The last couple of entries, I’ve talked a lot about how a
ten-year chapter of life has come to a distinct close. The thing about endings
is this: every ending means a new
beginning is just around the corner.
That’s a very positive and hopeful statement.
ten-year chapter of life has come to a distinct close. The thing about endings
is this: every ending means a new
beginning is just around the corner.
That’s a very positive and hopeful statement.
I can tell you this much, our new chapter began with a full
week of unpacking, sorting, organizing, remodeling, storing, and filling nooks
and crannies. It began with an
encouraging over-night visit from a former dorm son, now teaching university in
Somalia. It began with tying up a lot of
loose ends (bills paid, checks written, horses retrieved from summer pasture,
lawn mowed, sprinklers re-set, ministry newsletters in the mail). It began with an anniversary – and, this is
where I want to settle this morning.
week of unpacking, sorting, organizing, remodeling, storing, and filling nooks
and crannies. It began with an
encouraging over-night visit from a former dorm son, now teaching university in
Somalia. It began with tying up a lot of
loose ends (bills paid, checks written, horses retrieved from summer pasture,
lawn mowed, sprinklers re-set, ministry newsletters in the mail). It began with an anniversary – and, this is
where I want to settle this morning.
I have loved this man of mine for almost 43 years. For 39 of those years, we’ve been
married. I can’t imagine life without
him. I love him more today than
yesterday…and I’m fairly certain (based on our track record) that I will love
him more tomorrow than today. Yet,
marriage statistics in our country are not thriving. All around us marriages are dissolving. We haven’t had a perfect marriage, by any
means, but the Lord, in his goodness, is “perfecting” the relationship we
have. What has been the key? I was pondering that question as I opened up
my Bible to begin a new Scripture-journey into the book of Matthew.
married. I can’t imagine life without
him. I love him more today than
yesterday…and I’m fairly certain (based on our track record) that I will love
him more tomorrow than today. Yet,
marriage statistics in our country are not thriving. All around us marriages are dissolving. We haven’t had a perfect marriage, by any
means, but the Lord, in his goodness, is “perfecting” the relationship we
have. What has been the key? I was pondering that question as I opened up
my Bible to begin a new Scripture-journey into the book of Matthew.
If anyone had a relationship doomed to failure it would be
Mary and Joseph (see Matthew chapter 1:18-25).
They had so many strikes against them: an engagement planned by their
families, a pregnancy out of wedlock, an unbelievable story, a non-typical
pregnancy, stress upon stress, rejection, a peculiar calling, forced travel in
a Roman occupied land, no hospital in which to give birth, let alone a room to
sleep in – and this was before the baby came.
Yet, one thing struck me as I read through that passage. It came in the words of the angel who told
Joseph, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they
shall call his name Immanuel, which translated means, ‘God with us.’” Those words stirred a new courage inside
Joseph, a courage that lasted for the duration of his marriage to Mary. They were words that rang reminiscent of
similar ones to a man named Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous! Do not tremble or be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).” Who can be afraid with Immanuel? What can creep in and tear apart when clinging
to Immanuel? Nothing is impossible with
God!
Mary and Joseph (see Matthew chapter 1:18-25).
They had so many strikes against them: an engagement planned by their
families, a pregnancy out of wedlock, an unbelievable story, a non-typical
pregnancy, stress upon stress, rejection, a peculiar calling, forced travel in
a Roman occupied land, no hospital in which to give birth, let alone a room to
sleep in – and this was before the baby came.
Yet, one thing struck me as I read through that passage. It came in the words of the angel who told
Joseph, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they
shall call his name Immanuel, which translated means, ‘God with us.’” Those words stirred a new courage inside
Joseph, a courage that lasted for the duration of his marriage to Mary. They were words that rang reminiscent of
similar ones to a man named Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous! Do not tremble or be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).” Who can be afraid with Immanuel? What can creep in and tear apart when clinging
to Immanuel? Nothing is impossible with
God!
As I glance back at 39 years, the one unchanging
denomination has been God-With-Us. We have
lived in uncertainty, yet absolutely
certain of the ONE who is ordaining every step. In
spite of the ups and downs of life, the stress, the difficulties, the travel to
foreign lands, the calling on our life, we have trusted in the fact that
God.Is.With.Us. In this one Word, Immanuel, we
have always, always been on the same page. Just as with Joseph, & Mary, it stirs courage within us to keep on keeping on.
denomination has been God-With-Us. We have
lived in uncertainty, yet absolutely
certain of the ONE who is ordaining every step. In
spite of the ups and downs of life, the stress, the difficulties, the travel to
foreign lands, the calling on our life, we have trusted in the fact that
God.Is.With.Us. In this one Word, Immanuel, we
have always, always been on the same page. Just as with Joseph, & Mary, it stirs courage within us to keep on keeping on.
So, this new season of life has started, just as we begin our 40th year of marriage.
I trust my man, because he trusts Immanuel. Without trust, there can be no marriage. Without trust, there would be no new chapter to write. So, the story continues…
I trust my man, because he trusts Immanuel. Without trust, there can be no marriage. Without trust, there would be no new chapter to write. So, the story continues…
