"The Two Shall Become One" 6-20-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In the first light of dawn of this new day, I turn my first thoughts to You. ... "But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Mark 10:6-9). Today I'll have the honor of leading my friends Val and Carrie in their vows to You and one another, as You seal their hearts and lives together as one in marriage. You've given them Your heart of love for each other and Your eyes to see each other as You see them. Through prayer and faith, trusting Your leading of their hearts, You are releasing them of every bond that would hold them back from being fully bonded to one another. And with the love of parents, family, and friends, we will add our blessing of this sacred and holy covenant to Yours. Their lives will be changed forever today as the two become one. Their spiritual journey to maturity will accelerate as You help them learn to surrender their lives and love one another in deeper ways. In the daily choices they'll learn to make out of their "genuine mutual love," they will learn to "love one another deeply from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22). Their marriage is also meant to be an outward symbol of the inward grace You long for us each to experience with You, "just as Christ love the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:21-33). In the sacred and holy covenant of the surrender of our hearts to Yours, we learn to love You deeply from the heart. And "anyone united with the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). There is nothing more powerful or beautiful than the bond of Your love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please join your prayers with mine in blessing the marriage of my friends, Val Mink and Carrie Curtis. I'll be marrying them this evening at a beautiful Kentucky horse farm outside of Lexington. And I pray God's guidance and blessings in the holy relationships of your lives. God bless you! Come to The Fountain! tonight 6/20 at 7 pm -- on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org