Dear Fellow Children of God,
In the last two weekends 3 young couples have been
married at St. John. Saturday, July 19, Nathan Bower and Maranda Williamson were
joined in marriage before God. On Friday,
July 25, St. John members Kyle Kolberg and Marcy Eggers were married . And the wedding for Katherine Parker and
Robert Wight is/was Saturday, July 26. These three weddings are part of a total of
six weddings for St. John members this year.
As
I participate in these weddings, as pastor for many years for most of these
young adults, I have been asking people to pray for them. Marriage is not only part of God’s plan for
His creation, but reflects God’s relationship with His Church in Jesus. So, in marriage a couple acknowledges God’s
plan in their lives and has an opportunity to grow in their relationship with
their Creator and Savior.
In Genesis 2, in the teaching about the creation of our
world, we read. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, and they will become one flesh.”
(Genesis 2:24) Marriage is God’s plan for the people of the
world. According to God’s teaching in
Genesis 2, marriage provides companionship, love, and support for the
couple. Think about it. As we face the trials and challenges of life
in the world around us, what a blessing to be able to return home where,
according to God’s plan, we are loved and supported.
Marriage also provides
a safe and nurturing place for children to be raised. A child is the ultimate way in which the two “become
one flesh.” As a father I am constantly amazed
at the wisdom of God to provide two
parents. I do not always know how best
to love and raise my children. But the
combined wisdom of a father and mother, two individuals with their own ideas
and personalities and faith, helps to give children both discipline and nurture
as they grow.
In Ephesians 5, after
10 verses about the relationship of a husband and wife, we read, “32 This is a profound mystery-- but I am
talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love
his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
In other words, the
relationship of Jesus and His Church is like the relationship of husband and
wife. What a blessing for all of us to
know that the sacrificial love of Jesus is deep and passionate like the love of
a husband for His wife, even more so.
Actually, the best help a couple can have to bless their marriage is to
know and grow in God’s love and forgiveness for them in Jesus.
But, do you realize
how much all of us are blessed when marriages and homes are healthy? Marriage is not just a personal relationship
between two people. Marriage is part of
the way a couple lives in their relationship with their Creator and Redeemer,
where they learn the love and the support
and the forgiveness of God. And all of
us are all blessed when homes are healthy and children are raised in a place of
love and faith.
As I perform this month’s weddings I am also reminded
that July 26 is the 62nd anniversary for my parents. Through the struggles of marriage and
parenting 5 children, many have been blessed by their love and faith.
So, please join me in praying for Nathan and Maranda, Kyle and Marcy, Robert and Katherine, and all those
married this year. We want the
best for those we love and all are blessed when marriages and homes are places
of love and faith.
A Child of God, Seeking to live in the Creative Wisdom
and Saving Love of God,
Pastor Jonathan
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ I am
sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and
friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first
time.) 000 However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let
me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if
you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me
their e-mail address.
******
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