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As Jason and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage tomorrow (July 30th), all I can think about is the concept of grace. Well, and also, the question of how we can possibly be this old, but that's a topic for another day. :)
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Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship with another human being :) understands how hard it can be to love, forgive, stay, and commit through all the crazy ups and downs of life together.
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It's only the grace of God flowing out toward one another that has sustained us for 30 years. And it's in believing in the forgiveness freely offered to us by God that we can offer it in our marriage.
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"And because of him[God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
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Through Christ, we have the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption we need to live in love toward one another. It is nothing for us to boast about; we boast in the Lord.
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I am so thankful we share the same confident faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without Him as the focus for all we do, the statistics for longevity aren't very high. Even as we both love Jesus, it is still necessary to intentionally set our minds on loving one another well. It's vital to seek God daily for wisdom, patience, and joy.
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Jason and I have had to choose each other even when our first instinct was to push each other away.
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We have struggled with personal battles no one else has ever seen and faithfully helped one another overcome.
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We have lost a child and grieved in different ways. We learned to see each other in unique ways and how to best serve their needs.
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We have watched one another experience growth and change through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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We have celebrated so many wonderful, gracious gifts from the Father.
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We have raised two children together. Nothing has shaped us more than this humbling gift called parenting.
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We have served in ministries, attended church weekly, and volunteered together often over the last 30 years. I have no doubt that God has used this to build unity in our family.
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We laugh a lot. We have learned not to take ourselves too seriously. :)
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God's grace has grown us in tremendous ways through the decades to a place of deep respect and admiration for what God has given us in this marriage.
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Is it still always fun, easy, and romantic? No.
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But is it beautiful? Yes.
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Is it worth it? Absolutely.
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I pray for His grace to hold us together as a picture of the love Christ has for His Church. We know we need it.
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"Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
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Whether you are married, single, divorced, or widowed, God's grace is sufficient to meet you right where you are, friends. Relationships are hard in this fallen world, and we all need Jesus' help. I pray that my reflections today will lead you to think of how God's grace has sustained you through all the highs and lows of life too. May you experience His kindness, love, and compassion with open hearts and hands today.
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It's always a good time to praise the Lord as it fuels the fans of faith, strengthening us to persevere with hope and joy. Singing is also a sweet offering to the Lord.
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Here is a song that expresses how grateful I am for 30 years of life with Jason. And here is another song that speaks of a love far deeper than any human can give.
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Thank you for loving us, God.
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Your friend and sister in Christ,
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Free Resources
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I have a marriage series on my blog for anyone interested. Here is a link to one called, Mirroring the Kindness of God, which relates to my anniversary letter today. There is a free inventory sheet in the post for direct download.
In case you missed it, here is a little study of Psalm 3 that I did recently about how to process truth in our tough questions as David did during a crisis in his own life.
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And don't forget that all the resources I've created through the years can be accessed at any time by subscribers in the archive. Feel free to download and print what is useful to you. Please remember, these resources are not to be shared publicly without my consent.
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Here is the link to my newest book, a devotional on the ways God reveals His grace to us. If you feel led, I would appreciate any shares or Amazon reviews from those who find it helpful!
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Thanks for reading. See you soon!
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