Torch, Winter 1990

llnless the Lord Builds the House • • • by Tim and Amy DeCook Royer 1989 graduates of Cedarville College Courtesy of Cammeraad Photography D ecember 10, 1988, is the day we became a family. That day we gave our lives wholly to each other, and, with that commitment, we began a building process that will continue throughout our marriage. We like to compare this process of building a family to that of building a house. In building a house we must have blueprints to guide us through the building process. Tim: Proverbs 24:2-3 states, "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." Amy: Just as blueprints must be approved according to codes and standards, the blueprints for our f amity must be based on God's Word and adhered to . As a solid foundation is absolutely necessary in the construction of a quality home, so does a family need a solid foundation. We consider ourselves blessed of God because we are members of godly families that consistently modeled for us what a Christian family truly is. When a couple begins a marriage, they bring into the union "materials" and "tools," some positive and some nega– tive. If these are not sorted out before– hand, the negatives eventually will surface and can be detrimental to the foundation of the home. When we reached the point of considering mar– riage, we took a good look at our past Tim is taking graduate work at Psychological Studies Institute, Georgia State University. Amy serves as a nurse at Henrietta Elgeston Hospital for Children.