WITH VALENTINE’S COMING RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER …IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT LOVE LETTERS..REMEMBERING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF MAKING VALENTINE’S CARDS FOR SECRET CRUSHES AND THE FUN IN SEEING WHO RECEIVED MORE. THINGS WERE SO INNOCENT BACK THEN. AS WE GROW UP WE MAY GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVE LETTERS OR VALENTINE’S CARDS FROM OUR SPECIAL SOMEONE. AND SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HEARTACHE.
EVERYDAY WHEN WE READ GOD’S WORD ..IT CAN BE LIKE A LOVE LETTER TO US AS HE TALKS TO US AND SHARES SPECIAL MOMENTS. THE SPOKEN WORD BECOMES ALIVE AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TALK TO US AND TEACH US. A DAILY INTIMATE WALK WITH OUR SAVIOR AND THOSE PRECIOUS TIMES SPENT ALONE WITH THE LORD CAN NEVER BE APPRECIATED ENOUGH.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS AN ONGOING LOVE STORY, AND ONGOING RELATIONSHIP THAT IF NOT NURTURED CAN BECOME STAGNANT. THE LORD SHOWED ME JUST AS IT IS SO VITAL TO STAY CLOSE AND NURTURE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THAT OUR RELATIONSHIPS OR FRIENDSHIPS NOT NURTURED OR WATERED CAN BE NEGLECTED AND ALSO SUFFER IMMENSELY.
THE LORD CARES AND IS SO INVOLVED WITH EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES IF ONLY WE ALLOW HIM TO BE THE CENTER OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. THAT IS THE KEY!!!!
AS WITH ANY LIFETIME OR LONGTERM DECISIONS, WE ARE TO SEEK THE LORD FIRST AND THE MAIN INGREDIENT TO MAKE ANY THING OF VALUE LAST.
GODLY MARRIAGE
MARRIAGE FOR EXAMPLE IS A COVENANT THAT IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY BECAUSE THE LORD TAKES IT SERIOUSLY AND SHOULD NOT BE RUSHED INTO HURRIEDLY.
Gen 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
In Ecclesiastes 4:12, the Bible tells us that “though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” The Cord of Three Strands represents God, the groom, and the bride – braiding these three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God in marriage.
SINCE WE LIVE IN SUCH A PHYSICAL WORLD, WE ARE CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BY WHAT THE WORLD THINKS THE PERFECT MATE SHOULD BE… MONEY, LOOKS, COMPATIBILITY, ETC. BUT WE MAY LEAVE OUT THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF SEEKING THE LORD FIRST. PRAYING FOR HIM TO SHOW US TO LEAD AND GUIDE US TO WHOM HE DESIRES FOR US TO BE CONNECTED TO. IT IS SUCH A HUGE AND ETERNAL DECISION. YES ETERNAL BECAUSE AS THE LORD SEES IT, WE ARE BEING LED TO THE ONE WHOM THE LORD DESIRES FOR US TO BE A TEAM WITH AND GLORIFY THE LORD IN IT ALL..HE HAS THE BIG PICTURE, PLAN, AND PURPOSE FOR THE COUPLE AS THEY BECOME PARTNERS AND SERVE THE LORD TOGETHER.
THAT’S WHY IT IS SO VERY VITAL TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT IN ALL THINGS ESPECIALLY LIFELONG DECISIONS. THE ONE TO WALK TOGETHER , TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOD’S KINGDOM, TO RAISE A GODLY FAMILY TOGETHER, ETC. WHEN THE FOUNDATION IS NOT STABLE OR BUILT ON THE LORD, IT WILL FACE OBSTACLES AND HARDSHIPS EVEN MORE SO WITHOUT THE LORD IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL. STARTING OUT ON A ROCKY FOUNDATION IS NEVER A WISE CHOICE.
A GOOD WAY TO KEEP THINGS IN CHECK…IS THE RELATIONSHIP PULLING YOU TOWARDS OR PULLING YOU AWAY FROM THE LORD IS A GOOD TEST
TO BE EQUALLY YOKED.. BELIEVER’ S TOGETHER VS. NONBELIEVERS
2 COR 16:1
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Cor 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Matthew 6:24 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.
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. …prov 31:10
Prov 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
Phil 2: 3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Amos 3″3 “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?
2 cor 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
EPH 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
1 Peter 3:7, Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 PETER 3 1-2 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. OUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDLY THAN OUR WORDS OR BARKING OR NAGGING. LOL. I AM STILL WORKING ON THIS ONE
Unequally yoked marriages To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
IF YOU ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP OR MARRIAGE THAT STARTED OFF UNEQUALLY YOKED,,,REMEMBER OUR GOD IS BIGGER!! IT REMINDS ME OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES…
THE CASE FOR CHRIST movie is a beautiful example that nothing is impossible with God!!!
MATTHEW 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. OUR LIGHT TOGETHER SHINES FOR THE LORD….
PSALMS 139; 13-15 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. THE LORD KNOWS US INTRICATELY AND THE ONE HE HAS FOR US TO PARTNER WITH. EACH WITH OUR OWN STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES TO COMPLEMENT AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE KINGDOM AND HIS DIVINE PURPOSE.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNMARRIED AND MAY FEEL LESS THAN OR PRESSURED INTO GETTING MARRIED CONSIDER ALSO BEING UNMARRIED CAN BE A BLESSING . Unmarried believers with the gift of celibacy, however, should consider remaining single in order to avoid the troubles of marriage. That is Paul’s personal preference, though that gift is not given to all others. Single believers can devote themselves to serving Christ without distraction.
BUILDING A GODLY MARRIAGE
BUILD ON WORD OF GOD
SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP
PRAY TOGETHER
PRACTICE FAMILY WORSHIP
LOVING SPOUSE
BE THANKFUL
UNDERSTAND OK TO DISAGREE
LEARN TO FORGIVE
UNDERSTAND FLAWS AND ALL, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
DEVELOP GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS
COMPLIMENT AND BUILD UP EDIFY EACH OTHER
CULTIVATE INIMACY DATE NIGHTS
DEVELOP FRIENDSHIP AND COMMON INTERESTS
DEVELOP TOGETHERNESS IN PARENTING IF BLESSED WITH CHILDREN
DO NOT GO TO BED ANGRY. “Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26–27).
HONESTY AND TRUST…..ONE TEAM,,,SHARING EACH OTHERS BURDENS HELPING CARRY THE LOAD
NURTURING; TURNING TO NOT TURNING AWAY . SOLVING PROBLEMS TOGETHER GOING TO THE LORD IN PRAYER
PHASES
ROMANCE OR HONEYMOON PHASE
POWER STRUGGLE PHASE WORKING THROUGH ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES GIVE AND TAKE
STABILITY PEACE SECURITY THROUGH THICK AND THIN BUILDING ON
COMMITMENT KNOW IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL BUILT TRUST AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
4 C”S
COMMUNICATION
COMPASSION
COMFORT
COMMITMENT
IN CONCLUSION….TREAT EACH OTHER THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED. BE THE PERSON YOU WOULD WANT TO BE
MARRIED TO.
WE ALL NEED WORK ON THIS WITH THE LORD’S HELP IN THESE AREAS OF RELATIONSHIPS . I HAVE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE PRAYING FOR A SPOUSE AND THOSE THAT ARE IN A MARRIAGE AND UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN AND WANT OUT…
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE HAVE TO BE WHOLE AND HEALTHY OURSELVES BEFORE WE CAN THRIVE AND LIVE OUT A HEALTHY FUTURE WITH SOMEONE ELSE. THE FIRST AND FORESMOST IS SURRENDERING YOUR HEART TO THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU MORE IMMENSELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THAN ANY ONE ELSE CAN. TO MAKE JESUS YOUR #1 LOVE AND FROM THERE WHEN U ARE SO IN LOVE AND COMPLETE IN HIM, HE MAY BRING THAT HELPMATE ALONG TO SHARE THAT SOLD OUT LOVE WITH AND TOGETHER YOU CAN WALK TOGETHER. UNTIL THEN YOU WILL NEVER FEEL COMPLETE AND LOOK FOR FLAWS AND RELY ON THE OTHER PERSON TO MAKE YOU HAPPY AND BRING U PEACE, WHEN YOUR FOUNDATION WAS NEVER STABLE WITHOUT THE LORD FILLING THOSE NEEDS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU, IF U HAVE NEVER FIRST MADE JESUS YOUR #1 LOVER OF YOUR SOUL BEFORE YOU MOVE ONTO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE, I WILL LEAVE JUST AN EXAMPLE OF A PRAYER TO INVITE HIM INTO EVERY AREA AND DECISION OF YOUR LIFE…
IN HIS LOVE,
JANISE
