Successful Marriage
Essays
Making the most of living with extended family
1/8/13In current times, more and more people are pooling their resources together and living with extended family members. Some of the reasons include financial assistance, childcare, and providing care for elderly or sickly family members. Whatever the reason, living with one’s family can be a great experience if approached with the right mindset. However, if expectations, financial agreements, and general house rules are not laid out beforehand, the lack of communication can lead to disagreements…
Are Marriages 50/50 relationships?
7/11/12
I once met a young man who insisted marriage ought to be a 50/50 relationship. He dug into his position, and would not listen to my counter-arguments. Each spouse must contribute half, he said, or the deal is off. He was convinced that any other…
Invest in Your Marriage (It’s Bigger than the Wedding)
4/26/12
If money spent is an indication of value, you would think that, for most, the wedding is much more important than the marriage. Any of the TV wedding shows display ridiculous amounts of money going into a spectacular ceremony and party. Every bride wants her…
Why Do We Fight?
6/26/11
Have you ever had a big argument over a small matter? An explosion over a late dinner or another empty toilet-paper roll? We argue about trivial things because they represent bigger, more emotional issues. Too often we argue about the details and never quite get…
Devotions
Your Most Dangerous Weapon
5/23/11 Read Scripture Verse: James3:9-10
Our tongues are a dangerous weapon. What power there is in something so small! The tongue is a difficult thing to tame. We know the pain of having been called names or labeled in a less that kind way. Those things impact us deeply and…
Don’t Run: Honoring God in Conflict
5/18/11 Read Scripture Verse: John 16:33
Life is so unfair. We hear this complaint all the time. Our culture will tell us that if we are in conflict then our spouse is not our soul mate and we ought to start looking for someone else. The Bible has a very different…
Forgive and Forget?
5/18/11 Read Scripture Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
This is a text that shows up at weddings all the time. It is a beautiful poetic picture of how love ought to look. It strikes us as so idyllic that it is unattainable. In our own strength it is outside of our grasp. We…
Resources
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Fair Fighting Skills as a Predictor of Marriage
Does how well you fight with your spouse predict long-term success in marriage? This article from the Boston Globe highlights research that says handling conflict well is good medicine for your marriage!
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Moments Together for Growing Closer to God
This devotional is an excellent place to being forming a spiritual life together. Just be sure you have a little time, since the questions often lead to great discussions!
