...And Kiss A Lot!!

"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss." - 2 Corinthians 13:11-12

I realize taking Biblical text out of its context is dangerous; here Paul is concluding his message to the Corinthian Church and is talking to the body as a whole.

But what a great couple verses for marriage!

1. Rejoice: wow, how draining is a negative relationship! Always complaining and being annoyed with every little thing! ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER! Come on this world is way to cruel for the person you live with to be your constant nag and annoyance!!

2. Restoration: wow, why not try to be reconciled to each other! NOT saying sorry is PRIDEFUL! Admit your mistake, or hey even better admit your wrong (even though your not)!

3. Comfort: wow, be nice to each other! Dont be a selfish prick and not want closeness! DONT BE INDIVIDUALISTIC! Be close to other, cuddle on the couch, hold hands, DO THINGS TOGETHER.

4. Peace: wow, who wants to live with someone that has no peace in their hearts!?? NO WAY! Aim for peace and gentleness, dont try to start petty selfish fights! GIVE ME A BREAK THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO END!

5. God of love: If God created love; why not pursue Him? WOW NOW THERE'S A THOUGHT!

6. He will be with you: wow, realize that God IS in the midst of you both. HIS PRESENCE WILL HEAL ANY RELATIONSHIP AND SUSTAIN IT TO THE END!

7. Kiss...you can figure this one out: LETS HOPE SO! KISS EVERYDAY! AND KISS A LOT!

His Alone

The error we must be aware of in marriage is thus: making the marriage the end in itself. If our desire is merely to have a good marriage...I doubt that will ever occur.

Take for example: I want to be nice. Well I try to be nice, however I am not so nice as I had hoped I would be. I made being nice the end in itself.

I want to memorize verses. Well I try and memorize a passage, and then try and try some more, and meanwhile I forget that the verses point to Jesus. I made memorizing the end in itself.

I want to pray better. Well I start to pray and utilize different psalms and phrases from the men of the Bible, meanwhile I forget I am suppossed to come as a child and the Lord already knows what I am going to ask or say. I made praying the end in itself.

Are these good things?

Yes. No doubt.

But, when you make a good thing the end in itself, it can be very bad indeed.

Only God is Good. Jesus said that Himself.

When we make Christ Jesus our First and Only gaze...we can boldy say:


'By His wounds I am  healed...'

Think about that for a bit...doesnt seem like the initial response...but remember:

 His alone...

Foundations

In any structural construction, you must lay a solid foundation. The same goes with any personal relationship, there must be a solid foundation.

Through the weeks and months of courtship with Ashley I know I have said countless prayers for our marriage and us individually. The Foundation has been laid.

Now in the first couple years of marriage, we shall see how the foundation is finished...

What is amazing is now, we get to pray together. As we put Christ at the center of our relationship, all else will flow naturally from the One True Source.

We are meant to grow!! We must never forget that as a couple...

Unconditional love, joint prayer, and forgiving hearts is a potent recipe for this cruel world....the devil will most definitely try to  'kill, steal, and destroy' our marriage....

Therefore, we must look to the Victor for our strength and ever present help in the times of trouble...

We must run this race with perserverance...because 'in this life YOU WILL have tribulation'....

It all goes back to the Foundation. Where have you laid yours and what kind of ground do you stand on?

In marriage, the 'floods WILL COME'...but whoever built their relationship on God...will stand and last...

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,'

and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me

and hears my words and does them,

I will show you what he is like:

he is like a man building a house,

who dug deep and laid the foundation

on the rock.

And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house

and could not shake it,

because it had been well built.

But the one who hears and does not do them

is like a man who built a house on the ground

without a foundation.

When the stream broke against it,

immediately it fell,

and the ruin

of that house

was

great."

Luke 6:46-49

God gives us grace to start building anywhere and at any place in our lives...repent and begin laying a firm foundation...On the Rock our God.