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"And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.'"
(Genesis 2:18)
Marriage is God's big idea. He created the husband-wife union, as stated in Genesis 2:24: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." We also read where Jesus affirms marriage between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-6).
Marriages, like the Church, are beautiful creations of God, highly valued and prized by Him. It should not surprise us in the least that the devil constantly attacks marriages and churches, because he hates what God loves. But praise God for 1 John 4:4 that tells us that Jesus in us is greater than the devil in the world! ("You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.")
As I mentioned yesterday, Ashley and I will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary later this year. We are grateful to God for the life He has graciously granted unto us. Like most people, we ask, "How in the world did that happen?" The time does indeed go quickly. We have been so blessed and thoroughly enjoy the life God has allowed us to make together. We have three children: Hannah is married to Jeffrey who serves on our staff at Great Hills BC as the Family Pastor; they have four daughters. Our son Bryant is married to Kyndall, and he is the student pastor at the Springdale, AR campus at Cross Church, AR; they have two sons. Our son Leighton is married to Danielle, and he serves as the campus pastor at our north campus in Liberty Hill, TX; they have three children, a girl and two boys. Forty years of marriage, 3 kids and 9 grandchildren; all glory to God!
You may have noticed that all three of our children are serving the Lord in ministry. We never planned for that to happen. God called each one, and they said yes to the call of Jesus on their lives. Ashley and I are grateful that our kids love the local church. In fact, as I write this devotion, Ashley is traveling on her way to AR to visit Bryant, Kyndall, and the boys. On Sunday, Bryant and Ashley will speak to some of his students and their moms in a special mother/son event.
Like all marriages, Ashley and I have had some rough spots and bumps along the way. Perhaps you have heard that opposites attract and they attack! Well, we have never attacked each other, at least not physically. But we have had to work through our differences and disagreements, especially early on in our marriage. If you are reading this and you are married with young children, please hang in there. It will get easier; just do not give up. There will come a time when the kids will leave and start their own homes and careers. But your spouse will not leave. Being an empty-nester is a blessing. As my friend Dr. Steve Gaines would say, it is great having his wife all to himself!
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