On her excellent website ThinkTrueThoughts, Kristen Hogrefe encourages her readers to do just that! Is there anything more important than thinking true thoughts? Believing truth is what brings joy, inner health, and successful living. This week and next, I am honored to be a guest blogger on Kristen’s site Read more…
We make complicated messes. God gives simple instructions. The enemy tries to confuse and bewilder and overwhelm. We try to figure out the tangled, jumbled-up complexities; but with each broken piece we pick up, we become more perplexed. God gives simple instructions. “Humble yourselves.” We Read more…
Interested in a FUN way to strengthen your relationships, including your marriage? Through an extensive review of studies on productivity and relationships, blogger Eric Barker discovered a common factor. He realized that this one thing strengthened friendships, boosted success in the work place, increased happiness, and strengthened motivation: celebration!¹ In summarizing Read more…
The Seven Rings of Marriage is a new book by a new author. Jackie Bledsoe has a sincere passion to share what he’s learning in his marriage to encourage others in their marriages. His fervency is the strength of this book. The High Value of Marriage I greatly appreciate the high value that Jackie puts on marriage. Read more…
Earlier this month, Gary Smalley crossed the finish line and entered heaven. I was one of the many who were blessed by his writing and speaking. As he ran the race that God had marked out for him, Gary shared some wonderful truths that he was learning along the way. Be a Blessing! Read more…
We live in a world of hurt, don’t we? We are not quite the walking dead, but we are the walking wounded. We know how to feel hurt and how to cause hurt, but who knows how to heal? Mercifully, “the God of all comfort” specializes in healing. As our tender-hearted Read more…
I just spent an hour reading Valentine’s Day cards in a couple stores today. I am quite sure that I will be seeing red hearts when I close my eyes tonight. Spending an hour looking at greeting cards might sound painful to you. But that’s not the pitiful part. The Read more…
In Psalm 18:35, God says that He stoops down to make us great. Isn’t that incredible? I think that also sums up the wonderful message of Christmas: God came down to lift us up. How amazing! I wrote about Psalm 18:35, Christmas, and marriage in “A Christmas Prayer for Our Read more…
A Strategy to Target Bitterness “If I were your enemy, I’d use every opportunity to bring old wounds to mind. … I’d try to ensure that your heart was hardened with anger and bitterness. Shackled through unforgiveness.” (page 151) With this insight, Priscilla Shirer begins her discussion of a prayer strategy Read more…
When God made a covenant with His people at Mount Sinai, He clarified the guidelines which would best nurture a healthy relationship. The Ten Commandments were given as principles which would guard the covenant. Just as there are principles which protect our relationship with God, our Covenant Partner, so there Read more…
Today, I would like to share one last peek into Juli Slattery’s new book, 25 Questions You’re Afraid to Ask about Love, Sex, and Intimacy. Last week, I discussed a couple of those questions about sex and marriage, and today I would like to look at the last two: Chapter 24: How Read more…
Last week, I recommended to you Juli Slattery’s new book, 25 Questions You’re Afraid to Ask about Love, Sex, and Intimacy. Today and again next week, I want to share several of Juli’s gracious answers to those awkward questions. Chapter 1: What’s the big deal about sex? I was interested Read more…
Hot-off-the-presses of Moody Publishers is this new book by Dr. Juli Slattery: 25 Questions You’re Afraid to Ask about Love, Sex, and Intimacy. If Juli’s name is familiar to you, you may recall that Dr. Slattery was Dr. Dobson’s cohost on Focus on the Family from 2010-2012. A clinical psychologist, Juli Read more…
Do you know the traits of a great husband? Do you know where these 7 characteristics are listed in the Bible? I would like to nominate Psalm 23 as “The Husband Chapter” of the Old Testament. The Good Shepherd provides a fantastic model for godly husbands. Click HERE to read more.
There is nothing more awesome than friendship with God! We cannot earn our way to God, but we can accept His amazing proposal to us of unfailing friendship. Here’s how: If you’d like to learn more about having a friendship with God, please feel free to ask. Blessings to you, Read more…
For you today: I would like to share five Scriptures that I pray will be an encouragement, refreshment, and strength to you. When David prepared to meet the fierce giant Goliath, he put five smooth pebbles in his pouch for his slingshot. We need to do the same thing! As we Read more…
I saw War Room last night. This new movie has a fantastic message: PRAY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE! The right way to fight in marriage is by fighting on our knees through prayer. We want to fight for our spouses, not against them. We must ask God to fight the real Read more…
Here’s one that will strengthen your marriage: a 30-day prayer challenge. During the month of September, FamilyLife is offering a “Oneness Prayer Challenge.” For 30 days, FamilyLife will text or email to you a short devotional and prayer that you and your spouse can share together. One of the most Read more…
What are your best marriage tips? I recently listed my top 10 tips for marriage here: 10 Simple-but-Powerful Ways to Build Your Marriage. The article explains each tip, but this chart gives a summary of the ten points: Read more…
Jesus was not the first person to be raised from the dead. His disciples had seen Lazarus walk out of a tomb after being dead for four days. They had seen Jesus lift a dead boy out of his coffin and back into life. But as amazing as those things Read more…
Bitterness can destroy us. We understand that. But do we understand why? Why does our refusal to forgive cause such serious harm to us? Unforgiveness deforms us because it is rooted in a lie. As with all sin, it binds us in spiritual enslavement because bitterness denies the truth that Read more…
What creates the strongest base for an enduring, successful marriage? We try to build our marriages on all kinds of things: on romance, on pleasure, on personal fulfillment, on financial gain, … but our success rate is not very good. The best foundation is actually so solid that it has Read more…
What is true femininity? How can it strengthen our marriages? Recently, I offered my salute to masculinity. Today I would like to honor femininity. Every woman has a great strength to bring to her marriage: the “superpower” of femininity. By femininity, I do not mean pink, ruffles, or lace. It is the great Read more…
Last week, I discussed forgiveness as a “weapon of mass destruction,” recognizing its immense spiritual power. Today, I would like to continue with this theme of forgiveness, evaluating its current popularity as therapeutic self-help. (If you missed last week’s post, you can read it HERE.) ————————————————————- Trendy Self-Help Interestingly, forgiveness has Read more…
The word “fight” is what caught my attention. Fight Back with Joy is Margaret Feinberg’s latest book.[i] As you may know, I am passionate about fighting on our knees for our marriages and families, and I am convinced that worship is a powerful weapon in spiritual battle. When I saw Read more…
Forget your marriage. Forget working on your checklist for the ideal marriage. Instead, focus on your spouse. Trying to achieve a certain kind of marriage can make us crazy. It can be very discouraging. But a lot of that hard work is misdirected energy. We are actually off-target when we Read more…
Perhaps you wore a gorgeous gown or a dashing tux when you stood before God and spoke your vows. You chose someone—out of all the people on the face of the earth—to be “the one” for you. You made noble promises on a glorious day. And then you began the daily Read more…
There is a birthday coming up soon that you will not want to miss! Did you know that “the birthday of the Church” is on May 24 this year? You may know the day better as “Pentecost” or as “the Feast of Weeks.” There are many things that I love Read more…
How does an adult male become a masculine man? As a culture, we do not talk much about masculinity, and our little boys are becoming big boys instead of men. We are seeing more passive males and fewer masculine men. Why is masculinity important? In the beginning, “God created humans Read more…
I often need to recall the basics. Here are the basics of love, as spoken to us by Love Himself, paraphrased by Eugene Peterson. My favorite line is near the end: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. From “the love chapter” (1 Corinthians 13): Love never gives up. Read more…
Here is an amazing verse: Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV) That is not only a command and a statement, but it is also a promise! God is full of love, and He is also full of joy. Not only Read more…
How would you take these two Scriptures concerning marriage and put them together in one illustration? “You husbands must give honor to your wives.” 1 Peter 3:7, NLT “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:22, ESV Author and pastor James Ford puts these two directives Read more…
If you had only a few minutes to share the most important principles about marriage, what would you say? What are the most critical components to understand about marriage? Your Marriage: God’s Masterful Design is my response to those questions. I am excited to share this new resource with you! Many of you received a Read more…
Thank you for your prayers for the “WifeSOS” webinar this week. God blessed us with a wonderful event. As we thank Him for His help, let’s continue to pray that God will use the material to encourage and equip many wives. If you missed the webinar, or would like to Read more…
HOLD: hands and pray together (silently is fine) PRESS: as many kisses as you can LIFT: your spouse up in honor KICK: self-pity to the curb JOG: your memory with things you love about your spouse RUN: your complaints to God PUSH: compliments and encouragement Read more…
You made your list. Now check it twice: have you included a gift for your marriage? I like the idea of celebrating the twelve days of Christmas with my true love. But have you priced a partridge in a pear tree lately? That unique-but-classic gift will cost over $200 this Read more…
Do you know what is even better than being thankful? Being thankful brings many benefits, including improved health and better relationships. But there is something even better than being thankful: giving thanks. Many Americans will take a moment to be thankful this coming Thursday. Perhaps they will even list several things which they appreciate. Read more…
Did you realize that the Old Testament tabernacle has amazing truth for marriages? I share six steps that move us from isolation into intimacy in this article for StartMarrriageRight.com: “Stepping from Isolation into Intimacy.” I would love to hear your thoughts. And as always, you are invited to join Read more…
In her speech at the U.N. headquarters last week, Emma Watson announced the #HeForShe campaign, which encourages men to support women’s rights. I wrote about the new movement, feminism, and marriage in this article for StartMarriageRight.com. Click HERE to continue reading. Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
… Selena! Moody Publishers will be sending to Selena a complimentary copy of Every Reason to Leave, and Why We Chose to Stay Together by Vicki Rose. Selena, be sure to email me ([email protected]) with your mailing address. I pray that this book will be a blessing to you. And Read more…
Vicki Rose had every earthly reason to leave her broken marriage. But she discovered that she had an even greater reason to stay. Vicki explains this in her new book, entitled, Every Reason to Leave: And Why We Chose to Stay Together, published by Moody. Vicki shares not only the Read more…
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:20-21, NIV) This is the kind of life you’ve been invited Read more…
You are invited to join us as we “fight on our knees” every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern time). Join us either by phone or online as we pray for marriages and families. The call lasts only 15 minutes. To join us by phone, simply call 1-323-920-0091. When prompted, enter Read more…
Looking for God’s direction concerning your marriage? Here is some clear instruction from 1 Corinthians 7—along with some encouragement and challenge, too: Marriage is not a place to “stand up for your rights.” Marriage is a decision to serve the other…. [I]f you are married, stay married. This is the Master’s command…. If Read more…
Here is a book that I would recommend even if it were nothing more than its title: Grace Filled Marriage. But now that I have finished reading Grace Filled Marriage, I am glad to say that I can recommend not only the title but also the entire book! If “grace” Read more…
The Kindle edition of Radiance: Secrets to Thriving in Marriage will be FREE on Amazon from November 29 through December 3. Learn God’s amazing design of marriage, women, and men. Whether your marriage is great or struggling, God is able to make you thrive right where you are. This encouraging Read more…
Did you know that the use of pornography increases marital infidelity by 300%? Did you know that most divorces involve an addiction to pornography?* Did you know that God is able to break any addiction and to heal any marriage? Today I am sharing with you some online resources (with links attached) that are available for those struggling Read more…
Last week, I shared with you a husband’s prayer. Today I want to share with you a wife’s prayer, based on Scripture. May God honor your prayers as you honor Him. I thank You, LORD, for my husband and for Your awesome design in creating him; thank You for shaping him Read more…
Do you have “his” and “her” towels at your house? How about “his” and “her” prayers? Today I want to share with you a husband’s prayer, based on Scripture. Next week, I will share a wife’s prayer. And as always, I am glad to hear your thoughts, too! I thank Read more…
How are you praying for your marriage? Here is a prayer, based on Scripture, that will enable you to fight for your marriage using “the sword of the Spirit”: LORD, I lift this marriage to You. In the spiritual realm, I want to surround this marriage with prayer and praise, just as the Read more…
