“I really don’t know where to start with marraige..but I will say this that when you wait for the right one..and you listen to the Lord as He alone leads your footsteps to the place as to where you meet your better half..then there honestly isn’t anything in this world that together your not able to get through as Christ our Lord is right there in the center of it all..because guys are you always on the top of the mountain in your marriage?..is it always getting along and agreeing on everything?..is it always full of sunshine and laughter?..is it always happiness?..is it always having it together?..is it always being each others best friend in life?…how about is it as to where there are some days that you just simply don’t get along?..because Erik and I will be the very first people to tell you that NO it’s not all of them things..there are days when you are way down low in a valley..there are days when you just don’t agree on anything..there are days when happiness and laughter is a hard thing to find..and there are days when finances will get crazy in your life..and money runs low..and the washer machine breaks..and the stove goes out..and your dog gets sick..there are days when it seems like a tornado has come and stirred and messed up everything..for I tell ya when you first get married it’s great don’t get me wrong..but be prepared for those bad times..be prepared for sickness..be prepared to fall down..and be prepared to literally face everything together..for honesty is the most important thing in a marraige..and secret keeping should be the most easiest thing to do with one another..being one anothers best friend is the absolute best thing…telling each other everything is a must..and even when the conversations are very hard..even then you still have them..Amen..for you must always communicate in marriage..because when you realize that you both are on the same team in life..and that you both are striving for the same things in life..well, then that’s when you work together as you should..that’s when you protect and guard and keep one another safe..and that’s when miracles begin to happen in your marriage..because let me tell guys..your spouse has got to be your number one fan in life..they should know you better than anyone else could ever know you..Amen..you should know that regardless of any of it that you both have each other..because storms come..as they will..and life is hard..and growing into that one person that your called to be as a husband and wife is not an easy task..but you see scripture tells us that the storms and the winds and the waves may come and beat upon our homes but that they will not fall because they are founded upon Jesus Christ our Lord..Matthew 7:25..Amen..and in the book of Ephesians it tells us that husbands are to love their wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church..Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband…Ephesians 5:25-33..so what is it that keeps us when all is crazy and disappointments come..and all is going wrong in life..what is it that keeps us and our marriages?..well, love is that key that keeps us..and loads of forgiveness and God’s grace..because we are all imperfect people..and we all make mistakes..but marriage is for the long haul..Amen..marriage should not ever be taken lightly..not ever..Amen..because as you do stand there making them vows before the Lord our God..it is a very precious..holy and sancitfied time..for marraige is a beautiful thing..and God intended for it to be honored and protected..and honored and protected should it be at all times..Amen..you should constantly be guarding your marriage and your home..you constantly should be thinking of ways to please your spouse more so than pleasing yourself..and you should always keep the fire burning in your marraige..that spark should never die down..Amen..but it should burn so brightly for your love one towards another..just as we burn ever so brightly and should be burning ever so brightly for our Lord Jesus..Amen..so don’t keep a list of all that your spouse may or may not have done..and don’t keep score of who did what..Amen..and I say don’t argue over the little things..and don’t think that a husband does certain chores and well a wife is to do others..because that doesn’t work all that well..but help one another..no matter what it is..if dinner is needing to be cooked..well help..if trash needs to be taken out..well just take it out..if laundry needs folded..then reach right down in that laundry basket and begin to fold..because I will say it again..you both are on the same team..and you both have been given to one another from the Lord..so help one another..love one another..cherish one another..respect one another..and always forgive one another..and in doing so you and I will have long lasting committed and loving filled marraiges..just as Christ Jesus our Lord intended for them to be..when we do our parts..then everything else always falls into it’s proper place…In Jesus’ name, I do ask and pray..Amen and Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi