My husband and I just got back from Gatlinburg, Tennessee on Monday. We went back to the place where we honeymooned 20 years ago! Yes, that's right! We are celebrating 20 years of marriage on Wednesday, April 5th! To God be ALL the glory! We are so thankful for the hand of God that has been so evident in our marriage and in our lives.
We had so much fun together during our 3 day stay in Gatlinburg. Our cabin, Sugar Booger is its name, looked exactly the same as it did when we went there for our 10 year anniversary and even the same as 20 years ago when we honeymooned there! Nothing had changed! It was really hard to believe.
I'm so thankful the same CAN NOT be said for me or for my husband, Phil. We both have changed these last 20 years together. Sure, I'm not happy about the weight I've put on (wink!), but I am thankful I'm not the same woman I was spiritually 20 years ago. I'm thankful for the hard times of marriage (yes, let's be honest - marriage is hard at times) that have caused me to draw closer to God and ask Him for His help to mold me and shape me into the wife Phil needs me to be.
God has taught me so much over the years through my marriage:
Mercy
Grace
Forgiveness
Agape Love
Patience
Kindness
Gentleness
Self Control
And so much more! All of these beautiful characteristics of God have been made alive in me through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in my life. It's a choice every wife and every husband have to make in their marriage. I'm thankful to have been blessed with a husband who has made that choice to grow in God and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work in his life as well. It really does make a difference in marriage. Encourage your spouse and their relationship with God. Help keep them accountable (in a loving way of course) to be in the Bible and to pray every day. Read the Bible and pray TOGETHER every day. It's Living Water for your marriage.
As I look back over these past 20 years, I'm so thankful for all of God's blessings that we have enjoyed! So many good memories with our children and extended family. There are even painful memories like the loss of our first child at 6 weeks into my pregnancy, the loss of both of my grandmothers, a sister, and both of my parents. God has been with us through it ALL. And I know He will continue to be with us as we grow old together.
Marriage is under attack from Satan. I think we all know and understand that. Therefore we have to take a stand for our marriages by coming against our enemy through the power of prayer! I'll never forget the day God spoke into my heart about the importance of praying for Phil. I wrote a blog post about this called The One Realization That Has Totally Changed My Marriage. I'll be sharing that with you soon so stay tuned!
For now, here are your April Scripture Prayer Calendars for Your Husband and for Your Wife. Simply click on the links below the images to get your free Scripture Prayer Calendars!
Praying that your marriage is strengthened through the power of prayer!
Walking in His Grace,
Laurie