“But don’t begin until you count the cost . . .” (Luke 14: 28)
I want to fast forward into my story about 26 years. Like jumping to the epilogue I suppose. I have been married to this same man since 1982. A successful musician – Grammy Award winning actually. Our marriage has always existed on Planet Ministry – for many years in the Christian music industry, for the last several within an international ministry and a local church too. We have seen some things. Some pretty. Some not so pretty. Some not even believable.
We have been successful. We continue to enjoy our life, our family, and each other. God’s grace, His wisdom and His help have made it possible. We know that. Honestly, I think every engaged Christian couple believes that – with God, they’re gonna be alright.
I have seen successful musicians, ministers, pastors lose their families – while serving God. I have seen women so disillusioned in their marriages and with the call of the ministry on their lives and on their husbands’ lives that they quit . . . everything!
The key . . . way back in the beginning . . .
Count the cost! This takes time. It takes serious effort. Prayer. Counsel from others. Hearing from God. Your future depends on it. Your well being is at the center of it. The lives you are called to touch and minister to are directly related to it. The salvation of your children is at the heart of it.
“For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” (Luke 14:28)
Or who would commit to a marriage to someone without first contemplating what it will require to make it work? There are careful details to consider. There will be a price to pay. Do you have what it takes to pay it? Are you ready to study the requirements to be sure you are qualified?
You need to make your “Once Upon A Time” into “They Lived Happily Ever After.”
It takes some preplanning!
I want to fast forward into my story about 26 years. Like jumping to the epilogue I suppose. I have been married to this same man since 1982. A successful musician – Grammy Award winning actually. Our marriage has always existed on Planet Ministry – for many years in the Christian music industry, for the last several within an international ministry and a local church too. We have seen some things. Some pretty. Some not so pretty. Some not even believable.
We have been successful. We continue to enjoy our life, our family, and each other. God’s grace, His wisdom and His help have made it possible. We know that. Honestly, I think every engaged Christian couple believes that – with God, they’re gonna be alright.
I have seen successful musicians, ministers, pastors lose their families – while serving God. I have seen women so disillusioned in their marriages and with the call of the ministry on their lives and on their husbands’ lives that they quit . . . everything!
The key . . . way back in the beginning . . .
Count the cost! This takes time. It takes serious effort. Prayer. Counsel from others. Hearing from God. Your future depends on it. Your well being is at the center of it. The lives you are called to touch and minister to are directly related to it. The salvation of your children is at the heart of it.
“For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” (Luke 14:28)
Or who would commit to a marriage to someone without first contemplating what it will require to make it work? There are careful details to consider. There will be a price to pay. Do you have what it takes to pay it? Are you ready to study the requirements to be sure you are qualified?
You need to make your “Once Upon A Time” into “They Lived Happily Ever After.”
It takes some preplanning!
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