0:00:00.636,0:00:02.368 It's really a delight to be here. 0:00:02.368,0:00:05.138 Thank you for the opportunity to share 0:00:05.138,0:00:06.359 just a few words 0:00:06.359,0:00:08.296 at your special day. 0:00:08.296,0:00:10.691 So, thank you both. 0:00:10.691,0:00:13.455 As I was thinking about what to say, 0:00:13.455,0:00:15.579 I'm glad I didn't go [br]with my first thought, 0:00:15.579,0:00:17.691 because it would basically [br]be the same thing 0:00:17.691,0:00:19.155 that Nathan preached, 0:00:19.155,0:00:21.355 which was really a wonderful message 0:00:21.355,0:00:23.182 about loving God 0:00:23.182,0:00:24.817 above anyone else. 0:00:24.817,0:00:27.676 So, I really appreciated that Nathan. 0:00:27.676,0:00:28.703 So I was thinking, 0:00:28.703,0:00:30.528 what practical thing could I say 0:00:30.528,0:00:31.687 to the couples here? 0:00:31.687,0:00:33.457 And so, you've all heard the saying 0:00:33.457,0:00:37.502 that honesty is the best policy, right? 0:00:37.502,0:00:39.437 And that really is true. 0:00:39.437,0:00:42.754 My wife and I have been married 28 years. 0:00:42.754,0:00:45.718 And I've been honest with people 0:00:45.718,0:00:46.688 through the years, 0:00:46.688,0:00:49.673 that my wife and I [br]have an ongoing conflict 0:00:49.673,0:00:50.816 in our marriage. 0:00:50.816,0:00:51.706 And I'm here today 0:00:51.706,0:00:54.131 to just be honest with you all, OK? 0:00:54.131,0:00:55.952 And hopefully you can glean something 0:00:55.952,0:00:58.727 from the conflict that [br]we have in our marriage. 0:00:58.727,0:01:02.647 So, when we got married over 28 years ago, 0:01:02.647,0:01:04.458 I knew absolutely that I was 0:01:04.458,0:01:07.153 getting the better end of the deal. 0:01:07.153,0:01:10.634 And I am convinced that that is the case. 0:01:10.634,0:01:12.077 Proverbs 31 says, 0:01:12.077,0:01:14.726 "An excellent wife, who can find? 0:01:14.726,0:01:18.535 She is far more precious than jewels." 0:01:18.535,0:01:19.835 And so through the years, 0:01:19.835,0:01:21.688 I, by the grace of God, 0:01:21.688,0:01:24.551 have been able to maintain that view, 0:01:24.551,0:01:26.523 that I really did get the better deal. 0:01:26.523,0:01:28.968 The problem is my wife 0:01:28.968,0:01:32.558 is thinking that she got [br]the better end of the deal. 0:01:32.558,0:01:34.118 And so we've had this conflict 0:01:34.118,0:01:36.618 throughout our whole marriage, 0:01:36.618,0:01:38.740 where I know the truth, 0:01:38.740,0:01:40.631 that I got the better end of the deal, 0:01:40.631,0:01:42.992 and she still thinks that [br]she got the better end 0:01:42.992,0:01:45.895 of the deal. 0:01:45.895,0:01:47.661 Now, I could ask for a show of hands 0:01:47.661,0:01:49.275 for those who know us - 0:01:49.275,0:01:50.392 I've done this before, 0:01:50.392,0:01:52.056 and I do win. 0:01:52.056,0:01:54.910 Everyone knows the truth. 0:01:54.910,0:01:56.541 But I think through the years, 0:01:56.541,0:01:58.253 that has been one of the things 0:01:58.253,0:02:00.337 that has really strengthened our marriage, 0:02:00.337,0:02:02.044 and helped us in our marriage, 0:02:02.044,0:02:06.471 and that is really [br]appreciating your spouse, 0:02:06.471,0:02:10.407 above what you think, 0:02:10.407,0:02:13.113 in the sense that you realize, 0:02:13.113,0:02:15.337 men, that you really got the better end 0:02:15.337,0:02:16.958 of the deal here, don't you? 0:02:16.958,0:02:18.577 You know that. 0:02:18.577,0:02:19.468 Right? 0:02:19.468,0:02:20.931 And I know that you know that. 0:02:20.931,0:02:23.228 But I'm guessing if I were to ask 0:02:23.228,0:02:24.462 the ladies here, 0:02:24.462,0:02:25.974 they would say, no, actually, 0:02:25.974,0:02:27.754 I got the better end of the deal. 0:02:27.754,0:02:29.735 Is that probably what you're thinking? 0:02:29.735,0:02:31.476 So they already have this conflict 0:02:31.476,0:02:33.336 and they just got married, 0:02:33.336,0:02:36.127 and they haven't even gotten married yet. 0:02:36.127,0:02:38.526 But if you will, by the grace of God - 0:02:38.526,0:02:40.178 because that's really what it is - 0:02:40.178,0:02:42.122 it's only by the grace of God. 0:02:42.122,0:02:44.680 But gratefulness and appreciation 0:02:44.680,0:02:47.986 is such a huge thing in our marriage. 0:02:47.986,0:02:49.454 And by the grace of God, 0:02:49.454,0:02:51.184 never lose that. 0:02:51.184,0:02:53.230 If 30, 40 years from now, 0:02:53.230,0:02:54.709 if the Lord hasn't come, 0:02:54.709,0:02:58.100 and you're both really [br]believing in your heart, 0:02:58.100,0:03:00.106 I got the better end of the deal, 0:03:00.106,0:03:02.221 it's really going to help your marriage. 0:03:02.221,0:03:04.572 It's really going to keep [br]your marriage strong. 0:03:04.572,0:03:08.001 So that's my input. 0:03:08.001,0:03:09.517 You just keep remembering, 0:03:09.517,0:03:11.300 each one of you, 0:03:11.300,0:03:13.820 I got the better end of the deal. 0:03:13.820,0:03:16.377 I don't deserve to have this other one. 0:03:16.377,0:03:18.724 And that's really the [br]truth in my marriage. 0:03:18.724,0:03:23.181 I can say it, and she's not up here. 0:03:23.181,0:03:26.470 Can I just pray for you both? 0:03:26.470,0:03:28.669 Our Father, we're thankful 0:03:28.669,0:03:31.617 for the joy of knowing Christ. 0:03:31.617,0:03:33.317 Thank You for His precious blood. 0:03:33.317,0:03:35.643 Lord, may we never, never tire 0:03:35.643,0:03:37.440 of praising and thanking You 0:03:37.440,0:03:40.464 for the work of Your Son. 0:03:40.464,0:03:43.250 Lord, we are so grateful for marriage 0:03:43.250,0:03:45.474 and the opportunity to witness 0:03:45.474,0:03:48.289 these two marriages today. 0:03:48.289,0:03:51.054 And we pray that in each couple, 0:03:51.054,0:03:53.138 each one of them would continually be 0:03:53.138,0:03:55.317 thankful for the other one. 0:03:55.317,0:03:57.263 That they would never, never think 0:03:57.263,0:04:00.450 that they're the better [br]one in the marriage. 0:04:00.450,0:04:02.529 And Lord, I pray that You would 0:04:02.529,0:04:06.021 just encourage them with [br]this through the years. 0:04:06.021,0:04:07.657 And make these marriages strong 0:04:07.657,0:04:11.450 for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. 0:04:11.450,0:04:13.919 And Lord, fill us all with an expectation 0:04:13.919,0:04:16.786 and a longing for His coming again. 0:04:16.786,0:04:18.886 May we say as the Apostle John, 0:04:18.886,0:04:22.199 Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. 0:04:22.199,0:04:24.355 And we ask this for the glory of Christ, 0:04:24.355,0:04:25.516 Amen.