A Woman’s Point of View
By Carma Grimes ● Songwriter/Singer ● Colorado

   Carma Grimes
Colorado


If you are fulfilling 
the will of God 
in your life, don't fret 
if you come to a "Red Sea" 
or a Valley 
that seems to be "the 
Valley of the Shadow 
of Death."
If HE leads you TO IT, 
HE'LL lead you 
THROUGH IT!

                                SO TREASURE YOUR LOVE

          LOVE is on my brain, as I begin to write this article.  Maybe it's partly due to my friend's request that I look up something for her to use at an upcoming Valentine Luncheon.  Funny, the first image that came to my mind is from the 1987 Fairy Tale Movie, "Princess Bride," where the impressive clergyman conducting the marriage ceremony says,  "Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday.  Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam... And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva... So tweasure your wuv."  Don't ask me why that popped into my thoughts... who knows?  I do know this... The lisp that actor spoke with still haunts my brain, proving a good point... whatever our limitations or inhibitions in life may be... they could be the very thing that captures someone else's attention.

Now, about those famous lines I remembered.... I have to DISAGREE with the clergyman's opening statement I just quoted.  Marriage is a whole lot MORE than a "blessed arrangement, that dream within a dream."  For the Christian, marriage is a holy sacred and lifelong covenant between two people, brought together by God.  Marriage should never be entered into lightly, or without ongoing prayer coverage!  And if you weren't saved when you got married, your commitment to Jesus will restructure your marriage to what God had in mind for you all along. 

              But it's the last statement the clergyman made: "And love, true love, will follow you forever, so treasure your love,".... that I actually want to focus on with this article. "So, treasure your love!"

              Little children are such a delight, and when you ask them for a definition, they're usually are quick to give one. I wasn't disappointed in the wisdom shared by the following 4 and 5 yr. olds, giving their definitions of LOVE:

 ·         ·         When someone LOVES  you, the way they say your name is different. You just 
              know that your name is safe in their mouths. - Billy- age 4

·         ·         LOVE is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on Shaving Cologne and they go out and smell each other. -  Kari- age 5

      I can't think of a more precious definition, can you?  Don't you enjoy the thought of knowing your name is safe in someone's mouth?  I'm very tempted to put perfume on and tell Tommy to put his Cologne on, so we can go out and smell each other.  Oh, for childlike understandings!  Love, true love, changes everything and makes you feel ways you didn't know were possible. 

              When Tommy and I met, within a month we knew we were meant for each other.  So Tommy proposed and we set our wedding date to coincide with his 21st birthday, which was only a little over one month away.  Besides, since we are both firstborns, almost all of our dates were shared with my two younger brothers and sister, as well as Tommy's two younger sisters.  That was seven bodies to pack into his Fastback Mustang, and boy was it noisy with a car full of teenagers and the radio blaring. Looking back, it was a lot of fun, but we knew if we were ever going to have time alone together, we might as well hurry up and get married.

This decision sent both of our families into a whirlwind of activity.  I can't believe I made my satin and lace wedding gown with a long train, plus four satin bridesmaid dresses, and pillbox hats with attached veils and a flower girl's dress.  Every stitch was filled with the love I had for Tommy.

Finally the day arrived, October 5th, and I was so excited I could barely contain myself.  My parents packed the car with everything we would need, and headed for the church a couple of hours before the evening event was scheduled.  Soon the little Sunday School room was bustling with activity as we giddily dressed and fixed each other's hair.  The air was filled with a mixture of hairspray and perfume, when the first chords of The Wedding March began.

I found myself at the doorway, arm in arm with my dad, watching the flower girl dropping her pedals down the aisle of a packed auditorium.  Then I spotted him... Tommy came into my focus.  There stood the man I was going to marry and live with for the rest of my life!  As I drew nearer and nearer to his adoring smile, my heart was pounding out of me.  Oh, how I loved this man!  He played guitar music like I'd never heard in my life and his fingers sang melodies of love to my heart.  I just knew with music and the Lord as our bonding agents, we were going to be a happy, happy couple.

Now these 44 years later, we have both been so thankful for the decision we made to marry each other.  Our vows of matrimony have never been regretted.  It's not been a life free of difficulties, but the love God placed in our hearts has continued to grow and has carried us through every bump in the road.  To God be the praise!

Now to my point.... "And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva... So tweasure your wuv." Many are not even aware that LOVE, true love, is following them everywhere they go.  His name is Jesus and His love is unconditional, but it cost Him His very own life.  He has committed Himself to us and longs for the love between us to grow, too.

As Gospel singers we live with the awareness that sitting in our concerts and services are individuals who have deep spiritual needs.  Some have secret sins and would be horrified if anyone knew who they really are.  Even professing Christians can be entrapped in secret lifestyles that bring guilt and shame to themselves in their alone hours.

These days we are living in (just prior to Jesus coming back) evil times.  Sin is rampant everywhere you look.  We see things on the streets, on television, in the work place, in church congregations, on the computer, and in schools that only a few years ago we would have never been faced with.

We must never think that the talents we have been given are ours alone to squander.  It's an honor and privilege to carry the name of JESUS to others.  We are more than "entertainers," as the world would call us.  We are "Music Missionaries of the Gospel of Jesus."  Our message we preach is woven into music.  Ministry should never be about our own EGO... we're not in competition with other groups, bands or soloists... our purpose should be representing Jesus!  Oh, I know there are times for light-heartedness and the use of humor, but if we don't present JESUS in a personal and meaningful way, we've wasted our time.  A good rule to live by is still, "If Jesus were substituting for me at this event, what would He do?"  That'll keep us humble!

If we've asked Jesus to be the Lord and Master of our lives, we are actually entering into a holy and sacred relationship that is similar to marriage.  It's no longer a single lifestyle we're living.  I can't just keep doing what "I want to do by myself."  Consideration must be given to the one we've gone into relationship with.

There are some who have met Jesus and even claimed Him as their Lord and Master, but they are merrily going on their own way, giving Him no attention.  They don't really cherish Him, until they NEED Him.  Brothers and sisters, it's wrong to live two lives... one that says: "I love Jesus" and at the same time one that says: "I love the world."  Sometimes the lost can't see any difference between the world and the church crowd.  In a husband and wife relationship, we would call that "cheating" on your spouse and it's wrong!

The world is longing to see real power in the lives of Christians.  They want to experience something that's genuine and life-changing.  But when it's discovered that a so-called Christian is pretending or living a double-life, reproach and shame is brought to the One we've committed ourselves to.  Oh that we, the "Church" would truly fall back in love with JESUS.

Each day we're surrounded by thousands of people who don't know JESUS.  If they only knew Him, they would treasure Him for He is LOVE.

Jesus told us in John 14:1-4 to not let our hearts be troubled with things down here, but to trust His father and Him.  He said He was going away for a little while to prepare a place for us to live with Him forever.  But, He said, if He went away, He would come back and take us with Him to this place He has been preparing.  He said for us to watch and wait for him, much like a bride watches and waits for her wedding day. (My paraphrase)

What are our passions focused on these days?  Do we sing our Gospel songs with deep feeling?  Are we living the words we sing, or do we just "sing about" God? The Lord longs for us to sing with His anointing in our lives and in our mouths.  We are vessels that He wants to fill up with His words, power and might.  Only then will we see the miraculous happen in our own lives and the lives of other people.

Today there isn't too much talk about the coming of JESUS.  We talk more are about political issues, the economy and world conditions, than we do about the return of Jesus.  Sometimes, it seems Christians really don't want Him to come yet.

Only God the Father knows when that appearing will take place. But we've been told about the signs of His coming, and they are everywhere we look.

When He comes, and He will come, will He find us ready? It's a frightening thought that we would claim to know Him and sing about Him, but not be ready when the trumpet blows.  Allow the Holy Spirit to quicken the words of Jesus to your spirit, and embrace the truth that one day in the future the clouds will open up and Jesus will catch His Bride away. 

Wonderful things have been planned for us that will last FOREVER!  It's time to WAKE UP Christians and live a life that is pleasing to the One we claim to love.  What wonderful things would be accomplished for the Lord, if we truly, truly cherished His love?

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Watch your thoughts, for they become words.  Watch your words, for they become actions.  Watch your actions, for they become habits.  Watch your habits, for they become character.  Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. - Author Unknown.

Until next time -- look UP for your redemption is drawing nigh!!

                                                                       Carma Grimes