The Power of Gratitude

Experts in business, leadership, management, and related fields have articulated the benefits of expressing gratitude for quite a long time.  Customers are more loyal when they feel appreciated.  Employees are significantly more productive when they receive positive recognition for their achievements.  Students work harder when their teacher acknowledges effort.  Volunteers donate their time more frequently when they are thanked for their service.

Love Bears All Things

The Word of God states, in 1 Corinthians 13:7, that love “beareth all things” (KJV).  Indeed, this is one of the characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love.  But, what does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and a wife in the bonds of holy matrimony?

10 Tips to Become a Friendlier Spouse

Often people say they want to be a better spouse or have a stronger marriage.  But many times they admit that they don’t know how to accomplish this.  One of the easiest and most effective ways is to be more friendly.  It really is that simple.  Begin to treat your mate as a genuine friend and the levels of bondedness and emotional intimacy will increase dramatically in your relationship.  Below are ten tips to get you started.

5 Keys to Success in Marriage

There exists an age old question regarding which type of relationship style provides the best potential for a happy marriage.  What is the ideal blend of personalities, interests, backgrounds, experiences, and other characteristics that results in marital bliss?  There is not a single correct answer.  Couples manage to find success in marriage in all sorts of circumstances -and virtually anywhere on the relationship style spectrum.  However, marriage experts have identified a few key factors that serve to predict happy and lasting unions.  The most important of these characteristics are discussed, below.

More Quotes on Marriage, Family, and Love

‎We continue to get positive feedback regarding the quotes we share about marriage, family, and love.  Below is yet another compilation of such quotes.  Some are intended to be inspirational, some motivational, some thought provoking, and a few just plain humorous.  Enjoy!

Bedtime: 3 Most Important Times of Day

The Bible admonishes us to “let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).  Some have paraphrased this scriptural mandate with the simple phrase “don’t go to bed angry”.  These are sound words to apply in any relationship or situation.  But, certainly we would be remiss if we did not apply this timeless wisdom to our marriage and home life first and foremost.  After all, our family relationships are the most important of all our human associations.

Ten Easy Resolutions to Improve Your Marriage

While mulling over ways to change your life for the better this year, why not consider a resolution to improve your marriage? Virtually nothing else that you resolve to do will be more advantageous to your life and happiness in the long run. Here are ten suggestions for relatively easy resolutions you can make to towards this important goal.

Quotes on Marriage, Family, and Love

‎Many readers have commented that they like the quotes we share about marriage, family, and love. Some are intended to be inspirational, some motivational, some thought provoking, and a few just plain humorous. Below are several of the quotes we have shared. Enjoy!

Returning from Work: 3 Most Important Times of Day

A speaker at a marriage conference recently made the statement: “The best times of the day to communicate with your partner are before leaving work, when returning home from work, and before going to bed.” It is certainly true that these are critical times of the day regarding marital relationships. But this is not necessarily the best time to “communicate”. There are definitely some “dos and don’ts” when it comes to communicating at these key times of the day.

Morning: 3 Most Important Times of Day

One should always be mindful of being loving, helpful, and respectful to his/her partner. Every day and every waking moment is important. We should never take one another for granted or misuse the time that we are blessed to have with our spouse and family. However, there are three specific times of the day that seem to hold special importance. Our words and actions during these times have significant ramifications. Indeed, how we handle these times can go a long way to either making or breaking our relationships.

Peace in Your Marriage

The Bible is replete with lessons that teach us the proper way to treat others and conduct ourselves in personal relationships. Among the most important of these teachings is that our associations and dealings with others should exist within the boundaries of peace. This biblical principle is general in nature and not specifically directed to the relationship between husbands and wives. However, it is certainly reasonable and appropriate to apply these admonitions to marriage, which is, after all, among the most important of all human relationships. Certainly it is God’s will for Christian marriages to exemplify the concept of peace.

Marital Fitness

One useful and fun way to view developing and maintaining a healthy marriage is to think about the analogy of physical health and fitness. Heath care professionals promote a nutritional diet and physical exercise as the most critical components for achieving and sustaining a healthy lifestyle. You can survive, at least for a time, without engaging in either. But you won’t reap the daily and long term benefits that these important disciplines provide. Similarly, if you neglect regular care and attention to your marital relationship you may not perceive any immediate negative effects. But, the long term implications of this neglect will become evident over time. You will also miss out on many wonderful benefits that can be experienced in your life together now.

The Blessings and Benefits of Traditional Marriage

The Bible teaches us that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman that was designed and ordained by God. In a successful Christian marriage the participants enter into a life-long covenant and commitment with one another and, together, with God. Because God instituted marriage and is, Himself, a part of the marital covenant with the couple there are many blessings and benefits that a faithfully married couple enjoy.

Couples Who Pray Together

You have probably heard the old adage, "couples who pray together stay together."  You may be pleased to discover that this expression is more than just popular wisdom. Research studies have verified what Bible believing, God fearing people have understood for ages. Married couples who pray, study scripture, attend church, and otherwise jointly participate in spiritual activities really do enjoy significantly higher levels of marital happiness and satisfaction.

The Power of Compound Interest in Marriage

It has often been said that marriage is "hard work".  "It doesn't come easy," some will tell you, "you really have to labor at it!"  While there is certainly some veracity to such statements, this mindset perpetuates off-putting, negative imagery of grueling toil and hardship.  It's no wonder so many marriages fail.  Not many people gladly embrace "hard work".