Friday, October 14, 2011

Marriage God-Arranged

Yes, God can bring husbands and wives together for those who seek his Will.


*God arranges marriage for those who seek his Will.*

(Forsythe Fotography c. 2011)

For two months, I did not see that girl I spotted. I had no information about her. Finally, one September Sunday, I walked downstairs to a corridor crowded with people waiting for the first service to let out.

"She's coming!" Very quietly, but definitely, the Holy Spirit whispered in my heart. This was a new experience for me.

"Wait! In just a moment, she's coming around down the stairway." I dared to listen sensitively to the voice inside.

Was this true, or was I imagining it? It was a very special moment for me to realize the Lord's prompting. I was deeply impressed with expectation in my heart and waited obediently, wondering if I was truly about to see her again. Now at the far end of the corridor, I planted my shoulders against the wall and my shoes firmly on the floor, stiff as a board

Sure enough! In about fifteen minutes of faith waiting, the coed appeared on the landing and entranced down the staircase, step by step, like a princess in regal beauty entering the grand ballroom. She came down the stairs and diplomatically greeted professors and students lined all along the corridor. I now noticed she was making her way through the crowd person-by-person stepping sideways towards me. I waited.

"Oh!" she said when she finally stood before me and smiled. "Hello! You owe me a cup of coffee." I could hardly breathe.

"I have never seen a wedding where the Holy Spirit was so strongly present," said the elderly Pastor Liddy on the day we married in Mary's home town.

"You two deserve each other!" said our friend with a big, broad smile, Charles Borgognoni, chaplain of the Syracuse University Football Team. He knew our passion and vitality very well through campus activities. With his famous Italian smile and Friar Tuck tonsorial, he officiated at our wedding.

I think we husbands should hold very dear the great gift for our lives.

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22 NIV).
--Bill Hunt

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Monday, October 10, 2011

God Selects a Wife

I am absolutely convinced God divinely intends our

spouse.

"I am absolutely convinced God divinely intends our

spouse." (By Bill Hunt c. 2011)

I sat down on the left side of the stage podium and listened to this coed play the magnificent organ with exposed silver pipes. Refrains sounded all the way to the high ceiling and echoed the melody throughout the auditorium. This organist sat behind a white shielding screen in the center.

I wasn't actively looking for a wife, but God held other plans for me. I had returned to Syracuse University for my second year of special studies. On this Sunday in July, I enjoyed reading the scriptures from the podium during service in Crouse Auditorium at the Music School.

This coed played the magnificent organ through high exposed silver pipes. The refrains ran all the way to the ceiling and echoed the melody throughout the auditorium. This organist sat behind a white shielding screen in the center.

Visible from behind the screen, I could only watch her gorgeous energetic legs busily playing the organ pedals as her hands played the keys. There were thousands of attractive coeds on campus, but at a certain moment in the service, this brunette stood up from behind the screen where I could see her.

"O Heavenly Father, I want one like that!" I whispered, hardly daring to believe the honesty of my own prayer.

I was serious. Her beauty overwhelmed me. Not only was she a great musician, she appeared very intelligent, tall, and definitely attractive.

"There's a little shop down the street serving hot chocolate and cream donuts. Would you care to have some with me?" I gulped and asked her after the service was over.

"No, I don't even know you," she said.

"My name's Bill," I flustered.

"Beside, I have my friends with me. I'll take a rain check," she answered and walked off.

My heart sank. I walked outside without talking to anyone, found my car, and started to drive away around the back of the building.

Suddenly, I noticed her and her lady friends entering a parked car as I passed.

At her car door, she turned and glanced a very flirtatious smile at me. My disappointment jumped back to excitement. “I'd like to meet that girl!” And I held the faith I would.

--Bill Hunt

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Rules of Love

How should we love our spouse, our family, our acquaintances, indeed all mankind?

How then should we love? (Bill Hunt c 2011)

How then should we love? The 2^nd Great Commandment expresses the rule of love for relationships. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” pretty well gives us a concept on how this should function. However, 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 (NIV) gives us the details, the Rules of Love.

Love is patient. I will calmly wait and endure a situation even if it inconvenient, without complaining.

Love is kind. I will be considerate, warm, generous, sensitive, and understanding toward others. This is an expression of love suiting all relations in society with or without intimacy.

It does not envy. I will not be jealous of, nor covet another person's benefits, friends, or possessions. In fact, I will rejoice for his good fortune.

It does not boast. I will not brag or talk with pride about my accomplishments, performance, or other benefits. In fact, silence is best. Let others proclaim your deeds, my dad always said.

It is not proud. I will not consider myself with undo merit above others, nor express myself in such a way. I know my strengths are counterbalanced by my weaknesses. Of all things I do know or accomplish, there are far more I don't.

It is not rude. I will not consider or treat others with contempt or disdain. There is much hidden value in every person. Therefore, I will treat all others with respect.

It is not self-seeking. Every baby is born with a give-me attitude for survival. I realize the noble measure of adult maturity is rather giving, self-sacrificing, and promoting the benefit of others. “For in giving, we receive.”

It is not easily angered. Anger is an emotion of defense that can be justified or not. Expressing wrath in relationships can be devastating. In fact, the scripture calls it murder. In relationships, the advice to never let the sun set on your anger is best. Your relation needs peace, but so do you.

It keeps no record of wrongs. Forgiveness is the key to relationship. And forgiveness works if it is unconditional. It matters not one speck who is at fault or who offended first. The first one to heart-fully forgive wins! When one repents, God himself perfectly forgives and perfectly forgets. No one who fails to forgive can be admitted to eternal life.

Love does not delight in evil. Bless and do not curse. Never take the side of evil and sin. God can allow no evil or sin in his presence. The redeeming sacrifice of Jesus for us was the greatest act of love. “Never let the sin in others or the sin in yourself defeat you.”

But rejoices with the truth. God is Truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God calls us to rejoice in all things. We can do this because he is the Beginning and End of all things. No other standard will stand before him. And Joy is such a key to successful relationship!