Shownotes
Episode 013 Marriage Series Part 4 (40-60 years) with Tom & Mary Hunt

Background, how they met, 6 months from hello to marriage bliss!
Mr. Tom-
Central India Christian Mission board (traveling rep)
Discipleship ministry position - to help Christians grow in their faith
Mrs. Mary-
Women’s Ministry Leader 

She became a Christian first. Their daughter, Lisa, asked him to go to church with them.
Marriage described as equilateral triangle with God at the top and husband and wife at the bottom corners. As they individually grow closer to God (at the apex) then they grow closer to each other.

Mrs. Mary’s walk started when her neighbor invited her to church.
After Mr. Tom became a Christian, he felt called to ministry. 
God worked in Mrs. Mary. She prayed, “I don’t know you yet, so You’re gonna have to do something for me right now. I do believe in You, but I don’t KNOW You. I can’t leave without knowing You’re in it.” She had immediate peace and never looked back.
They moved 19 times since they’ve been married.

Mr. Tom declares about God, “He is faithful! Doing exceeding abundantly more than all we can imagine.”
Mr. Tom graduated without a penny of student debt. The Lord just provided.

1 Peter 3:1-7 Marriage verses

The first time Mrs. Mary heard the gospel was when she was 26 years old.

Marriage takes commitment, no matter what you go through.
She learned at an early age: get in my room on my own, stomp my feet, and tell the devil where to go. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

God has held us together.
The woman is to respect her husband and let him know she loves him and believes in him. She should not let anyone talk about him and not discuss with others when things aren’t the best. It take
sacrifice, commitment, and staying true to the marriage and the road I have chosen.

Disagreements come but they aren’t going to end it all because you don’t make divorce an option.
Their marriage has been rooted in Christ and in the church. They have ministered together throughout their marriage. The find joy in community, fellowship in the church, gathering, and praying for each other.

We agree to disagree. “Sometimes he gets on every nerve I have and then some that I don’t have.”
There’s no such thing as a perfect marriage. When trials come through ministry and marriage, always go to the Lord. Have your identity in Christ first, then Christ in your marriage and ministry.

Handling conflict: sometimes just agree to disagree and don’t expect your partner to think the same way you do. Men and women think and do things differently.

When they first got married, he said he would come right out and tell her if he was upset. She said she would pout. Now she just gets quiet.

“Your husband cannot and will not meet all of your emotional needs. That’s why women have friends so they can talk with them about things that men are not inclined to understand.”
Women like to do relationship face to face (talking to each other/communicating). Men like to do relationship side by side (working together).

The hard part was saying goodbye to church families and saying goodbye to children going to college. The blessings were in baptizing children and grandchildren, preaching ordination sermons for his son and son in law. There were many more highs than lows.

Advice to the younger generations: “Be more patient.”
“Wait on God to move in His time. I wish I would have learned back then what I’m learning now. God is so faithful. Stay together. God is the glue that can hold you together when everything around you in falling apart. Stay the course. God has a purpose. Stay together and don’t give that up for anything in the world. Hold on. Be still. Hold His hand. He will carry you through the storms. Give me God.”

What do you want your spouse to remember about you: 
“I love her. I don’t always show it, but I do.” 
“I love him. I think I loved him the first time I saw him but I didn’t think I had a chance because he was so good looking. Whatever we’ve gone through it’s all been worth it.”

Mrs. Mary’s favorite verse: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Mr. Tom’s favorite verse: 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.