ENDLESS LOVE?
You are all together beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.
Song of Solomon 4:7
When Debbie and I got married on March 15, 1986, we were so excited about starting our lives together as husband and wife. The first order of business after the wedding was the honeymoon. YES! I was so excited about the honeymoon. I think most brides dream about the wedding - and most grooms dream about the wedding night. It is just the way God made men and women.
Debbie and I got to go on two honeymoons. The first one was a short, two night stay in Galveston, TX. Debbie got sick the second night and threw up for hours. It was so romantic! The second one, a week later (Debbie taught school and her spring break was a week after our wedding), was in Monterrey, CA. We had so much fun. We walked on the beach, ate seafood while looking out at the Pacific, shopped (my least favorite thing), and talked and shared over a romantic fire each night. We did not want the week to end, and we definitely did not want the honeymoon to be over.
Now while it is true that no one can actually live on a perpetual honeymoon vacation, it is also true that the marital honeymoon does not have to end just because you come back home. God has designed marriage to be a wonderful experience of love and joy and fulfillment. Of course there are ups and downs. Of course there are adjustment times and hard times and sad times and mad times and AARRGGHH times! But if you go God's way, those times can be overshadowed by the love and laughter.
It is sad to see so many marriages fail. It is tragic that many marriages within the church are distant and cold. The husband and wife co-exist as roommates, living separate lives with no closeness and little, if any, love. Typically, these couples stay together until they cannot stand it anymore. When they divorce, they create a whole new set of problems and hurts. It is sad. It is all too common, and it is totally avoidable IF YOU WILL START GOING GOD'S WAY.
GET HELP
Let me encourage you. If you are growing miserable in your marriage, the time is NOW to do something about it. The time is NOW to get some outside help. Reject the hellish idea that marriage counseling is only for wimps and losers. Marriage counseling is for people who are honest enough to say, "I need some help." No one would think twice about going to the doctor because of a broken arm. Why would we think it degrading or distasteful to get help for a broken marriage?
There is a reason God had you read this e-mail. He wants to turn things around in your marriage. Will you trust Him to do so? Will you take that needed step of faith so that He can start a great work in you? Remember, Peter never would have walked on the water had he not gotten out of the boat!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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