My sweet wife, Bette and I have been married, for 33 years, this month.  I now know, it is love, but, when I first saw her?  

I think, a little lust, might have been involved.

Speaking with some friends about marriage,  I commented that in all our years together, we never, seriously contemplated divorce. 

Murder, (Well…)  …  lol

The truth is it took time to know each other.  

There are things both of us have come to know about each other…  That quite frankly, are not so flattering. 

Are they deal breakers?  

No, they are a small part, of the people we love.

The woman, I made a vow, to love, and cherish till death, (there it is again…  lol), does us part.    

The point is, all becomes evident,  as we walk with each other daily.   Good times and bad.  We have each other.

I know I have disappointed her many times in many ways,  she has been angry, embarrassed, humiliated, broken and loved.

It is all part of the package, an uncomfortable truth of life.  She has never left me nor forsaken me.

Why?  

Because, her example, of what LOVE IS, comes from her abiding in, the beloved.  She loves and walks with Jesus,  first.

Then she can find, the strenghth, courage, and ability to keep me straight. (The peace, joy and comfort of the Holy Ghost),

My reason for this post, originally, to encourage my friends who read this, to get to know the Lord.  As well as your spouse.   

NOW,…   

I just want to end it by thanking my sweet Lord, for Bette, my love and the wonderful child, (Celeste), He has given us.

If they were the only Blessings the Lord ever gave,  my heart would be full.  

Thank You, Jesus

Psalm: 137. 4. 

“How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?“

Is your church of the tribe of Judah?   When first saved, I thank God I was in a Church that loved the Word.

We sang the Word, in choruses,  we were taught the Word in Sermons,  in Baptisms in Communion.

I am in a Church now, that sings of “The Old Country Church, ”  with great enthusiasm, they have not been taught to sing the Word of God.

The people love the Lord, like the Catholic Church I attended as a child.  

They have met the Master,  but left the Holy Place to return to their respective lives.  

From lack of Biblical knowledge, they have been robbed of the Fellowship of the Lord.  He isn’t a real part of their Christian life.

They serve Him, as best they can, without the realization, or inclination to draw closer.

Matthew 22:13-14  (KJV)

“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
   For many are called, but few are chosen.”

They are invited to the marriage supper.   They have chosen to attend.   They have not donned the wedding garment.   They do not understand that they haven’t.   The knowledge of what it is, is not there.

For years I struggled with the scripture, 
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Many accept Salvation, then reject His offer of more.  A closer personal relationship.  

Psalm: 65. 4. 

“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”

The Lord desires, that we approach Him, and take up His Yoke.  Realize this:   

We must take up His Yoke.  It is not placed on us, we are not driven like cattle to do His work or will.  It is our choice. 

The only one who keeps us from a close relationship with our Lord is us, because we lack the understanding of His call.

As a Catholic,  I believed the Gospel,  as many Christians do today,  the problem wasn’t that the Lord was not real, I believed.

I resented the fact that I had to change, I had this command to “be ye perfect, and walk before Me.”

For that is what I understood.   He placed a yoke upon us, a yoke to make us obey, and to do His  will, His work.   (I rebelled at His demand).

I did not understand His Grace, in Genesis 17, the Lord (the Law Giver), said to Abram,  “walk before Me and be ye perfect.”   

I did not hear God (the Creator, our Saviour), say, “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee,”  We really don’t recognize the distinction. 

Grace doesn’t burden us, yoke us, make us slaves.

NO, GRACE, invites us, to Take His Yoke.

Matthew: 11. 28-30

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.    For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We miss the blessing, in our misunderstanding of His word.

More next time.    

theunfetteredpreacher.com

These are some Bible Study Questions for this week. Will you look them up?

2 Peter: 1. 10. WHAT THINGS has the Lord provided to make us strong and faithful Christians.

2 Peter: 1. 3.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

2 Peter: 1. 8.
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 1.10
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

In 2 Peter 1, find the things that will make us strong and faithful Christians.
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Does this list remind you of any other lists?
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How about: 1 Timothy 6, Galatians 5, Ephesians 4, Proverbs 6? Any others?
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In what ways are the positive lists the same?
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What things do you need to work on to draw you closer to Christ.
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Which areas do you feel you are strong in?
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List the things that draw us away from Christ.
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Comments please…
“Appreciate compliments from strangers, but treasure feedback from friends.”  

(This quote Copied from friend and teacher, Bruce Gibbs who copied from Andy Needham:)

It is now mine… lol

The Word of the day?   Simple, it is  repeated 26 times in Psalm 136. 

 “For his mercy endureth for ever.”
Whose mercy?  Gods.   It is also new every morning.

Today is the day.  Accept his Love and Grace.  Recognize His mercy.

A good word, from my friend Nelson…

R. N. HOPKINS
CREATIVE IDEAS AND WITTY INVENTIONS

This morning my thoughts are on a verse I heard quoted a number of years ago as, “I wisdom dwell with prudence and give knowledge of creative ideas and witty inventions.” (Proverbs 8:12) There was a time when many of the inventions which are now a part of everyday life were greeted with ridicule and skepticism. However, the dreamers persisted and changed life as it was known.

There are many seemingly impossible creative inventions yet to be discovered and put into use for the benefit of others. Wisdom is the principal thing to seek for those who believe this to be true, for wisdom is the practical application of knowledge or thoughts. If we can think it, it can be done. Nothing shall be impossible to him who believes (that nothing shall be impossible). This manner of thinking is not for the timid of heart because of the mindset of the majority of people. Very few are creative thinkers, dreamers and doers. Therefore, they do not know how to respond to someone who not only “thinks outside of the box”, but has decided to crawl out of the box altogether to a no boundaries and endless realm of free thinking and creativity.

So, what does this “I can do all things” person do to remain in possession of creative thought and action until realization of their dreams? Here are a few suggestions:

Keep it to yourself. At least in the beginning. Meditate on your idea(s) until it becomes engrafted into yourself. An engrafted tree limb comes from another source to unite with another tree to produce the purposed fruit. Before harvest both the limb and the root tree must endure the process of growth. In a similar fashion our ideas and creative thoughts come from another source. We must choose to think and to see (at first with only our “minds eye”) during the growth process. Together enduring the “elements” contrary to the desired fruit. This may take a while or not. But until you have truly engrafted your thought/idea to become part of you it is best not to share it or you may become convinced it cannot be.

Write/draw your idea out. A little each day or all at once when you have the light of creativity shining. Challenges will come to diminish or extinguish the light but as a light switch is turned on to dispel darkness your written thoughts will be the light encouraging you to “keep on trucking”. “It is written” was the process Jesus Christ used when tempted to depart from His purpose. It will work for you too.

When you are confident share with others in hopes of finding one mind and one accord for the purpose of iron sharpening iron. Gain additional perspective, questions, insight and input from someone who understands and can be onboard with you without throwing you overboard.

Rehearse and nurse but never curse the process. Even setbacks should be seen as setups for comebacks. Never give up on what is in your heart. Heart is the key word here. Desire and wishful thinking are not the same thing. Desire will deliver over time. Wishful thinking is a waste of time. Keep in mind, ”ALL things work for my good” If it were easy someone else would have already brought forth your ideas. Since they did not it is up to you to endure until the end.