Renewal Is A Good Thing

Tom & Trudy Bramer

October 23, 2005

Husband & Wife Enter Together…

Welcome & Prayer – Steve

Tom & Trudy this is a very special day. AND – you are 2 special people and I know that is true, because you were in my life group for 2 years. I love you guys you are awesome. Tom & Trudy 17 years ago today you stood in a place much like this and became husband and wife. And today you have invited your family and your friends to be here with as you renew your vows of love & devotion to each other. I want you to know that I am glad to be here to celebrate this day with you, as is everyone else in this room… (amen)

Let’s bow our heads and invite the Lord into this moment.

“Renewal, A Good Thing” – Steve

This week I looked up the word renew in the dictionary and found the following definitions;

• To make like new

• To restore to freshness, vigor or perfection

• To regenerate, revive, rebuild, refresh, rejuvenate

• To do again

That is why I think renewal is a good thing… I mean if your employer renews your contract that’s a good thing. If your tenant renews their lease that is a good thing.

And let me tell you w e serve a God who is a God of renewal… Check out these verses…

those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Is 40:31

Let’s do our best to know the LORD. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime. Hosea 6:3 (CEV)

God loves to renew the strength and refresh the lives of his people… AND – he is all about renewal he calls to do the same…

Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, 22throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. 23Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. 24You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness--righteous, holy, and true. – Eph 4:21-24

you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. – Colossians 3:10

YES – renewal is a good thing… AND – today Tom & Trudy you come before God, before your family and before your friends to restore to freshness… to regenerate, revive, rebuild, refresh, rejuvenate your vows of love and devotion.

A love that began 17+ years ago when you, Trudy delivered parts to Toms Good Year and when you Tom drove 60 miles on your day off just to drop in on her…

BUT – before you renew your vows… Ryckie is going to share those passages of Scripture that you wanted to be a part of this day

Reading Of Scripture - Ryckie

16This very day GOD, your God, commands you to follow these rules and regulations, to live them out with everything you have in you. 17You’ve renewed your vows today that GOD is your God, that you’ll live the way he shows you; do what he tells you in the rules, regulations, and commandments; and listen obediently to him. 18And today GOD has reaffirmed that you are dearly held treasure just as he promised, a people entrusted with keeping his commandments, Dt 26:16-18

22Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. 23The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. 24So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

25Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church--a love marked by giving, not getting. 26Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 27dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. – Ephesians 5:22-27

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.