Man, wife, cleaving, Loving each other, becoming one. Condensed version.

This is a condensed version of Biblical Love man and woman/wife with a few comments as the text reads clearly for itself. "Be ye doer's of the Word not just hearer's."

Genesis 2:23-25 King James Version (KJV)

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

God took man's help meet out of his side. She was "part" of him in the beginning, and now he is to cleave to her and once again become one! Ever think of that? Your wife was "grafted" back into you as soon as you cleaved to one another, having "left your parents" and become one. Remember, Jesus always said when there was confusion with the law, "in the beginning", then quoted the Truth to clear up the matter. So it is the same today. "In the beginning" gives clarity and Truth in the matter.

Colossians 3:18,19

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Now here in this verse's above is two very key phrases used to "give" warning and clarity. Did you ever notice them before? Can you see them now? Number one: as is fit in the Lord" and two: "be not bitter against them!" 

As "fit in the Lord", what does that mean? It means that they are only to submit to the husbands demands "as in the Lord" meaning if God (and He is) was present there, he would approve of all the husbands "thoughts, words, and deeds/actions" towards the husbands help meet. And then the second (mostly ignored) phrase "be not bitter against them" warns of an attitude that if they don't agree on what is being desired of her because it doesn't fit "as in the Lord" then the husband shouldn't be bitter against the wife's refusal. Husbands should realize that the wife is safeguarding her spirit and responding to whether or not the request is out of Unconditional Love or self seeking control or desire. 

Ephesians 5:32-33 King James Version (KJV)

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

The reason "as in the Lord" applications are so important is because of verse 32 directly above says "concerning Christ and the Church." When others look at your "becoming one" they judge whether or not "who you represent" Christ, is faithful to His bride on the same scale. They don't even have to know you are a Christian because the marriage of Christ and His Church is a universal concept "from the beginning." The fact that the Christian community has equal or more divorce in it than the "unbelievers" is common knowledge. A fact that is a poor representation of His Unconditional Love. This gives the unbeliever just another reason to believe that Christianity is weak or useless. If we cannot offer hope of a better marriage then "how will salvation" be viewed by them?

Now lets tackle "see that she reverence her husband." Notice that it didn't say "love her husband!" Only the husband is "COMMANDED" to love his wife, she is commanded to "reverence" her husband, Why????? Because as the husband learns to "die to himself and let Christ arise in him" he will be less bitter against his wife and more "as in the Lord" with his treatment of her. Now we all know that "as in the Lord" is the best way to be treated and embraces the most loving expectations. Reverence your husband will then become "love" your husband in return for being honored, lifted up, appreciated, and truly cherished. Now doesn't that sound like a response to Unconditional Love? The absences of that "WILL" end up in health robbing bitterness or divorce or both.

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

You just "heard" through Scripture, as the above verses have stated in James so what are you going to do? "Are you swift to hear" and practice or will you reap the whorl wind of "wrath" which will never work the righteousness of God?

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Love 

Jerry and Elise

My first vision

I believe that my first vision was this Psalm by the hand of an angel after my salvation experience. It was at lunch time and I was working at a stainless tubing plant in Mich. My spirit was restless and burdened for more of God. I went to sit by myself outside and pray and seek God. I wept to be receive "more of Him." My soul ached to have His presence and to receive some intimacy that would describe my longing. That's when the vision happened. All vision of the body ended and I seen a blue field with a robbed arm descending. It was the arm of an angel holding an open book that was gold gilded both the covers and the pages. The book was open to a writing which was not numbered. I didn't know where it came from in the Bible. I was told to read it and that when I was done it would be taken away from me. As I started to read I told myself not to finish it until I had read it at least 3 times, this I did. As soon as I started I broke down and wept. It described my longing perfectly. I was satisfied in it's Words.
I never knew where it came from till a couple of years later when I was teaching a Bible study and was led to this page by the Spirit to read it to the participants. As soon as I started to read it I broke down and wept reminiscing the vision all over again. As we read the Psalm we all ended up weeping having one heart and one purpose which the Psalm expressed so beautifully. This longing has never left my heart from day one till today.
Please read it and pray this will always be the condition of your heart.
Love in Christ
Jerry and Elise

Psalm 63 King James Version (KJV)

63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

What guides your faith in God?

Consider this simple question:
What is your faith in God built on?
Really, be honest.
Is it the Holy Spirit? Or is it your study's or the teachings of man?
There is a difference..........
The one (the Holy Spirit) knows all Truth, reminds us of all Truth (the Words of Jesus), and cannot lie or deceive.
The other, man or his teachings, are subject to his thinking and applications. He can lie, and he is swayed by the vanity and prowess that many times that position brings.
If the Holy Spirit is teaching, leading, guiding, there will be a deep sense of humility and rejoicing as the Truth sets you free. If it is of man or a man that is not "filled with the Holy Spirit" then you will only gain earthly wisdom, facts and tradition. When you stray from the Holy Spirit as the lead in your growth/faith, you will try to fill that void with books and teachings aside from the Bible wherein the danger lays. It is good if your so inclined to read about the lives and ministries of other "men of God" but the best "men of God" to read about made it into the Bible. Of which none can do so now. These are the men that God saw and made fit to be the example of what He requires of us and what He wants us to avoid.
The common denominator of all that are "born again" is to have this experience of being "filled" with the Holy Spirit. Not maybe, not "I think I am," not "I am saved so I am filled", NO! It is a completely separate experience which could happen at the time of salvation or shortly there after. There are "signs" that this has happened that are common to all who partake. Some may have to "tary" for it, some may have to "seek it with all their hearts", some may only have to be told that it is a part of  "salvation" to receive Him. But one thing for sure, anyone that is in leadership with in the church, must be "Spirit filled" to perform any duties, deacon, elder, bishop, teacher, pastor ect. Not a problem according to "design" as all who are saved must be filled. That is the Biblical pattern not to be broken. One cannot "Glorify our Father in Heaven" without the "moving of the Holy Spirit."
Are you joyful and grateful where you are with your relationship with God? If not, why not? Does Christianity seem rather dry and uneventful to you? I you are making the best with what you got then you don't have enough. When you have the Holy Spirit teaching and reminding you no matter what situation you have going you will have victory and "joy in the morning." Try being beaten and thrown in prison like Paul, then sing enough praises to "bring the house down." That is real strength which only comes from the Lord.
Only because of the baptism in the Holy Spirit have we been able to, with joy, over 38 yrs, wake up every morning with a song in my heart of praise or worship unto Him. Every morning when we get up and all day long we "EXPECT" God to move is some mighty way to glorify Himself  "in Jesus name." We look for it to happen!  He is our comforter, counselor, instructor, companion through this life time, in Him do we Trust.
The Holy Spirit is the first and only instructor for the "Body of Christ" by God's design whether by the we small voice or by the man led by Him to instruct.
I have never been bored with my walk of faith because "God is my Father" and He manifests Himself to those who seek Him, even daily.
God bless and keep.
In Christ's Love
Jerry and Elise

Great Sunday start

BEST SUNDAY MORNING SINCE THE LAST ONE.

Started out by waking up in time to sit for a few minutes and watch my wife sleeping, thinking that I am blessed beyond belief. That followed a night of prayer and praise spending much time in fellowship with the Holy Spirit as He reminded me of all things Jesus had said and done. I marveled that all those precious promises were God's to preform and mine to posses. What little sleep was given was more than enough because God was pouring out the addition to the Revelation of Jesus Christ which He started at salvation. These times are especially exciting when they are attended by dreams and visions. When these promises are present in ones walk then revival is on going and continuous embraced by a hungry heart that desires more of Jesus.

I hope that your day started this way, if not better get with the program as "time's a wast'n."

He is returning for those who "love and look for His return."

Just a thought.

Love

J&E in Tn

Saturday morning Worship

Saturday morning:

Best Saturday morning.

We started off with a great scramble breakfast ham, cheese, mushrooms, and onions.

After eating Elise and I were talking about what worship song we had on our minds before we arose from bed.

Mine was "You raise me up."

Elise's was "Reckless Love."

As we sat and listened to the one that was on her mind we both started to weep in the presence of the Holy Spirit as we held hands. The line that said "I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, you give Yourself away" set the revelation of His timeless sacrifice and our unworthiness to be the benefactors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE

Such truth.

God is a rewarder of those that seek Him diligently and what could be a greater reward than His presence. Emanuel God with us.

We are blessed.

Enjoy your day in His presence.

Love

Jerry and Elise

Praise and worship

Having necessity to be out of town last Sunday we went to our daughters church Gospel City, Elkhart, Ind. We took seats in the front near the stage. My first reaction was: "this is loud." But then the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart this: "It's a lot louder here!"

True corporate worship should be exuberant, spontaneous, lively, impassioned with joy, humbling, and fervent! Some will be moved to weeping, lifting of hands, dancing, quite intimacy with God, or all of the above, but for sure it will be freedom in what the Holy Spirit is leading you (or others) to do. David "danced before God" when they moved the Ark of the Covenant and his wife complained. God exulted David and rebuked Michal with barrenness.

Here's the account:

2 Samuel 6:14-23

4 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.

22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Lesson:

Don't judge others expressions of worship or you may inherit spiritual barrenness.

Food for thought.

Love

Jerry and Elise