Living In Praise: August 2011

Sunday, August 28, 2011

God Over Money

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

Money can be evil if it takes control of our marriages. So many times, we allow money to drown us in destruction, bringing temptation and out of control spending. God promises that He will provide all our needs if we put our trust in Him. Live a richly life when you keep focus on God and not money.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

True Sayings of God

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9)

As God defines marriage within His own words, we too must honor our marriages. God gives us the guidance we need to have a strong marriage with wisdom and understanding. Bring the power of love and contentment, fill each other with encouragement to build a strong relationship. Invest a life time marriage with God as His own.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

To Search Is To Know

Oh Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:1:2)

Bring changes to your own thoughts, change your heart, first make the changes within yourself before you try to change the person you love. Marriage is a long lasting partnership; ask God to search your heart, to bring understanding, sacrafice if you believe in your marriage. God will maintain the cause of the afflicted.

Finding the True Meaning of Love

By Ashley Testa-Burk

community@reedleyexponent.comPublished: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 5:49 PM PST

Growing up in Reedley, Raymond Muro never expected he’d be married to a published author.

When he married his wife, Lupe, 37 years ago, neither of them expected their marriage would serve as inspiration for her book. But last week, Lupe Muro’s first book “What is True Love in a Marriage?” was released nationwide.

Muro contacted Christian publishing company Cross Books last year, curious about the process. The Los Angeles native had never planned to write a book, but the more she read the Bible, the more she became inspired by God’s word.

When her granddaughter bought her two little notebooks several years ago, she began writing down her thoughts.

“The more I read into the word of God, I was receiving messages for me to do something with those thoughts,” Muro said.

Listening to Christian radio station K-LOVE, Muro heard messages assuring listeners that they had a purpose in life, and they should utilize their talents. She never really took it personally, until one message stood out.

“One day I was listening to the radio, and she said something about using your thoughts to get God's word out,” Muro said. “I looked at the little book and thought, 'Am I supposed to do something with this?'”

She took it as a sign, and searched for the phone number of the Cross Books representative she had previously spoken with. Just as she hung up after misdialing – another “sign” solidified her decision to go forth with a book. Muro said the phone rang – and it happened to be Cross Books on the other end. She took six months to write a rough draft, and submitted her first manuscript in April. Within a week, the publishing company called with the good news that they accepted it.

“Everything just came together,” Muro said. “I knew that I had to put God's word out there. I believe that as long as you have God with you, he's going to give you the strength to work through things.”

Muro’s book will be available on Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble and other national retailers. The book examines the true meaning of love as examined by God, containing biblical references correlating with Muro’s personal reflections.

“Every thought that I put in my book, I was able to find a scripture to go with it,” she said. “It was really amazing how I came across every single scripture.”

The Muros agree that compromise is a huge secret to marital bliss, as well as accepting the fact that there is no perfect marriage. The key is knowing that God is the answer, Muro said, and couples don’t have to go it alone.

“There are a lot of marriages that are failing,” she said. “But we need to learn to open our hearts and take what God has created for us."

The Muros live in Fresno, and Raymond’s three siblings still live in Reedley.