Men of God – Fair Warning – 2/14 is Important

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. The Message

This is my annual warning. Valentine’s Day is just 8 days away. This is a warning devotional for men who might need the reminder. After nearly 44 years of marriage – I write with some experience. What do we plan to do this year men?

Traditionally – this is a holiday where men are supposed to show their love and affection for the women in their lives. So men – what do we (you) have planned? If nothing is planned yet – this is our warning to get something planned – ASAP. The following are some thoughts. If you are a woman reading this – you might want to print it for the man in your life!

In The Message – we read from Paul’s Epistle today’s passage: Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting.

Here’s a plan for February 14^th – just a suggestion or two! Start by getting a nice card – it can be store-bought or homemade. If you have little ones – get a sitter for the evening of the 14^th or a night you plan to celebrate this holiday. Make a reservation by this weekend or soon for a nice restaurant (McDonald’s will not cut it – doesn’t have to be the Chart House or Ruth Chris Steak House – but something nice). Buy something – it doesn’t need to be from Zales! You could buy some flowers – a small box of candies – a piece of jewelry – something! Bring it with you to the dinner – or have it delivered while you’re having dinner. The key here is that you get the sitter – you make the reservation – you go out of your way to purchase something for her and make plans – ahead of time. Most women aren’t so concerned with what you get them – rather they are impressed when you take the time to plan a nice evening with them – and you take the initiative to take care of all the details.

Commit Your Way

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:

Commit your way! Much in life requires us to commit to a way or a path or a choice. We must set a course and stick to it if we want success in much of life. There are always exceptions to any general rule. For instance – picking a career. Many people in my generation ended up having 30 – 40 – 50 year careers – often with the same firm – or at least in the same field. This often had benefits – such as steading work (and security) – consistency – promotions – and sizable pensions. It seems – way too often these days – resumes are checkered with short term employments – even large gaps with people unemployed. For some – this works – but – for others – it produces insecurity and might show a lack of commitment and employers might be reluctant to take a chance on you.

Commit your way! Much in life requires us to commit to a way or a path or a choice. We must set a course and stick to it if we want success in much of life. For instance – our choice of a life partner. Many in my parent’s generation found and committed to a life partner – for life! It was common for their generation to celebrate 50 – 60 years and more of marriage to the same person (my wife and I have 43 and counting). This commitment to a singular spouse often produces lifetime benefits. There are always exceptions to any general rule. Along with the stability and security that comes from long term marriages – the opposite is often the case in short term marriages and even multiple marriages. Split families – confused children (with several and often conflicting parents).

Loving One Another

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Have you ever been hurt? Silly question – right? We’ve all been hurt. Some of us – more than others. Some – more than we can handle – at times.

Our reaction to the hurt is very revealing. Often – when we are hurt – we hurt back. My wife often reminds me – hurt people – hurt people! When some are hurt – they tend to hurt others. Misery loves company – the old saying goes. When someone is down – they seem to feel better when they have company.

Who has hurt you – dear readers? And – who have you hurt? Forgiveness is not easy – most times. Asking for forgiveness is also not easy. Have you ever had to apologize to someone for hurting them? It is not easy.

Come Home to God

Psalm 91:2

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Nearly two years ago – we came home to Trinity – after many years of serving other churches in ministry. I began my ministry – receiving my call into ministry – at Trinity – the summer between my junior and senior year of college. I have always kept an eye on the ministry at Trinity – knowing that they have gone through seasons of ups and downs as a church.

We created a slogan in 2021 – Come Home to Trinity. It was not only a reminder to me that I had come home to Trinity after all these years – but it was an invitation to others who hadn’t been in some time. Reasons don’t matter – but some reasons were Pandemic – attending elsewhere – attending nowhere – for whatever reason. We invited people to Come Home to Trinity. And many have done so. If you are reading this and haven’t come home to Trinity – please consider doing so. A new slogan goes like this – Trinity – the Place to Be in ’23.

Above coming home to Trinity – coming home to God is the key. If we are following Christ – our Lord – where we are doing so – whether at Trinity or another Bible believing church family doesn’t matter. Coming Home to God is what is important.

Starting Your Children Off Right!

Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

I want to write today to parents. I want to share how important it is for parents to stay together – to love each other – and most importantly – to love the Lord. In our society – people throw away marriages as fast as they throw away most anything else. Picking your partner wisely – sticking it out through the tough times – and loving each other and the Lord – will bear much fruit.

I have 7 grandchildren (so far). I love the way my children are raising them. I often think of today’s passage when I watch my children and their spouses rear our grandchildren. All three of our daughters have a little different approach to rearing their children. Each child is different and unique. Each has a different personality and even different medical and personal life challenges. But – there is a consistency in the way our daughters are rearing their children.

There is an advantage – even a consistency – that our grandchildren have – even a couple of consistencies. These consistencies are important – nay – maybe even significant in their life’s journey. These consistencies can be available to all children.

This is not to say – if your children or grands do not have these consistencies – they cannot be blessed – but – I do believe these advantages are significant. I believe that these consistencies help to set up our children and grands for success in life. The words of wisdom from Proverbs today speaks volumes – Proverbs 22:6 – Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

I want to suggest – how important it is for parents to stay together – love each other – and most important – to love the Lord. I will only go back four generations for these consistencies – but I could have gone further. Here they are! My parents and my wife’s parents were both married and remained married. All four of our parents were Christians – and they lived their faith. Carolyn and I both had the benefit of two parents at home (many studies show how beneficial having both parents in the home can be for children) – both parents loved one another (and showed us that love) – and both parents had a deep and abiding faith.