My Beloved Siestas,
Today is Keith’s and my twenty-ninth anniversary and my mind has been awhirl all day long. I wanted to share a few things that are on my heart because many of you are married and more than a handful of you could probably use some encouragement. I’ve had such a sweet day but, strangely, not with Keith. He’s out of town – yes, again – but don’t feel too sorry for me. I am a well-loved woman and he and I will celebrate plenty when he gets home. And, anyway, this is what I get for scheduling our wedding day during the best part of hunting season. I was with him out of town until last night and he’ll be home in a few days.
In many ways, it’s appropriate for me to occasionally spend my wedding anniversary alone with Jesus. After all, this day is as much about He and me as Keith and me. Two more messed up people have never converged into one household. Talk about the double portion of dysfunction. Neither one of us were strong people. Neither one of us had our head together. We absolutely did not have what it took. God alone did it. He required a whole lot out of us a whole lot of times but He alone could have empowered us to give it. The rest was just a stinkin’ miracle.
I think Jesus just wanted me to spend this day in deliberate grateful reflection about His part in my marriage. Conspicuously, none of the people I usually sit with were at church this morning. All my young girl friends were out of town and many of the families that I usually sit near were also in absentia today. I have many loved ones in that worship service so, certainly, I could have gotten up and taken a seat by any number of people but, by that time, I was onto what I believed God wanted from me. He wanted me all to Himself…and after I got it, I was tenderly flattered. I sat alone, worshipped alone, listened to the sermon alone, then had lunch alone. And, except for a few minutes when Melissa came by, have spent the day alone. But so very much un-alone. I had an invisible Date for my wedding anniversary. One who wanted to remind me that He’s the only reason why I’ll have a visible date in a few days (late). One gray at the temples and tan and weathered of skin, but just as handsome as the day I married him. And a whole lot sweeter. I like him better these days. He does me, too.
Some of the things God has taught Keith and me are not for public consumption. Others are meant to be shared. These are a handful of things God has helped us practice along the way that led up to this particular day:
*We try more often to live by the law of kindness. In the old days, we’d figure out one another’s weakness then aim that direction with arrows of harsh words on purpose. Most of the time these days, we avoid the targets that we know good and well are the other’s Achilles’ heel. We just don’t like to be mean much anymore.
*We snuggle a lot. We have a big, long couch in our den but a whole lot of times we sit in the leather chair that’s almost not big enough for one hind end. Let alone two. Or three when Beanie gets jealous.
*We still talk a lot – over coffee, walking dogs, or bubble baths – and try to be interested in the other one’s world even when we don’t get it one iota. When you have a mix like Beth the Librarian and Keith the Barbarian, you have to try extra hard.
*We’ve had to choose to put stuff behind us. We have had no few problems, no few differences, and no few conflicts and, if we wanted to keep a record of wrongs, we could have a list long enough to trip over for the rest of our lives. Neither one of us thinks highly of letting the other run all over us nor is either of us likely to keep an opinion to ourselves. We still fight. But then we get on with living and make a choice not keep punishing each other with yesterday’s stuff. Life’s too short and a house too small. You have to forgive – and be forgiven – a ton.
*We just keep going. This isn’t going to sound profound but it’s actually one of the biggest things God has used to turn a rocky start into twenty-nine years. We just kept getting through the night till the sun would come up and we’d made it another day. Before we knew it, the next anniversary rolled around. And we’d be so glad. And little by little, we just got happier and happier. Hard times have always come calling but so have good times. God just gave us the wherewithal not to quit before the next sweet season came. Oh, that He’d continue to.
I am so tender to those of you who have endured the pain of divorce and I plead with you not to let this entry invite you to destructive feelings of condemnation or failure. I know how hard marriage can be. I know what a miracle it takes at times and how willing both parties have to be to receive it. But, with your blessing and your security in Christ, I also need to be able to say to those who may be on the edge of giving up, please, I beg you, don’t. Just make it through the night and see the sun come up tomorrow morning from your knees. Fight your battles ferociously with your face to the floor. Give God time and room. Wives, quit being the husband. Fire yourself. Let God take it over. Get counseling if you need it – even if your man won’t – but don’t quit. Even if you don’t love him…or like him. Even if you hate him. God can soften a heart of granite if you’ll let Him. Wait it out a little longer. Laugh a little harder. Snuggle a little tighter. Love by faith. Not just by sight. As the Apostle Paul says, all that matters is faith expressing itself through love.
Yep. Some anniversaries are more about God and you than your spouse and you. Like this one. Gotta go. My cell phone’s ringing and it better be Keith.
Or he’s had it.
I’m more encouraged than you can know right now. Here I sit, with wet cheeks. Just as mad as a hornet at my husband of 8 years. I’m expecting our 3rd child and just about through the first trimester. I had to cancel my tickets to San Antonio this August to see you because of the due date. I just long for someone to understand how hard life is right now. I’m working full time and I can’t do anything well. In fact, everything seems to be falling apart. But I hear you sister. I hear that God is with me and he most certainly understands. He lets me bawl to him and at him. He might even redeem my angry outbursts at my children and my man. Do I have the faith to believe that? I have hope that I do. We’re in ministry together, my husband and I. I try to live as tansparently as appropriate. But if anyone knew the anger I harbor inside, they would fire my husband in a second.
Thank you for your commitment to marriage. I feel a wee bit more strength to press on. Oh how I needed this today Lord. Thank you. Tear stained in MO.
The JOURNEY CONTINUES ~
Happy New Year 2008!
POETRY OF 2007
From Boomama last January to Getting out of the pit, with Starbucks grande non-fat cappuccino and the Psalms of Ascent,
Loving Jackson and Beanie and Sunny the mix, LPM simulcast weekends from the east to the west,
The passion 07 with college age kids and healing strained family relationships causes more pmssss
( please more spirit). From the Holy land of Esther, To (dove award) Travis praising at night, to Beth’s celebrity page of the look a likes.
The second month brought Jackson birthday zoo trips and love, while the 4th month our LORD took precious Daddaw “the major” above. Deeper Still we heard of biblical brain Melissa the grad, to Going Beyond the angola trips and dvd’s Wishing Beyond was rad. With Kotex and hairspray and spittles a plenty, Amanda keeping us informed with stories a many. Secret spots in the Tetons with Jesus in 90 days, We sista’s needed spell check as siesta’s were the rage! Rice pilaf the food which Keith will not eat, to hearing of hunting and shooting skeet. the siesta’s we thank you for all the recipes, and holding us closely with each blog & greet.
The Safina’s send Heaven Bound blessings to the Moore’s this year and hope for more praises with hands held high to JESUS in cheer.
WE SIESTA’S ALL LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
2008 Kim & Dave Safina ~ Cayucos
kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
Dearest Beth, Congratulations on your 29th anniversary!! What an awesome celebration. Thank you for your soft and kind words, spoken from the heart. It is a reminder that I needed to hear today. Blessings to you both! -JH
Happy day after your anniversary, Keith and Beth. Once again I thank you for sharing, encouraging, spurring on the Siestas. Blessings, Jill
Happy anniversary!
It is my husband and my 18th. We too have had our share of problems but PRAISE GOD he has carried us through!!! And like you and Keith, we are happier and love each other more today than we did when we got married! As we have listened to God and allowed Him to change us, our marriage has gotten better and better. I look forward to seeing what He has in store for us!
Gretchen
Sister Beth, you say it so beautifully. My husband and I too have had our terrible times. Divorce was thrown around lots of times to hurt one another. There were times we couldn’t stand each other. But we too would just stay one more day, then another, and yes before we knew it another anniversary rolled around. In October we celebrated 34 years of marriage and have never been more in love than now. He is my best friend and we enjoy each other’s company so much. There is a song by Bill & Gloria Gaither, “Something Beautiful” and that has been the theme song of our marriage since God started putting it back together many years ago.
Happy Anniversary, Beth. To God be ALL the glory!! 🙂
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I’ve been married just over a year and it amazes me how much God is teaching me through it all. It is even greater to hear that continues even at 29+ years!
Dearest Beth,
Thank you so much for taking time over the holiday to share God’s goodness and His word to us. He knew many of us needed it… I’m one who has been married 30 plus years and unfortunately – because of some emotional and physical baggage that is his heritage – it’s getting harder instead of easier. I sorely needed to be reminded that it’s worth “putting up” with stuff – not just to stay married but to please our true Bridegroom Jesus. There are seasons in a marriage and the sweet times are good for our whole family. I wonder if you have any advice for those living in an area where there doesn’t seem to be any Biblical counselors available. We’ve gone to Christian counselors but since many of the issues are spiritual in nature, we need something more.
The fun posts are great and we can’t always be serious (:)!) but thank you for being willing to address the heavy things many of us struggle with.
Love in Him,
Congratulations, Beth & Keith for 29 years of a real marriage! Thank you for sharing this post with us. What a blessing you are to each other and to those of us that you reach in so many ways.
Happy 2008 to all the Moore’s and LPM. I can’t wait for August in San Antonio, to put faces with names and worship together as Siestas!
Prayers for all our Siestas for a year of faith, hope and love.
Beth” Your love in your mariage is of GOD, bless you for showing me that other side and ways to keep it fresh, Ive been married 38years to a great man but I’m prayng he will know god as intimately as I do. Pray for him, sister his name is Dan Honck. sister in christ, sandi
Beth,
I always laugh when I read your blog, and not because I think you’re particularly funny, but what you share is so normal.
What I find even funnier is reading all the comments because it’s apparent that most of the women reading this worship you…or at the very least think you’re so great and special. Which you are…but hey, really you aren’t very different from us. You even sat a lone! LOL….that’s funny.
Actually, the way you spiritualized it was funny. It’s easier to do that, then to really say, I sat alone.
Anyway, I also remember hearing you speak once and you said that your best friends were your audience. I thought that was very sad, but I suppose being in your position, with thousands of women who adore you, you have to say something to make people feel special. That’s cool.
I would think being in public ministry would be one of the worst things possible. People fawning all over you, wanting to be close to you because they think you are so great. What a drag! LOL…
But I love you anyway…keep up the good work and Happy Anniversary.
Your friend, the Therapist.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY – to you, Keith and God, because you are right – it’s a cord of three strands. What a joyous occasion for all of you! I love your intimate relationship with God, Beth. You inspire me.
It’s neat for me that your anniversary is Dec. 30th (ours is Dec. 29th) – not the most common time to wed, but there is something precious about coming off the heels of Christmas and standing on the edge of a new year with reflections of our marriage at the forefront of our thoughts.
Our anniversary is #7 (not itchy one bit, thanks to Jesus!) but we’ve both been divorced, and I think we are more grateful because of the pain of our past. I share your history of physical and sexual abuse but I was 18 and married to my abuser. My current (forever) husband didn’t know the Lord during his first marriage, and came to Jesus after his divorce. God’s healing is a huge part of our marriage as well – He gave us a journey back to innocence, and we praise His name!
Happy Anniversary!
I read this post yesterday, but this morning I was reading in Nehemiah and read this verse that I had underlined in Neh. 4:14b:…and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
I had written in my Bible at the top of this page “God is for your famiy & marriage. Fight for them with the Sword of the Spirit and Shield of Faith.”
Thank God that you and Keith kept “fighting”.
Hope you get to celebrate soon….maybe over Mexican food!
Love ya,
Valerie (married 28 1/2 yrs!!! praise God!)
Thanks Beth for the reminders, we always seem to need them. I do celebrate my anniversary with Jesus, because I know without a doubt this marriage would not have lasted the 15 years that it has…both dysfunctional, and carrying tons of baggage..still today we have some baggage but not as much, and I know that Jesus is working in his heart as much as in mine.
On funnier note, my grandma used to give me advice and mostly very sound..but I always laughed at her when she said “Sweet thang, everyone is dysfunctional to some extent, heck we wouldn’t even know that word if it weren’t for Oprah and Jerry Springer, God gonna git em for that!” Sweet little Oklahoma Thang
Beth,
My 3 year anniversary is coming up on the 15th of January and I am so excited! My husband and I got married after knowing each other for one month. Three months later, he left for Iraq and while he was gone, we lost our house in Hurricane Katrina. Talk about a rocky start! But the Lord saw us through all of it. Every hardship and faith struggle. Today we are more in love than we could have ever imagined and God blesses our marriage every day. Thank you for your post, it was very uplifting and made me smile.
Love,
Beth
One more thing–Happy New year, mama-Beth!
Thank you Beth. My husband and I were just recently separated this last fall. We spent our 13th anniversary, in October, in separate homes. God is faithful and can heal hurts that we could never imagine though. My husband moved back home over Thanksgiving weekend and God has been blessing our trust in Him ever since. I’m learning to love my husband as Christ want me to and not by my own strength. Letting go of my marriage and placing it in His control has brought a peace that can not be explained. I read your blog often and I appreciate all the encouragement you offer.
God bless you in 2008!
Jeannie
Happy Belated Anniversary! I am so happy that You were wooed by your heavenly BrideGroom for a date night! 🙂 Thank you for being Living Proof that God can work miracles! I asked my mom to read what you wrote in hopes that her and my dad would make it, and this time around, way better! Happy new Year Moores and Jones’! Luke 6:40…Thank you Beth for being my teacher, another example of Jesus! I praise the Lord with you for your marriage here and in eternity! Bless you! 🙂
Oh Beth,
God is so good with such perfect timing. I had made up my mind that after years of being cheated on and lied to that I could take no more. I was prepared to leave next month. My two small children are all that has kept me day in and day out, but I had had enough of a loveless, fake marriage. God has pulled me through so many terrible times in this marriage and I long for my husband to be a godly man. I have extended grace and forgiveness more times than any sane woman would because my Jesus has done the same for me. I will stay and continue to meet my Lord face down each day praying for my marriage to be what God wants it to be. We could certainly use prayers from my Siestas.
Congratulations Beth on your 29 years. There is so much I could say regarding the past 38 I have had, but you don’t have the space or time to read. Suffice it to say that I whole heartly agree with you that not for God’s wonderful intervention into our lives I am quite sure we would not be together and I thank him for both our stubborness to not give into defeat. We had a bunch to overcome, and still to this day have to work at it, but like you and Keith we are not so mean and we are determined to make it. Much love to you and all the siestas who are facing yet another great year of marriage.
Never give up,
Vickie
‘Congratulations’ seems to be sort of a weird comment for an anniversary where God has held the thing together. More appropriate might be, ‘I praise God with you’ for all that He has done. Thank you for reminding me of His grace in all the ways He is holding me together.
Ms. Beth, I sent this blog entry my husband’s way, and he’s read it several times already at work. This isn’t the first time your words have reached him — I thank you for sharing yourself with us that we can come closer to Christ in our own walks with Him. The first half of our marriage was much like you’ve described yours was, and blessedly, we’re growing closer in the Lord that we ever have. Our sweet Jesus also saved our marriage, and we just can’t thank Him enough for all that He’s done for us. In fact, a little while ago, hubby emailed and told me he recommited his life to Jesus, and I did the same only moments ago. Praise Him! God bless you and Keith, and here’s to the start of your best years yet!!!
Much love and gratitude from PA ~
Lisa
Dearest Beth,
Congratulations on your 29 years with Keith. What an unspeakable blessing for you both. Your words brought up some things I’ve had on my heart for a while as I’ve read this post, and wonder if all my Siesta’s will bear with me a moment as I share my heart. I’m nearly 44 years old and never married and have always wanted to be. I can remember being 9 years old and when others asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said, “a wife and mommy.” But, God had other plans. I’m still not sure what they are, and I would be a liar if I said that the loss of this dream isn’t a constant sadness. One of my prayers to the Lord is this: Father, let this singleness be as a result of Your perfect will, and not because there is something wrong with me that no one would choose me. I say this partly because I want those of you who are married to realize that although it must be hard to be married to your husband who doesn’t…, the alternative is no picnic either. Enjoy your mate, appreciate him, and be thankful for him. And give your single friends a hug. These empty arms can be pretty lonely sometimes.
Happy New Year to all. May our awesome Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grant you peace and unspeakable joy in Him.
Gretchen
I answer this with tears in my eyes. I really needed to hear what you said and the hope that you gave. The Lord always knows what I need and I am so thankful that He has been tender to me.
Beth,
Congratulations! Happy Anniversary! And a big THANK YOU! I will have all your words in my mind on my 22nd Anniversary in May. I needed to hear that! Thanks!
Happy 29 years to you, Keith, and the God who brought you together!!
Those were wonderful words of advice, and that last paragraph just summed it up! I went through a period early on in my mere 6 year marriage in which I wondered if I even loved my husband. I prayed daily for months, and i’ll tell you that I love that man more now than I could ever have imagined! God truly can change a heart and still gives us miracles!!
God Bless you!
Oh, Beth. Thank you again for God’s perfectly timed words that come through you! I am three weeks away from my tenth anniversary and I can honestly say there was a time when I wondered if there was ever going to be a ten year anniversary. I identify with your words so closely; my man and I are polar opposites but so brought together by God. Thank you for reminding me to move over and let God do the work only He can continue doing in our lives. Happy Annivesary!
Happy Anniversary! What good advice you gave. I’m recently divorced after 15 years of marriage and I have to say that if we had been given the advice you gave and followed it from the beginning that maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way. I’m sure that marriages will be blessed by people reading and following your words.
The one thing you said that I did do was just to keep going. Over the years I talked my ex out of divorce probably at least a 1/2 dozen times and I’m glad I did. We have two beautiful boys because of it.
Ultimately there came a point where I felt released from talking him out of it anymore. But you know God is bigger than any problem I have. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. What Satan would use for evil God works for good. I’m standing in faith on Romans 8:28 that in ALL things (good or bad) God works for the good of those who love Him and on Jeremiah 29:11 that God knows the plans He has for me to give me a hope and a future.
Bless you for your willingness to be transparent and share your struggles.
Thank-you Beth.
Marriage is worth fighting for. I have a hard time saying that, sitting on this side of a nasty divorce, but I would have given anything if my marriage could have been what it was intended to be.
God bless and congrats on nearly three decades!
I sit here pondering God’s message to me through you. Tears, frustrations, anger and even contempt battle for my attention. Today, I cried out again to the Lord for release from this man I married almost 14 years ago. Very little good times for us, but somehow I have found some measure of joy and peace in the Lord. He has graciously and mercifully born a portion of His Fruit in my life. Thank you for your encouragement to finish this day in hopes of seeing the sun come up tomorrow. It will be a new year by then. My husband and I are Believers. Wouldn’t you think it would get better and sweeter as time goes by? Yep, Siesta, you did receive a wonderful miracle. The price you paid was huge, but it seems your reward surpasses it all. Love and appreciate you.
Happy Anniversary Beth!
Thank you for the encouragement on this blog. I have been married 21 years, but we are in a very difficult time now. Please pray for those of us in struggling marriages. I know that nothing is too difficult for God and that He can bring life where there seems to only be death. I know that He can use any situation to bring glory and honor to His name. thank you for caring about us and for giving us hope for our marriages.
Tasha
Beth,
Your words are tender and real and a guide to all of us that desire to make it another year. My man and I have weathered the storms and believe that God used those things to drive us closer. We too, are a miracle to HIS great glory.
Congratulations on 29 years.
May HE continue to bless you and Keith as you both continue to minister to us through your life.
Have a wonderful time celebrating what the Lord has done.
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Love in HIm
Celeste
The 30th is my wedding anniversary as well! We’ve been married just 7 years, but it seems like only 3 or 4. We have 2 little girls, 4 and 9 months. They have colds and we intended to spend our anniversary in our pj’s watching movies and eating frozen appetizers for dinner. Then my Mom surprised us and took the girls so we could share a proper dinner, with real clothes and everything, so we’d make it to year 8!
We’re very blessed and thank God for it constantly, but there have been many times we just kept going and we’ve made a pact to always do just that.
Thank you for your words – I don’t know why it helps to know the ones I hold in high esteem have everyday problems just like me, but it does.
Happy Anniversary!
Hey Beth,
I am sitting here in puddles after reading your post. My man just walked out in his snow gear to go ice-fishing. 20 years in 2008 he put up with me (and I with him). What a wild ride! There were times I hung on with my nails (and he did too). There were times the waves were about to swallow us alive.
We hung on. We hung in there. We hung around forgiving each other for being less than what God wanted us to be and letting go of the expectation that we would ever be more.
Thanks for your encouragement. Thanks for your honesty.
Thanks for hanging in there too.
Thanks for allowing God to use you.
Happy New Year, Friend.
Heidi in WI
Thanks for reminding us to be thankful for our husbands…even when they’re not right there with us.
Siestas, I am praying today for any of you who have a struggling marriage. May I echo Beth’s words to just “stay there” if at all possible.
Our Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays have been steeped with sadness as dear, close, Christian relatives are divorcing and dragging their children – and all of us – through a pit of satan’s own mud.
It has made me recommit to my own marriage and join Beth in offering praise to God for His grace that has allowed so many of us to stay married.
Beautiful Librarian Beth,
Yes! God did want you all to himself on this anniversary. I know what you mean when you feel His direction in the ways that simply cannot be coincidence. How I wish marriages could be a true reflection of what God’s plans are for a husband and a wife. It is a beautiful plan. I, too, encourage couples to give The Word a chance to breathe life into their dead or dying relationships. Cherish your wife, husband! Respect and honor your husband, wife! Love keeps no record of wrong. Love never fails. And yes, it does take two committed warriors to battle against all odds to win and survive intact today. My parents will be married 54 years in June. I survived 26 years but unfortunately mine ended in divorce. Life is good now and I pray that others will never know the sorrow of divorce. It leaves many innocent victims in it’s wake.
Congratulations, Beth and Keith. God bless you both.
Dear Beth,
Of all the things you have shared of your life, the things you have shared from your marriage in your usual honesty have been the most helpful to me. You are so right. There are no perfect marriages out there. Mine is no exception. But God put my man and me together and God has kept us together. THat is SUCH an incredible thing! When I have fret over things or fumed over things God has taken me back every single time to one verse. Ps 91:4 HIS FAITHFULNESS shall be your shield and rampart. When all is said and done it is THE LORD who keeps us together. What a comfort! You are so right to share this holiday with the Lord Jesus. And that too is precious to me. Thank you dear siesta! Enjoy!
Heidi in Georgia (married 26 years and counting)
Thank you for opening your heart once again to bless us. I’m so excited to hear how long you’ve been married and made the choice to stick it out even when the valleys got low. My hubby and I just celebrated our 3rd anniversary at christmastime…and we just had our 2nd child. Soooo…we’ve had a rough couple years and wondered at times what exactly the next day would bring…but we know God is faithful and as long as we can keep Him the center of our marraige, we’ll make it. It’s good to know we’re not alone in going thru rocky days in marriage. May God bless you and Keith abundantly and give you many more years of loving and being loved together!
Blessings….Laura
Beth,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Forgiving and letting it go and not holding on to the wrongs is such a vital thing. I think women are especially good at keeping a list if we’re not careful. May we all strive to live each day to the fullest – full of love and forgiveness.
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Karen
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/tagblog
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Congratulations on your 29 years.
My marriage has been like reaching mile stones. Proud to reach each year knowing we made it. This year has been special because my husband ran to God and fell down on his knees. It changed how our home is run and how our love has grown. There may be rocks in the road but God is driving the way.
God bless you and yours Happy New Year you have been such a blessing to me and through your teachings.
Beth:
Thanks so much for sharing. My husband and I have had such a rocky marriage – mainly because of me and my issues and shortcomings. He has been faithful and continues to love me and has waited for me to learn to love him back. We too are often separated on our anniversary due to his military commitments. Usually I am whining every year because we are apart. Maybe this year I will have a date with Jesus. Thanks for being such an inspiration to those of us still trying to “get there”!
Thanks for your sweet words. Happy anniversry – whatever day you celebrate!! I am so thankful for any words that I ever hear about marriage. My husband and I have been married for 7 years, but dated for six years before that. Marriage is hard, and I love that you reminded me today to quit being the husband. That’s something i have to really work on. Also to bring God right in the middle of it everyday.
Thanks for the words of wisdom! Have a blessed New Year!!
Love
Cynthia in OK
Beth,
Happy Anniversary! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us. It is an amazing blessing to have wise women like yourself walking the road ahead and encouraging us forward.
You are loved,
Mandy
What a beautiful tribute, not just to your marriage, but to our Lord! Happy 29th!
My husband will undergo some major surgery in 2008, and every time we fight lately I stop and think what if I didn’t have my man to fight with? Sobering thoughts.
My husband and I were not even Christians when we met, and now he is a pastor. Our Lord does have a sense of humor. He has done a miracle in our lives and our marriage as well. We celebrated our 20th June 13, 2007.
Hang in there siesta who wants to give up. With the Lord ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING is possible!
Love ya Beth and all my siestas!
Kristi B.
Congratulations Beth and Keith!
Beth – thank you for the encouragement! Your words are the water for a dry well. I hope some day you write a Bible study on marriage. We have so much we could learn from you and cherish your insight.
Kim B. in AZ – stay in Bible studay. In time, you will learn to become a Godly wife as God transforms you into the woman He made you to be. I am a testimony to a changed life from Bible study – and a changed wife of 17.5 years of marriage and counting. God is good – all the time.
Jean
Happy Anniversary!! Thank you so much for sharing your heart.
Dear Anonymous – I am praying for you sweet sister… that the Lord will bring you much clarity and much peace.
In Christ –
Tina
Happy Anniversary! I loved this entry and loved your “anniversary” with the Lord, too. Wow. My husband and I just celebrated our 31st anniversary and we love to cuddle, snuggle, and talk, too. We have changed and grown over the years but have endured the challenges and persevered. Marriage is not about finding the right person but BEING the right person for each other. I love how God brings two people like you and Keith to create a Masterpiece.
Congratulations and Happy New Year!
Blessings from Tennessee!
Congrats Beth and Keith! What a testimony of God’s grace and patience (and maybe sense of humor). THanks for the reminderof what the Lord did for me and my man. Years ago, we were down for the count. Two weeks from divorce. Most everyone had written us off. But the Lord chased me down and radically saved my soul. I hated my husband. But after Jesus lassoed me in, I decised to try obedience. I learned the biggest lesson of my life…BLESSSING ALWAYS FOLLOW OBEDIENCE!!! I went back home (even though I didn’t want to) and the Lord gave me a love for my man like I had never known. After that, he called my husband to preach and gave us three beautiful children. The Lord is using my man mightily. Take that, enemy. Women need to hear the message you posted more than ever. The easy thing to do is walk away. Hanging in there takes courage. And you never know what you may be walking away from! The Lord and our marraiges are worth the fight!
Happy Anniversary Siesta!
Kelli
Ms Beth,
CONGRATULATIONS on your 29 years of marriage.
What an appropriate way to spend an anniversary. I truly appreciate what I have when I have the time to sit back uninterrupted and reflect on all that makes my marriage and family the blessing and joy that it is.
God is so good and knows better than we do what we need. How fun that He took the 2 of you and put you together and now 29 yrs later you can see what a blessing it has truly been.
I often tell my friends and family that marriage is hard and not to expect a fairy tale. People will fail you but God is always there faithfully to instuct, love, and guide us.
Thank you God that you know what is best for us!!
Thank you for Beth and Keith and the love they share, the focus and dedication to You and the devotion to their family.
Bless their marriage and family through 2008 and many years to come.
Much love,
Kim
Dear Beth,
Happy Anniversary! It is such a blessing to my heart to hear about marriages that are still so sweet after 29 years. I didn’t grow up thinking marriages worked very much and I have the deepest desire in my soul to show our children what a godly marriage is and that marriages really can last a lifetime. It is one of my biggest dreams! Thankfully, I married an incredible man who has the same dreams!
Love you!