Sharing His Gift 

The "iDo" Generation 

A recent survey released by a global research firm AC Nielsen indicated that 7 out of 10 people around the world still believe that marriage should last a lifetime. Though the high divorce rates and rising co-habitation rates in America over the past 10 years may call into question the validity of the "to have and to hold till death do us part" of marriages, we still live in an "iDo" generation. Couples are still getting married and still believe that marriage should last a lifetime. In other words, the "I Do's" have it!

In his article, Most Believe Marriage is Still for Life, Paul Casciato states, "Muslim and Catholic strongholds in Asia topped global rankings in favor of lifelong marriage in the poll of 25,000 people across 46 countries.  Indonesians were the keenest on marriage for life. The survey showed that 97 percent of them believed in the concept, followed closely by Turks at 92 percent as well as Filipinos and Malays, both 89 percent.  In the West, Americans turned out to be the strongest believers in marrying for life, while Europeans from Catholic and conservative countries showed an unexpected lack of enthusiasm for the concept."

One way to affirm the importance of such commitment was seen on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 when the Louisiana Family Forum recognized Fernand and Emily Cavalier as the "Longest-Known Married Louisiana Couple!" at the Louisiana State Capitol. Senator Sharon Broome presented the couple with a commendation from the Louisiana Senate.  "An incredible example to Louisiana couples is found in Fernand and Emily Cavalier," said Gene Mills of Louisiana Family Forum. "We are so pleased to honor them and to celebrate their exemplary commitment to the covenant of marriage!" Mills continued, "In the days of 'soft commitments,' the Cavaliers' seventy-six year marriage speaks loudly about the attributes they have built a life upon: compassion, empathy, virtue, faith, and enterprise-an example we can all learn from." The Cavaliers were married April 20, 1931, and celebrated their 76th anniversary in April of this year.

Some experts would have us believe that traditional marriage between a man and a woman for a lifetime, such as the Cavaliers', is on its way out.  Yet on the same day the Cavaliers were being recognized by the Louisiana Family Forum, a Valentine's Day survey was being released by global research firm AC Nielsen indicating that 7 out of 10 people across the planet still believe that marriage should last a lifetime.  Fifteen additional couples-those with marriages lasting over 70 years-were awarded "Keeper of the Covenant" certificates and were inducted into the Louisiana Family Forum Marriage Hall of Fame.  Up until January of 2005, the longest-known married couple in Louisiana was Mr. and Mrs. George and Germaine Briant, who had been married since July 20, 1921. For the Briants, "to have and to hold till death do us part" was fulfilled in January of 2005, when George and Germaine passed away only three days apart from each other.

We are a part of an "iDo" generation. Some stand at the threshold of this significant change in their lives called marriage while others find themselves at the midway mark. Still others may be like the Cavaliers, in the latter stages of this journey or among those who have stayed the course and are victors of the "iDo" generation, having crossed over to the "iDid" generation as they have said their final good-byes to their spouses. Wherever you find yourself in the journey, you need to know that God promises to stand with you.

With God as your enabler, you can stand the tests of time. In Isaiah 40:31 we are told that, "those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." If you will be patient and wait on the Lord when things become confusing, frustrating or uncertain, the Lord will renew your strength for the journey. God has promised His people throughout history that He would be with them.  He said to Isaac, "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father." (Gen. 26:3)

In Genesis 28, we can read of Jacob's encounter with God. "12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 "Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

The God of Jacob and Isaac and Abraham is the very same God who sent His Son, Jesus, into the world in order that we might know Him better. It was Jesus who said to His disciples, as He sent them out, ". . ., I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20)  This God and Father of Jesus Christ is the God who was with you on your wedding day when you said, "I do" to your spouse. And He is the very same God who is with you every morning when you say in your heart, and sometimes audibly to your spouse, "I (still) do." 

God has made a covenant with you and your spouse.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  That's His promise. On the day you said, "I do," God said, "I Am" the Lord of your relationship and "I will" be with you until death parts you. There is no greater assurance than to know the God of the universe is committed to being the God of your marriage as well.

By Dave Brown

We've all heard the story from the second chapter of Luke of the shepherds watching their flocks the night Jesus was born and how the angels appeared to them, telling them the good news that the Savior of the world had been born in Bethlehem.  The First Noel is a well-known Christmas carol written around this story.  And there's a wonderful message to be learned from this that we need to hear over and over - God uses the simple, the plain, the unimportant to proclaim his deep, profound, and incredibly important message.  We should all be aware that God wants to use us to tell others the Good News.  We don't need seminary degrees to understand who God is and what He thinks of us.  We don't have to be great orators and writers to simply tell our neighbors, our co-workers, and our children about what Jesus has done for us. 

But there's more - another message that's just as important.  It has to do with faith.   At first glance, this story appears to have little to do with faith.  The shepherds were minding their own business and some angels appeared, frightened them, and told them about Jesus.   It took no faith for them to simply go look and see if the angels were telling the truth.  And it really took no faith for them to tell others about what happened.  It was a great story. 

It's a little different today.  Such signs and miracles are rare.  John 20:29 tells us Jesus knew it would be this way.  He said we're blessed because we believe even though we haven't seen a lot of them.  I have a friend who saw a triple rainbow and believed it to be a sign from God.  I needed a sign, myself, a couple of weeks ago and Lisa called to tell me there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky.  I looked out the back door to see the most incredible double rainbow I've ever seen.  I asked (demanded) God to show me the third one.  "Give me a sign."  But He didn't.  Not that day and not that way.  He gave me a better one a few days later.  One I'll never forget.

Have you ever asked God for such a sign?  Have you ever come to a time in your life where you really needed God to give you something a little more concrete than a feeling to help you make an important decision?  Or have you ever simply wondered if God is there at all or, if He is, do you wonder if He really cares about you?  Do you wonder sometimes if He's paying any attention at all to your predicament?  How's your marriage?  Do you need a sign?

We've all got to become a little like shepherds.  Shepherds aren't known for their college degrees or their deeply profound philosophical conversations.  They simply do a good job of taking care of a bunch of dumb animals - just hanging out with them, protecting them from predators, and leading them to places where there's lots of good grass and water.  We have to get to a point where we simply do the things God puts in front of us and do them well without thinking a whole lot about the significance (or lack thereof) of what we're doing.  We have no idea how significant we might be in God's history book.  We're still reading about those shepherds thousands of years later.  The smallest thing you do may be incredibly significant to your spouse and your marriage.

The best Christmas gift you can give each other may not be what you camped out in line for Thanksgiving night.  Simply going to church with your family, reading your Bible with your husband or wife, saying a prayer for your children or for each other before you go to bed each night, joining that small group Bible study - such things take so little time and effort for the most part, but they can have a huge impact on your marriage.  And there's more. . .   A smile first thing in the morning, just being pleasant when you still have sleep in your eyes, a good-bye kiss as someone heads out the door for work. . .  Calling when you're on your way home, surprising someone with a favorite meal or flowers, actually going grocery shopping together (that's right - it can be fun) - all these simple things can add up to a great Christmas.  It shouldn't take expensive or extravagant gifts to get across the simple message, "I love you."  And you shouldn't stop doing them once the tree is down.  Your simple Christmas gifts should be only the beginning of an even better marriage.

There's even more to this story of shepherds and a baby in a manger.  The angels told them He was the Savior of the world.  The entire world.  But He was just a baby.  And it never occurred to them to doubt one word of it.  They believed.

Now I bring you tidings of great joy as well.  Jesus loves the two of you.  He gave you a special love for each other.  He initiated your marriage and He has great plans for you.  It only began on your wedding day.  It's going to take time.  There's some growth that's got to occur.  And it probably won't look like you think it's going to.  Think about it.  Jesus is our Savior.  He did, indeed, grow up to be the Savior of the world.  But while there were many great and joyous aspects of the life of Jesus, there were also great pain, sadness, disappointment, struggles, and eventually a crucifixion.  That's not the way the Jewish people envisioned their Messiah's coming into His own, but God's ways are not our ways.  They're better.

Your Covenant Marriage can begin today if you'll choose to do the simple things you know God wants you to begin doing.  It's up to you.  What a great Christmas present you can give your spouse.  And your marriage will get better and better every day that you trust Him and obey Him.  Your life as a Christian couple is like a baby in a manger.  But one of these days. . .

God has very big plans for you.  Do you believe it?  Have faith.  It will happen.  And have a very merry (simple) Christmas!

Dave Brown is the pastor of Harmony Fellowship in Kingston Springs, TN and is on the CMM Board of Directors.  He co-authored Covenant vs. Contract with Phil Waugh, the Director of CMM.  He has a newly released book, Simple Christianity, available at Amazon.com or through your local Christian bookstore.  He can be reached at brown5757@comcast.net.  His website www.davebrownministries.com is near completion.