As we’ve prayed and talked together - its obvious that both of you - individually and as a couple - have sought out God in prayer - seeking to know His will for your lives. And He has brought you here. Your marriage is one of those good things - a perfect gift - that has been given to you by God.

These words of the Apostle Paul fit very well to our feelings towards you tonight. “Whenever we pray for you we always begin by giving thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard how much you trust the Lord, and how much you love his people.”

Usually, at this point in the marriage ceremony I get to share a few last words of advice and encouragement. Tonight I’d like to share something different.

As I was thinking about tonight - I thought back to the night a lot of us from Calvary went to see “BEAN, the movie” - and _____ dressed up like Mr. Bean. And in preparation for tonight I rented the video. Most people probably wouldn’t realize this but there are some spiritual lessons to be learned from Mr. Bean.

Bean usually starts out well - someplace along the way he experiences chaos - and generally he comes out okay in the end. In other words - its important how you start - the middle always is a struggle - and its important how you finish.

Tonight I’d like share how I will be praying for you in the years to come. And I want encourage your family and friends that they may also want to pray along these lines. Because we want to support you in what comes next. You’ve started great. My prayer is that you will go through the middle in God’s strength and finish strong.

In the verses that were read - the Apostle Paul writes about four things he is praying for in the lives of the Colossian Christians - four qualities needed to go through life and to finish strong.

First - as Paul writes - I pray that you would understand God’s will for you - to be wise about spiritual things.

_____, its pretty impressive that so many of your students are here tonight. Aside from being a math teacher - there’s a relationship you have with your students that’s more than a teacher - student relationship. Your students respond to you and respect your guidance because they know that you care about them.

When Paul writes about understanding God’s will he means more than just intellectually understanding God. Paul prays that we would grow to deeply know God - not as some wise being out there someplace - but to deeply know God who genuinely cares about us. The more deeply you know God - the more you will see life as He sees it - to approach situations with His wisdom and understanding.

I pray that you will never allow anything to take a greater priority in your lives than deepening your relationship with God.

Second - following what Paul writes - I pray that together you would lead a life which pleases God.

Almost every Thursday night we play basketball together. By the way, we missed you this week. I guess you were busy or something.

I watch how you play. These three point shots that somehow go through the hoop. That doesn’t come by reading books about basketball - or watching other people play - intellectually knowing about basketball. It comes from the experience of playing basketball.

God gives us knowledge about Himself and His will so that we can live in obedience to Him - to do those things that please Him - and honor Him.

I pray that you will always take what you know about God and put it into practice - to define your lives and your marriage by His word - to live in holiness and obedience to Him.

Third, I pray that you would joyfully live life in God’s strength.

Coming here tonight - I know that you’ve had to work through a number of issues in your relationship - as does any engaged couple. But, marriage will take all that to another level.

So many couples endure marriage - or have this strained patience with each other - but they don’t know joy. Marriage is hard work. But there can be joy even in the effort it takes to strengthen your relationship and partnership.

Joy comes from realizing that God is the sustainer of your marriage. He’s the one who makes it work. Not you - Him.

I pray that you will never forget that it is God who has brought you together and that you will always look to Him to sustain and empower you.

Fourth, I pray that you will always live with gratitude for your salvation in Jesus Christ.

Behind me are three huge stain glass windows. They show three crucial moments in Jesus’ life - His birth - His crucifixion - and His resurrection. Looking around this church - there is a tremendous testimony to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God has given you everything you need to have an eternal relationship with Him and He has given you everything you need for life now.

Purpose - when you wake up and when you go to sleep - and in between - to always thank God for what He’s given you.

When people look at your lives may they always see Jesus. We live in a society that desperately needs to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ lived out. To see homes - families - marriages that are grounded in a deepening relationship with God - that live in obedience to Him - that rely on Him - that testify of Him.

I think that its not just my prayer - but the prayer of everyone here - that as you begin in Him - you would continue with Him - and finish well.