Articles
Quality Time
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- Published on Thursday, 03 May 2012 00:00
In this month's Marriage Minute, Dana and Joy both share their insights on "quality time."
Men, you need to pay attention in your marriage! Your schedules and commitments can get in the way of vitally important time with your wife, if you let them! You know your relationship will likely suffer if you don't spend enough time with her, but how much is enough? While I can't answer that one for you, I can tell you this: this time is precious. In fact, it might be the "secret sauce" that's missing in your marriage!
One, Two or Three?
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- Published on Sunday, 01 April 2012 00:00
One, Two or Three?
By Dave & Carol Hoppe
One, two, or three? In marriage, this is a wonderful progression: a succession from isolation, bitterness and loneliness to that beautiful, glorious, intimate union that comes only from the Lord, which He created and so desires for each one of us.
Two Hearts Beat as One
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- Published on Sunday, 01 January 2012 00:00
“Two Hearts Beat as One”
Vince & Susan Santacesaria
“Two hearts beat as one.” The words on the banner hanging in our room at the Marriage Encounter retreat hit like an armor-piercing bullet. We were to find out later that the banners were distributed to the various couples only after much prayer.
So, this was God’s doing. That message was from God. Perhaps that is why it stung. God has a habit of getting right to the point when we finally open ourselves up to Him and honestly seek His healing in relationships.
Emotional Divorce
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- Published on Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Emotional Divorce
By Ben & Teresa Hiwale
Last month we took a look at marriage as God’s workshop for our character development. Let’s continue to assess the dangers and the problems and look at God’s resource for stability and growth.
Emotional divorce happens when the spouses in a marriage are disconnected from one another. Their marriage looks good from the outside because they’re no longer affecting each other. The warning signs are clear, including putting personal activities, friends, and church involvement before the needs of the spouse. Couples in a state of emotional divorce experience significant emotional distance which undermines relational closeness. At this point deliberate steps must be taken to renew closeness. James 1:5 instructs: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Ask God for the wisdom and insight you need to invest in your marriage. Take time to communicate and give each other undivided attention. This must be specifically prioritized. You need to be pro-active with pursuit. Anything short of these measures is robbing your marriage of the time you need to invest in it.
Who's Got The Time?
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- Published on Thursday, 01 December 2011 15:41
Who’s Got The Time?
by Gregg and Treena Thompson
Hello, saints. I want to take a few moments of your “time” to share some thoughts. Have you ever found yourself saying, “Look at the time?” “Where does the time go?” “There is not enough time in a day.” “I can’t believe it is (this or that) time of year again!” Join the club. Time seems to be one of those precious commodities that there never seems to be enough of. Recently I have had a Scripture on my heart, 1 Peter 4:8:“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” I found myself asking the Lord, “How do I have fervent love for my wife, my children, and for those we serve at church?” The word fervent means without ceasing, and has the idea of a boiling pot of water. I should love without ceasing and as vigorously as possible. Lord, what about my job, my ministry, running the kids everywhere - where is the time to love the way you want me to love? There is a most difficult and simple answer, MAKE THE TIME! Any relationship worth having takes time to cultivate. Treena and I are currently attending the financial class at church, and one of the underlying themes is to learn to control your money so it does not control you. The Lord has been impressing on my heart that this same principle must apply to my time. This article is not due to any great success made in this area, but rather being tired of using circumstances as an excuse for disobedience. Marriages and all relationships are under extreme attack, and if we don’t encourage each other in this battle, time will truly slip away and we will become more statistics for the sad issues of failing marriages in the Church. Here are a few ways to utilize T.I.M.E.
Good Marriages Do Not Just "Happen"
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- Published on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 00:00
Good Marriages Do Not Just “Happen”
Marriage is the most significant means for training a man and a woman to illustrate Christ. It is the first institution that God Himself established (Genesis 2:18,23-25). Every day of marriage is a new adventure in which God is trying to teach us something. God doesn’t necessarily want it to be easy, but if we’re one with another, then we’ll be able to hear what God is saying to us and learn together.
Sometimes we forget in the “everydayness” of life that God cares more about our character than He does about our comfort. In a marriage we’ll continually find areas of our lives together that God wants to use to teach us what it means to love someone sacrificially. Our marriages are to be visible pictures of Christ’s sacrificial love for His church (Ephesians 5:28-32). And for that to occur, we must “die to self” every day of our lives so Christ may live in and through us.