And It SnowedWritten by Ellen M. DuBois
was driving home from hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and errands and it began to snow. The roads were becoming slick and I exercised caution. My focus was on my driving -- and not ending up in trunk of car ahead of me.I was tense from running, from errands and everything else that all too often masks our happiness. All I could think about was getting home. I was tired. I don't know why it hit me, but as I approached a stop light, I noticed a house with Christmas lights on -- their colors reflecting off new fallen snow. I was immediately taken back to a time when I was a small girl, staring out of our picture window watching snow fall. Our Christmas lights were right below window, and I remember looking in wonder, amazement and excitement as snow covered lights and colors magically shown through. I remembered feeling warmth of radiator against my small body while being just inches away from cold, New England snow.
| | Bible Verses for Your Wedding, Part IIWritten by Deborah Spence
In Part One of this article, we discussed sometimes challenging task of choosing Bible verses for your wedding ceremony and listed possible choices from Old Testament and Apocrypha. In Part Two we continue with a list of possibilities from Gospels and New Testament. We will also discuss some tried and true methods for narrowing down choices.The Gospels Matthew 5:1-10 The famous Beatitudes, which proclaim God's favor to those who try to live by God's law. (See Luke 6:17-49 for a shorter account of The Sermon on Mount which also includes a few other verses found elsewhere in Matthew.) Matthew 7:24-27 A metaphor on establishing your home on a foundation in God. Matthew 22:35-40 The greatest commandment of love and many ways it applies to life. Mark 2:18-22 Christ as bridegroom and His followers as bride. Mark 10: 42-45 It is better to serve than to be served John 2:1-11 The wedding at Cana where Christ performs his first miracle of turning water to wine. John 3:16 The famous "For God so loved world." John 14:6 "I am way, truth, and life..." John 15:9-17 An admonition to love one another and Christ's sacrificial love for us. Verses from New Testament Romans 12:9-18 The Christian's duty to love and all that is encompassed by that duty: hope, patience, prayer, compassion, and more. Be sure to compare this passage to 13th chapter of First Corinthians. I Corinthians 13 Perhaps most famous of all wedding Bible verses, this chapter defines ultimate gift of Spirit: Love. I Corinthians 14:1 "Make love your aim" in all you do. (Verses 2-5 go on to discuss superior gift of prophecy rather than speaking in tongues.) I Corinthians 16:14 Be certain that everything you do is motivated by love. 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 Through Christ's sacrificial love, we have become new creations. Ephesians 2:4-10 God's gracious love for us saves us through faith. Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Be loving and forgiving, speaking only good and imitating Christ." ...let not sun go down upon your wrath..." (KJV) Check on more modern translations for a better reading. Ephesians 5:21-33 This passage depicting Christian home is difficult for some because it deals with "submission theology." However, general thought is mutual submission. Understand it from an early church point of view. Philippians 2:1-5 Guard against selfishness. Be humble and serve others. Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice and don't be anxious. Live honorably and justly, and God's peace will be a part of your lives. Colossians 3:12-17 The Christian life lived in love and harmony. Do all in Christ's name. Colossians 3:18-20 More submission theology with admonition to husbands to love their wives. I John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love Father hath bestowed upon us..." (KJV) I John 3:16 Christ's example of sacrificial love. I John 3:18-24 Believe in Christ, and keep His commandments by loving one another. I John 4:7 Love each other because love comes from God. I John 4:16-19 God loves us. If we live in love, it serves as a sign that God lives in us. We are capable of love only because God loved us first. Revelation 19:1; 5-9 A glorious celebration in heaven for marriage of Lamb of God. The church is depicted as Bride.
|
