THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

May 1, 2024

LIFE IN THE FOLD

This past Saturday, Jon and I brought his mom to our home to watch the wedding of his niece (granddaughter to his mom); which was being streamed for those unable to attend the ceremony in Texas. Watching the nervousness and excitement of the couple brought back memories of our own wedding.

The bride was wearing a beautiful white gown and looked quite lovely. The groom was dressed in suit and tie and had his boots polished. They came prepared, looking their very best, for their wedding.

I remember how I felt on my wedding day, dressed up in my long white dress and veil. I felt like a princess! That's the fanciest dress I've ever worn. I had my hair and nails done professionally. I was the center of attention for the day. It was a feeling that I'd experienced. I later thought, "All ladies need to feel like a beautiful princess at least once in their life!" I remember Jon's look of love and admiration as he saw me for the first time in my wedding gown. I remember how handsome he looked all dressed up in his suit and tie!

In the book of Jeremiah, God gave Jeremiah many messages to share, throughout many years.

In chapter two, God told Jeremiah, "Go and shout this message to Jerusalem."

The message begins by saying, "I (God) remember how eager you were to please Me as a young bride long ago, how you loved Me and followed Me even through the barren wilderness."

In the beginning, Israel were eager to please the Lord. They were God's chosen people -- His precious treasure. They were passionate about obeying Him and going wherever He chose to lead them. They trusted God and were a faithful bride. They loved only Him, and kept their covenant with Him.

Even when they were lead into the barren wilderness, where things were difficult, they still worshipped only God and followed wherever He took them.

It's like a young couple who are first married. They are so in love that they are willing to move or make changes or adapt to whatever happens.

I'm reminded of my nephew and his wife. He joined the military while they were dating, then went through basic training during their engagement. His first assignment was to go to South Korea for three years. They timed their wedding so that she could be approved to go with him as his wife. I think their parents and family were more concerned about them than they were!

They were in love, this was a grand adventure, and the young wife was willing to leave everything and everyone she knew, in order to go live in a foreign country with her husband. They had to grow up and deal with a lot of things during their time there. They lived without a lot of conveniences, having only a tiny one-burner stove to cook on... had to hang their laundry out to dry... adapt to cooking a different way with different groceries, etc. There were times when my nephew was gone for training or assignments and she was left on her own. They had their first baby born while there. But their love for one another and their commitment was enough where they enjoyed their life and made the most of that opportunity.

Often, when life throws difficulties at individuals, it can either make a marriage stronger or it will fall apart. If the couple chooses to allow their affections to wander to others and they fail to hold fast to their commitment, then disaster happens.

That's basically what happened with Israel. They arrived in the very place that God had prepared for them to live. A land of plenty, flowing with milk and honey. God told Israel, through Jeremiah, "When I brought you into a fruitful land to enjoy its bounty and goodness, you defiled My land and corrupted the possession I had promised you." (2:7)

The Israelites abandoned God, who is the fountain of living water. They exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. The Lord said, "The heavens were shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay." (2:12)

Things continued to progress to the point where Israel no longer believed that they had any need of God.

God spoke this message to Israel, through Jeremiah, in chapter 3 verse 32: "Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end, My people have forgotten Me."

How foolish would it be if a young bride forgot to put on her gown and get ready for the wedding ceremony?! The bridegroom is standing at the front of the church waiting on her to walk down the aisle, the church is full of guests, everything is decorated and beautiful.... then the bride comes down the aisle in shorts and t-shirt. She was busy having fun and doing all those things that she wanted to do before making a commitment to marriage.... lost track of time... and when someone reminded her that the bridegroom was waiting for her... she runs in, without first getting herself prepared.

Yet that is how so many people are living their lives today! In Matthew chapter 25, we read the parable of the ten bridesmaids -- five were wise, and five were foolish. The wise stayed prepared for the coming of the bridegroom. They made sure that their lamps were filled with oil and was constantly vigilant, waiting and prepared for whenever he should make his appearance for the wedding. But five of the young women were busy living life and having fun and failed to prepare. When they saw that the bridegroom was coming and that they had ran out of oil, they tried to borrow from those who were prepared; but that didn't work!

Jesus will return for His bride someday. We don't know when that will happen, but it is so important that we be wise and stay ready at all times. When He arrives for His church... His bride... there will be no time for preparations at that time. It will be too late, and those unprepared will miss out on the wedding and be left behind.

We can't be like Israel, who had abandoned and forgotten about God. The argument may be that you've not forgotten or abandoned Him... you just don't want to honor your commitment at this time. You love Him, but love other things of this world more. You may have at one time prepared and got your wedding garments all ready and were so in love with Jesus and desired to follow Him and pledge yourself to Him for all eternity. But then the things that the world has to offer looked attractive and you got distracted and your love for God grew cold. He is no longer the love of your life!

I urge you, with everything within me, to get prepared today! Nothing that this world tempts you with is more valuable or more important than God. It's not worth risking your salvation and eternity for.

If your love for God has grown cold or lukewarm, ask Him to restore you to that first love that you felt for Him. Get your wedding garments spiritually ready so that when the Bridegroom comes, you are ready to meet Him!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Weddings are used as illustrations several times. In the story of the ten virgins, they were there to attend a wedding (or maybe to become brides themselves; I've never been entirely sure). So, does that mean we need to be dressed as brides or to have oil burning lamps lit continuously? No, not really. But it does mean that we need to be prepared. When Jesus returns to claim us, we will need to have our hearts prepared to drop everything and follow Him. We can't check in on facebook first, or post on twitter that we're going on the rapture. We can't stop and devote ourselves to God for real, this time. We need to be able to simply have that devotion already, and leave this world behind.

Lot's wife is a good example of a bad example. The majority of the story is in Genesis 19. Sodom and Gomorrah were so evil that God decided to destroy both cities completely. But first, He sent two angels to Lot and his family to warn them to run and not look back. Lot's wife didn't exactly check up on her facebook status first, but she did turn around and look at the city she was leaving behind. And so she was not included in the escape from Sodom with her family.

When the rapture comes, and Jesus claims His people to escape Earth, we can't look back. We need to embrace Jesus and nothing else.

ON THE MENEWE:

Soft Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix cream cheese with softened butter. Add in egg and vanilla. Slowly add in cake mix; mix thoroughly.

Use small scoop to make 1-inch balls.

Double roll each ball in powdered sugar. Place on a cookie sheet that is either nonstick or covered with parchment paper.

Bake 10-13 minutes.

Cookies stay soft and delicious.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

A few more bulletin bloopers:

The Senior Choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

This evening at 7:00 pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Diana and Don request your presents at their wedding.

Let us join David and Lisa in the celebration of their wedding and bring their happiness to a conclusion.

Announcement to the Moms Who Care ladies group: There will be no Moms who care this week.

Thank you, Steve, who once again has worked hard to clean the pastor off the basement floor.

The class on prophecy has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Life is not always fair,

but our God who holds all things is always faithful. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org