God's Successful Marriage

  Welcome to the World, Genevieve Leann - A Special Family Reflection from God’s Successful Marriage “ Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” — Psalm 127:3 There are moments in life that seem to stop time. For several hours, a family waits, prays, watches the clock, and hopes for good news. Then, in one beautiful moment, everything changes. A child takes her first breath, a mother and father meet their daughter, and a family grows larger. Today was one of those moments for our family - our third grandchild, Genevieve Leann, entered the world. As her grandfather, I find myself looking at her name and thinking about everything that name will one day represent. Today, she is a newborn daughter resting in the arms of her parents. In time, she will develop her own personality, her own laughter, her own interests, her own questions, and her own story. For now, however, she is simply Genevieve. She is precious, small, newly arrived, and already dee...

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7 There is a kind of legacy that can be measured in money, property, keepsakes, family photos, and names passed down through generations. Those things may have value, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to leave something meaningful behind for our children. But for the Christian husband and wife, the greatest legacy we can leave is not merely what our children receive from us. It is what they learn about Christ by watching us. Our children may forget some of the vacations. They may forget some of the birthday gifts. They may not remember every meal at the table or every ordinary day that seemed to pass without much significance. But they will remember the atmosphere of the home. They will remember how Dad spoke to Mom. They will remember how Mom responded to Dad. They will remember whether forgiveness was practiced or only preached. Th...

  There is a quiet temptation in marriage to think that if we love each other enough, pray enough, and stay committed enough, we should be able to handle everything on our own. And to be fair, there is a kind of strength that a husband and wife do need to build together. Marriage does require private faithfulness. It requires conversations no one else hears, prayers no one else knows about, forgiveness no one else sees, and daily choices that are made behind closed doors when no one is clapping and no one is watching. That private part of marriage matters deeply. But Christian marriage was never meant to be lived in isolation. God did not design marriage to replace the body of Christ. He did not call a husband and wife to become their own little island, disconnected from fellowship, worship, encouragement, accountability, counsel, and prayer. A strong marriage still needs community. Not because the marriage is failing, but because we are human. Every one of us, no matter how long w...

  “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” — Proverbs 31:28 Motherhood changes through the years, but its impact never stops echoing. In a world that often reduces Mother’s Day to flowers, cards, and social media posts, it is easy to overlook the deeper reality of what motherhood truly is. It is not simply a title. It is years of pouring, carrying, teaching, comforting, correcting, sacrificing, praying, and loving in ways that often go unseen. It is holy work. Not because mothers are perfect, but because God has entrusted them with hearts, homes, and lives that help shape generations. Some mothers are just beginning the journey, carrying children they have not yet met. Others are learning how to survive sleepless nights and endless laundry. Some are walking the difficult years of raising teenagers. Others are standing in quieter homes now, watching grown children build lives of their own. And for many, Mother’s Day carries both gratitude an...

  There is a quiet truth many couples carry but rarely say out loud: Praying together feels harder than it should. We can talk about schedules, bills, children, and even deep struggles—but when it comes time to pray together, something tightens. Words feel awkward. Timing feels off. One leads, the other listens. Sometimes both wait for the other to start… and neither does. So the moment passes. Not because we don’t love God. Not because we don’t love each other. But because spiritual intimacy doesn’t always come naturally—it must be learned. Why It Feels So Hard For many of us, prayer has always been personal. It is where we are most vulnerable with God—honest, unfiltered, sometimes even unsure. Inviting your spouse into that space can feel like opening a door you’ve kept closed for years. There can also be unspoken fears: “What if I don’t say the right words?” “What if this feels forced?” “What if my spouse is more spiritual than I am?” So instead of ...

  Early in marriage, encouragement comes naturally. Newly married couples often speak admiration freely. Compliments come easily. Gratitude is expressed often. There is excitement in discovering the good qualities in the person you married. But over time, something subtle happens in many marriages. Life becomes busy. Responsibilities increase. Children arrive. Work schedules tighten. Bills need to be paid. Stress has a way of crowding the margins of daily life. Slowly, encouragement begins to fade from everyday conversation. It usually isn’t replaced with hostility. Instead, it is often replaced with silence. Yet Scripture reminds us that words carry tremendous power , especially within marriage. Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (KJV) The Bible repeatedly teaches that our words shape the environment around us. Nowhere is that more evident than within the home. Your spouse hears your voice more than ...

  There is a kind of laughter that fills a room. And there is a kind of laughter that fills a marriage. One entertains. The other heals. The Bible speaks more about joy than we sometimes realize. And not just surface-level happiness — but a deep, settled, soul-rooted joy that comes from God Himself. “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” — Proverbs 17:22 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 “Rejoice always.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Joy is not optional in the Christian life. It is commanded. And that means it belongs in marriage too. Young Couples Need to Hear This There will be seasons when money is tight. Seasons when pride gets loud. Seasons when exhaustion steals patience. We’ve walked through Marine Corps years. Financial stress. Near-divorce tension. Health battles. In those seasons, you don’t survive because everything is romantic. You survive because you remember you’re on the same team. Sometimes that looks like prayer. Sometimes that looks lik...

  🎄 The Ultimate Gift: Christ at the Center of Christmas and Marriage God’s Successful Marriage — Common Man Blog Christmas is a season overflowing with lights, gifts, traditions, and joyful noise — yet beneath all of it lies a simple, profound truth: Christmas is not ultimately about what we give, but about Who was given to us. Jesus Christ is God’s ultimate gift, the foundation of hope for our lives and the source of strength for our marriages. When we recenter Christmas around Christ, we recenter our marriages around the One who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). What a season to remember that our love for one another flows from His love for us. 🎁 Jesus—the Unspeakable Gift Paul writes, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” — 2 Corinthians 9:15 The word unspeakable (Greek: anekdiegetos ) means indescribable , too wonderful to fully express. No wrapped gift, no tradition, no decoration can compare to what God did by sending His Son. Why does th...