be Gospel Lights to the Nations!      Matthew 5:14

There is always hope with God.