When husband and wife are united, they are strongest and most attractive to those that don't know Jesus.

For a long time I thought-'I've got to buck up and be strong. I've got to put on a brave face-and get through this near burn-out or that discouraging time in my life,'" "God has really seriously changed my thinking on this. When you take off the mask, you relate at a base level to everyone else who has been through pain-and everyone has. Honesty promotes intimacy and promotes us together relying on God. True honesty is beautiful.

Really with marriage, from what I've heard about from different friends that are married, you can't entirely be prepared. There are things you can only learn in marriage.

In our quest for living a pure, focused life that pleases God, we all hit the wall at one time or another. What do we do then? Give up... Not an option. I have had times when the road has gotten long... Those periods can be very challenging. When they happen, I go to God and ask for His strength for the journey.

If we could only put God first, maybe this ugly trend could one day be reversed.

I have struggled with perfectionism and I think it's a really damaging thing in my own life. When we put that perfectionism on someone else, it just hurts relationships whereas grace and trusting someone else's heart is a really, really incredible and important part of any relationship.

I don't think courting and dating is a liability. I actually think it can be a blessing.