Marriage & Family: Marriage
Helping couples grow their marriage through biblical principles
while living in the real world with real issues.
Sort By:
Keeping up Appearances
When I was a newlywed, my mentor gave me this advice: Never speak negatively about your husband or marriage. This seemed simple enough. Anyway, what negative thing could I possibly say about my darling soul mate or my blissful union?
Quit laughing.
In the years since, there have been times when I've been grateful for that advice—as I bit my lips to keep from joining in laughter-filled husband-bashing ...
Related Topics: Honesty, Marriage, Strengthening, Support
Sex as Sacred
Television host Bill Maher, known for his political commentary, in 2001 discussed some "rules for relationships" on his show Politically Incorrect. With three women guests on the panel, he said, "Don't [gripe] about porn."
When they asked what he meant, he responded, "Unless you [women] are willing to give us sex whenever we want, you don't have the right to gripe if we use pornography."
After hearing ...
Related Topics: Marriage, Pornography, sex
Different by Divine Design
...
My friends will talk about how their husbands are sometimes thoughtless or inconsiderate, don't listen like they should, think too much about sex and sports, aren't as compassionate as they could be, want to have sex rather than make love, and don't put the toilet seat down as they should.
From the other side, I often hear my male friends complain about the way their wives drive, that they can't ...
Related Topics: Communication, Conflict, Differences, Marriage, Compatibility
God's Perfect Marriage Counseling
Driving through Bakersfield on our way home from Thanksgiving, I read billboards to stay awake. They came one after another, then another. Suddenly, on a plain black field with simple white letters, one read: "Need marriage counseling? I'm available. -God."
I laughed out loud.
Loyd, asleep in the passenger seat, roused. "What's so funny?" He rubbed his eyes.
I told him about the billboard and he chuckled ...
Related Topics: Biblical Guidance, Marriage, Strengthened, Scripture
Do You See Me?
I slammed the pan on the counter and watched droplets of spaghetti sauce splash bright red stains on my new white shirt.
"That's just great." I bit my lip and grabbed a paper towel.
Ron slipped out of the recliner and stared at the mess. "Do you need some help?"
Guilt tapped me on the shoulder and kicked my hide your true feelings so you can be a great Christian wife response into high gear. I was exhausted ...
Related Topics: Appreciation, Marriage, Lessons, Service
Flip Sides
When my husband, Pete, and I were first dating, we laughed when we discovered each other's favorite Winnie the Pooh characters. Mine is Eeyore: the sweet, sensitive donkey, quietly munching on thistles and bemoaning the loss of his tail—again. Pete's is Tigger: the scene-stealing, eternally bouncy, silly orange tiger.
Clearly we'd chosen each other wisely.
As with all analogies, this one's not ...
Related Topics: Acceptance, Marriage, Compatibility, Marriage, Lessons, Personality
Together on Holy Ground
I don't know how I fell in love with my husband. It just happened. After 20 years of cautiously dating and agonizing and being afraid to fall for the wrong guy, I dove in headfirst and married David eight months after I met him. Maybe the timing was right. Maybe we were both tired of waiting. I believe it was just meant to be.
Six years later, I still believe it was meant to be. But that doesn't mean ...
Related Topics: Career, Dreams, Finances, Marriage, Strengthening, Money, Sacrifice
The Grace of Confession
Change is all about measuring yourself against a standard, being dissatisfied with where you are because you see that you have fallen short of the standard, and seeking the grace to close the gap from where you are to where you need to be. James likened the Word of God to a mirror (James 1:22-25) into which we can look and see ourselves as we actually are.
It is impossible to overstate how important ...
Related Topics: Change, Positive, confession, Grace, Growth
I Want to Grow Old With You
"Loyd, I don't need to take my cell phone, do I?" I slipped my purse strap onto my shoulder and looked at my phone in its charger.
"No, I have mine." He held it up.
"You won't leave me, right?" I smiled and poked his ribs.
"No way." He gathered me in his arms. "You took all the best of me, so come get the rest of me."
I buried my face in his chest and hugged him back. "Wow, that was good. Did you think ...
Related Topics: Aging, Faithfulness, Marriage, Commitment to, Time
Suffering Together
I'm not sure how long Jeramy and I sat in the hospital parking lot. It might have been fifteen minutes; it could have been forever. The bitter cold of Colorado winter wrapped its arms around our silver Jetta, scattering ice crystals on the windows. Maybe on a different night they would have been beautiful to me.
For me, any response to the world would have been a welcome relief. I hadn't been able ...
Related Topics: Marriage Struggles, Mental illness, pain, Suffering
back to top
