10 Things Your Husband Hates

My husband and I spent many years in a miserable state. I'm ashamed to tell you that this list is a result of some of the ways I was guilty. Several, actually. I'd love for you to learn from the mistakes that I made over the years.

He hates when you throw him under the bus in public. When you point out his faults, criticize, or correct him, you make him feel like an idiot in front of others—and that's demeaning. Don't embarrass him in any way (especially in front of your children). Would you want him to do that to you?

He hates when you remind him of his past failures. It's something that was settled long ago (or maybe just last week), and you just can't seem to let it go. We've all failed. Let go of things that have already been worked through and settled. If there are unresolved issues that were never dealt with biblically, don't bring them up as a bully club, but take steps to graciously resolve them and move on!

He hates when you unload on him as soon as he walks in the door. One thing I can't stress to wives enough—HUG your man when he comes in from work! Greet him with a kiss and some love. Give him an encouraging word, and hold off on letting him know what a tough time you've had. He has had a long day. (I know you have as well, but I'm not talking to him. I'm talking to you.) He's been hit with challenges that you haven't faced, and perhaps he fought battles you'll never know about. Be what makes it all worth coming home to.

He hates when you expect him to be just like your girlfriend. He's probably not a crafter, a scrapbooker, or a fan of spending five hours at the mall. An afternoon in the nail salon is probably not his idea of fun. He's not going to communicate with you like your best friend or want to know the complete story you want to tell. Down to the Very. Last. Detail. Appreciate him for being a man, and leave the girl stuff to your girl friends.

He hates when you expect him to read your mind. Just tell him. Don't play those mind games where you're thinking: If he really loved me, he'd know that I want him to . . . (fill in the blank). I wouldn't have to tell him! Your husband will be so grateful if you'll ditch the mind-reading game and just have some honest and gracious communication.

He hates when you treat him like your child. Men know that they don't think like we do. They know that it can be challenging to measure up to our expectations or desires. When they forget to close the lid on the toilet, it's not because they want to irritate us. When they take the long route because they forgot the right exit, it's not because they want to burn that extra gas. When we talk to our husbands in the same tone we would use with our children, it is disrespectful. And that's a sin.

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He hates when you unload the big guns at 11 p.m. Don't wait until bedtime to bring up a topic of discussion that has the potential to put the two of you on opposite side of an all out battle until near dawn. If you need to have a conversation that has the potential for major conflict or emotion, do it early in the evening (or maybe save it for a morning when he's home). Respect his need to get some rest.

He hates when you compare him to that "perfect guy" at church. Your husband may not seem as "spiritual," may not treat you the same way you see that "perfect guy" treat his wife, he may not sound as knowledgeable, or seem as interested in the sermon. But your husband probably has some worthy qualities that you may be missing because you're so focused on what he's "not." Quit comparing him to other men—what good can come from you doing that? Why not ask God to open your eyes to see things that you've not yet appreciated about him?

He hates when you give him the silent treatment. Whenever you use the silent treatment to manipulate him, it harms both of you. The silent treatment is a hostile punishment tool. Don't make things more difficult by clamming up or stuffing your anger. If you're hurt or angry, first go to God and ask Him to search your heart to see if the anger is righteous or if there is some offense that needs to be discussed. Talk it out with your husband. Be honest and humble in your communication and remember—he's not your enemy!

He hates when you use sex as a weapon. The gift of sexual intimacy is to be an expression of unselfish love. It's a physical demonstration of spiritual unity. Don't withhold yourself to punish your husband, and don't use your intimacy as a bribing technique. Honor your marriage bed as sacred, and love your husband well.

Have I sounded harsh today? I hope not, I just know how easy it is to slip into a disrespectful attitude that morphs into ugly treatment of those we love most. I'm challenging all of us today to set aside any of these things that are a common, but destructive, tendency in marriage. And they are not God-glorifying.

Do you see yourself anywhere in this list? If you do, I hope you'll spend some time seeking God. Ask Him to show you specific things you need to ask your husband to forgive you for, and share that with him.

Taken from Kimberly Wagner's blog post 10 Things Your Husband Hates. www.TrueWoman.com. Used with permission.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/21130-10-things-your-husband-hates

The Supremacy of the Word

The ministry of the word is the paramount ministry in the church, This is because everything that God will do on earth depends on the operation of His word. The creation was accomplished with the word spoken and according to the unknown writer of the Epistles to the Hebrews, God continues to sustain the world by His word, the omnipotent word.

God esteemed the word so much that he uses it to affirm His integrity. He has exalted it above his name. This points to the fact that God will not say a word exempt He means it. He will not utter a word unless he is willing to see it to its logical conclusion. Every word spoken by God shall not return to him void. It continues to work until it has accomplished the intended purpose.

This is why every time we minister the word, it should be with all carefulness. Paul preached the word with fear and trembling at Corinth so that only God will be seen through whatever he said and so that only the intentions of God shall be established through whatever he disseminated.

When next you speak or preach the word let it be not with your clout behind it. While that has its place, it must much more be with the person of God and His grace behind it. When you are a King's emissary, His throne is behind the message unless your delivery is otherwise. God must be represented every time we speak.

If we represent Him in and with our delivery, expressing and interpreting only His thoughts and intentions; it must then be done with exactness - without falling for sensational speculations that goes beyond what the Lord says to fly what the man thinks or likes. It must also be done with the grace that God supplies so that the message shall be a divine oracle and not human manipulations; it must be dome with faith in Him who sent us that there shall be a performance of what He has spoken through us.

Our efforts in the ministry of the word must be with honour for the word and with faith which rests on God's grace and ability for the word to be confirmed in the lives of those that God sends us to.

Don’t Marry Unless You Can Find This Kind of Bride or Groom

On their wedding day, the poet placed these words of invitation on the groom's lips for his beloved:

Come, grow old with me! The best is yet to be,
The last of life,
For which the first was made.

What bride wouldn't say yes to such a promise!

The groom

The first nine verses  of Psalm 45 focus on the royal bridegroom. When husbands emulate his qualities, strong marriages result.

1. Character which invites praise (v. 2). Most marital problems would be avoided if the wife could say to her husband, "You are the most excellent of men." It's the man's responsibility to conduct himself in such a way that his wife can honestly praise him.
The telltale sign of such sterling character is how the husband talks to his wife: "Your lips have been anointed with grace." Many marriages languish because the husband rarely, if ever, expresses love, appreciation, or compliments.

2. Handsome bearing (v. 3). The groom looks great in his full military uniform. What bride wouldn't be impressed? Why not keep it that way throughout marriage? Stay in shape and look the best you can. "Clothe yourself with splendor and majesty."

3. Noble ideals (v. 4). Let the husband be a Don Quixote. "In your majesty ride forth" in quest of truth, humility, and righteousness. What great goals! His purpose in marriage goes beyond self-pleasure—he sees his life mission in larger terms and his marriage as part of God's plan for the fulfillment of divine aims.

4. Inner strength (v. 5). This young man intends to be successful. His "sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies." He will be victor and not victim. A bride does well to marry a man who has wholesome self-confidence in addition to his faith in the Lord.

5. Submission to God (vv. 6,7). Blessed is the bride whose husband knows the Lord. In these verses, the Psalmist leaps beyond the human groom to a prophetic description of the Church's bride- groom, Jesus. (See Hebrews 1:8,9.) The earthly husband aligns his character to the Lord's, possessing a love for righteousness, a hatred of wickedness, and a life of joy.

6. Love for beauty (vv. 8,9). Here is a man who smells good, possesses a keen sense of aesthetics ("palaces adorned with ivory"), and loves music. He treats well his sisters, but his wife is honored over them—she is pure gold.

The bride

How shall the bride respond to such a stunning bridegroom? The balance of Psalm 45 provides the answer.

1. Break with the past (v. 10). She is to "forget" her people and her father's house. Marriage does involve transfer of loyalty and affection. By loosening the strings to parents, a bride and groom both enhance success in their marriage.

2. Genuine respect (v. 11). One can marry from false motives—money, power, security. In Psalm 45 the groom is enthralled by his bride. She responds by honoring him. When a couple truly love each other, they do everything possible to make honor and servanthood a two-way street.

3. Pride in belonging (v. 12). A bride not only marries the groom, but all he represents. In Psalm 45 the bride wed someone whose relationships contribute positively to the marriage. She is proud to belong to him. Troubled marriages are the opposite: partners feel they would be better off alone or with someone else.

4. A delightful appearance (vv. 13–15). There is wonderful charm in how this bride looks in her "embroidered garments" and "gown interwoven with gold." Not all can dress lavishly, but all can enter their husbands' presence with "joy and gladness." Sexual love in marriage should be marked by the bride and groom making themselves beautiful for one another.

5. From wife to mother (vv. 16,17). Most marriages produce children. Smart is the bride who picks not only a good husband, but a good father; likewise the groom chooses not only the woman he loves, but also a great mother to his children.

Don't get married unless you can find a Psalm 45 bride or groom. And, if you are married, take inventory—do these qualities for bride and groom describe how you relate to your spouse?

The post Don't Marry Unless You Can Find This Kind of Bride or Groom appeared first on Dr. George O. Wood.

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Original Page: http://georgeowood.com/resplendent-bride-and-groom-psalm-45/

#Preaching the Whole or a Part?

If we adhere to the written word without allowing for sentiments and nuances, we will see that Jude was right when he referred to the the gospel or the word as "the faith once and for all delivered to the saints".

The truth we need for our lives and for the evangelisation of the world is not about to be generated. It is already given. It is not to be found in dreams and visions. It is to be found in the scripture. While direction can come through dreams and visions it must also be made clear that such must be confirmed objectively by the bases that the written word provides.

The challenge of of the church then is not to generate or produce the truth. Our challenge is to communicate the truth. The truth is the gospel that we preach; it is the light that the world needs, especially with all the invasion of darkness upon it today.

The truth is not the one sided emphases we found around today. The truth is the whole gospel to the whole world.

If we crazily troll after a part of the whole, the light will only be blurred. I have a little fear for the future. I believe we all need to take a stand against that becoming more real. It is in agreement with the words of Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones that

"The concealing, and the neglect of certain truths, and certain aspects of Christian truth, has always been the chief characteristic of every period of declension in the long history of the church.

We have seen how God did allow certain neglected truth to be revived to the church. We have also seen that when all the emphases or extreme emphasis become laid on such aspect of the Christian truth T the expense of the rest, it usually leads to another problem that will need correction.

We shall be witnesses for him, bringing the whole body of the revealed truth from where we are to the uttermost part of the world.

The gospel, the whole body of the revealed truth that has as its base, the facts of the death and the resurrection of christ for the redemption of the whole world, is the power of God unto salvation.

We cannot afford to be ashamed of any aspect of it. That is our mandate; that is our tool, with which we can light up the world .

Let the light shine!

4 Ways to Kill Church Worship Fast

Looking around the church last Sunday I noticed that the majority weren't singing. And most of those who were singing barely moved their lips. The only voices I actually heard were those on stage with microphones.

That's been the case for years now—in churches large and small. What used to be congregational singing has become congregational staring.

Even when the chipper "worship leader" in contemporary churches bounds on stage and predictably beckons everyone to "stand and worship," the people compliantly obey the stand command, but then they turn into mute mannequins.

What's behind this phenomenon? What happened to the bygone sounds of sanctuaries overflowing with fervent, harmonizing voices from the pews, singing out with a passion that could be heard down the street? I suspect it's a number of unfortunate factors.

Spectator set-up. Increasingly, the church has constructed the worship service as a spectator event. Everyone expects the people on stage to perform while the pew-sitters fulfill the expectation of any good audience–file in, be still, be quiet, don't question, don't contribute (except to the offering plate) and watch the spotlighted musicians deliver their well-rehearsed concerts.

Professionalism. It seems it's paramount for church music to be more professional than participatory. The people in the pews know they pale in comparison to the loud voices at the microphones. Quality is worshipped. So the worshipers balk at defiling the quality with their crude crooning. It's better to just fake it with a little lip syncing.

Blare. The musicians' volume is cranked up so high that congregants can't hear their own voices, or the voices of those around them, even if they would sing. So they don't sing. What would it add? The overwhelming, amplified sound blares from big speakers, obliterating any chance for the sound of robust congregational singing.

Music choice. Sometimes people refrain from singing because the songs are unfamiliar, hard to sing or just cheesy. Sometimes worship leaders choose a song that may thematically tie into the day's sermon topic, but it's unsingable. Sometimes worship leaders choose lame songs written by their favorite songwriters–themselves.

I admit. I've joined the majority. I've stopped singing. I'm not happy about it. I know I should overcome these barriers and just praise the Lord with my very unprofessional vocalizations. But I long for an environment that evokes my real heartfelt vocal participation.

Thom Schultz is an eclectic author and the founder of Group Publishing and Lifetree Café. Holy Soup offers innovative approaches to ministry, and challenges the status quo of today's church.

For the original article, visit worshipideas.com.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/church-ministry/20960-4-ways-to-kill-church-worship-fast-kills

“Sex Is a Gift from God”–And 6 Other Truths About Marriage You Might Not Hear in the Church

"I am grateful for the foundation the church gave me in regards to marriage," says Frank Powell, "It was a good study guide. But there some things on the test I did not learn until marriage began."

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by Frank Powell

1.) Sex is a gift from God. Explore It.

Make no mistake…God created sex. But through the years, God's people have allowed Satan to steal this gift. Without a fight.

I was never educated about sex…and I grew up in a Christian family. My framework for sex was built by my friends at school and the movies I watched. Big UH OH. I still struggle with enjoying the fullness of sex today because of the cloud of lies formed during my teenage years.

It is time for God's people to take back the gift of sex. The lies surrounding it are ruining lives and ruining marriages. If you are married, let me challenge you to explore sex. Explore the fullness of it for the glory of God. Pray for sexual intimacy with your spouse.

Parents…it is time to stop allowing Satan to define sex for our children. Educate them. Start early. The average child is exposed to pornography at age 11. Eleven!! And many parents wait until high school to have "the talk" with them. At that point, you are not building a foundation for sex, but trying to destroy a foundation Satan has already built.

Church leaders…I am convinced of this. The situation in our culture today is too dire to allow parents to override you here. Talk about sex. If parents refuse to educate their children, then you do it. Do not let Satan beat you to the punch. A false understanding of sex is destroying our young people. It is destroying our nation. It is destroying our world. And we are doing nothing!

Sex is a beautiful gift created by God for a man and a woman that have vowed to spend the rest of their earthly lives with one another. If you are married…open this gift and enjoy the fullness of it.

2.) There is more than one person out there for you.

Soul mates are made…not born. I am not sure where this idea of soul mate originated, but it is false. Maintaining a healthy relationship is more about commitment than perfection. Every person on earth has imperfections. And the reality is we could spend our lives with more than one person.

Tiffani (my wife) is not perfect. There are nuances about her that frustrate me. But I have realized these frustrations are really a result of my imperfections. I love her so much. And I love her more everyday. I am committed to her.

I meet too many young people that are waiting for something that is not real. "I just couldn't marry her because she smacked her food." "He just wasn't the one…he had this weird twitch when he smiled. But I know my soul mate is still out there. I just have to keep looking."

Or you might have just missed him or her.

What if God does not want you to find a perfect person, but find an imperfect person that will draw you closer to Him? What if God desires you to marry a person with flaws to expose yours? What if God wants to teach you the value and life found in committing to one person forever, not the exhausting pursuit of searching your entire life to find the perfect person?

Soul mates are made…not born.

3.) The first year of marriage is hard…really hard.

What have we done? Are we going to make it? Why is this so hard? All questions I asked myself many times during my first year of marriage. We were arguing. We were fighting. It was really hard. And every day I thought something was wrong. I thought we had a bad marriage. Nobody warned me about the first year. But take this as a warning…the first year of marriage is difficult. If you are in the first year of marriage and thinking about giving up…congratulations. You are now…married!

But let me encourage you…do not give up. Everyone struggles. You are not unique. Persevere. There are better days coming. Your marriage will get better. Do not walk out. If you walk out now you disqualify yourself (and your spouse) from years of joy. Stick with it.

4.) A spouse does not complete you

I hate you Jerry Maguire. You have brainwashed a generation of people to believe a lie. Spouses do not complete people. I bought this lie, and it wasn't until I let go of any notion my wife could fill some void that I was able to truly love her. Until then, I was always frustrated. I expected Tiffani to do something she was incapable of doing.

If you are empty, broken, or insecure, and you believe a spouse is the silver bullet to your problems…buckle up. It will be a bumpy ride. Only God can fill those voids. You will never be able to enjoy the beauty of marriage if your spouse's job is to complete you.

5.) Marry somebody with similar goals, dreams, and passions.

Marry somebody that is a Christian, yes. But I would go even further. Marry somebody with similar passions and dreams. Now, I understand this breaks down at some point. People are not machines. No two people are going to want exactly the same thing in life. However, if you love foreign missions and your potential spouse hates going overseas, some tension will arise.

Synergy is extremely important in a marriage. If your spouse has the same vision as you, they will understand your struggles and support your pursuits. They will encourage your walk. They will be empathetic. There is much power in two people living life with the same goals, dreams, and passions for life.

6.) Marriage is not for everybody.

Paul talks about this in I Corinthians 7. He tells the church at Corinth to remain in the situation they are in. If unmarried, then stay unmarried. If married, then stay married. He later says this…

So then the person who marries his fiancee does well, and the person who doesn't marry does even better. (I Cor. 7:38)

Even better? I never heard that in church. Maybe it is time for God's people to accept the reality that God has not called everyone to marry. I have talked with young men and women that are so concerned with finding a spouse. It consumes them. And most of the pressure comes from…US. The church. Once a person reaches mid-twenties, we assume something is wrong with them if they have not married. They must have a terrible flaw.

"Bless your heart. You are almost 30 and not married? I know this must be hard!?"

Shame on us. I am worried many failed marriages are a result of people allowing the pressure of marriage to draw them into something God did not design them for. Marriage is holy and good, but it is also possible to follow Jesus without a spouse.

7.) The wedding day is a lie…don't buy it. 

I love weddings. I love officiating them. It is a rare moment where I get to make a divine proclamation that forever changes the status of two people. Powerful.

But in an increasingly individualistic, "me" culture, weddings create a potentially dangerous situation. "Every girl lives for her wedding day." It is all about the bride and groom. Everyone looks at them. Encourages them. Congratulates them.

Many couples have bought the lie of the wedding day…it is all about me. But marriage is at odds with this mindset. A successful wedding day is one where everyone serves you. A successful marriage is one where you serve your spouse. The wedding day is a day where the spotlight is on you. Marriage has no spotlight. The wedding day is about saying a bunch of words that most couples never take seriously. Marriage is about putting the words into action. The wedding day is joyous and celebratory. Many seasons of marriage are about persevering and not letting go through the storms.

Embrace your wedding day. Prepare for it. Celebrate it. But do not make the mistake of believing the lie. After your 20 minutes of fame, the spotlight is gone forever. It is no longer about you (and this is a good thing…you will see).

This post was written by Frank Powell. Visit his blog for more great stories like this. 

Sex Is a Gift from God”–And 6 Other Truths About Marriage You Might Not Hear in the Church

“I am grateful for the foundation the church gave me in regards to marriage,” says Frank Powell, “It was a good study guide. But there some things on the test I did not learn until marriage began.”

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Share this

by Frank Powell

1.) Sex is a gift from God. Explore It.

Make no mistake…God created sex. But through the years, God’s people have allowed Satan to steal this gift. Without a fight.

I was never educated about sex…and I grew up in a Christian family. My framework for sex was built by my friends at school and the movies I watched. Big UH OH. I still struggle with enjoying the fullness of sex today because of the cloud of lies formed during my teenage years.

It is time for God’s people to take back the gift of sex. The lies surrounding it are ruining lives and ruining marriages. If you are married, let me challenge you to explore sex. Explore the fullness of it for the glory of God. Pray for sexual intimacy with your spouse.

Parents…it is time to stop allowing Satan to define sex for our children. Educate them. Start early. The average child is exposed to pornography at age 11. Eleven!! And many parents wait until high school to have “the talk” with them. At that point, you are not building a foundation for sex, but trying to destroy a foundation Satan has already built.

Church leaders…I am convinced of this. The situation in our culture today is too dire to allow parents to override you here. Talk about sex. If parents refuse to educate their children, then you do it. Do not let Satan beat you to the punch. A false understanding of sex is destroying our young people. It is destroying our nation. It is destroying our world. And we are doing nothing!

Sex is a beautiful gift created by God for a man and a woman that have vowed to spend the rest of their earthly lives with one another. If you are married…open this gift and enjoy the fullness of it.

2.) There is more than one person out there for you.

Soul mates are made…not born. I am not sure where this idea of soul mate originated, but it is false. Maintaining a healthy relationship is more about commitment than perfection. Every person on earth has imperfections. And the reality is we could spend our lives with more than one person.

Tiffani (my wife) is not perfect. There are nuances about her that frustrate me. But I have realized these frustrations are really a result of my imperfections. I love her so much. And I love her more everyday. I am committed to her.

I meet too many young people that are waiting for something that is not real. “I just couldn’t marry her because she smacked her food.” “He just wasn’t the one…he had this weird twitch when he smiled. But I know my soul mate is still out there. I just have to keep looking.”

Or you might have just missed him or her.

What if God does not want you to find a perfect person, but find an imperfect person that will draw you closer to Him? What if God desires you to marry a person with flaws to expose yours? What if God wants to teach you the value and life found in committing to one person forever, not the exhausting pursuit of searching your entire life to find the perfect person?

Soul mates are made…not born.

3.) The first year of marriage is hard…really hard.

What have we done? Are we going to make it? Why is this so hard? All questions I asked myself many times during my first year of marriage. We were arguing. We were fighting. It was really hard. And every day I thought something was wrong. I thought we had a bad marriage. Nobody warned me about the first year. But take this as a warning…the first year of marriage is difficult. If you are in the first year of marriage and thinking about giving up…congratulations. You are now…married!

But let me encourage you…do not give up. Everyone struggles. You are not unique. Persevere. There are better days coming. Your marriage will get better. Do not walk out. If you walk out now you disqualify yourself (and your spouse) from years of joy. Stick with it.

4.) A spouse does not complete you

I hate you Jerry Maguire. You have brainwashed a generation of people to believe a lie. Spouses do not complete people. I bought this lie, and it wasn’t until I let go of any notion my wife could fill some void that I was able to truly love her. Until then, I was always frustrated. I expected Tiffani to do something she was incapable of doing.

If you are empty, broken, or insecure, and you believe a spouse is the silver bullet to your problems…buckle up. It will be a bumpy ride. Only God can fill those voids. You will never be able to enjoy the beauty of marriage if your spouse’s job is to complete you.

5.) Marry somebody with similar goals, dreams, and passions.

Marry somebody that is a Christian, yes. But I would go even further. Marry somebody with similar passions and dreams. Now, I understand this breaks down at some point. People are not machines. No two people are going to want exactly the same thing in life. However, if you love foreign missions and your potential spouse hates going overseas, some tension will arise.

Synergy is extremely important in a marriage. If your spouse has the same vision as you, they will understand your struggles and support your pursuits. They will encourage your walk. They will be empathetic. There is much power in two people living life with the same goals, dreams, and passions for life.

6.) Marriage is not for everybody.

Paul talks about this in I Corinthians 7. He tells the church at Corinth to remain in the situation they are in. If unmarried, then stay unmarried. If married, then stay married. He later says this…

So then the person who marries his fiancee does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better. (I Cor. 7:38)

Even better? I never heard that in church. Maybe it is time for God’s people to accept the reality that God has not called everyone to marry. I have talked with young men and women that are so concerned with finding a spouse. It consumes them. And most of the pressure comes from…US. The church. Once a person reaches mid-twenties, we assume something is wrong with them if they have not married. They must have a terrible flaw.

“Bless your heart. You are almost 30 and not married? I know this must be hard!?”

Shame on us. I am worried many failed marriages are a result of people allowing the pressure of marriage to draw them into something God did not design them for. Marriage is holy and good, but it is also possible to follow Jesus without a spouse.

7.) The wedding day is a lie…don’t buy it. 

I love weddings. I love officiating them. It is a rare moment where I get to make a divine proclamation that forever changes the status of two people. Powerful.

But in an increasingly individualistic, “me” culture, weddings create a potentially dangerous situation. “Every girl lives for her wedding day.” It is all about the bride and groom. Everyone looks at them. Encourages them. Congratulates them.

Many couples have bought the lie of the wedding day…it is all about me. But marriage is at odds with this mindset. A successful wedding day is one where everyone serves you. A successful marriage is one where you serve your spouse. The wedding day is a day where the spotlight is on you. Marriage has no spotlight. The wedding day is about saying a bunch of words that most couples never take seriously. Marriage is about putting the words into action. The wedding day is joyous and celebratory. Many seasons of marriage are about persevering and not letting go through the storms.

Embrace your wedding day. Prepare for it. Celebrate it. But do not make the mistake of believing the lie. After your 20 minutes of fame, the spotlight is gone forever. It is no longer about you (and this is a good thing…you will see).

This post was written by Frank Powell. Visit his blog for more great stories like this.