The most beautiful thing in this world is invisible to most people of the world. It is not a new car, it is not an increased spending limit on a Visa card, or even watching family grow up and become successful. For parents, watching their children have possessions they themselves did now own as a child might be one of the most beautiful things to experience. For some, living peaceably among others might be considered one of the most beautiful things in this world.
And while these circumstances, being real, are quite beautiful indeed, there is nothing more beautiful than the one who came down to us, allowed himself to be treated as less-than-human, and cried out in defense of His children.
We should all prefer to have Jesus in our lives rather than lust after the things that give worldly security, something that we all forget to do so many times. This song truly allows one to reflect on how man's heart lusts after so many things that the world has to offer us, forgetting that Jesus Christ should be the one we seek after.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.
Than to be a king of a vast domain Or be held in sin’s dread sway, I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I’d rather be true to His holy name.
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb; He’s all that my hungering spirit needs, I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
In the United States, 49% of marriages end in divorce.
Although 82% of all married couples will reach their fifth wedding anniversary, only 52% will celebrate 15 years of marriage.
The median duration of first marriages that end in divorce is slightly less than eight years.
Recent U.S. statistics look grim to a newly-wed couple or even a couple that has been married for years. Marriage has undeniably become a part-time, temporary job to those who have sworn an oath and agreed to a covenant before God. So why is the divorce rate so high?
According to the polls, the U.S. is predominantly Christian. If Christians are an overwhelming majority, how is it that the divorce rate among them is also equally high, if not higher?
It is evident that couples are not working together as God intended them to do. His principles are clear. It is our responsibility to respond.
Genesis 2:22-24 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 24Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Gen 2:24 "man shall leave his father and mother..." Because Adam had no parents, his responsibility was to his wife and no one else. Adam was to pave the way for the rest of humanity, which is why God says he must leave family behind. Adam had no family to leave behind, but those who came after him were to do so as God so declared. So in every household, the husband is to be the head of the home. Family members that impose their customs into his home are actually driving a wedge between husband and wife.
continued "...and hold fast to his wife..." The husband should cling to his wife only and nothing else. They formed the union that God created from the beginning. This being said, a wife must be the most important person in a man's life; he must care for her and make her his priority. Because the husband is the head of the household, he is responsible to make sure that his marriage does not fail. Many husbands and wives carry on their daily lives in the presence of other people, so much that a wall is built between them. Before they realize it, the marriage becomes a friendship. Soon, children, friends, and/or family become more important.
Married people do not realize that they are going against God's word. God knew exactly what He was doing when He breathed out these wise words of instruction. The husband's duty is to love his wife AND keep close to her at all times. It does not mean that as spouses they cannot have time apart, but it means that husband and wife should spend more time with each other than they do with others.
continued "...and they shall become one flesh." God commanded this scripture to be respected in order for the marriage to be solid and unified. It is no longer husband and father and mother, but husband and wife should equal to one, just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three entities that are all one. It is a mystery that is incomprehensible to man, but it is the way that the Lord designed marriage.
If man abides by the scripture, then he and his wife will be one. Marriages end up in divorce because the husband is bound to his family. When the husband neglects his wife for his friends, his work, even his ministry, he is causing division in the home. Likewise, the wife who prefers to be in her family's presence rather than her husband's is also building a wall. Eventually when everyone they once clung to is gone, they are left with walls too high to climb, and their marriage is no longer bound. This is why it becomes easy for spouses to divorce. The distance between them is so wide, they become two separate entities.
The AFA is an online organization that helps Christians like you and me understand what businesses and politicians are working against our Christian values and beliefs. Here is their website. http://www.afa.net/ford070307.htm. This week, they are discussing how Ford Motors continues to support same-sex marriages. Because of their on-going support, people started a strike by refusing to purchase Ford vehicles. Since then, their profit has declined, but they continue to support homosexual marriages. Check out the website for further information on this topic and many others.
People have often wondered if they will run into family and friends once they enter the pearly gates, and I must admit that I have also fallen prey to that thought, but in actuality, once we enter heaven our family and friends will be far from our minds. The only thing that will occupy our minds is knowing that we are in the presence of the one, true, holy God, and everything else will be of no importance, not little, but no importance. I read the following explanation at www.gotquestions.org. It is a wonderful site created to answer practically every Christian question there is to ask.
Question: "Will we be able to see and know our friends and family members in Heaven?"Answer: Many people state that the first thing they want to do when they arrive in Heaven is see all their friends and loved ones who had passed on before them. I do not think this will be the case. Yes, I do believe we will be able to see, know, and spend time with our friends and family members in Heaven. In eternity, there will be plenty of time for that. However, I do not think that will be our primary focus in Heaven. I believe we will be far more occupied with worshipping God and enjoying the wonders of Heaven to be concerned with being reunited with our loved ones right away.
What does the Bible say about whether we will be able to see and know our loved ones in Heaven? When David’s infant son died as a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba, after his time of grief David declared, “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David assumed that he would be able to recognize his son in heaven, despite the fact that he died as a baby. The Bible declares that when we arrive in Heaven, we will “be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 describes our resurrection bodies: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
Just as our earthly bodies were of the first man Adam (1 Corinthians 15:47a) so will our resurrection bodies be just like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:47b). “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:49,53). Many people recognized Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7). So, if Jesus was recognizable in His resurrection body, I see no reason to believe that ours will be any different. Being able to see our loved ones is a glorious aspect of Heaven – but Heaven is far more about God, and far less about our own wants. What a pleasure it will be to be reunited with our loved one, and worship God with our loved ones for all eternity.
Merry Christmas everyone! Yes, I said Christmas, as in the celebration of Christ. It remains unknown exactly what time of year Christ was born; however, a date has been chosen over generations to represent His birth.
"X-mas" is a time of family gatherings, purchasing expensive presents, traffic jams, opening of gifts, drinking egg nog, eating food, and having a great time. Christmas, on the other hand, should be a time of respect to God's introduction of Christ to the world. This should be celebrated by teaching children what should really be celebrated this year, the birth of our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.
So I just want to say to all of you, have a wonderful Christmas day. And let us always remember the birth of Jesus rather than "what did Santa get you for Christmas?" day. Amen!
Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
