LOVE YOUR SPOUSE

THE POISON OF COMPLAINING

Few things steal the joy and harmony in a marriage than complaining and grumbling.  Let’s take a look at what God’s Word says about complaining and why we need to avoid it.

1.  Realize that complaining is dangerous.  In recent days a number of Christian leaders have fallen into immorality– and I have wondered how many more Christians have been declared unusable by God because of their complaining.  If the enemy of our soul can’t derail us through lust or immorality, then he will seek a different bait for his trap.  For many of us, that snare is the temptation to gripe, grumble, and complain against God (Num.14:27; 1Cor.9:24-10:13).  Illicit sex is not the only sin that puts Christians on the sidelines!

2.  Remember, God knows what He is doing.  The Old Testament hero Joseph is a great example for me.  First, his brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery.  Then he’s unjustly accused of fooling around with Potiphar’s wife, thrown into prison, forgotten by a friend he had helped, and yet Scripture doesn’t record a single complaint.  He could’ve become bitter against his brothers.  He didn’t.  He could’ve smashed his fist against the prison walls and complained about his unjust circumstances.  He didn’t.

What was the secret of his complaint-free life?  The answer is found in Gen.45:5-8, where we find Joseph, now the governor  of Egypt, addressing his starving brothers, “And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves…because God has sent me before you to preserve life.”   Three times in four verses Joseph says, “God sent me here.” Joseph grasped the truth that God is in control and that He knows what He is doing.

3.  Put away past complaints that may have turned bitter.  A grudge is an aging complaint, still actively held.  The longer you carry a complaint, the greater the probability it will become a grudge too heavy to handle.  If you have a complaint against a brother–or your spouse–go to him or her in private and clear the slate.

4.  Keep on giving thanks in all things (1Thess.5:18).  This is not just some power of positive thinking approach!  No, we will never give thanks unless we see God as the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, at work in our lives through our circumstances, even the ones we don’t especially care for.

NOTE:  This article was taken from “Family Life Marriage Bible” by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage succeed

SATURDAY – QUESTION & ANSWER

Question #1.  I have several children and my husband expected the house to be clean and neat.  Is that fair and should he put that much importance on our home?

Answer #1.  Your home is important not only to your husband and your children, but to God.  God has a lot to say about your home.  2Kings 20:1 “Set your house in order…”

Listen to Proverbs 14:1  “The wise woman builds her house.”  

Woman are told in this verse to use wisdom in building your house.

Although you may look at your home life as being an important role, cleanliness may not be a priority.

In Proverbs 14:1, the verse ends with “…The foolish (woman) plucketh it down with her hands.”

This verse is telling us that the foolish woman is mismanaging her home.  By doing that, she is not fulfilling what not only the family, but what God expects of her.

Woman are suppose to be doing the work that makes a house a home.

Your husband should make the determination of that.

In Proverbs 14:1, this woman is spending her time on frivolous things.  Things that are not important to her husband.

If your reason for not cleaning is tiredness, we are all tired.  Find the time of day when you have the most energy and then do the things that take the most strength.

If it is that the children take up your time, then there are things you must cut out of your life.

Management skills can be learned.

Ask God to help you.  Your home is important to him.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage be a success.

IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!

 Marriage is for grown ups.

Every time you get mad, you are in a NARCISSISTIC moment.

What we want becomes sacred; what the other person wants becomes silent.

When it comes to YOUR achievements and talents, do you exaggerate them or downplay them?

Narcissism is an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself.

Narcissism says, “I don’t care what is going on with you, it is all about me.”

Do you think that kind of an attitude will work in marriage?

How is it WORKING in your marriage??

Don’t turn the volume down when it comes to listening as your husband expresses his concerns.

When voices go up, the ABILITY to intake goes down.

Do you feel indignant (wronged) when your spouse’s behavior doesn’t comply with your expectations?  (frequently or rarely)

The single best measure of being emotionally healthy and being a grownup is the capacity for bilateral (2-sided) listening.

There are two speakers and they both count.

A person is narcissistic when all they HEAR is their own thoughts and interpretations of the concerns.

When it comes to your spouse, do you catch yourself fishing for compliments?  How about from other people?

CASE AND POINT:  When a tennis player is on the tennis court playing, they make mistakes all the time.  When they have missed a shot, they only have 25 seconds to get their emotions back into control before the next serve comes their way.  Many of them have therapists who teach them how to get their emotions focused for the next ball and off the anger of messing up that last ball.  They ask themselves what they can do to be more affective on their next play.

If an unsaved tennis player can be taught restraint by their therapist, why can’t a Christian do that in their own marriage.

You have God’s word to give you the knowledge, and the Holy Spirit to give you the guidance.

Deut.30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life that both you and your descendants may life…”

What you do and how you act, affects you children and their children and your children’s children……etc.

Marriage isn’t a game, but why can’t you stop and ask the Holy Spirit to make you more affective on your next play?

Do you always have to have it YOUR way?

Can you pass the test of being a child of God or will you pass the test of being narcissistic?

The CHOICE is yours.

You can change today!

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage succeed.

REESTABLISHING MARITAL TRUST

God is into restoring our marriages if we give him the reins.

It is the responsibility of both spouses to REBUILD the marriage relationship.

There are many examples of biblical restoration of relationships.

One is the restoration of God back to his adulterous children of Israel.  (Joel 2:25)

Jer.30:17 “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord…”

 Other relationships restored were:  Paul and John Mark (Acts 15:36), Jacob and Esau (Gen.27:4), Prodigal Son and father (Luke 5:11-32).

*  Don’t react to feelings.

Don’t be preoccupied with YOUR feelings.

You will have the fear of being hurt that will try to overpower you.

Try to  avoid the following:

• Trying to control your spouse.
• Giving them the silent treatment.
• Withdrawing from intimacy.
• Seeking revenge.
• Acting like a martyr.

It will take time to LEARN each others needs, feelings and expectations.

This process takes patience.

WAITING on God to do the work shows your trust in him.

*  Home Environment.

Maintain a STABLE home environment.

Practice humility even when your emotions are telling you that you deserve to express revenge.

Maintain an atmosphere of “love” in the home.

Strive everyday to build a SAFE emotional environment.

Make your sexual relationship a priority.

*  Don’t be on the defensive.

Beware of self-righteousness.

There NEEDS to be openness and listening.

Keep in mind that you are his companion, so find occasions to have fun.

Are your expectations REASONABLE?

Are you doing anything that is causing your spouse to escape his commitments?

This is a good time for self-examination on how you can become the person your spouse and family need you to be.

Ask the Holy Spirit for GUIDANCE.

Partner with the Holy Spirit to make your marriage a success.

You will reap the REWARDS of a grateful spouse.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage be a success.

ADJUSTING TO BEING A STEPPARENT

If you or your spouse have children from a first marriage, you are taking on a very difficult task.

I have taken a portion from the book,”Helping Children Survive Divorce” by Dr. Archibald D. Hart.

Your family will need to make a series of important adjustments.

These adjustments fall into three clearly identifiable phrases.

First, there is the “honeymoon” phase.

Everyone is polite to each other.

The atmosphere may be a little strained, but no outward friction is evident yet.

Second, there is the “conflict” phase.

The  honeymoon is over and reality emerges.

Everyone is short-tempered, impatient, and intolerant even of small mistakes.

Little things irritate, and at times it seems as if the family will blow apart.

Third, There is the “contented” phase.

If the marriage survives the second stage, a final contented stage emerges.

All the necessary adjustments have been made, the corners have been knocked off tempers, and the irritating habits of the new spouse have become acceptable to all.

At last, familiarity brings comfort.

Making it to the third stage requires careful attention to the following points:

*  Do not force a new spouse to become a substitute parent to your children, even if your ex-spouse has totally abandoned this role.

*  Don’t rush the second phase of the remarriage process.

*  Keep communication with your children open at all times.

*  Don’t take sides, either with your children or with your new spouse.

*  Remind your new spouse that it is very normal for children, especially in the early stages of remarriage to feel a sense of betrayal and to be angry.

*  Keep all discipline free of anger.

Please note that we make every effort to encourage people not to divorce.  Children suffer even through adulthood.  This is to help those who have already remarried or are thinking of remarriage.  It is a long hard road and there is a 74% divorce rate.  This is to help those who have already remarried.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage be a success.

THE PATTERN  FITS

If you’ve ever sewn a dress, you know how a pattern works.

When you begin, you don’t have a garment, but only some scraps of cloth.

When it’s properly fitted together and made usable with buttons, a zipper, or snaps, however, these incomplete pieces make a whole dress.

Every pattern has pairs of parts: two sleeves, two bodice pieces, a front and back skirt; even the collar and facing pieces usually come in twos.

That’s how it is in marriage.

God has designed a master pattern for husbands and wives that, when followed, will create a whole, usable, beautiful marriage.

I have experienced many frustrations in trying to fit in my part of the marriage pattern with my husband’s.

At times it felt too hard.

Yet I know by faith, and am convinced by experience, that God’s pattern for me as a wife is not meant to restrict my creativity in expressing who I am.

If I trust the pattern, the finished products reflects the full beauty that its Creator intended.

When this becomes a reality in my life, I experience oneness with God, oneness with my husband, and a real freedom to be all that God made me to be.

NOTE:  This article from the book “Family life Marriage Bible” by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage be successful.

LET YOUR HUSBAND FAIL

A man’s greatest need is to be honored, especially  by his wife.

Almost any woman is willing to honor a man who succeeds and is doing well.

What separates a mature wife from the rest is how she responds when her husband fails.

This is the test of true honor.

During a marriage, every husband is bound to do something wrong.

He will fail in some capacity.

If a wife cannot still honor him at those times, she may have end up with a wounded and dishonored husband.

I’ll never forget the Sunday I asked an older couple in our church to share their testimony about marriage.

After 30 years of marriage, they were madly in love.

I just knew everyone would benefit from their story.

The woman began by saying something that stunned me.

With her loving, sacrificial, distinguished husband right next to her, she detailed how, at the beginning of their marriage, he was such a lousy husband!

He didn’t know how to manage money.

He never spent any time at home.

They were broke, and he worked all the time.

He was insensitive to her needs.

He never prayed or led the family spiritually.

She said even more than that, letting loose all those negative comments with her husband right there by her side.

And he was smiling the whole time!

I couldn’t believe it.

As she concluded her remarks, this godly woman said something every woman needs to hear:

“When my husband and I began to have all our trouble early in our marriage, I knew I had a choice to make.  I could nag him and try to change him, or I could even leave him.  But in my heart, I knew none of those things were right.”

She continued:  “So I finally decided to let him fail and let God correct him as I honored and loved him.  After a period of time of praying for him and letting him fail, I saw God begin to change my husband right before my eyes.  Today, I have a righteous husband who loves me and meets my needs.”

The man she was standing with was not the man she married.

He was much, much better.

He didn’t get that way because she nagged him or demanded that he change.

He got that way because his wife treated him with respect.

What a powerful testimony!

Seldom will we make progress in a relationship by dishonoring a person or trying to force them to change.

The only way to do it is through prayer and treating them better than they deserve.

Ladies, don’t get me wrong:  You should absolutely feel free to express your disagreement to your husband at any time and about anything.

The last thing you should become is a doormat or an emotionless robot.

But when you tell him how you feel, do it with kindness and respect.

Treat him the way you want to be treated.

Honor him and pray for him.

Don’t nag.

Don’t become manipulative.

Don’t become irritable.

You may win a few battles with those tactics, but you’ll always lose the war.

Let your husband fail.

If you honor him even when he knows he doesn’t deserve it, God will use it in a powerful way.

He will deepen your husband’s love for you as He changes your husband’s heart.

NOTE:  This article written by Jimmy Evans.  (Jimmy Evans Ministry)

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage succeed.

DON’T FORGET THE LAUGHTER

Did you know that laughter can cure the disease of self-importance?

It’s hard to puff yourself up to weather-balloon size if you deflate yourself with a good prick of self-directed humor!

How many laughs are you having–and how many at your own expense?

God commanded His ancient people to enjoy a regular “day of…gladness” and sealed its importance with the reminder, “I am the Lord your God” (Num.10:10).

Before the wedding ceremony, couples should have a bold objective for their first year of marriage, “We will be found guilty of having too much fun rather than too little fun.”

That’s not a bad objective for any year of marriage!

Courtship usually entails joy and romance and laughter, but this joy can quickly dry up after marriage.

After we get married, our focus splinters in many directions, especially after children come along.

That’s why we need to make it a priority in marriage to find ways to participate in the fun, laugh-generating antics we did when we first dated.

That requires us to flee from the television, telephone, and computer, in order to focus on each other.

Find the time to laugh and seek to please each other.

NOTE:  This article was from the book “Family Life Marriage Bible” by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage be a success.

SATURDAY – QUESTION & ANSWER  

Question #1.

My parents lost custody of me when I was a young child.  I am now married with two children but find myself neglecting my husband to spend time with my kids.  We both work and when I get home, I am so busy with dinner, and household chores.  I neglect to spend quality time with my husband.  Lately we have been arguing constantly and I know it’s because he doesn’t feel that we get enough time together.  I feel my childhood plays a big role in our life because I want my children to have more than I did growing up.  I fail to realize that I have a husband that requires so much of me as well.  My question is, how do I balance everything out and be able to spend that quality time we both want as well as not feeling guilty about not spending so much quality time with my children?

Answer #1.  

There are many different ways of handling this.  The best would be for you to be honest with your observation to your husband.  Let him know you know he has been neglected.  This will touch his heart more than anything to know that God has shown this to you and that you are prepared to rectify it.  You can’t go backwards, but you can promise him it will never happen again.  He can be a part of the solution and help you solve it.

I will make some suggestions that you might be able to implement into your lifestyle.  Try to have a date night at least twice a month.  The more children you have, the more date nights you need.  Don’t take the kids with you on these date nights.  In order not to feel guilty, have a great family night with the kids the day before.

Do not cook every night.  Have a pizza night so you don’t have to cook and clean up.  Cook something that will last two nights.  If you are a perfectionist at housework, don’t be.  Let some things go.

The best thing that you can do for your kids is to give them their dad.  If he leaves the family because of neglect, your children will grow up miserable.  Set your priorities.

Arguing takes two and also takes pride.  Humble yourself.  Listen to your husbands concerns.  It is the only way you can feel fulfilled as a helpmeet.

I have to listen to wives every day who wish they could do it all over again.  They are left with children who are fatherless and regrets.  You are blessed to be able to turn the whole situation around.  Don’t wait till it is too late.

Now is the time!

AVOID EMOTIONAL ADULTERY

From the very beginning, God warned His people about the dangers of going astray (5:12).

It was a very real possibility then, and it remains so today.

Know that when you find yourself connecting with another person who starts becoming, in even the smallest way, a substitute for your marital partner, you’ve already started to travel a dangerous road.

Emotional adultery occurs when we reserve an inappropriate place in our hearts for any person other than our spouse.

So, how do you protect yourself and your marriage?

Here are some principles many have found helpful:

1.  Know your boundaries.

Put fences around your heart and protect the sacred ground reserved only for your spouse.

Barbara and I are careful to share our deepest feelings, needs, and difficulties only with each other.

For us, this is a non-negotiable boundary.

2. Realize the power of the eyes.

The eyes are the windows of your soul.

Pull the shades down if you sense someone is pausing a little too long in front of those windows!

Good eye contact may be necessary for effective communication, but you must reserve that deep type of look for your mate.

3.  Beware of isolation and concealment.

One strategy of the enemy is to isolate you from your spouse by tempting you to keep secrets from your mate.

Barbara and I both realize the dangers of concealment in our marriage.

We work hard at bringing things out into the open and discussing them.

Our closets are empty.

4.  Extinguish any chemical reactions that may have begun.

You must quickly end any friendship with the opposite sex that seems to have begun meeting needs that your mate alone should be meeting.

A simple rule of chemistry is this:  to stop a chemical reaction, remove one of the elements.

It may feel painful or embarrassing at first, but it doesn’t inflict nearly the pain that comes when temptation gives birth to sin.

5.  Ask God to remind you how important it is to fear Him.

The fear of God has turned me from many a temptation.

It’s one thing to think a friend might learn that I had compromised my faith; it’s quite another thing to realize that God’s throne would have a knowledge of my disloyalty to Barbara faster than the speed of light.

It has been well said that, “a secret on earth is open scandal in heaven.”

My Heavenly Father and my earthly father are there right now—and the mere thought of disappointing either of them, helps keep me pure.

NOTE:  This article from the book, Family Life Marriage Bible by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage to succeed