Enjoy Life With Your Wife!

 

"Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun."  Eccl 9:9

Nearing the end of my vacation with my husband, I wanted to cook out. I had planned to cook bratwursts over an open fire with marshmallows for desert. I did not realize that some NFL play-offs were on television at the same when I had suggested it. My husband did not say a thing about it. I figured it out when I went outside to see how the fire was going and he was standing before the fire pit checking the game on his telephone. He was multi-tasking. He managed both quite well. He managed to hang in there until supper was over before he retreated to the living room.

We have many common interests. But, we also have many uncommon interests. He enjoys football. I do not. I enjoy hiking and camping and kayaking. He does not. But, somehow we manage to find a way to enjoy life together.

May God bless all husbands and wives with the gift of enjoying life together.

God's Peace - Pr. J

No Coveting

The Tenth Commandment.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and [diligently] do their duty.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

I have sometimes wondered about the differences between the ninth and tenth commandments. It was terribly difficult for me, as a young person, to be able to memorize theses last two properly separated as I could not understand why we taught them as two instead of one commandment. I also could never comprehend (and still don't) how one would go about urging cattle to stay and do their duty. Maybe, not show and entice them with greener grass in another pasture? The only real difference that I see, for the purposes of memory work, is that the ninth commandment has to do with inanimate property; the tenth deals mainly with living, breathing creatures. 

I was online last night researching glasses to help correct color-blindness. I and other members of my family are a bit color blind. It doesn't affect life too adversely; unless, you happen to be working with electrical wires that are color coded. That can be a problem. Mostly, I recognize every color. They just look a little different to me than to those with good color vision.

Sometimes we can all be a bit color blind. We see greener grass when in fact what we may be looking at are dried out weeds. Just because someone tells us the grass is greener; doesn't always make it so. Beware of covetous people who would draw you away for their own selfish purposes.

Sometimes we see someone that we might think we want; but, again, the grass is not always greener... Ensure that you are not falsely enticing others to leave the one who loves them. If they would leave them for you; they well could leave you for another.

Learn to love what is yours and leave your neighbors' alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J

You Shall Have No Other Gods

The First Commandment
You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.  (http://catechism.cph.org/en/10-commandments.html)

I spent many, many, years as a wife of a U.S. Marine. They have a saying: "God, Country, Corps." That is in proper order. God always comes first. There can be no other gods. There can be no other priorities. When faithfulness to God comes first, faithfulness to our other obligations just falls into place, with the help of God. But, if we cannot be faithful to God, then we will not be faithful to anything or anyone else, either.

As a Marine Corps wife, I spent a lot of time alone raising two sons, as my husband was deployed for far more than half of his career. I had no family near. It was a good thing. Through this time, I learned that there is one I can trust all of the time; that is God. Through this time, I learned that there was one who loved me like no other. God was there when no one else was. I wasn't always thrilled with the way He worked things out; but, I came to know and trust that no matter how He was working them out; they were being worked out for the good.

The best thing we can do for our loved ones, for our country, for our world, is to fear, love and trust God above all things and to Him first and to follow in the way He would have us go. His plan is perfect for us; ours is not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ephesians 5:21-33 Marriage

Ephesians 5:21-33 NIV
Just as we are one in the body of Christ so when a man and woman marries they also become one. Each member brings gifts (talents, knowledge, wisdom, etc.) that complement the gifts of the other. In marriage, two people bring separate gifts to the union; gifts to enhance their union; gifts that are meant to glorify God.

In the beginning, God created woman to be a helper for man. (Gen 2:18) He created her to walk beside and work beside her husband. I have been married for 43 years. I can verify that marriage is not always easy. It requires much commitment on the part of both the husband and wife. We have made many mistakes and hurt each other on way more than one occasion. But, we are husband and wife. We are partners. We are help-mates. Much to my chagrin, I have found myself submitting to his authority often whether I agreed with him or not and he has continued to love me whether I was all that loveable at times or not. We both understood when we made our vows before God that marriage was a life-time commitment. There were times when remembering this commitment we made before and with God was about the only thing that held us together. When God unites two people in marriage; when He makes them one, they are one forever.

So many today do not understand the nature of this union. Yes, you can get a legal divorce in the world. Yes, there are times that divorce is even necessary. But, the two will always be connected through that bond made in Holy Matrimony. It is a mistake to enter into the relationship with the idea that if it doesn't work out; well, then, you will just get a divorce. Know that divorce only separates property and dissolves the relationship that is visible in this world. The spirit of man cannot be separated from woman once they are bound by God's promises. In years to come even though that former spouse is not physically with you, they will always be with you. For better or worse, you will continue to carry them with you. For in marriage the two become one.

Marriage takes commitment from both parties. St. Paul reminds us that it also takes love. Even as Christ loves us, we are to love one another.

And, please don't think the way out of this sometimes difficult journey is to not marry and just live with each other. Not making that commitment to love one another before God is simply that: not making the commitment to love. Do you really want to spend your life with someone who does not want to love you and is not willing to be beside you throughout your life no matter what happens? It is better to be alone than to live with someone who will not make the commitment to love you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. To parents of confirmands: This is, in part, what your children hear when I teach "Thou shall not commit adultery."

Luke 14:25-35 - The Cost

Luke 14:25:35 NIV
"Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

Everything will not be handed to you. The path you take following Jesus may be very hard, indeed. Just as the disciples dropped everything to follow him, you may also have to leave everything behind in order to carry your cross and follow him.

One must plan for the future. One doesn't build a home without first figuring out the cost. There is a cost to following Jesus into the eternal home, the Kingdom of God. Your old life must be left behind in order to live the new one.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 6:14-29 Love Not Lust

Love or rather lust can really lead one astray. Have you ever promised someone that you thought you were in love with something and then found yourself backed in a corner having to do something you know you ought not be doing?

That's Herod's story. He married his brother's wife, which he ought not have done in the first place. That man, John, whom Herod understands to be a holy man, lets him know that he has done wrong. Herod's wife is embarrassed by John and wants his head. So, she tricks King Herod into promising to have John beheaded by having her daughter dance for him. Isn't there inherently something wrong with having your daughter dance for your husband to please him? But, King Herod is pleased and has put himself into the position of being embarrassed by John or embarrassed by his wife. He follows through with his promise to his wife. John is killed and his head served up on a platter.

True love would not call a man to do something that goes against his conscience. But, lust will. Lust for his brother's wife; lust for his brother's wife daughter; lust will get us into all kinds of predicaments that we would have preferred to avoid.

Another famous biblical character that got himself into a whole lot of trouble over lust for a woman was Samson. He was to be a savior for his people; but, driven by lust, he ended up betrayed by the woman he thought he loved and who he thought loved him.

There is a definite difference between love and lust. Love does no harm to others. It certainly does not end in the death of our loved one's enemies to satisfy our loved one's egos.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 22:1-14 - I Cannot Come

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come." (Matt 22:2-3 NIV)

Oh, yes, a goodly number of us want to go this banquet after we are dead and buried; but, how about today? Are we willing to sit at that table today? Maybe, there's a more enticing table set someplace for you than at the Lord's Table? Not everyone that's been invited will be at the table eating and drinking; receiving the "foretaste of the feast to come." Some will decline for a "better" offer.

On the occasions that this parable shows is our Sunday reading, our choir usually sings "I Cannot Come To The Banquet." (I could not find the author's name - possibly The Medical Mission Sisters, 1966?) 

I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

A certain man held a feast on his fine estate in town.
He laid a festive table and wore a wedding gown.
He sent invitations to his neighbors far and wide
But when the meal was ready, each of them replied:

 I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

The master rose up in anger, called his servants by name,
"Go into the town, fetch the blind and the lame,
Fetch the peasant and the pauper for this I have willed,
My banquet must be crowded, and my table must be filled."

 I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

When all the poor had assembled,
There was still room to spare,
So the master demanded: "Go search ev'rywhere,
To the highways and the byways
And force them to come in.
My table must be filled before the banquet can begin.

 I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

Yes, no? What will it be? Will you come to the banquet?

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Hope to see you at the Lord's Table.

Hosea 1 - God Is Faithful

“Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” (Hosea 1:2 NIV)

Yep! The LORD said that. He told the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute in order to be an example to the people of the adultery they (we) have committed. Hosea was to be an example of how loving and faithful God is to us, who over and over again have gone whoring after other gods. They have all gone their own way.

Yet He loves them and continues to be faithful to them. He promises: "...the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together..." (Hosea 1:10-11)

"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." (John 1:9-13)

All who receive Him, all who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God. No matter who you are or where you are or what you have done or even will do, God is faithful to His word. All who believe in His Name, will inherit the kingdom that has been given through Jesus Christ, our LORD. Your sins are forgiven!

Let all God's children say Amen!

God's Peace be with you... Pr. J

P.S. Something to think about further and look up. What did Jesus say to the woman caught in adultery? (John 8)

Ezekiel 24 - We All Grieve In Our Own Way

Everyone grieves in their own way. In today's lesson Ezekiel's wife dies. He is commanded by God not to show any outward expression of grief. He can groan within. But, he is to go about the day as if it was just another day. This is to be done as a sign to Israel that the sanctuary will be desecrated and when their own sons and daughters will die by the sword they will not be afforded the opportunity to grieve them openly. Instead they will waste away as they are left to grieve within themselves.

Everyone grieves in there own way. Funerals and Memorial Services are more so for the living than for the dead. We need a way to begin to grieve and we do this by sharing the stories of our loved one. We do this by sharing stories of their faith and faithfulness. We do this openly. Even if one does not openly participate in the sharing of their stories or visible signs of their grief; they are listening. They are hearing. They are grieving.

It is not always so; but, often, those who are not allowed free expression of their grief in whatever manner they personally grieve will internalize it and begin to waste away. The wasting away may not be physical. Rather, it might be spiritual or emotional. So often after the funeral, friends disappear. They do not want to hear and share in the grief of spouses or children or parents. They want to get on with life and they want the person who is grieving to get on with life. Living life is a good thing. But, remember, that we all grieve in our own way and grief can very well be a life-long experience. If you love them, allow them the stories, the memories. For in remembering, we are re-membered (re-connected) to the loved ones we have lost.

Can you imagine how much Ezekiel's wife endured just being married to Ezekiel? You don't get to hear much about her, only her death. And... even her death is not allowed to be publicly grieved.

We all grieve in our own way. May God help us to be a comfort to others in their times of loss.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proverbs 31 - Seek A Virtuous Spouse

As Agur is mentioned in scripture only in Proverbs 30, King Lemuel, whose words, we read in Proverbs 31, also can be found no where else in the Bible. His words, given to him by his mother, are a warning against strong drink by kings, which can (should) be applied to any one who is supposed to be a leader, including those within the church on earth; that is the clergy and Bishops.

The majority of this proverb speaks about choosing a wife and what constitutes a good wife. These words have been given, in many forms, to many a son, by many concerned mothers. "Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink." (Proverbs 31:3-4) 

A good wife will walk beside you and support you. She will not lead you astray so that you might be weakened. She will not lead you off to the bars every week-end, to intoxication, where you will find trouble, maybe even jail or death. A good wife will help you in the business of raising your family, your household. And, I assure you the "partying" in all your spare time will indeed affect your ability to be all that you can be and prosper according to the many gifts that God has given you.

Do not be deceived by the charms of a woman, but seek in your life-long help mate, one who will work lovingly and diligently beside you.

That's the gist of Proverbs 31. Remembering too, that this was written in a time when men were the dominant in society, we need to apply this today to women, as well. Seek a husband, who will support you and walk beside you. Steer clear of those men who will bring you to ruin.

It is good to have someone to share you life with. Seek a virtuous spouse, one who does you good and not evil, one whom you will be able to trust with your future, your life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 128 - Blessings of Work and Family

The blessings of the LORD.... In Psalm 128 the blessings relate to working hard and being prosperous; having a good wife (spouse) and having children.  Good things, all of them. But, they are things we often take for granted.

Today, it seems, a lot of people want to be prosperous without the work that is required to get there. Well, maybe not just today. I'm thinking it's probably part of our human condition. Scripture reminds us that those who don't work won't eat. Paul wrote, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies." (2 Thess 3:10,11 NIV) Apparently, wanting something for nothing (without working) has been around for a long time.

And, family....  Family is a blessing that sometimes we ignore. In the end what do we have except the love of those around us. Is there anything on this earth that is really more precious than that? Everything else will pass away, but love endures. Genuine love does not pass away. It does not fade into the sunset. It continues on. But, love only received and not returned is a very sad thing. When one person receives and cannot return the love of spouse or children it is a very sad thing for all. How sad it is when love is taken for granted.

How sad it is that our Father, in heaven, would love us so much to give His only begotten Son to die so that we might be reconciled in His love, and not be willing to receive and live in that love. How can one not love one who has died for them? Such a very sad thing... to live without the blessing of the love God has given us through His Son and through the people around us.

May God bless you with fruitful labor and a family and friends that love you.

God's Peace - Pr. J