Blank Pages ... in anticipation of being married for 50 years

Fifty years yielding

to our precious Savior,

we savor His flavor,

forever in view.

                Setting the stage

                for more years to unfold,

                love more treasured than gold

                and His mercies anew.

Books filled with pages,

each book overflowing,

each paragraph showing

great things He has done.

                Yet blank pages linger

                and thus will remain

                unwritten and plain

                ‘til new days are begun.

Blank pages bursting     

with intrigue and mystery

of all that makes history

yet to be penned.

                Bare pages anxious

                for thrilling occurrence

                with joyful assurance

                fresh ink will commend.

Fresh pages aching

to tell of His glory

in every new story

that steps into shoes.

                Clear pages flowing

                in ceaseless unveiling

                of days never failing

                to bear the Good News.

~ae

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ,

if there is any consolation of love,

if there is any fellowship of the Spirit,

if any affection and compassion,

make my joy complete by being of the same mind,

maintaining the same love,

united in spirit,

intent on one purpose."

~ Philippians 2:1,2

The Heavens Declare

Fingering my wedding ring,

my heart reminisced with joy

through the happy years we have enjoyed together,

my husband and I.

Praying for other couples,

my heart delighted in treasured relationships

and yearned for healing

where promises have been broken.

Listening on Sunday morning,

my heart was stirred

as the pastor relayed what God’s Word

has to offer regarding

this most tender topic.

“Marriage is to be held in honor among all…”

~Hebrews 13:4

Gazing into the night sky,

my heart was electrified

by a rare and marvelous sight…

Refraction,

moonlight,

positioning,

temperature,

hexagon ice crystals,

atmospheric conditions…

A Moon Ring!

Where the immeasurably vast

meets the delicately intricate

in precise, simultaneous conditions,

a heavenly masterpiece

lingers silently…

…Marriage.

“The ring around the Moon is caused by the refraction of Moonlight (which, of course, is reflected sunlight) from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. The shape of the ice crystals results in a focusing of the light into a ring. Since the ice crystals typically have the same shape, namely a hexagonal shape, the Moon ring is almost always the same size.”

http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonring/

The Good Wine

There was a wedding in Cana…

a really big wedding.

Several large waterpots were needed

to fulfill the Jewish ceremony of purification;

“Now there were six stone waterpots set there

for the Jewish custom of purification,

containing twenty or thirty gallons each.”

~John 2:6

Let’s see…

That would be about 120 to 180 gallons.

Water was to be poured over the hands

of each person present at the celebration

signifying cleansing

from defilement encountered throughout daily life.

“Jesus said to them (the servants),

‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ 

So they filled them up to the brim.” 

~John 2:7

…and He turned the water,

all 180 gallons of it,

into wine.

Mary and the servants were the only ones

who were aware of this miraculous transformation.

Why did Jesus change the water into wine?

When the original supply of wine ran out,

Jesus’ mother brought it to His attention.

After all, it was of the utmost importance

to protect the host of the wedding

from embarrassment.

But why would Jesus think

that they would need

180 gallons of wine?

Isn’t that a bit excessive

even for a big wedding?

“And Jesus said to her,

“Woman, what does that have to do with us?

My hour has not yet come.’”

~John 2:4

Could it be that the miracle had

nothing

to do with honoring the host?

...or compensating for a failed family obligation?

…or stepping in to help someone save face?

…or meeting a social obligation?

…or valuing the expectation of celebration merriment?

…or even thinking that people would become thirsty?

Could it be that the miracle had

everything

to do with cleansing?

The headwaiter,

perhaps without even realizing

the significance of his words,

acknowledged the truth

which was displayed

in the fruition of this miracle…

“…Every man serves the good wine first,

And when the people have drunk freely,

Then he serves the poorer wine;

But you have kept the good wine until now.”

~John 2:10

The good wine replaced the water

intended to demonstrate our purification,

our cleansing,

our decontamination,

our refinement

through His blood that would,

in three short years,

be shed on the cross.

The Good Wine…

filling every empty vessel

to the brim

with exceedingly more than enough

for all who are thirsty.

The Good Wine…

the extraordinary provision

enabling us to join in the magnificent wedding celebration

as the Lord of Glory comes for His bride.

“This beginning of His signs

Jesus did in Cana of Galilee,

and manifested His glory,

and His disciples believed in Him.” 

~John 2:11

“In the same way (giving thanks)

He took the cup after supper, saying,

‘This cup

is the new covenant in My blood;

do this,

as often as you drink it,

in remembrance of Me.’” 

~I Corinthians 11:25

The Dance

She was young and beautiful

with flowers in her hair

and the wind in her wings.

Her father delighted

in her breathtaking loveliness.

But one morning

she was unable to stand,

to step, to walk.

Her father’s heart felt

intense compassion.

He prayed for her

that one day

she would be clothed in white.

He would walk her down the aisle

and offer her hand in marriage

to the love of her life.

...and he would dance with her.

…many years passed…

She was young and beautiful

with flowers in her hair

and the wind in the wings of her heart.

Her father delighted

in her breathtaking loveliness.

Her struggles were many,

her courage challenged,

and with each endeavor to stand

to step, to walk,

she grew to depend upon the Strength

that was made perfect in her weakness.

Then one day

her father’s prayers were answered.

He walked her down the aisle

and offered her hand in marriage

to the love of her life.

...and he danced with her!

God’s people were young and beautiful

with flowers in their hair

and the wind in their wings.

The Father delighted

in their breathtaking loveliness

and said, “It is good.”

But they were unable to stand,

to step, to walk.

The Father’s heart felt

intense compassion.

He planned for them

that one day

they would be clothed in white

His people would become

the church,

the bride

which He purposed her to be.

He would walk her down the aisle

and offer her hand in marriage

to the Love of her life…

...and He would dance with her.

...many years passed....

The church was young and beautiful

with flowers in her hair

and the wind in the wings of her heart.

Her Father delighted

in her breathtaking loveliness,

for in the church, His glory was revealed.

The church’s struggles were many,

her courage challenged,

and with each endeavor to stand

to step, to walk,

the church grew to depend upon the Strength

that was made perfect in her weakness.

One day

the Father will walk the church down the aisle

and offer her hand

to the One Who will come for His bride;

the Father’s own Son,

Jesus,

the Love of her life.

...and the Father will dance with her!

"And they will see the Son of Man

coming on the clouds of the sky 

with power and great glory.

And He will send forth His angels

with a great trumpet 

and they will gather together His elect

from the four winds,

from one end of the sky to the other..

...but of that day and hour

no one knows,

not even the angels of heaven, 

nor the Son,

but the Father alone."

~Matthew 24:30,31,36

One

“Why don’t you take this half of the car, Honey, and drive to town to do your shopping.  I’ll take the other half of the car and run my errands, o.k.?  B’bye… Have a nice time!” 

This is my husband’s creative description of what oneness in marriage is not.

A husband and wife who view their roles as

functioning better together

than when they operate independent from each other

are missing one simple fact: 

they are one.

One is one. 

When one is divided, it is not two.

When one is divided, each piece is a fraction,

incomplete and inoperable,

unable to function as a whole

because each fraction is not a whole.

Marriage represents the oneness of Christ and His beloved church;

expressing and acting upon His desire, self-sacrifice,

and unconditional love for her. 

Once the bond is established through salvation,

there is no separating or becoming amputated from God’s embrace;

His promise is never to leave me nor forsake me. 

This promise holds true for each believer

who enters into the bond of His love.

He is Life.

This attribute, along with every other aspect of God,

becomes my lifeblood

which flows throughout every part of me.

His Spirit absorbs and saturates the void of my soul,

likened to a cloth dipped into colorful dye.

It is not possible to break this unit into two fractions,

to separate me from God or God from me.

There is no line of division.

Can a heart be ripped into two halves and continue to function?

Can a brain be sawn in two and proceed to think whole thoughts?

One being contains one heart, one mind, one soul.

Each holy union of marriage

carries within its framework the solemn responsibility

of representing the union of Christ and His Beloved.

Yet all people who fill these shoes

are imperfect, incapable,

unqualified.

Oneness in marriage

is not made more whole by trying harder,

is not gauged by notions of what is good enough,

is not weighed by who serves whom better or more.

At the moment they are declared husband and wife

and the husband lifts the veil

to see his bride’s beauty,

just so,

God’s provisions of unfathomable mercy,

of undeserved grace,

of profound forgiveness,

unveil the mystery of oneness in marriage;

each imperfect mate serving the other imperfectly,

together wholly invested in His Perfect Love.

One plus one equals…  one.

~ae

His Voice

His voice

strong

winning

soothing

reassuring

compelling

comforting

encouraging

I love hearing him

think out loud

speak to a gathering

talk to me on the phone

read aloud to the children

share deep thoughts with friends

engage in conversation with strangers

Even now

after three decades

his voice

still

captivates me

~ae

“This is my beloved and this is my friend.”

~Song of Solomon 5:16

Submission vs. Inferiority

Following are a few treasures I gleaned from a sermon…

I am saved through grace,

I am blessed through obedience.

Submission and leadership have

nothing to do with inferiority or superiority;

submission is an honorable role,

as is leadership.

If submission equaled inferiority,

then Jesus would be considered

inferior to God the Father.

It simply is not so.

"For it is God who is at work in you, 

both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  

~Philippians 2:13

One soup on gnat I'm ~ Translation

Upon request, the following is the story of “One soup on gnat I’m”

translated into (somewhat) proper English grammar. 

(*see previous blog entry 1/27/11)

A special thanks to Miss Communication

for her authoritative expertise in this regard.  ~ae

***************

 STORY, PARAGRAPH #1:

   One soup on gnat I’m, their whir too guise; Mr. Meaner end Mr. Ree.  Bow thud aye son thus aim twin tease icks fee mail aqua tenses.  Olive thug earl sad inner resting care actor wrist ticks witch a track did eat shove thumb ask you lunge end dare pea pole.

TRANSLATION:

   Once upon a time, there were two guys; Mr. Meaner (misdemeanor) and Mr. Ree (mystery).  Both had eyes on the same twenty-six female acquaintances.  All of the girls had interesting characteristics which attracted each of the masculine gender people.

STORY, PARAGRAPH #2:

   Theme end id knot no witch won swear though write gore rills forth air low van effect shin.  List inning tooth auger rolls swan mourning, thesis swat wassa fur herd…

TRANSLATION:

   The men did not know which ones were the right girls for their love and affection.  Listening to the girls one morning, this is what was overheard…

(* The twenty-six maidens occupy 

this portion of the story in conversation.  

Then the story continues as follows…)

STORY, PARAGRAPH #3:

   Wooden shun owe wit!  Though skies argon a bee soda lighted tube eel long toss hutch a door ring why fees!  Yukon pro bib league us switch once tern doubt tube either Mrs.

TRANSLATION:

   Wouldn’t you know it!  Those guys are gonna be so delighted to belong to such adoring wifeys!  You can probably guess which ones turned out to be their Mrs.

STORY, PARAGRAPH #4:

   Thee yen.... duh!

TRANSLATION:

  The end!

 ***************

*DEEP ANALYSIS:

   Once they enter the union of marriage, the girls drop their title of "Miss".  In this story, the happy ending displays the concept that Understanding and Communication are extremely valuable in marriage.  These actions are able to add richness to the Mystery of marriage, and can be used to meet the offensiveness of each Misdemeanor with love, forgiveness and encouragement.

*SHALLOW ANALYSIS:

   Watch chew thing can watt use ache an easel lee beam isn’t urp pretty id... oar law stint ran slay shun.

~ae

He Died for Me

"He died for me," she said, her voice firm, "and I have to live for him."

By Molly Hennessy-Fiske and David Zucchino, Los Angeles Times

January 17, 2011

Quoting Mavanell "Mavy" Stoddard, whose husband shielded her from a gunman’s attack.

This very real event captured the nation’s attention

with the sobering reality;

we met face to face with

more than a vivid picture of our own mortality.

Why was this murder different

than other tragic losses of life?

Mrs. Stoddard lives

because her husband sacrificed himself

for her.

This action is

not within the grasp of logic,

not in keeping with independence,

not declaring human rights or privileges.

And it was not a kneejerk reaction.

Mr. Stoddard began preparing

for this moment

when he first looked into her eyes,

when he said, “I do…until death do us part…”

when he chose to love her sacrificially

day by day,

through the big decisions in their marriage,

and moment by moment

through the little things of life.

He was well-versed in the art

of sacrifice.

If only he didn’t need to… but he did.

There was another,

a very real event which captured my attention

with the sobering reality;

I met face to face with

more than a vivid picture of my own mortality.

I live

because Jesus sacrificed Himself

for me.

~ae

“For one will hardly die for a righteous man;

though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”

~Romans 5:7,8

She said, "Yes!"

"Love is patient,       love is kind

and is not jealous;     love does not brag

and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;

it does not seek its own, is not provoked,

does not take into account a wrong suffered,

does not rejoice in unrighteousness,

but rejoices with the truth;

bears all things,

believes 

all 

things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.  Love never fails."
~I Corinthians 13

"God is love..."  ~I John 4:16

Congratulations on your Engagement...

We love you, James & Jessa!

Blank Pages

Happy 50th Anniversary, Dad & Mom E.  May God bless you richly as you continue to walk hand in hand with Jesus and with each other.  I love you gigantically!

*       *       *       *       *

Fifty years yielding

to our precious Savior,

we savor His flavor,

forever in view.

                Setting the stage

                for more years to unfold,

                love more treasured than gold

                and His mercies anew.

Books filled with pages,

each book overflowing,

each paragraph showing

great things He has done.

                Yet blank pages linger

                and thus will remain

                unwritten and plain

                ‘til new days are begun.

Blank pages bursting     

with intrigue and mystery

of all that makes history

yet to be penned.

                Bare pages anxious

                for thrilling occurrence

                with joyful assurance

                fresh ink will commend.

Fresh pages aching

to tell of His glory

in every new story

that steps into shoes.

                Clear pages flowing

                in ceaseless unveiling

                of days never failing

                to bear the Good News.

~ae

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, 

if there is any consolation of love, 

if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, 

if any affection and compassion, 

make my joy complete by being of the same mind, 

maintaining the same love, 

united in spirit, 

intent on one purpose."  

                                           ~ Philippians 2:1,2

How Do I Love Thee?

Bring her flowers, bring her leis

On plain old ordinary days.

Plan an extra special date

For time to be with just your mate.

Call to let her know you care.

Scratch her back or brush her hair.

Kiss her forehead, simply hold her.

Put your arm around her shoulder.

Look into her eyes and smile.

Take some time to chat a while.

Put kids to bed, move the cars,

Lay on the driveway, watch the stars.

Together read the Word and pray.

Ask her what she needs today.

Speak kindly of her to others.

Write a note to thank her mother.

Buy her favorite things to munch,

Like purple grapes or Captain Crunch.

Express your love in all these ways,

And she’ll respect you all your days!

~ae

Husbands, Cherish Your Wives

C

She left all behind,

She became yours alone.

Cleave to her; she is

Your flesh and your bone.

   H

She may feel weary,

Frustrated or stressed.

Reach out to help her,

And she will be blessed.

      E

Her tender heart yearns

For your gentle strong arms.

Embrace her, protect her

From all of life’s harms.

         R

Maintaining the household

Can be a full plate.

Refresh her with gifts

Or a nice dinner date.

            I

She’s gifted, creative,

And very unique.

Inspire her; give her heart

Courage to speak.

               S

She is God’s gift,

A valuable treasure.

Seek ways to serve;

Don’t keep score or measure.

                  H

She represents you,

She carries your name.

As you honor her,

You are honored the same.