Observations After 20 Years of Christian Marriage
June 9, 2010 by WebPastor
Filed under Weekly Words
Dear friends,
I make no apology for the personal nature of this message, since I am writing on my 20th Wedding Anniversary. Here I will list 20 observations on marriage after 20 years:
- I love my wife Jennifer as much today as when we were first married (even more if that is possible).
- Jennifer is my best friend in the whole world.
- We have each changed a lot in 20 years, but have grown closer together rather than further apart. If I am “not the man she fell in love with and married” that is probably a good thing.
- The best thing we did at the beginning of our marriage was to make following Jesus our number one priority. We have failed Him at times, but He has never failed us.
- Jennifer and I wish we had worried a lot less about money over the years. God has always taken care of our needs.
- I know I have hurt Jennifer’s feelings many times through insensitivity, but I wish I never had.
- Jennifer and I usually make our decisions together.
- Only once in 20 years have I made a big decision for our family that Jennifer did not agree with. Only once! While I believe the Bible teaches male headship in the marriage this is not something that should happen all the time.
- I am not trying to be humble when I admit Jennifer is smarter and more intuitive then I. She usually sees things more clearly than I do. A wise husband will listen to his wife!
- Jennifer and I still “date” routinely and I always look forward to our time out together.
- Jennifer is the person I telephone and sms the most! We always keep track of one another throughout the day.
- Intimacy in marriage only gets better. (There. I said it!)
- I think my wife is very beautiful and find the few gray hairs on her head attractive. They are proof that she has lovingly put up with me for many years. Getting (just a little bit) older together is fun.
- It was Jennifer who first wanted to have a big family. She asked me to look in the Bible for verses that said having lots of kids was a bad thing! (I could not find those verses by the way)
- I can honestly say Jennifer and I have always supported each other in front of the kids. Woe, woe, woe unto the child in our house who tries to turn mom and dad against each other!
- I have had to ask forgiveness many times and Jennifer has always given it.
- We pray together most every night before bed. This has been one of the greatest blessings of our marriage.
- We think “his needs” and “her needs” are less important then “God’s will” and we think it is God’s will for each of us to serve like Christ in our marriage.
- The best times in our 20 years have been the times when we read scripture and pray the most! The worse times have been when we chased after worldly things.
- Our favorite prayer together has been, “Lord we will do whatever you want us to do and go wherever you want us to go.”
Your servant,
Announcements for June 6, 2010
The Men’s Fraternity Lunchtime Edition will meet this Wednesday for the last time before our summer break. See you in the Outback Steakhouse, Ratu Plaza at 12 Noon.
Overnight Youth Leadership Retreat, June 11-12 at Shekinah Village, Ds. Limo, Depok. For those who will participate, please return the registration slip to Mrs. Edna or Andrew St. John not later than Wednesday, June 9th. 2010.
The Elders and Deacons along with their families are invited to participate in a covered dish fellowship dinner at the Pastor’s house on June 16 at 5:30 PM. Each family may bring a dish to share. This is a fellowship meeting and there will be no business discussion! If you have any questions, please speak with Pastor Stephen or Jennifer.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b).
Join us for the next JIBC Prayer Meeting on June 17 at 7 PM in the Function Room. Please submit your prayer requests using the slips on the welcome table or via email to the church office.
The Kingdom of Jesus, Part 2
Mark 9:14-32 (English Standard Version):
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” 30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
If we are the Lord’s disciples, then we are citizens of a great Kingdom.
1. Citizens of the Kingdom must trust Jesus.
2. Citizens of the Kingdom must pray.
3. Citizens of the Kingdom have victory over evil.
Click below for sermon audio:
Mark 9:14-32
Confession and Forgiveness
June 3, 2010 by WebPastor
Filed under Weekly Words
Dear friends,
You will never remove the guilt of your sin on your own. You will not succeed at clearing your conscience by punishing yourself. Please don’t get me wrong, I am all for making restitution, for apologizing to people we hurt, and seeking reconciliation. I also know that clean living in obedience to God’s Word protects us from hurt and additional guilt. Nevertheless, the fact remains that left to yourself, you can do nothing to wash away the ugly stains of that behavior, those words, those thoughts which you are ashamed of. In fact, you are guilty even if you deny that you have sinned. What then can be done about the burden of sin in the human heart?
We must go to God for help! Go to him and say something like this, “I am guilty Lord. I am guilty of __________ and I know I have offend you. Please forgive me. I believe you, Lord, when you say that Jesus came to take upon Himself the punishment I deserve. So I pray now, in Jesus Name and by His blood, which was shed for me, that you will please forgive me of my sins.”
Does God listen to prayers like that? I will let Him answer that question Himself:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:6-7).
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Ps. 32:5).
“David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Sam. 12:13).
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:11-12).
So instead of continuing your attempt to scrub your soul clean with your own strength, turn your hearts to your Father in Heaven and cry out for mercy in Christ. He delights in forgiveness for the sake of His Son!
Your servant,
Stephen
Announcements for May 30, 2010
There will be Church Ministry Council meeting on June 7 at 7 PM in the Function Room.
Wednesday this week will be the last Men’s Fraternity Evening Edition before our summer break. Join us at 7 PM for fellowship and Bible study.
There will be Preteen Bowing on Saturday, June 5th at 14:00 to 15:00 at Spincity Bowling lines, EX – Plaza Indonesia. Parents also welcome to join or to be chaperones. To sign up, or for more info please contact Mr. John Suwardi at suwardi88@indo.net.id
Food Gathering Next week for Street Children’s Ministry and the Ministry of our sister Indonesian Language congregation. Please come with non-perishable food items or cash donations