In our marriage we continually have working “resolutions” on things we want to improve. In order to lead Build Your Marriage we are on a quest to build OUR marriage! 🙂 Pastor and author Bill Hybels says, every leader has a “holy discontent” with the status quo and we believe the same should be true for our marriages, too!
As you look toward 2018 here are five resolutions we believe every couple can make that will dramatically improve and build YOUR marriage:
Holiday stress can weigh heavily on a marriage. Here’s our little “Christmas” list on keeping your season filled with joy and peace:
Generous??? We had been homeless for nearly 10 months and during that time being generous seemed impossible. We lost 90% of our income overnight. We couldn’t afford to get into another place to live. A kind couple gave us the upstairs of their home to live in.
That was our story just a few years ago. How could we practice generosity? But looking back we can see how God not only provided for us in miraculous ways, he honored our efforts at being generous.
Like any other couple, we have seen our share of change in almost 35 years of marriage. And so have you. There are all kinds of things that can change in our lives: health, job, career, having children, moving, financial (up or down), deaths, accidents, church, friendships, and the list goes on. And even if only one of you is facing a change of some kind, it affects both of you…and your marriage.
Photo by: Style & Story Creative on Heart Love Weddings via Lover.ly
For just a moment, think about all the preparation that went into your wedding: saying “I do,” picking the date, setting the budget, finding the location for the wedding and reception, choosing the dress, selecting the colors, asking attendants, making the guest list (and cutting it down!), finding the photographer, musicians, officiant, and the list goes on and on. So much planning went into the wedding! (We get this as we’ve planned two weddings in the past year!) During the ceremony there were multiple components of the service as well. And yet of all the elements that had to come together for your special day, we believe the most important moment was when you declared your vows to each other.
We want every couple to have a phenomenal marriage and that’s why we are committed to Build Your Marriage! We offer free resources through social media and our website to help you take your next steps as a couple. In addition, we travel across the country providing marriage conferences.
But what are some key qualities that make a phenomenal marriage? Here are 11 for you to consider:
It’s not uncommon for one spouse to feel like they’re carrying the lion’s share of the load in the marriage. Whether real or perceived, it can create a strain in the marriage.
In our last post we talked about some important considerations when laziness presents itself. But what are some practical steps you can take to bring about a solution? Here are five things you can do:
Do you feel like you do most of the work in your home? Does it seem like your spouse is more focused on Facebook, Pinterest, hunting/fishing/golf, ESPN, texting and talking on the phone, shopping on Amazon, or playing video games than pulling their “fair share” of the workload?
