Marriage

The other day, I was helping my middle daughter fold her mountain of laundry while listening to 80’s songs (which, to be honest, was part of the reason I was helping her because I love the music from my generation), when my husband came into her doorway with “that face.” Maybe you know the face I am talking about. It’s the face of a question that speaks no words but declares the immediate need for attention. Deep down, I knew we needed some couple time; it was well overdue.Let’s just say raising three daughters, who range in age, poses a bit of a strain on our union at times. So, with a quick wink to my girl, I signaled that she needed to finish her laundry, and I was going to spend some quality time with her dad. Yet, before I walked out of her bedroom, she gently grabbed my arm and asked the sweetest question – How do you stay so in love with dad after all these years?Honestly, it caught me off guard, and I wasn’t really sure how to answer that so jolly on the spot, so my immediate response was, “It takes work.” But, if I were to really dig deeper into that question, I would add that it takes intentionality and humility to submit, serve in love, and allow your own heart to be sanctified.Maybe you have also pondered that question. Whether it be your own marriage or that of another couple you admire, you want to know the blissful secret. Marriage surely is a beautifully complicated relationship, isn’t it? But how often do we address this question, or the quality of our love barometers, when things are good? Better yet, to make it more personal, how do you respond when your marriage has hit a stride and is currently in a “sweet spot”? Well, grab your sweetheart and get ready to open the lines of communication, because we’re going to talk about it!

We need to talk about emotional needs, deep wounds, and other issues that may come between us. Conflict may arise when this happens, but when you are committed to your marriage, you can be assured that you will always work things out.

If you feel your marriage is falling apart, I hope to offer you some ideas for getting back on track. The following ideas are too simplistic for marriages involving abuse. They are intended for those who are growing apart and need help to find their way back to one another.

Some like to think marriage and friendship are best kept in different beds. However, marriage between best friends takes both matrimony and friendship to a whole new level. Here are 5 of the best things about marrying your best friend.

The expression of one’s love and how they receive it was made clearer when pastor Gary Chapman published the book, The Five Love Languages. In this groundbreaking resource, Chapman identified five languages of love; essentially, how people receive and share love.

The most important decision our child can make, apart from the decision to follow Christ, is who they chose as their spouse...In the not too distant future, her dad will walk her down the aisle, and we will release her from the safety and love of our care, into the care of a young man who’s identity we don’t yet know.

With a little bit of focus, enthusiasm, and creativity, in a short time, it is possible to renovate and revive your marriage.

Many Christians worry they’re “settling” if marriage doesn’t feel like a fairy tale. Scripture tells a different story about what truly matters when choosing a spouse.

Usually when couples feel disconnected from one another, the root of the problem is intimacy. Spiritual, emotional, and physical intimacy is the thread that ties couples together. Even if it fades, God has given us ways to rekindle it again.

God has much to say in the Bible about how he wants us to make marriage last forever and the marriage relationship.

It took years to start receiving love and words of affirmation about my body from my husband. To receive love, we must replace rejection with God's revelation.

Marriage is a great friendship, and the Bible has a lot to say about it, but much of what is written is taken out of context or overlooked in the modern world, leading to the proliferation of damaging lies. Here are five myths about marriage that are not biblical.

Many things are expected of us as Christian wives. Foremost, we should be companions and helpmates to our husbands. Everything else should come after that. None of us are perfect. We are human and are all works in progress. If there are some things on this list that you struggle with or are hard for you, it’s okay. The most important thing is to be there for your husband, then your kids, and make sure you spend time with the Lord every day.

It is ever okay for a married couple to separate? What does the Bible have to say about this issue?

A wife of noble character is a woman of faith who brings honor to her husband, family, and, most of all, to God. His ways are her ways. She trusts him as she diligently works to love and serve her family well.