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It would be difficult for us to say that we could ever conclude the story of Christian marriage because we continue to discover more about God’s plan for this covenant relationship as the years roll by, and we certainly expect that ‘discovery’ will continue to the very end.
Read MoreIf you have been on the receiving end of rage and an uncontrolled temper, you will know how painful this can be. We can testify from personal experience that even a verbal assault from someone who is ‘out of control’ results in emotional pain that is so intense it can also create a physical pain that is totally overwhelming. The angry person may be able to step back into control quickly, and may then be apologetic about the temper, yet you are still bleeding. There is nothing positive or justifiable in a rage response.
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Read MoreThere is a clear message in scripture that those who know God will respond to Him as sheep respond to their shepherd - following his leading and his voice. Those who do not know God, who fail to recognise and obey His voice are compared to goats. The message compares the characteristics of these two animals who are often herded together but are nonetheless distinctly different.
Read MoreBeing a giver is important in the life of everyone who follows Jesus. We are called to imitate Him in everything we do, so being a giver with a pure heart and without selfish motives produces within us not only a worthy witness and reflection of the God we serve, but it moves heaven to do miracles in our lives and in the lives of our family.
Read MoreWe have had meetings with many couples looking for help to resolve their relationship struggles. Each couple having tried to work things out together but unable to come to a positive or a lasting solution, and so they look for help to resolve their conflict. Seeing couples bleeding and in pain is always difficult for us, especially when we see how the enemy has moved in and settled in – a thief with a single purpose – to kill and destroy.
Read MoreWhen a couple works together to achieve unity, they submit to each other in love and encourage each other by learning and sharing. They navigate the rocky places by learning to put each other first and serve. This is very much part of Gods plan and His deep desire for us (Mark 10:7-8). Although many may agree with the message of selfless service and have a willingness to pursue it in their marriage, progress can be slow, and laboured. At times we wonder how, despite the knowledge of God’s purpose we remain for years trying to overcome disagreement, anchored in an unwelcome state where conflict still exists, and self continues to rise up within us demanding attention.
Read MoreRomantic love can be dangerous. It is deeply passionate, yet volatile – intense and easily shaken by circumstances and conditions. When things are going well our love is a raging fire, but when things are not going so well, our love is easily quenched.
Read Morebe aware that in some cases, your disappointment is not the failure of the other person, it is simply a failure to match the vision you built yourself rather than one you built together.
Read MoreToday, our focus is more on those little foxes that are insidious. They present themselves not in a battle formation, but approach more like terrorists engaged in guerrilla warfare. These ‘little foxes’ latch onto us trying to ignite negative feelings and responses, gnawing at our affections and blocking our growth.
Read MoreWe all learn something of these skills over time, but in marriage we have to learn our spouse so well that our communication is aligned perfectly to his or her need. This can only happen when we spend more time actively engaged with our spouse. If you are a smartphone addict, a workaholic or a entertainment box set devotee, it’s time to reset. A lack of meaningful personal communication is not good for any couple aiming for oneness!
Read MoreWhen we get married, we need to learn how to work with our joint resources as we move from being two sole traders to being 50/50 partners, and we prosper when we get it right.
Read MoreIn prayer, ask first that you would be renewed and that you would see your spouse as God sees him or her. Allow yourself to be humbled and transformed before you start making demands of God on behalf of your spouse. Pray that you would have a heart to accept your marriage relationship on God’s terms rather than your own.
Read MoreThe witness of the marriage relationship and the triumph of the family is one of the most powerful forces for transformation. It is the very foundation of humanity and the bedrock of society.
Read MoreIt is our intimacy that builds our marriage union toward the goal of oneness. In all its forms, intimacy creates the glue that binds us ever more securely to each other.
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What a very special day! Joy, excitement, anticipation and perhaps a measure of nervousness. It has been in the planning for months and the couple and their families have all been busy in an attempt to produce a spectacle of epic proportions, a monumental drama. From the dress to the first dance and everything in between - it has to be perfect.
Read MoreWe travel through the leaving stage of our marriage learning how to give of ourselves, how to share and communicate, and as we grow we put aside selfish ambition in order to love and serve each other. It’s a process that diminishes self interest as we are transformed by a shifting of our focus toward the needs of our spouse.
Read MoreThe goal is to have a relationship that is cooperative in every sense, in harmony and agreement physically and spiritually. To achieve such a goal, our ‘single’ lifestyle and the nature of our existing relationships will need adjustment.
Read MoreWhen companies want great transformations they spend a lot of time in planning and marketing the change. They write mission statements and strategy documents running into hundreds of pages to attempt to define and communicate the intent. In Genesis 2:24 God presents His mission statement and the key steps of His plan for Marriage in this one verse.
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