When the Crisis Comes
We make decisions every day that can send our marriages and families into crisis.
We make decisions every day that can send our marriages and families into crisis.
Fighting to get your own way in marriage more than you give often reveals laziness in the marriage that, in time, can kill love.
Sometimes finding out my true feelings and motivations, is all it takes for me or my husband to want to change.
The moment we begin to view ourselves as victims, we lose sight of our contribution to the problem.
As far as my anger, this again can be traced right back to lack of faith in God.
I choose to trust God no matter what choices someone else makes.
It might feel as if the Lord has said no to your request when He is actually saying “yes” to something harder yet so much better for all involved.
If we allow the bad behavior of someone else to change ours, then we’ve lost control—not gained it.
Let God examine your heart so that you don’t stay in denial nor block the healing He wants and can do in your heart, marriage, and life!
Timing is key to handling conflict in a healthy and responsible way.
When we rely on the “alive and active” Word, the Spirit leads us toward Christ’s truth.
I’m sure my husband doesn’t really want to be “tolerated”—no matter how difficult his habit may be to live with.
The Lord gave me steps to take in faith as I learn to wait on Him during circumstances and concerns that remain difficult and confusing.
If we hold on to anything in our hearts more than we hold on to God, we are making ourselves prisoners in a dungeon with an open door!
When I offered my husband an honest and humble admission, I felt him moving toward me.
If you allow your marriage to be infiltrated by your parents, then you are inviting division into your marriage.
The negative thoughts, like weeds, began to take over and warp my view of reality. I began to think my husband was the biggest villain of all time.
I had many years and lessons ahead that God wanted to use to teach me and my hubby about finding that elusive middle ground in conflict.
In marriage, we tend to follow the example of how our parents related and problem-solved.
For the longest time, I tried to transform my husband into a wonderful girlfriend that loves to chat with me for hours.
“The System” was a strategy that would get you what you wanted without uttering a word.
God worked with the small amount of willingness I gave Him at each juncture.
We are fallen sons of Adam wedded to fallen daughters of Eve, and even the best of marriages are a glory-war.
Committing to going debt-free has been very tough at times.
It seems like godly wisdom goes right out the window when we begin to argue with our mates.
We did not make a habit of praying together before starting (or ending) our day.
I’m determined to be faithful to Him because I trust that He is always faithful to me.
Pain lives defiantly alongside Joy at every turn in life.
Justifying is just a fancy word for making an excuse when there is no excuse.
When you don’t listen well at the outset, it’s what I call “premature interpretation” and always leads to frustration for both parties!
He’s the most important person in our lives, deserving of our full, undivided attention each day.
As for me, my pursuit of God has been incredibly important to the health of my marriage and connection to my spouse.
I might be right in my opinions, but when I condescendingly try to put my husband in his place, I’m DEAD wrong in my approach!
It’s really not fair to blame your spouse when he/she falls for a lie. The fair response is to blame the father of lies.
Without a clear sense and integration of your identity in Christ, you will CONSTANTLY struggle to manage the messes of life and marriage.
Validation can be so crucial and extremely clarifying. Sometimes a conflict
can be avoided by simply validating what your spouse has said.
When your emotions are in turmoil, you will struggle to see how you’re acting or what the truth of your situation is.
When I bring my complaints to God, He gives me so much more perspective about my part in every problem.
I really wish that humility could be an actual piece of “clothing”…that I could put on and wear for all to see.
Experts say it takes at least 21, but more like 42 days, to establish a habit.
If you’ve given yourself permission to overuse or misuse your phone, then you are letting it master and control you.
If this was all it amounted to—simply blessing others—then it might not be such a trap.
This is not simply about getting into a good sleep pattern or finding sleep-aids that guarantee a restful night’s sleep.
Like many young mothers, I gave in to the temptation to let my affection and concern for my children override my affection and concern for my spouse.
Our television viewing plays a huge role in shaping our attitudes and practices in life and marriage!
Being sexual together with your spouse will help you feel close and intimate, even if intercourse is not possible.
Almost ALL of my marriage messes were and are due to my desires either clashing with my husband’s desires or allowing them to turn into demands.
Go for a hike – Naturally, the best time to do this is when the leaves are at their peak!
The next time you feel like your marriage is cursed or you simply feel like cursing your spouse, fight back discouragement with this Truth and Hope!
When we validate our mate’s feelings, it often averts a conflict or, at the very least, deescalates it.
Satan loves to insert his lies in the whole fix-your-marriage proposition.
Dying to your own pride and rightness in the matter might be the best thing you’ll ever do for your mate!
Get out of your comfort zone by praying with your spouse and discover what a difference God will make in your life and marriage!
It’s as if the nurturing and dutiful wife (or husband) feels drawn into a romantic relationship with a bad guy/gal, like a moth to a flame.
If you truly have a mother-in-law who’s acting like a martyr, she probably is doing this out of insecurity.
I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll avoid a meltdown in your marriage during a holiday gathering by following my suggestions but …Following these steps will help bring healing and grace where it surely would have been lacking.