Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Tuesday Tip #8: Marriage Ministry

El and I started a marriage ministry in our home in 2007. We had no idea that that very ministry would minister to our own marriage. Eight years later we are still learning how to be the best spouses we can be to each other. The secret -- we have to live what we preach. Not only do we have to study material before we present it, but we also have to live out what we're presenting. We don't get to stand in front of other couples and not practice what we preach. It's important to El and I to be living examples of God's love for the church and the church's reverence to God. Are we perfect? Hell no, far from it. Do we still argue? Yes, certainly. The difference now is that we know how to resolve conflict quicker and we're eager to forgive. We still don't have this marriage thing mastered. But we are working every day. We are working every day. We are working every day. We. Are. Working. Every. Day! Marriage is work! We never threaten divorce. We never stay angry longer than an hour. We never sleep in separate rooms or beds. We never hit below the belt (calling names, cussing, or talking about parents). We never physically hit each other (we have in the past, but we don't anymore). We never stop loving one another. We never stop caring. And most importantly, I think, we spend a bunch of time with each other. We spend so much time together that we don't have time for outside mess, outside threats, outside influences, or any other outsiders.  

Furthermore, the couples that come to us for mentoring are usually coming to us with issues we've just dealt with or are dealing with at that moment and so we are not just helping them but we are helping our marriage as well. We're learning a new way of looking at our issues. We often have an "aha" moment and realize that we could resolve an issue another way. God knows exactly what He is doing and He knows what we need. 

I'm not saying you have to do ministry together to have a great marriage. However, why not try studying the Word together or doing marriage devotions together and discussing them. It will enhance your marital relationship and you'll gain new insights on how to have a great marriage. In fact, there is a Lifelong Love Marriage Summit happening now. It's free and online! You and your spouse can watch the videos and discuss it in the privacy of your own home. And if you'd like to discuss publicly, you can do so by leaving a comment here or on our Facebook page

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