Read it and Speak it!

Scripture:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Observation:

The Word of God is not simply a collection of words from God, a vehicle for communicating ideas; it is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. With the incisiveness of a surgeon's knife, God's Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God's Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word; we must also let it shape our lives.

Applicaton:

The KJV says the Word is "quick and powerful." The word for quick is - zao – and it means "breathing and living." The word for powerful is energes meaning effective, powerful, active and effectual. That is the Greek word that we get our word energy from. The Word of God is effective. This supports the verse in Isaiah(Is 55:11) that says, "so is my word that goes out from my moth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." When God speaks His Word, His living, breathing, active, and effective Word, into our hearts, He sends it for a purpose that He will see is accomplished! It will not return empty or void. When God says it, it is done!

The part about the double edged sword is what I want to get to today. On one side this double edged sword is the logos or written Word of God. We need to READ and STUDY the Word daily. We then need to MEDITATE on the read Word.

But, then we need to use the other side of the Sword, and that is where we SPEAK the Word of God that we have just read. The enemy cowers when we SPEAK the word of God. He knows he cannot begin to battle that power.... It was the spoken Word of God that created the universe and the spoken Word of God that cast the enemy from the portals of heaven to where he is now. The spoken word of God is powerful when fighting the enemy. That is why it is so important to not only read and meditate on God's word but to speak it out loud. The enemy cannot read our minds. He shivers on what he hears out of our mouths the Word of God. (To study my statement, "The enemy cannot read our minds", please check out the following links)

http://www.biblestudy.org/question/can-satan-the-devil-read-our-thoughts.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/Satan-power.html

http://www.biblebb.com/files/macqa/1301-Q-13.htm


As we use the "double edge" then God's Word penetrates to our soul and spirit and circumcises our heart, as the Bible says. That just means it helps us to crucify our flesh. When we meditate on God's Word, we are able to live and walk in the Spirit, rather than the flesh. We are cleansed and sanctified through His Word. When we live according to the Spirit of God rather than according to our flesh, we are again making the enemy powerLESS in our life. He can only operate with our permission. We give the enemy permission to work in our lives when we live lives contrary to God's spirit. (Ephesians 4:27)

So - when you read God's Word, put your name in there and speak it out loud. For instance if God dropped Isaiah 61 and in your heart. You can read verse 7: "instead of their shame my people - YOUR NAME- will receive a double portion and instead of disgrace YOUR NAME will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them(YOU NAME) and make an everlasting covenant with them! Tell the devil out loud what God's word says. Shout it at him. Then meditate on it every day.

Throughout the Bible we are told to:

• meditate on God's Word (think about and repeat over and over again to ourselves)
  
• pray God's Word (the only way we can be sure to pray according to the will of God)
  
• speak God's Word (like Jesus did when He was tempted to be discouraged - spoke it out loud to Satan)
  

  
  

If you are struggling with battles in your life, remember this: God sees time so much different than we do. He is infinite and we see time through our finite beings.

God sees the beginning as well as the ending, and all the points in between. He sees your good times and your rough times, but ultimately He sees your rejoicing in heaven for eternity. That is how He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). That is why placing our trust in Him is so vital. -Trusting Him when we are tired and worn out. -Trusting Him when we feel all is going down the tubes. -Trusting Him when we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Simple trust. He has promised you victory - so tomorrow, if it brings worse news than yesterday, you can trust in Him.

So, I encourage each of you today to take up a warrior mentality. Be an enemy of Satan. Take up the Sword of the Spirit, clothe yourself in the armor God has provided (Ephesians 6) and battle the enemy of your soul through the power of the Holy Spirit. Read God's Word. Meditate on God's Word and Speak God's Word out loud.

Prayer:

"Lord I am so thankful for Your powerful, living, active Word. Help me today to read it, then speak it. When I read your Word and do not meditate on it, it is like me eating some good food and then spitting it out, refusing to swallow. That habit would eventually be fatal to me physically, and it is deadly to my Spirit man as well. Help me today to READ Your Word, then SPEAK it is Jesus name, amen!"

Five “I will’s” of David

Scripture:

Psalm 101:1-8 A Psalm of David. I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music. (2) I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; (3) I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. (4) A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. (5) Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. (6) I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. (7) No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. (8) Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.

Observation:

David may have written this psalm early in his reign as king as he set down the standards he wanted to follow. David knew that to lead a blameless life he would need God's help (v. 2).

We can lead blameless lives if we avoid:

(1) looking at wickedness
("I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar," (v. 3),

(2) evil thoughts ("perverse heart," (v. 4)

(3) slander (v. 5), and

(4) pride (v. 5). While avoiding these wrongs, we must also let God's Word show us the standards by which to live.

Application:

I love author Bob Gass, and he had a devotion some time back where he discussed Psalm 101. I have used his thought, and some of his notes to write the following.

Notice the five "I wills" of David in our text today (Psalm 101)

(1) "I will sing of steadfast love and justice" (v.1). When dealing with others, some of us are all mercy and no justice; others are all justice and no mercy. God requires both. David says "I will" live a balanced life today.

(2) "I will ponder the way that is blamesless" (v.2). People are more impacted by our behaviour than by our beliefs. Our children may not always follow our advice, but count on it, they'll follow our footsteps. Those not persuaded by your theology can still be won by your love and lifestyle.

(3) "I will walk with integrity of heart within my house" (v.2.). Integrity begins at home. If your family thinks you're joyless and judgmental you'll never attract them to Christ. Christianity that doesn't work at home, isn't genuine Christianity. It is religion. Christianity isn't about religion, it is about relationship. David prayed, "How I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should" (Psalm 101:2 TLB).

(4) "I will set no wicked (or worthless) thing before mine eyes" (v.3). Television is on seven hours a day in most homes. So ask yourself: "What am I exposing myself and my family to?" What you tolerate you've no right to complain about! You say you've no time to read God's Word and pray. No, the truth is, you don't have a strong enough desire to. God help us! Some who are reading this have developed an addictive habit of pornography. Be sure this cancer will slowly eat away at your relationship with God and your spouse. Please, make this I WILL a priority for your life even now.

(5) "I will early destroy all the wicked" (v.8.). The Living Bible states, "I will not tolerate anyone who secretly slanders his neighbours; I will not permit conceit and pride. I will make the godly of the land my heroes, and invite them to my home" (Psalm 101:5-6). David is saying, as soon as wicked men were discovered in any part of the land, he would cut them off, would take the first opportunity of punishing them as the law directs: or he would do it every morning, constantly and continually. What that says to me is that I need to pledge that I WILL attack every morning anything that attempts to detour me from walking in integrity before God and man.

Those are five "I wills" you and I should live by.

Prayer:

"Lord, today I want to be like David and deterimine that I WILL do these five things mentioned above. It is a conscious choice that I make today. It will take some effort, but it will very much be worth it. Thank you Holy Spirit for Your help today. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Today’s Blessings

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Observation:

"Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms" means that in Christ we have all the benefits of knowing God-being chosen for salvation, being adopted as his children, forgiveness, insight, the gifts of the Spirit, power to do God's will, the hope of living forever with Christ. Because we have an intimate relationship with Christ, we can enjoy these blessings now. The "heavenly realms" means that these blessings are eternal, not temporal. The blessings come from Christ's spiritual realm, not the earthly realm of the goddess Artemis. Other references to the heavenly realms in this letter include Eph 1:20; Eph 2:6; Eph 3:10. Such passages reveal Christ in his victorious, exalted role as ruler of all.

Application:

As Paul thinks about the Lord, and the spiritual blessings that He had bestowed upon him, he breaks out into praise. The verses that follow v. 3 expound upon these blessings. THIS DAY I want to be the same way.

When I woke up this morning, I awakened to new mercy, daily bread, provision for my TODAY needs, all of my family is up and well, they are all saved and living for Jesus. I could go on and on. But as I think about this list, it makes me think of one of my favorite songs that our choir at First Assembly sings. The words are:

When I think about the Lord How He saved me, How he raised me How He filled me with the Holy Ghost How He healed me to the utter-most. When I think about the Lord How He picked me up and turned me around How He set my feet on solid ground It makes me wanna shout,"Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, Lord you're worthy of all the glory, And all the honor, and all the praise!"

I need to take the time right now to declare praise to the Lord! You see yesterday may have been tough, but it's gone. Tomorrow I may face a battle, but it's not here yet. But when it does get here...it will be TODAY. And TODAY, "this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." I can rejoice because
God promised to provide "daily bread" for me TODAY. Not tomorrow. I get burdened with cares and worries, when I try to find "daily bread" for tomorrow. God does not want me to live like that. I need to trust Him today. Because today He has truly blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ!

As Dale Carnegie said, "Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."

I also read a quote sometime back that said, "Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely"

If I live in the regrets of yesterday, and the worry of tomorrow, then I take for granted the provision of today. I don't want to live like that today! In fact, I WILL NOT live like that today. I will shout and rejoice until the Lord. The one"who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."

Prayer:

"Lord, please forgive me for taking so many of your blessings for granted. I have to admit that I have lived in the regrets of yesterday way too often. I have also spent way too much time in the worries of tomorrow. I choose this day to live in the provision of TODAY. The reason yesterday and tomorrow seem so heavy is that You never promised "daily bread" for tomorrow. Only for TODAY. So...this is THE DAY that you have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it as I think upon the blessings you have given me in the heavenly realms...every spiritual blessing in Christ! In Jesus' name, amen!"

Shrug my shoulders and keep my joy

Scripture:

Act 13:49-14:3 And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region. (50) Some of the Jews convinced the most respected women and leading men of the town that their precious way of life was about to be destroyed. Alarmed, they turned on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave. (51) Paul and Barnabas shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town, Iconium, (52) brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples. (14:1) When they got to Iconium they went, as they always did, to the meeting place of the Jews and gave their message. The Message convinced both Jews and non-Jews--and not just a few, either. (2) But the unbelieving Jews worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street. (3) The two apostles were there a long time, speaking freely, openly, and confidently as they presented the clear evidence of God's gifts, God corroborating their work with miracles and wonders.

Observation:

In Chapter 13 we find ourselves again in the assembly at Antioch, and in the midst of the independent action of the Spirit of God. Certain prophets are there, Saul among them. They fasted and were occupied with the service of the Lord. The Holy Ghost commands them to separate unto Him Barnabas and Saul for the work to which He had called them Such was the source of the ministry of these two.

Assuredly it bore testimony to Him in whom they had believed, and whom Saul, at least, had seen, and it was under His authority they acted; but the positive and obvious source of their mission was the Holy Ghost. It was the Holy Ghost who called them to the work. They were sent forth (Acts 13:4) by Him - an all-important principle as to the Lord's ways upon earth. As they preach and teach the Word of God, people begin to stir up trouble and caused a large group of people to turn on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave. Paul and Barnabas dusted off the dust from their feet, or as the Message says, "shrugged their shoulders and went to the next town brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples."

Application:

This truth speaks into my spirit man as I read over it again and again, and meditate upon it's truth. In spite of people turning on them (I'm certain that some of those that turned on them were some of their new found friends and converts), they were able to move on: without bitterness, without getting "mouthy", without feeling the need to retaliate, without trying to defend themselves, without becoming so offended that they stop working for God, without allowing their spirits to become poisoned, etc. I literally could go on and on.

It is so easy when someone is treating me in an unkind manner to respond in the same way to them. Afterwards, I can allow guilt, anger, bitterness, discouragement, and even depression to come over me. It is very easy to think that because someone points out the negative in my life, to allow their negative to become a negative determent to my heart and spirit.

My prayer today is that I will respond to attacks like Paul and Barnabas did. I want to be able to shrug my shoulders and continue on with what God has called and equipped me to do. I must refuse to allow anything or anyone to hinder me from "brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit". May I walk out of conflict the way Paul and Barnabas did...they went on their way, following God's Spirit, "two happy disciples."

As I go into the next chapter, I see that they faced conflict once again, as people sowed "distrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street." Isn't that just like the devil? He uses whomever will allow him to. And his plan is to hinder the gospel of Jesus Christ from being spread.

However, if I respond like Paul and Barnabas I can expect to see "God corroborating their work with miracles and wonders" in spite of the conflicts and opposition.

Prayer:

"Lord, my prayer today is that you help me to understand that NO ONE has the power within their actions or words to keep me from brimming over with the joy of the Holy Spirit. No one but me. I ask you to help me to shrug off the attacks on my faith today. I ask you to help me shrug off the discouraging things that are constantly bombarding my mind. I ask you to help me shrug off the doubts that tell me my prayers will never be answered. I ask you to help me shrug off the fears that permeate my mind when I am attempting something for your name and glory. I ask you to help me to shrug off the whispers in my ear in the middle of the night that tries to tell me that this situation is too big for even God. I could go on and on, Lord, with the things that I need to shrug off today. As I shrug these hindrances off, may I also go on about the work and business that you have for me today. And as I do it, help me to walk through today, brimming over with the power and person of the Holy Spirit, and at the end of the day, may I still be a "happy disciple" for you. I know in my heart that you will corroborate your work with miracles in wonders...in YOUR time. I love you Lord, and thank you for this day that you have made. I will continue to rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus name, amen!"

Stop complaining!

Scripture:

Philippians 2:14-15 (AMP) Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], (15) That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

Phillippians 2:14-15 (NIV) Do everything without complaining or arguing, (15) so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Observation:

Why are complaining and arguing so harmful? If all that people know about a church is that its members constantly argue, complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Christ and the Good News. Belief in Christ should unite those who trust him. If your church is always complaining and arguing, it lacks the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Stop arguing with other Christians or complaining about people and conditions within the church; instead, let the world see Christ.

Our lives should be characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will "shine brightly" in a dark and depraved world. A transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God's Word. Are you shining brightly, or are you clouded by complaining and arguing? Don't let dissensions snuff out your light. Shine out for God. Your role is to shine until Jesus returns and bathes the world in his radiant glory.

Application:

We don't realize that when we complain, we are saying that God isn't caring for us like He should. We rob Him of the praise and Thanksgiving that He so deserves.

• We complain about the price of groceries instead of offering Him thanks that we can afford to buy food.
  
• We complain about our spiritual struggles instead of offering Him thanks that Jesus died on the cross for my salvation.
  
• We complain about the price of gasoline instead of offering Him thanks that we have a vehicle.
  
• We complain about how messy our families are instead of offering Him thanks that we have a family.
  
• We complain about how much our kids fight instead of offering Him thanks for our children.
  
• We complain about our country instead of offering Him thanks that we live in the greatest nation in the world.
  
• We complain about our spouse instead of offering Him thanks that we are married.
  
• We complain that we don't feel very well instead of offering Him thanks that we are alive.
  
• We complain that we don't make enough money instead of offering Him thanks that we have more wealth that a large percentage of the world
  
• We complain about the traffic jam on the interstate instead of offering Him thanks that we are not causing the jam due to car problems or an accident.
  
• We complain about the music of our church instead of offering Him thanks that we have the right and freedom to worship God in our church
  
• We complain about the problems that have to be fixed in our house instead of offering Him thanks for our house.
  
• We complain about how busy we are today instead of offering Him thanks for this day
  

I could go on and on. I (we) can very easily become a complainer. That is why my theme verse is Psalm 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." I have to remind myself often that I choose to be full of thanksgiving and not complaining… TODAY. I have to take one day at a time. I often teach on how we need to enjoy each season of our lives. Well, I actually believe that we need to enjoy each minute of each day, or each season of our lives. How do we do that? Develop an attitude of gratitude.

Listen to what Paul says in Philippians 4:11-12:

Philippians 4:11-12 Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. (12) I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.

He says, "I have learned to be content in every circumstance." Being content is something you have to learn. You learn it through your daily choices. You will never be content as long as you make the choice of complaining! However, when you strive to give thanks daily, you will slowly but surely become content, regardless what comes along in your life.

I love the CONTENTS of my life (Salvation, family, home, vehicles, etc), but I will never be CONTENT in my life until I daily choose to give God thanks before I bring my needs or complaints before Him. It is the absolute least that I can do for a God who has blessed me abundantly.

Prayer:

"Lord, help me to enjoy the CONTENTS of my life by learning to be CONTENT in my life. I become content by becoming a daily, habitual thanks giver! Please forgive me for the times I have argued and complained. I choose to make grateful decisions today. In Jesus name, amen"

The Valley of WHY

Scripture:

Mark 15:33-34 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (34) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Observation:

On the cross, Jesus quotes the first line of Psalm 22. The whole psalm is a prophecy expressing the deep agony of the Messiah's death for the world's sin. Jesus knew that he would be temporarily separated from God the moment he took upon himself the sins of the world. This separation was what he had dreaded as he prayed in Gethsemane. The physical agony was horrible, but the spiritual alienation from God was the ultimate torture.

Application:

I was listening to my music of choice (Southern Gospel), when a song came on entitled, "God is there for all of the days that end in Y" I got to thinking about that. That means He is there Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday! Each day of the week ends in "Y". He is with us and for us everyday of the week.

But as listened a little closer to the song, I realized that the message was deeper than that. The song was saying that He is also there for all of the days that end in why! Wow! And we have all had them haven't we? Days that end in "why". Anyway we look at it, we just can't figure out why.

Why did my daughter die so young? Why did my husband die at the prime of his life? Why did God not heal my dad of cancer? Why did my parents get a divorce? Why did my wife leave me? Why am I struggling financially when I pay tithes? Why is my life such a mess even though I'm a christian? Why did I lose my job? Why do I feel so alone? Why do I feel like my prayers aren't getting above the ceiling?

I could go on and on with different "why's". Did you know that Jesus dealt with "why's" as well?

Please read the following from Mark 15:33-34 once again:

Mar 15:33-34 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (34) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Jesus was in the darkest time of His earthly life, He had twice in His ministry heard a voice from heaven say, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Once when He was baptized, and the other when He was transfigured. Why no voice from heaven now? Where was God the Father? Where was the affirmation? The physical pain was so intense, but so now was the spiritual. Jesus hadn't heard from His Father. Had He forgotten Him? Was He now all alone?

The physical pain created spiritual pain which led to emotional pain. After hours of pain, Jesus cried out with a loud voice..."My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" There it is, Jesus' why. We know that Jesus dies, and after three days resurrects with victory over death, hell and the grave. It doesn't change the fact that Jesus suffered through the Why's of life.

There are some of you who are reading this blog today that are walking through the valley of why. You can't understand the pain, the loss, the frustration, the quietness from heaven. What is up God? Do you not care anymore? Do you not see me anymore? My God, WHY have you forsaken me?

My friend, please be reminded that just as God the Father had not forsaken Jesus, He has not forsaken you. His ways and thoughts are hard to fathom:

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

To help make this point, I would like to borrow a paragraph from Mark Batterson's "In a pit with a Lion on a snowy day":

Astronomers have spied galaxies 12.3 billion light-years from earth. To put that distance into perspective, consider the fact that light traveling 186,000 miles per second only takes eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles between the sun and planet earth. Sunlight is only eight minutes old. But light from the furthest galaxy takes 12.3 billion years to get here. That distance is virtually incomprehensible! And God says that that is about the distance between His thoughts and our thoughts. Your best thought about God on your best day falls 12.3 billion light years short of how great and how good God really is. We underestimate God's goodness and greatness by at least 12.3 billion light years.

Just remember, when you can't figure out what is going on in your life, when you don't understand the why's, that Jesus really is there for every day that ends in why.

Prayer:

"Lord, I am so thankful that you understand the valley of WHY. You went through it…THROUGH it…and came out victorious. Help me to be aware that You will bring me THROUGH this valley of why. Help me to keep my confidence and trust in You. Thank you for Your love, grace, and mercy. In Jesus' name, amen!"

For better or for worse

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Observation:

Some Christians have thought that Paul was negative about marriage because of the counsel he gave in 1 Corinthians 7:32-38. These verses in Ephesians, however, show a high view of marriage. Her marriage is not a practical necessity or a cure for lust, but a picture of the relationship between Christ and his church! Why the apparent difference? Paul's counsel in 1 Corinthians was designed for a state of emergency during a time of persecution and crisis. Paul's counsel to the Ephesians is more the biblical ideal for marriage. Marriage, for Paul, is a holy union, a living symbol, a precious relationship that needs tender, self-sacrificing care.

Paul devotes twice as many words to telling husbands to love their wives as to telling wives to submit to their husbands. How should a man love his wife? (1) He should be willing to sacrifice everything for her, (2) make her well being of primary importance, and (3) care for her as he cares for his own body. No wife needs to fear submitting to a man who treats her in this way.

I am so thankful that Jesus loves us for better or for worse. I am also thankful that He challenges husbands to love their wives in that same way. Let me share a story that really ministered to me when I read it:

Application:

Only 10 months into their marriage, during an otherwise calm Sunday drive to church one July morning, a young Navy couple's car was broadsided by a streaking ambulance racing through an intersection. The driver of the car, R. L. Alford, sustained some minor injuries. But his wife, Hilda, was thrown from the vehicle, suffering a massive head injury that left her not only a quadriplegic, but also legally blind and unable to speak.

That was 50 years ago—50 years of communicating with his wife through little more than the nods of her head. Fifty years of pushing her wheelchair or (his preferred way) carrying her in his arms. Fifty years of emptying her urine pan and cleaning up her bowel movements. And in the last few years, even feeding her through a tracheal tube and learning how to insert her catheters.

Along the way, R. L.'s brand of marital loyalty has drawn some unexpected notice. ("Undeserved," to hear him say it.) When a longtime family friend spearheaded a drive in the mid-'80s to raise funds to build the Alfords a new home, help came from such high-ranking places as Florida governor Bob Martinez, who not only gave them a brand-new refrigerator but also spent a day working at the construction site. President Ronald Reagan sent a check for $500, followed by another for $1,000.

"When R. L. was asked to repeat the vow 'for better or worse,' " a neighbor said, "he heard it real loud. Medically, it's a miracle Hilda is still alive. But she's not alive because of all those doctors. She's alive because R. L. gave his life to her."

In September 2006, the Alfords celebrated their golden anniversary. Looking back, R. L. humbly remarked, "Sure, it's been rough in some ways. But it's been rewarding." Fifty years of being there. May all our promises to each other be that long lasting.

Prayer:

"Lord, I thank You for loving me unconditionally, sacrificially, unselfishly…in other words for better or for worse. In a day when ungodly judges are making decisions against marriage the way You intended marriages to me, may we have MEN who still love their WIFE'S for better or for worse. I thank you for the example that we just read. May we have that same kind of love for our spouses. In Jesus name, amen!"