JUST MARRIED

Have you ever seen the happy faces of newlyweds as they pull away from a crowd of well-wishers bestowing blessings of blissfulness? 

It's exciting to see a couple starting out so happy. Isn't it? However, somewhere along the line that happiness can sometimes turn to horror over a period of time.  

Suddenly, June Cleaver doesn't enjoy making her hubby's favorite meatloaf nor does she feel like vacuuming in high heels, emptying dishwasher, putting away laundry, or picking up Mr. Cleaver's dirty boxers off the floor.  

Mr. Cleaver begins working later and later, rarely home, he periodically text to check on things, but hardly ever calls anymore. 

Mrs. Cleaver spends too much time on social media to distract her from the responsibilities that weigh her down.  Mr. Cleaver has basically removed himself from the household responsibility scene altogether using work as an excuse.  

Mrs. Cleaver and Mr. Cleaver drift into a catatonic relationship and eventually fade away.  

I know this all sounds so depressing, but unfortunately it is too often true.  People don't try as hard these days to stay in communication with one another on a personal level..i.e. phone call...personal touch...a kind gesture, a gift.  Has your marriage become just a Facebook status?  Are you "just married"?  Or do you put your best effort forward to keep the spark alive, thriving in a relationship that you can't imagine living without?  

I thought of how marriage is such a holy union of two lives merging together as one.   It was never meant to be lived in an emotional state of emptiness.

Genesis 2:22-24

Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man."  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

It was never meant to be a union separated...nor did God ordain a multiple choice type of marriage.

A. Abandon spouse emotionally and physically when you feel like it

B. Break up over bills

C. Cheat when you fall out of "love"

D. Divorce when your tired of each other

One of the Hebrew meanings of the word marriage below, means TO STAY!

`agan aw-gan' --stay.

Oh dear Lord...that is a tough one!  I say this because I can honestly state that I spent half my life with one foot out the door during my marriage.  I didn't have the stick-to-it-ability as strongly as I do now.   I still have a small duffel bag half packed on nightstand.  I packed up to leave so many times, I didn't bother unpacking it the last time, and that was nearly over a year ago. I've been married for nearly 18 years and its had its bumps in the road.  More like craters!  However, God has been the only solid foundation that has held our sometimes fragile family together. When I think of marriage, I think about our relationship with Christ. There is no one without the other.    

The symbolism of marriage applies to Christ and the body of believers AKA, the church. In Ephesians 5:25-27, Christ explained as the Bridegroom, lovingly, and sacrificially chose the church as His bride. Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated for a period of time till the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom until the their final wedding. It is her responsibility during the betrothal period to be faithful to Him 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24 At the Second Coming of Christ, the church will be united with the Bridegroom, where the official "wedding ceremony" will take place, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized 

Revelation 19:7-9;21:1-2 As a believer and bride to be, we the church should be waiting with great anticipation and walking in a faithful manner  Revelation 22:20 not merely as "just" believers, but followers, and doers. Same goes for your earthly marriage.  I always tell my spouse and children, "actions speak louder then words". Say what you mean, and do what you say!  

Are we faithful in our vows of marriage to Christ? Do we exude Christ to those around us?  Would people know we were Christ Bride without our Facebook status, or Bible in hand? Do others know that your devoted to your spouse? Or is it too, just a FB status? Remember the butterflies in your stomach, the overwhelming joy "just married" to your soul mate?  Do you remember that feeling when you gave your life completely over to Christ as He courted you, and placed the ring of life around your heart, the engagement of eternity?  Oh where did the love go?  Life with either your spouse or Christ was meant to be lived relational, engaging, communicating, inspiring, encouraging, enjoying, and passionately pursuing the goal of God.  In God's own words...go back to your first love, that first moment of being "Just Married". -Brenda

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! -Revelation 2:4 (NLT)

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Have you ever noticed how a child who gets much, usually doesn't seem to get enough?  If you give a child an XBOX, he'll then want a Wii, and once he becomes bored with that...he'll want a Sony PlayStation, and once that device is upgraded he'll want the newest edition.  After he's played out a-l-l the games, he'll then want an Iphone, it's never-ending!  It reminds me of the children books by Laura Numeroff , "If You Give a Pig a Pancake". 

If you give a pig a pancake, she'll want some syrup to go with it. You'll give her some of your favorite maple syrup, and she'll probably get all sticky, so she'll want to take a bath. She'll ask you for some bubbles. When you give her the bubbles...

It starts a vicious cycle of expectation, and greed.  This isn't just children. There are adults whose cravings can never be met. Some will just park themselves at the buffet of bountiful waiting to snatch up something before another has a chance. I think of this as we approach "Black Friday".  It is ridiculous how people will trample each other over a flat screen t.v. or kill over a parking lot space. You can view the craziness on this site blackfridaydeathcount in 2013 there were 7 killed and 90 injured.  What are we doing with the resources, talents, or gifts that have been given us individually or as a nation?  Are we building God's kingdom, or our own sand castles of self-indulgence?  

Haggai 1-11(NIV)

A Call to Build the House of the Lord

In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest:

2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”

3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

Everything we have is given for use by God, its all His!  We own NOTHING! Therefore we should gratefully appreciate, and use wisely the resources He has entrusted us with.  And it is hard to imagine that trampling another for an electronic device is what God had in mind.

Psalm 24:1(NIV)

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

-Brenda

FOOD FOR SOUL MAGAZINE

A Plate of Provision Please?

This morning when I awoke, I wasn't feeling 100%.  I was already worn out from the weeks task.  My awnry child was sick the night before wanting to stay up to play video games. I at barely 8:30 p.m. am begging for bed. I felt the onset of the flu trying to take over my being...like an octopus to squeeze the life out of me. Hubby was out of sorts over an ongoing tooth ache he has put off being treated for YEARS! Oh, and this never acts up until I get sick!  Every time I go to schedule him, he says its fine.  I was in deep sighs before my feet hit the ground out of bed...knowing I had a mound of dishes to wash, chicken stock to strain from cooking crock overnight, veggies to chop, chicken to shred, laundry to start, pets to feed, a son to home-school, answer emails, blogs, and work on magazine.  I caught myself rushing at 6:30 a.m. on a mission to get much done despite how I felt.  I stood over my sink fighting off tears overwhelmed at the sight, and thought of what I had to do today. There was no room for sickness! I knew that I needed to also make time to study and pray to be encouraged.  I was bitterly upset over the lack of help from certain someones. In the process of fury over the foamy dishes...God reminded me that I could talk to him right there and then.  I didn't have to wait till I completed my chores, bow-downed, or got on my knees.  I didn't have to be in a state of total silence.  Nor in a synagogue, or church pew.  I could communicate with him right through my chores, frustration, and foaming dishes. I instantly asked God to just give me the strength, good attitude, and ability to forgive the certain someones and complete what He willed for my day.  As I sat down exhausted from the flash final touches on chores...I was brought to this scripture:

Isaiah 26:3

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 

It doesn't say that God might guard those in perfect CONSTANT peace whose mind is stayed on Him...it says HE WILL keep in perfect peace!

There was no need for me to fret over the to-do's of the day. As long as I kept my mind on God. I noticed a plaque that hangs above my desk that I rarely read.  

It states, "Good Morning"  This is GOD!  I will be handling ALL of your problems today! I will not need your help, so please just relax and have a nice day!  

I was liberated from my self-scolding on completing everything I had in mind after reading it.  The grumbling stopped.  I realized that if God has given me the vision to accomplish certain missions, whether it be a magazine publisher, writer, designer, homeschooling, a mother, and nursemaid to spouse...then He most certainly will provide the provisions to do so...with or without the help of certain someones.

 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.    -Philippians 4:19

-Brenda

You made me so happy, God HOW MAGNIFICENT your work, God! I saw your work and I shouted for joy. -Psalms 92:4

What a beautiful, crisp, cool morning here in Texas!  Woke up to a low of 45 degrees!  Now that makes me happy!  If you don't live in Texas...you just don't understand it gets HOT! Really...really hot. It is a rarity to celebrate Thanksgiving with cool weather. Whether this weather last long or not...I am just thankful!  My dogs are running around like something great has happened...YES...YES...YES no more panting in sweltering temperatures!!!!! Fall is finally here! It is my absolute most favorite season of the year.  The smell of fireplaces burning, Christmas lights begin to shine through the streets, hot cocoa in the mornings, a steaming pot of chicken an dumplings sits on stove for the first time of the year, bread making aroma permeates the home front, and the parks and byways are decorated with unbelievable beauty with every changing leaf....Thank you God for your expressive works of art! -Brenda

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Yesterday, while putting away something in my china cabinet I ran across something that had been left behind by my grand daughter.  It was a broken ceramic piggy bank she had left one Sunday after visiting.  I hadn't thrown it out, because I knew it was precious to her and wanted to somehow fix it or find her another one just like it.  As I held the broken pieces in my hand I became suddenly reminded of how many times God had held mine...the broken relationships, broken dreams, broken homes, and sometimes my broken children.  He kept me held together though this vessel had cracks so large it almost shattered the very core of God's purpose in me. My God faithfully repaired, reconstructed, and replaced all the sorrow, sadness, sickness, and loss with more then I could ever have imagined.  I may have not gotten back my original pieces shattered everywhere, but what HE gave me is worth so much more.  He gave me a new life, with a new love, and the ability to appreciate every broken vessel I see.  -Brenda

Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

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