JUNE 17TH---WOW!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. — Psalm 51:10 If you're married, then you remember when you first met your wife or husband-to-be, and how you probably had the feeling of butterflies in your stomach and even a loss of appetite. You felt nervous when he or she was around. You wanted to make the best impression. Today marks the anniversary of my first date with my first wife ( and current one for 52 years) I remember what I wore---where we went---and how I felt! I have always remembered June 17th. I hope you understand that those emotions aren't going to last throughout your entire marriage. I'm not saying that you won't have a deep, passionate love that will grow. But I am saying that I hope you're not expecting to always have the butterflies you once did. It is kind of like driving a car. There is the love that brings you together, like an explosion that starts the engine. Next comes the actual driving of the car, which means that now you need to understand what real love is. The problem is that some people don't understand that. They think that when that emotional excitement is not there on a daily basis, they have fallen out of love and it is not working out. "I suppose we have irreconcilable differences," they say, "so let's just dissolve it." Then they move on to another relationship because they don't have a clue as to what real love is. The idea is that first there is an excitement and passion that brings you together. Then you deepen and grow in what real love is. In the same way, we need to mature in our relationship with God. It is more than a journey of feeling. It is also a journey of faith. So we must deepen in our love for God, because we are in it for the long-term. You might even remember the thrill and excitement of coming into a relation ship with Christ. But let me tell you something, if it wasn’t for the fact that God poured His love into our hearts at our spiritual rebirth we wouldn’t last in a long term marriage or a lifetime walk with Him. ( Romans 5 ) God wants us in it for now and eternity. Let me say that June the 17th means a WHOLE lot more now than it did then---and we want and will finish this race well.

Be Choosey About Your Choices

Many think that life is just a set of circumstances: You can't help what happens, just try to adapt and hope for better luck next time -- which explains the greatest excuse of all time: I'm just a victim of circumstance. The Bible teaches something different. Your life is not the result of random circumstance, it's the result of the choices you make. Moses and Joshua both highlighted this simple truth. "I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live..." (Deuteronomy 30:19) "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15) Life is a series of choices. Success depends on making the same right choices again and again, day after day -- at the dinner table,on the social internet sites, in conversations with families and friends, with your paycheck, in what you read or don't read in books/internet/magazines,at your job,etc. etc---you get the idea! These choices determine who you are and what your life becomes. Every minute of every day we have the privilege of choices that go into to making your life more rewarding or more disappointing. What choices are you willing to make? Think about it. I mean REALLY think about it!