Thankful for my wife

I am thankful for my wife. Today is my 4th anniversary of the day we got married in Flagstaff Arizona. She is truly a gift from God. She is one of the best things that ever happened to me. So I wrote a poem for her, here it is. I hope that you enjoy it too.

Four years ago today, how happy I was 

to marry my beloved, my head all abuzz.

She is the love of my life,

so I made her my wife 

Wife is not what the world makes of it

She is not my property, it's her choice to submit

In submitting, she honors and gives me respect

My job is to guide, to lead, and reflect

We both love Jesus, so we make him our Lord 

and study his Word to life in one accord 

The Bible does guide in all that we do

So we live life to the fullest because it is true

The truth of the cross sets all us free

No longer a slave defines you and me

No one is more loving than God with your soul

If you come to him broken, he makes you whole

marriage is not about you or your spouse

It's not about riches, how big is your house

It's about loving each other by serving God that created

till he comes a second time, I wait with breath bated

If you don't know Jesus, I wish that you would

He is so perfect, so strong and so good

Pain will come, but whatever betide 

Let it always be said that my Lord will provide

What is before us now, we really can't say

But I do know that my love for her will grow everyday

Spending many more years loving God with my spouse

Especially now that we will have three in the house

Happy anniversary my lovely wife. You are my life and I plan to serve Jesus till the day we are separated by death. But we both really know that death is only a temporary separation. We will see each other in heaven, but remember, I am outliving you so that I can take care of you until your last breath is spent. 

Thankful for video games, extra guy

I am thankful that God gave humans minds to create video games. This is a continuation of being thankful for video games. Here is why I like video games:

The story. Frequently video game companies employ skilled writers to craft a story that is gripping and draws the player into the world they created. The story of a video game can be what draws a person to that game. So much so that they have entire mythologies created around characters or worlds. Some of the stories are simple and fun, while others are complex and compelling.

Ok, video games have stories, but why is that important?

One reason is that through the story, it introduces us to the characters. Our favorite video game characters can have personalities. They can also show us morals and values or lack of them which shows us things to avoid. The biggest reason that I like story is because the story of the Bible is the best story every told. Unlike video games, the story of the Bible is truth; what has actually happened. In the beginning God makes everything perfect. Humans fall into sin and by that rebel against God. Through out the first centuries, the history of humanity repeats with people turning to God in need, He rescues them for their sacrifices, and they fall away again. Underlying the history of humans is the promise of a Messiah, one that would come and conquer to provide a final sacrifice. Then Jesus enters the world, he is the Messiah. Not only is he the Messiah, but he is God who chose to come to Earth to once and for all reconcile humans with Himself. By His death on the cross Jesus becomes the final sacrifice. Never again do sacrifices need to be made. People, you, me, your neighbor, whoever can freely come to Jesus and be saved. Life will still be hard at times and bad things will still happen, but faith in Jesus provides a freedom from every bad thing. So although they still happen at the end of your life if you just believe and have faith in Jesus, you will be saved to eternal perfection. No better story could there ever be.

So back to video games. Stories in video games remind me of things that are good and things to avoid. They give me a world where I can see how actions play out and how my favorite characters deal with real world problems in there video game ways. Then I can go to the Bible and see how my favorite Bible characters deal with those same problems in a Godly or not Godly ways. The story of a video game makes the characters come alive. Just as the stories in the Bible make these men and women of history come alive. 

Thankful for video games

I am thankful for the joy and excitement I get from playing. I have been thinking about doing a list of my top favorite video games for some time. So look forward to that list coming to my blog soon. Back on topic though, as humans God has given us lots of things to use in this world. Some of those thing are for our use, some are art, some are living. All of which, when used properly can be used to glorify God. Paul talks about this issue in his first letter to the Corinthian church. He tells them that all things are lawful but not all things are helpful. I think that video games fall into that category. Video games in and of themselves are lawful and can be used for good or bad. On the good side people can be brought together in comradery when they share something such as video games in common. On the bad side, people can become quite addicted to video games. So much so that they become an idol. So I am thankful that I am able to play video games with my friends and we can share in that enjoyment together.

Stay tuned for my favorite video games and why. Also let me know what you are thankful for and how you can glorify God with it.

Thankful for God's creative power

My goal with this blog is to encourage you. I am asking you, the reader, to stop what you are doing for part of your busy day and consider something to be thankful for. I hope you enjoy learning to be thankful about things just as I will be learning with you. Let's start at the beginning of things to be thankful for, because without a source, we would have nothing to be thankful for. I am thankful that God created and sustains all things by his power. That means that all things that were, all things that are, and all things that will ever be were/are/ and will be under God's full control. We are told this in the Bible, where we can go to learn more about God.

Created
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens that the earth
Genesis 5:2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and he named them Man when they were created
Isaiah 45:18 For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited): "I am the Lord, and there is no other."
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
(Italics added by me for informative purpose, not trying to add to the word of God)

Sustain
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

So as you go about your day, remember to thank God for his creation and sustaining. Feel free to leave me a comment. I would love to hear about the things you are thankful for and how that has impacted your life. Also join me next post for continuing of why I am thankful for God's creating and sustaining power.