Monday Morning Minute ~ “I do” – 30 Years Ago

Monday Morning Minute

30 Years Ago

Yes, I said “I Do” 30 years ago this very day. May 20th, 1983 my beloved and I got married. Looking at this picture, I said to my hubby “What Baby-Faces”. He had to laugh too and said – “30 Years ago is ancient, they did not even have internet back then.” Goodness, how did we communicate back then? I guess the old fashioned way; by letter or regular land-line phones. No texting, no Facebook, no email. Oh, and my beloved and I didn’t even own a car back then. Ha, times have changed, haven’t they?

Has our marriage been smooth sailing? Oh goodness, no!!! There were bumpy roads, sweat, blood and tears. There were a couple times I wanted to call it quits. But God had other plans; we are still together, even though some of our old friends gave us only a couple of years. The funny thing is that those old friends are no longer married.

Marriage is hard work; it takes commitment and honesty with each other. But the most important thing in a marriage is that God leads. You have two sinful beings that want to do things their own way. But that does not work in marriage; or any kind of relationship. You have to make concessions, and you have to be unselfish. It really boils down to this verse:

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
(Ephesians 5:33 ESV)

Love & Respect in a marriage is the most powerful thing. Years ago, I read the book “Love & Respect” written by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Believe me when I tell you that this book has changed my way of thinking and our marriage. The book is one of the best resources that you can use to either save your marriage or make it better. Yes, marriage is hard work, but I tell you that after 30 years, it is very much worth it.

Lord of mercy and grace. This morning I want to thank You for Your guidance in our marriage. Lord, I ask that You continue to bless this marriage as You have over the past 30 years. Help us to stay together, for better or worse, healthy or sick, for richer or poorer. You are the source of our strength in this marriage. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Love & peace,
Iris

Do it Again, Lord

The below prayer was written and shared by Max Lucado as America Prays, a national prayer vigil held Saturday, September 14, 2001. Permission to copy not only granted but encouraged; MaxLudado.com

Dear Lord,
We’re still hoping we’ll wake up. We’re still hoping we’ll open a sleepy eye and think, What a horrible dream. But we won’t, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.

There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn’t.

And so we come to you. We don’t ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don’t request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We’ve read the accounts. We’ve pondered the stories and now we plead, Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord. Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.

And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king’s counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord. Do It Again, Lord.

Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here on that Tuesday, you saw there on that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.

And by dusk, heaven’s sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock. But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.

We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not. Doctrinal fences have fallen.Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity. And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.

Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.

And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you’ve used her to heal a hurting world.
Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ,
Amen.

Photograph Copyright © Iris Nelson

Thankful Thursday ~ Marriage

“…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…
~ Ephesians 5:20-24 (ESVemphasis mine)

The above passages I really had to pick apart to understand the way they should be (the submission part especially). Oh, it was so worth it, girls.

My beloved and I are celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary today (May 20th). I think that during the first 22 years of our marriage I was still dreaming that I could change my husband somehow. Ha – only in my dreams. I wanted Mark to be more romantic; you know little gifts here and there (like flowers, dinner…). Hm, but that was not him.

5 years ago I read Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’ book “Love & Respect” – oh how that changed my perspective. If you believe it or not, but my hubby is romantic – in his own way. See the photo? That is him fixing our Evap cooler this month. He ran around town to find a pump to make it work. It works so good  I have to wear a heavy bathrobe at night 😀 . He made sure that we didn’t have to give up our savings for a new cooler. How romantic is that?

You see, it might take some time to get used to each other, but girls, it is so worth it. Don’t get me wrong – our marriage is not all smiles and happy-happy, but I am so in love with my man. Sure, we still have differences, but it is not worth to get all worked up about it and walk out (almost been there couple times).

I am thankful for Mark; his love, his devotion, his hugs. I couldn’t image life without him (and I don’t want to either). Happy anniversary, sweetheart!!!! I would take the plunge in all over again with you!

What are you thankful for this week? Please visit my friend Laurie at “Women Taking A Stand” to link up with other TT bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by today. Remember: marriage is not easier, but it is well worth staying together for a life-time.