Make 2016 The Best For Your Marriage

New Year means a new start. A fresh set of dates on the calendar reminds us of the goals we want to set in our health, careers, finances, etc. One of the most important areas to set New Years Resolutions in is in the area of our marriage.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93963757@N05/

One of the interesting things about relationship goals if that making the smallest changes in our interaction with our spouse can make a huge difference long-term in our happiness, well-being, health and finances.

We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. Proverbs 16:9

Here are sixteen tips for a better marriage in 2016!

You Have To Be The One Who Goes First!

Lance and Claire were stuck in the blame game. Both were waiting for the other to show them that they were loved. They were basically domestic partners and parents, living totally different lives while in the same house.

During the Marriage Saving Intensive, Claire told us about how Lance had never really shared what was going on in his heart. “After 18 years of marriage, I know more about how my dog feels about things than I know what Lance cares about.” She was miserable and blamed her husband for her unhappiness.

Lance felt like there was a bait and switch. He told us that their love life was wonderful as they began their relationship, but “she has a wall up in our love life. I have leaned to just get through, because I don’t have a wife who wants me in any way.”   He told us that unless she changes, he is not willing to make any changes.

“So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.” Hebrews 12-17 (MSG)

Your Best Year Ever 2016

Your Best Year Ever 2016

Workshop

Goals   Focus   Vision

This 3 session workshop with Les Herron and Roy Wooten wil help you:

  • Come Alive in 2016
  • Break Through Barriers
  • Find The Path to Your Best You
  • Have More and Do What You Love
  • Create a New You In a New Year
  • Turn your dreams into reality.
  • Put your faith into action.

Every participant who completes the workshop will leave with a detailed plan, including accountability, to make 2016 the year they finally do what they have always dreamed of doing!

Wednesdays   7:00-9:00PM

January 13, 20, 27, 2016

Special Pricing The Earlier You Purchase

The three sessions included for one price:  $90/person or $150/couple.

The Presenters:

Les Herron

Les Herron has served the local church for over 25 years.  He has held ministry and leadership positions in churches, daycares and private Christian Schools. Les really cleaned up on his first church job as a janitor in 1978 at Grants Pass Assembly in Oregon and has been helping people clean up and get rid of junk ever since. His speaking and leadership style is open, fresh and relational.   You will be engaged and challenged, as well as motivated to change the way you think and live.

Les holds a BA in Communications, as well as an M. Ed. with high honors.  He is a certified leadership coach with The Center for Coaching Excellence and is in process of gaining credentials thru the International Coaching Federation (Spring 2016). Currently he is a pastor, speaker and leadership coach living in Houston, Texas.  He is the author of Daily Prayer Thoughts and Positive ID, both available thru Amazon.

Les and his wife Kresha have been married for over 30 years.  They have a son named Zeke and Victoria is their little girl.  Les loves to read, write, take pictures and travel.   He has visited 49 of the 50 states, as well as spoken in Spain, Scotland, Ecuador, Panama and Mexico.   Les will travel with short notice to Hawaii as needed!

Roy Wooten

Roy Wooten is one of the “real life” football players from the era that the movie Friday Night Lights was based upon, but he is best known for helping thousands of people improve their relationships through humorous, transformational and inspirational retreats, seminars and workshops. He and his wife, Devra are co-authors of “The Secret to Lifetime Love”, “Life Together Forever Marriage Enrichment Curriculum”, and many others. He is also the author of, “Full Throttle Into Fatherhood” for young and expectant fathers.

He is a much sought after speaker and has presented on platforms such as the National Head Start Conferences, National Association of Marriage and Relationship Educators, Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapist, Christian Association for Psychological Studies International, and many more. He is a media guest on the subject of relationships and consults with businesses, chambers, schools, churches and nonprofits to strengthen relationships for success. He and his wife have facilitated more than 170 couples weekends and retreats.

He earned his B.S. & M.S. from Abilene Christian University and has carried licenses from Texas Department of Children and Family Services and Texas Board of Examiners of Psychologists. He has over 25 years experience strengthening relationships, including a stint as Administrator of Texas’ largest children’s home and currently serves as the Executive Director and President of Shield Bearer Counseling Centers (www.ShieldBearer.org).

Roy’s passion starts at home where he strives to be the best husband to Devra (since 1988) and father to his two Texas A&M students.

Date: January 13, 2016
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Event: Your Best Year Ever 2016 Goals Vision Focus
Topic: Your Best Year Ever 2016
Venue: The Venue at Cafe Maresse
Location: 11729 Spring Cypress Road
Tomball, TX 77377
Public: Public
Registration: Click here to register.

Can't make the class? Call 281-949-8115 to set up Coaching sessions.

Merry Christmas From The Wootens!

Luke 2:1-20  

Around the time of Elizabeth’s amazing pregnancy and John’s birth, the emperor in Rome, Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census— the first census since Quirinius had become governor of Syria. Each person had to go to his or her ancestral city to be counted.

This political background isn’t incidental: it is crucial to the story. Conquering nations in the ancient world work in various ways. Some brutally destroy and plunder the nations they conquer. Some conquer people as slaves or servants. Other empires allow the people to remain in their land and work as before, but with one major change: the conquered people have to pay taxes to their rulers. The purpose of a census like the one Luke de-scribes is to be sure that everyone is appropriately taxed and knows who is in charge.

4-5 Mary’s fiancé Joseph, from Nazareth in Galilee, had to participate in the census in the same way everyone else did. Because he was a descendant of King David, his ancestral city was Bethlehem, David’s birthplace. Mary, who was now late in her pregnancy that the messenger Gabriel had predictedaccompanied Joseph. While in Bethlehem, she went into labor and gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough because the inn had no room for them.

Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!

Messenger: 10 Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. 11 Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! 12 You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.

13 At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.

14 Heavenly Choir: To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God!
    And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!

15 As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.

Shepherds: Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about!

16 So they ran into town, and eventually they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, 17 they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child. 18 Everyone who heard their story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. 19 Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had seen and heard, and they glorified God for the way the experience had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger had predicted.

(VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

How To Call Time Out Unilaterally

This is part 5 of a 5 part series on Time Outs excerpted from our book, “The Secret to Lifetime Love”.

What if you need to take a Time Out because you are triggered or you are seeing the person in front of you is triggered? What should you do if they have not been trained how to take a time out. This is the last post in our series on what to do when you are the only one trained in how to take a Time Out.

If I Need To Take A Time Out But The Other Person Has Not Read This Book

How To Finish A Time Out

This is part 4 of a 5 part series on Time Outs excerpted from our book, “The Secret to Lifetime Love”.

As soon as you have agreed to when the Time Out will be concluded, you should make sure to keep your end of the agreement and return to the conversation at the scheduled time and place. The next Time Out rule is to do just that.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. Proverbs 15:2 (NIV)

Return to Conversation as Scheduled

Calm Down During A Time Out

This is part 3 of a 5 part series on Time Outs excerpted from our book, “The Secret to Lifetime Love”.

When either of you ask for a timeout, it is important that both of you work together to find out when the time out will be concluding. The next Time Out rule is to do just that.

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. Proverbs 15:18 (NIV)

State an Estimated Time to Continue the Discussion

How To Call A Time Out

This is part 2 of a 5 part series on Time Outs excerpted from our book, “The Secret to Lifetime Love”.

When you know that either your spouse or you have become emotionally triggered, it is important that you begin the process immediately of implementing a Time Out.

Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace. Proverbs 15:18 (The Message)

Communicate the Request for a Time Out

How To Tell When You Or Your Spouse Needs A Time Out

This is part 1 of a 5 part series on Time Outs excerpted from our book, “The Secret to Lifetime Love”.

What do you do when you are triggered but you need to solve the issue? We have found through our own experience and through the experience of working with thousands of couples that we need to find a way to separate and cool down. Cooling down helps us calm ourselves and allow the thinking part of our brain to catch up to the feeling part of our brain. We call it a Time Out.

A hot-headed person stirs up trouble, but one with patience settles a fight. Proverbs 15:18 (Voice)

Time Out Rules

Which Set of In-Laws For Christmas?

The Annual Debate About Where To Spend The Holidays

Shannon and Katie emailed us about an annual argument they are having. Every year as the holidays approach Shannon’s parents pressure him to nail down their holiday plans and include as much time as they can with them. Katie’s parents decide the details about their holidays the week before which means Katie has a hard time contributing to the planning.

“Holiday stress is high enough without all the pressure of trying to not hurt anyone’s feelings,” Katie shared. “I wish there was an easy way to figure it out and make everyone happy,” Shannon added.

Holidays Are Stressful