I believe as Christians we need to first be open and willing to hear what God has to teach or show us our ways. I'm thankful for my wonderful husband that God has blessed me with, to guide me and show me things when I do wrong ( not chastising or finger pointing) when I slip up. He talks to me and explain things to show me how I could handle things differently. Actually these past couple of weeks he has been a great inspiration and motivator in my life by showing me new things and just to love the life God has blessed us with. The Lord does convict but not in a mea but a loving way which wants you to change and be better. I also could complain about a few other things in my my life that is happening but I know God is allowing it to happen(getting my attention) and that is where I need to get right. Its not always easy but I know I have to trust and know he is building men up. Im still a work in progress.

This story is a reality for most little girls, sad but true. Our world is consumed with both parent working and trying to make money especially fathers who are the sole providers. But work may not always be the issue it could just be that some fathers/mothers don't want to be parents. I can't speak about needing a dad because I never knew mines so I really couldn't miss something I never had. Was curious to feel what a father daughter relationship was like but didn't. Not to put my business all out here, but the only male that was around in my life my mother allowed was nothing positive, lets say I grew up hiding secrets from my mother because no one would believe me if I told. I know they say it's important for a young girl to have a father in there lives to show them how a man should love you and respect them but in my case it was very different. I struggled growing up as a child/teenager and young adult because I wasn't sure what to look for from a man. Are they suppose to take advantage of me, use me? Well I thank the Lord that I did not have to look far because I learned that my LORD was my father who would never try to hurt me, he protected me and kept me safe through the storms. However I am grateful and blessed to see that I have a husband to show me what a father (physical being) should be like to their daughter. God bless him

Thank you for this message.

Great post and message at the right time for me. I have been going through alot of changes in my life that made me turn away from my worship and friendships. I was feeling a way that I knew I was not on track or keeping my relationship with Christ. There were distractions and laziness on my part. I felt convicted but did nothing about it. I read your post and realized I need to be proactive in my faith and walk with Christ. I truly realize how God is extremely faithful even when I am not, he still blessed me and my family in so many ways. I am so happy to know that God does not punish or turn his back on me when I fail. He is an Amazing God.

Definitely Christ is glorified in our weakness and struggles. Its hard for us to understand that when we suffer a lose such as a death, home, job, marriage. I know when things happen to me I hurt, get angry. I go through the motions of being human. I know we are to lean on Christ. Its great to know God loves us to ease our soul by allowing someone to call us at the right time or give us something to comfort us. He is using us all to do the work we are to do anyway. I feel that Christ allow things to happen, he is building us up to become better and better. T.D. Jake mentioned how he is preparing us for the next phase in our lives. I hear this all the time, and I know its written that the Lord does not put more on us then we can handle.

lohroffc great point " Thinking you've married your soul mate may be setting up expectations that are likely to be challenged later in life. "

I never truly believed that we have soul mates out there. Yes God allows people to come into our lives, he has a design and purpose for all. I think at any given time we can be attracted to another person and that is our weakness, the flesh. Before I got married, some of the guys I dated I thought I was going to marry them lol, out of the three I dated, I married the third one. I hear no where in the Bible Soulmate so I can't make the connection. Why would God want to place someone in our lives who would distract us from HIM and his Glory. OUR God is a jealous God and we are to love HIM first. God is my first Love and my everything. Yes I would have to say I love my Lord more than I love my husband, Is that wrong?

Marvin said it well how we don't find our soul mate we become one. I had a discussion with my friend about this topic, and she felt the same way and agreed how we have to work at each relationship. Each trial we endure exposes us as individuals and we should be willing and prepared to deal with it because you chose them. When we choose to marry that person we will have to work at it. The commitment we made to God is that we will honor and Love till death do part which seals the deal.

Question: If something happen to that spouse and the other person decides to marry again does that mean that GOd made multiple soul mates for us?

SO I believe God allows people in to our lives for many reasons. As individuals, God probably sees what we may need in our life and he just may bring that person in to help us or strengthen us. God designed marriage due to the sins of lusting and fornicating. He gives us free will to marry who we want but I know God still has as design in plan. I know back in biblical days that couples were arranged and sometimes even people had to marry in the family to keep the blood line pure. How good is grace now where God gives us that choice to decide who we can love.

The hard work is not giving up, the vows we take is "through think and thin, richer or for poorer" What God has brought together don't let man take apart. If it was that easy for God to deliver us a soul mate he wouldn't have left us his INSTRUCTIONS how to love each other, especially in a marriage.

Lets continue to pray our spouses up so GOd can reveal his true works within us.

Read a great passage Proverbs 5 "The Peril of Adultery"

Beautiful photo of you and your wife, I'm sure she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, God bless you :)

DO you have expectation in your marriage? I think that is important. When I got married, I had to let go some of my guy friends and my husband had to dismiss his girl friends and some guys too. We were each others priorities now, so friends cant call when ever they felt like it or ask for my husband services when ever they felt like it. That had to stop because that could be a possible opportunity for evil. We pray each other up to strengthen us up each day, we take one day at a time. I try to spice up and do different things so my hubby wont get bored or unfulfilled. It is tough but because of He who is our center, we fear, we will not want to hurt one another. I have seen my hubby look once or twice at other women and I would not say anything because it didn't really bother me. I am confident in Christ, I can't be in my hubby bc we are not perfect, but I know he loves what he got :) However I have comforted him on it but he said he didn't mean to consciously, I leave it at that lol. God is good I put my trust in HIM, God is faithful and I will continue pray up my hubby and I will to for myself for I have fallen short to some things too. Let Christ shine in us always till he comes again. Lets not conform to the world views and ways, be steadfast, I pray for all who struggle in the flesh, but know God is always our strength.
Amado (Sandra)

I love your list, you make really great points. Oh how the flesh is weak, and how it disappoints, that is why we need Jesus. Its seems easy and simple not to get physically involved with someone but what about having thoughts, wouldn't that be the same thing? Thinking about an old relationship or person you've seen and having sexual desires about them. That is not pleasing to GOd. It may not go as far as just desires and some people may think that's OK but its not. It reminds me of a scripture that states, if your eye/ arm causes you to sin, pluck it out/cut it off something to that extent. I know what the Lord meant lol.

Sex isn't wrong, it is something God has given to us married people and we are suppose to enjoy it to its fullest. The bed is undefiled, why not kick it up, set the mood. Your desires/body are suppose to be for your spouse. If things begin to fizzle a bit, try praying about it.