Mike & Anne Rizzo, Author at MIKE & ANNE RIZZO

Author: Mike & Anne Rizzo

Mike and Anne Rizzo have been in pastoral ministry for over thirty years and currently serve as directors of Marriage and Family Ministries at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. They carry a passion for personal mentoring, teaching, and raising up marriages that exalt the name of Jesus. Mike and Anne have three grown children and one grandchild, and are the authors of "Longing for Eden: Embracing God’s Vision in Your Marriage", and "Vertical Marriage: A Godward Preparation for Life Together."

Spiritual Formation

Thrift Store Treasures

Thrift Store Treasures Have you ever heard a story about a very valuable item somehow ending up in a thrift store inventory? Paintings worth thousands, a vase, a record album, a historical document, a piece of clothing that was owned by someone famous? Such as this sweater, once worn by…

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Inspirational

Who’s on the Lord’s Side?

Caretakers of the Tabernacle Imagine living during the time of Moses' Tabernacle - Israel's mobile "church" for over 400 years. God established it as His dwelling place, based on a very detailed blueprint given to Moses. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According…

Posted on February 1, 2021January 29, 2021 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

The Pattern It’s a familiar prayer, one that I prayed hundreds of times in my religious upbringing. The “Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father”, includes a petition for God’s will to be done here on earth, as it is in heaven. This is the “bull’s eye” right? If we hit…

Posted on January 1, 2021January 12, 2021 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

marriage

Co-Captains on the Marriage Team

Wearing the "C" Okay, this is not a sports blog, but I need to use a sports analogy to set up my message. As we all know, a "captain" is a commander or leader. You will notice a "C" on the jersey of a team captain. Naturally, I have used…

Posted on December 1, 2020November 30, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

marriage

A Healthy Love of Self

Self Gratification Seeking gratification and fulfillment in life is not wrong. What's important is our motivation and having the ultimate goal of glorifying God. Bernard of Clairvaux, the twelfth century spiritual writer, outlines a four step progression which guides us to a healthy love of self. The starting point for…

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

marriage

Building Equity in Your Marriage

Building Equity Building equity in your home is all about taking care of your property, making upgrades when needed, building investment value over time. Ideally, at every stage of the mortgage, it's not healthy for the loan balance to be higher than the fair market value of the home. As…

Posted on October 1, 2020September 29, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Inspirational

Do You Feel Safe With God?

Vulnerable or Guarded? I once heard the question posed: When we spiritually self-protect, is it because we do not feel safe with God? You’ve met those Christians that have lots of walls up, right? Truth be told, every one of us has been called upon in life to defend ourselves from…

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

Imprints on the Soul

Imprints on the Soul Considering the vast, human emotional map, that makes up the content of our souls, we know there are deep-seated beliefs, and values, stored in our brains, that influence our lives in a significant way. Imprints on the soul, especially in the younger years, have an entrenched…

Posted on August 1, 2020July 31, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

Dark Night

Dark Night The "dark night of the soul" is a term made popular by St. John of the Cross, in the 1500"s. It is used to describe a spiritual crisis in the journey toward union with God. I recently read a book on this topic, written by Christian psychiatrist Gerald…

Posted on July 1, 2020June 29, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

A Long Obedience

Long Obedience in the Same Direction It's the title of a book that I'm just finishing up. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society by Eugene Peterson. Many of you know him as the author of The Message Bible. Peterson presents a solid exegesis of…

Every marriage thriving...no matter the odds.

Author: Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

Thrift Store Treasures

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Inspirational

Who’s on the Lord’s Side?

Posted on February 1, 2021January 29, 2021 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Posted on January 1, 2021January 12, 2021 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

marriage

Co-Captains on the Marriage Team

Posted on December 1, 2020November 30, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

marriage

A Healthy Love of Self

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

marriage

Building Equity in Your Marriage

Posted on October 1, 2020September 29, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Inspirational

Do You Feel Safe With God?

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

Imprints on the Soul

Posted on August 1, 2020July 31, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

Dark Night

Posted on July 1, 2020June 29, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo

Spiritual Formation

A Long Obedience

Posted on June 1, 2020May 30, 2020 by Mike & Anne Rizzo by Mike & Anne Rizzo