I love my wife Niki Winston! She is amazing and I feel the same way about her now as I did when we were first married, and my love for her has even grown! Many people ask how do we do it after almost 10 years, 4 kids, and tons of ministry and life responsibility. Well the first answers are obvious: prayer, selfless love, and being committed to God... but the second is DATING!

I cannot stress this enough to married couples:
If you want to keep the marriage DATE YOUR WIFE (or husband)! How can you keep something growing if you don't pay attention to it? Dating is like watering the flower of your marriage ? . When I say dating I mean spending concentrated time outside of the house together. No kids, no work, no household tasks, no distractions. Doesn't matter so much of what you do, just do it TOGETHER. Make it a priority. For real for real.

Just because you are in the same room with your spouse doesn't mean that you all are spending quality time together. Roommates can do be in the same room, but experience little to no connection at all. It's like you bringing a pitcher of water and setting it next to the flower of your marriage...just because the water is in close proximity doesn't mean that the flower is actually receiving water. Many couples get so used to being around each other that they forget to be WITH each other. Then over time the other person changes (which life will naturally do to you) and you will feel like your spouse is a stranger - Because you were NOT consistently getting to know them again every week as they changed. But dating will keep you close. Locked in. On par with their changes, challenges, desires, heart shifts, passions, and serious warning signs.

Niki and I have had dozens of DEEP meaningful conversations that brought out important points...where did they happen? DATE NIGHT. Away from the noise and distractions of life - In a focused and intimate conversation. Niki and I try to date once a week. We have to make time for it. We eat out, go to plays, shop, walk around town, travel occasionally, go to a movie, go to dance class/karaoke, etc. If you are on a budget, there are low cost options too: walking in the park, taking a bike ride, picnics, library (yes I said library lol)... you get the idea. Just do something! It's critically important if you want to divorce-proof your marriage. You can never grow something that you refuse to pay attention to. 

If you WANT your marriage, treat it like so. Date your spouse and never let go. ❤️
~ David
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​Recently I posted on my Instagram account asking people for their suggestions on blog topics. I got a lot of good responses, but one topic was consistent: LOVE. 

A man once said that no person gets mad at a blind man for bumping into him. Instead, they just give that blind man directions and show him the way. I mean, who gets mad at a blind man right?? Right now, there are many people in this world who are blind - or walking in darkness, and when they “bump" into us our response can be either be love or offense. We can either get mad, get even, or be kind. After all, they can't see. Jesus says in Luke 17:1 that offenses are bound to come, but we have to remember that being offended is a decision. One preacher used to say it like this: You can’t stop a bird from pooping on your head, but you can stop him from building a nest in your hair. We are encouraged to walk in love in every situation and scenario (Matthew 22:39). The problems in our life come when we decide to pick and choose when we will walk in love, and who is worthy of receiving our love. I'm sure glad that God didn't pick and choose who is worthy of His love... But that's a discussion for another post. 

Recently I had my own run in with offense. I had a choice to make. Was I going to let this situation dictate the rest of my day/week, or would I forgive? Something that I have learned is that offense always comes in through unmet expectations. Since I expected this person to act a certain way, I was then surprised by what they did next. I trusted them and they broke my trust. I believed them and they lied. Have you ever found yourself in that situation? Usually the closer a person is to you, the deeper the offense can go because they have such an intimate access to your heart. Anyone who can love you a lot also has the ability to hurt you a lot. I'm not saying that you should have trust issues. I'm just saying, getting hurt or offended happens. But this one scripture always helps me get right - Ephesians 4:32 "...forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." However, forgiveness can be difficult. So, how do we forgive?

To have a good relationship with your spouse or significant other, one thing is absolutely necessary: the love of God! That love is unconditional and helps you love everyone else better. The key to any great marriage or relationship is to be selfless. Love gives, and that is what we should do to those who we love the most. Scroll down and you will see a prayer confession that me and my wife Niki say daily. We hope that as you pray it daily, it will help you to have an amazing relationship too!
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       We believe that we have been called together as one to fulfill God’s perfect purpose for our lives, choosing to set a new standard for Godly relationships. We let our actions be the fruit of the righteous and holy seeds we have sown, for we do not sow unto the flesh to reap corruption but we continuously sow unto the spirit (Gal 6:8).  We will walk by faith according to the fruits of the spirit, and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16).
 
         We live our relationship and marriage according to the Word of God and refuse to compromise in any area. It is our daily commitment to love, respect, trust, and cherish each other as well as continually cleanse our mind with the washing of the water with the Word (Eph 5:25-27). We make the Word of God our foundation for our commitment to each other. We choose to treat each other with kindness and gentleness, with a spirit of meekness; always respecting, admiring, and honoring one another in love. We only think on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Phil 4:8). In all we do we keep our minds and hearts fixed on God and His purpose for our lives, so he can bless our relationship.
 
         We continuously integrate the principles of care, honesty, time, and protection into our relationship daily. As we make Jesus our first love, He will help us love each other with a greater agape love than ever before. With this love we will cover each other daily, praying, bearing, and enduring ALL things (1Cor 13:4-8).  Furthermore, we will practice ALL aspects of this love described in 1 Corinthians 13. We communicate with each other out of an attitude of love and understanding. We approach each day together with an attitude of servitude toward one another, with no expectation of recompense.
 
         We constantly build each other up with prayer, exhortation, and the Word of God in order to press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God (Phil 3:14). We thank you Father God for unending unity in our commitment to each other. We remain mindful that the goal for our marriage, first and foremost, is to come together in Christ to be a more powerful force FOR the Kingdom of God. In Jesus name, Amen!