October 18, 2009

 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians

  Love, Marriage, Family & Blessings 

What is love?

Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  Love will last forever.  There are three things that will endure...faith, hope, and love...and the greatest of these is love.  Let love be your highest goal.  Aim high.  1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13 and 14: 1

What is marriage?

It is a coming together of two souls starting anew with a commitment to each other, to love one another through sorrows and joys.  You must communicate.  Listening first, and then in love, and with love, speak.  You must encourage one another, and be a source of strength in this newly formed relationship.  A shelter from the storms of life.  A foundation from which to build.  You must be first and foremost friends. You must grow...old...not necesssarily in the same ways, but always together...as one...for, and with, one another.  You must live!  And you must die, with comfort, and dignity, and the same new love you had at the start. 

What is family?

The same can be said when two families join.  The positives must be encouraged and embraced, while the negatives sifted and, with a breath of kindness, blown away.  Know this:  wisdom is the kind application of knowledge.

In the heart there is no room for the term 'step' in reference to a child.  In a true family, as we are to God, we are all sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and we are all called to first do for others, and then for ourselves.  You should first give to others what they need...and then what they want.  What you need and want, you should need and want for others.  What you give to yourselves, you should give to another.  Therefore, I advise you to 'Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable, and about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Be considerate in all you do.  Always be full of joy...rejoicing.  Philippians 4: 8b, 4

A blessing.

May you learn to get along happily, whether you have much or little and know how to live on almost nothing or everything.  May you learn the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  Realize you can do everything with the help of God, who will give you the strength you need...if you will call on him.  He is the one who created man and woman and designed the order of marriage.  Then you will have the peace that passes all understanding.  Philippians 4:  11b-13  

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Thoughts...

Yesterday I performed a marriage ceremony.  The above were some of the words I used in the ceremony.*  When I am asked to perform a marriage, I first ask God if it's okay.  I know it's okay and ordained when Holy Spirit gives me the words to say.  And I am honored to bring others together in the name of God and with God.

Although it appears I added or detracted from scripture, that is not the case.  I was given scripture by Holy Spirit to use, but also told what else to say, so, tho' it appears as poetic license as such, the author is still the same...Holy Spirit...and I'm thinking he can do what he likes.  Forgive me for not giving specific scripture references at the start, but in trying to follow a format, there was not enough room.    

I felt it important to share these basic principles especially in the trying times of the world.  I believe we have lost sight of what love, marriage and family is.  I believe we need to be reminded of the blessing as well.  

You may say, "Oh, that's all fine and good for you."  There are many times people think a Minister's life is roses.  Perfect family, great income, wonderful home and friends.  That is not necessarily true.  I don't have any family to speak of...except my wonderful pets.  My family is in heaven.  I haven't seen any relatives in 33 years.  I am no longer married.  I have a current income of less than $500 with a great deal more in expenses.  I am having to rent, as I lost both my home and the property I personally purchased to raise up a chapel, counseling and retreat center, because I laid my life down for another.  My friends I can count on one hand.  Though I do have acquaintances.

As you see, I live a life much like most of you.  But all is not so bleak.  As I look at my life through God's eyes, I do have a family...rather large...tho' not perfect.  It is all of you who read the Word, are a Christian, who I can count as brother, sister, mother, father...and friend.   And I have God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Mary and a bunch of Angels who have to 'deal with me'.  And tho' my monetary income is not great, I have a blessing of the highest level awaiting me....eternal life in heaven.  And God sees to my needs...amazingly to me.   God touches peoples hearts along the way to help me.  I never know if I will have my needs met, when I think like a human.  If I think like a Christian, I know God is there and will help me.  And I was blessed with the ability to rent a lovely little cottage, which could have only been a God moment.  That's a story for another day.

So I want you to look at your life.  I mean really look at your life.  Now I want you to look at your life as God sees it.  Then I want you to reread what Holy Spirit gave me above to start the lives of two people in love.  I want you to read it as if you are marrying Jesus.  Read the love he has for you...he is patient and kind.  Are you...with him?   Are you willing to start anew with a commitment to him?  Are you giving to him what he needs?  

Now I want you to look at your life again as God sees it.  Are you married, in a relationship?  Are you loving as Holy Spirit commands it?  Are you alone with no one?  Let me tell you, you are never alone.  You have Jesus and he is calling out...reaching out to you to become one with you.  Whoever you are, whatever your life circumstance, alone or married, in a relationship or having strayed, it is not too late to call on him and begin anew.  He so longs to fill you with all the love you need...and he so longs to be loved by you.  He will give you the strength you need...if you will call on him.  He will be there in the trenches of life.  He will make all things right.  By his love.  By his embrace.  Become one of the family today, won't you?  Then I can call you Sister, Brother, Friend.             

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Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, thank you for this day.  A day of light, and a day of love, as you enter into my life.  Forgive me of my sins, so that I will be a clean vessel to present to you with my love.  Be gentle with me.  Help me be gentle with you.  Help me do for you and give to you as you give to me.  I want to be fully one with you now.  Come into my life in the fullness of all that you are.  Help me give myself to you freely and completely.  Help me to see life and everyone in it as you see.  Help me see me as you do, and let that be a gift to unfold slowly, so as to not overwhelm, as I see the blemishes, the imperfections and the ways of the world I have been taught.  Now teach me your ways.  I want to love as you do and live as you call me to.  Give me a new life in you for myself, you and others around me.  Make my life be one of giving you glory.  Let my prayers not just be for myself and others...prayers of want, but give me many reasons to pray thanking you.  Let not a day go by that I forget to thank you for my life and everything in it.  Scriptures say to give praise and thanksgiving IN everything.  In the midst of, no matter the circumstance.  Let me do this with a grateful heart, not a bleeding heart.  I love you, Lord.  Thank you for entering into my life today....newly...again.  Let me be overwhelmed with...and always full of joy....rejoicing.  Thank you...thank you again.  To a new life of love...Amen!       

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 Benediction

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resouces he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:16 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our NEW Current Cause

My family and I, and the church, are in crisis and could desperately use your prayers and financial support.  Due to medical concerns, employment crisis, and economic devastation,  I do not have funding to meet everyday expenses right now for the church, or family, and home, nor those necessary to keep this website afloat, for those shut-in or needing spiritual support, nor the ability to help others along the way.  But I am confident that, with your help, balance can be achieved.  As God touches your heart, I hope you will pray earnestly for the church, my family and me, and send any amount of money you can to help.  Please note 'Church and Family' on your check, and, I will see that all funds get divided appropriately.  The church, I and my family, as well as to those to whom we reach out, will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and may God bless you!

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 Checks can be made out to

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Church of the Holy Spirit

P.O. Box 86076

Tucson, Arizona

85754-6076

If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

1-866-402-GIFT

10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Mountain Time

As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'

 "Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

*Although the ceremony is not given here in its entirety, please feel free to use the words provided above for your marriage ceremony.  And let me know, if you do, so I can be praying for you.  May you be richly blessed!

 *