By Steve Higginbotham
You’ve probably heard the story about the young man
who wouldn’t marry unless the girl he picked to marry had the approval of his
mother. This young man would bring home girl after girl to meet his
mother, only to have his mother disapprove. After several years of
trying, this young man finally found a girl his mother just absolutely
adored! In fact, she was just like his mother. Now the only problem
is, his father doesn’t like her.
In a time when marriage is being assaulted on so many
fronts (e.g. co-habitation, homosexual marriage, divorce, adultery, etc.) what
is needed more than anything is for men and woman to return to the time tested
and proven pattern that God gave us for marriage. While volume after
volume can be written, giving instructions as to how to have a happy marriage,
God had a way to sum it up in a few short principles.
· Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you (Matthew 7:12).
· Husbands, love your wives as Christ
loved the church and as you love your own body (Ephesians 5:25,28).
· Wives, submit to your husbands as
unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:23).
· It is more blessed to give than to
receive (Acts 20:35).
Observing just these four principles alone would
eliminate most of the marital problems that people face today. Friends,
the key to a better marriage is a better relationship with God. Happy
Valentine’s Day!
- Steve Higginbotham preaches for the Karns Church of Christ in Knoxville, TN.
He may be contacted through the congregation's website at
http://www.karnschurch.org
Queen Victoria, Alexandria Victoria, queen of Great Britain,
Ireland and Empress of India, was born in London on May 24, 1819, the only
child of the Duke of Kent who was the fourth son of George III. She became
queen at the death of her uncle George IV on June 20, 1837 and was crowned June
28, 1838. Queen Victoria, like many of the royal family in England accumulated
great wealth. Much of the royal wealth was frequently used to support expenses
for wars, growth or domestic problems. As the wealth grew it was kept int he
Tower of London. Now it is only used ceremonially or on formal occasions. It
is, of course, a major part of the throne's wealth.
As India became more and more a major source of the Eastern
trade, the queen made many allegiances with the Indian people. One small boy
sent a magnificent diamond to the queen. He was to become the Maharajah of
Punjac. The diamond was to become one of the prized crown jewels and was kept
in the Tower of London under constant guard.
When the boy grew to manhood he traveled to England and
visited the queen in her palace in London. After a brief time, he asked to see
the diamond given many years before. The jewel was brought and presented to the
Maharajah. Taking the diamond and inspecting it, he kneeled before the queen.
He said, "Madam, I gave this jewel when I was too young to know what I was
doing. I want to give it to you in my strength, with all my heart and affection
and gratitude, now and forever, fully realizing all that I do."
As we have time let us each review how much value our soul
is and how precious it is to our Christ. It is one of his crown
jewels.Frequently we need to repledge out allegiance to the Lord of Lords, with
deep affection and love.
Source:
Pulpit Helps, date unknown.
The teacher asked the pupils to tell the meaning of
loving-kindness. A little boy jumped up and said, "Well, if
I was hungry and someone gave me a piece of bread that would
be kindness. But it they put a little jam on it, that would
be loving kindness."
Source:
Pulpit Helps
, November 1996, p. 8.
By Victor Knowles
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) loved his wife. She loved to help
her husband in his writing career. But she became ill with
cancer and was confined to bed. Though he loved her dearly,
Carlyle was so busy writing that he rarely found time to
stay at her bedside.
The day of her burial it rained and the mud was deep. After
the funeral, Carlyle returned home, deeply shaken. He went
into his wife's bedroom, sat down on a chair beside her bed,
realizing he had not spent enough time with her in her
illness.
From the bedside table he picked up her diary and began to
read. One line smote his heart: "Yesterday he spent an hour
with me and it was like being in heaven. I love his so." He
turned the page and this time his heart was broken, for she
had written, "I have listened all day to hear his steps in
the hall, but now it is late and I guess he won't come
today."
Carlyle threw the diary to the floor and rushed back to the
cemetery in the rain. Friends found him face down in the mud
at the newly made grace. He was weeping, saying over and
over, "If I had only known! If I had only known!"
Source:
Pulpit Helps
, date unknown.
