Linda and I celebrated 34 years of marriage on Saturday.

When we got married neither one of us knew what to expect from the other or ourselves.
It’s a constant growing process.
When my first child was born I did not know what was expected of me to be a dad and Linda a mom.
Again, it is a constant growing process.
When I accepted the pastorate of a church I, once again, did not know what was expected of me as a minister overseeing a church.

But I have survived and continued to grow because I understand that my role as husband, dad, pastor, friend, coworker, or employee is based upon God’s word.

It doesn’t matter what you’re facing – God’s word has the instruction and encouragement to overcome and be exceptional.
The Apostle put it this way – work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; Phil 2:12-16

More than anything God’s word has great instruction in your relationship to others – whether that is a boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse, sibling, children, friends, family, or coworkers.
The easy part is reading what God has said. The more difficult part is doing what God has said.

I have not always been the best husband, dad, friend…etc… but I keep pressing forward, reading God’s word, and praying for improvement in my life.