Can you imagine waking up and noticing that the Holy Spirit had left a note on your nightstand? A note with your name on it. Simple reminders at the start of the day about what’s most important in life. What might that note say?

Here’s one strong possibility, adapted from Titus 3:1-2:

Be submissive to rulers and authorities. Be obedient. Be ready for every good work. Speak evil of no one. Avoid quarreling. Be gentle. Show perfect courtesy toward all people.

What sort of day could this be if you took the Holy Spirit seriously?

This letter, written by Kelly Crawford, is worth reading.

Dear Children,

Should the Lord give you the good gift of a husband or wife, and I hope He does, there are a few things I want you to know. Things that you may not hear from anyone else, and certainly not on TV or other media. Sadly, your brothers and sisters in Christ may not even tell you.

Marriage, sweet little people, is not for the purpose of your happiness. Happy as I want you to be and hope you will be, you must yet understand that marriage is God’s design and His purposes must be pursued in order for you to be truly happy. His end is holiness and He will use all things in a life devoted to Him to fulfill that end.

To my girls:

Marry a man whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, he is not hard to please. Admire him, cheer him on and show gratitude, and he will fall over himself trying to please you. Smile often, speak well of him always, and do whatever necessary to try and maintain a pleasant mood about you so that it transfers to your home, making it a place where he and your children love to be.

You’ll have bad days of course, crying days even, and that’s when you go to your bedroom, kneel on the floor and beg the Lord to carry you. Then get up, get a fresh perspective (crayons will come off the wall), and try again. Above all else, make a home.

To my boys:

Marry a woman whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, she may be hard to please  only if you don’t know “the secret”. What is that? I’m glad you asked. The secret to pleasing your wife is to make her feel safe and treasured. You may have to move out of your comfort zone to do this at times. She won’t always readily translate the oil change to love, though it means that. But let me give you a “secret question”—a question you need to ask her often. It’s not just in the asking, though. Be sure to focus your eyes on hers, maybe even touch her shoulder or face, and then ask: “What’s on your mind these days?” And then be ready to listen. She wants you to draw her out. She will perceive this as your protection over the matters of her heart. Tenderness, listening, protection. That’s what she wants.

To you all:

If your wife or husband does something really stupid, forgive. If they do it again, forgive again. Forgiveness must be the propelling force in your lives each day. Dwell on the strengths, push out thoughts of their weaknesses. Take every thought captive—choose to love.

Here’s that part you are not going to hear often:

If you find yourself “not happy,” having lost attraction, disinterested, etc., you are not permitted to even think about a divorce. If you find yourselves arguing more and more, don’t think for a minute that “the children will be better off out of this,” because they won’t.

The vows you took on your wedding day were not suggestions. They were covenant vows, before a holy God, family and friends, to stay with this person the rest of your life, even if you don’t feel like it. You swore a solemn oath and if you can’t live up to it, don’t get married. Decide up front that your marriage is irrevocable. There is far more motivation for getting along if your “marriage house” has no door.

Do not share intimate thoughts or feelings with anyone of the opposite sex. Do not find yourself alone for any length of time with such either.

Divorce is not a “private option.” It will affect multiple families for many generations. When you “separate what God has joined” you permanently injure far more than just yourself.

Guard your marriage as fiercely as you would guard your own life. Treat your spouse as an extension of your flesh, just as God sees you. Treat your spouse like other family members. You know, “you gotta love ‘em, they’re the only family you’ve got.”

I want you to be happy, I surely do. But I will pray for you to be holy.

Is your soul on life-support?

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.

Do you find yourself stumbling from one foolish decision to another?

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Is your heart battered and broken and parched?

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.

Are your eyes sick and weary of seeking fulfillment from the mirages of sin?

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Do you find yourself haunted by the frailty of this world and the fleeting nature of its stuff?

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever.

Have you grown calloused to and skeptical of the rampant selfishness of men?

The rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

Life is hard and easy to waste.

Psalm 19:7-9 provides the antidote.

No wonder David exclaims,

More to be desired are [God's words] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psa 19:10-11)

What will you do with God’s antidote today?

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)

Tim Challies has taken those much-loved words of Paul and turned them into a nice infographic (click the image to enlarge).

Whomever you are, Philippians 4:8 has the power to shape your day. You’ve been granted a fresh opportunity to glorify God, and it starts with your thinking. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:9).

In November and December 2011, Jason Hardin preached a series of sermons entitled, “What God Says About Your Money.” Part 6 of this series focuses on Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:19-24:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, whether neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

This passages presents us with three groups of two:

• Two treasuries — the present earth and the future heaven (1 Pet 1:3-5).
• Two perspectives — the healthy eye and the bad eye (Eph 5:7-10).
• Two masters — God and money (Exo 34:14).

Practically speaking, what does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? We store up treasures on earth by accumulating and gripping them tightly. We store up treasures in heaven by holding loosely, sharing freely and giving away earthly treasures for God’s kingdom purposes.

Why not begin investing in what has eternal value (Psa 49:16-17)?

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• How much is a homemaker worth? A new study from Investopedia estimated the value at $96,261 per year. “She looks well to the ways of her household… Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Prov 31:27-28).
• Edwin Crozier powerfully encourages us not to take this trip alone.
• Ken Weliever helps us learn to say, “I’m sorry.”
• Ferrell Jenkins has made a number of recent posts on the kings of ancient Babylon – Nabopolassar, Babylonian kings in Biblical history, Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach, and Nabonidus.
• Tim Challies offers some thoughts on that pesky rooster near the conclusion of the gospels.
  

  A gospel is an announcement of something that has happened in history, something that’s been done for you that changes your status forever. Right there you can see the difference between Christianity and all other religions, including no religion. The essence of other religions is advice; Christianity is essentially news. Other religions say, “This is what you have to do in order to connect to God forever; this is how you have to live in order to earn your way to God.” But the gospel says, “This is what has been done in history. This is how Jesus lived and died to earn the way to God for you.” Christianity is completely different. It’s joyful news.

  - Tim Keller

Narrow Way has just released their second album, “RISE,” a great a capella blend of classic, contemporary and original hymns. It’s been my commute soundtrack for the last two weeks and I highly recommend it. From the album description:

“RISE” is a call. A call to rise up, praise and glorify our marvelous creator, to recognize His incredible power and wonderful gifts. It is a call to action!

With two new Narrow Way originals, the songs selected for this album are designed to encourage us to do all that we can in living for the Lord. We hope you enjoy it and that your love and faith in God are strengthened.

The RISE track list (click here to listen to samples):

1. Blessed Be Your Name
2. A Shield About Me
3. Lord, Help My Faith
4. Never Grow Old
5. Worthy Is The Lamb
6. Alleluia, Lord!
7. Lord, Quiet My Mind
8. For You Have Promised
9. I Love You, Lord
10. Rise Up and Build
11. Soliloquy and Prayer
12. In Christ Alone
13. Days of Elijah
14. His Grace Reaches Me
15. Here I Am to Worship
16. I Will Rise
17. There’s a Stirring

RISE is available for immediate download via Amazon ($8.99) or on CD from One Stone.

And don’t forget about Narrow Way’s first album - Download | CD.

Finally, you can follow Narrow Way on Facebook for future news and releases.

In November and December 2011, Jason Hardin preached a series of sermons entitled, “What God Says About Your Money.” Part 5 of this series explores the financial insight of King Solomon. How did this exceedingly wealthy and wise man describe money and the things it can accommodate?

• Wealth is a blessing (Prov 10:22).
• Some things are more important than wealth:
• Wisdom (Prov 16:16).
• Righteousness (Prov 16:8).
• Peace (Prov 15:16-17).
• There is danger in looking for “quick riches” (Prov 28:20).
• Work hard (Prov 10:4-5).
• Debt is a form of slavery (Prov 22:7).
• Be generous (Prov 19:17).
• O be careful, little heart, whom you trust (Prov 18:10-11).

“Each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom 14:12), including the way we handled his money. It pays to listen to the wisdom inspired by the Owner of it all.

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You don’t light your house on fire because you’re worried about losing everything in a tornado.

You don’t run your car into a lake as a preventative measure against carjackers.

You don’t push your life savings through a paper shredder to avoid losing everything in a stock market crash.

And you don’t have an affair to help your marriage.

Ashley Madison (a $60 million per year online enterprise) suggests “Life is short. Have an affair.” It’s founder and CEO, Noel Biderman, has been blamed for promoting infidelity. He says he’s saving marriages, calling an affair “a marriage preservation device” that his website facilitates. “People do cheat on their partners,” says Biderman, who has been married “eight perfect, wonderful years” and has two kids, ages 7 and 4. “It doesn’t mean they don’t love them or don’t want to stay married to them. Marriage is about more than sex. An affair, and my service in particular, makes them happier to sustain their lives within the marriage construct.” (USA Today: Feb 14, 2012)

What better example could there be of becoming “futile” in thinking and “darkened” in foolishness (Rom 1:21)?

Isaiah’s warning is 2,700 years old, but it’s just as relevant as today’s edition of USA Today:

____________ Woe to those who call evil good
_________________ and good evil,
____________ who put darkness for light
_________________ and light for darkness,
____________ who put bitter for sweet
_________________ and sweet for bitter! (Isa 5:20)

It’s Valentine’s Day, guys. Whether you and your wife exchange gifts or not, could I encourage you to think about three of the most meaningful gifts you could possibly give your wife?

Your eyes. Remember Job’s resolution in Job 31:1?

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?”

A dozen roses on Valentine’s Day is nice. But do you know what means more to your wife than roses? Trust. Trust that you won’t use your God-given eyes to embezzle what doesn’t belong to you. Blessed is the wife who trusts that her husband’s gaze is captivated first by God, then by her.

Your body. Remember Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 7:3-4?

The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Chocolate-covered strawberries on Valentine’s Day are sweet. But do you know what means more to your wife than chocolate? Confidence. Confidence that you will use your body in a way that glorifies God and honors her. Blessed is the wife who confidently knows that her husband’s body belongs first to God, then to her.

Your heart. Remember Jesus’ warning in Matthew 5:28?

“I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Diamonds on Valentine’s Day are breathtaking. But do you know what means more to your wife than diamonds? Faith in you. Faith that your heart has been fortified and is being guarded every day, everywhere against sexual temptation. Blessed is the wife who believes because she has been shown that her husband’s heart belongs first to the Lord, then to her.

By all means, let’s make our wives feel special today. But let’s remember that marriage is about so much more than roses, chocolates and diamonds. It’s about trust, confidence and faith in each other. Wound her heart on those fronts, and there aren’t enough roses or chocolates or diamonds in the world to remove the scars that are left.

If you want your wife to exclaim, “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (Song of Solomon 2:16), make it clear by your daily conduct that your eyes, your body and your heart belong first to God, then to her and her alone among the women of this world.