Harvest Time

   From Our Hearts to Yours

6 Remember this: In marriage Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart on your wedding day to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly in your marriage, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work in your marriage. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

October – Harvest time! A new season. Pumpkin everything. Football. cozy fires. SMORES!

 As farmers harvest what they sowed in the spring, married people harvest what they sow daily in their relationship. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 can be applied to how we invest in our spouse and our marriage. Remember crops take time and care to grow and ripen.

If we sow genuine affection into our relationship and speak the love language our spouse speaks – soon we are enjoying an intimate joyful affectionate relationship. This is a quick growing romantic crop, and sown daily the atmosphere of your home will reflect the warmth of a solid relationship.

If we sow honor and respect in how we speak and what we do - we will reap a harvest of mutual admiration where we can only see the best in our spouse. If we actively look for all the admirable and praiseworthy traits in our loved one, we will surely see them!

If we sow time in companionship, we will harvest a best friend who we will always choose first and who will choose us first too! Doing the everyday mundane things together with joy and love will turn them into a winning partnership. Doing and planning recreational fun things together strengthens our desire to be together even more!

If we sow honest open intimacy, in our physical love making which God has ordained for us married people we will reap a harvest of oneness. If we add spiritual oneness through prayer together, we have a oneness that no one can ever tear apart, because God is in the middle of our marriage.

This sounds great. But how? Every great harvest starts with prayer, decision, and a plan.

Pray for each other every day that God will draw hearts close to Him, and that He will grant each of you wisdom, motivation, and strength to form Godly habits to honor Him and love each other better.

Decide to discover what the actual gift of marriage is…ALL the things God intended. Listen to podcasts, read books together sign up for a marriage class, go on retreats, find fun date ideas and get aways, ask a mentor couple for great ideas, and never stop learning and growing together!

Plan a strategy! Make or follow a list of daily habits that demonstrate love and commitments. Plan to take one marriage class a year. Plan to read daily/weekly devotional together. Plan a date night each week. Plan to spend time together each week to discuss how to love each other better the next week!

In your marriage sow love and grace generously. Give yourself wholly to meet your spouse’s needs joyfully. And watch God bless you abundantly!