Journey Forward Thoughts for 21 October 2014 Today is my wife and my fortieth anniversary, and it seems like it has gone by so fast. I find myself thinking more these days, of our life together, and as we have with Christ as Lord for thirty-five of those years. I wanted to write some special verses and words that would describe our life together, and I dont find many that stick out, because we have used Scripture so much in our lives, and all of it has been a valuable source of our strength, determination, and love. In Ephesians five, the Apostle Paul is quoting the Genesis account of Gods Word to us about marriage: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:31-33 For Just as Christ loves the church, so we are to love our wives. God has given us this magnificent opportunity to put into practice, the love He has poured out on us. To love unconditionally, which means that love is always giving and never demanding. Can you imagine us ever demanding from God, as payment for how much we love him? We could never even come close to his matchless love for us, but to understand the depth of his love, in our terms, he has given us a wife, a mate to compliment us, to strengthen us, and practice his love with. So I look back on all the years, and I realize that growing in grace involves surrendering to God more and more. So because I want to love my wife more, I have to surrender to God more, so that I can fully understand what his love is like. Every time, it is grace poured out, so often in the failed attempts at my sincere love for him. (I usually want something) When I look at my wife, I see grace poured out, also so often in the failed attempts at my showing of love, because I usually want something. But through the years, God has not given up on me, and neither has my wife. And I feel the growing love inside, becoming more and more filled with grace as I get older. I still have so far to go, but Im beginning to understand what love is truly about. It is only outward, giving what we do not have naturally within us, and being allowed to receive that which we do not deserve, by any stretch of the imagination. But thats the way God is toward us - giving his total love, poured out in the sacrifice of his Son, for our Salvation, and done for the purpose of love. How can we return that? We cant until we come to the place where grace meets us, in the home, developed to reveal the real love of God. Then I realize that I have been given this great opportunity, not to receive love, but to give it, to learn the beauty of unconditional love that makes its presence through the battle, the fire, the storms, and the fair winds. When I look at my wife, I see this love, exhibited through grace, and I get a little better glimpse of our loving God. Thank you, my God-given mate of forty years, and I am excited to see the adventure he takes us on as we journey forward. Heavenly Father, thank you for the Marriage. Lord, I know today people want to water that down, but you have proclaimed this to be Holy, for the purpose of you showing us your great love for us. I pray for hearts willing to listen to your Word for their life, their marriages, and their relationships. Father, we can only do that through you. Lord, I ask you so much I feel like a broken record, but again I will ask for healing for this mate you have blessed me with. Please heal her Lord, as you show us how to glorify you through the trials you have walked with us through. I also extend this prayer to those, loved by you, and may your glory shine through them: Dwight, Makenna, Eric, Gary, Ron, Harriet, Rheba, Bill Sr., Virginia, Jennifer, Keith, Kelly, David, Katrina, Kent, JR, Kerry, Calista, Carlie, Caitlyn, Glenda, Emma, Tiffany, Tim, Marianne, John, Tracy, Yolanda, David, Lori, Lisa, Gus, Holly, Dick, Brian, Dale, Sandi, Mike, Pam, Dennis, DaLana, Sammie, Loni, Darrel, I pray for: Tracy, Abraham, Japheth, Mike, Megan, John, Patty, Jeff, Laura, Will, Karina, Matt, Bethany. Father, bless our marriages today, and continue to teach us how to love like you, starting within our own family, and reaching out, just as you reach out. Lord, heal our land, but help us to keep our focus on you knowing that our home is not here, but with you, as we journey heavenward. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Pastor Andy
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:44:36 +0000
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