Showered With Wisdom
by Marit Heidbreder
Years ago, as a young newlywed, I wasn’t really sure how to be a good spouse, and I eagerly sought more wisdom than I currently possessed on the topic. To that end, I purchased the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas at a large mall’s Christian bookstore. While browsing some other stores within the mall, I surprisingly realized that I no longer had the small bag with my newly purchased book. As I retraced my steps, I finally found the store in which I had accidentally mislaid my small plastic bookstore bag. The whole time I searched for my missing book, I was wondering if whoever found it might keep it for themselves rather than turn it in to the lost and found. But I’ll always remember the clerk’s response when I inquired about my missing book. “Oh yes!! We have that right here for you!” she exclaimed while she shoved the small bag my direction. “NO ONE wants to read that book!” I guess I could see what she meant as the tag line read, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”
This anecdote recently came to my mind a few weeks ago as I had the joy of attending a bridal shower for my oldest son’s fiancée. Some of the following wisdom was shared by her family and friends during the event:
Don’t go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26
Look for the humor in daily life together. Proverbs 17:22
In humility, put your spouse’s preferences above your own. Philippians 2:3-4
Don’t “should” your spouse, but show them your love and respect. Ephesians 5:33
Be slow to anger and don’t keep reminding your spouse of their past failures. 1 Corinthians 13:5
Be full of kindness and forgive easily, as God forgives you. Ephesians 4:32
Love each other well, as love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Keep an attitude of thankfulness regardless of your circumstances, stay hopeful, be patient with one another, and make a habit of praying together. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Romans 12:12
The point was made that marriage is not always an easy road, and relying on God’s Word and truth would be critical to weathering life’s storms. Biblical marriage is one of God’s primary tools to help us become more Christ-like and holy, as further explained in the book Sacred Marriage. In due course, as Christian couples focus on their spiritual maturity through the sanctification process and character growth, they uncover a deeper, more profound happiness than their worldly counterparts, who tend to make fulfilling their own personal desires the goal of their marriage. The refining process of our character can be painful and difficult, yet it is a worthwhile pursuit as we desire to reflect Jesus more than ourselves.
As someone who has been married for over two decades, I can honestly say that I am still being refined as a spouse. The Biblical advice that was shared at the bridal shower is still applicable to me, as I haven’t perfected living it out, as my husband can attest. But I have certainly grown a lot since my days as a newlywed, and I am grateful that God is not finished with me yet!
I am so thankful for the blessing of Biblical marriage and the gift that it has been in my life to bring great joy and help me grow closer to Jesus. I’m thrilled for my son and his future wife as they prepare to enter this sacred covenant together as well! At a time when marriage rates among young adults are at historic lows, it warms my heart to see couples who are actively pursuing this sacred covenant!
May we all continue to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus so we can reflect Him better through our marriages and families to a world that desperately needs His love and truth.
Ticket Sales End May 1st for NDFA's 2026 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala!
The 2026 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala hosted by North Dakota Family Alliance is coming up soon! The Gala will be on Tuesday, May 5th at 7:30 pm at the Fargodome. Our keynote speaker for the event will be Steve Green, with special music provided by Capstone Classical Academy Choir!
Tickets are still available at $75 for a limited time HERE.
For table sponsorships, please call 701-355-6425
Seats are filling up fast! Get tickets while you can!
Ticket sales end May 1st.
About Steve Green
President of Hobby Lobby / Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Museum of the Bible / Celebrated Author of Multiple Books
Steve Green became President of Hobby Lobby in 2004, and helped to grow the family business to more than 1,000 stores in 48 states, employing over 46,000 people with over $8.3 billion in annual sales in 2025. He speaks on business and philanthropy, focusing on how his faith intersects with his life endeavors.
As Chairman of the Board of the Museum of the Bible, Steve has assembled a team of academics, designers, technology professionals, and other experts to create the 430,000-square-foot museum, dedicated to a scholarly and engaging presentation of the Bible's impact, history, and narrative. The museum opened in November 2017 in Washington, DC, near the U.S. Capitol, and saw approximately one million visitors during its first year.
Green is the author of Faith in America (2011), The Bible in America (2013), and This Beautiful Book (2019) and co-author of This Dangerous Book (2017) with his wife, Jackie. Steve and Jackie have been married for over 41 years and reside in Oklahoma City. They have a son, five daughters, a daughter-in-law, three sons-in-law, and twelve grandchildren. They are active in their local church and support many Christian charities.
About Capstone Classical Academy Choir
Capstone Classical Academy Choir is comprised of singers from Capstone Classical Academy, the new Classical Christian School in Fargo, ND. Many of these 6th through 10th-grade scholars participate in the NDHSAA Regional and State Music Vocal Contests as soloists and ensemble members and have earned the highest ratings of achievement at these events. The Choir is under the direction of Aaron Zinter, who teaches both Choral Music and Mathematics at Capstone.
We look forward to welcoming Steve to North Dakota, and hope you’ll make plans to join us at the 2026 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala!
PS: If you're interested in sharing this event with your friends, family, or others, we've attached the 8.5 x 11 event poster HERE for you to use.
Let Us Not Grow Weary
by Jacob Thomsen
Every Monday at NDFA, we begin the week with a devotional, prayer, and a time to discuss what is coming up. This past Monday, Marit presented a devotional on perseverance, and it resonated deeply with me.
I’ve always been a sports guy, if you couldn’t tell, and I firmly believe that sports directly correlate to life and our Christian faith. They are a great equalizer, bringing people from every background together to attempt to achieve a common goal. I’ve played sports my whole life, and I certainly recognize that some of the greatest achievements, in sports and life, come through perseverance.
For the golf fans out there, you’ll know that this past weekend was The Masters Tournament. This is the most exclusive and prestigious golf event of the year, and for many of us, it signifies that now is officially the time to get back out on the course (provided there is no snow on the ground). This year’s finish was a tremendous example of perseverance.
Rory McIlroy held the largest lead in Masters history going into the third round, which is no small feat on what is well known as a very difficult course. He entered the fourth, and final round in the lead, but quickly fell all the way to a tie for fourth place about a third of the way through his round.
Despite past struggles and the immense pressure of the moment, he fought back to the lead and ultimately won by a single stroke. On a stage such as this, given the circumstances, it was a remarkable display of perseverance.
Another example of perseverance in sport is a bit more personal. As many of you know, I played college football for 5 seasons at the University of Mary here in Bismarck. This was one of the most challenging things I have done in my life.
Early on, one of my closest friends left the team and moved away. I was also three and a half hours away from my girlfriend, and the physical and mental demands were unlike anything I had experienced. To make matters worse, we also didn’t win very much – a total of 3 games through my first two seasons.
There were plenty of moments when quitting felt like the easiest option. I could work more hours at my job, I could have a schedule that was far more open, I could have more fun, frankly, and I could avoid the constant pressure and expectations that came with being part of the team. There were many late-night phone calls with my mom, lamenting the problems that I had throughout my time playing college football.
Deep down, though, I knew something important: quitting would have been easy, which is exactly why it wasn’t the right choice. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty…” I have found that statement to be remarkably true. In football, I grew greatly in perseverance, built lifelong friendships, and experienced something that shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time.
In the book of James, chapter 1, verse 12 says, “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” When we persevere through trials out of our love for Him, we bring Him glory.
This same principle applies beyond just sports. It also applies directly to the work we do in public policy. Throughout the process of getting bills passed that advance our Biblical values, there are many points at which it would be ten times easier to just throw in the towel and quit. Especially when it gets to the point where you must fight for every single inch. Just like Teddy said, though, nothing worth doing is easy.
I would argue that everything NDFA fights for is worth it. From the sanctity of life to the protection of the family, every bill we engage in today will affect North Dakotans for generations to come. This is why perseverance is not optional. We must remain steadfast, continuing to do what is right even when it is difficult. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up,” Galatians 6:9.
Let this be an encouragement to you in your own life and faith. Whatever trials you may face, do not grow weary in doing good. Perseverance is rarely easy, but it is always worthwhile.
Do You Know Who My Father Is?
I was talking with one of our board members not long ago, and she mentioned that I seemed to feel comfortable “marketing” NDFA. She thought it was great that I didn’t hesitate to ask ministry partners for financial support, legislators for votes, public policy leaders to speak at our conferences, etc. I thanked her but had to admit to myself that sometimes it was hard to “get going” on these things. However, she was mostly correct, and much of it now comes naturally. I have my parents to thank for that.
When I was young, I had to work to get money for things I wanted to buy. There was no allowance or way to work at my dad’s place of business to earn money, although, in the interest of full disclosure, he would give me a little money for filing his sermons and notes each year (he subscribed to the pile method of filing). Nevertheless, Mom and Dad wanted me to earn my own money. How did you do that in the 1970s? By selling door-to-door.
Keep in mind that this was before parents recognized the potential dangers of sending their child into the wilds of the neighborhood unaccompanied and without means of electronic tracking. Then again, we also rode without seat belts, settled arguments with fist fights at recess, and drank from the garden hose on hot summer days. What can I say? It was either a time period marked by tougher kids, less informed decision-making on the part of parents, or maybe some combination of those.
So off I went at the ripe age of 9 to sell various items door to door, and I sold the most diverse items you can imagine. At one time or another I sold greeting cards, wrapping paper, light bulbs, air fresheners, 5-gallon buckets, jewelry, corn, and many other critical household items I no longer remember. However, one item was particularly unique: the Psalter Hymnal used by the Christian Reformed Church.
My father, a pastor serving one of the local Christian Reformed churches, thought it would be a good idea for me to peddle hymn books. While this might seem strange, it actually made some sense. We lived in a small town, populated with families of Dutch descent who were members of either Reformed or Christian Reformed denominations, so it was a pretty good bet that their church used the hymnal. Nevertheless, I can understand today why some households didn’t want to own their own precious copy of the hymnal.
Selling door-to-door taught me many things, but two critical things were: how to face rejection, and how to turn rejection into an opportunity whenever possible. If the person at the door declined to buy a hymnal, I would casually ask them, “Do you know who my father is?” I sold an unprecedented number of hymnals that way, snatching a refused sale from the jaws of defeat. It worked great, until my parents heard what I was up to. The hymnal sales ended abruptly, and I was told sternly to move on to selling other items.
That little phrase, “Do you know who my father is?” was like sending in the cavalry at the last minute before defeat. Nobody wanted the news to get around that they didn’t buy a Psalter Hymnal from the preacher’s son. Looking back, I can only imagine all the hymnals in people’s homes covered with a layer of dust as evidence of being blackmailed by a 9-year-old. To all who bought a hymnal, thank you. For those of you who bought one out of guilt, I really thank you.
While talking with my board member, that phrase, “Do you know who my father is?” came to mind. As I reflect on it, I was indirectly telling them that my father was going to hold them accountable in some way for not making the purchase (Poor seats for the service? Higher tithing levels?).
My father passed away a number of years ago, so today the question would mean something very different. It would be asking, “Do you know who my Heavenly Father is?” That’s the more important version of the question.
As with much of life, public policy gets at the values held by those practicing it. In NDFA’s case, that’s biblical values. Asking who our father is explains who has our back. The one who protects, encourages, and disciplines us. The one who pushes us on to greater things and challenges us. For NDFA, that is our Heavenly Father. He would not want NDFA to purport to represent biblical values, but then twist someone’s arm to donate, speak at a conference, attend events, or anything else we do. We know who our Father is, and trusting His care is what matters.
So what happened to those leftover Psalter Hymnals? I honestly don’t know. They were probably lost in one of our family moves, but I hope that someone out there found a dusty box with a few hymnals in it and decided to page through one of them. I hope it made a difference in his life. But perhaps best of all, it was free, compliments of my Father.