God's Successful Marriage

  God at the Center Was Never Just a Theme God’s Successful Marriage — Series Wrap-Up: God at the Center Key Verse: “ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ” -  Colossians 1:17 “God at the center” is one of those phrases Christian couples can agree with quickly. It sounds right. It belongs in a marriage conversation. It fits well in a wedding message, a Bible study, a counseling session, or a devotional thought. Most Christian husbands and wives would not argue against it. But agreement is not the same as surrender. Over this series, we have not simply been repeating a Christian catchphrase. We have been asking what it actually means for a marriage to be brought under the loving authority of God. Not God as decoration. Not God as the emergency contact when everything falls apart. Not God as the One we mention on Sunday, but quietly ignore when making decisions on Monday. God at the center means our marriage is under Him. It means our attitudes, words, pri...

  “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” — Psalm 138:8 There is something in most of us that wants to fix whatever is broken. When something in the house stops working, we look for the right tool. When a plan falls apart, we begin making another one. When someone we love is hurting, we search for the right words, the right answer, or the right action that will make everything better. That instinct is not always wrong. Marriage requires effort. Difficult conversations should not be avoided. Apologies should not be postponed. Wounds should not be ignored, and unhealthy patterns should not be allowed to continue simply because addressing them is uncomfortable. But there are moments in marriage when effort does not seem to be enough. You have prayed, but the situation has not changed. You have talked, but the conversation keeps returning to the same place. You have apologized, forgiven, served, w...

 There are some days on the calendar that should not be rushed through, and Memorial Day is one of them. For many people, it has become the unofficial beginning of summer. It is a long weekend, a day off work, a time for cookouts, travel, family, and rest. There is nothing wrong with enjoying those things. In fact, the ability to gather freely, rest peacefully, and enjoy time with the people we love is part of the blessing we have been given. But there is something deeply wrong if we enjoy the freedom and forget what that freedom cost. Memorial Day is not simply about patriotism. It is not just about flags, uniforms, ceremonies, or familiar words spoken once a year. It is a day set aside to remember those who gave their lives in service to this nation. This is not the day when we merely thank everyone who has served. That gratitude has its place, and it matters. But Memorial Day stands in a different place. This is the day we remember those who wore the uniform and did not come...

  “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...

  “ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” — Revelation 12:1 There is something we do — often without realizing it. We hear one testimony, and it grips the room: "I was delivered from a lifetime of drugs, alcohol, abuse, and a life that was clearly broken."  We respond with energy: “Look what the Lord has done.” “God is powerful.” “Only God could bring someone out of that.” And we should respond that way because that is the mighty power of God on display. But then we hear another testimony: “I grew up in church… I gave my life to Christ when I was young… and I’ve walked with Him since.” And our response is often....quieter: “Praise the Lord.” ......and we move on. We may not say it out loud, but over time, we begin to treat one testimony like a miracle… and the other like an expectation. And that is where we have to be careful because somewhere along the way, we unintentionally send a message: That one salvation story is POWERFUL...