...or Adam?
The first husband and wife, both were originally part of the first human being, and were made from that first human, who was also named 'Adam.'
God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life - the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all livestock, wild animals, and small animals." So God created people in His own image. God patterned them after himself, male and female He created them." (Gen 1:26-27)nlt
He made them to be the first man and wife. Each was made to be the compliment of each other. They went from being one person to being two, and then one through marriage.
Yes, I know that marriage didn't exist officially yet... but look at what God said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." (Gen 2:18)nlt "So the Lord God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which He had taken it. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam." (Gen 2:21-22)nlt
First they were one, then two, then they became husband and wife.
God knows what He is doing! We all need a spouse who completes us. That person becomes our Eve (or Adam), and we become one!
So, when I ask, "Have you met Eve (or Adam)?" it is not really a rhetorical question. I am asking if you've met the person who completes you. Is that individual truly "your other half?" This is a very important question to ask.
Ten years ago, on May 19th, I met a wonderful woman through a pen-pal service. I'm aware that is not the best (or safest) way to meet, but she became very special to me, very quickly. Less than two months later, we married.
Neither of us is perfect. Mind you, that is not God's design. Rather, we both fill each others gaps, watch out for the other, love each other and make each other our top priority, after God.
If you meet someone about whom you are wondering, "Is this the right person for me?" Ask yourself this question, "Does he or she complete me in the way God intended?" Passion often blinds us to what God wants. It should be a part of your married life, but should never be the sole reason for marriage. Reflecting God's love is!
See you soon, in Paradise!
Showing posts with label spouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spouse. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Where did the magic go?
You bought that new car you've been wanting. It has everything; built-in entertainment system, rich Corinthian leather interior, auto-parking, whatever... Three years and 50,000 miles later it has become "the old jalopy."
You married the "perfect" spouse, the man or woman of your dreams. He makes a ton of money and can bench-press a Lincoln Town Car. She is a "beauty-queen", an absolute 12 on a 1-10 scale, and can cook anything Betty Crocker ever dreamed up. Five to eight years, a couple of kids, and some "disagrements" later, he/she has become the other half, the "ball and chain," or maybe just a tax deduction.
You met God, came to realize your need for, and you accepted, salvation. You were on fire for God, wanted to bring the whole world to Christ, wanted to bring Him a return on His "talent." A few years later you've become a "most Sundays" church-goer. Give what's affordable, attend when its convenient, but leave me alone, otherwise.
Where did the magic go?
"Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves. If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry - get over it quickly. For when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil." EPH 4:23-27 (tlb)
Our relationship with God is a result of what WE do, and don't do. If we are to keep this relationship alive, we must put forth the effort. God's love is never-ending. He never defaults on His part of the bargain.
A married couple must both put forth the effort, each remembering how much the other really means, and should always mean.
As for the car, keep it, trade it, or junk it.
You married the "perfect" spouse, the man or woman of your dreams. He makes a ton of money and can bench-press a Lincoln Town Car. She is a "beauty-queen", an absolute 12 on a 1-10 scale, and can cook anything Betty Crocker ever dreamed up. Five to eight years, a couple of kids, and some "disagrements" later, he/she has become the other half, the "ball and chain," or maybe just a tax deduction.
You met God, came to realize your need for, and you accepted, salvation. You were on fire for God, wanted to bring the whole world to Christ, wanted to bring Him a return on His "talent." A few years later you've become a "most Sundays" church-goer. Give what's affordable, attend when its convenient, but leave me alone, otherwise.
Where did the magic go?
"Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves. If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry - get over it quickly. For when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil." EPH 4:23-27 (tlb)
Our relationship with God is a result of what WE do, and don't do. If we are to keep this relationship alive, we must put forth the effort. God's love is never-ending. He never defaults on His part of the bargain.
A married couple must both put forth the effort, each remembering how much the other really means, and should always mean.
As for the car, keep it, trade it, or junk it.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Stand Together or Fall Apart
At one time, or another, all married couples experience a situation wherein strain within the marriage threatens our stability. It is very important that we recognize such problems and not let them come between us.
How do we prevent this? It is very important that we each see our spouse for what he or she truly is; the one who really is our "other half."
Marriage ceremonies commonly use the phrase, "the two shall become one." We tend to think it is symbolic, just a "part of the package." But why use these words? What do they imply? Why are they in the ceremony at all?
From Genesis, we know that God made Adam. God then said, "It is not good that man should be alone." He "caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep." While Adam slept, God removed a rib from Adam’s side, from which He formed Eve. At this point, we have the first man and woman. Obviously, Adam and Eve were both originally one. Each was the other’s "other half." Made from the same stock, each completed the other. Adam was Eve’s complement, and she was his. Were they exactly equal? Of course not! That was never God’s intent!
Since then, men and women have often looked at each other, and wondered, "Why can’t he/she see things my way?" or "Doesn’t she/he understand how much this will hurt me?" Questions like this illustrate the fact that men and women do think differently. It helps to understand that we were intended by our Creator to be different from each other.
Women have been especially blessed by God to hold a tiny part of His creation. Within them, human life can start, and grow. But, because a woman is nearly defenseless during the last of her pregnancy and childbirth, her spouse MUST be her defender. This requires him to think linearly. He must see problems and solutions as a line with discrete steps along the way. Since he has to think this way to ensure her survival, she has been better equipped by God to be able to keep track of home, kids, supplies, etc, the things for which most men are usually not as well suited.
Our God has arranged all this most marvelously well. With man as the defender, and woman the caretaker, we stand as two of the three legs of a tripod. God is, and must be, the third leg. We cannot allow anything to pry us apart. If you pull one of the tripod’s legs away from the rest, it will collapse. If we allow either of the human legs to pried away from the other, or from God, the "marriage tripod" will likewise no longer stand. If there is an irritant between yourself, and either God or your spouse, you must get that irritant out from the center, so that you have God and the strength of the marriage to help you deal with it. Take all problems to the Lord in prayer, and rely on His guidance.
Stand together or fall apart. The choice is ours!
See you again soon, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
How do we prevent this? It is very important that we each see our spouse for what he or she truly is; the one who really is our "other half."
Marriage ceremonies commonly use the phrase, "the two shall become one." We tend to think it is symbolic, just a "part of the package." But why use these words? What do they imply? Why are they in the ceremony at all?
From Genesis, we know that God made Adam. God then said, "It is not good that man should be alone." He "caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep." While Adam slept, God removed a rib from Adam’s side, from which He formed Eve. At this point, we have the first man and woman. Obviously, Adam and Eve were both originally one. Each was the other’s "other half." Made from the same stock, each completed the other. Adam was Eve’s complement, and she was his. Were they exactly equal? Of course not! That was never God’s intent!
Since then, men and women have often looked at each other, and wondered, "Why can’t he/she see things my way?" or "Doesn’t she/he understand how much this will hurt me?" Questions like this illustrate the fact that men and women do think differently. It helps to understand that we were intended by our Creator to be different from each other.
Women have been especially blessed by God to hold a tiny part of His creation. Within them, human life can start, and grow. But, because a woman is nearly defenseless during the last of her pregnancy and childbirth, her spouse MUST be her defender. This requires him to think linearly. He must see problems and solutions as a line with discrete steps along the way. Since he has to think this way to ensure her survival, she has been better equipped by God to be able to keep track of home, kids, supplies, etc, the things for which most men are usually not as well suited.
Our God has arranged all this most marvelously well. With man as the defender, and woman the caretaker, we stand as two of the three legs of a tripod. God is, and must be, the third leg. We cannot allow anything to pry us apart. If you pull one of the tripod’s legs away from the rest, it will collapse. If we allow either of the human legs to pried away from the other, or from God, the "marriage tripod" will likewise no longer stand. If there is an irritant between yourself, and either God or your spouse, you must get that irritant out from the center, so that you have God and the strength of the marriage to help you deal with it. Take all problems to the Lord in prayer, and rely on His guidance.
Stand together or fall apart. The choice is ours!
See you again soon, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
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