The Lord blessed me with an incredible gift of meeting my future wife in junior high. We have grown up together. I am so thankful that our parents let us marry at such a young age and supported us in many ways, especially spiritually, emotionally, and financially. The Lord has blessed me tremendously through Brandi; she is a wonderful wife!
Brandi is an amazing listener (like her dad was) and overflowing with joy from the Holy Spirit. In our dating in high school, Brandi helped me unpack discouragement and depression, and in grad school I realized that I wanted to let go of pessimism and emulate her optimism and hope. In my professional career, she continues to believe in me and help me repent from self-criticism and perfectionism. She wakes up almost every morning with a positive and joyful attitude. She consistently encourages me, and she calls out the favor of God in my life.
Brandi has demonstrated to me the love, mercy, and grace of the Lord. I have hurt her severely and deeply at multiple points in our marriage, and she has chosen to forgive me, not keeping record of wrongs. She has also extended grace to me by consistently treating me well, even when I don't deserve it. Following the example of the Lord Jesus, she extends to me the costly mercy and grace that she has received from Him.
Brandi is a wonderful wife and mother, and I have learned so much about being a husband and father from her, especially gentleness. Brandi is thoughtful with me and each of our children, and she gives so selflessly for our growth and well-being. She gave birth naturally to our four children, and she loves fiercely and passionately. She is the best cheerleader!
Brandi is a Proverbs 31 woman. The Lord reminds me of this often; I want to do a better job of calling this out to her regularly. She is creative, artistic, industrious, entrepreneurial, kind, generous to the poor, and she plans for the future. She is strong, wise, and vigilant. She is storing up treasures in heaven. It is a privilege to be married to her, and she deserves to be honored for her character.
Brandi has been a spiritual partner since we were kids in youth group and youth camps. We were in discipleship training together in college and evangelism training in grad school. We were literally hand-in-hand when we opened up to going deeper with Holy Spirit in El Paso. The Lord has been speaking to me through Brandi about learning to abide and rest in Him. And I feel like the Lord is preparing us for the next phase of our missional calling here in Lubbock.
As I reflect on the marriage that the Lord has given me, words cannot convey the magnitude of her impact in my life. It is truly a privilege to journey with such a magnificent person as we continue to advance in the abundant life that Christ Jesus has promised.
I resolve to continue to grow in loving Brandi selflessly as Christ loved the church. I want to serve her well.
Ephesians 5:25-32 NIV
[25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, [27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. [28] In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— [30] for we are members of his body. [31] "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." [32] This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Father, thank you for this amazing gift of marriage with Brandi. I pray that our marriage will honor you and point people to the lordship of Jesus. Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence and power. Please intensify your fire in us.
