Be a Blessing

Ancient Words From Peter For Your Marriage Today!

In 1 Peter 3:1-14, here are the ancient words of wisdom for husbands and wives of today, as interpreted in The Message.

“The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.

Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.

The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.”

How Your Brokenness Is Breaking Your Marriage

We have witnessed horrible brokenness in marriage over the years. In our full day Marriage Intensive, we sit with a couple as they share their brokenness.

Most of the time, we are unable to deal with the brokenness that brings them into our office until we work through some of the brokenness from the past. The affair, financial mistrust, lack of passion and love, and hurtful language and actions are frequently the results of some wounding much earlier in life that has been carried into the marriage.

Wounded Places

How Cultural Differences Impact Marriage

It is a beautiful thing to watch when two people fall in love. Over the course of several months, our friend’s love interest becomes all they can talk about. Finally we meet them and see for the first time how much in love the two are. We love watching our friends begin their healthy, life long relationships!

At our last Life Together Forever Weekend, we enjoyed seeing couples from various cultures together in one huge conference room. Watching cultures interact was fun for us. Many couples in attendance were married across cultures. In fact, we believe there is rarely a couple who came from the same culture.  Even if you grew up in the same race, ethnicity, neighborhood, church, etc., as your spouse, there are things about your culture that are different from your spouse’s.

Cultural Differences Are Exciting Early In Relationships

“There was a time when everyone on the earth spoke the same language.” Genesis 11:1 (VOICE)

A Special Post for Single & Step Parents

Every once in a while a friend of Life Together Forever will ask us to write something for singles in their lives. We do our best to champion Life Together Forever. We are unashamedly committed to strengthening marriages and preventing divorce. However, this week’s article will be one that you can share with anyone who is a single or step parent.

A dear friend of ours, Jayna Haney, has been speaking and writing on the subject of blending families for years. We recommend signing up for her blog and email notifications if you have ever divorced or have children who are not being raised by both parents in your home.

Before You Marry Again

Why Marriage Is So Important

Marriage is vitally important to individuals, families, churches and society.

Research reveals a long list of benefits of being in a healthy marriage.

  • Married couples have greater sexual satisfaction than singles or cohabitating couples.
  • Married couples have better mental and physical health.
  • Married couples volunteer more.
  • Married couples make more money and have more financial assets than non-married couples.
  • Married couples live longer.

It does not surprise us that when couples live the way God intended, He blesses them. Any other way to do relationships will not be blessed by God.

If a husband and wife are one flesh, how can they divorce? Divorce would be a bloody amputation, would it not? “What God has brought together, let no man separate.”

Loving Your Spouse to the Very End

When we took our vows, we promised to love each other in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, forsaking all others, until death do we part. We have shared in sermons and in our Life Together Forever seminars that it is our heart’s desire to be with each other to the very end. To wake up one morning and have a discussion about whether or not Roy has the right upper dentures. To chase each other around the room with our walkers. We want to be there for each other for the very end.

We happened to be worshipping at our home church, Christbridge Fellowship in Tomball, when Pastor Rick Brown shared an awesome video with us that exemplifies this type of love. It is called, What is Love. Watch this brief video.

Over the years we have met many spouse’s like Bill, spouses who keep their vows and love their spouse so much that they are with them to the very end.   What an incredible love!

Ministers Only: Here’s How to Protect Your Ministry

The call from the chair of the deacons of a church with regular attendance over 2,500 announced their pain in simple words. “Our pastor has failed his church, his marriage, his family and himself. I don’t know what to do.”

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. I Timothy 4:16 NIV