Recently, the Lord stirred me about the institution of marriage. Since Harold and I just celebrated our 51st year of marriage … I thought this might be a good time to share.

Now understand this, I’m not sharing because I think we have a perfect marriage because there is no such thing as a perfect marriage.

As a matter of fact, Harold and I have often been asked to write a book on marriage.  But, the longer I live the less I think that I know on the subject.

What works for one couple may not work for another.

That doesn’t mean there are not obvious foundational aspects that all marriages need like love and respect. But those are obvious.

However, there are probably just as many myths about marriage as there are foundations … so I’m going to address some of those.  

Myth 1 You will just naturally get along if you are meant to be together  

Even if you know God put you together with your spouse…marriage is and always will be an ongoing work.    

Saying all that … there are certain things that can help a marriage last just as it says in Philippias 2:12-13.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Recently, I was watching one of my favorite John Wayne movies entitled “Big Jake.”  The Duke as he was known was my favorite movie star during my formative years.  He was always the good guy.  The one who stood for what was right. . .regardless of the consequence.

My three favorite John Wayne quotes are:

# 1    “Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid.”

# 2    “Courage is being scared to death…but saddling up anyway.”

# 3    “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.”

John Wayne won his only Oscar in 1969 for the movie “True Grit.”  There’s a point in the movie where 14 year-old Mattie Ross says to Marshal Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) “They tell me you are a man with true grit.”

Dictionary.com defines true grit as:

“firmness of character; indomitable spirit”

Webster’s Dictionary defines Success as:

“outcome, result”

A successful outcome is something that follows as a result or consequence.

According to Webster…..marketplace is defined as:

“an open square or place in a town where markets or public sales are held in  the everyday world.”         

Let’s talk about the marketplace or workplace of life…..the things we’ll discuss can apply on your job….your business or as the definition says:  the everyday world.

If you want to be a lawyer………you study law.

If you want to be a doctor or a nurse….you study medical procedures.

If you want to be a teacher……you study education.

If you want to be a hair stylist….you study cosmetology.

If you want to be successful….you study the principles of success. 

If you’ve been trying to stay afloat in the storms of life. . .if you need encouragement for the battles you’re in. . .then. . .this teaching is just for you.

Mark 4:35-40 in the Amplified Bible says:

“35 On that same day [when] evening had come, He said to them, Let us go over to the other side [of the lake].

36 And leaving the throng, they took Him with them, [just] as He was, in the boat [in which He was sitting]. And other boats were with Him.

37 And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled.

38 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing?

39 And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).

40 He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?”

No matter how spiritual you are or aren’t. . .there will come a time in your life when the storm clouds will fill your horizon, darkening the view of your destination, beating up your ship of state. . .making you wonder whether you will survive the howling winds and blowing rain of adversity.

If you draw a breath. . .you’re considered dangerous to the devil. . .you will face a crisis in life from time to time.

The question is not whether or not you will face a crisis but rather how you will respond to it.

If you’ve been trying to stay afloat in the storms of life. . .if you need encouragement for the battles you’re in. . .then. . .this teaching is just for you.

Mark 4:35-40 in the Amplified Bible says:

“35 On that same day [when] evening had come, He said to them, Let us go over to the other side [of the lake].

36 And leaving the throng, they took Him with them, [just] as He was, in the boat [in which He was sitting]. And other boats were with Him.

37 And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled.

38 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing?

39 And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).

40 He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?”

There are less than 89 days left in 2023. So let’s talk about how to maximize and manifest your opportunities for the remainder of this year.

First, what does the word “opportunity” mean to you?

According to Dictionary.com it means:

American Heritage Dictionary defines opportunity as:

“A favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances; A favorable or suitable occasion or time; A chance for progress or advancement.”

Did you notice that in both definitions it said that “opportunity” was a good position, chance or prospect….the other dictionary said it was a chance for progress.

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve had say to me that they’re looking for the right opportunity.

As I was preparing for today’s teaching….the following sentence stirred in me.

“God wants us to dream bigger…speak boldly…think creatively…associate higher…do more…never give up and start today.”

I thought. . .that would be a great social media post but the Lord clearly impressed upon me an urgency to write it as a teaching for Rich Thoughts TV.

Here’s what I know. . .this teaching is especially for some of God’s choice chosen vessels. . .like you.

# 1    Dream Bigger.

In my mind. . .I was seeking to find some fresh revelation on dreams but then I realized the vast majority of us. . .don’t perceive and/or receive the truth God wants us to get. . .with just one or two times listening.

You’ll never succeed in achieving your wildest dreams. . .unless you have some wild dreams.

My Mom is 95 . . .and I can tell you she’s still dreaming about where she wants to go and what she wants to accomplish for the Kingdom of God. 

John Barrymore, the actor, once said:

I must confess to you there are occasions when I wonder why I’m teaching what I’m teaching when I first start. . .reading, studying, praying and writing.

Preparing seven favorite weapons of the enemy was one of those occasions.

But as I got deeper into this teaching. . .I marveled at the things God revealed to me to share.

I know this teaching will help heal and comfort many who’ve been under a major assault from the enemy.

Here are the seven favorite weapons of the enemy.

1.      Deception

Who deceives you?

Genesis 3:13 says:

“Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

2 Corinthians 4:4 in the Amplified Bible says:

One of the primary keys to success in life is. . .(drum roll sound). . .persistence.  We must learn to keep on keeping on until we cross the finish line.

Perseverance is in the New Testament 32 times and its most frequently translated as:

“patience; endurance; patient waiting”

The term literally means “remaining under” or standing firm despite opposition.

In life, we will face many challenges. . .and adversities.

Human nature will want you to rationalize that other people seem to have it easier than we do. . .and in some cases, that may be right but the truth is … a tree grows stronger when it has to resist the wind and that is true with us also.

But the Bible says that joy is based not on an absence of difficulty but learning to overcome adversity through our faith in the only One who can assure our success.

Booker T. Washington said:

Are you going through a transition?

Perhaps you're going from one job to another or from having a job to being unemployed?

Does it seem that you're facing difficult problems without an answer seemingly in sight?

If so, this teaching is for you.

David was in a time of transition. . .He had been anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be King of Israel.

However, David was far from the throne.  He was living as an outcast on the run from King Saul and dwelling among his enemies, the Philistines.

Topping it all off, David’s mentor, the Prophet Samuel, died.

1 Samuel 25:1 says:

“Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.”

There was no closure for David.  He would never see the Prophet Samuel again in this lifetime either alive or ready for burial. He had only the Lord Himself for consolation.

This may sound familiar to you.  If you are not in a time of transition, you have surely experienced transition in the past.  It is never easy.