Mon, Jun 12th - 3:39AM
Two Become One Flesh
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Two Become One Flesh |
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| In the message "Stay Off The Roof" we saw how seemingly innocent beginnings can have disastrous results when we entertain even the slightest area of temptation. This becomes even more critical when we marry; then, the result of temptation can cause great pain to the one given to us as a gift from God. |
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| By the middle of the sixth day, God had created the sun, moon and stars; the land, sky, and water; the fish, birds, plants and animals - and when He looked at His creation, "God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:25). But God's creation was not yet complete: "Then God said, 'let us make man in our image'" (Genesis 1:26), and out of the dust of the ground, God breathed life into man and put him in the Garden of Eden, "to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). |
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| As God watched man go about his work, He saw that something was not right. Some have suggested that man looked a little sad - others have joked that man was making a big mess and kept wandering around, lost and confused. Whatever the cause, God looked at His latest creation and said: |
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| Genesis 2:18 |
| "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." |
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| Adam needed more than someone to help him with his chores, he needed someone to make him complete! So God formed woman, not from the ground, but from a rib taken from Adam's side; "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" (Genesis 2:23). |
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| If God gives us someone as a special gift to make us whole, they ought to be cherished and protected for a lifetime; "For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). Like pieces of a puzzle that fit neatly together, a God-ordained marriage joins and completes by making two become one. |
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| It's sad how quickly we forget these basic truths. We continue to place our individual desires ahead of the union created by God. We "toy" with temptations without regard to the potential devastation. The result is often a civil war with years of Spiritual bloodshed and an eventual ripping apart of what God has joined. We must stop this downward spiral before it even begins. |
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| To the MANY single parents: I pray that God would give you encouragement and strength - I pray He would be the helper I know you desperately need. To those who are married or planning to marry: I pray we would now and forevermore see our spouse as a true gift from God given to make us whole. I pray we would forever thank Him for joining us together and commit to the protection of the union. I pray we would always remember that God provides our most suitable helper when the two become one flesh. |
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Sun, Jun 11th - 11:11AM
HOPE For A New Day
HOPE For A New Day
Do You Love God?
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." (1 John 4:20-21)
To truly love God you must also love His children. Love is commanded by God. Not to love is sin. You can show your love to God by loving others. It is inconsistent to say you love God and to not love a fellow Christian who wants to be like God. To love God you must love the brother who is made in His likeness. --Pastor Todd Cook
Come Before His Presence
"Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing." (Psalm 100:2)
"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psalm 100:4)
God's people ought to be a people of prayer, but we should also be a happy people. I believe that God wants us to be happy, and has blessed us abundantly to assure our happiness. Why not then, combine the prayer with the joy? It only makes sense that our God would not want us to come before His throne in a saddened and downcast countenance, but in the Joy of the Lord, which is our real strength. In Psalm 100, we see an excellent approach to God in prayer. Picture with me the Old testament Tabernacle. As one would walk through the gate, they enter the courtyard, then straight on to the Holy place, which is in the tent, and behind that, the Holy of Holies. No one could enter the Most Holy place (Holy of Holies) except the High Priest, and he could only do that once a year, and only with a blood sacrifice. Think of this as we look at Psalm 100:
"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing." (vs. 1,2)
In vs. 1,2 we see the attitude of prayer. No one wants to see someone down in the dumps all the time, but when there is much to rejoice about, let us show our exuberance as we approach the throne of grace. We should "come before His presence with singing," after all, it is He that gives us a "song in the night." We need to also serve Him with a glad heart, in excitement, and anticipation.
"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (v.4)
This verse says it all. As we approach the throne, we are to enter the gate with a thankful heart. There is so much to be thankful for, and thanksgiving is a type of praise and adoration, not to mention an appreciative spirit. Then, as we enter the gates, we find ourselves in a courtyard, this ought to be filled with praise. His name is Holy, and Wonderful, and worthy of all praise. We ought to bless His name. This is not only befitting our great God, but it prepares us better for meeting Him, and laying our petitions at His feet.
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| About Me |
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| June 2006 |
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Name: LaDonna White
