Uncommon Marriage

"Love convinces a couple that they are the greatest romance that has ever been, that no two people have ever loved as they do, and they will sacrifice absolutely anything in order to be together. And then marriage asks them to prove it." – Mike Mason

John 13:34-35 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

Marriage conflict - does the issue at hand belong in front of you or behind you? The devil will try to pull things up from our past and put it in front of us where it no longer belongs, and wants to put what we need to deal with behind us so that we no longer see it. Are you dealing with something that has already been healed? Are you ignoring something that requires your attention? Where exactly does your conflict belong? - Danny Delgado

Philippians 3:13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

Fatherlessness is not something you outgrow. I weep at the thought of how many people, young and old alike, who have never heard from their earthly father, "I love you!", "I am proud of you!", or "You are my son/daughter and I am well pleased with you!" Even Jesus needed to hear the affirmation from His Father (Matt 3:17)

We need men. Real men. Men of integrity, men of courage, men of honor - men of God - who are willing to give of themselves to be "that man" to the fatherless. You can make a difference. You can alter a destiny. You can change a life forever.....but will you?

- Danny Delgado

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

When I want to know about a man and his character all I need to do is look at the countenance of his wife. Everything he has invested or withheld can be seen there. To do a check of my own character I need look no further than the countenance of my wife for she is my God given mirror. - Danny Delgado

Ephesians 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Marriage is not just companionship.
It is a mirror.

Not the kind that flatters, but the kind that tells the truth.
It shows you your strengths, but it also exposes your shadows.
It reveals the parts of you that still need healing, and the habits that must die for love to live.

In marriage, you are seen.
Not the version you polish for the public, but the real you, raw, vulnerable, and unfinished.
And still, miraculously, you are loved.
Not in spite of your flaws, but often through them.

Marriage does not complete you.
It refines you.
It is the sacred space where grace becomes a practice, and forgiveness becomes a language.
It is the daily invitation to grow, not just together, but into someone more whole.

It is God's mirror.
And in it, if you dare to look, you will not only see your spouse more clearly, you will begin to see yourself.
And through both, you just might catch a glimpse of Him.

- Danny Delgado

The test of marriage is this: we fall in love with personality, but we live with character. And character is not proven in comfort, it is revealed in fire. Time will test everything, and nothing hidden will stay that way. - Danny Delgado

Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.

I did. I do. I always will.

At our wedding ceremony, I chose you to be my spouse.
I promised to live with you according to God’s holy Word.
On that life-changing day, I promised to love you, to comfort you, to honor and keep you.
I swore to stand by you for better or worse, in sickness and in health.
At our wedding I renounced all others and promised to give myself to only you, so long as we both shall live.

The pastor said, “Will you take this one?”...and I did.

Today, I choose you to be my spouse.
I promise to continue living with you according to God’s holy Word.
On this ordinary day of our life together, I promise to continue loving you, respecting you, comforting you, cherishing you, honoring you, and keeping you.
Today, I am standing by you for better or worse, in sickness and in health.
Today and every day, I renounce all others. I will take every thought captive.
I give myself to you and only you, so long as we both shall live. I choose you. I choose us.

People may ask, “Will you take this one?”...and, you must know, I do.

Tomorrow and every day God gives us, I will choose you to be my spouse.
I will continue living with you according to God’s holy Word.
Every day we share by God’s grace, I promise to always love you, to always comfort you, to always honor and keep you.
As long as I have breath, I will stand by you for better or worse, in sickness and in health.
I will always renounce all others and always give myself to only you, so long as we both shall live.

Our grandchildren may ask, “Will you take this one?”...and, you can count on this, I always will.

I did. I do. I always will.

Sometimes we get so caught up with what is wrong with our marriage, we overlook what is right. We spend time on our knees praying about the issues which cause us grief, but not a lot of time thanking God for the good and beautiful things in our marriage, and in our spouse. When we focus on the thorns, the roses all around us will fade into the background. So remember to thank God for the good in your marriage even as you pursue greater. - Danny Delgado

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

There is no such thing as "falling in love". Love is not something you fall into or fall out of. Love is not a feeling. Love is a decision. Love is a commitment. Love is a choice. In marriage love is a promise that says, "I will be there for you all of my days. I’ll be there when you lose your job, your health, your parents, your looks, your confidence, your friends." It's a promise that tells your spouse, "I’ll build you up; I’ll overlook your weaknesses; I’ll forgive your mistakes; I’ll put your needs above my own; I’ll stick by you even when the going gets tough." Love says, "Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed – because I will be your witness." - Danny Delgado

If a young person were to take a good look at your marriage, what would they see? How do you think it would affect their view of marriage?

Would they be encouraged to see marriage as a blessing and a gift? Would they see it as something to anticipate, to learn about, to prepare for, to work at? Would they sense the purpose of marriage is far greater than two people deciding to spend their lives together? Would they recognize marriage was conceived by God and authored in such a way that His very image is meant to be reflected in the marriage covenant?

Would they see marriage as a defense against the enemy, as well as a weapon for the Kingdom of God? Would they see it as the arena where righteous battles are fought and where love always—always—triumphs, no matter what? Would they see a marriage where two imperfect people have chosen to never quit, to never give up—who have learned how to overcome, to give, and to forgive?

What would they see?
Does your marriage inspire anyone?
Does your marriage inspire you?

It should... and if it doesn’t, it still could.
And it can start today.

- Danny Delgado

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.