Brent and I have recently gotten involved in a small group at our church here in NC. We have been going there for several months, and now Brent is leading a young married couples group. He is doing such a wonderful job. At first it was a little weird to have him as the leader.. you get so used to just hearing someone else talk to you about things, it's really different when it's someone you know so well. I am so incredibly thankful for the people in our group. They are what makes it easy to go on a Tuesday night when we're all tired from work. They are part of the reason we want to buy a house here! We talked a lot about marriage last night (obvi in a married group) and about how marriage is NOT there to have your needs satisfied by another person. It's there to break you and show you how much you need God in your lives. If you think you will be happy-go-lucky-dandy all through your marriage, and that your spouse will be there to satisfy you and solve your problems and insecurities, you are wrong. The whole reason I believe marriage is holy is because I truly do not believe you can have a successful life-long marriage without God being present. What a wonderful opportunity to get to know God and to love someone else more than you love your selfishness. I try to remind myself often (although it is really hard), to let go of my own stresses and jealousies and insecurities, and to let myself be thankful first. Kathryn said it best last night: "If you begin prayer being thankful for all the good things in your life, you might just forget what you were asking for." I promise not to write a bunch of preachy posts, but I really do just love to share what God is doing in our lives. It is a daily decision to live out these things, but oh the things you have to gain by doing so!! One last quote and then I am done :)
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. ” -Timothy Keller
Love it! Love it! Love it!!! So happy to see that you guys will share your lives on the blogosphere! Helps me keep up with you and make sure you two are doing OK! Diane and I both miss you and think of you often.
ReplyDeleteDavid Smith.
Thanks David! We think of y'all often too! Thanks for checking out the blog.. It makes it fun to share when I know people are reading!
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