Marriage and How to Have a Godly Home

By: James Thomas Lee Jr

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In writing this book about marriage, I feel that the Lord has been preparing me to do this work for many years and in many ways. First, I have been blessed to have been married for fifty-three years. So the Lord has given me the chance to learn a little something about relationships. Second, I have been blessed along with my wife, Linda, by the challenges of raising five children and having seen seventeen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren born into this world. That means that the Lord has let me learn a little bit about family. Third, I have been saved for almost fifty-seven years. So the Lord has let me experience a little bit of this Christian life. Fourth, I have been able to study Bible and Pastoral Counseling as a seminary student at Liberty University. That was a great personal blessing and rewarding experience for me.

In the pages that follow, there are twenty chapters that have been divided into five parts. The first part discusses why a godly marriage and a godly home are important. The second part identifies some relationship concerns that two people should consider before getting married. The third part lists things that the couple should try to get correct as they prepare to start their life together. The fourth part shares seven reasons that many marriages fail. The fifth part identifies some biblical solutions for saving one's marriage. It is believed that any person considering marriage will benefit from reading this book. It is also believed that anyone already married will benefit from it, too. There are thirty-five case studies scattered throughout the text about different marriage situations that can and do occur. They have been included with this book for individual consideration and group discussion.

Finally, there are five appendices to this text. Appendix A contains a paper that I wrote in 2001 while at Liberty University about how to do family and marital counseling. At the time, it was intended to be a living document that I could modify over time as I acquired more knowledge and experience. Next, Appendix B contains my suggested responses to the thirty-five case studies that have been given in this text. Since those responses are just this author's opinions, the reader may have different opinions. Next, Appendix C explains how a person can be saved. The reason is because nothing in this existence is more important than personally knowing the Lord as one's personal savior. Finally, Appendix D shares my personal salvation experience, and Appendix E shares my call into this book writing ministry.

Now there is one final note to be made about the organization of this text before concluding this Introduction. Something that the reader might find useful is boxes throughout that show the different passages that are being referenced at the times and in the places where they are being referenced. That way, he or she will not have to jump all over the place or get into or out of the scriptures to locate a particular reference. Hopefully that inclusion will help the reader in trying to understand the various events and to also quickly put them into their right context. So it is hoped that that addition will make this text easier to read and that the Lord will receive the praise, honor, and glory that He rightfully deserves.