Must See Christian Marriage Advice Tips For Engaged Couples

Christian marriage advice for engaged couples.

If you and your partner are engaged and are planning to get married, you can get marital counsel from the minister of your church. He/she can give you Christian marriage tips and advice on how to prepare for marriage and also give you Christian relationship advice based on the scriptures in the Bible that talk about marriage.

Workshops and seminars.

As an engaged couple you might want to find out about seminars and workshops that can give you Christian advice to help you prepare for the marriage that you and your partner are planning. At these workshops, you may be able to get some literature with marital counsel that you can take home with you as well.

Are there any books we can read?

If you are looking for some Christian relationship advice, and you want to find books about marriage from a Christian perspective, you will find many books on marriage, but when you go to look for these books that give Christian marriage advice, you want to be very careful as you search, for there are some people who claim to offer marital counsel in the books they have written, but then the books talk about everything but marriage.

It is very easy to get caught up in these scams, when looking for Christian marriage advice. However, you may also be able to find DVDs and audio recordings on line and on CDs that can give you good quality, usable Christian marriage advice.

By M.R

If you are blessed by any of the write-ups in this blog, do not forget to share it with others.

You can also share your testimonies with others  on this blog....your testimony will encourage  others..

Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 

And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die

Remain blessed shalom.

Marriage Problems - Tips For Healing

Christian marriage problems are not much different than non Christian marriage problems and both require healing at times. There are problems dealing with communication, trust, intimacy etc. and unfortunately, mental, emotional and physical abuse are also problems in a Christian Marriage.

The problems that Christian's face in their marriage can easily lead to a breakup if they aren't wise enough to deal with them the right way. Often times, couples find themselves arguing about non important issues and sometimes frustration sets in and small problems become big problems.

One major problem that you will never be able to solve or change is that you are human and not perfect. Therefore, you and your spouse will have problems in your marriage, some little ones and perhaps some big ones. When you do it's important who, how and when you address the problem and begin to move on.

Here are some tips for healing a Christian Marriage;

Believe and trust God and His Word to help you heal your broken marriage. God wants to help you move forward and not stay still or worse go backwards in your relationship.

Forgive and forget past problems or actions in your marriage that keep you grounded in the past. Don't let your growth be blocked by your past problems.

Work with your spouse to reconcile any important differences you have in your marriage and remove repetitive actions that you know lead to problems.

Give your best effort to avoid behaviors that result in pain for your spouse.

Don't hold feelings of anger or contempt toward your spouse for past indiscretions. If you can't let go of negative feelings you have for your spouse it will be difficult to heal your relationship problems.

Guard who you discuss your marriage problems with and who you rely on for advice. Not everyone is wise and has the right perspective for your marriage. You don't want to make small problems big ones because of bad advice you receive.

There are ways for you to resolve conflicts, improve your communication, and build a stronger, richer and almost problem free Christian marriage. It doesn't mean that you won't have problems but you should be able to handle them from a Godly perspective and your Christian marriage problems should not be more than together you can't solve.

Conclusion:

God and I want your marriage to succeed. I'm sure prayers for your marriage are being offered up to God and God is in the business of answering prayers.

 By D.P.H

If you are blessed by any of the write-ups in this blog, do not forget to share it with others.

You can also share your testimonies with others  on this blog....your testimony will encourage  others..

Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 

And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die

Remain blessed shalom.

Essential Christian Teachings Christians Need to Know

There is a lot of misunderstanding about Christianity and what the Christian faith actually teaches. Because there are so many doctrines that have been added to the Christian faith, many may be confused about what Christianity actually teaches.

Here are essential teachings Christians need to understand.

1. Without the Resurrection, Christianity doesn't exist.

The core belief of Christianity is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The reason this is the central teaching of Christianity is really very simple: Christ's resurrection was his proof that he wasn't just a man, he is God. It was also about proving that he was the savior of mankind.

2. Jesus is God.

Although Islam teaches that Jesus is a prophet, and Judaism teaches something else, what the Bible teaches is that Jesus was very clear: He is God. He never said he was a man, a prophet. Those beliefs are a misreading of the Christian scripture, as well as heresy.

3. Saved by faith, subject to grace, not judged by the law.

One of the big fallacies non believers commit when it comes to Christians is that they think Christians believe they're perfect. Nothing is further from the truth.

We recognize that we are sinners and that the only path to heaven, and Christ, is to accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Christians are subject to grace because grace is the unearned gift of love from God. In the end, Christians will not be judged on whether they go to heaven or hell, but what their reward in heaven will be.

4. Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself.

In the Old Testament, there are 10 Commandments. When asked about observing the 10 Commandments, Jesus made basically the same statement in every gospel: that we love God, love our neighbor, and then love ourselves.

The Bible is clear that a neighbor is anyone whereas a brother is a fellow believer in Christ. In essence, Christ told us to love everyone.

Loving someone is very different from liking someone. When you like someone, it's about who they are. Love is about who you are. Also, the Bible tells us that God is love. Since God is love, then in order to love others, God must be a part of your life. Otherwise, it isn't love at all.

5. Being saved has nothing to do with being good.

In one of the gospels, someone calls Jesus good. Jesus replied by saying that only God is good. The truth is, none of us are good. No one is good.

Being saved is about accepting Christ as your Savior and putting your faith in him. It is about accepting that Christ is the only road to eternal life, not good works, purgatory, or "being good".

Jesus once said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavty laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). If you want to find true peace, true happiness, you'll find it in Christ.

By J.J

If you are blessed by any of the write-ups in this blog, do not forget to share it with others.

You can also share your testimonies with others  on this blog....your testimony will encourage  others..

Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 

And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die

Remain blessed shalom.

Qualities of an Effective Christian Leader

1 Leaders should be enthusiastic

Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, People are more willing to be enthusiastic with a leader that is the same. So go about your work with passion and your workers will follow your lead.

2. Leaders should be stable, firm and dependable

Their people see them as decision makers and as people who are not blown around by every new idea they hear or by every conflict that comes their way. Leaders that are constantly changing or compromising are difficult to trust and follow.

3. Leaders need to be good listeners

Leaders should listen to God and to others in the same way they expect God to listen to them. One of the most important aspects of effective ministry is listening. Listening is vital to communication and takes up a large percentage of it.

4. Leaders should have thankful hearts

Leaders should have thankful hearts and a constant attitude of praise, because they know that God always meets their needs and never lets them down.

Colossians 4:2 (New International Version)

2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New International Version) 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

5. Leaders should appreciate God for who He is.

God has done so much for all of us, as Christians and He does not want to be taken for granted, especially by His leaders who, after all, should know better. All the glory for any success in ministry belongs t God and maintaining an appreciative heart toward God enables this.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (New International Version)

31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

6. Leaders must be secure in God

Leaders must be secure enough in themselves and in their ministry to cope with rejection. God uses rejection, at times to teach us about ourselves and to encourage us to be more dependent on Him.

7. Leaders need to be skillful in what they do.

If they are lacking in any area they need to get help or ask God to provide for them. God wants our service to Him to be an act of worship and. Therefore everything we do should be done excellently.

8. Leaders need to be forgiving people

They must not harbour grudges or hurts. It does not matter how wrong anybody is in their attitude towards us, and how right we are- we still need to forgive them.

Matthew 6:14-15 (New International Version)

14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Mark 11:25-26 (New International Version)

25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Luke 6:37-38 (New International Version)

37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Ephesians 4:31-32 (New International Version)

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Leaders need to forgive themselves also. A leader wallowing in self pity is no good to anyone.

9. Leaders need to be peace makers.

James 3:17-18 (New International Version)

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Matthew 5:9 (New International Version) 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10. Leaders need to be content with what they have 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (New International Version)

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

10. Leaders need to be gracious

Luke 6:35-36 (New International Version)

35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

11. Leaders need to be bold, strong and courageous

Joshua 1:6-9 (New International Version)

6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Without strong leaders to go ahead, especially in today's high pressure, ungoldly world, the people of God will be scattered, made infective and even be destroyed. Leaders will reap a harvest, fi they do not give up

Galatians 6:9 (New International Version) 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while,

"He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous onewill live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Leaders must also realize that God is the source of their strength.

Psalm 138:3 (New International Version) 3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.

Psalm 71:16 (New International Version) 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

Leaders therefore need to depend on God rather then their own strengths. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (New International Version)

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (New International Version) 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 13:4 (New International Version) 4For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.

By M.R.P

If you are blessed by any of the write-ups in this blog, do not forget to share it with others.

You can also share your testimonies with others  on this blog....your testimony will encourage  others..

Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 

And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die

Remain blessed shalom.

Building an Ideal Christian Home

Life is beautiful and ideal Christian home is beautiful as life. It starts with the couple potentially loving themselves as believers, progressively teaching their children the way of the Lord and powerfully propagating the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to give lives a new meaning.

Potentially, the couple builds their self-concept, understands the rules of relationship and maxims of maturity to have a beautiful marriage.

Progressively, they create a strong family bond where they teach their children the Word of God and train them in the way they should go (Proverb 22:6).

Powerfully, the couple builds intimacy in their spiritual life through faith in God. Thereby living the Word of God and doing the right things at the right time and for the right purpose, by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a child of God and blessed couple, you should build a closer relationship with God; building a strong bond of shared faith that do not just build an extraordinary marital bond but creates the perfect bond of unity among the family members to accomplish God's vision and be totally fulfilled.

An ideal Christian home is a concept that begins with the couple. In other words, the couple must build their self-concept first, and love each other. They should understand the rules of real relationship, what it takes to have a beautiful marriage, especially when it comes to spiritual connection to build a unique family bond and allow God to be in charge of your home.

Ideal Christian home is very important. That is why our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ described marriage on a very spiritual level. "And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Matthew 19:5 AMP). This instruction is very vital to the extent that God Himself gave it at creation in Genesis 2:24.

Therefore in order to build an ideal Christian home, couples should learn to cling to the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:20), hold fast to God's ways (Deuteronomy 11:22), serve God and cling to Him (Deuteronomy 13:4), obey God's voice and hold fast to Him (Deuteronomy 30:20). When couples do this, they establish a lifestyle which enables them to train the fruits of their marriage, their children to be like them. Thereby making their home an ideal Christian home (Psalms 128:3, Act 16:13).

The couple is made up of man and wife and the man is the father of the home. It is absolutely in the man's best interest to make Christ Jesus his head because every Christian home is founded on the solid rock - Christ Jesus (Matthew 7: 24-25). Every man should get married to his wife (Genesis 2:18) and build an ideal Christian home.

By A.S.C

If you are blessed by any of the write-ups in this blog, do not forget to share it with others.

You can also share your testimonies with others  on this blog....your testimony will encourage  others..

Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 

And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die

Remain blessed shalom.

Hope for Troubled Christian Marriages - 5 Tips for Stability and Sanity

Being a Christian does not insulate your marriage from times of trouble. Like every other person walking around and breathing, Christian relationships can be ransacked with the pain of infidelity, the cold distance resulting from bitterness, and the loneliness of conflict. Here are 5 things you can do to bring a sense of stability and sanity to a troubled Christian marriage:

1. Recognize there is a problem

As a counselor, I am always amazed at the energy that is spent in denying the existence of a troubled relationship. Spouses - male and female - will go to great lengths to avoid dealing with a problem. Problems will be denied, overlooked, or even ignored in hopes that they will somehow resolve themselves. Sadly, it does not happen, and couples find their relationship in dire circumstances.

Couple Tip: Admit there is a problem. You do not necessarily have to agree on the cause of the problem. Simply agreeing a problem exists can cause a change in attitude.

2. "Quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger."

James 1:19 reminds us to "Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear." (The Message). Quick tempers and a lack of listening to one another is a sure fire way to get into an argument. James emphasizes the significance of listening over talking.

Couple Tip: Consider whether you are truly listening to your spouse's need or are you interrupting so that you do not have to take any blame?

3. Do not make a major life changing decisions regarding divorce

When I counsel couples I am always interested in whether one spouse has already spoken to a divorce attorney. This often tells me the depth of their emotional pain. Hasty decisions can have permanent consequences. Divorce can always take place. Reconciliation after divorce requires more work.

Couple Tip: If you feel like talking to a divorce attorney then consider talking to a trusted friend about your motives. Are you making your decision based on emotion?
If you do talk to an attorney, do not make any final decision for 60 - 90 days. Emotions can be very volatile even for 30 days.

4. Support, support, support

Assuming you both desire to save your marriage, I encourage you to find some likeminded fellow Christians that can walk with you during this time. Many churches have marriage mentor programs, or a pastor to will meet with you. Some of the best advice we received was even from older couples that my husband and I sought out to talk with.

Couple Tip: Dare to ask for help. It is much easier to isolate than to reach out. No one can help you if you do not ask for it.

5. Pray blessings for your spouse

Too often when we are in the midst of crisis, our prayers remain self focused. If I shift my focus from wanting justification for my behavior to blessings for my spouse then my attitude will become more peaceful. Therefore, I am more amiable and approachable.

Couple Tip: Write down 15 things you are grateful for your spouse for, and share the list with them either verbally or in a card or email.

6. Get some professional help.

Sometimes it is difficult to see the end of the tunnel when we are in the middle of a storm. It is important to get some professional help, especially if you feel like you are reaching a dead end or getting stuck in that same old patterns.

Couple Tip: Find a local counselor that can help you work through the issues of your marriage. Ask your pastor, or friends for a referral of a qualified counselor.

Being a Christian does not guarantee your relationships will be wrinkle free. However, God does promise to walk with us through these times, and provide respite when we need it. (Psalm 23) and provide hope for troubled marriages.

By T.G

If you are blessed by any of the write-ups in this blog, do not forget to share it with others.

You can also share your testimonies with others  on this blog....your testimony will encourage  others..

Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 

And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die

Remain blessed shalom.

Christian Meditation - God's Gift For Healthy Sleep

Sleep. Safe, peaceful, nourishing. Restoring, healing mind and body.

Insomnia. Restless mind, restless body, burning eyes and longing-for peace, for comfort, for rest.

The Psalmist certainly knew what it was like to have trouble with sleep. His words hit home, because we all know how it feels.

I am weary with my sighing. Every night I make my bed swim...my eye has become wasted with grief. Ps 6:7-8 In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; my soul refused to be comforted...You have held my eyelids open... Ps 77:2;4

Sleeplessness hurts our body as well as our mind, causing problems from diabetes to heart disease, creating accidents and poor work performance, and leaving us snappy, irritable and moody.

We all want restful sleep, a healthy body and joyful energy. The question for many is-HOW? Most of us experience insomnia occasionally, but for many, lack of sleep has become a painful way of life.

You've probably read the tips: Exercise more, drink less alcohol, use white noise, take a hot bath, sleep in a cool room, drink warm milk (OK, I know that really does help, but I'd rather just stay up!)

All these things are certainly true. And if you are not already doing them-why not?

You won't sleep well if you don't exercise regularly-you can count on that. Alcohol will make you sleepy, but it will also shatter your sleep structure, causing you to wake again and again, between bouts of superficial, poor quality sleep. Warm baths, the hum of a fan in a cool dark room...all are good ideas, important for good quality sleep.

But what if you've done all these, and still have problems sleeping?

David knew what brought him healthy sleep, and he spends much of his time in joy and rejoicing. What's different for David when he sleeps?

Thou hast put gladness in my heart...in peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety. Ps 5:7-8 I lay down and slept, I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me. Ps 4:5-6

Sleep comes when we know we're safe and secure. And that assurance comes with trust in the Lord. With the comfort of knowing you're safely held in His hands.

You will have worries-and while it's true that most of the things you worry about won't ever happen, you know some may! Your worries grow from real concerns, and reflect the love you have for others, the hopes you have for the future. You may be struggling with heartbreak and loss, and very real problems to face in the morning.

But your worry won't help, no matter how real the concern. And in your heart you know that...and so the fears and worries begin again.

At times it really seems ten thousands have set themselves against us! You want to give your fears and worries, your 'head chatter', to Him, but how? How can you have the peace and restful sleep that comes from trusting in Him, knowing you are safely held no matter what?

Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still. Ps 4:4 I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart... Ps 77:6

In meditation, God speaks to our hearts, to our minds and our bodies. He gives us peace at the deepest level...and we can relax, and sleep in the safety of His peace. In meditation, He fills our hearts with the warmth of His love. He washes our bodies with soothing biochemical cascades, giving us everything we need to sleep deeply and richly.

And the more we meditate, the better we sleep!

So when you're struggling in the night, remember David's words, and let God's peaceful gift of meditation fill your soul with comfort, and your body with rest.

By D.K

If you are blessed by any of the write-ups in this blog, do not forget to share it with others.

You can also share your testimonies with others  on this blog....your testimony will encourage  others..

Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 

And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die

Remain blessed shalom.