A REFLECTION OF CHRIST JESUS...

Christian marriages, as we all know, are to reflect to the world CHRIST and HIS+ BRIDE, the church. So often, however, they reflect a battle of Selves.

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Far from reflecting CHRIST JESUS, the marriage partners do well if they can spend one day together without arguing. Oftentimes, one ... or both... partners live lives of deep and bitter dispair.

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How, then, would CHRIST

have us to behave

if we are caught*

in such a situation?

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Yes, "caught" is the correct word here because people change. Oftentimes a couple will start out thinking they are equally yoked, as per Scripture. One may be more spiritually-minded than his partner, but that is often overlooked by the couple in love and sadly, by their church elders and parents.

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Yet, even if the marriage partners are VERY equally yoked, people go through changes. If the marriage partners change together, in the same direction, then the marriage will stay intact. But if they don't change in unison, then the enemy wreaks havoc in their midst... unless one of the partners chooses to go deeper with CHRIST JESUS.

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HE+ is the only way

for a dis-jointed marriage

to correct itself.

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The Cross is set in stone and dirt,

The uprights made of coarse, hewn wood.

Established there, upon our hurt,

It is the Way HE+ trod.

The Cross is set within my heart;

The uprights hold my soul.

It is established for my good,

Now I call it home.

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O LORD JESUS CHRIST,

With my whole heart I cry unto THEE+. I pour out my troubles before THEE+, O THOU+ Who+ knewest great affliction and sorrow. When my spirit is over-whelmed within me, I will look only to THEE+ Who+ alone can see in the darkness. Even though no-one cares for my soul, I will say THOU+ art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. O Rock of Ages, I will hide myself in THEE+until these troubles be overpast. Keep me as the apple of Thine+ eye.

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O Gracious ONE+ Who+ will not let me go... I yield my life, my love, and my broken dreams unto THEE+, knowing I can entrust them all into Thy+ keeping. Correct the vision I have of myself and why I am in this marriage union. Conform me and my marriage into what THOU+ wouldst have it to be... to bring glory unto THEE+ ...and to reflect Who+ THOU+ art unto this dead and dying world.

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In Thy+ Holy Name, O LORD CHRIST, I pray, and in the name of Thy Holy FATHER, and Thy HOLY SPIRIT, I worship and praise Thy+ Holy Goodness to me and to all the sons of men.

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+ + +

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LENTEN MEDITATION 8--- A HOLY, UNBROKEN MARRIAGE

LENTEN MEDITATION 8

Being one with CHRIST, in the unity of the The HOLY SPIRIT, in communion with our GOD and FATHER, is the goal of our Christian walk.

It is the true “holy” marriage.

Anyone--- rich or poor, single or wedded, young or old, imprisoned or free--- can be in this holy union, this holy marriage. Furthermore, all human beings are predestinated for it… although not all accept HIS+ proposal. Sadly enough, most indeed do reject such a union.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie,
and do not the truth.

But if we walk in the light,
as he is in the light,
we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. I John 1: 6-10

It is NOT our failures and faults that break our fellowship with CHRIST.

It is our hiding.

We do like Adam did and hide from HIS+ Face, breaking our communion with HIM+.

If we come to CHRIST JESUS
the moment we are aware
that we have gone against HIS+ Word and HIS+ Will,
then neither satan nor our Adamic nature nor our flesh
will be able to drive a wedge between us and our LORD.
Only our HIDING from HIM+ can do this.

Our fellowship with HIM+ will continue, perhaps with great shame and humility on our part… but with great love and compassion on HIS+.

Our goal is to STAY IN FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
through every failure, every error, every fault, every situation.

No matter the reason for our stumbling, we return immediately in repentance to the ONE+ Who+ loves us best.

We do not take advantage of HIS+ grace.

Staying in close communion, in unity, with HIM+ brings Life because…
HE+ is our life. Why bother to hide away in darkness, in death, to nurse our woes…to secretly nourish our pet sins… or to indulge in Self-pity, even for a short time?

It will only make the repentance harder than it should be,
the struggle longer than it ought to be,
and grieve the HOLY SPIRIT more than is necessary.
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O Gracious Heavenly FATHER, God of all mercies, God of all Truth, I ask for the grace of conviction to fall upon me from Your hands. I am sorry for the times I have broken fellowship with You, for the times I have hidden from Your face. I am ashamed of all the times I have pouted and refused to give it up. Please forgive me for behaving as though Your Holy love is not enough to make me happy. Thank you, Holy FATHER, for wanting me to stay close to You… even me, such as I am.

Thank you for your great mercy through the Blood of Your Beloved Son, JESUS CHRIST. Help me to stay in unity with You throughout this hour, this day, and on into Eternity. I praise You, O Holy FATHER, in the name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, through the power of Your HOLY SPIRIT, both now and forever. Amen.