God Has Kept Us Together

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a; Celebrating 52 years of marriage and thanking God for keeping us together in a life of commitment and love.

50 Years! Wah!

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (Eph 5:31 KJV)

Fifty years! I am trying to process how we have managed to be married for fifty years today. I don't feel old enough to have been married that long. Yet, I am. There have also been many days when I've wondered how we actually managed to put up with each other in order to stay together that long. The answer is simple: by the grace of God.

We have considered how to celebrate this milestone anniversary; but, have not come up with anything. Although, the desire is there we both find that what we once may have enjoyed doing is just really pretty tiring for us. We just don't have the inclination to battle the traffic or crowds that we would encounter at doing most things. So it will be an early dinner out so that we can get to bed at our usual times. I have not drank alcoholic beverages in almost thirty years. But, if I don't get to bed at my usual time I wake up feeling hungover. I don't like that feeling because the whole day ends up feeling wasted. It will be an early evening as usual.

It was a pretty rocky beginning. Not many people thought we should get married. Thank God for my Grandma Mary Dalback as she seemed to be about the only family member from either side of the family who was truly supportive of the marriage. Even fewer thought that the marriage would last and it almost didn't on more than one occasion thanks to both of us acting badly and only considering ourselves rather than each other. But, by a miracle from God it has lasted and we have had each other to grow old with through better and through worse times; through sickness and health.

Marriage can be pretty rough. It can be challenging. But, when God joins two people together you can be assured that he will help you through those rough times if you let him; if you listen to him.

Fifty years of marriage! Wah! Thanks be to God for his grace and mercy! Thanks be to God for his good gift of love!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Joined As One

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 

                                                       (Eph 5:31-33 KJV)

This year will mark my husband's and my 50th wedding anniversary. To tell you the truth it sometimes amazes me that we have made it together for that long. It doesn't seem real that either of us could be that old! But, then again, we are not really old for we have eternal life!

Yesterday, we were cleaning boxes of files and photos and other memorabilia from our years together as we prepared for a rummage sale. Although, we have had some pretty rough times in our lives together there were many more really good times. The memorabilia reminded me of how we supported each other through individual trials and in that support of one another; although, we became united as one by God when we were first married, that oneness has become even more apparent after all of this time together. Oh, yes, there are days for both of us when we need a bit of distance from each other; but, with faith in God who has joined us together any distances or disturbances in the household cannot tear us apart.

I past years, when teaching confirmation youth, I reminded them that when God joins two people together they will always be a part of each other. Even if they end up separated, they will still be connected. They may be physically separated; but, spiritually and emotionally, for good or for bad, they will always be connected to each other. If they remarry they will bring a part of that first person along with them into that marriage. So be very careful to make sure that you want to be connected to that person for the rest of your days because you will be. This also applies to those pre-marital and live-in relationships that exist without the benefit of any kind of real commitment.

Just as God joins a man and woman together in a bond that cannot be broken; he has joined all who believe in Jesus with him. We are one in the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-13) and nothing in this world can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

P.S.  BTW - love and reverence for one another does happen when both husband and wife are united together in Christ for the indwelling Spirit of Christ is one of love as well as self-sacrifice as he gave himself for us because of his love for us.

Till Death Parts Us

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

                                                     (Mark 10:6-7 KJV)

Forty-nine years ago today we repeated the traditional vows: "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." There were days that we both were ready to throw in the towel; but, we remembered our promises and kept on. I've often warned couples preparing to be married that there would be days that you do not feel any love for each other. That doesn't matter. Marriage is about commitment to each other. It is about caring for the other person just as you care about yourself. The command that Jesus gave us to love one another applies to marriage as well as to the rest of the world. (John 15:17) Love is not just a feeling. It is also an action. If you love someone you take action and treat them as you would like to be treated. (Matt 7:12)

When God joins two people together in marriage you are joined forever. Yes, you may end up separated or divorces. It happens. Sometimes abusive marriages are so damaging that one must leave to save their very lives and to preserve their physical, spiritual, or mental health. But; regardless of the separation, you will always be connected forever for better or for worse... 

Marriage works out best when we strive to make it for better and I do mean strive. Marriage is not always easy. It is not even good for everyone to be married. Some are called to stay single so that they are not distracted by a spouse and can better grow in and serve the Lord.

Although marriage can be a bit tough at times, it is most often worth it. Two people with different gifts coming together and actually working as one can accomplish much more than trying to do everything alone if they are actually serving with like minds. They will (usually) have someone to turn to in sickness and in health. The Preacher who wrote Ecclesiastes surmised that two are better than one. When times get rough remember what he had to say.

"There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

                                                                                         (Eccl 4:8-12)

I have been married for most of my life. I often wonder how it is can be that we have been married this long. Forty-nine years is a long time and I do not feel like I'm  old enough to have been married for that long. But... I am!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Halloween; All Hallows' Eve; All Saints' Eve; Reformation Day?

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Gal 2:19-21 NIV)

This 31st day of October seems to always present me a slight dilemma. Actually, it frustrates me a little. Who and what is it that we celebrate this day? 

It appears to me that the devil has managed to get many of us to switch our focus from Jesus and the grace of God to something quite different on this day. Way too many Christians no longer recognize the significance of this holy day and even the pagan holiday has lost its punch.

Today, it seems that most of the country is celebrating the pagan holiday of Halloween. But, are they really? The celebration of this secular holiday has changed by leaps and bounds just in my lifetime. Today it seems that it's more about who can find the most elaborate costumes or how many parties one can attend. The celebration of Halloween seems to stretch across days, even weeks, rather than just on the Eve of All Saint's Day. Halloween is much different than what it once was.

There are still many Christians who do celebrate All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve on this day. They remember all of the saints who have given their lives to service of God. They remember all the saints of times past, present, and even the future.

There are those of us who also remember that today is the day that is considered to be the birthday of  the Great Reformation of the church. Today, this day in 2017, is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. This is not just a day for Lutherans to celebrate; but for all who believe in Jesus to celebrate for through Martin Luther and many other men and women the truth that we are righteous in the eyes of God; the truth that has set us free from bondage to sin, death, and the devil; not by anything that we do; not by any of our good works; but, by the grace of God through faith alone in the one who lived and died and lives again for us and through us, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

Let us on this day and every day give thanks to God for His abundant mercy and grace!

God's Peace - Pr. J