Why Did I Get Married? (A MUST READ!!!)

I don't consider myself an expert on anything ESPECIALLY MARRIAGE but as I look around me and I see how lightly people take this union, I wanted to clarify why I decided to take the plunge and marry Teresa, my best friend.

A little less than I year ago I promised a woman that I would get myself together and that I would marry her before the end of 2011. She was prepared to take me as I was; broke, unemployed, depressed but I was determined to give her the BEST ME that I could. I saved every dime I could and bought her a promise ring, and then I filled out 50 job applications a day, and had at least 3 interviews a week until I got a STABLE JOB and could support her like she had supported me. Not because she fussed at me about not having a job, not because she pressured me to help her, as a matter of fact, she never said anything to me about it because she never had to. I worked hard because she was worth it to me.

After that, I prayed and sought counsel so that I could be spiritually ready for the commitment I was going to make and once I was certain I replaced the Promise Ring with an Engagement Ring, then in less than 30 days we were married. I kept my promise to her and I have kept every promise that I've ever made to her because REAL MEN KEEP THEIR WORD TO THEIR WOMAN. I got married because I love Teresa Tramayne Eggerson. I love her because no matter how low I was, no matter what lies she heard, she stood by me and loved me through and because of that love I am committed to loving her for the rest of her life. No matter who I meet, no matter what fights we have or physical changes might happen, in her I am content. My eyes no longer wander, and my passion is for her alone.

I see now why my parents told me that marriage is "More than a notion" it has to be more than a feeling, it can't be coerced or forced, it has to be willing, genuine and authentic for it to be long-lasting, you can't have a backup plan and failure can't be an option. I'm sure that's why Paul equates marriage between man and a woman like the relationship between Christ and His church. You have to be willing to abandon comfort, abandon position, abandon social status and risk it all, give it all, share it all so that the two can become one.

Why did I get married? I got married because when I'm with Teresa, I get a revelation of the limitless Love of God, I can feel the love that God showed when he gave us Jesus to cover our sins. I got married because my wife loves me like Jesus, she covered my faults and saw the best in me, and loved me until the man she saw in her heart became the man she saw in front of her. I got married because in Teresa is God's proof to me that God STILL gives second chances, that he doesn't care about the mistakes that you made if you love Him, He will send you exactly what you need even if you don't deserve it. I got married because when I said "I do" I was really telling God "Thank You." thank you for getting me through the worst season of my life and showing me that my best days are ahead.

I think that anyone that's considering marriage should remember that you're not getting married to a "Hope" to a possibility that things may get better, but rather ask yourself, "If things stayed just as they are, if this person never changed, could I live this way forever?" and if the answer is no then you should pray for direction. God never puts you with someone so that you can change them but when Eve was presented to Adam she was already suitable for him and no changes needed to be made. I believe this is the case when we find our mates today, they will already be prepared to love us even if they don't know it and no changes will have to be forced but we will "Fit Together" and over time the fit will get better and better. Marriage will not mature a person, it will just show what maturity is or is not there. Marriage does not create love it just shows what love, if any, is there already. Love is not an emotion but love is a decision not based on feeling and not made lightly, it is made by faith and by trust. You can't love without God because God is love.

Marriage is not a fad, or a move that you make for attention but it is the most sacred of covenants blessed are the ones who marry the "Right Way" blessed are the ones who know that they're not ready to marry, and blessed are those who know that marriage is not for them. Be blessed my friends and remember God won't honor any relationship that doesn't honor him.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Joshua Eggerson

Hold On!

 "¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

Attrition warfare is a military strategy in which one side tries to win a battle by causing their enemy to surrender by causing them continuous losses. The goal of attrition warfare is to cause one's opponent to lose so much in resources, so much in personnel and so much in morale that the enemy has no choice but to give but to give up the battle and surrender. Attrition warfare is different in that the victory normally goes to the side that has the ability to endure the attrition the longest and I've discovered that sometimes the battles of our lives are wars of attrition; times where the enemy tries to wear us down with the pressures and the cares of life.

Someone reading this may feel as if you are in a war of Attrition. You may feel as if over the course of your life that you've lost so much that in order to survive you're going to have to surrender to the devil and walk away from the destiny that God has declared over your life. The truth of the matter is, after the hell that you've had to deal with you don't have much fight left in you. You've been dealing with the cares of life and trying to keep your head above water but it still seems like you're about to drown under all of the hell you've had to handle; however, in spite of the trouble you've had to navigate through, the beauty of the battle that we as believers fight is that our victory is not based on our own strength but rather our victory is determined by our ability to hold on to our faith in God!

God has a plan of victory and an awesome destiny for your life and the enemy knows that the only way he can keep you from reaching the destiny that God has for you is by causing you to give up by sending trouble into your life, but God has given us principles that we can use to help us hold on to our faith and win life's war of attrition.

1. First, we have to "Look at God's Track Record": Remember what God has done not just in your life but also in the lives of others around you and use God's history to increase your faith. If God has ever made a way he can make one again. If God has ever healed he can heal again. If God has ever fixed it he can fix it again and by looking at what he's already done you can gain faith in your current situation. God's track record is undeniable proof that he is able to deliver out of every situation and I can use the proof to stimulate endurance in the face of my trials.
2. Second, we have to "Submit like Jesus": Jesus was able to endure the cross of Calvary and submit to God even in the midst of His suffering and if we're going to be able to HOLD ON we have to use Christ's example and learn how to look past our pain and submit to the will of God no matter how uncomfortable it may be. By fully submitting to the will of God, you show God that you are matured and ready to exit your trial.
3. Finally, we have to "Understand that God is in Control": No matter how hard the circumstances of life might be we have to remember that there is never a situation that God is unaware of. God has orchestrated the events of your life and whatever you're going through it's going to work for your good even if it doesn't feel good while it's working. Because of the Love God has for us, we have to remember that everything that God allows is for our benefit, so that we can be all that God has called us to be.

Life is never simple, and a few principles can never solve EVERY problem, but it is my prayer that this post helps you as you fight the devil in life's war of attrition. Remember that God has a victorious track record and that he is able to deliver you from the attack of the enemy. You don't have to fight, all you have to do is hold on and trust in God because He's worthy to be trusted.

Grace and Peace, and remember, "No matter what you're going through, there is a WORD from the LORD!"