DEARLY BELOVED

"Dearly Beloved"
Reading: Colossians 3.13

I had a very unique experience a couple of weeks ago. I performed a wedding ceremony at the Tuesday night rehearsal of our Worship Band. Carl, our drummer, married Carol; his second marriage, her first. What was unique was not the location or surroundings, it was the reason. They have a formal ceremony and reception planned for June--the big event and its party. But before that time arrives, Carol's lease ran out. It was not possible to move back to her parents' home--but Carol and Carl did not want to move in together before the wedding. They did not consider it appropriate to their Christian faith to "live together" for 7-8 weeks before their marriage was consecrated.

As a pastor, I need to tell you that this is indeed a unique attitude. Many people live together these days, sometimes years before getting married. I know some pastors who require them to move out before and until the ceremony occurs. I have always considered this a legalistic charade that really honors no one, just as I believe "living together" is not as committed as saying "I do" before God and the witnesses. I'm just glad when couples decide to make the commitment real and get married--finally!

A marriage is a sacred covenant. It is a covenant between a man and a woman made before God. It is a covenant with God as well. A covenant says as much about the covenant-maker as the one who receives the blessings of that covenant. A Christian marriage is a "setting apart" of two people for the purpose of making a new family--a one flesh relationship where the love of God is manifested in a special way. A relationship that should take on the character of the One Who first loved us and Whose love makes the marriage relationship possible. In a morally confused world, a marriage that is committed to reflecting the character of Christ can bring great praise to God. But the heart of a Christian marriage is rooted in what you believe about God and the sacredness of your relationship with Him.

Somehow saying that nothing about our relationship with God should reflect badly on God is indeed a unique attitude. Whether married or single, our actions, our decisions, do reflect upon God if we are known as God's people.

This devotional is published on behalf of the Church of God of Landisville and its friends. (C) 2009 by Stephen L Dunn. All rights reserved.

TORNADO ALLEY

Tornado Alley
Reading: Philippians 4.6-7

Last night there were more than 23 tornadoes in the Midwest. For many years I Iived in the area of that region known as Tornado Alley. It was a place where those monster storms could come roaring through the night capricously reaping destruction. A house would be gone here, a row of trees there, a car dumped four streets over; and a dog house left untouched and unmoved. When the summer days were hot and a cold front started arriving, you began to watch the skies for thunderstorms rolling in. A storm front could easily carry those ominous funnel clouds that would drop to earth in a heartbeat to start a path of destruction.

The irony, however, was that people living in Tornado Alley did not live in fear nor were they preoccupied with the possibility of sudden disaster. By and large you simply went about your daily business in normal ways even in storm season. Anxiety would only make life unbearable. It would drive you to the storm cellars instead of the fields where there was work to be done. Yes, you were alert and yes, you made provisions for a quick trip to shelter when conditions became threatening; but you went about life with confidence and contentment.

The Bible warns us that an anxious spirit is a destructive one. Philippians 4 tells us, "Be anxious about nothing." This is not a Pollyannish naivete. It is a confidence in God's providence and protection and provision. "But in everything with thanksgiving, present your requests you to God, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

A healthy Christian is not anxious. A mature Christian approaches all situations placing their trust in God. This does not mean we are not concerned or careful, but we do not let worry define our lives. We have Jesus Christ.

This devotional is published on behalf of the Church of God of Landisville and its friends (C) 2009 by Stephen L Dunn. All rights reserved

MISCARRIAGE

"Miscarriage"
Reading: Isaiah 61.1-3

"...to comfort those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve ...
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair."

Last Tuesday my baby lost a baby. My youngest daughter Katie was four month's pregnant. She and Jason were happily anticipating the birth of their first child. But the doctors told her Tuesday that a miscarriage had occurred.

"Miscarried" is an interesting and disturbing word. It is intended to soften the reality that a life has ended prematurely. A life that a mother and father have partnered with God to create. A life that already has reality in the womb. A life to which the parents, especially the mother, are already connected.

It doesn't really soften the pain. The immediate impact is sometimes devastating, in fact.
Time will tell how it will affect Katie and Jason. My prayer is that it will draw them closer to one another and to God. My oldest daughter Christi also suffered a miscarriage in her first pregnancy. My son-in-law Tim consoled her with a blessed response, "God knew something was wrong and decided to take care of it now." Whether his answer eased her pain, I don't know but his words were true. After Christi's recovery they started over and my grandson Jake is now over a year old. His presence has now become a light of God's love for their lives.

A miscarriage is one of those terrible valleys of shadow of death David described to us. He never said such places were not painful, heart-wrenching--but he reminded us that we are never alone when we must walk that path. God walks even more closely with us when we must take uncertain steps in those shadowy valleys. And any grief we experience, He will comfort and remove--replacing it with His joy.