YOUR ACTIONS TODAY AFFECT YOUR CHILDREN & FUTURE GENERATIONS TOMORROW Written by Mindy Schuman As I was reflecting on some circumstances recently, the Lord reminded me how much each of our actions will affect and influence our children, grandchildren and future generations. We know that our actions can most importantly affect our fellowship with God, but how much do we consider that our actions can greatly affect those around us, specifically our children. Our children can be greatly influenced by how we live day to day, the level of humility we walk in before God and others, and how submitted and surrendered we are to God and his word. Scripture tells us to honor our parents so that it will go well with us (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1) and as parents we are also instructed not to provoke our children (Ephesians 6:4). I would contend also that, as parents, it will also go well for us if we are honorable towards our children, young and old in age. We honor our children by being submitted to God, by living a life where all the fruits of the spirit are in operation within our homes and by treating them with love…

THE WAYS WE SELF-SABOTAGE OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW TO AVOID IT Billions of people on earth just want to have a good relationship where they are loved and have their needs met but unfortunately many of them self-sabotage their own relationships and don’t even see it. The enemy blinds them in seeing what they do that creates strife and friction between them and their loved ones and has them blame all the issues on their spouse or children or other friendships. As long as you give them everything they want or obey their every command then they will get along with you – but as soon as you defy their demands then you will get an earful. So what are some of the ways we ruin our own relationships? Jealousy – unfortunately many people ruin their relationships because they have unhealed soul wounds from their past and do not know who they are in Christ and the enemy convinces them that if their spouse glances at another person from the opposite sex or has healthy interactions with someone from the opposite sex then they get triggered and will go off on their spouse verbally. They feel like they are going…

We have all been hurt by people in our lives. We have been controlled, betrayed, lied & gossiped about, and many of us have been emotionally abused and some physically or sexually abused. God requires that everyone forgive those who have sinned against them in order to have their own sins forgiven by Him. “For if you forgive men their sins, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, neither will your Father forgive your sins.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14-15‬ ‭ So does that mean that every relationship should be restored if the person who hurt you doesn’t own their bad behavior and change and still remains unhealthy or emotionally abusive? Did Jesus want to stay in relationship with everyone? He absolutely did not want to stay in close relationship with the Pharisees and scribes. Matthew 10:34-39 Christ Brings Division 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and a man’s enemies will be those of…

Billions of people on earth just want to have a good relationship where they are loved and have their needs met but unfortunately many of them self-sabotage their own relationships and don’t even see it.  The enemy blinds them in seeing what they do that creates strife and friction between them and their loved ones and has them blame all the issues on their spouse or children or other friendships.  As long as you give them everything they want or obey their every command then they will get along with you – but as soon as you defy their demands then you will get an earful. So what are some of the ways we ruin our own relationships? Jealousy – unfortunately many people ruin their relationships because they have unhealed soul wounds from their past and do not know who they are in Christ and the enemy convinces them that if their spouse glances at another person from the opposite sex or has healthy interactions with someone from the opposite sex then they get triggered and will go off on their spouse verbally. They feel like they are going to lose their loved one because when they were growing up…

How should you handle emotional abuse in marriage & relationships? Emotional abuse in marriage is unfortunately more common than people would want to think and is also equally as challenging to decide just how to address it and with whom.  Most times when two people get married for the first time they expect their partners to love on them and to allow them to make decisions that bring the greatest level of satisfaction to them.  They both expect to be able to do whatever they want to do that will bring them the greatest level of enjoyment.  Often times shortly after the wedding (and some times longer)  one of the spouses will usually place demands to make most of the decisions in the marriage and begin to control and manipulate the other spouse who usually has more of a giving heart.  Over time it begins to cause the spouse who is being controlled to feel less valued, dominated and no longer feel loved.  The more demanding spouse wants even more control, will behave very proudly and talk more condescending with disrespect to their mate.  Eventually the controlled spouse will feel sick to their stomachs frequently because of the consistent arguments…

Why are so many people in the church struggling to have peace and see the fruit of the spirit evident in their day to day lives?  Why are so many people living in either miserable marriages or experiencing painful divorces?  Why do so many people have sickness and disease in their bodies? Why are so many children angry at their church-going parents?  Why do so few people in church truly love each other like Christ? Romans 7: 4-25 New Living Translation 4 So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature,  sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law,…

With the Thanksgiving holiday season coming upon us in America, many people are looking forward to what the holiday truly represents in thanking the Lord for family, blessings and lots of food, but at the same time are dreading having to see certain relatives. The relatives who make you feel loved and produce laughter are those you want to spend time around. But most families have at least one (and often times many) person(s) who they want to avoid like the plague due to various past hurtful comments, condemning looks, snide remarks, prideful statements and other strife that they have experienced coming out of their mouth. 2 Timothy 2:20-26 NKJV “20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.…

Unfortunately most relationships and marriages in the world are not at peace and are simply miserable.  More than half of all marriages end in divorce (both believers in Christ and non-believers).  Hearts are broken as people simply want to be unconditionally loved.  What is the main reason behind all of this mess?  In one word it comes down to this.  Demons. Demons are alive and well in the world as they have been since the earth was created by God and 1/3 of the angels were cast out of heaven with their leader Lucifer (now Satan).  Demons torment people in their minds and thus cause them to buy into their suggestions in their minds to hurt themselves and other people.  Demons torment both non-believers and those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior as long as their legal right to stay tormenting them is still intact.  One of the reasons they can continue to torment a believer's soul is because they have unforgiveness in their heart towards someone who offended or hurt them. Another reason is because they have a strong spirit of pride that causes them to behave arrogantly and thinking they are better than other people.…