Tag: Marriage Matters

She Said, “YES!!”

by Dale, posted in Joy, Love, Marriage, Uncategorized
Pin on wedding

There they were! All decked out in patriotic, July 4th, attire! Both were beaming from ear-to-ear! To them, these fireworks were much better than produced by cities and towns across the USA. “She said, ‘Yes!'” Boom, baby!!!!

This was the second marriage engagement that I had read about on Facebook in recent days. Having just celebrated 40 years of marriage to my sweetheart, my heart is overflowing for both couples!

They are excited now! Smiling now! Terms of endearment are being spoken with such joy and anticipation, now!

And, I can just hear some ol’ crusty-hearted, macho husband say, “Well, you just wait until the honeymoon’s over!” And with that he offers more proud words of negativity from a selfish, humanistic, victim viewpoint.

Friends, marriage is hard, daily work, but the blessings are innumerable. Since God created marriage, don’t you think He has the right ingredients and the grace needed for marriage to succeed? Why, He’s even given us a manual to follow beginning with His instructions in Genesis 2.

The human heart corrupted by sin is what creates issues in marriage. Just as the gospel is the answer for our sinful condition, it is the answer for our marriages. Just as we are to walk in newness of life everyday with Christ (Romans 6), marriage can remain “new,” “fresh” everyday as well.

How can that happen? Let me offer five things to help you, even after 40 years, keep your marriage FRESH:

Forgiveness

Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. This passage wraps it up. I must forgive my spouse, no matter the offense, because the Lord has forgiven me of all my sins past, present, and future. And by the way, He will never bring it up to us again (Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; Romans 8:1; Hebrews 10:14–18). Swift forgiveness always keeps your marriage fresh!

Relationship

Mark 10:7-9 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. Scripture seems to always simply things. Since you and your spouse are one, then work everyday on your relationship. Your spouse is you. In particular husbands, you are incomplete without your wife (Genesis 2:18). So, live out an Ephesians 5:18-33 relationship!!

Author Gary Thomas offers these practical tips (God’s Design for Marriage):

  • Focus on your spouse’s strengths rather than their weaknesses.
  • Encourage rather than criticize.
  • Pray for your spouse instead of gossiping about them.
  • Learn and live what Christ teaches about relating to and loving others.

Enthusiasm

Proverbs 5:18, Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. Ecclesiastes 9:9a says, Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love. How easy it is to let work, children, goals, dreams, recreation, hardship, etc., cause marriage to be a drag, a drudgery, a daily disappointment rather than a joy, a blessing, an enjoyment. How easy it is to focus on what pulls you down and the flaws of your partner rather than all the blessings. Focus on what is praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) about your spouse and be enthusiastic about those things!

Smooches

Song of Solomon 1:2, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! Smooche used as a verb means to “kiss or a spell of amorous kissing and cuddling.” Now that you are married, it is legal! So have at it! Don’t settle for quick pecks as you pass one another. Cuddle. Hold each other in a warm embrace. Look endearing into each other’s eyes. Enjoy amorously the passion of God’s grace gift!! If you don’t know the meaning of “amorous,” look it up!!!!

Huddle

Song of Solomon 1:15, Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves. Most often associated with football, a huddle is when the offensive team gathers to strategize the next play from scrimmage. Today, football teams are going more with the no-huddle offense. Couples need to communicate their thoughts, feelings, dreams, desires, hurts, blessings, sorrows, joys, love language, fears, etc., with one another. Note the intense communication between Solomon and his bride (Song of Solomon 1:9-17). Quite frankly, marriages should stay away from the use of the no-huddle. So huddle up this evening and share your heart in love! (Ephesians 4:29-32)

“She said, ‘Yes!'” Boom, baby!!!! Keep it FRESH!!!







#mondaymarriagematterspart4

by Dale, posted in Love, Marriage, Salvation, Uncategorized

Bike Ride
Continuing the journey of intimacy

Today I will end the week of posts with the last of six reasons why marriage matters (#mondaymarriagematters).

Marriage matters because of its unique intimacy.

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25).

The greatest relationship in all the world is found in the redemptive, justifying work of Jesus Christ on the cross that makes us, who were at one time enemies of God, now reconciled to God, and no longer at enmity with God but set apart to Him for eternity (Romans 3:9-31; 5:1-11; Colossians 1:20-22).  That relationship is offered to all men by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Peter 1:2-4).  The cross and resurrection proves that God the Father sent His Son to reconcile the world back to Himself to be restored to eternal fellowship (John 3:16).

There is another special relationship that cannot be duplicated on this planet in any other union except between what God has ordained between only a man and a woman.  That uniqueness is the intimacy found in a husband-wife relationship.  For intimacy to flourish in a marriage relationship to its highest level there must be integrity, trust, and openness.  Adam and Eve were completely at ease with each other at this highest level because at this point in the narrative there was no evil.  There was genuine, pure openness.  Even though evil abounds in our world and in our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), genuine believers in Christ have the power through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to experience blessed intimacy with God the Father and in marriage (John 14:16-23; 15:1-27; Romans 8:1-39; Ephesians 5:18-33).

Marriage matters every day of the week, month, year and your life.  As you grow in your intimacy with your spouse, you will be glad you took intimacy seriously.

Here’s my testimony to intimacy that I hope will encourage you: The Gift of 35 Years

#marriagematterspart3

by Dale, posted in God's Creation, Love, Marriage, Uncategorized

Companionship

So, what did God’s Word say to you as you considered from yesterday’s post that marriage is the creation of God, the Originator?

Today we will we consider the second reason why marriage matters #mondaymarriagematters.

Marriage matters because this is God’s ultimate earthly plan for companionship. (Genesis 2:18, 21-22)

God said that it was not good for man to be alone, so he gave Adam a woman, his wife.  Consider the following thoughts with me:

  1. The only thing in God’s creation that He said was “not good” was man being alone.

Genesis 2:18 “begins with the striking announcement by God that the man is not yet as God had planned to be.  Adam is alone, and that state is not good—the only thing in creation that is not good in God’s opinion.  Since the idea of ‘good’ describes that which is appropriate and fitting within the purpose of creation, the man’s being alone was not good, because he could not do all that God had planned for humankind.” (Allan Ross)

  1. Nothing else in the world completes a man, answers the “is it not good” situation except a woman (2:18-20).

This is God’s perfect plan from the beginning.  His ways and thoughts are transcendent and perfect (Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 55:8-9).  Adam did not find this completion in the animal world.  According to the divine, righteous plan of God, He “made a woman” for Adam (2:22).

  1. Both man and woman are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

This means that both man and woman are personal, relational, rational, moral beings.

  1. Each in their God-given role, man and woman, complete each other (Genesis 2:18).

The word “helpmeet” in the KJV means:

Help – one who provides what is lacking; not a demeaning term; God created man to need a partner, a wife.

Meet – one who corresponds to physically, socially and spiritually

So, how does this apply to today?

  • A husband and wife should be best friends. There is nothing wrong with a man having time with “his buds” or the wife having some “girl time,” but each should always long to be with their spouse over everyone else.
  • A husband should seek to understand his wife (1 Peter 3:7) and the wife her husband so they can learn each other strengths and weaknesses. This will enable them to “play to each other’s strengths” and support each other’s weaknesses.  Your wife is not your enemy.  You should each be looking out for one another, to help, to assist, to learn, to work together.  There you find completion.
  • The greatest way to understand companionship is to learn of Christ and His relationship with you through His Word in power of the Spirit. God made you for a personal relationship with Him, and you are to love Him with all your heart (Matthew 22:37). Therefore, as husband and wife draw closer to God, they are automatically drawing closer to each other.

More tomorrow . . . because marriage matters.

#mondaymarriagematterspart2

by Dale, posted in Marriage

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Yesterday’s post was the foundation for my writings this week.  Today, I want us to consider the first reason why marriage matters.

Marriage matters because it is the creation of God.  He is the Originator. (2:18, 21-22)

What does this mean for marriage? Since God created marriage, then His “Owner’s Manual” (The Word of God, the Bible) is the only place to find out exactly how marriage is to work.  Indeed, the Word is filled with many commands and examples for marriage that if followed would enable men and women to live to the fullest as God intended in the bonds of marriage, even in a sin-cursed world.  Here are a few examples:

  • Genesis 2:18-25
  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
  • Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:21-33
  • Proverbs 18:22
  • Hebrews 13:4
  • 1 Peter 3:1-7
  • Romans 8:1-39
  • Romans 12:1-2
  • Galatians 5:16 – 6:10

Take one passage a day or work through a longer passage for a week.  Read it together, taking turns reading through the verses out loud.  Don’t be in a hurry.  Share what God teaches you, brings to your mind as you read through the Scripture.  Remember, the Holy Spirit is guiding you into truth (John 16:13) helping you to understand God’s plan for your marriage.  Jot down your findings in a journal.  Pray with your spouse as you read through the passage as well as afterwards as you confess, repent, and move forward with your biblical action plan.  Men, you take the lead in this endeavor.  Every issue you face in marriage is addressed in the Word of God!

And, my I remind you, your marriage is more important than your children.  So take the time to build up your marriage and create a good home for your children.

More tomorrow . . . because marriage matters.

#mondaymarriagematters

by Dale, posted in Marriage, Uncategorized

 

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Not too long ago, a #mondaymarriagematters Instagram thread began.  Every Monday, ladies post pictures that recognize something about their husband that is special to them and demonstrate their appreciation through this social media.  Why?  Because marriage matters.

Genesis 2:18-25    And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

  1. Marriage matters because it is the creation of God. He is the Originator. (2:18, 21-22)
  2. Marriage matters because this is God’s ultimate earthly plan for companionship. (2:18, 21-22)
  3. Marriage matters because of its unique distinction set down by God. (2:19-20)
  4. Marriage matters because of its unique role. (2:23)
  5. Marriage matters because it is God’s plan for the family unit, one man and one woman. (2:24)
  6. Marriage matters because of its unique intimacy. (2:25)

So, marriage matters on Monday, and it also matters the rest of the week, month, year . . . until death parts you.

How are you demonstrating today to your spouse and to God that His awesome, unique creation of marriage matters to you?