This past Sunday in church, our Pastor was speaking about this well known verse. He stated that 70% of the weddings he has done, couples choose this as one of their scripture readings, but if they were to continue reading, Paul begins to explain that we do not do those things and that we are not trying to do them enough. The verse is as follows :
<< 1 Corinthians 13 >>
New International Version
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1If I speak in the tonguesa of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
I thought alot about what this meant to me. As many of you know, Andrews parents recently have decided to divorce. i have to admit that i am suprised that i am taking it harder than i expected. I began to have tears in my eyes during service and had to fight to hold back my pertruding tears. I kept thinking that i dont want to loose someone i love and commmitted to after 25 years of marriage. I began to drive home and just couldnt shake the concerns and fears i had for the people around me as well as andrews and myself. so i went to the book store and began looking in the Christian section.
I looked and looked and couldnt figure out what i was doing there or looking for for that matter. then i ran across it. the book was titled "Couples Who Pray". I picked it up and began to flip through the papes. The more i read, the more i found in common with the book. Right then and there i made a decision. Andrew and i needed to pray more together.
We have prayed in the past but not often together. I picked up a daily devotional book as well. As i began to drive back to Andrews parets house i slowly began to feelm ore confident about my decision. I noticed the Steve was home by himself so i sat and told him about my feelings. I must admit what came next shocked me. He told me that maybe if he had brought religion into his home more often that maybe they would be in a different place. I truly looked into his eyes and saw that he said every word with true meaning. He was opening up to me.
Andrew and i attend church and have taken a bible study class before. I ssee that so many of my friends around are getting married as well but i get the feeling that they are forgeting that marriage is more than "certificate" you get from the county clerks office as easy as you get a drivers lisence. its about a committment and contract that you share with God. And honor it as well.
With that being said Andrew and I have decided to do a 1 year challenge, where we do a daily devotional everyday together and pray as a couple. We want to start our new marriage off on the right foot and be confident about our religion. Statistics prove that praying as a couple leads to better, marriages and a more fullfilling life in other areas as well. So i am happy to report that last night, Andrew and I did our first devotional. Together. and instantly we felt a sense of peace and togetherness. We know that it is going to be challenging to do everyday but we are committed to it. If one is away, then we still do it over the phone. Mornings are not ideal to us so everynight before we lay to sleep, we do our devotional and we pray. I hope that some of you that read this will begin to feel as strongly as i do. It is VERY important to practice your faith. And you MUST practice it together. Because like the verse says, Love is Patient, Love is Kind, Love NEVER fails.
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