GOD'S PERFECT INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARRIAGE

This is Mark and me celebrating 50 years of God’s goodness in our marriage.

Proverbs 12:4 “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” While studying about marriage this week I have been highly interested in how the medical world has confirmed exactly what God said thousands of years ago about the important role of a wife. A study from just last year, “finds that a stressful marriage may be unhealthy, especially for men. In fact, for some people it may be as bad as smoking. They found a conflict-filled relationship harms the body in many ways. People in a stressful relationship can have damaging inflammation, extreme changes in appetite and increased levels of stress hormones. All these conditions can negatively affect many systems -- from heart function to how the body is able to fight diseases.” Wow, that is pretty impressive! It sounds like we had better pay attention to what God says about marriage and make it real in our lives. Wives have a great responsibility for the peace and beauty of a marriage relationship; honoring and respecting God is our first step toward a happy marriage.

This Thursday morning we will look in detail at what Proverbs has to say about marriage and particularly about a good marriage. This study is not just for married women. There is great benefit in all women knowing God’s plan for marriage in order to be a help to a friend and to understand better the relationship of the church to Christ. So, plan to join us the Thursday morning at 9:30 at DBC. Our dear babysitters will be there (as they are every week) to care for your little ones.

LIFE TO THE FLESH OR ROT TO THE BONES?

Pippa’s first birthday.

Our little great granddaughter Pippa doesn’t always do what her fine parents want her to do.  Do you know why? She thinks she has a better way than those who have lived 20 or 30 years longer. But, by experience all of us understand that her parents know way better than she does about everything. Any good parent loves their children and want to lead them in the way that will cause them the least harm and the most benefit.

Let’s make a parallel of sorts to our lives in relationship to God. I’ve been thinking lately about how God wants to bless our lives in such a way that we flourish from our very inner self all the way to our outer relationships. Even our physical bodies receive benefits from embracing God’s instructions concerning life.  I’m not talking about living a moral life that merits us Heaven, because that is impossible. Our only hope of Heaven is tightly tied into the forgiveness God gives us as we wholeheartedly believe Jesus died in our place to satisfy the wrath of God against our sins. But rather I mean paying serious attention to what God says about living as He has given it to us throughout the Bible.

 An example of what we may ignore, or take lightly, would be this incredible verse. “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”(Proverbs 14:30) Take a minute to contrast a couple of things: a tranquil heart as opposed to an envious soul and life-giving as opposed to bone-rotting. When we ignore God’s instructions concerning envy, we set ourselves up for rotten bones. However, if we take to heart what God says our tranquil heart will give life to our body. Oh, that we would not be like little children, preferring their own self-destructive way over the life-giving instructions of their parents.

This Thursday morning we will be covering Day Four and Five of Chapter 7. Envy will be our main concern and it’s contrast—a tranquil heart. Please plan to join us for a great time of encouragement to live wholeheartedly for the Lord.

ANGER AND ANGRY PEOPLE--THE DIFFERENCE

We live in an increasing angry country. What has caused this anger? And am I part of this angry force? What is the difference between anger and angry people? How is God’s anger different than most human anger? Consider this: Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Now make a contrast with this: Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice…” God and people have anger for two very different reasons—God’s being holy and perfect, and man’s being generally selfish and irritable.

If you would like to understand better about anger, be sure to join us Thursday morning at 9:30 as we look at Day 3 of Lesson 7—”Churning Milk and Twisting Noses.”