* "TRY JESUS" members and new visitors. Please forgive me for the tardiness of September's message. Here it is.

It’s been said, "When things get tough, the tough get going." I first remember hearing this great quote from coaches trying to motivate their players to work through adversity.

Strong people tend to face these adversities head on. In other words, people who have a strong resolve will tackle difficult problems. The expression when the going gets tough, the tough get going has been around since the 1950s.

I remember my parents used to listen to an old secular song entitled "Rock the boat." This song reminds me about couples who have sailed in storms. They have sailed through every storm of life.

They carry everything they need in their relationship boat. They keep a cargo full of love and devotion so nothing can rock or sink their boat. As inflation tries to squeeze their financial resources, they still have unlimited resources from the one who holds everything together.

They never need fear of any disruption in the status quo surrounding the household resources. When you’re going through tough times involving high prices around your entire household, there's never a right time to cast blame.

One of the lyrics from the above song is emphasized by one of couples saying, “Don't rock the boat, baby." Which could be interpreted as a plea to not mess up a good thing we have going.

When financial storms attack the boat, it's easy to start pointing blame. But this is the time to rely on the owner of everything you're trying to keep afloat. This is the time to come together and batten down those pesky inflationary loose ends.

In 2023, spouses are trying to juggle everything inside the love boat, but inflation continues to try and sink it. You can’t control the outside leadership dunder heads that are feeding the financial storms of high prices, but you can work around them.

Any marriage relationship that is being tossed around from the financial storms invading their home should reach out to their only source to calm it. An example to look at is the family of Noah. Makes sense, right?

God told Noah he was going to flood the earth and destroy sinful wickedness on the earth. The Bible says, ...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9 KJVS).

Noah wholeheartedly loved and obeyed God. For a lifetime he walked step by step in faith as a living example to his generation. When God Commissioned Noah to build the ark, Noah did everything God asked of him (Genesis 6:22).

When Noah secured all his family and the animals on the inside, there was one thing he couldn't do. He did not have the manpower to shut the front door. But God took care of everything outside of the ark, including shutting the door. (Genesis 7:16,20).

During this time of uncertainty and being flooded by high prices invading our families, we shouldn't worry about details over which we have no control. We should stay committed to strong support of one another.

No matter what's happening outside of your home, stay focused on specific areas like, attitudes, relationships, and responsibilities that are under your control.

Did you know God will be with you through every storm that beats against the love that fills your home? God wants to keep that bonding love you have intact. So long as you continue to invite him in, he will handle every storm in your marriage.

God continues to watch everything outside the storms that affect us. But did you know God goes one step further and wants to also come in and dine with us during those storms? (Revelation 3:20).
 

During his ministry, Jesus would except invitations to come into people's homes. I personally love inviting myself to family events. I never wait for the invitation. (Smile). Just kidding? Maybe.

Anyway, when Jesus' own disciples faced a raging storm, Jesus was them. As a matter of fact, he was with them inside the boat and another time outside the boat.

Please read these verses aloud to each other during your round table discussions. Inviting Jesus into your financial storms around this swirling inflation will bring amazing results. (Matthew 8:23-26; 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-51).


🗣📢 Last words: Are your priorities being set by God during these rising tides of inflation? Are you praying together in your love boat, or pointing fingers, causing frustration and arguments?

You can call on others to stand with you in prayer. We still serve a God who owns a thousand cattle on the hills. (Psalm 50:10). The earth is still his, and everything in it. (Psalm 24:1-2).

Like Noah, concentrate on what God has given you to do, and leave the rest to God. In doing so, his blessings will run over you and flood your soul. (Deuteronomy 28:1-8).

⛵ Here are some more passages that will keep you afloat while inflationary storms keep popping up. (Psalm 23:1-6; 34:4; 57:1-3; 89:8-9; 91:1-5; 107:28-30; Isaiah 4:5-6; 25:4-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; John 16:33; Colossians 1:16-18).


💍 Reminder for your marriage vault:

Remember to prepare a round table discussion room in your home. This is a place where you both can bring your one heart into the room and invite Jesus into it. Also keep two Bibles, notepaper, and pen or pencil. Keep the room in soft lit lighting and always begin every conversation you have with prayer.

When you’re not in the room, always keep it locked if possible. Keep children out unless the Lord wants them in the discussion. Always remember to show kindness and respect to each other. Remember, both your hearts are located in the same place.