Til Death Do Us Part

This colorful silhouette emanates the love of this newlywed couple. Whenever I see a couple made for each other like these two, it makes me so thankful that we have a loving God who knew exactly what He was doing when He created man and woman. It also causes me to ponder the meaning of life and love. Jesus actually says quite a lot about the subject in Matthew 19:3-12 where He talks about marriage, sexuality, and divorce.
I became familiar with this passage years ago when I was wrestling with the guilt of a failed first marriage. God knew long before I even got married that my marriage wouldn't last. This is one of the reasons why Jesus suffered on my account. Many years later, God has blessed me with a longstanding marriage to a man I definitely do not deserve. Am I grateful? You bet! Do I have guilty feelings over the past? Nope, not anymore because I know that God has forgiven me for all of my mistakes. As God promises in Romans 8, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Archenemy?

I have to laugh because, as this photo collage shows, my pets are so cute. I am convinced that when God gave us charge over the animals (see Genesis 1:26), He knew how much joy we would get when we took some as pets.
My cat and dog are best buds. They eat food together, wrestle each other, and cuddle up together. If you ask around, this is quite common among these historic archenemies. So why is the notion so prevalent?
One reason could be that the media is a system that pumps such fallacies into society via television, music, and movies. One famous line about dogs and cats was made by Bill Murray in a Ghostbusters movie. In this scene, Murray equates "dogs and cats living together" with the "mass hysteria" of the end of the world. HaHaHa .... well, it makes for good box office sales.

The point is that the media spoon feeds us and we gobble up whatever is dished out without questioning validity. The bible sheds light on a lot of popular truths. I began questioning these truths the day I read what the bible has to say about Jesus' return. There are so many instances where my eyes have been opened. As Jesus promised in Matthew 7 "Seek and you will find".

So for now, I will enjoy the pleasant company of my pets while I look forward to the peaceful heaven that the prophet Isaiah spoke of in chapter 65:25:

The wolf and the lamb will feed together,

   and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
   and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
   on all my holy mountain,”
says the LORD.

Someday, the real archenemy, Satan will be defeated and the Prince of Peace will reign in heaven.

Danger!

A recent trip through Munising, MI afforded me a new perspective on life.  The trip helped me to realize the great sacrifices my husband makes so that our family can be stable. It makes me admire him more than words could say! 

Through our marriage, the road we have been on has been rocky to say the least. On this particular day, the bitter, cold wind unsuccessfully tried to pry the camera from my hands making this image from the Lake Superior shore even more representative of our life.
On our journey together, it has not always been clear which path is the best or which situation is dangerous. In this scene, it is pretty evident that these waters are treacherous. But what would it be like on a calm day? The water might be deceivingly inviting. And even though the sign warns of a wicked undercurrent, that may not suffice to avoid trouble. Sometimes we have heeded the warning. Other times we have ignored it. Yet other times we have completely missed the sign. 

Life is not easy nor does each day come with a set of instructions. But there is a guide that can help to make each day navigable. God's Word provides all the guidance a person could need to navigate the calm and stormy waters of life. Just like the Psalmist proclaimed "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." My prayer is that each day, my husband and I will seek God's will in our lives.

On the Edge

^{From the edge, I take in the majestic warmth of color, shapes, textures, and sounds} 

                                                       ^{and I realize that God has brought me here to spread my wings}

                                                                                                  ^and 

                      ^FLY          

                                                                                     

  Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
 Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.