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This past weekend we had a marriage seminar at our church. It was
excellent! Yesterday at the Evening Sunday Service we had a special
ceremony for those who wanted to renew their vows. There were five
couples ranging from 42 years in marriage to 4 years who renewed their
vows to each other.
I am blessed to reveal that my husband and I were one of those
couples. The amazing thing is how much God has given life back to our
relationship. Last year was the worst year of our lives and yet, God
was able to rise us out of the ashes and bring forth new fruit. So much
so that we wanted to renew our vows and rededicate ourselves to each
other.
Marc is French and yet he wrote his vows to me in English. I cried…
and I cried when I read my vows to him as well. There has been such a
release in our hearts that we can only praise God. For He is the reason
why we are still together…He is the reason why there was forgiveness,
mercy, and grace in our hearts.
We want to praise and honor Him for what blessings He has blessed us with…not only financially but in spirit.
For those who are in a marriage that does not glorify God, I want to
let you know that there is hope. You may be the only one in the
relationship who is Christian, you may be in a "Christian" marriage but
there is not much "Christianity" in the relationship (hence…abuse
physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.), and so forth. I have been in
a previous relationship where I thought I was a Christian and my
ex-husband was not a Christian at all and would absolutely not go to
church. I have also been in a marriage (current), where we "pretended"
to be Christian, but lived a different life at home.
This has completely changed in our home. There is hope! I am telling
you. Marc and I now only want to glorify God in our relationship, in our
ministries (together and separate). He has had a radio station for a
long time but until recently never really worked at it hard. Now…all he
wants to do is magnify God through his radio station. It is an online
French Christian Radio Station called, Radiomoisson (www.radiomoisson.org - Harvest Radio). And I have this site as my ministry…but we also worship together at our church.
It is possible to have a beautiful Christian marriage but only if
both people are willing to give of themselves to God completely. When
we only try and give half or a portion of ourselves to Him, or when we
think we are giving of ourselves, when in truth we are being selfish,
it does not work at all.
God's gifts are many including His Word, peace, grace, mercy, love,
blessings, etc. But in order to get them, we have to be willing to
carry our cross everyday and give of ourselves to each other. Not only
your spouse but people you work with, people you see in the grocery
store, wherever.
I cannot say that my husband and I have totally reached that, we
still have a long way to go if we compare ourselves to Jesus Christ,
but I know that we are on the right path. Never give up because it is
possible to get there. Keep praying, keeping hoping, and keep crying
out God and He will definitely answer your prayers. |
