You likely must have heard the expression "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence." The truth is that the grass on our side of the fence will get greener if we carefully take care of it. Faithfulness in marriage is absolutely necessary if we are going to experience God's perfect plan for our lives and families.

Ezra is a model for every man who wants to be a spiritual leader in his home. Ezra exemplifies a true father, he demonstrates how a spiritual leader can move his family forward. He was effective because he was a well versed student of the laws. He taught through both his speaking and his example. Like Ezra, every father should determine both to study and to obey God's Word as well as teach his family.

Jesus in the family makes all the difference. The only way a family can have and enjoy real peace and joy is by making Jesus the Lord of the home. "Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). A husband and a wife will seriously compromise their union and make it difficult for them to build a solid foundation for a lasting marriage unless they are willing to say goodbye to the old life and start a new one.

"Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many" (Hebrews 12:15). Like a small root that grows into a great tree, bitterness spreads up in our hearts and overshadows even our deepest Christian relationships. A "poisonous root of bitterness" comes when we allow disappointment to grow into resentment, or when we nurse grudges over our past hurts.

God created men and women with particular and different characteristics as well as gave them different roles. Men who want to become women and women who want to become men are displeasing to God. God had a purpose in making us uniquely male and female and He want us to be satisfied with our sexuality. Homosexuality is not an alternative lifestyle but a perversion. If you or anyone in your family has homosexual tendencies, it's important not to try to fight this temptation alone. Seek help today and God who is kind and merciful will transform your live.

The law given to the people of Israel by Moses (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) and which was practiced in Jesus' day fell far short of God's intention. The same is true today. Jesus, in Matthew 19:7-8 said that Moses gave this law only because of the people's hard hearts - permanent marriage was God's intention. But because sinful human nature made divorce inevitable, Moses instituted some laws to help its victims. These were civil laws designed especially to protect the woman who, in that culture, were quite vulnerable when living alone. Because of Moses' law, a man could no longer just throw his wife out - he had to write a formal letter of dismissal. This was a radical step toward civil rights, for it made men think twice about divorce. God designed marriage to be indissoluble. Instead of looking for reasons to leave each other, husbands and wives should concentrate on how to stay together.

In the Old Testament God allowed polygamy, even though it was never His perfect plan. Polygamy never made those who practiced it as happy as they expected. A marriage can only be stable, happy and endure when the couple invests in companionship, intimacy, mutual respect, understanding, faithfulness, affection, and love. God tells us to love one another, and the first place we need to learn to do that is in our marital relationship.

Throughout the Bible, God treat the marriage relationship seriously. God gave marriage as a gift to Adam and Eve. They were created perfect for each other. Marriage was not just for convenience, nor was it brought about by any culture. It was institute by God and has three basic aspects: (1) The man leaves his parents and, in a public act, promises himself to his wife; (2) the man and woman are joined together by taking responsibility for each other's welfare and by loving the mate above all others; (3) the two are united into one in the intimacy and commitment of sexual union that is reserved for marriage. Strong marriages include all three of these aspects.

God made both man and woman in His image. Neither man nor woman is made more in the image of God than the other. From the beginning the Bible places both man and woman at the pinnacle of God's creation. Neither sex is exalted, and neither is depreciated. God through His Word wants to bless every family. He wants to be present in each home, bringing peace, forgiveness, and harmony.