Mary, Most Amazing

Mary, most amazing Mother of God. Were you scared when Jesus was born? How was it to touch Him? I mean I could barely handle my newborn first child without fear and awe, or the second or the third or the fourth. So fragile, so dependent, on ME. I wondered every time if it wasn’t a mistake for the Lord to entrust these lives to my shaky hands and way too imperfect soul.

Did you ever feel that, Mary? You who cared for God Himself with His tiny toes and fingers. How many times did your hands touch His, soothe Him to sleep, nurse Him. Were you overcome with wonder? Did you ever forget even a second that here was the living son of God placed into your responsibility?

Mary, was it always clear what to do next, I mean I’ve so often wondered if I was doing the right thing? Sending each of our sons and daughters to the best place to learn? If the sport they’d begun to play would help or hinder their development? I can only imagine decisions you made. What friends to encourage Jesus to keep, squelch, was carpentry the best use of Jesus’ gifts. Omigosh, dealing with the giftedness of God, what a thought!

Was your heart beating wildly when you left Egypt? Did you have that sense, I’ve known a few times in my life, that God’s hand was all over this, and you needed only show up and take the next step?

It seems you might have been frantic at times having charge of God Who created the universe and all that is within it in your midst. You were a human momma too, so you may have had times of trembling like me.

Thank you, 1000 times for being faithful, for living holy and passionate for God so that you would be the chosen one. For assuming confidence when perhaps you had little. You did it! You gave our Savior safety as long as you could. And you ravished Him with love, and He you, how easy that part would be, permeating all you did every day. I bet gratitude seeped into every moment. And awe.

But then being a Mom to any child of God is a mysterious, sacred undertaking. I thank God daily for trusting me and gracing me with His help that alone kept my knees from buckling at each new event of parenting. And now for allowing me to GrandMom seven more world-changing creations of His.

Thanks, Mary, most of all for walking with your child, Jesus, all the way to the cross and showing us to do the same for our children if necessary, loving them all the way. I so can’t wait to place my hand in Jesus.’ To touch His brow. To watch His smile spread over me.

Happy Mom’s day to Mary and my awesome earthly mom, my daughters, and sister and moms the whole world over who daily take up the challenge to spark these life buds assigned as our offspring and aim to glorify God through every exciting or humdrum moment. There’s nothing like being a mother. And praise to those who parent with total dedication the fruit from another womb as moms, teachers, nurses, neighbors. To touch the life of a child is to shape the universe itself. Aren’t we blessed! Happy, happy day!

 

Mary

Holiness undefinable,

Sweetness personified,

Instigator of miracles,

Model of dignity,

Inspiration worthy of honor.

Spiritual mother to the masses,

And holy Mother to me.

From Breathless Minute Meditations©Judith Rolfs

John 14:23 "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, 

and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

Hands I Love

With Mother's Day then Father’s Day fast approaching might you like to honor your husband’s hands with a picture and poem? Please feel free to adapt my poem below to fit your man and share the idea with friends.

[I asked my husband to let me take a picture of his hands, which inspired my thoughts about what his hands have done.]

MY MAN'S HANDS 

Your hands snuggled, comforted and disciplined our children who carry your blood and cell structure into the next generation.

Your hands have been laid upon family and friends while praying for sickness or sadness to leave our bodies.

Your hands held steering wheels while driving several hundred thousand miles across America and foreign countries.

A million golf swings have been made holding a club in your hands matching the flight of eagles and the straightness of spears as a PGA golf pro, who taught thousands of others to do the same.

Your hands have patted and hugged friends and acquaintances with gracious reminders of their value.

Your hands have reached for my hand every night to say the Our Father prayer before we sleep.

Your hands are raised often in worship of the God who made them.

Your hands have prepared soups, shakes and salads and crepes for loved ones.

Your hands have torn down and built rooms and roofs and planted and nourished gardens and trees.

Your hands have worked for and protected our family.

Your hands have touched me with love through ­­­­­­­all our years.

They’ve gnarled a bit, and become spotted from holy wear, but they’re still strong and true.

Fantastic hands…

 

[Would this be cool printed and framed on your man’s workbench or desk!]

Acts 6:6 "... who prayed and laid their hands on them."

A Breathless 2012 Poem For Every Mom and Dad:

How Big?

How big is my world?

God alone decides.

Is it one room, an island, a country?

Impact is not measured in size,

Love isn’t determined by return,

Life isn’t scored by points.

Significance comes from connection,

Linkage to the Master Planner

Destiny comes from His design,

Not mine.

www.judithrolfs.com

Art, Writing and the Holy Spirit

In the legendary English mystery writer Agatha Christie’s book The Hollow a character tells what’s it’s like to be a sculptor. She says an image of a work she’s about to create begins to get at her, nag and haunt her, until she must sculpt it.

I understood perfectly. Sometimes the process of writing feels similar. An idea forms inside me and won’t leave and stirs about until I feel I must get it out to get some peace in my mind again. It’s disturbing and challenging at the same time. And usually delightful.

Later I was still thinking about the arts when I picked up the Christian classic by R. A. Torrey, The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. (Usually I have a book of fiction and non-fiction going at the same time.) I started connecting artistic inspiration with the work of the Holy Spirit.

What about the nudges of the Holy Spirit? Often people tend to think of Him as purely a force to guide us, but the Holy Spirit is a Person. He gets inside of us, enlightens and directs and doesn’t leave. He stirs us up inside until we feel a holy compulsion to follow His leading. It’s mysterious and exciting and fulfilling. The impulses within us created by the Holy Spirit have other-world dimension, life-changing potential, divine capability. We derive deep satisfaction from responding to Him and rightly so.

And through it all the Holy Spirit is utterly relational, fine tuning us, our gifts, while infusing peace and joy. Cool beyond words!

Read about nudges of the Holy Spirit in Love Always, Mom available as an e-book on amazon.

Happy Easter Thoughts

                Blessed Easter!

A Few Easter Thoughts on Churches and Crosses

Churches, why do so many people go?
Do you ever wonder if you don’t?

I mean... 

Pass a church and see all the cars.

What do people find in such a place?

Do they really believe?

Or only hope there is someone in whom they can believe?

Do they go because they’ve glimpsed

if even for a moment a seeping joy,

Sensed an invisible but certain touch on this thing named soul.

Do you ever enter and sit among them

And wonder have they really seen Him with heart eyes

This Jesus all the fuss is over.

Who is this Him, this God plus Man reaching out and reaching within. 

How could this God care so much? 

And does He, or has the myth simply gone on and on?

How can you know? Unless you go…

With eyes of thought, mind bright and seeking truth,

A breath of His and your breathing changes forever.

This Spirit called Holy, the joygiver, patience maker, wisdom worker,

Will make a change within, in ways you know you couldn’t.

But how will you know unless you go…

And do you ever wonder about crosses?

Crosses, crosses everywhere.

Metal crosses with clean, sharp lines,

Wooden crosses with carved, intricate symbols,

Crosses of ceramic, collectors of dust on walls,

Whose owners have ceased to see them.

Ornamental crosses hanging around necks

Filled with meaning or meaningless?

Invisible crosses carried throughout lives

With dignity and determination.

Holy crosses that serve as reminders

Of one sacred cross carried

And a precious life sacrificed --

The cross that made kingdom dwellers

Of common people like you and me

Because God was glorified upon it

The Calvary cross brings grace to us.

 (c) Judith Rolfs Breathless 2012

The Three Keys

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Savannah, Georgia parade second in size only to New York's and Georgians think that's debatable.

It's also spring and weddings are in the air. I've been pondering what advice to give the soon-to-be-marrieds among us  like our granddaughter Katie. 

I think I shall say:

Marriage is only hard if you want to stay engaged in a love affair. If you choose to settle for less than a dynamic intimate union you can take the emotional walk into separateness, at least on certain issues. Life on the surface may be easier. If you’ve known the excitement of emotional oneness it’s never as fulfilling.

Plus God doesn’t like lukewarm marriages any more than he likes lukewarm relationships with Him.

So what’s the answer? It comes in three. Speak through pain, love through anger, listen rather than run.

These are the three keys to making a real marriage. Not just one that works, but one that does honor to the God who designed this fantastic union between frail, flawed men and women  - and even sacramentalized it.

It helps to know God has a blanket of love big enough for two, when one of you temporarily hasn’t enough to keep the other warm. You can stay under and re-energize as you use the three keys to re-connect.

The best advice of all is from Psalm 119:25-27. "My life is down in the dust; give me life through Your word. I told you about my life and you listened to me; teach me Your statutes. Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders."

Isn't a good marriage always a wonder of God! Feel free to share these thoughts with those you love. 

 (c) Judith Rolfs 2012

You may also want to check out the Intimacy Reviver in A Woman's Guide To Keeping Promises available on amazon.

First Day in Heaven

My friend Betsy is spending her first full day in heaven today. She left us two soon in human eyes. Betsy was a classy lady, warm and loving, with beautiful eyes, beloved by many. A few years back I wrote about Heaven’s First Morning. I present it again today in honor of her.

Heaven’s First Morning

I’d like to twirl with You, Lord,
And dance through the clouds.
May I ride the morning star?
I’d love to climb into Elijah’s chariot
And see a startled fish from the splitting red sea.
May I pet the mane of Your white Horse,
And sit among the children You let come close?
Heaven’s first morning will be so grand!
Breathless Minute Meditations © Judith Rolfs 2010

Words can’t describe how she’ll be missed. Betsy endured her suffering with quiet dignity and focused on making others comfortable in the presence of her illness. She fought like a bold warrior always trusting ultimately in the plan of her Lord and God, her Commander-in chief.

I met my friend on the, Fontana Country Club Estates golf course. We’d arrive early to get out before everyone else and managed to be a twosome every week. Part of the joy of our time together which we always discussed was the thrill of spending our early morning in God’s creation tugging our pull carts up the sizable hills for vigorous exercise. Occasional good golf shots mixed in with some laughable duffs.

Betsey was fun to be with, a gem of a woman.

Now she’s heaven’s treasure.

"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you
in heaven above or on earth below-
you who keep your covenant of love
with your servants who continue
wholeheartedly in your way.”
Exodus15:13

Women Endangered, Who Will Speak Up?

Have women in high positions of government failed millions of women? Sebelius head of Health and Human Services released the National Institute of Health 2011 report stating “the IARC [International Agency on Cancer Research] concluded there was sufficient evidence of the carcinogenicity of oral contraceptives in humans based on increased risks of breast, cervical, and liver cancer.” 

Yet Sebelius wants every woman to have access to free contraceptives without women being informed that they endanger their bodies risking future breast cancer, cervical cancer and liver cancer from oral contraceptives, well-documented by her federal report. Women also risk miscarriage of first babies if and when they do get pregnant. Plus the huge horror of STD’s that can rob this precious young woman of her fertility forever and make her life miserable as well. Only God's plan of a one man, one-woman relationship can guarantee safety from these plagues.

To insist women have free access to harmful contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs to block the natural function of their bodies and then insist all taxpayers in America is a disservice to the women our Secretary of Health and Human Services should protect. Would she endorse free distribution of cigarettes for men and women as well? Once, long ago, smoking was considered therapeutic for women, not the source of cancerous, blackened lungs. Manufacturers protested for years that cigarettes were safe.  Will contraceptives follow this path?

The process of childbirth is a healthy, natural event, that is conducive to a woman's health, not a disease to be prevented at all costs. Psalm 127:3
in the Bible says, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.”

For men and women who choose to responsibly limit the size of their families let's inform them of safe, cost-free Natural Family Planning which accomplishes the same thing without any expense or dire health consequences. Couples, instructed and motivated to use this method, can practice the cross-checking Sympto-Thermal Method at a 98% level of effectiveness for avoiding pregnancy. The research is even described on the Planned Parenthood site! This natural method avoids any health danger and means taxpayers don’t have to pay for oral contraceptives to get the same results.

 The contraceptive freedom of choice has always existed. Everyone knows that. Making other people participate in unmarried women’s immoral behavior by subsidizing it is a violation of religious liberty. Sex anywhere, anytime, anyhow is not an American right. It’s a human choice. Making taxpayers pay for married women’s use of cancer-causing contraceptives and abortifacients is a violation of female taxpayers who should be allowed to spend their money on their own family.

Who will speak up for the women being used like sheep being led to slaughter? Will men come to the rescue of these maidens and say they treasure and respect women’s decision to guard their body - their emotional, spiritual and physical health.

The Catholic Church has got this issue 100% right. Self-appointed women’s rights groups desecrate the dignity of women with lies and gross disregard of their intelligence. Our Secretary of Health and Human Services alleges concern about our contraceptive "rights" while stripping us of religious freedom.

Immigrant forefathers crossed an ocean at the risk of their lives to give us this legacy of freedom and wept with joy when they saw the Statue of Liberty. In their honor America shall remain the greatest country on earth where  Catholics worship freely and exercise freedom of conscience. This administration cannot have America’s religious freedom. Blood was shed to earn it for us and it shall remain ours.

Read the novel Directive 99 for another great deception about to be foisted on the American people. Available on amazon.com

Fined For Refusing To Sin

The Catholic church supported by countless evangelical churches is exhorting individuals: Don’t let anyone take away your right to do what you know is right or force you to do what you believe is wrong! Because God gave you that freedom!

The church, Catholic and Christian, hasn’t always gotten Christ’s message right when offering it to the world. But it has tried for centuries and succeeded valiantly at teaching love for God and others. Religious people, very often Catholics, have been in the forefront of caring for the poor, educating the ignorant and nursing the sick selflessly without the help of government. For the glory and honor of almighty God, reward enough for anyone.

Jesus made the role of the church very clear and who is the church but all of us. We are to be actively, hands on involved in local care of the poor, the hungry, the sick, the homeless through our financial giving and our volunteering. This is not the job of government. The church has lovingly provided hospitals, and orphanages and shelters and food pantries. Let the government not impede God's work on earth by destroying this work of God's church.

What a clever attack to shut the doors of Catholic institutions and stop God's workers - by fining us because we refuse to sin.

Have you ever heard of a more effective or more diabolical method to halt charity in the name of health?

Shall we laugh or cry? Neither! Let us join together and stop this assault on the people of God.

Real Choice About Life

Lots of talk has been swirling about the news on contraception and abortion. I've been researching the history of contraception and recently responded to a fine young man's sincere questions about the topic.

First I need to say I believe everyone is free to make choices, some are good and others are harmful to themselves and others. That's the reality and at times the curse of the free will God gifts us with. I don’t presume to label anyone a sinner. Except for God’s grace I’m among the greatest of them all.

Now allow me to toss around some threads of truth I’m discovering. Interestingly there is an alternative method to contraception rarely discussed. Natural Family Planning has a 95-98% effective rate and it’s completely cost free control of conception. (This shouldn't be confused with the ineffective rhythm method of the 1970’s.) Incidentally not even contraceptives are 100% successful.

_{When I looked up the history of contraceptive teaching in the church I learned they mean no, never, for whatever reason. Now why might that be?}

_{Maybe, if you’re cynical as I am at times, you’d ask if it’s because they want more Catholics born to fill the ranks. Certainly that’s true of Muslim faiths. Then again, why wouldn’t God want more people? He loves and delights in each one of us.}

_{But is there something deeper? In my family counseling practice of many years, I found that God’s principles are ultimately good for the individual. Children are called a blessing in Scripture and our own experience with our two daughters and two sons certainly bears this out.}

Sadly we now have countries with populations moving to extinction.

Then on the other hand why is contraception deemed to be so desirable in our current culture? Is it because of men and women’s selfish nature that they’ll want to avoid the responsibility of caring for another human being. Or they want the freedom to be promiscuous without apparent consequences.

By the way I was amazed to learn that until the 1930’s all Christian churches opposed contraception.

I’m not in favor of a “government papa.” And I don’t want people telling me I have to do what I don’t believe is right. I'm opposed to paying through my taxes for someone to practice birth control or use abortifacients. The government argument seems to be, from what I can tell, it’s cheaper to provide birth control than to pay for the care of the kids later. Whoah! The govt. shouldn’t have to do either. We have churches and religious institutions and neighborhoods and front-line family members to help with child care and housing.

_{Jesus clearly said, “You will always have the poor among you.” AND he told us to go and feed them, care for the poor. And pay for their health care OURSELVES like the good Samaritan did, which the church has already been doing for decades at our Catholic/Christian hospitals where poor patients who can’t pay aren’t turned away.}

_{God calls on us, not a structure of government. Us, personally and corporately, but always a form of direct involvement [and we’re also supposed to take care of our parents when they’re old not expect government to handle this in the rare case they can't provide for themselves. See my mystery novel Directive 99.]}

_{Besides this argument that women can’t make it without government hand-outs demeans women. A woman may get pregnant but isn’t incapable of providing for her baby, and she has God and/or his human hands and feet on earth to do it. Government daddy needn’t take over, but does and he says just remember to vote for your government daddy at election time. The $30-50 a month, $600 per year per woman, for contraception by having the government pay is a free handout. I know this is tempting, if somebody’s passing out free stuff, why pay? It’s human nature. But is it right?}

_{Or how about this reason for contraception? My wife and I could afford another child, but I might have to give up some of my Saturday fun time to help out more and I’m not willing to do that just to participate in the sacred role of shaping of another human being. Or other self-centered reasons for denying life to a child like preferring a new boat.}

One reason I can’t fathom for not having kids is worry about money. I know when my husband Wayne and I left Schaumburg, IL for WI it was to serve God through our camp for kids. We gave up corporate retirement plans, all job security, etc. And He’s taking care of us exceedingly well in retirement. God can make a man rich or poor overnight. He did that for us. In the last two or three years before we sold our home, it multiplied to many times its original value. I know abandonment to the will of God an absolutely amazing way to live.

Next week, I’m the guest lecturer in a high school psych class and I’m going to say, "Think, my brighties, think of the motives and consequences of your actions." Many young people are a wonderful example of this. It’s awesome that they get involved with their opinions and are willing to share them.

_{I find all the people God made fascinating in some way. I love the uniqueness and passion God gives us all.} Only the Holy Spirit can impel our choices if we let him. He’s the only one who can change somebody’s thinking through His Holy Spirit.

_{But it’s the same story as Day One in the garden, people have got to choose if they want to submit to God being in charge or keep themselves at the controls. I’ve experienced God so amazingly when I’ve ventured out in trust that I’ve made my decision and I’m riding it to eternity.}

_{To the young among us and to the old: keep talking, keep thinking, and most important of all, keep your fire God-focused.}

Life, Death and Heaven

What an amazing weekend! Friday we attended a book club discussion with a fourth grade class and 20 adult men and women about Heaven is For Real. What beautiful insights the children had, how well they remembered every detail of Colton’s life. Sister Pam led the discussion about very tough subjects like why some children are not healed as Colton was, to which Wayne and I contributed thoughts.

The next day we spent with friends Joann and Jim in Charleston who asked us to minister to their dear friends battling cancer. Roger’s in his sixties and facing a life or death surgery in a few weeks for cancer the size of a basketball in his stomach.

Our new friends Roger and his wife Karen have had an extraordinary life. He’s a businessman, an artist, a musician, started and sold l6 successful businesses, skied almost everywhere in North America, and has traveled the world giving motivational talks and supervising the building of Christian churches. He’s survived open heart surgery and is filled with gratitude but still asking with arms wide open for God to extend his life, as he should.

While the six of us were eating dinner Joann got word that her 88-year-old Mom, Marie, died with total knowledge of Jesus and absolute surety that she was heading for heaven. I saw Joann’s mom a few months ago and she radiated Christ. Joann’s family reported that her Mom entered paradise peacefully from her sleep as she'd hoped.

We talked with Roger and Karen for about 2 ½ hours about the reality of God, His unconditional love and mercy, the delights and work in heaven and ended the evening with fervent prayer for Roger’s healing. (Roger asked us to pray for Joann and her family before we began to pray for him.) We all were very bold in our request for another 15 to 20 years for Roger just like Hezekiah in the Old Testament received.

Such sacred moments, such peace, such deep joy. There was nothing superficial about any of these conversations. An aura of confidence covered every holy moment. How I wish people could always talk so openly about what’s truly important.

None of us know the day or minute but we all know its coming. And we know our God has a plan we can place confidence in for the sleep of death and wake-up call in the divine realm. I’m more excited than ever. Until then I’ll keep talking about God and His fulfillment of purpose going on in every life surrendered to His lordship.

Love Always, Mom, subtitled How, When and Why God Heals Today is the story of our eighteen-year-old son’s successful battle with cancer. Glory to God he lives! It’s available on Kindle and Nook.

Mark 11:24 “Whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you may receive.”

The Total Gift of Who You Are

I had lunch with Sarah Flashing a while back. She’s sort of a cultural watchdog as Director of The Center for Women of Faith in Culture. She shares my concern for females in 2012 that are being led to believe media lies about what will bring true happiness in life. I rarely see TV and movies motivating and equipping young women to live meaningful, satisfying and holy lives.

I emphasize holy – we don’t hear the word used much nowadays. Growing up I desired to be holy – perhaps it was reading the lives of the saints that inspired me. Now it seems girls and guys, too, focus on being popular and clever, more than questing for qualities like holiness and goodness.

I’m putting on my counseling cape to sound a warning. I’ve seen the tears and devastation when young men and women didn’t get genuine wisdom soon enough. Both sexes are bombarded with role models who disregard a holy lifestyle.

Careful grooming, laughter, dancing and dreaming, special friendships with guys/gals are all great. BUT what’s with this sex-texting and male/female friendship with “benefits” which diminishes both the giver and the receiver – sex outside the special bond of marital commitment is physical, emotional and spiritual dynamite. Run from it!

Developing one’s gifts and growing in holiness – how delightful is that! Many saints were far from prudes, but they had their goals clearly defined and reflected them in their behavior and attitudes.

Perhaps we older women can invite conversations with the young women we know about personal dignity and emotional tranquility along with compassion. Let’s discuss what’s to be lost by disregarding inner beauty and forgetting the sacredness of the total personhood God endowed in each man and woman.

A longing to please and honor God is truly a worthy priority. Holiness is made of such. Holy and being whole go together.

Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Please comment and share your ideas for encouraging holiness among men and women of all ages in our society. Young guys and gals, how do you guard the total gift of who you are?

A Woman’s Guide: 52 Ways To Choose Happiness & Fulfillment contains practical principles for living a joyful, God-honoring life with specific Scriptures and applications. Available at Christianbooks.com.

Salute to AA

Perhaps you’ve heard the term army brat… well I’m an AA kid.

Is there a finer philosophy to live a life by than Alcoholics Anonymous? Why? Because it’s the pure, unadulterated message of Jesus Christ. Humility, honesty and hope rolled in one. What’s not to like?

I still remember the day my mom joined AA.. I’d been called by my Dad who couldn’t leave work to go over to their house and let a visitor in. My mom had been in her room for days. When I opened the front door the woman brushed past me saying brusquely take me to her. She entered Mom’s bedroom and came out an hour later announcing she’d be back the next day to pick mom up and take her to a meeting. Before she left very kindly she looked at me, patted my arm and whispered in a soft tone, “It’s up to her, but she can be okay.”

My Mom started attending meetings regularly. The Serenity prayer appeared on our refrigerator door. Sure there were some setbacks like the time I attended an open meeting with her and to my utter embarrassment I realized after we arrived that she’d been drinking. I wanted to disappear through the floor when one of the leaders approached me and suggested I take her home.

The Big Book appeared on the coffee table and Mom talked about Bob and Bill as if they were immediate family members. Anyone within earshot of her heard about the twelve steps, nine of which refer to God/higher power. How fitting since in Him we live and move and have our being. Mom became a Christian for real and startled going to church. The first verse of Scripture that she learned was “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phillipians 4:13) I was sooo proud of her.

In time the constant inner panic, the fear of what condition she’d be in when I came home, the horrible dread that blanketed every holiday lifted. My Mom’s compassion and sense of humor and enthusiasm for life reappeared. The world changed within our home and a precious aura of peace appeared.

I owe much to the fine men and women of AA who helped Mom and most of all to the God power that makes the program work. Because AA does work. Bill got it right. It’s community and the power of God and sharing love and truth with others that changes minds and hearts. I’m proud to be the daughter of a deceased recovering alcoholic and salute all those who’ve carried AA’s message of hope and healing.

As I go through the motions of preparing for the celebration of this holy, holiday season, I'm mindful of the men and women fighting for their very lives in the throes of addictions and of those in hospital wards seeking to slay the monster cancer. And those facing financial woes in this economy they never dreamed possible.

Life is fraught with challenge, but in all circumstances and every generation these words still ring true: "I can do all things [that need doing] through Christ who strengthens me." There is always reason for hope and victory in Jesus Christ. And sometimes Christ relies on people like AA's founders Bill and Bob and the rest of us to make it happen.

Celebrating Marriage

I believe marriage should be celebrated well, it’s such a beautiful, tender relationship. I always like for my wedding gifts to highlight how special this union is. A financial gift in a card is great, but it seems there should be something more memorable. This is what I came up with for a dear couple recently:

Dearest Melissa and Joshua,

Your wedding is so special, as are both of you, so your gifts must be too. There are several:

Three Crosses

The crosses symbolize Christ. Hopefully, at least one will match your décor. If you like them display all three to remember the Trinity, but only one is needed. This is to be a reminder of the selfless love of Christ who gave his life for you. At times you may feel you are doing a lot of sacrificing for one another. Do it with joy, following the example set before you of perfect love.

Blessing Cups

The ceramic mugs are to be used as Blessing Cups. Once a month on the ninth day, your anniversary day, you may want to use them at your evening meal. As you drink from them, tell one another the blessings you’ve experienced the past month either together or individually.

The Blessing Cups are also Healing Cups

If you should ever have an argument, be the first to take out your Healing Cups and set them on the table as a sign you want to sit down and talk. Be sure you never let the sun go down on your anger. Work out every difference of opinion when it is still little.

Ist Anniversary Dinner

The check is for your celebration of Year One. Please cash the check, but put the money in a special place to use for a lovely dinner. And always honor this special day when you joined your lives together.

Marriage Enrichment

In about a month, you’ll be receiving a collection of my two books: 52 Ways to Keep Your Promises As A Man, Husband and Father and A Woman’s Guide and 52 Ways To Choose Happiness and Fulfillment to enrich your married life.

That's it. I signed the card with love from Wayne and I. By the way, the crosses and cups came from Hobby Lobby and were beautiful but inexpensive. I love that store. Nothing wrong with buying your own Blessing Cups if you never received any. Is there anything special you typically give as gifts to celebrate a marriage? I'd like to know.

“What God has joined together let no man break apart.”