Magnificent Marriage Monday – God Protects Magnificent Marriages!

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.” (Genesis 7:1, CSB)

For I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation. All too often we fail to comprehend the realities of our relationship with God as a couple. Sometimes we simply fail to grasp the reality that God protects those who put Him first.

Note the phrase one more time. “I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.” What? An entire generation and only one man is right before God? Can that be correct? No one else, of the multitude of people alive in that day, chose God first? Frightening, isn’t it? What does that mean for our generation?

And before you go all theological on me, hear me out.“Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”(1 Samuel 16:7, CSB) And, while many look good, they are “holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5, CSB) What we cannot see, God sees. He knows our true hearts.

So, when your husband seeks God ladies, it is a true gift from the Almighty. And when you chase after God men, it comes with attendant blessings. Noah experienced one of those blessings. God sent him and his family into the ark – the place of refuge and safety from the most imminent and total destruction of all humanity and life on the face of the earth. That is no small blessing, to be sure.

Godliness, a true relationship that aches when one’s heart isn’t right with God and yearns to enjoy the sound of His voice, is all that God desires. And anyone who has ever cared for another knows that these are the central heartbeats of love.

With that kind of love for God comes the protection of God. “Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5, CSB) Shielding is one of the great, and often silent, benefits of a walk with God. “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4, CSB)

So today, walk together with God as a couple in truth and reality. Enjoy and serve Him. And know this, He is your shield and defender!

 

Magnificent Marriage Mondays are helpful hints, clues, ideas, and solutions for the child of God who is looking for a spouse, in a relationship with someone, or are already married. Each post seeks to bring help, hope, and honesty to your life and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. They are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his 38 years, 5 months and 2 days experience with his wife, Melodee, who was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. He is currently seeking God’s will for his new life partner. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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Hope For Today – Jesus, the Peace in Our Hearts!

Posted on December 2, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about the panic that befalls so many at Christmas time each year!

 

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

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Faith Filled Friday – When Faith Is Weak!

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.”” (Genesis 19:4–8, ESV)

Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. The Bible records life as it happened. Lies, failures, foolishness, disaster – it’s all recorded for us to see. And, what we come to realize as we read the pages of Scripture is that these people were broken, just like we are (perhaps more so at times).

In this bizarre turn of events, the small town of Sodom was filled with some of the most aggressive sexually perverted men. And while Lot had chosen to live there from afar since it looked like it was a blessing because of its fertile lands, in reality, it was everything but a blessing. “That righteous man lived among them day after day, [and] he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard.” (2 Peter 2:8, ESV)

When the deviants came to take the two angels out for their sensual pleasures, the weak faith of Lot actually offered his two virgin daughters as replacements! To us, this may seem to be beyond comprehension, and it should be. However, Lot’s faith was drained of all it’s vitality by the “the error of lawless people and [he lost his] own stability.” (2 Peter 3:17, ESV)

Today, the focus is upon us. We live in decadent times. Sensuality and permissiveness are awash in our culture, and unfortunately our churches. It is so easy to lose the strength and vitality of our faith simply by “going with the flow” and having to deal with the latest downward spiral (See Romans 1:18-32).

So, will you fortify your faith by renewing your time alone with God is His words and prayer, thus reenergizing your heart of faith?

 

Faith Filled Fridays hope to boost your trust in God and accelerate your daring and courage in everyday life. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each encouragement out of a heart that has known both great joy and great loss – his wife of 38 years, 5 months and 2 days was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. Through every experience, God has proven Himself more than faithful and trustworthy. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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Train Them Thursday – God Keeps Us On-Track!

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24–25, NASB95)

 

When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. A true disciple obeys God immediately. They may have thought differently earlier but when God speaks, they have already chosen to change and they do!

Consider Joseph and his aching heart over his fiancé Mary’s pregnancy. While he loved her, he was stepping away from her graciously for her seeming infidelity. He was doing this out of purity and holiness. He was being godly and remaining true to his convictions, as he understood the words of God. No one should fault him for that.

And then God stepped in. When God speaks, it is so! This was something Joseph had lived his life by. The written words of God were his manual for life, to enjoy the abundant life he knew so well. So, when the angel said to him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20, NASB95) Joseph did just that!

Can you imagine turning 180 degrees in your decision and opinion in a moment? Did Mary know his intentions beforehand? She probably didn’t. Whether she did or not, we know he told her after the fact because we have the written account of these events.

When life grows difficult and choices have to be made, God looks into our hearts, that’s for sure. He knows the stuff we are made of. And, when His will is at stake and we are headed in the wrong direction, we can be sure that He will do whatever it takes to keep us on the right track, even if that means sending an angel with a divine message. We can trust God to honor our effort to please Him.

So today, before you despair of the decisions you have to make, trust that the God of the universe is watching and knows what you need to do to stay in line with His will and whim. If the choice you are making is off track, be assured He’s going to intervene!

 

Train Them Thursdays seeks to wed the Great Commission directive of Jesus with the practice He employed while on Earth. Each nugget is meant to encourage the reader with a “can-do” spirit to realize that discipleship is something each person is both capable of and empowered to accomplish. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each thought and they flow out of decades of his tried and true field-testing in multiple settings from rural to inner city. He welcomes your comments below.

 

 

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Willing Worker Wednesday – Hurry, Go and See What God Has Revealed!

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.” (Luke 2:15–16, HCSB)

 

They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby. How do you react when God speaks to you? Perhaps you are saying to me, “Doc, God doesn’t speak to me!” And then you ask me, “Does He speak to you?”To which I would quickly reply, “Of course! He is here and He is not silent!” “How does He do that?” you ask me? He does it through His indwelling.

As Jesus explained on the night He was betrayed, “The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:21, 23, HCSB)

All too often we complain that God isn’t speaking to us or God isn’t doing things in our lives. However, the reality is, more often than not, that we are not acting on what God has told us. We cannot see because we have not obeyed!

Leaders for Jesus choose to respond quickly to what God tells them, even when – especially when – it is inconvenient. Imagine the problem of the shepherds on that night of announcement. Here they were watching their precious flock to keep it safe from the predators that would be looking for a lamb buffet.

Now, God interrupts the night watch and tells them “Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” (Luke 2:11, HCSB) Well, what do you do now? Leave your responsibility and go see that long-awaited King of Israel, of course!

Today I want to ask you to be honest and tell me: “What is it that God has told you to do that you haven’t done?” We cannot expect God to work in our lives any further if we won’t act on what He has already told us, can we? Perhaps today would be a good day to hurry and go!

 

Willing Worker Wednesdays are dedicated to explaining the core realities of servant leadership – the Biblical principles and methods used by God’s faithful people throughout time. They further reflect the lifestyle of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords as He walked on this earth announcing the Kingdom of God had arrived. These brief lessons are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his extensive ministry within the local church, in higher education, in church consulting and as a Biblical author and leader. He welcomes your comments below.

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Turn-Around Tuesday – Depending On the Heart of God!

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”” (Genesis 9:16–17, ESV)

 

When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant.Often, when God has been gracious and spared our lives, there is a lesson to learn and, or, a practice to begin. In the case of Noah and the flood, one of the lessons Noah was to learn was “tacked up” by God conveniently so that even God wouldn’t forget.

Isn’t it amazing that God uses “sticky notes” to remember things that are important! God’s sticky note here, of course, is the rainbow. It is a constant scientific reality that happens when light is refracted through water. In fact, we can produce the phenomenon all by ourselves with a water hose on a sunny day.

And whenever we do, the lesson God wants us to remember is this: “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”And what is that covenant between God and humanity?“The waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:15, ESV)

God’s lesson still remains. The rainbow signifies that even if the earth grows as corrupt as it did in Noah’s day, God won’t destroy it with a flood. He will restrain Himself, even when He may want to. Of course, God has those days from time to time, as the wilderness wanderings teach us. (Check out Exodus through Deuteronomy.)

Sin frustrates God. And, when His people persist in it, God has in the past removed them from this existence (See Numbers 14 as an example). But now, we can thank God that one of the tools in His toolbox remains “under lock and key” so to speak. “The waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:15, ESV)

Today is a good day to thank God for His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ. “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:9, ESV) Depend on the heart of God to remember His covenant!

 

Turn-Around Tuesdays are designed to bring hope and help, insight and encouragement to those of us who are simply overwhelmed by the flood of problems life throws at us. No one is immune to trials and troubles, but God has a way of lifting us from life’s torrents. Each short thought is written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and comes from his life-journey with the God who never leaves us or forsakes us. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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Magnificent Marriage Monday – Favor Falls On the Obedient!

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.” (Genesis 6:17–18, CSB)

 

But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. Favor falls on the obedient. Search the Bible from cover to cover and you will see this truth repeated time and again.

If our marriages are to be magnificent, they will have to be ordered by obedience to God’s will and whim as expressed in His words found in the Bible.

God shines on those who do His will. He assigns the obedient to special tasks in order to demonstrate His mercy and grace. For Noah and his wife, their leadership as a godly couple spread the favor of God all over their family. Not only did God notice Noah, God established a covenant with him, which brought life and a future of hope.

And therein lies the secret of magnificent marriage, doesn’t it? Men who choose to put God first, to obey even when the command is ridiculous, lead magnificent marriages. Imagine one hundred years of building a ship the likes of which no one had ever seen. Massive in scale, empty inside. The daily mocking and ostracism must have hurt deeply. Friends jeered him. Family questioned him. And still, Noah and his family built the boat, trusting in the God who spoke the ridiculous. That’s the leadership every magnificent marriage needs.

I am struck that, while their lives unfold on the pages of the Word of God, little is said of Noah’s wife. We don’t even know her name. Yet, we see that she was by his side, working in unity. How do we know this? The Bible doesn’t talk about her in a negative way. In case we have forgotten that bad wives get Bible ink, remember Job’s wife?

As we look inward, to our own homes and our own hearts, could we ask a couple of directive questions? First, husbands, are we leading based on the words of God? Do we listen to them? Do we alter our lifestyle to please God? Second, do we have such integrity in following our God that our wives choose to follow us? God’s favor is at stake!

 

Magnificent Marriage Mondays are helpful hints, clues, ideas, and solutions for the child of God who is looking for a spouse, in a relationship with someone, or are already married. Each post seeks to bring help, hope, and honesty to your life and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. They are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his 38 years, 5 months and 2 days experience with his wife, Melodee, who was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. He is currently seeking God’s will for his new life partner. He welcomes your comments below.

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Hope For Today – Jesus, the Hope of the World!

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about the hope Jesus brings to us despite the tragedies of life!

 

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

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Faith Filled Friday – Negotiating With God!

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.” (Genesis 18:32–33, ESV)

“Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”When you listen to some teachers of theology, they seem to betray the fact that they have never seriously read God’s Word. This passage destroys the myth that the events of the future are set in stone and can’t be altered … some sort of theological predeterminism based on God’s knowledge, or some such nonsense.

From this passage, we learn things can be changed. And, change happens when the person of faith has the attention of the God of the Universe – who is attracted by our faith. This corresponds to the truth in the New Testament concerning the healing of sick people through prayer. James tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” (James 5:16–18, ESV)

So, at this moment your heart should be aflutter. You, as a person of faith, need to consider the perk of changing history. The greater the faith, the more impact one has on events and circumstances when they pray. Our faith is strengthened by quickly and repeatedly doing what is right in God’s eyes.

Abraham negotiated and succeeded. The only problem was that Lot hadn’t converted enough people to God’s way. In fact, he hadn’t brought anyone over to faith in God Almighty. And, when the angelic count of righteous people was tallied, there were simply not enough people to meet Abraham’s negotiated quota. The judgment of God fell.

However, don’t diminish the incredible impact the prayer of righteous men and woman can have on situations and circumstances, people and problems. How’s your faith? Growing? Immediately responsive? Repeatedly obedient? Then pray for true change!

 

Faith Filled Fridays hope to boost your trust in God and accelerate your daring and courage in everyday life. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each encouragement out of a heart that has known both great joy and great loss – his wife of 38 years, 5 months and 2 days was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. Through every experience, God has proven Himself more than faithful and trustworthy. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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Train Them Thursday – Choices Reveal Our Character!

Posted on November 22, 2018 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.” (Matthew 1:18–19, NASB95)

 

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. Discipleship moves forward through our character. God uses people of character – He sees into our heart and soul and knows who will walk well with Him and obey Him when He asks.

And one of the easiest ways He does that is by looking at our interactions with those closest to us. As with Joseph, Mary’s untimely pregnancy was an opportunity for Joseph to reveal what was inside him, to demonstrate His soul publicly.

You see, our problems aren’t our problems. Our problems only reveal our problems. When difficulties and pressures seek to squeeze the life out of us, we can know that God has allowed them because He knows we will do well. In fact, in the letter of James, we discover that trials are actually God’s gymnasium. Each trial is a new exercise, a test of our strength if you will. God always knows that whatever He sends to us we are able to handle.

He even has a purpose for those troubles and tests. God sends them “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:3–4, NASB95)

For Joseph, in this trial of his life, his young bride was pregnant with someone else’s baby. What would he do? He did what was in his soul. He, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

Our choices reveal our character. We do it in the little things when we choose not to take a pen that doesn’t belong to us. We do it in the big things when we refuse to disgrace someone, even if they are close to us and have broken our hearts.

Disciples of Jesus are men and woman of great character!

 

Train Them Thursdays seeks to wed the Great Commission directive of Jesus with the practice He employed while on Earth. Each nugget is meant to encourage the reader with a “can-do” spirit to realize that discipleship is something each person is both capable of and empowered to accomplish. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each thought and they flow out of decades of his tried and true field-testing in multiple settings from rural to inner city. He welcomes your comments below.

 

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