Exodus 13 : 21 - 22
The LORD guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. That way they could travel whether it was day or night. And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from their sight.

How good is this? Guided by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. When at last God's people were allowed out of Egypt, God made certain that they were given every opportunity to fulfil His dream and plans for them. He provided guidance for them day and night. The pillar of cloud and fire was an example of theophany God appearing in a physical form.

In this form God lit the path for His people, protected them from their enemies, provided reassurance, controlled their movements, and symbolised the burning zeal that Israel should have for her God. Theophany is a word worth remembering. There are ways that God provides that same reassurance for us before you start raising your eyebrows and telling me that you have never seen God appear in a physical form, remember this was a pillar of cloud and fire, but a physical appearance nonetheless theophany.

Our lives will be better, simpler, happier and more fulfilled when we look for our theophany. Whilst our omnipotent and omniscient God can appear to us and guide us in whatever form He chooses, and at whatever time, remember, He is a God of order and has neither need, nor desire to impress us with spectacular or unnecessary signs. The excitement of recalling a time when God has delivered a message to us personally is never forgotten, and often recounted (by some of us, anyway).

Our very own theophany is available on a moment by moment basis in a form not available to the Hebrews. We can look in God's Word, day and night, to know not only that He is with us, but where and how, in any given situation. Assurance is there for us, just as it was for God's people way back in the book of Exodus. Cloud, fire, His Word, a newspaper headline, or whatever it maybe; look for yours, thank God for it, and follow it for as long as it takes you will always get to your destination that's theophany.



Deuteronomy 6 : 6 - 7
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.

The responsibility a man takes on when he chooses to marry, and have children is enormous. This responsibility is ever present and never diminishes. How can it. Today's verses make it exceedingly clear at home, away, day time, night time, A man has the role of leader in every house and with every family. God's Word makes this obvious as does a normal conscience, our natural instincts and plain old common sense.

In no lesser way than an army officer has responsibility for the leadership and safety of a group of soldiers in a battle situation, is a husband and father responsible for his family. Both groups will be engaged in an ongoing battle for survival when they are doing their job to the fullest. Certainly, bad leadership, or no leadership, may not lead to physical death of a family member(s) although it could, but it will certainly mean the death of a family as a unit (as a family).

There is a responsibility when we elect to have a family; that can only be met by a true leader. That is why God made fathers. He is ours, and we carry the same responsibility with our own. When a father maintains his relationship with his wife and children, it is almost certain that the family will be maintained that is how important it is. There are many people who take on a role, but never really know what that position involves look at some of our clubs, etc run by volunteers (with no disrespect for hard working volunteers). When we do not know the job description, and in addition we are ill equipped to handle the job even if we did know, then we are most likely to lose the battle.

Leading by example is the only permanent method of credible leadership and we have available the tools to be the father and husband we know we should be, or dream of being. Our tools are the Bible God's Word. Follow it and we will win the battle we are necessarily involved in as leader of our family.



On Christian Marriage

Marriage - A Christian Sacrament - a visible sign instituted by Jesus to symbolize or confer grace;a visable sign of an inward grace.

Paul said of marriage: Corinthians 7: 1-9; It is the advise of Paul the Apostle that better men marry than to commit fornication; Paul stated that the wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband; and the husband hath not power over his own boby, but the wife. That they may GIVE of themselves... one to the other.He speaks this truth by permission, not by commandment. It is better says Paul to be celebit, but if we cannot have self-control, let mend women then marry rather than burn.

And following in 1 Corinthians 7: 10-16, Paul states that: You who are married are NOT to depart one from the other; but if an unbelieving partner does part (leave), let him depart; A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God has called us unto peace.

Thus, does it not follow that it is within good and holy reason, though not so commanded, that Christians ought to marry Christians, AND, that they ARE TO BE COMMITTED to one another in their Lord Jesus Christ, till death do them part!!

So it is , if in the world, we marry without a faith in Jesus to another, we risk a marriage very weak and unsolid for the growth of good within the union. Many marry under these terms, never considering the risk involved.

Another vital point is this: Ephesians 5: 22-29; Here, Paul points out that wives are to submit to their husbands, AS unto the LORD!!!!!!!! That the husband is the HEAD of the WIFE, EVEN as CHRIST is the HEAD of the CHURCH. Therefore, as the CHURCH is SUBJECT to CHRIST, let the wives be to their own husbands.

And To follow, and not to be forgotten: Husbands, love your wives, EVEN as Christ also loved the CHURCH, and GAVE HIMSELF for it,. So ought MEN to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. EVEN as the Lord so loved the Church.