Following a thought

Writing a blog post every week sometimes I think for a moment that I might run out of things to share. It has been almost 2 weeks since I last wrote a post, but in those two weeks sooo much seems to have happened.

 

Sometimes life seems to speed right past us so that we blink and are surprised to realise that a weeks has passed, or a month, or a year... but other times it slows right down and we can't wait for that next moment to come. Between the two though there is a balance, where time passes both quickly and slowly at the same time - this is good. Each view helps us to appreciate the other, and together they are a great tool for teaching patience and perseverance, which go together.

 

In Galatians we can read that patience is one of the qualities which is of the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 

In Proverbs we read that 'whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.'

 

So what kind of spirit is this, how should it be ruled?? Psalm 119 says... 'My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.' and 'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.'

 

Salvation, and real life (eternal), can be found in Gods Word. That which shows us the way and navigates us along the path of life should be Gods Word. It would make sense then that the way in which we understand and perceive life, the coming and passing, would also show us something of God - after all, he did create it as well. [Genesis 1]

 

So next time you wish time would just slow down a little, or hurry up and pass by, why not thank God for the time that He has given us, ask Him to continue to grow you in patience and perseverance, and think on these things.

Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. -Philippians 4:8

 God Bless

a wonderful week end

Another week has passed. For me, and many others in this little part of the world, our last week ended fabulously as we celebrated with friends their marriage before God and man.

 

Amongst the promises they made to one another in their vows were the following...

...I promise with God's help to love you as Christ loved the church. I promise to be a faithful husband, until death separates us, or the Lord Jesus Christ returns, according to God's holy law... 

...I promise with God's help to submit to you as the church submits to Christ. I promise to be a faithful wife until death separates us, or the Lord Jesus Christ returns, according to God's holy law...

The talk which followed focussed on these statements of love and submission. I often hear of many people who do not understand how the bride can say in her marriage vows that she will submit to her husband. The truth is that the way we understand the term 'submit' in our everyday language is not the way that it is meant here. Here, it is in the context of how the church submits to Christ. Just as important however is what is meant by the term 'love' as this is also possibly a little different, carrying more weight with it, in this context of Christ loving the church.

 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body. '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. (The Bible, Ephesians 5:21-33)

 

 

This is the passage where these words in their promises to one another come from. Where it says the church, it is not talking about a building, but rather a group of people. God's people. We see here that the husbands love should be complete, even self sacrificial, putting their wife first and presenting her holy and blameless - perfect. The wife is to submit to her husband, not meaning that she has no mind, or that he can tell her to do anything he likes, but rather knowing that he has the best intentions for her and will do everything he can to ensure her well being. This is a good type of submission. And when both of these roles are filled both will have, must have, a deep respect for one another.

 

In attendance there were friends from, well, all over the world. It is quite wonderful to see so many different people come together, and to celebrate with dear friends such a wonderful occasion. After all, these promises and these words are not meant only for westerners but are talking about Christ and the church, which is universal!

 

God Bless.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time...

 

Nah, forget that. I find that stories which begin with this line already have the feeling that they are not real, but made up - and from a long time ago. I don't know about you but I find the best stories are ones which are real, ones which involve people I know, and ones which have a purpose.

 

Some stories fizzle out and die at the end, but the greatest ones keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end - and the end demands a response from you, you have to say or do something. You can't just listen.

 

I have heard many stories from friends over the years, and family, and strangers. About friends, or friends of friends. About serious things, and funny things, and silly things, and thoughtful things. Often these stories do a great job on their own but can easily be ruined if told by the wrong storyteller.

 

Of all of these there is only one story which stands out strongly, which is never ruined as it has the same storyteller every time, and it is the greatest story ever told - not about just one of those things I mentioned before, but including all of them and much, much more.

 

It's the story we read in the Bible, about God's relationship with His people (and vice versa) and the storyteller is always God, because it is His Word, and His Spirit in us which helps us to understand.

 

Do you agree?

 

God Bless

Do the maths

I have just got been on a holiday driving around the UK for the past week with some friends. I apologise for not posting anything last week.

I would like to share just one thing with you...

wind + rain + cold + poor tents + long days + new locations + sunshine + music + friends + culture + picnics + pasta + prayer + conversation + new faces + cameras + firsts = happy travelers back home

God Bless