Husbands as leaders in the home

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El and I attended a marriage conference on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Longview Baptist Church in Olive Branch, MS - "Love Worth Fighting For" with Kirk Cameron and Warren Barfield.



El shares his take aways from the conference to help the men be leaders in the home.

Marriage Resources

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Marriage Resources that El and I have used (or using) to help you have a better marriage.



The Marriage Code (& study guide), by Bill & Pam Farrell

The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman

The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage (& prayer/study guide), by Stormie Ormatian

Love and Respect (& workbook), by Emerson Eggerichs

A Couple's Guide to a Growing Marriage (bible study), by Gary Chapman

His Needs Her Needs (participant's guide & video), by Willard Harley

"Still" Away

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35. 

Anybody who knows me, knows that I am not a morning person. However, I feel as though that may not be the whole truth. I am not a morning person when I have to get up for work but I seem to be a morning person when I get up do something I want to do. Basically, it's all about what we want to do. There have been times that I stayed up all night and woke early the next day because I was excited about the what that day was going to bring. 

Jesus made a habit of rising early to spend time with His Heavenly Father. He was excited about what the day was going to bring. In the verse above, Jesus got up before daybreak and went to an isolated place. A place away from His disciples and all the distractions. I'm sure He didn't take His cell phone or laptop. He stole away to be alone with God. 

"Still" Away...
1. Be Still (Ps. 46:10) - God does not change. He is always with you even when you can't trace Him. 
2. Still Pray (Luke 18:1) - Even when you don't know what to pray for, just go to God and be still. 
3. Still Love (1 Corinthians 16:14) - Even if you have been hurt in the past, still love. Let your love penetrate hurt. 
4. Still Worship (John 4:24) - Depend on God for your strength. Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. 
5. Still Praise (Ps. 145) - Praise God always! No matter your situation, imitate David, and praise The Lord.
6. Still be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18) - In all things, give thanks! If Paul can do it, so can we. 

What's keeping you from "stilling" away to be with Jesus? 

Marriage Evaluation

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Have you ever evaluated your marriage? We have evaluations at work to determine job performance. Why not evaluate our marriages to determine our performance as a spouse? Watch as El and I share ideas on how to evaluate your marriage.



Link for marriage evaluation:

http://www.christiancounselingofmansfield.com/resources/Marriage-Evaluation.pdf 

Did you resolve to have a better marriage in 2016?

Photo courtesy of Keith Jefferson

The beginning of every new year yields itself to new resolutions. Sometimes we resolve to do something we've never done before. Sometimes we resolve to improve in an area that we failed at the previous year. Whatever your resolve is, El & I want to challenge you to have a better marriage in 2016. And not just this year but every year.

So, first what's stopping you from having a better marriage? Is it an unforgiving heart? Past hurts that have not been reconciled? In-laws or relatives? A demanding job? Children? Past relationships? Hobbies? What ever the reasons (or excuses), let's resolve to not allow these things or anything to keep us from having a better marriage. Well, you might be thinking this is easier said than done. True. Marriage is work. Hard work. It takes time and energy to make your marriage better.

Photo courtesy of Keith Jefferson

So, the next question is are you willing to do whatever it takes to have a better marriage? Offer forgiveness? Reconcile past hurts instead of sweeping them under the rug? Resolve conflicts with in-laws and relatives and decide to keep them out of your marital affairs? Take a less demanding job or manage your work time better? Put your spouse before the children? Let go of past relationships and those hurts that accompany them? Give up those hobbies that take time away from your spouse? Again, let's eliminate those reasons (or excuses).

Photo courtesy of Keith Jefferson

Finally, are you willing to spend more time with your spouse than you ever have before? Are you willing to just sit in the room with them and watch a program you despise but makes them happy? Are you willing to serve them by doing dishes even though you hate doing dishes? Are you willing to have sexual intercourse with them even when you don't feel like it because you know it will bring pleasure to them? Are you willing to be selfless in your marriage and love your spouse the way God intended?

Photo courtesy of Keith Jefferson

Did you resolve to have a better marriage in 2016? If not, will you make this resolution promise with El and I this year? Let's show the world God's love by having not only a godly marriage, but a blessed marriage! Let's show the world how we hold hands in public. Kiss lovingly. Smile at each other across a room. Hurry to get home. Have date nights frequently. Let's prove to them that marriages are alive and well! That it is possible to be married and be happy and in love.

Let's promise to have a better marriage this year and every year hereafter!

Photo courtesy of Keith Jefferson

New Year's Resolutions...

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Let's resolve to have better marriages in 2016!

1. Communicate better

2. Read a marriage book together

3. Attend a marriage class/seminar together



Tell us what your New Year's Resolutions are...



Congratulations to kee_is_unbreakable Kesher Dunn and her husband for winning the #ezdates challenge and $25 Visa e-gift card.