Marriage: A Covenant Agreement
May 31, 2012 by Minister/Elder DeBorrah K. Ogans
Filed under Marriage & Relationships
Our Marriage
Marriage is one of the greatest relationship commitments that a man and a woman can have. It is an agreement to Love, Honor, Trust and Respect your spouse for life! Marriage is also a covenant agreement not only between a man and a woman but it is an agreement with God. You both together pledge and make vows that should always be honored within your marriage…
Your Wedding Vows
If you are already married reflect back for a moment on your Wedding Vows. What did you pledge to one another? Those vows are so much more than words. So if you have not married and are planning on getting married really think about what you are agreeing or pledging to do! If you have been married before really think things through because you have been here before! You are entering into a contract not only of the letter but of the heart as well as legally.
Marriage & Divorce
If you are not married get wise counsel before you enter into marriage. In this 21st century more than 55% of marriages are ending in divorce. This should not be. Many enter into marriage not really intending to keep their vows. There are also many who are ignorant of what it really is all about … Too often there are many emotional issues that have not been properly addressed and they eventually begin to weigh the marriage down.
Marriage has its mountaintops as well as valley experiences. However, working togetther you can together make you vally experiences short and few. It is important to know no matter how much you know about your fiancé there is so much more to learn. Marriage is a place where both spouses can grow as individuals as well as together. You want to make sure that you are willing to go through the valley with your spouse as well as share in the Joys & Celebrations. Know this or at least discuss it before you are married!
building a Strong Foundation Together
Your marriage is or will be as strong as the foundation that you build it upon. God is the Creator of marriage. “But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD GOD cause the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he as sleeping, He took one of the man’s rib and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord mad a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.” Genesis 2.
This is such a beautiful passage of Scripture. It merits some serious, loving thought provoking discussion between you two. The man and woman was a precious gift from God to one another.
Adam no longer had to be alone without a companion. Listen closely to what he says: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman.’ For she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and be united with his wife, and they shall become one flesh. The man and the woman where naked, and they felt no shame.” Genesis 2. This is also why it is so important to keep God and His principles as the center of your marriage!
Nurture your marriage
If you are already married make it a point to rekindle the passion and dedication that was apparent when you first came together. If you have allowed time, things and people to allow you to drift apart renew your commitment to one another. You can’t change what has happened but you can build a better future right now. What if we are not on the same page? Then it is time to have a serious discussion and make some plans for your path forward!
Life is precious and you can’t get time back. So you really do not want to spend the majority of the time being uncertain and unhappy! You cannot change your spouse but you can have an intervention and confront what has or has not been happening! Remember speak the TRUTH in Love!
If you have kept your commitment and your marriage is flourishing then help, support and mentor other couples along the way. Those who are married or desire to marry encourage them to keep their marriage vows they have made or will make to one another. Life often takes on many twists and turns and will at times present some adversity. Let them know some of the joys and sometimes sorrows of marriage. How together they can celebrate the mountaintop experiences of life and build an ongoing loving, growing, principled, faithful, respectful and honorable marriage.
Yes there still be some rain and there will be some tears. But there is nothing like a good rain to make you enjoy the beautiful sunshine! With the rain comes much growth. A good marriage brings much contentment and fulfillment. So get busy! Showers of Blessings from above awaits you in many marvelous This is why it is so very important to know that marriage truly is a covenant agreement. Rememer to embrace and cherish your vows. If you have not revisit them. So keep God as the Center of your marriage.
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“The Bride/The Church” – Premarital Conflict
December 26, 2009 by Minister/Elder DeBorrah K. Ogans
Filed under Christian Living, Church
The Bride
The Church is currently experiencing premarital conflict! The Lamb of the marriage supper is being overlooked. A few of the invited guests are parading themselves as the Groom. The fruits of the flesh are attempting to join the banquet. The bride should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. The fine linen is the righteousness of the saints according to the Book of Revelations. The Church is the bride of Christ. Jesus will return for His Church of this we can be assured. But how close to being ready are we? Collectively as well as independently? The signs of the time are quite apparent. We are encountering a multiplicity of phenomenal events. Earthquakes in divers places, heinous crimes, escalating multiple shooting incidents in schools, places of worship, same sex relationships, blatant adultery, questionable political elections but what does it all mean? Time is winding down.
In earlier times a marriage betrothal represented a respected covenant. A covenant is something you keep not something you merely repeat. The Church’s responsibility has not changed in spite of what’s going on. The Bride should be in preparation for a wedding celebration. Everyday should be lived in anticipation of our Lord’s arrival.
God has placed His heirs in various places to prepare for this great event. Man can not number the guest list. It is so vast and contains such an array of guests that He has elected an international, interracial, multi cultural, conglomeration of folks. Their level of responsibilities differ greatly. Yet the overall objective should not take any attention away from this glorious blessed event. Peter tells us “but you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to GOD, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” I Peter 2: 9-12 NIV. How prepared are you for His coming?
Preparing for a wedding involves much joy as well as fear and trepidation. But we can be assured that this wedding is in the will of God. The bridesmaids and groomsmen should not become confused. Their objective should be to assist in fostering a healthy spiritual environment for the ultimate feast. The instructions to prepare for this event have been given to us by GOD. He has even left His Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us to all truth. The truth is the bridal path. The CHURCH has only one Groom. No one can take the place of Jesus.
The participants of the bridal party have the obligation to come together. Not to distinguish who has more authority, but to work towards an effective Spirit-filled occasion. There are so many details involved that no one should worry about the significance of their participation. Staying focused will really help everyone from getting off track. Just remember we are all invited. Those who RSVP and plan on attending have one requirement – YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
The mind of Christ dwells in the hearts of each of His children. When we begin each day living in His presence we will not become sidetracked so easily. God has at His disposal everything we might possibly need. He knows what, when and who we need to fulfill our duties. Man does not live by bread alone but by what? THE WORD OF GOD.
Our Sunday, daily, weekly, monthly and annual rehearsal celebrations should consist of a delicacy of sacrifices of praise and spiritual food. The Holy Spirit stands invisibly positioned to confirm the Groom’s approval. We must truly desire to worship and respect God with our worship. To effectively do this, we must not allow personal agendas to permeate the worship. Praise is not always jumping up and down and running around. It is a combination of still quiet moments as well as hand clapping, dancing, shouting and praying without ceasing. The true worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Rebuke the things you know are not of God! Absolutely no junk food allowed! The main entrée is His Word whether it be in praise, song, sign language or the spoken word. The one thing we must keep in mind is WHO THE BRIDE BELONGS TO!
It is interesting to see how so many seem to think that their place of worship is the best place to be. You cannot limit God to your local place of worship. It is not always about being where you necessarily want to be. Sometimes He has you there to show a contrast. Jesus nor His disciples were not always welcomed where they were. For however long or short season He may have us in a particular place our focus must be upon Him. Don’t try to limit God to where you are. His world is vast. He is omnipresent! Your body is the temple where the Lord resides. Everywhere you are He is there.
Ask yourself if you’re ready for Him to return today? Have you been preparing? Is He abiding in your heart? Is He really welcomed in your home? Do you really worship Him in Spirit and in truth? Are you where He wants you to be or are you where you want to be? It is God’s will that is the desired avenue to the bridal path.
“Now as the church submits to Christ so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself. As a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish but holy and blameless. In this way should husbands love their wives as their own body…” Ephesians 5:22-28 NIV. Have you truly submitted to His will in your life?
We must get our lives in order. God is a God of order. He does have a plan for each of His children. We are to live out the principles in the scriptures and make them the blueprint for our lives. When two or three are gathered together in one accord IN HIS NAME God has promised to be in the midst. Jesus has already been lifted up on the cross. His Word will draw all of the bridal participants. He has made the ultimate sacrifice for us. He has redeemed us by His precious blood! BLESS HIS HOLY NAME! Know and Trust and never doubt that you are SAVED by HIS GRACE and Heaven is your Eternal destination. We must relinquish control of His Bride to the Holy Spirit! CHRIST is coming back for HIS CHURCH. A Church without spot or wrinkle. Get ready! LIVE EVERYDAY “To God Be The Glory!” COME LORD!
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