God set up two institutions at creation for the good of mankind. Marriage and the Sabbath! President Bush Junior once said, “The trouble with a lot of families is that they are more like the Simpsons than the Waltons!” 

 

I heard a story about a young man who wanted to get married. So he went out and he found a young lady, and took her home and introduced her to his mother. His mother said “I don’t like her.” So he went out and found another, but she didn’t like her either. So it went on until finally the fifth girl he brought home the mother liked. She looked very similar to his mother. She talked like his mother, dressed like his mother and acted like her. But when he introduced her to his dad, his dad couldn’t stand her. I don’t know what that says about the parent’s relationship but President Bush’s wife once said, “Success does not depend on what happens in the White House, it depends on what happens in your house.” 

Quote from a little book called “My life Today.” It says “A house with love in it, where love is expressed in words and looks and deeds, is a place where angels love to manifest their presence.” That’s a beautiful statement! Do the angels enjoy being in your house? Or do they wear earplugs? Perhaps they need blindfolds as well. Do they enjoy what happens within your walls? I don’t know whether your marriage was made in heaven or not. What I do know is that the maintenance work has to be done right here on earth.  

 

One man had a regular job which he did well, but was poorly paid. Even though redundancies were being made, he decided to ask for a rise. On Friday he met his boss and his boss agreed. Not only that, he gave him more than he asked for as he was so conscientious. When he arrived home his wife had cooked a beautiful meal and served it on the best china. He thought the firm must have told her about his pay rise. But they hadn’t, so he gave her the good news. Beside his plate was a beautifully written note from his wife which read “Congratulations darling. I knew you would get the raise. I love you.” As she got up to go to the kitchen another note fell out of her pocket and when she had gone he picked it up. It said “Don’t worry about not getting the raise I still love you very much".

 

That’s Agape love-God’s love-love with no strings attached.   Ephesians 5 verse 25 says, “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy.”