Marriage from A to Z

“Loving Me for Twenty-Three”

Let’s CELEBRATE!! On August 8, 1998, my husband and I had the pleasure of entering God’s holy institution of Marriage. As I continue on my series of providing 21 words that can totally transform your 2021, the 17th word is “CELEBRATE.” When you think about it, God is so good that we can find something to celebrate everyday. This week, I want to encourage you to intentionally celebrate what God has done and is doing!!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CELEBRATE?

To CELEBRATE is to observe or commemorate an event with festivities or ceremonies. It also means to make known and to publicly make something known. It is to praise widely or to give a favorable public notice. In other words, share and tell What God has done! It’s good news!! When we celebrate, we need to give God the glory and honor because He really is the One who gets the credit for whatever we are celebrating.

First, I want to celebrate the love that God gives to us. Can’t nobody love you like Jesus!! Having a loving relationship with God is what has helped my husband and I to truly love one another. I John 4:7 says “Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” This is the key to having a loving relationship. In every relationship, there are times where you get disappointed, hurt and angry. But because of Jesus you can forgive and keep loving one another. For all of those who are Christian singles, please don’t settle for marrying someone who does not love God. Having a loving relationship with God is truly the key to having a loving marriage. Jesus teaches us how to love one another.

Second, In a world where marriages are falling apart and true love is hard to find, I am celebrating the love my husband has given me for twenty-three years (I have loved him too, it’s mutual). His love has allowed me to grow freely and he has supported me in everything that God has assigned me to do. This means so much because his love has not hindered me, it has only helped me!!! Thank you Jesus for the love that you have given me through William Tatem. It’s truly God! Ephesians 5:25 says; “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify her, and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”

Third, when the love in a marriage is good, we have a good foundation for being fruitful and multiplying. In Genesis 1:28 God blessed Adam and Eve and said, “Be fruitful and multiply.” God wants us to have fruitful activity and multiply, that means add to what’s already there or to produce more of something. I also celebrate the children that have come out of the 23 years of a loving marriage. We have been blessed to be fruitful and multiply in more ways than one. God gave us a loving marriage and has anointed us to help other couples. The more loving marriages we have, the more couples can stay together and produce loving families. God has given us His love and we must use it to impact this world. God loves us, we love each other and it brings us pleasure to share His love and His godly principles with others.

In closing, I know this is not a gospel song, but as I was writing and thinking of the love that I have received for 23 years, I kept hearing the first few words of this song ringing in my ears; “When a Man Loves A Woman” by Michael Bolton. Listen and see if you agree with these words. .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFhqiioWdwY

Until next week,

Carolyn