The Life in the Clouds Podcast had their first live event last weekend. We spoke to Renovate Life Church, our home church, closing out the series on marraige. You can see the livestream above.

If you want to hear us preparing for the event you can listen to the latest episode of the podcast below.

Finally here are our notes.

Carlton- Our family statistics- we live in the whirlwind; it doesn’t just happen to us; we actually make our home there.

Example: Graduation-marriage-ministry-princess mighty-MD….princess mini....ordination…..the little prince…..now it’s 20 years later.

Personality stats- Carlton likes to cook with all the pots and pans, on all the burners. I like 1 pot/pan wonders in the oven- set it and forget it and minimize the mess. Our personalities and ways look diametrically opposed, but the beauty of it is that God brought us together to become one.

Scripture

'So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. ' - Matthew 1:17

God has a multigenerational vision and as his creation we need to have a similar eye.

What are you doing that will live beyond you? Children? Business? Legacy

Our lives are not our own
Contrary to what the world is telling us

Different people will enter our lives

Our lives before marriage matter - Singleness
Our lives during our marriage matter
Our lives after our marriage matter - Till Death Do Us Part

During our pre-marital counseling we were asked to create a vision - we want our marriage to be both impacted by and impactful to the people around us. This means that we need to be connected to the right people. Our marriage will not survive in a vacuum

As singles we had family, mentors and friends pouring into our lives.

As marrieds we have other families praying for us and around us.

As parents we have other parents praying for us and around us.

Lesson #1 - Heed the Lessons and the Warnings Around You

Wisdom and Folly call out to us in the street. Proverbs is a good illustration.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” - ‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Lessons I have learned (Carlton)

• Marriage is permanent; far from casual
• Marriage is difficult; effort and hard work is required
• Marriage is fun
• Marriage is rewarding

Lesson #2 - What You have Learned is not Just for You

The value of marriage is when it is shared. Acts is a good illustration.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:42-45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Gospel spread house to house; Family to family.

Share Your Story/Life - Shared lives - This is why we enjoy counseling and recommend it to every couple we meet. Marital and pre-marital. I know there is a stigma about counseling after marriage. Don’t wait until you have an issue to seek out a 3rd party.

What works for us/Principles we have learned and teach

1. Focus and develop a relationship with God
2. Your Spouse Is Not Your Enemy
3. Only One Can be Crazy at Any One Time
4. Have a Budget; review and change it
5. Fight Fair; no slander
6. Plan for Fun

Notes from Renovate Life Church 30 Oct 2016
Pastor Donnie Hatcher

Loving the People who Suck the Life out of You

*You are somebody's vampire *

... so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. Matthew‬ ‭23:3-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” ‭‭- Matthew‬ ‭23:13-33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Some Vampires Need To Be Confronted

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. -Galatians‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. -Matthew‬ ‭7:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Some Vampires Need To Be Ignored

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. -Matthew‬ ‭5:38-39‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Some Vampires Need To Be Endured(Loved)

And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. -Matthew‬ ‭5:41-42‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Some Vampires Need To Be Served