I wrote a (mercifully) short eBook about marriage. To be specific, it's about the top 10 things I wish I knew before I said, "I do."

Now, just so we're clear, my wife still loves me. I checked with her yesterday, and she confirmed she's still happy being married to me. So this isn't a cry for help. 

While she and I are still heartily in love, experience has shown us that "being in love" is not enough to sustain a marriage long term. You need insight. You need communication. You need to throw out every romantic movie you've ever watched. You need cash! ...and you need a wealth of other insights I'll get to in a moment. 

My wife and I also have godly wise mentor couples who have invested in our marriage and who would agree with our conclusion. They've been married longer than we've been alive and they know stuff. Their insights have been factored into this downloadable eResource you're about to digest. 

To really shake things up though, I sent out a survey to over a hundred couples asking the simple question, "What's the one thing you wish you knew before you said I do."? Some of the responses were hilarious, some were encouraging, some were shockingly alarming, but most were incredibly insightful. I have compiled, analyzed and filtered their responses through the scriptures to present to you what you are about to read. 

As you download the free eBook and read along, I’ll sometimes get real personal. I'll sometimes sound preachy. I’ll sometimes say stuff just for shock value. Some of it will be profoundly insightful. Some of it will be stuff you already know. Some of it will be very “Shegzy” (stuff that only I would say….cos that’s just how I roll!). As you read, I hope you laugh. I hope you cry [preferably from laughing so hard]. I hope you’re encouraged.  I hope it challenges you into making some healthy adjustments in your relationship choices. I hope it encourages you to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Most of all, I hope it helps you have a happy, healthy, godly relationship that goes the distance!

Here's a screenshot of the chapter titles so you have an idea of what you're in for:

Here's an excerpt from the chapter on Wedding day expecations:

+++ "I’m not quite sure when it happened, but at some point, pop culture hijacked the sacred union of marriage and created a whole new breed of superwomen called, “Bridezillas” (brides, and more recently in culture, grooms whose superpower is the amazing ability to be repulsively selfish). If I’m speaking to you [you know who you are], then hear me on this: When the season arrives and you’re about to start making major wedding plans, keep in mind that your wedding day is first and foremost a holy moment that involves a covenant promise between you, your spouse, and God. "

It’s for this very reason that an ordained pastor will stand before you and your spouse, saying these words: “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God, in the presence of family, and in the face of this company to join this man and woman in HOLY matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted by God to signify the mystical union that is between Jesus Christ and the church…” and so on. As you can already see, this takes your wedding day out of the realm of “me” and places it in the realm of “we”. 

God is a God of families. In the scriptures, we find Him working in people’s lives for the benefit of whole families, sometimes, even generations of families. So, know this: Your wedding day is every bit about God bringing two families together as one, as much as it is about you two!" 

Beyond that theological observation, there’s also a practical aspect to two families coming together on your wedding day that pays off great dividends. Literally.  In case you still didn’t catch that, I am talking about CASH! Plenty of which you will need to have the kind of wedding you’re envisioning." +++