As a new year begins, many people reflect on the past year to evaluate how their year went. As 2010 was coming to a close, Sharon and I came to realize that our relationship was suffering from neglect among other things. If you are not intentional about cultivating your relationship, it will naturally settle into mediocrity—or worse. We had a [...]
We are officially entering the "season of giving". It somehow seems easier during Christmas season to put other's needs before our own and be generous in our giving. We need that same selfless attitude everyday in our marriages if we want to fulfill Christ's purpose for marriage—displaying to a watching world the same selfless love Christ has for His bride, [...]
Most, if not all, married couples will at one point ask themselves, is the honeymoon over? For some that may happen on their honeymoon. For others it may be weeks, months, or years down the road. While "the honeymoon" may be over, the intimacy and connection with our spouse we associate with that "honeymoon" feeling can survive—and thrive—long after that [...]
We were talking with a couple recently who are going through our premarital program and we were discussing the notion that romantic love will fade somewhat over time. In fact, if you're not being intentional about building more intimacy into your marraige, romantic love can just plain disappear! Over time, we can settle for what we think is a "good" [...]
This month's post is a reminder of why God instituted the covenant of marriage in the first place. Though companionship and procreation are certainly important, God primarily designed marriage to give the world a divine picture of Christ's relationship to the church (His bride). We can lose sight of this sometimes and forget that our relationship with our spouse is [...]
Have you ever felt like you had a bullseye on your back? Remember, you're not paranoid if someone really is out to get you. We know him as the "Father of Lies" and he seeks to destroy you and your family. Being the master terminator that he is, rarely will he use a full frontal assault. Instead he gradually chips [...]
Have you ever wondered why some couples just seem to get along better than others? There are a variety of reasons why this happens and no two couples are exactly alike, but Dr. Gottman has found that Healthy Couples have a few things in common—Healthy Habits—that keep their relationship on-track. Its been said that when you get married you should [...]
“Can't we all just get along?” You've heard that phrase numerous times in the movies, in the news—maybe in your own home. This month we're talking about the “C-word”, and I don't mean commitment. Some regard Communication the most important dynamic in marriage. Good communication can enhance intimacy and perpetuate good will and positive feelings. It can minimize conflict, bring [...]
It never ceases to amaze me how different Sharon and I are in personality. We look at life in very different ways. We recently had another "discussion" about how different we are. And yet, despite those differences, we choose to love each other and strive for a more intimate, God-honoring relationship. There's no denying that most marriages are made up [...]
This month we have an excerpt from one of Dr. John Gottman's books, "The Relationship Cure: A 5-Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships." In it we will discover what Dr. Gottman believes is the building block of connecting in relationships. As we learn what goes into creating meaningful connections, we can be more intentional about preventing emotional [...]
