The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
"Celebrate in the way that only a husband and wife can..."
These words were written in a card that we received on Sunday at our anniversary reception from long-time friends, Andy and Joy Morey.
Written words get my attention. More than the spoken word, they jump out at me and marinate in my brain for hours or days. Sometimes longer. The words Joy wrote (I could tell it was her handwriting, not Andy's) stuck with me.
"Celebrate in the way that only a husband and wife can..."
That is a really super-charged statement because lots of people in other relationships believe their celebrations are really, really good.
What takes place between husband and wife though, is not just good. God called it good, yes. And He also calls it a mystery. And mystery makes all the difference.
It will forever transcend other alternatives.
No matter how culture or law or anything else changes. Worldly vicissitude can't touch what is holy. What God has joined together.
People can get mad. They can be angry, protest or do whatever they want to do to challenge it. They can hate what God has blessed and still that will never take away His blessing.
It is what it is!
To further add to the blessing of a Godly marriage, the meaning and the depth becomes stronger as the years go by. Those who are celebrating five years experience something deeper than they do at fifteen or twenty five or fifty. Shared history is very powerful. Shared Godly history even more so.
What God originated He also blessed. It didn't start with the government, it started with God.
I share this not to be mystical or funny although some might take it that way. I'm risking countless double entendres and jokes not to mention backlash from those who don't agree. And still I speak the truth because it compels me.
The love of a husband and wife and the meaning of what and how they celebrate will always carry an unexplainable and all surpassing measure of intimacy than any other relationship because it is both natural and supernatural. It is the only earthly relationship that has this intrinsic quality.
What is blessed by God can't fully be understood by man. Those who experience it don't even fully grasp it!
And it definitely isn't understood by carnal man. To many it seems unfair. Why would He limit this unfathomable intimacy to husbands and wives? The Bible itself refers to it as a mystery. Ephesians 5:31-32 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery..."
I was reminded of this as my husband and I were celebrating last night. Yes, as only a husband and wife can.
I was moved to tears.
Not sad ones.
Grateful ones. Of course I explained that. :)
The awesomeness of the mystery was and is overwhelming to me.
I don't cry over a lot of things in life and when I do there's always a significant reason.
Earlier in the afternoon Larry posted, "Exactly 25 years ago at this time I kissed my bride. I still call her my bride..." on his Facebook status.
Throughout the day we were reminded of what we were doing 25 years earlier and we talked about it. Later in the evening without even really planning it, we ended up going to go to bed at about the same time that we did on our wedding night.
We talked about what the first time was like.
And what it's like now.
Me: So are you gonna update your Facebook status? You could say, "Exactly 25 years ago I made love with my bride for the first time. I still make love with her today..."
Him: Hmmmmmm...no.
Laughter.
Holding each other in the quietness.
Him: This is just one more thing I love about you... [referring to my grateful tears...]
Me: Thanks.
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