GPS to a Joyful Marriage

James 4:1-3  "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?  You desire but do not have, so you kill.  You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.  You do not have because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures". I’ve talked about these verses before which bring me to, what I believe to be, the biggest challenge in marriage and in our relationship with God – self.  I know, I always write about it and keep coming back to it.  It seems to be the key to most of the issues we face.  In whatever scenario you look at causing problems in any relationship, you will find a selfish party.   I once discussed the dilemma of selfishness to a pastor and told him I desired to break the code, figure out how to cure it.  He snickered and said, “Good luck with that....

Do you ever question the whole idea of marriage, wondering if it’s worth all the struggles and frustrations?   I believe every married couple experiences moments of doubt    (even months or years depending on the state of your marriage)  and thoughts of “What in the world am I doing?” when it comes to walking that difficult road to marital bliss.   I know I have, and I supposedly have all the “answers” from building up a marriage ministry for the past eighteen years.   Paul says in I Corinthians 7:1 says “It is good for a man not to marry.” Hmmm.  Why would God’s word say that?  Paul is responding in these verses to a letter from the Corinthians questioning him about life situations.  Paul goes on to say, “But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”   He suggests marriage to help the Corinthians turn from their life of sin and lust.   In verse 9 he...

An idol is anything you have to check with before you say yes to God. ~ Kris Valotton The bottom line, when it comes to busyness, is what takes priority in our lives.  Is it the “things” that we are doing, or is it a relationship with God?  And then should come our relationship with our spouse followed by our children.  Any activity that gets in the way of those relationships is too much – too much busyness. James 4:4– “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” This verse very clearly tells us how God feels about friendship with the world.  How friendly are you with the world?  Is it keeping you so busy that you’re missing God’s plan for you?  Do you follow worldly advice over Godly advice?  That’s why God considers friendship with the world hatred towards Him. Hatred towards God and becoming an enemy of Go...

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY from Sheri Rose Shepherd: "If the devil can't make you bad, the next best thing he can do is to make you busy."  Colossians 3:1-4 says, “ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly (worldly) things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ” The second verse says to set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  This, to me, is the key to holy living and keeping your eyes on the path God has chosen for you.  Everything we do that is not of God distracts us from His plan. Verse 17 of Colossians 3 says, “ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ” This verse is telling us not to do ANYT...