Tag Archive - Family

It’s about the relationship

October 26, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

It’s all about the relationships! Relationships bring us our greatest joys. They also bring us our greatest challenges. The more intimate the relationship the greater the joys and the greater the challenges.

That is why it is sometimes easier to get along with a perfect stranger than it is to get along with a family member. But the relationship with the stranger is never going to bring the satisfaction the relationship with the family member or close friend will bring.

A healthy relationship will have conflict and tension. If there is no conflict in a relationship, that may be a sign of trouble. It may signal that communication is not taking place. It may show that instead of becoming a deeper and more intimate relationship, the relationship is becoming more and more superficial.

Relationships are hard. That is why some shy away from deep relationships. We want the joys that come with a deep and enduring relationship, but we don’t want the pain. It is easier to hop from one marriage to the next, one friendship to the next, or one church to the next. But we never go deep. We have people around us, but we are living in isolation of others. We don’t want to get too close out of fear of what may be revealed in us or in the other person.

God created us for relationships. Without deep and intimate relationships there will be something missing in your life. Yes, it takes time. It takes effort. There may be pain, but it is so worth it. That is why part of our vision at Lord of Life is to connect people with each other. We want everything for you, that God wants for you.

Another thing about relationships is Jesus wants a relationship with you. This is the most important relationship. He wants you to know him and to be known by him.

Many in this world don’t really want a relationship with Jesus. They would rather have a checklist. Give me 5 things to do that I can check off to make sure I am right with God and leave it at that. Go to church, pray a prayer, volunteer to serve a meal at the soup kitchen, give an offering for a missionary, and help out as an usher from time to time. That is five easy things I can do. But it doesn’t necessarily mean I have a relationship with Jesus.

We can have religion without a relationship, but this is not a good thing. Religion is about doing for God the bare minimum that is necessary. It is like being an employee of a large corporation. There is no relationship with the CEO. The orders come down from on top for us to follow. But that is not what God desires. We wants to know you as family and friend. Jesus doesn’t say “do what I tell you.” He says, “come follow me.”

The Apostle Paul puts it well when he talks about the type of relationship he desires to have with Jesus:

Philippians 3:8 (NLT) 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

He goes on to say:

Philippians 3:10–11 (NLT) 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

I want to know Jesus in this way. Jesus wants to know you in this way. Jesus wants the relationship with you because he want more for you. And that is why the primary emphasis of our vision at Lord of Life is to connect people with Jesus. There is nothing greater we could do that to point ourselves and others to Him.

So as I leave you this week, I would like you to consider just one thing you can do that will better connect you with Jesus or another person. And don’t wait. Do it now! Go deep. Experience all God wants for you.

Dealing with Difficult People

October 24, 2011 in Sermons with 0 Comments

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The story of David and Absalom is a tragic story. It is a story that ends badly. Unfortunately, there are difficult situations which arise when we deal with the people. People can be difficult. Oftentimes the most difficult people to deal with are the people in our own family. We know these people the best. We know the good better than anyone else. We also know the bad better than anyone else.

In this message we discuss how to deal with difficult people as we learn from the story of David and Absalom. Our reading for the day is 2 Samuel 15:1-12.

Daily David, Week 8, Day 2

October 18, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

David’s family is in turmoil. A daughter has been raped by her brother. Then that brother was killed by another brother. The brother who killed his other brother then flees in exile. The situation is nothing short of a mess. David is left to pick up the pieces. However, instead of doing something about all of this, David does nothing. That is where we pick up the story in 2 Samuel 14.

Whose best interest is Joab serving? Absalom? David? Himself (14:1-3)?

The text reads that Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom. He is seems to be serving the kings interest. But at the same time Joab realizes that what is best for David is also best for Joab.

Even though the woman was deceptive towards David, why does avoid still concede (15:19-21)?

David knew she was right. She had exposed David’s hypocrisy.

Why is the reconciliation between David and Absalom not a full reconciliation (14:23-24)? Why do you think David did not allow Absalom back into his house?

Even though Absalom came back to Jerusalem, he did not see the king. David did not allow Absalom into his presence. A full reconciliation would have brought them together.

We might say that Absalom had to set a fire under Joab to get his attention (14:28-32). Why is it difficult to respond to the needs of others or for them to get our attention?

Most of the time we are focused on self. We don’t see the need or the hurt in others because we are too preoccupied with our own hurt and need.

Do you have disputes in your family? How might you be a catalyst to bring restoration and reconciliation?

Every family has disputes. We can simply wait around for others to say they are sorry, but we are going to wait for a long time. God did not wait for us to make peace with him, rather he sent Jesus to make peace with us. Jesus said blessed are the peace-makers. As followers of Jesus our calling is to be the ones to make the first step to make peace.

Daily David, Week 8, Day 1

October 17, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Welcome to week 8 of our David study. Today’s reading is 2 Samuel 13.

Who is the mother to Amnon (2 Samuel 3:2)? Who is the mother to Absalom and Tamar (2 Samuel 3:2)? Who was first in line for the throne?

Amnon was the eldest son of David. His mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel. This made Amnon first in line for the throne after David died. Absalom and Tamar’s mother was Maacah who was a princess, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. David had likely married Maacah to form a political alliance.

What is David’s response to Amnon’s misdeed (13:21)? What is missing about David’s response? How are the sins of the father visited upon his children?

It says that David was angry. However, David curiously takes no action. There is bitterness that rises up in David’s family and now David fails to address it. We can point back at the story of David and Bathsheba. David had committed a sexual sin. Now his son does the same. David likely felt guilty about his sin. He fails to confront his son on this matter. I wonder if he failed to confront his son because he did not want to look like a hypocrite.

When the prophet Nathan confronted David about David’s sin with Bathsheba, Nathan told a parable of a rich man who stole a poor man’s sheep. David demanded the rich man must pay the poor man with four sheep for his sin. What happens to David’s sheep (children) in this story?

David would have his daughter raped. His son Amnon would be murdered. Later on Absalom would be killed by Joab. David’s family is in crisis.

David was a great military leader and politician. Where is David’s leadership lacking

His leadership is lacking in his own family. There is a reason that the Apostle Paul says a leader should be the husband of but one wife. David had married many women. He might have been able to manage the kingdom brilliantly. But his family was an overwhelming task. David had taken on more than he could handle to be a good father and husband.

If you were David, how might you have responded differently?

I am not sure I can say I would have responded differently. I am not in David’s shoes. It is always easy to think we know how we would have responded in the situation before we get in the situation. I would like to believe that I would have been assertive and have properly disciplined my children.

When our children stumble, what is our role as parents?

Our role is to speak the truth in love. Our role is to properly discipline our children so that they learn responsibility and right from wrong. There is a temptation to become our children’s best friends. But we are not their best friends. We are their parents. We look to guide them and mentor them to be godly adults.

Eating Birthday Cake

August 20, 2011 in Posts with 0 Comments

We celebrated the Twins first birthday last weekend. I can’t stop watching this video. There was cake everywhere. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Thomas and Jacob

August 11, 2011 in Posts with 0 Comments

Yesterday was Thomas and Jacob’s first birthday. This year has been amazing in so many ways. It has been an extremely difficult year, but at the same time it has been tremendously rewarding. Yesterday, was as much of a celebration for mommy and daddy as it was for the boys!

Some Ressler Twin Fun

July 20, 2011 in Posts with 0 Comments

I posted two family videos the last two days on youtube. The first video is a video of Thomas and Jacob playing with my iPad. We purchased the Baby’s Musical Hands app for 99 cents. Thomas really got into it. Jacob not so much.

The second video is a video of Jacob walking for the first time. It was not without a little help. But nevertheless, I think it was a big step. Not too much longer before their first birthday on August 10.

A Family Miracle

January 27, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

We are a nation in crisis. There is no doubt we have all heard about the financial crisis, but what lies underneath the financial crisis is a family crisis. No doubt the financial crisis has put extra stress on families and has exposed the shifting foundation upon which many marriages have been built. 5 out of every 10 marriages today end in divorce court, long before death do us part. The scary thing is this statistic applies to both Christian and non-Christian couples alike. It does not have to be this way.

It is a topic that I believe is important to address over the month of February (don’t forget Valentine’s Day is February 14). I believe it is important to address what God has to say about marriages and families. We will look to the Bible to hear that word of instruction.

I know there is hurt that exists within many marriages in our community and within our church family as well. It is time we stop looking at man made solutions to our problems and trust in God’s ability to bring the healing that only he can bring. Before anything else, we go to him in prayer. We are foolish to think we are going to make our marriages and families better on our own. It will start with God. Let’s humbly go to him in prayer and ask him first what he has to say about our families. Then let’s go to him in behalf of the families in our communities. Let’s pray for harmony between husbands and wives. Let’s pray for parents to nurture their children in the God’s ways. Let’s pray for children to honor their fathers and mothers. Let’s pray that husbands would love their wives as Christ loves the church and for wives to honor their husbands as the heads of the house. Let’s pray for marriages that are on the brink of divorce to be brought back. Let’s pray for a family miracle because if it’s going to happen it is God who will make it happen.

I want to ask a couple of favors of you as we prepare to begin this message series on February 6. First is to start praying. Start praying about the things that I mentioned above. Pray for the things that will be shared in this message series to have a lasting impact and that it will be an incredible blessing to so many. Pray that hope will come those families living in hopelessness. Pray for a mighty move of God to be sparked.

Second, I would ask that you would invite others to come and to hear and to participate in this message series. It is a message I am sure that many need to hear and that there is a potential for many to be blessed by it. Help us get the word out.

Finally, be open. Come with an open mind and an open heart. If you are feeling that the obstacles are too great. Maybe you feel as if your relationship is too far gone. Just give God a chance. Nothing is impossible for him.

A 2011 Preview

December 23, 2010 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Here are two new message series we have coming up during January and February at Lord of Life. In January we will take a look at the “Greatest Sermon Ever.” It is the Sermon on the Mount which is found in Matthew 7-9.

The second message series which will begin in February is called “A Family Miracle.” This series will be focused on marriages and families. Many families are going through a rough time right now and can use some hope and healing. We will look to speak God’s Word into the home.

Wrap up and Ramp up

December 22, 2010 in Weekly Email with 1 Comment

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28

The year of 2010 is about to come to a close. It has been some year. No doubt it has been a year filled with both joys and sorrows along with setbacks and breakthroughs.

The end of the year is an opportune time to sit back and to review the past year and to plan for the year ahead. It is good opportunity to ask yourself some tough questions about where you have been, where you are going, and where the Lord might be leading you. I would encourage to take some time to do this during your daily devotions sometime in the next week for a year end wrap up and a new year ramp up. Here are some questions you might consider asking yourself. This list is by no means a comprehensive list.

Ask yourself about your relationship with the Lord. Have I grown closer or further away from the Lord during this past year? Why? What spiritual discipline are I going to seek to grow in this year? Prayer? Scripture memorization? Journaling? Worship? Serving? And what is my specific plan to grow in that discipline?

Ask yourself about your finances. Are there any debts I am carrying? Do I have a plan to pay that debt off in the next year? Are there any unnecessary expenses I can trim from my budget to simply my life and give me opportunity better serve my Lord?

Ask yourself about your relationships. Is there anyone I need to ask forgiveness from? Is there anyone I need to forgive? How is my marriage? Is there more I can do to better encourage my spouse? Do I have a plan to help enrich my marriage? Have I scheduled vacation time away from work to focus on my family?

Ask yourself about your physical fitness. How much do I weigh? Am I ok with that? What can I do to get where I need to be? Am I getting adequate exercise? How can I make my physical fitness more of a priority?

Ask what is in your hand. When Moses encountered the Lord at the burning bush, Moses doubted his ability and his calling. God then asked Moses a question. The question was: “what is that in your hand?” It was a shepherds staff. God would use that staff to accomplish great things through Moses. You also have special gifts which God has put in your life. Ask what has God given me as a special skill or talent? How might I better use that gift for his glory and kingdom purposes? Is there some new ability I might strive to learn or master in the next year? Maybe it is playing a musical instrument. Maybe it is sewing. Maybe it is photography. Maybe it is writing. Maybe it is wood-working.

Then set your goals and write out our plan. Winston Churchill is credited with saying: Failing to plan is planning to fail. Many of us have our bucket list of “someday” items. But if we never plan, that someday will never come.

I do want to offer you a word of caution. Don’t try to do it all at once. Many of us over-estimate what we can do in the short term, but under-estimate what we can do over a longer period of time. We will often bite off more than we can chew and give up in frustration after a short time. You might have several different areas in your life in which you are hoping to be a better steward. Don’t try to take them all at once. Focus on one or two. Maybe this year you want to focus on finances and spiritual disciplines. Work on mastering those two areas of your life before you move on to focusing in other areas.

Finally, recognize that unless the Lord builds the house, it builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1) It is important we do it God’s way and not our way. If we do it our way, our plans are destined to fail. But if we do it God’s way and trust in his supply we cannot go wrong. So let’s make 2011 to be a year all for Him!

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