God built the foundation of all human life upon marriage. Before there was a society, before there was a nation, before there was a government, before there was the church, there was marriage. These all rest upon the foundation of marriage. Not one of these has ever existed without marriage. Jesus addressed the importance of this.
 
Mathew 19:4  "Haven't you read," He replied, "that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female," 
5  and He also said: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? 
6  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate."   (HCSB)
 
    God first created marriage as one man married to one woman for life. But Satan has viciously attacked marriage. You hear it said it is just a piece of paper, a legal issue set up by the government. Some want to redefine marriage or ignore it all together like it does not really matter but thankfully, it persists. It persists because we were created for marriage. God made us for one another and nothing we say or do can change that. Though God gave some the gift of being single to serve Him they are few in number.
    None of us would be here without marriage and families. In Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.’” (HCSB). After the flood once again “God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’”, (Genesis 9:1, HCSB). Twice came the blessing and then the command to “fill the earth”. They go together. I believe it is still in effect for us today since we all are descendants of Noah. “Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, ‘Understand that I am confirming My covenant with you and your descendants after you’”, (Gen 9:8-9, HCSB).
    Those who have many offspring are blessed. God blessed Abraham with numerous descendants promising him, “I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore.”, (Genesis 22:17, HCSB).
    Therefore for people to have their most blessed, fulfilling, happiest life I recommend marrying young and having lots of children. Will it be hard? Yes, but you choose your hard. Not marrying and having no children is hard too, especially in later life when regrets and loneliness sets in. “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?”,  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11, HCSB).
    Many years ago my grandfather gave me an excellent piece of advice. He told me not to put off having a child until we could afford one otherwise we may never have a child. God provides what we need when we need it.
    God loves life. We see this in creation in the incredible abundance and variety of life He created. Let’s celebrate, encourage, and enjoy marriage, family, and children.
 
Pastor Pat

​          This is the month when we focus on love.  Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it (take the hint guys) and we all take particular care to romance that special person in our lives.  There will be flowers, or candy, or dinner, or some special gift just for the one we love.  Guys, remember now, household appliances such as toasters and vacuum cleaners are not what your lady dreams to receive from you on Valentine’s Day!  She desires something romantic and personal. 
          But Valentine gifts can be expensive.  Roses are astronomical.  We heard that the price for roses are set months in advance for this time of year so that it will not necessarily save you any money to purchase them in advance.  Could it be that the price of some perfumes, powders, and lotions was so high that it was what led the Fed to lower the interest rate? 
          But soon the candy will be gone, the cards will be put away, the flowers will wilt, and the expensive gifts will loose their freshness and new luster.  The romance of Valentine’s Day will fade away.  We tend to forget to romance our mate or special someone and the flame of love soon begins to flicker.
          But there is a way to keep the flame burning—it doesn’t require you to be charming, intelligent, or witty, it isn’t fattening, doesn’t require good looks, and will not bust your budget.  And, best of all, it works all year long.  What is it?  It’s all that free stuff that’s the best.  It’s the simple things.
          It is long hugs (best applied daily), saying, “I love you” for no special reason, writing a short love note and hiding it somewhere or using a dry erase marker to write it on the mirror.  It is remembering to kiss “Goodbye” and “Hello.”  It is opening the car door, or warming their car up, or cooking a simple meal.  It is just sitting and talking about their day and your day.  It is cooking his favorite desert or vacuuming the floor for her.  It is the day-to-day simple acts of love that keep the flame burning.
          No amount of money could replace these “gifts of love” if they are missing.  No one-time gift can begin to compare with these day-to-day special acts of love.  This is how love lasts from day to day.  This is how we keep the flame of love burning for a lifetime.  This is how we enjoy one another as God intended.
1 Corinthians 13
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, 
5 does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 
6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 
8 Love never ends. … 
          This reminds us of God’s love for us.  He always loves us.  His love never ends. He has promised never to leave us or forsake those who belong to Him.  Every day God’s love is just as strong for us as it was the day we came to Christ.  Isn’t God wonderful?
          So let’s love one another and praise the Lord!
 
Pastor Pat