Recipe For A Happy Marriage

Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:4-8, 13 NIV

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Who loves gingerbread cake, I had the most wonderful recipe that turned out beautiful every time. It had the most richest flavor, when a cream cheese frosting was added on top, it was gone before you knew it, it was always a hit. It was the same with a chocolate and a white cake recipe I had, but losing them in the house fire, I was not able to get them back, which was a true loss for many wonderful desserts.

Many years ago my cousin gave me a book mark which had a good recipe on it for "A Happy Marriage." Coming across it recently, I wanted to share it with you.

1. 1 cup of consideration.

2. 1 cup of courtesy.

3. 2 cups of flattery, carefully concealed.

4. 2 cups of milk of human kindness.

5. 1 gallon of faith in God and in each other.

6. 2 cups of praise.

7. 1 small pinch of in-laws.

8. 1 reasonable budget.

9. 1 generous dash of cooperation.

10. 3 teaspoons of pure extract of "I am sorry."

11. 1 cup of contentment

12. 1 cup of each of confidence and encouragement.

13. 2 children at least.

14. 1 large or several small hobbies.

15. 1 cup of blindness to each other's faults.

This recipe was such a good one, I wanted to share it with you. Philippians 2:3-4 says to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others. Titus 3:2 tells us "To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle , and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." to your a spouse it is nice to give compliments to one another, but Psalm 5:9 tells us to be careful, "For there is no truth in their mouth, their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue." God reminds us in Galatians 6:9-10 to "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God forgave you." Hebrews 1:11 let's us know that, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

There is nothing wrong with giving one another a compliment, and thanking one another when you do something special for one another. Psalm 50:14 reminds us to "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High." When two two people come together as one before the Lord, it says in Genesis 2:24, "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife in such a way that the two become one person." The in-laws then take a step back to let the couple live and grow and learn together. Proverbs 22:7 lets us know, "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed."

For cooperation, I love the verse Amos 3:3, where it says "Do two walk together, unless they have agreed." We are not always going agree every time, but it's when we learn to give and take a little, things will run smoothly in a marriage. No one is perfect, as we all know, and we are not always going to do every thing right, but it important to remember what Matthew 5:9 tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." 1 Timothy 6:6-12 reminds us about contentment, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." When we are in a marriage we should do all things in confidence, working to the best of our ability, "This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus."

Each couple is so very different, some may have one child, maybe two and there are others who every time one turns around there is another little one added to their family, maybe that where they got Genesis 9:7, "Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth." That is exactly what God has called us to do, and some do it very well (LOL). Hobbies are a good thing to keep one busy, so one doesn't get into trouble. Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us, "Whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going." There is not one person on this earth that is perfect and will ever do every thing correctly all the time, so we need to always remember that what it tells us in 1 Cor. 13:5 that love keeps no records of wrongs.

Girlfriends, whether we are in a marriage or we have a friendship with someone, we are to love one another with an unconditional love, just as Jesus loves. If everyone concentrated on doing every thing they could to show that kind of love towards others, this world would be in a much better place. This was a good little recipe for a Happy Marriage, so share it with others and make it your number one recipe for your marriage and watch that relationship grow, Amen?

Let's Pray,

Father God, You are an amazing father, You show us so much love and kindness. Lord let us be a reflection of Your love and kindness wherever we go. Lord, You have given us confirmation in Your word to back up a wonderful recipe for a Happy Marriage, may we put it to work in our own lives and watch the beautiful transformation of what marriage is all about. Lord, for the one who is still waiting for that special person to come into their life, Lord I declare to them right now, watch for the right one is coming to you, and you will know because they will be everything your heart desires and that is what God gives, is the desire of our hearts. Lord we thank You today for the God given spouses, and the God given marriages in the Mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Be blessed dear ones, and pass the blessings on. Thank you in advance for passing this message on.