Greetings Holy, Healthy and Happy People of God,

As I write this eNote to our faithful and devoted community of radical and contextually conscious followers of Jesus Christ, I am in a season of offering premarital counseling for couples soon to be married.  While every couple is unique, each has similarities.  But for each couple, there is the exploration for a deeper love of God, self and the other.  Every couple is expected to live by the great commandment, “Love God and love neighbor!”

Learning to be in deeper, intimate, Christ-shaped relationships requires living with a few constant questions.  Answering these questions will allow us to stay curious about each other.

First is the idea of why do we love each other?  “We love because God first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

Second is how do we love each other?  Love is driven by the Holy Spirit so that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against things like this.”  Galatians 5:22-23

Third is a new question, how do we make time for one another?  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Love must be a priority, which means we must develop a deep abiding trust by finding time for one another.  Love finds time for one another.  Jesus made time for those in need.  In Mark chapter 5, he wasn’t too busy to leave what he was doing, which happened to be ministering to a large group of people, to make time for a single girl.  (Mark 5:21-24, 35-42)  Jesus displayed the heart of the Father in going after the one.  Throughout his ministry, Jesus consistently made time for people around him.

So to those who aspire to be in deeper, intimate and Christ-shaped relationship with others, follow the three simple rules: 1) do not harm, 2) do good, and 3) stay in love with God.

Hear the W.O.W., the Words of Wisdom,
“Love is an ongoing connection with God!”

Remember to pray The Lord’s Prayer every day at 12 Noon!

As always, remember, God’s will for us is good, we must do the rest!
Pastor Stephen