Abby's Bridal Shower ~ Love is Brewing ~ Amy Sapp

ABBY & JOSH: A Love Built to Last

~ From your Mom..

I cannot even believe I am standing here at my daughter Abby’s bridal shower. It feels like just yesterday she was …bossing her brothers around and organizing our entire house like a tiny CEO

And now… she’s getting married!!!

Abby, you have been one of the greatest joys of my life. Watching you grow into the young lady you are today has been such a gift.

Today, I don’t just want to talk to Abby… I want to share something that every lady here can take with her.

So I made a little acronym... Because sometimes it helps my brain.

We’re going to walk through the letters that make up....

A B B Y & J O S H

A – Ask God About Everything

Abby, one of the greatest things you can do in your marriage… is keep God in the center of it.

Not just on church days.

Not just when things are hard.

But in EVERYTHING.

Proverbs 3:6

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

That includes:

Big decisions

Little decisions

Finances

Feelings

Even misunderstandings

Don’t just talk to each other... talk to God TOGETHER. You should pray with your spouse more than you pray with any other individual. More often than not, dad and I hold hands and pray each evening before we go to sleep.

And let me say this to all the ladies here…

A strong marriage isn’t built on compatibility... it’s built on dependency on God.

B – Be Each Other’s Biggest Cheerleader

Marriage is not a competition.. it’s a partnership.

Abby… there will be days when Josh needs encouragement.

Be the one who says:

“I believe in you.”

“You’re doing a great job.”

“I’m proud of you.”

Life will already try to tear you down… don’t let your home be a place where that happens.

Let it be a place where you both feel:

Safe

Seen

Supported

And Abby… you’ve always been so good at loving people. Take that same heart into your marriage.

B – Be Quick to Forgive

Let me just help you right now…

You are marrying a sinner AND so is Josh....

Two imperfect people… living together… every day…

There will be moments. Can I get an Amen from all the married ladies?!?

The key isn’t avoiding conflict... it’s how you handle it.

Ephesians 4:32

“Be ye kind one to another… forgiving one another…”

Don’t:

Keep score

Bring up the past

Let things sit and grow

(These things are harder than you think.)

Do:

Talk it out

Say “I’m sorry” quickly

Extend grace

A soft heart will protect your marriage.

Y – Yield to God’s Design

God has a design for marriage... and it works.

Not because it’s easy… but because it’s right.

Yielding means:

Trusting God’s roles

Respecting each other

Putting the other person first

It’s not about losing yourself... it’s about building something bigger than yourself.

J – Joy is a Choice

Joy doesn’t come from:

A perfect house

A perfect schedule

Or even a perfect spouse

Joy is a choice.

Neh 8:10

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

There will be:

Busy days

Stressful seasons

Unexpected challenges

But you can still CHOOSE JOY.

Laugh together.

Be silly.

Don’t take everything so seriously.

Some of the best marriages are filled with inside jokes and random laughter.

O – Open Communication

If you don’t talk about it… it grows.

Communication is more than talking... it’s:

Listening

Understanding

Being honest (even when it’s uncomfortable)

Abby… say what you feel.

And... listen with your whole heart.

And here’s a big one:

Don’t assume.. ASK. Because men and women do not always think the same!

A lot of problems in marriage aren’t real problems… they’re misunderstandings.

S – Serve One Another

Marriage works best when both people are asking:

“How can I serve you?”

Not:

“What am I getting out of this?”

Jesus said:

Gal 5:13

“By love serve one another.”

Serving looks like:

Doing little things without being asked

Helping when the other is tired

Putting their needs ahead of your own

Abs… you've watched this modeled in our home.

Take that same spirit into your marriage.

H – Hold On Through Every Season

Marriage isn’t just about the good days.

It’s about:

The hard days

The confusing days

The stretching seasons

But here’s the awesome part…

When you hold on to each other and to God those seasons don’t break you… THEY BUILD YOU!

I know you know many of the health challenges our family has faced over the years. Even in the hard times we would not change a thing, God has always taken care of us, so many times, the Lord has used things like this in our lives to grow our relationship with each other and with Him as well. It has taught us to trust the Lord with all of our hearts, and because of things that He has already done for us in the past we KNOW that He will take care of us!

Matt 19:6

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Don’t quit.

Don’t walk away.

Hold on.

Abby…

You have always been:

Strong

Thoughtful

Full of life

So much fun

You’ve brought so much joy into our home.

And now… you’re starting your own.

That’s a big step.

A wonderful step.

And yes… a little emotional for your mom...

Outside of the Lord, and dad, you are my best friend.

But I am so proud of you.

I am so glad, that Josh loves my girl so well!

If you will:

Put God first

Love each other deeply

Choose grace daily

You won’t just have a good marriage…

You’ll have a God-honoring, joy-filled, lasting marriage.

Marriage isn’t about finding the right person…

It’s about being the right person... every single day.

I love you Sis, and I always will...