Twenty-seven years ago, I awoke in a Pittsburgh hotel a married man. The previous day was a flurry of activity leading up to our wedding, and after celebrating with family and friends, and making time to visit a few of our relatives who could not come to the ceremony, my wife and I set off to begin our honeymoon and our new life together. We did not know all that was ahead of us, but we knew that God brought us together, that we loved each other and that we were committed to sharing the journey as one.

The days and years since have been an amazing adventure. We went to college together, traveled through the ordination process, served in ministry, became parents and now grandparents. There were times of sickness and health, times that were better and worse, and certainly lean times as well as prosperous times. Just as our vows declared, there were challenges and celebrations, but through it all, we had each other and we had God.

I know some people are called to singleness, and that sometimes relationships break, but I also know, that following God’s plan leads to the blessings that really matter. When the author of the proverb says that the one who, “finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” I can say that it is undeniably true in my life. Looking back, I cannot imagine traveling this path without the woman God chose for me. I know that the hard times were made better because of her presence and good times were all the sweeter because they were shared with her. There is no question I receive God’s favor through my relationship with her.

Relationships can be challenging, but they are also the source of great blessing. Too often, I meet with couples who have lost sight of the blessing of God found in each other. The challenges and obstacles of life slowly drained the joy from them and instead of joining hands and hearts together; facing those challenges with love, commitment and the power of God, they allowed them to come between them. Then, wounded from without and within, the life of their relationship slowly faded. We too, have been through the valleys. We felt the pains of life, and we wounded each other, but we never completely lost sight of the blessing of God found in each other.

The places of God’s blessing are like that. They will be tested and tried, and it takes great effort to remain committed to overcome the temptation to walk, and even run away. It is easy to lose sight of how blessed we are, and in the midst of pain, we can even feel like the source of our blessing is the source of our pain. If we remain committed to God and to God’s work in our lives, and if we will keep the faith even when it is hard, we will be able to look back and see the provision and blessing of God, and we will walk into the future with greater strength and promise. When my wife counsel other couples, we tell them that marriage is a tough job, but worth all of the effort. Walking with God is like that. It is not always easy, but it is definitely worth it. The richness of my life found in my relationship with God and with my wife is worth so much more than the investment I have made. I look forward to the joy of the next 27 years together and beyond.

Take a moment to look at the blessings of God in your life, especially in your relationships. Tend to those special places, even if it is difficult. Do not let them be overcome by life’s challenges, but find strength in them to be the one who overcomes. Make the investment in your relationships, with God and in the places created for your blessing, so that you will receive favor from the Lord and be blessed.

The post A Good, God Thing appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

I still remember our first Christmas with our children. It was an awesome season filled with a special wonder and joy. Our long season of prayerful expectation was now replaced with three precious lives come to share life with us. What a wonderful Christmas that was and what wonderful gifts from God they were and continue to be. We are so blessed.

There was a time when we wondered if we would ever see the blessing of children in our marriage. We had no doubts in God, but our human nature grew weary in waiting. It seemed like we were stuck in a season of expectation that had no end. We were not alone, and we were not the first.

The nation of Israel felt stuck in a similar season. For centuries they waited for God to fulfill the promise of a savior. They heard and received the prophecies with great hope and faith, but they too began to wonder, “How long, O Lord? How long?” Generation after generation waited for the day when God would fulfill the promise and life would be forever changed. That is why the Gospel writer Matthew wrote, “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophets…” (Mt. 1:22)

Matthew had the joy of declaring the prophecy fulfilled. Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, was the living promise awaited for so long. In this precious life was God Himself, come in human form that we might be saved through Him. Jesus was Immanuel, for He was, God with us. The expectation of multitudes was replaced by elation. The time of fulfillment was come.

Many of us come to this special season knowing that behind all of the parties and presents, there is an inner heart of expectation that cries, “How long?” We are seeking the fulfillment of God’s promise in our lives and we wonder if it will ever be more that a dream. At times the celebrations may even make it worse. We wait and we hope, wondering what when God will remember His promise in us.

Take heart! In this season of miracles is the evidence that God keeps His word. God never failed to fulfill the promise and He never will. There is no vision He placed within you that He will not bring to completion. There is no Word of God written that He will not fulfill. Here, in the season of Christmas, we remember that God brings great gifts is small packages. These are more than pretty presents, they are treasures that bring life. Here, looking into the face of Jesus we see the promise and the answer, and we know that God keeps His word.

This is a season of celebration. For some it is the celebration of promises fulfilled, for others, the celebration comes from knowing the answers are on the way. God has given us the deposit of His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance in Him. Lift your eyes and gaze into the face of the one who is here to declare that fulfillment of the promise in on its way. You have a destiny in Jesus Christ, and God is not about to keep you from ever reaching your destiny.

May your Advent and Christmas season be blessed with the fullness of Christ and may you see in Him the heart of God to lead you to the place of blessing.

The post God With Us appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

As we enjoyed our memories and our time together, I began to think about all of the things that helped us get to this point. Lots of advice and lots of mistakes mingled with a load of grace worked to guide us to today.

One of the pieces of counsel that we received, one that made a great impact, was to be sure that we kept our priorities in order. We were told, “remember, God always comes first, then your family and then whatever ministry God calls you to.” We smiled and offered our thanks, but really had no idea how important those words were.

Putting God first truly has made a tremendous difference in our marriage and in our personal lives. Each of us makes time to care for our individual spiritual lives so that we can be in step with God and so that we can have something of value to offer to the other and the marriage. We also seek to make God the head, not only of our lives, but of our life together. God truly is the center of the three-fold cord of our marriage.

One of the greatest challenges to keeping our priorities straight was keeping our relationship and the ministry in their proper order. It is so easy to become caught up with doing the work of God, that you forget that your first calling is not to the ministry, but to your spouse. There is so much important work to do for the kingdom, but if it comes at the sacrifice of the relationships you steward, the point is lost.

Pastor, or not, we are all responsible to be good stewards of all God entrusts to us. God must hold first place, then those we are given to love, and then the work that we are assigned. There is always someone else who can do the work, but there is no one else who can provide the love and care that we give to others.

As you look at your life, maybe even your marriage, can you allow God to direct your priorities? Are you willing to put the most important things first, even if that means sacrifice? If you are, there will be blessing upon blessing in your life. It may not be what you expected, but it will be what God most desires for you.

I am so thankful for all God has given me. I pray I can always care for these blessings in the way God intended. May you also find your joy in following God and sharing life with others, especially those given to share life with you.

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Her eyes still reflect the light
Of the candle we lit together.
Her touch still speaks
It’s language of intimacy and love.

The path we’ve shared
Resembles the one we charted.
While the destination first embraced,
Is still our journey’s goal.

Her love for me grows deeper
As does mine for her,
As our hearts are drawn together
By Love’s unseen hand.

With tomorrow’s dawning, will come,
Yet another moment to see,
The beauty of this life with her,
Embodied in our love

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