Summary of April 19 Care Group

These pictures are worth 3,000 words!
We had the privilege of sharing a meal tonight. What a great group of friends you all are! We give thanks to God that we get to be your friends!!

Video Trailer For “The Greener Grass Conspiracy”

Video Trailer For “The Greener Grass Conspiracy”

Summary of April 5 Care Group

Thanks to Cheryl for the beautiful trifle dessert! Our theme for the night's conversation was chapter 5 in our book, "Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment." Here's what we talked about: -Have a posture of leaning toward your spouse with an attitude of mercy. This keeps you ready for the unexpected moments that can catch you off guard. -Mercy sweetens marriage and can change the atmosphere of a home from a battle ground to a sweet place. The gospel can keep us in the right posture. -At hectic moments God gives us grace to respond like Him and take time to be merciful. -Mercy doesn't remove the need to speak truth. It replaces the need to win a battle with the desire to represent Christ. -God helps us to be forgiving, patient, merciful with co-workers and children. I need to ask myself regularly "Do I want to speak to __ about __ because I want God's glory? or because I'm irritated? Am I the center of this? or is God's purpose? -Usually I do worse stuff than anyone I accuse of sinning against me. This is GOOD to remember! -We all need to move in His mercy at home, at work, everywhere, and learn to live in a forbearing way. We can be the shock absorber and let things go, not mentioning offenses. We need to pray for God to make us grow in this area. -God has been SO forbearing with us! Remembering this moves us to receive mercy and give it out freely. -Self-righteousness is the enemy of mercy. We can be so quick to judge even our own children. God wants us to remember our place, our smallness, and trust Him. -God has a never-ending supply to provide us with as we pass on His mercy to others. -In marriage all the masks come off and it can be easy to forget to be merciful to our spouses as we see the good, the bad and the ugly. -Sometimes we judge others because we measure them by our own strengths. This is self-righteous! -We need to ask forgiveness and let that forgiveness affect us powerfully and move into His love as we interact with our spouses.

Summary of March 22 Care Group

Thanks to Sue for the great coconut pineapple cake! We discussed themes from chapter 4 of our book. Everyone related to at least one concept that Dave Harvey presented in this chapter about how to live out our doctrine in our marriages.
-The "lawnmower" analogy struck a chord with many of us. We acknowledge that just like an overheated lawnmower spews engine sludge, our heated situations/circumstances/fatigue...bring our ever-present sinful reactions to the forefront.
-We must admit that when God allows these tempting situations into our lives, it is a way of us seeing His love. He brings out sinful attitudes that need His attention.
-Satan does lurk around every corner and seemingly "out of nowhere" can tempt us. But we always see God's grace as greater, stronger and more present than the temptation.
-We all need to suspect our own hearts and be ready to submit our attitudes to Him for inspection.
-The mind is the battle ground that needs to be trained to choose grace and God's way.
-God allows these things to happen to us as a way to humble us, remind us of our need for Him, and to cause us to remember the cross, seeing His grace and His answer as the only way, the only way of refuge.
-We need to remember that we're worse than we even know, yet God loves us anyway! We mustn't get trapped in self-pity and pride. Let God have His way in His plan of sanctification.
-It will take an eternity to grasp the unfathomable love of God.
-It's important to say to our spouses (anyone we've offended) "Will you please forgive me?" because it's a blow to our pride, admitting our sin. God gives grace to the humble and He helps in a very real way.
-We can create a culture of humility and asking forgiveness in our marriages. It just takes practice.
-Ps 92:12 "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."
-Don't get overwhelmed by any trial or the logs in our own eyes, trust and love Him!
-Our hearts will be opposed to Him, but we are aware of it and that gives us hope to run to Him for the answer.