"To Have And To Hold"

By Martin and Zoe Howard

Family Motto: A family that prays together stays together.




"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8



On July 25, 2012, we celebrated 9 years of marriage. As we reflected on the last 9 years, we both agreed that God is the glue that keeps us together and strong. For those who don't know our story, we met through a singles website. Two weeks later got married. Everyone who loves and cares about us thought we were crazy. And, well, they had a point!

Was it love at first sight? Maybe. Were we crazy about each other? Yes! And we still are! However, one thing has become evident to us throughout the last 9 years and that is that God had EVERYTHING to do with our union. When Martin tells our story, he says that he knew all he "needed to know...Zoe's heart and that she loved God and family" and the rest he "would learn in time". When Zoe tells our story, she says that Martin "felt like home to me from day one....I loved his heart and his great smile. He was a gentleman and a family man".

In the last 9 years, we have moved six times, lived in four different states (NE, TX, UT, VA), lost two babies, welcomed two premature babies into the world (both healthy today), experienced health challenges, owned two homes, got laid off from two jobs, experienced financial stress, experienced the challenges of military life, transitioned to homeschooling our children, a close family member passed away, and two friends we were close to and loved dearly committed suicide.

We have had our share of ups and downs in our 9 years of marriage, but the one thing that has remained constant is the LOVE and power of God in our lives and in our marriage. Scripture tells us that God’s love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8), for God IS love (1 John 4:16). We have learned that love is not a feeling, but a choice. A decision to stay committed to each other no matter what.

With everything life throws at us on a daily basis, if we don’t put on the full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and fight for our marriage, especially when the going gets tough, our marriage will be in trouble. Our enemy, the devil, will use any and every opportunity he gets to try “to steal and kill and destroy" our faith (John 10:10) and our marriage.

The devil knows he cannot steal our salvation, so he will try to steal our JOY every chance he gets. Well, guess what? Our victory has already been won on the cross. We are not supposed to carry life’s burden on our own. We need to "Fireproof" your marriage (http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com/) and remember that, in a fire, we never leave our partner behind. Whatever challenges any of us are going through in our marriages, we need to be intentional to remember that our spouse in not our enemy; the devil plays tricks on us (he lies, he deceives) and he is our true enemy; he is the fire in your marriage. We need to be intentional to attack the devil (with God's Word), not our spouse. We need to be intentional to send the devil back to where he belongs and claim our victory. We need to DECLARE our victory, BELIEVE in our victory, and RECEIVE our victory.

We have learned that the secret to success and happiness - not only in marriage, but in ALL things - is in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the rest will be added to you". God has a plan for our marriage and that plan is to prosper us, not to harm us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Declare and claim your marriage victorious in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hold on to God’s promise of hope and a future. Ask Him into your heart and into your marriage today. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" (Proverbs 3:5-6) and for your every need, for He is faithful. He will "stengthen you and help you" in your time of need (Isaiah 41:10), He deliver you from evil, He will restore you, and He will set you free from captivity (temptations, addictions, idols). His Word does not come back void.

6th Wedding Anniversary - VA Beach - 2009

9th Wedding Anniversary - Omaha, NE - 2012







Dear Lord, please come into our hearts and into our marriage. We surrender all to you and you alone. Thank you for the work you are doing in our lives, in our marriage,and for all that is yet to come!! In Jesus' Name, Amen.



POWER VERSES

1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV ~ “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”

2 Thessalonians 3:3, NIV ~ “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one”

Psalm 18:35, NIV ~ “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great”

Ephesians 5:23-25, NIV ~ “Wives, submit to your husbands in everything, as the church submits to Christ. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”