Posts Tagged ‘marriage’
Whoops! .. Almost Slipped! ;) …
Written by FAVORED1 on January 13, 2011 – 1:54 pm -
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. or there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
[Psalm 73:1-9 KJV]
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No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing His goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have it made, who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world. Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. People actually listen to them—can you believe it?
Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.
[Psalm 73:1-10 Message]
WHOOPS! … Almost Slipped! 
), but I admit that there have been times that I’ve struggled with being “happy” for somebody who got what I wanted! (*GASP
*) .. WHAT!? You, Miss Positivity!? .. Yes .. me
. Case in point, I love weddings. Not only am I a ”hopeful” romantic, but a strong advocate for the Holy institute of marriage. I think it’s a beautiful thing. However, as someone who has been in an extended state of singleness, weddings are a bittersweet subject for me. On the one hand, I’m glad people are still getting married, on the other, my spirit says, “What about me?”. The feeling only intensifies when some poor soul tells me how beautiful I am, and asks that fateful question, “why aren’t you married?” (I don’t think that people realize how annoying that question is to me… OK.. pause.. count to 10.. *breathe*!) I’m reminded of when my baby cousin “Twinkles” was about 7 months old, a sister-in-Christ and I took her out to eat. The service was extremely slow that night. As we were talking, I looked over at Twinkles in her booster seat. She looked down at the table, and then she looked around the restaurant… looked down at the table and began to scream to high heavens! I understood her. It was as if she were saying, “now wait a minute, I’ve been patient, but this is getting ridiculous! I’ve had the same feeling as the baby. I’ve heard the sermons, read the scripture passages, even ministered them to other people. I’ve heard “Wait on the Lord” all my “saved” life from caring, well-meaning saints of the Most High God. I hear them, but sometimes I just wanna tell them that I’ve been waiting~decades! (.. and all of their “tips”.. well, lets just say.. I’ve been there, done that, got the tee-shirt, the mug and the key chain). Sometimes I feel like the children of Israel wondering around in the desert for 40 years! Do I tell them? Most of the time ..no. Instead, I smile my sweetest “Christian” smile, bite my tongue and nod. That is just my thing. Everyone has their own “thing”. We are living in a culture of frustrated and angry people. People who feel abused, powerless, and disenfranchised. Who feel over-worked, over-looked and under appreciated. It is one thing when some lovely person that you love and admire gets the blessing you wanted before you do. You still may feel the sting, but their being blessed makes “sense”. However, when those who take advantage of people. Those who swindle, lie, cheat and connive to “get it“ (whatever “it” is). It can be a lil irritating. I decided a long time ago to play by God’s rules. I won’t be a “wife” until I’m a “wife” (~ala Michelle McKinney Hammond). God’s way is not just right.. it’s better. I would be blind if I did not notice that there are women (in the Holy House of God), who engage in premarital sexual activity, get married and proceed to tell everybody else to get a man by being Holy. In those times, I wanna bang on the table and say, “HEY! ~ What’s going on here!” … of course decorum demands that we don’t do such a thing. I’ve been in Christ long enough to know that there will come a time in our life when we really don’t want to hear what anybody has to say on the subject… whatever our “subject” is. It is during those times that the gentle loving voice of the Spirit (our Comforter), will speak life into our life. If we suffered a broken leg, we would not allow someone who didn’t know what they were doing to just grab it all “willy nilly”. But if that person were a doctor, that would make all of the difference in the world. The Holy Spirit is our Internist. He specializes in operating on us from the inside out. As we are “shored up” and strengthed on the inside, we are better equipped to handle life’s challenges. We can then focus our eyes on “things above“, and hold on to our faith knowing that “no good thing will He withhold from those who walk upright” .. the hardest part is remembering that it is in His time, according to His plan for our life… and whatever it is .. it is ultimately gonna work out for our good.
Tags: corruption, extended singleness, fear, foot almost slipped, God's plan for our life, marriage, sin, singleness
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Hey Party People! :)
Written by FAVORED1 on October 10, 2008 – 12:12 pm -
Friday, October 10, 2008
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told Him, “They have no more wine.” Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But His mother told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed His instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed His glory. And His disciples believed in Him. After the wedding He went to Capernaum for a few days with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples.
[John 2:1-11]
HAPPY FRIDAY!
. He hasn’t done any of the above, so we need to leave it alone. Period. End of story. Marriage, is a picture of the covenant God has with us. I’ve mentioned that before. This morning though something else caught me attention. Ever notice how much partying was going on in the bible? Those folks really loved to celebrate didn’t they? They had no problem eating, drinking and dancing()……. yes, dancing! If something is truly good, it should invoke some kind of a positive response… shouldn’t it? When I’m thirsty, and I get a nice large lemonade/sweet tea mix at the neighborhood ‘carry-out’… WOW!I don’t eat the food much, but I’ll go in there just for the ‘mix’… I have a smile on my face, and you know that I have just experienced something ‘good’. If a drink can get that type of response, if my favorite artist, or my friends and family can get that type of response… how much more should my God get an even better response. He has been better to me than any of the aforementioned (and they have blessed me tremendously let me tell you!). Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything. I’ve been around sisters and brothers in Christ who were not much fun to be around. They were mean, depressed, arrogant, spiteful, tale bearing saints and those were their good qualities! LOL! Not a good representative of the kingdom, we gotta love them anyway. It is possible to serve God, and effectively witness for Him without compromising His Word and in the right spirit. That does not mean that everyday you’re Mary Poppins with an anything goes attitude. It means even when called upon to deal with difficult subjects and situations… we can handle them with grace, wisdom and tact. How? Well it helps to remember your purpose… to point the lost to the Jesus, and be a witness for what He is in our life, and encourage and edify the members of the family of God in their personal relationship with Him.Praise Party with Mary Mary and Tye Tribbett & GA
http://www.thefaithspot.com/videos/id_1420/
Still Have Joy – Tye Tribbett & GA
http://www.thefaithspot.com/videos/id_1421/
Stand Up“, church dance from the movie “Polly”
http://www.thefaithspot.com/videos/id_1422/
Church Scene from “The Blues Brothers“
http://www.thefaithspot.com/videos/id_1423/
Cartoonist’s Comment:
The way into the presence of God is through thanksgiving and praise. Grumbling and complaining will get you nowhere.
Tags: dancing, joy, marriage, partying, thanksgiving, wedding
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