Romans 12:1-2, 9-19
(MSG)
Jarrod and Chrissy, so here we are at the
big day. I remember how excited you two were and still are for your wedding.
There have been lots of plans and it may have seemed all too overwhelming at
times. But I am sure that as your big day has unfolded today, it has all been worth
it.
So, this is the moment that I am supposed
to impart some mystical wisdom upon you that will help you on this new
adventure of marriage. Well, I am sorry to say that is not the case. You see I
am still working it out myself. Marriage is something that you have to work
at…it’s about giving and receiving. But, what I can do is to share a little bit
of wisdom from God’s Word with you.
I am sure you have been to weddings that
they talk about 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter and how it tells you how to
love one another. As a matter of fact, I read it earlier and it does tell us
how to love each other. Not only in marriage but with those we come in contact
with. I also read from the Book of Ruth and how you two are now going to be
with each other always. That too is a great scripture for a marriage.
But this afternoon, I want to talk about
another piece of scripture found in Romans chapter 12. The first piece of
scripture I want to share from God’s Wisdom is verses 1-2.
“12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do,
God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating,
going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t
become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even
thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside
out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.
Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of
immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in
you.”
As you come together in marriage, you need
to make a 3-fold cord to make it strong…each of you and God. As you put God
first in all things, you will be blessed. You won’t be fighting over who should
be the most important. You will both be looking to see and do what God would
have you do. Un-like living in a me first world, when you put God first, you are
not all about yourself and everything is about God’s will. It is a blessed
way…a more excellent way…of life and marriage.
The second piece comes from the same
chapter but verses 9-19…
“9-10 Love from the center of who you are;
don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be
good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.”
Love each other with your whole heart…not
just surface love but deep love. Hold on to what is good and don’t let the
world take it from you. Think of others before yourselves as you serve others
and each other.
“11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves
fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t
quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in
hospitality.”
Too many people call it quits at the first
sign of trouble. They think it is too hard. You two are not making a contract
but a covenant with each other. A contract can be broken by either party, but a
covenant says I am in it for the long haul. How do you do that…prayer…hard
prayer…pray for each other and with each other.
I have created a gift for you to remember
this practice of prayer… Prayer beads. But these are not just ordinary prayer
beads…Let me explain.
On first look they look like two ordinary
sets of prayer beads. But look closer…even thought they are separate, they are intertwined
with each other. Even though you are separate…you two are intertwined in
marriage and in prayer. Pray for and with each other.
Notice how they come together at the
bottom…both colors meeting together. With a heart that leads to the cross. Come
together as one with your hearts as one as you give your life, your marriage,
your future to Jesus Christ.
“14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under
your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when
they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with
nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.”
Meet each other and people where they are.
Don’t hold back your love and prayers, even from your enemies. If you pray for
an enemy soon they become a friend because you can’t consider someone an enemy
as you pray. It changes your heart…if not the situation…
“17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in
everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on
getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll
take care of it.””
Don’t go “tit for tat” with each other. You
can’t say someone made you act in a certain way. The only thing you can control
in most situations is how you react. Try not to be reactive but be proactive in
your relationship with each other and others. And believe me…if you leave room
for God…you will see miracles happen.
Well that’s about it. I hope this was a
help. My last words to you is this…
Love each other madly, deeply, and
truly…until your last breath…
Amen.
==================
June 30, 2018
the wedding of Jarrod Cunningham and Chrissy McCarthy
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Ruth 1
1 Corinthians 13
Romans 12:1-3, 9-19
and wedding message
video
part 1 – https://youtu.be/Tj5GKGVX1cM
part 2 – https://youtu.be/w5tEk2sChcY
text
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten,
ME
June
24, 2018
&
edited June 30, 2018
push through our struggles
edited June 29, 2018
pushing through his struggles – v2
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed we are – v3
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed we are – v2
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed it is – v2
edited June 29, 2018
all the flawed pieces – v3
edited June 28, 2018
I have hope – v2
June 28, 2018
I have hope
edited June 27, 2018
all the flawed pieces – v2
June 27, 2018
all the flawed pieces
edited June 27, 2018
how blessed it is
edited June 27, 2018
how blessed it would be – v2
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we are
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we would be – v2
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we would be
June 26, 2018
how blessed it would be
June 26, 2018
pushing through his struggles
June 24, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 133
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
and sermon: “Can We Just Get Along Here…”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten,
ME
June
24, 2018
&
June 24, 2018
God cannot do harm
June 24, 2018
God will search
June 24, 2018
searching for us - 2
edited June 24, 2018
This is our perfect Father – v2
edited June 23, 2018
stitched into the family – v2
edited/resorted June 23, 2018
This is our perfect Father
edited June 23, 2018
a more excellent Father – v2
edited June 23, 2018
never too lost – v2
June 23, 2018
searching for us – v2
edited June 21, 2018
our Father runs to each wayward child – v2
June 21, 2018
our Father runs to each wayward child
June 21, 2018
searching for us
June 21, 2018
never too lost
edited June 19, 2018
God runs to us – v3
edited June 19, 2018
the Good Father – v2
June 19, 2018
a more excellent Father
edited June 18, 2018
God runs to us – v2
June 18, 2018
God runs to us
June 18, 2018
the Good Father
edited June 18, 2018
The Perfect Father – v2
June 18, 2018
the perfect father
June 18, 2018
stitched into the family
June 17, 2018
Father’s Day
(and John Wesley’s 315th birthday)
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 20
Luke 15:11-27
the Prodigal Son
and lots of other scripture
on references to God as Father
and sermon: “Good, Good Father”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
(a nickel in
the mystery box – In God We Trust)
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten,
ME
June
17, 2018
Father’s
Day
&
June 16, 2018
All who do the will of God
June 16, 2018
These are the ones
edited June 16, 2018
the blood of the vine – v2
June 13, 2018
kinship by choice
June 13, 2018
the blood of the vine
June 13, 2018
blood of the vine
June 13, 2018
not by blood
June 13, 2018
not by blood but by choice
June 13, 2018
not of blood but of Spirit
June 10, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 138
Mark 3:20, 31-35
“The True Family of Jesus” (New
Living Translation)
and sermon: “Family Ties”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten,
ME
June
10, 2018
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usage. See all 47,180 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Christ, Faith,
Family, Father, God, grace, love, Pastor Ruth Foss, Spirit, prayer, hope,
marriage, wedding, 1 Corinthians 13, Ruth 1, Romans 12, Jarrod Cunningham,
Chrissy McCarthy,sermon,
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