Marriage

February 13 2011“Marriage should be honored by all, …”Hebrews 13:4 (NIV)“Here comes the bride, all dressed in white …” “There stands the groom, lookinglike he’ll swoon.” And then there comes what is called a marriage, and thesobering reality that all those shared dreams of the wedding day take a lot ofwork, a ton of perseverance, real commitment, much forgiveness, and so muchelse. Melting two into one is quite a process.I have often wondered why we enter two of life’s most important roles, husband/wife and dad/mom, with little to no experience. One of my theories is that if wehad major experience we would run from both, we would deem it too hard, toostressful, too much work. But that’s viewing things too negatively, because handsdown my greatest joys in life, my deepest and most meaningful relationships,and my most fulfilling roles have come from being Susie’s husband (or HBOM,hunking block of manliness) and being Dad to five kids. Nothing I have done,accomplished, or own compares.I constantly wonder how I ended up alongside this incredible spiritual, beautiful,smart, funny, and full of life woman. I certainly wasn’t smart or wise enough onmy own to choose so well, never mind having what it takes to persuade sucha woman to give me her heart. So how did I end up so very blessed? I don’tquite know the entire answer, but I do know my Mama diligently prayed for mybrothers and me to marry great women. I don’t know what exactly she prayed,but I have inkling now that I have marrying age children of my own.Not too long ago one of my daughters wanted to know what exactly I am prayingfor regarding her future mate. Before I‘ll share with you my reply I want toencourage you to also pray in detail concerning who you want to be regardingyour present or future mate. Who would God have you be?I thought I’ll tell you what I have been praying for when it comes to romance anda man you want to share your life with. I have been praying this, and expandingon it, since the day you were born. Not only have I prayed that you will grow upto love God and Christ, but that you will do so with passion, that you will love allGod loves, but I have also prayed that God will raise up a boy for you for whomthis is true as well, and that you will be answer to his parents' prayers for him tofind a godly woman. I have also prayed that God would give you the heart to lookfor that kind of man, that godliness and kingdom passion would be on top of yourcriteria when it comes to looking for a man to share your life with.For the fellow who will marry you and have your heart, I have prayed that aboveall he will have an independent heart and passion for God, an involvement in theChristian life that is anything but casual. I pray he will love to pray, love church,love God's word, and all the things God loves. I pray he will a hunger for andhave a vision for the kingdom of God, that his faith is a thinking faith, a growingfaith. I have asked God to give you a man who is pure, faithful, selfless, kind, anda servant. I pray his faith is so interwoven in all he does that it is evident to all.I pray he will love to talk about spiritual things and that he cares about bringingpeople to Christ. I pray he will be a giver, a tither, generous through and through.I pray he will be wise, in his relationships, with material things and money, andwith life. I pray that he will be totally smitten with you, absolutely entrancedby your beauty, your cuteness, and who you are. I pray he will love family andbeing a dad. I have asked that he will be fun, can laugh at himself, and does nottake himself too serious. I pray that he is challenge to you in the most positivesense, that he would be romantic, caring, disciplined, and good. I pray he will beyour soul mate and that you would be thrilled by his love and presence. I alreadyknow that you are a jewel; I want him to see that as well and treasure it, guardit, and always be thrilled about what great find you are. I want him to be strongin character, honest, transparent, and real. I want to be able to hand to him, andhard as it may be, know that my girl is blessed, treasured, safe, and cared for like Iwould care for you and even better.May God hear my prayer and yours, Pastor Hans