I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU EARLIER

I should not have allowed you to pass by without a single word about my most precious gift. I should not have kept running on the treadmill beside you without sharing a single word. I should not have allowed the … Continue reading →

THE PERFECT LOVE STORY IV

Sitting in his love seat and recalling the times before, my friend believes things in his marriage may be restored. Somehow the soft cushion of this recliner causes him to reminiscence of the days before the confusion. The days before the conflict and as he works through his memory to find, what is at the center of this division, alas the light bulb has turned on and he recalls the suffering of Jesus within the garden of Gethsemane and then the resurrection. If Jesus went through suffering, I must be a fool to think that I am able to escape it, I must also be a double fool not to believe that it has an expiration and with anticipation I can wait for this suffering to have an end.

My phone rings and he is unable to get the words out fast enough. I am planning a trip for my wife and it is going to be spectacular. I am also returning to church and I am going to pour on the love. She is going to be dripping with so much love and I will wait patiently for the results. The cross for this relationship will be over. Apprehensive of his quick excitement, but not saying a word I recall the scripture where Paul discusses about husbands and wives being unequally yoked and if the unbelieving spouse desires to stay within the marriage let them. Why? You never know if they may be led to Christ by your behavior. Needless to say the trip that he plans, takes them to the shores of cocoa beach.

While at the beach as the husband prepares their spot, his wife needs to use the rest room and so she goes to the rest the restroom and runs into an old friend. It had been 6 years since they last saw one another. As they embraced and asked the proverbial question what has been going on and how is life, her friend quickly reveals that she has met the Lord. Now she is taken back by her boldness and odd change because she had always been known to be to smart for Christianity. After the initial shock she tells her about a gathering with other church members on the beach later in the evening and that she is more than welcome to come, in fact, you have not seen me and must come. She accepts the invitation and returns to her husband with the news.

He could not be more excited by this turn of events. It was like the heavens opened and showed him tonight is your night. It was surely his night that night. His wife went to the gathering and met some great people and experienced something she never did before and gave her life to Jesus. She wanted the same thing her friend had found. My friend is funny, because he tells me that she also gave him the time of his life within the bed as well. It was the marriage icing on the wonderful cake established by Jesus. I could go on about how his cross is over at this juncture, but that’s his story not my own.

photo by Vanessa

THE PERFECT LOVE STORY

A man just confessed to me that he is in love with someone who has turned his world upside down. This woman that he saw from a distance would soon become his wife. He knew from the moment his eye lids lifted that the vision before him was so stunning and so magnificent his lips began to quiver. I am telling you this woman reminded him of Eve in the garden, Samson’s Delilah, Abraham’s old attractive wife, and Jacob’s Rachel. If you recall Jacob within the pages of scripture he loved Rachel at first sight. This woman was equipped with all the bells and whistles of a 7 series BMW. She was in all practical terms the perfect woman. This man mutters some words only a gifted linguist can recognize and she still says yes to whatever he just said. Exchanging the proverbial number and parting ways this man overjoyed by the encounter goes to the mall to update his clothing.

Who would have guessed that the mall he chose and the time in which to go, this Rachel like woman would also be there too. It just so happens, they both were looking to update their clothing. He confronts her again and they chat a little and then they part again, only this time a date is confirmed at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Delighted to make reservations and to plan a wonderful evening of getting to know his better half, nothing could be so perfect, so grand and spectacular.

So the dinner date is arranged and this man and his perfect woman are out on a date. Shortly into the date this man finds out this woman does not believe in God. He knows that the Bible says that a man or woman should not be unequally yoked, but he reminds himself that she is perfect the way she is. A little disturbed by this because he is Christian, he decides to continue the relationship, because what would Jesus do? Get her saved. Right?

They have been dating for six months now and he is ready to marry her. She is not saved and his attempts to present Christ were met with let’s agree to disagree. This man finds himself at the decision point when purchasing the ring, but he keeps recalling those light brown eyes and those perfect bells and whistles.

So he plunges in and they get married and the honeymoon could not be better. They stayed at their beautiful home, because the wedding was so expensive there was no money left over for a trip to Europe or the Bahamas.

The fire of passion fades and the flames are dialed down and this man gets more zealous about his relationship with Jesus. His wife is not pleased with his time at church, as she does not attend, due to the fact she does not believe in God. Then something happens…

Please comment – should they have gotten married? If no or yes please answer why?

photo by Vanessa

I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU EARLIER

I should not have allowed you to pass by without a single word about my most precious gift. I should not have kept running on the treadmill beside you without sharing a single word. I should not have allowed the door to close behind me without taking a second look. I should not have allowed you to continue reading that book on the line at Starbucks, without asking you about it’s purpose and to warn you of its danger.

I am instructed to care and love my neighbor as myself and yet I keep passing moments by. Saying within myself, I should have told you earlier. The moment our eyes met and you said hi, I should have not allowed the moment to slip by. I should have told you about my Savior Lord and King. I should have told you about how he died for me. I should have told you that my sins are erased and the debt has been paid. When I saw that you did not have enough change, I should have rushed in and paid. Then gently share his name. I should have told you earlier.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

The idea of watching over your responsible area is not new. The cashier watches her draw. The mailman watches his back for unfriendly dogs. The soldier watches himself while driving, through Kabul, for roadside bombs. The TSA agent watches personnel in the airport. Men watch attractive women as they pass by. Watching and looking and perceiving and internalizing are all apart of the daily walk of an individual. I know I walk around with certain thoughts within my mind about each and every situation I watch, but there may be a difference in the way I watch because something has affected my vision. You may already know and perceive before I ever mention it.

I understand that “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain (Psalm 127:1). The very action I take from this realization is the fact that God says “I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me (Proverbs 8:17 (DRB). Why is it important for us to find God in the morning? By the way, this morning does not necessarily mean 600am, whatever time your day begins. Your day begins at 500pm that is your morning. It is important to find God, because we know that Vengeance belongeth unto him, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Our action should be to pray and seek God’s face before we leave the house. Our reaction is to understand that God is our defense the weapons we use are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds. We fight with prayer, praise, and worship of an almighty God. I recall a story where I was unable to watch my car in the parking lot, and this girl hits my vehicle leaving a long red streak on the side of my car. I am not in love with my vehicle, but Jesus, but it is tool I desire to be kept clean. Her car was the only red car in the parking lot, I knew it was her car, but I did not confront her, I did not pray, an imprecatory prayer, but did my normal thing. Three days later her car gets totaled. It could be unrelated, or could be. He (God) will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber; (Psalm 121:3).

If you are children of Jesus then pray (watch) and go about your business and the Lord will sort out and handle your issues and you will not have to raise a finger. I have many stories where I did not have to raise a finger. I live to please Jesus and he in turn pleases me.

If you are not a child of Jesus this story is not for you. This story should not encourage you. You are dead in your sins and need to repent. Jesus saves all those who come to him expecting him. Then by all means join in.