Jan 04
The Generous Wife blogger Lori Byerly issues a great challenge to start for wives for the new year: forgive your husband.
I’d like to take that a step further by encouraging any men reading this post to also forgive their wife. The way forward in doing that – for both spouses – can be found in her article Fresh Start.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2013/01/04/a-fresh-start-in-2013/
Jan 03
There’s going to come a time in the very near future that your spouse is going to begin telling you something that you’re not particularly interested in hearing. What will you do? Blow him/her off or listen?
Even if you don’t think what your mate is saying is that important, you should still listen intently because you think he/she is important.
Give your mate your attention, and you’ll find that the trust, intimacy, and conversation between the two of you will begin increasing. Listen to your mate to indicate how important he/she is to you.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2013/01/03/youre-important/
Jan 02
For as long as you’re alive, you’re going to find yourself being surprised by life’s events. There will always be something unexpected that takes place that threatens the level of teamwork you have with your spouse. It could be an illness that attacks either of you or a family member, a problem with one of your children, a job layoff, a moral failure or any other event that you didn’t have on your radar.
When life happens, you must determine to make love happen. While love won’t immediately make everything better, it will certainly provide the strength and grace needed to make it through tough times. Moreover, it will reorient you with God’s love for you, and the love you pledged to your spouse.
When life happens, make love happen.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2013/01/02/life-happens-make-love-happen/
Nov 08
Today’s guest post is by Julie Sibert. Learn more about her at the close of the message!
My husband and I are approaching our 10th anniversary. I’m thinking a get away to Chicago. He’s thinking tropical. Honestly, even a weekend in a nice hotel in our town sounds great to me. I just want some alone time with that man!
Why is it important for married couples to occasionally get away together? It gives you room to connect in ways that are difficult amidst the daily grind. Yes, good communication on a regular, even daily, basis is foundational to a strong marriage, but don’t discount how a weekend away could boost that connection!
“But what if we can’t afford to get away?” some would say. I hear you. We are definitely in the camp of frugality if we want a getaway trip on the horizon. You may have to get creative. Shop for off-season vacation packages. Look at places within driving distance. If you know of friends who have a cabin or second home, humbly ask if they would help you invest in your marriage (my husband and I did this two years ago with a friend’s house in Phoenix).
And if you absolutely can’t afford an overnight away, consider a day-venture. Spend the day together enjoying a local winery, national park, festival or quaint shopping district. Eat good food. Talk. Laugh. Relax. Touch. Your marriage is worth it!
Julie Sibert writes and speaks about sexual intimacy in marriage. You can follow her blog at www.IntimacyInMarriage.com. She lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, their two sons and one rambunctious German Shorthair Pointer dog who refuses to stay in the fence.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2012/11/08/invest-in-your-marriage-get-away-together/
Oct 19
Today’s guest post is by our friend, Julie Sibert, of Intimacy in Marriage.
“Enough” is a subjective word, that’s for sure. Probably a better way to phrase the question is, “Do you and your spouse show physical affection as much as you both would prefer?”
And I’m not just talking about physical affection when the bedroom door closes and the lights go out. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all in favor of that kind of touch too! But there are many ways to express how much you care.
A married couple that shows affection with their clothes on is nurturing an intimate bond that is indescribable. A nice side benefit is that they are also demonstrating to others the high value they place on their marriage. I’ve long believed that one of the best things a couple can do for their kids is appropriately show physical affection for one another in front of those youngsters.
Does touching your spouse outside of lovemaking seem awkward? Be courageous and give it a try. Hold hands. Walk up behind your spouse and give a spontaneous hug. While sitting on the couch or even in church, gently caress your spouse’s arm.
Don’t be afraid to be playful and intentional with your touch. It is a simple, yet profound, way to endear you to each other.
Julie Sibert writes and speaks about sexual intimacy in marriage. You can follow her blog at www.IntimacyInMarriage.com. She lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, their two sons and one rambunctious German Shorthair Pointer dog who refuses to stay in the fence.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2012/10/19/do-you-and-your-spouse-touch-enough/
Oct 14
This week we were blessed to surpass 100,000 likes on our Facebook page. We’re commonly asked how we did it, and our common response is, “The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:24). We’ve labored with God, and are humbled to be an influential voice in your life.
To celebrate 100,000 likes, we’re giving away prizes for the rest of this week, concluding with Sunday’s grand prize!
Visit this page today through Sunday, 10/14, to enter the daily giveaway. Each day’s prize will be randomly awarded. You can increase your odds of winning by sharing the post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Email. You receive one entry by entering the contest yourself (1 entry = 1 point), and earn extra entries by sharing the contest with others (you will earn 10 points for each person who enters the giveaway as a result of your share).
No purchase is necessary to win, and each day’s winner will be contacted via email.
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* Marriage Works! will cover the registration fee only, which includes food and lodging. The winner is responsible for transportation costs to the Getaway, and all other costs not covered by the registration fee. 2013 locations TBA.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2012/10/14/celebrate-100k-facebook-likes-with-us-and-win/
Sep 24
This NFL season has been scarred by replacement refs who have made many questionable, and downright incorrect calls during the first three weeks. Due to many coaches and players complaining loudly and passionately about the substitutes, the NFL released a statement warning it will not accept confrontational behavior toward the new officials.
While reading all the negative comments, I came across one comment that stood out from the res. It reminded me of how spouses must act to make their marriage work. One player said: “They’re trying their hardest. No ref wants to go out there and make a bad call.”
Did you notice how this particular player assumes that no replacement ref want to desecrate the game by purposely making bogus calls? He assumes that the refs really are trying to do right. He assumes that the refs, while far from perfect, are giving it their best shot.
So, how does this apply to your marriage?
Give your mate the benefit of the doubt. Assume good intent. Although your spouse has faults, assume that he/she wants the marriage to work, and is still trying to get it together. Like these replacement refs, your mate will not be perfect. Therefore, take that weight off of him/her, and assume good intent.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2012/09/24/assume-good-intent/
Sep 17
While it’s easy to know if you’re having a physical affair, it may not be as easy to discern if you’re having an emotional affair. Here are a couple of signs you should look out for:
Read this article to see if you’re involved in or close to an emotional affair.
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Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2012/09/17/are-you-involved-in-an-emotional-affair/
Sep 14
We received this question recently, and thought it was worth turning into a quick blog post:
Q: Can someone please answer this questions? Do we have to tell our spouse what’s in our savings account even if we have separate accounts?
While there are many who would question why spouses even need separate accounts, there is no “rule” that says you have to tell your spouse what’s in your account. At the same time, why wouldn’t you? There are many things that stress a marriage, and keeping financial secrets is one of them. If the two of you are one … partners … teammates, and are on the same journey towards the same destination, it makes sense to be transparent. If it causes friction in your marriage to keep financial secrets, and you have nothing to hide, eliminate the secrecy by opening the books.
Psalm 34:14 says seek peace and pursue it. If the way you currently handle your finances is stealing the peace from your marriage, we encourage you to amend your ways … pronto!
Thanks for reading, and be sure to checkout our new mobile service, Marriage Works! 2Go.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2012/09/14/eliminate-the-financial-secrets/
Sep 12
This morning I saw this TV sitting up against the proverbial white picket fence that so many Americans are said to be aiming for. While this could be symbolic of many things, including the obvious answer that the TV no longer working (it is missing a power cord after all), it could also by symbolic of a married couple who has found that the abundance of television is distracting from the overall health of the marriage.
I encourage you to inventory your life to see if there is something that is hogging your time and attention, and keeping you from investing fully in your marriage (to keep you honest, get your mate’s opinion, too). Be sure to think about the time you spend watching TV or movies, playing computer games, socializing on the computer, talking on the phone, hanging with friends, working, and attending functions outside the house. While these things may be harmless, too much of any of them can and will stunt the growth of your marriage.
Discern what your “TV” is, and use it less or simply throw it out if it’s keeping your marriage from working.
Permanent link to this article: http://mymarriageworks.org/2012/09/12/throw-out-your-tv-if/
