I can’t wait for this movie to be released.  I think all couples and those who are thinking about marriage should see this!!!

http://www.fireproofthemovie.com

Please post your comments after seeing the movie.

God Bless,

Lon & Becky

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for the long delay.  We have been very busy the past two months.

• Our 22 year old son got married
• Trying to start a business
• Selling our house
• Looking for a new location to live and run a business at the same location
• Wife’s Grandmother in and out of the hospital

Our one and only child (Son) got married to a wonderful young lady in June.  The pastor gave a very nice eye opening speech.  I felt it was on target with marriage today and what marriage should be about.

Our pastor read 1 Corinthians 13 (LOVE)

I would encourage every married person and those soon to marry to read this beautiful passage.  Try to use this passage in your marriage and see if you don’t become closer to your spouse.  I know it is not easy but it is worth a try.  I have read this passage before but when our pastor read it out loud I teared up.  Why did I tear up?  Love keeps no record of wrongs!  Wow, that is not an easy task and I ask for strength at times to deal with this.

How does God work in one’s life?  Our son lost his job about a month before the wedding.  The plant he worked at closed up.  He was out of work about two weeks and he got hired at one of top plants in our town.  He is now full time and doing well.  God placed him in places at the right time.  Some people say it is luck or just good timing, I don’t think so.  With all the people out of a job in this town and business closing daily, he was selected out of hundreds of other applicants.  I think that is more than luck!

1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask and pray for all young couples that are planning to marry or that just got married.  I pray that they are strengthened and that they are blessed by your grace and love.  May they display the love of Christ towards each other?  Amen

In Christ,

Lon

Giving thanks is not that hard to do. It is easier than you think if you practice it a few times. I am not going to give examples of when to give thanks. I would suggest that you do it at times that would not be expected.

Talk nice and polite to your spouse and see the change in how you get along. When couples speak nice to one another, others will notice. Happy marriages use manners towards one another and everybody wants to be happy.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask that you soften the hearts of people and give them the strength to use manners, be polite and kind towards one another. Amen

Lady-D is the lady that would like to leave her husband; she goes to church on a regular basis and has been married 20 years.

Lady-E is a lady that does not attend church, has been married about 38 years and is encouraging Lady-D to divorce

Lady-D is not happy in her marriage and most of the unhappiness has to do with the will and money. There is bickering that goes on back and forth in the marriage. This couple is retired and the income from retirement seems like it is enough for the both of them. One problem I see is that everything they have is in separate accounts from money to the pop they drink. The couple argues over everything and is worried about each other’s money.

Lady-E told Lady-D to leave her husband. Lady-D said she would not put up with his actions and would get a lawyer to get her half of the money before he dies and leave the money to his kids. Lady-D says if she divorces him that she would get half of his money now.

Our conclusion from a Christian view. First of all in Matthew, Jesus tells us not to divorce unless marital unfaithfulness happens in the marriage. This does not mean that we should divorce, if the person that had the affair ask for forgiveness than the hurt party should forgive if at all possible. If they don’t forgive than their heart has become hardened. I am not saying that if you have been cheated on that you should stay married, but I would suggest that you try everything you can to save the marriage. Ask God for help and you and your spouse seek help to solve this serious matter. Ask God to soften your heart and help you cope with the pain. Christians watch what kind of advice you give out.

I don’t understand why people divorce over money. Do you really think God will bless you with the money if that is the reason of your divorce? If you cannot get along with each other than seek help. Let’s work on our marriage instead if giving up.

Bible Verse: Please read Matthew 19

Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask for you to help and comfort hurting marriages. May you give them strength to sit down together, talk to one another and work out their issues. Give them the strength to seek help. Amen

Divorce does not just affect you and your spouse, it affects the whole family. What greater gift could you give each other than to work out your problems. You have invested in this marriage and you should try to save your investment.

Stop searching the internet for information on divorce, search the internet on saving my marriage, help my marriage, improve my marriage, stop divorce in marriage, fix my marriage and search for CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE WEBSITES.

I really like http://www.familylife.com for good information dealing with marriage, singles and children. I would recommend on their site checking out the “Weekend To Remember”. My wife and I went to this marriage building weekend retreat and we have a great time. We had fun, we laughed, we cried and we brought love back into our marriage. The Family Life “Weekend To Remember” travels all over the United States, check out their site to see when they will be near you.

Who wins in a divorce? Lawyers win in a divorce. I know several lawyers personally and they are good people. If we don’t run to them for a divorce all the time, maybe this would allow them more time to focus on major problems in our communities. If you went to a lawyer and said I would like a divorce, and if the lawyer said to you “come back in 60 days and we will talk” you would be mad and look for another lawyer. If people would just pause and not go to the lawyers while being mad, maybe the divorce rate would decrease.

I would suggest reading from the bible the following on divorce:

Matthew

Mark

Luke

1 Corinthians

Today’s Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you guide couples and give them the strength to want to save their marriage. I ask that you change the hearts of people wanting to divorce and bless those who listen to your word on divorce. Amen

How many times have couples thought about leaving the marriage?

If the grass is greener it will only be greener for one season!

God has designed for you and your spouse to be joined together. We as humans always think we know whats best. Then all of a sudden we mess everything up. Let God work through each of us and allow Him to strengthen us. Ask God to bless your marriage, your spouse and you. Admit your sins and ask God for forgiveness.

When couples are unhappy in marriage they think divorce is the answer. They think the grass is greener on the other side. It is not always the other person that has the problems it is YOU. Take a look at yourself, are you doing right, are you honoring your spouse? I am sure we can all think about it and see the flaws we each have to work on.

Divorce is not the answer, getting your marriage on track is the answer! God says he hates divorce! Please Read:

Malachi 2:16 (NIV) “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

What we need to be doing is asking ourself and our spouse, “what can I do to make this marriage better”? It is possible to take a bad marriage and make it a positive, happy, loving marriage. Marriage is not rocket science, we just need to really love one another. Before you can love someone else you must love yourself.

1 Corinthians 7:27 (NIV) Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.

Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask that you place your arms around married couples today and give them the strength to fix and restore troubled marriages. Touch their hearts and bring them together as one. AMen

In marriage today it is too easy to walk out. When things get rocky people want to run. This is not the answer.

The answer is to grow up. Sit down together, talk about the problems and how the two of you can fix the problems you are facing. It may be beyond the two of you, I would suggest talking with someone from a church or a biblical counselor. “I would stay away from the standard marriage counselors, family and friends”.

If your marriage is on the rocks it is time to get serious and sweep the rocks up. Talk with your spouse and find out what they need from you to help this marriage out. It takes two to make a marriage work and both parties are to blame when it fails.

One question to ask each other:

1. What do you need from me right now?

Be honest about the answer you give and make sure it is important for yourself and the marriage. If you just throw an answer out there you will get nowhere. Pick a top 3 most important problems you want fixed in the marriage and work on them.

Pray together as a couple, pick the best time that works for the both of you. For my wife and I it is at bedtime. Couples that pray together, stay together.

1 Corinthians 7 (NIV)

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

Today’s Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you give couples the strength to come before you and ask for help in marriage. Give them the ability to talk to one another and talk from the heart. I pray for your hand in their time of need to comfort them and direct them. Amen

Date night is very important between married couples. Date night allows couples to get away and spend one on one time with each other. It does not mean spending a lot of money or going somewhere fancy.

Date night does not have to be costly. It may be as simple making up a basket and going to the park for some quiet time. The point is to focus on each other and communicate. One of the biggest issues in a marriage today is the lack of communication. Some men need help in this department.

Make date night fun, talk about key points you see in each other and make it a time to lift each other up in praise. Play a game that you both like or make up your own. Set ground rules if needed and follow them. Example “we do not talk about work on date night”.

When children come in your marriage ask a family member to watch the child / children of a short time. This allows a child to get use to being with someone else and allows you to get use to letting go. As time goes on hire a babysitter allowing you and your spouse one on one time. I feel this is the hardest thing for parents to do.

Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask that you give all parents the strength to find time to give to one another. Allow them the time to focus on date night and giving quality time towards each other. Amen

Porn is degrading to your spouse and it takes away the ability for you to give 100% respect. When you watch porn your mind thinks and acts in a different way. The mind gets this image of how things should be in the bedroom. The private time and place with your spouse should be for the both of you to enjoy. This is a special time for the two of you to be focused on each other.

When watching porn you are allowing a third party to join you in your relationship. You replace your spouse with another image or someone else mentally. God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. There is one third party allowed in a marriage and that is God.

Women have enough issues to deal with in everyday life. The TV is filled with how women should look and act. The clothing stores have these plastic models in the window displaying how women should dress. The way society is displaying women is sad. If you walk the mall you will see mothers dressed like their daughters. I am not against looking good and sexy, but good and sexy can be done in a tactful way. There is so much skin being shown out in public anymore that it is degrading to the female gender.

Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Today’s Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you place your hand upon those who struggle with porn in the marriage. I ask that they might realize that this is not good for the marriage and start putting the spouse above all. For those who want more in their marriage, start putting your focus on your spouse and enjoy each other. Lord, I ask for strength to be given to all men and women to honor each other in marriage. Amen

I would like for everyone who reads this post to take a moment to pause and say a prayer for our military. We need to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Those who have fallen to protect us, those who have served and those who are serving. The men and women serve to give us the right to be free, to serve and worship God our way. They serve to protect us and defend the United States of America. If you know someone in the military or see a military person give them a Thank You and make their day.

We need to also pray for the families of our service members. I will tell you that sometimes the stress on the family of a serving military person is greater than you can imagine. The spouse of a military member has a tough job taking care of the home front. Please remember them as well when you pause to pray.

Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask that you comfort those serving in the United States Armed Forces and protect them. Give them strength to defend the United States, keep the safe and healthy. I pray for the military families that you give them peace in their heart, comfort them and keep them safe. Amen

Thank you to all our military personnel and may God be with you and your families!

God Bless,

Lon & Becky