Leave & Cleave: The Recipe for a Fruitful & Sustained Marriage

By Dr. Sally Nwafor

There is a fascinating and real desire in every man and woman's heart to desire and be desired; to love and be loved by someone else. This desire creeps through childhood where a person experiences care, love, direction, and some level of nurturing to having friends, then best friends, and confidant without realizing that driving force behind the actions is the desire not to be alone. As people mature, the desire is intensified by the family pressure and societal expectations to be committed to one person in marriage and starting a new family. Marriage is quite a big step for many as they ponder in their hearts who to commit to, what the cost of the commitment will be, and the benefit of commitment. Everyone wants to make the right choice for the first time by marrying the right person. This book provides an inspirational guide on what to look for in a spouse, how to prepare for the life-changing journey in marriage, and what to do after saying “I do”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664139947

Dr. Sally Nwafor

Dr. Sally Nwafor (Dr. Sal) is a wife, mother, an international minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a healthcare administrator/Consultant, and a soccer mom. She obtained her bachelor's degree from Lewis University, a master's degree from North Park University, and a doctorate from Walden University. Her love for writing started with policy developments, dissertations, and finally, putting down her mentoring, counseling, and coaching abilities across the age spectrum in this debut book. Dr. Sal's writing has been published in ProQuest and Scholar works. She has been married for 30 years and counting to a wonderful, loving, and patient man. Together, they have overcome many life-altering challenges in marriage and life, ranging from long-distance relationships to conquering cancer. She is passionate about sustaining relationships and marriages where people live out their dreams while raising a godly family together. She currently lives in the Chicagoland area and in Windsor, Canada, where she works, mentors people, counsels couples, and raising her family.

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Copyright © 2020 by Dr. Sally Nwafor.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

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Rev. date: 11/03/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

821831

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Journey Towards Discovery

Finding the Right One for You

Chapter 2 Preparing To Leave

Chapter 3 Dimensions of Leaving

Physically Leaving For A Marriage

Social Leaving

Emotional Leaving

Spiritual Leaving

Chapter 4 Who is Worth Leaving for?

Chapter 5 The Art of Cleaving

The benefit of unity in body and purpose in marriage

Advantage of fruitfulness and multiplication in marriage

Replenish and dominate.

Chapter 6 Now I Do, Then What?

Keeping the new life vibrant

Your union is your first child

About The Author

DEDICATION

T HIS BOOK IS dedicated to everyone who believes in the institution of marriage as ordained by the Almighty God who is the orchestrator of marriage, the author, and the finisher of this book. Also, to my husband – Gibson Nwafor – who initiated our marriage journey and has sustained the race with his undeniable love, understanding, provision, and dedication to me. Finally, I dedicate this book to everyone, everywhere who desires to enter, work on, and sustain an enjoyable and fruitful marriage.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T HE COMPLETION OF this book would not have been possible without the direct and personal teaching of the Holy Spirit and the opportunity to learn through living what is written in this book. I am grateful to Pastor Oliver Akano who, even without him knowing, taught me the power of visions. This book is a product of one of those visions. I would like to especially thank Pastor Ezra Ayo-Olaniyan, a friend and a brother that God sent to my family to motivate, guide, and uplift us without reservation. Pastor Ezra is a father and a Pastor sent to impact cross-generational believers. I would like to thank my siblings for the opportunity to mentor and counsel them from my inspiration, knowledge, and experience before, during, and after they became married. I extend my gratitude to my church family at Restoration House, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, which is a place I call home and where my family was welcomed. Most importantly, I am grateful to my husband, whose love and guidance are with me in whatever I pursue. He is the wind beneath my wings. Finally, I wish to thank my wonderful children, Wisdom, Glory, and Josh, who provide me with unending inspiration to want to do me and set an example that the sky is only a stepping ground towards greatness.

INTRODUCTION

H UMAN BEINGS ARE social beings and desire interactions and relationships at different levels to sustain hope, sanity, and to find happiness. Secondary only to the relationship between a man and his maker is the intimacy between a man and a woman in the context of marriage. Although marriage is not meant for all, those that enter into the covenant of married will need to equip themselves with the secrets that make for a successful marital relationship. The secret to an enjoyable, not an endurable, and fruitful marriage is knowing and agreeing with someone on most of the fundamental core values such as faith, religion, family, parenting, and finances. All these values are rooted in having faith and believing in the word of God who, by the way, designed and defined marriage. In the beginning, God created them, male and female, in His image, to be creative just like the creator, fruitful, multiply the image of God on earth, replenish, and dominate. Believe it or not, that is the summation of the reason for marriage. Therefore, one must