MARRIAGE GPS

Marriage Global Positioning? What is that? Is it something new on the market?

Actually God's GPS has been around for thousands of years. After all, a GPS is simply a guidance system. And that's something we all need in life.

As long as we follow instructions, we can be sure of arriving where we need to be. Even if we make a mistake along the way and miss a turning, the GPS tells us  it's "recalculating," and sure enough it gets us back on track.

Sometimes we can make rash decisions in our marriage relationships, and head down the wrong way. Yet whenever we stop to listen, God will "recalculate" and set us back on the right road. We just need a willing heart to think of the others' needs before our own and to kind to each other.

Life is hectic. Life is confusing. We face so many choices and have to make so many decisions. Yet no matter where we are in life, we only need to keep our ear tuned to our ever-present GPS, or God's Positioning System, the Holy Bible. In it we will find how to keep our marriage strong and fulfilling.

(Actually, I am my husband's GPS when we're driving. I love reading maps and also love reading God's Word. The former gets us to where we're headed and so does the latter...eternally.)

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AN UNLIKELY PAIR

Ian McDowell was the principal of the Emmaus Bible College in Sydney some years ago. My husband and I attended during the twenty-three of their stay. Recently I asked Valerie McDowell to share their story.

"I first became aware of a certain young man at during my college days. He wore bright red socks and appeared to be an immature, undisciplined student who enjoyed miscievous pranks. Definitely not my type! 

The following year we both attended the same Maths lectures and he began phoning me. As I'd planned to attend a Christian camp over the break, I invited him. He surprised me when he agreed to take time off his work as an engineering cadet. When I met him at the train station I was appalled. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder and a pistol in his pocket! He was hoping to share his shooting skills there. 

Up to this time Ian had no respect for religion, however he enjoyed all the activities and the talks.  On the last Bible study session he was struck by he contrast between unbelievers and Christians. He said to me, "Your way is better because you always have joy in your heart. I have to keep creating pleasure through drinking, smoking and gambling."

Soon after having the Gospel explained to him, he knelt down and thanked Jesus for dying for his sins. From that moment his former desires left him and although known for his"filthy mouth", he never swore again for the rest of his life. God had truly transformed him.

Our friendship developed with the outcome of our marriage. Every morning and evening we read the Bible together and prayed for God's guidance in our lives together. This practice became the anchor for fifty-three years of our happy, fulfilling marriage."

As Valerie told me, theirs was " a marriage made in heaven" because there was no other way to describe such an "unlikely union".