Premarital counseling

One might ask, "What does your premarital counseling have anything to do with your journey in finding out God's plans for you?"

There is, and in fact everything to do with mission and calling!

This is my calling whatever I do, wherever I go. Though my core identity is found in Christ, what flows from that then is a desire to give Him glory. A marriage is a reflection of Christ and the church. As Christ loved the church and died for the church, so must the husband love his wife, and be willing to die for her. This sacrificial love commands obedience and respect, and wives are called to respect their husbands. Quite amazing to think that we are to live to this standard in marriage.

Last week in Session #3 of the premarital counselling, CS went through conflict resolution. I personally thought it was more about conflict-free than conflict resolution.

We talked about what seem to be the most common catalyst for conflict: In-laws, finance & children. Ed & I really praise God that we are both loved and accepted by both sets of parents... and have developed good relationship with our parents-to-be

Then we talk about Christian love and what we value in our marriage is what we will strive to protect. For example, if we value obedience to God's word then we will seek to want to put the interest of the other person before ourselves, we will have integrity in our word, we will forgive... because that is what God commands of us. That by itself, is what will keep 2 sinful, selfish people together in a marriage.

3 important things to keep in mind: Empathy, Commitment & Action
- If we won't seek to empathise, we will not understand why the other other is sad, angry, happy, disappointed
- Loving feelings could die, but commitment does not. There is no ground for divorce in the Bible except for affairs (& even if that, the gospel message is one of forgiveness). Marriage is a lifelong commitment
- Love demands action "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17

It dawned on me that our marriage will be a living testimony of Christ and the church. This is my mission - to be found in Christ and to be the wife to Ed as He calls me to :)

- - - - - The power of the gospel transforms us to be like Jesus - - - - -