Discover moments of hope, forgiveness, acceptance, and ... · Discover moments of hope,...

Discover moments of hope, forgiveness, acceptance,

and spiritual oneness for your marriage.

P A R T I C I P A N T G U I D E

with Ed & Kathy Holland

Marriage Moments, page 1

Session 1: The Moment of

HOPEIntroduction:

“Faith is the con,idence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1

“...hope of eternal life in a God who cannot lie promised before the world began.” Titus 1:2

Why are we here today?

Because we believe that no matter how much despair you may experience in a marriage, _____________________________ is always ____________________________________.

Our _________________________________ in God makes possible that ?irst MOMENT OF HOPE...that ?irst

moment when you allow yourself to ____________________________________________things can get better.

Couples without faith cannot see any other way out and so last year, over 1.2 million people gave up

hope and their marriages ended. Although they may have found some kind of temporary relief from

the chaos of a fractured marriage, they soon discovered a whole new set of circumstances. A

faithless life can only lead to more moments of despair.

There is __________________ __________________________________ lasting solution to despair and hopeless

than God and God alone.

Happy Marriages: Happily married couples have lower rates of:

• High blood pressure• Heart disease• Anxiety• Depression• Suicide• Violence• Psychosis• Homicide• Substance abuse

Unhappy, Contentious Marriages: Can increase the chances of becoming ill by_______________% and

statistically unhappy marriages can shorten one’s life by __________________ _______________________.

One theory for this is that the _________________________ ___________________________ of an unhappy

marriage puts wear and tear on the body.

Myth #1: It is better to divorce than to subject children to a hostile marriage/home environment.

Fact: Children of divorce often fare as poorly or worse because the divorce process and remaining interaction between the ex-‐spouses can be just as hostile. Miserable marriages or miserable divorces fraught with hostility will both impact children negatively.

Effects on Children

Marriage and family expert Dr. John Gottman studied 63 preschoolers in homes where there was great marital hostility. His study revealed that the children had chronically elevated levels of stress hormones compared with other children studied. The long-‐term effects of this are not known. These preschoolers were followed through to age ?ifteen and compared with other children their age, the children from the hostile marriages suffered more of the following:

• Truancy• Depression• Peer rejection• Behavioral problems• Aggression• Low achievement at school and/or school failure

Gottman’s ?inal conclusion: while many believe that divorce is best for the children, it’s a fact that contentious divorces wreak the same havoc on children that the contentious marriage does. Children of divorce often fare just as poorly because the divorce process and remaining interaction between the ex-‐spouses can be just as hostile. Miserable marriage and miserable divorce fraught with hostility both impact the children negatively.

Many family experts believe that divorce is even more devastating saying that “children who had previously been tenderly cared for “suddenly experience a drastic change in that care. Their mothers go back to work or to night school to improve ,inancial status. Fathers are even less available. And they {the children} suffer.” (The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce, pg. 162)

Many are rethinking marriage altogether! nomarriage.com claims that _____________ out of ______________ men regret marrying in the ?irst place.

“From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.” Psalm 130:1


Myth # 2: The Fairy Tale Marriage: Relationships begin in a whirlwind of romance and lead to a fairy tale wedding that is certain to result in a life of “happily ever after.”

Fact: Marriage is the sum total of many individual moments in time. Each moment affects the quality of the marriage. A commitment to building a marriage by stringing together a succession of positive moments will result in a happy marriage.

Marriage and the home is the place where our faith is tested. Who we are at home is

_____________________________ _____________________ _________________________________ _______________________!

Love is more than an emotion, it is an _________________________ based on ________________________________.

A series of negative, disappointing and hurtful moments chips away at your commitment. You begin to believe the lie, the myth, that walking away from the marriage will solve all your problems. You totally lose hope.

“Doesn’t your reverence for God give you con,idence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?” Job 4:6

The word HOPE appears in the book of Job, 22 times. Twenty-‐two times a man, who had lost everything, was comforted with the word HOPE!

Thirty times in the book of Psalms, David, a man who had lost his wife and had been betrayed by his own children reminded us that when you have nothing left to hang on to, YOU HAVE HOPE!

“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.” Psalm 119:114

“Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.” Psalm 119:116

“I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” Psalm 119:147

“I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.” Psalm 130:5


Instructions:

1. Take a few minutes to complete the following evaluation. Please have no discussion during this time.

2. Next, exchange your responses. And again, without discussion, quietly read the response of your spouse.

3. Finally, taking turns, read each of the statements out loud. Allow each other an opportunity to explain why they answered as they did. You may disagree with what your spouse has written, but PLEASE, no debating his/her answers. The purpose of this exercise is to reveal/evaluate…not to start an argument. Respectfully listen and wait until the person who is speaking is ?inished.

4. Please do not take more than 10 minutes to review your answers. Honest evaluation may be painful and bring up other areas you wish to discuss. Rather than trying to resolve those issues this evening, allow yourself to meditate on them instead of seeking further details. Consider this a starting place.

5. Upon completion, hold hands and pray together, asking God to speak to you through this seminar and to open your eyes and allow you see how your marriage can be healed, strengthened and ?illed with hope.

Honestly evaluate your marriage relationship:

1. At this time our marriage is 100% secure with no thought of quitting.

strongly disagree slightly disagree slightly agree strongly agree

2. There have been times in the marriage when I have considered divorce.

often consider it sometimes not in a long time never considered it

3. My husband/wife and I believe that “divorce is not an option.”


4. Our marriage is based on a spiritual foundation in Jesus Christ.


5. I would rate the overall “climate” in our home as:

hostile/unhealthy cold/indifferent slightly stressful warm/loving

6. We are here this weekend because it is the last resort for our marriage.

strongly disagree slightly disagree slightly agree totally agree

7. I believe that no problem is too great for God to solve. There is always hope!

strongly disagree slightly disagree slightly agree totally agree


One-on-One Moment

Session #1 - Despair or Moment of Hope



ForgivenessIntroduction:

“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9 NLT

Myth # 3: Love means: __________________________________________________________________________________

Fact: Love/Marriage means saying “I’m sorry” over and over and over again! (LOL)

In this session we are going to talk about how to grow a _____________________________________ of __________________________________________ in your home.

The Covenant Value: God, man and woman form a ______________________________ relationship.

“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new

life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)

The Covenant Marriage Union God

_______________________ ______________________

A covenant made to God should not be ________________________________________________.

“But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery...” Matthew 5:32 (NKJV)


This three-‐way union brings with it the charge to seek ____________________ _____________________ in resolving marital disharmony.

__________________________ is no longer an option. Living together in ______________________________ is no longer an option. Your covenant relationship is so important that God wants you to be right with each other before He even entertains your prayers.

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)

If quitting is not an option, if living in a fractured relationship of con?lict is not an option, then the only option available in a covenant marriage is that of ___________________________________________ ________________________________________.

A commitment to a covenant marriage is a pledge to work at your marriage. The greatest practice you can graft into your home to resolve con?lict is _________________________________________.

Four Steps to Grafting in Forgiveness:

1. Remove the old

2. Capture the new

3. Implant the grafting

4. Bind the grafting

Forgiveness is more than a _____________________________________ event. It must be viewed as a ___________________________________. A culture of forgiveness must be nurtured within a Christian home. This makes forgiveness the ___________________________ _____________________________________ to a disappointment or hurt.

This culture of forgiveness is a byproduct of our love relationship with God. Our actions reveal the real inward condition of our hearts. Accepting God’s love and loving Him back is the foundation of our ability to love others.

1. 2. 3. 4.


“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and

endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-‐7

Creating a Culture of Forgiveness:

“You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’” Matthew 18:32, 33

Creating the kind of forgiving culture in your homes (where the debt is paid in full and no one continues trying to collect) will make it easier to move forward after you have been offended. Rather than replaying the offense over and over in your mind you will immediately begin the process of forgiveness.

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.” James 1:19

“The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21

Roadblocks for a Culture of Forgiveness:

1. Human Nature – Who you are…basic temperament or personality.

2. Life Experiences - What you have learned or experienced throughout your life. These experiences program or condition us to certain responses.

3. Denial or Avoidance of “Baggage.” Most marriages begin with a clean slate. That is part of the reason things are so great on the honeymoon. You have not yet experienced signi?icant con?lict. You are not carrying around tons of baggage from unresolved con?lict.

4. Inability to Accept Personal Responsibility. “Yeh, but!” You can’t play the “YEH, BUT” blame game with God.

5. Misunderstanding of God’s Love.

• EROS– describes the physical side of love, SEX!

• PHILEO – Represents tender affection, friendship.

• AGAPE -‐ Deeper than the physical, much stronger than tender affection. This love can best be described as divine and supernatural. It is the word used in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…”

It is also the word used in Ephesians 5:25

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”

This kind of love is ____________________________________________

This kind of love is not _______________________________________

John MacArthur, in his commentary of the book of Ephesians says:

“Obviously no sinful human being has the capacity to love with the divine fullness and perfection with which Christ loves… However, because a Christian has Christ’s own nature and Holy Spirit within him, God thereby provides for husbands to love their wives with a measure of Christ’s own kind of love.”

Our capacity to love like Christ is dependent upon how much of Christ is in us. Are we ?illed with HIS Spirit? Are we ?illed with HIS Word? No one can say they have done everything they know to do to save their marriage until they have loved their marriage partner as Christ loves the Church.

The Bible’s checklist for love -‐ 1 Corinthians 13:4-‐8a

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but

rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...” 1 Corinthians 13:4-‐8a

AGAPE love is the __________________________________________ of forgiveness.

The depth of your relationship with Jesus Christ determines the ________________________________________ of your marriage.

Agape love = Ability to ______________________________________.

Requirements for Creating a Culture of Forgiveness

1. Recognize how much you have been forgiven by Christ.

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

Romans 8:1,2

2. Commit to the “_____________________________ ____________________________________ principle.

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;” James 1:19

3. Ask the question; “How would Jesus respond?”

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

4. Don’t merely talk about forgiving, just do it!

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” James 2:14a


“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times

seven.” Matthew 18:21-‐22

If just one will make an effort to build a bridge, the marriage can be saved. Sadly, pride often gets in the way and neither will take the ?irst step.

NOTE: Forgiveness does not negate the need for change. Even after you have forgiven a spouse for betrayal of trust or other “love busters” in your marriage it is wise to implement structured steps to correct the behavior. These steps of accountability will not only help bring about lasting change but they will also go a long way toward building trust once again.

Marriagebuilders.com is an excellent resource. It provides some valuable tools to rebuilt trust in relationships fractured by lying or in?idelity. It is strongly recommended that their “Policy of Joint Agreement” and “Policy of Radical Honesty” or similar tools be used to set the standards for reconciliation.

In the course of this seminar, issues may come forward that will not be resolved in these sessions. The last page of the workbook has contact information for a number of helpful resources. Please allow God to use this seminar to help you take the ?irst step toward a better marriage.


One-on-One Moment

Session #2 - Bitterness or Moment of Forgiveness

Exercise One: Unpacking the Baggage

1. Unpacking the baggage of past hurts (10 minutes each)

• List three areas of hurt you have experienced in your marriage relationship. Before you give the list to your spouse, bow your head and ask God to give you both the grace and love you need to forgive.

*

*

*

• Exchange your lists without speaking a word and prayerfully spend a few minutes reviewing the list of hurts your spouse has written down.

• Come together and pray. Please do not debate or defend anything written down by your spouse. Pray together and ask God to help you begin building a culture of forgiveness in your home.

Exercise Two: Rating my AGAPE love

Using a rating system of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest, please rate yourself in the following areas that are evidence of your love for your spouse.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but

rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...” 1 Corinthians 13:4-‐8a

1. How patient am I toward my spouse? 1 2 3 4 5

2. Do I regularly perform random acts of kindness? 1 2 3 4 5

3. Do I build up my spouse’s self-‐esteem? 1 2 3 4 5

4. How optimistic am I regarding the future of my marriage? 1 2 3 4 5

5. Do I easily forgive my spouse when I am hurt? 1 2 3 4 5

Spend the remainder of your time talking about how you can grow a culture of forgiveness in your home. Use the following blank page to list your thoughts.



AcceptanceSession 3: The Moment of

Introduction:

Myth #4: I can ________________________________ my spouse.

Fact: You really can’t change anyone but yourself.

One Christian counselor said, “The worst thing that the church can do is to beautify marriage in such a way that it isolates anyone and everyone whose marriage isn’t perfect. Umm…that would be everyone.

So, everyone has to go around pretending how perfect their marriage is when in fact, we all know that it

simply isn’t perfect.”

The goal is not just to survive, but to _____________________________.

Besides a total commitment to God and to each other, the one thing our marriage, and every marriage needs is ________________________________________________.

What is Acceptance?

Acceptance is the _______________________________________ of all people? We each must feel that we belong and that we are loved, valued, and not condemned for who we are.

It is in the context of marriage and family that the need for acceptance is most strongly sought. Marriage and family should meet the need for emotional security, expression and belongingness. And if not met at home, spouses and children are likely to ?ind it elsewhere. (53% will have an affair – Quest statistic)

Acceptance in marriage is total recognition and comprehension of who this other person is. Acceptance is embracing everything that makes them who they are. Things such as:

• gender

• family

• life experiences

• strength/weaknesses


• communication styles

• personality/temperament

• uniqueness/ likes, dislikes/ talents

• needs

Acceptance is simply living up to your ________________________________________ __________________________.

A synonym for acceptance is __________________________________. God accepted us with his amazing grace:

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus

Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.” Romans 5:8 & 11

If that kind of grace can make us friends of God, then grace (acceptance) can certainly make us friends of each other.

Synergy

Steven Covey, (Seven Habits for Highly Effective Families) says that accepting and actually

celebrating the differences in marriage is called ____________________________________.

Covey refers to “synergy” as a

• ___________________________ ____________________________ in the marriage • ___________________________ ____________________________

• ___________________________ ____________________________

• One plus one equals three! • It isn’t just compromise or cooperation; it’s an entirely new creation. When couples do not

live in accordance to that third person -‐ that higher authority -‐ they become a law unto

themselves and that’s when relationships deteriorate.

Likewise, when God brings us together as husband and wife, we are no longer individuals

wrapped up in personal interests and self-‐focus. We are indeed a new creation, a

________________________ _________________________. No longer “me”, but “______________.” It’s a risk, an

adventure, and what comes out of the relationship should be more than what went into it.

3. Don’t just ___________________________differences in your marriage; celebrate the differences by

_____________________________________________________ uniqueness.

4. Bring out ______________________________________________.

5. Create a nurturing and accepting family system and consciously decide to actively,

_______________________________________________________________ your relationship.

6. Catch the _______________________ and stop looking for and expecting the worst in your spouse.

7. Instead of being quick to blame, take the high road and assume your spouse has positive

___________________________________________________.

8. Make your marriage a priority…a passionate ______________________________________ for the long

haul.

From Admiration to Irritation

Interesting quotes:“When everybody thinks alike, nobody thinks much.”

“When two always agree, one is unnecessary.”

Remember, you can’t have a fruit salad or a stew without _____________________________________.

Jesus’s Strategy for Improvement

“Stop judging others and you will not be judged; for others will treat you as you treat them. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own. Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s

eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

The “A List” Acknowledge this quality (or irritating difference) in your spouse Accept the fact that he/she still loves you Anticipate future irritation (and chose in advance not to let it bother you) Adapt to it (?ight ?ire with ?ire) Alter the way you respond to it Assume that it will never change

Keys to “Synergy”

1. In order for this new single unit to work, both parties must be ___________________________,

__________________________________, and ____________________________, and open to new alternatives

and options that were never before considered individually.

2. Stop expecting your mate to be _________________________________________


Get alone with God and ask him to reveal your blind spots, all your own ?laws. You may be very surprised what God reveals:

• You may ?ind bitterness – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander as well as malicious behavior.” Ephesians 4:31

• You may ?ind unkindness – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

• You may ?ind anger -‐ “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right.” James 1:19-20

• You may ?ind malicious, intentionally hurtful words – “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Proverbs 15:2; “The tongue has the power of life and death” Proverbs 18:21; “Words ,itly spoken are like apples of gold.” Proverbs 25:11

• You may ?ind a lack of love – “Love is patient, kind, not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” I Corinthians 13:4-7

Confess these things ?irst to God and then to your spouse. Personal, honest admission like that can pave the way for an open conversation about both your faults. Make it equal, two-‐sided, not offensive and aggressive.

Life is too short to be at odds with anyone…especially this person you chose to love. Whenever you have a wrong attitude or action, judge it yourself immediately and experience forgiveness. Discipline yourself to live with a clear conscience toward God and your partner.



One-on-One Moment

Session #3 - Tolerance or Moment of Acceptance

Each spouse should complete this section individually, and then take 10 minutes to read responses aloud to each other. Listen respectfully before commenting.

1. List the top three things that attracted you to your spouse (they could be physical, emotional, or spiritual characteristics.)

2. List the top three differences about your spouse that now cause you to be irritated with him/her.

3.How have you typically responded to those irritations and/or differences?

4. What are some “A-‐List” alterations that you can make in your responses to the things that irritate you?

5. Get creative! How can you “synergize” your relationship? How might your differences come together to create that “third person” in a marriage? (“We” instead of “me”) If more time is needed, complete this question later.

6. Read Matthew 7:1-‐5 and 1 John 1:9 together. What are some things (attitudes or actions) that YOU need to confess and change for the good of your marriage?

7.Hold hands and pray together before returning to session 4 of the seminar.



OnenessIntroduction:

Oneness or spiritual unity is impossible without ________________________________________________.

Premise: Your relationship is the sum total of a series of moments that are connected together on this journey of life.

So, the secret to a successful relationship is stringing together a series of _______________________________ moments that will grow a healthy marriage.

Here is what we have learned so far:

*Moments of Hope will carry you when circumstances tell you all is lost

*Moments of Forgiveness will mend broken hearts and allow you to move forward

*Moments of Acceptance will reduce tension and help you see past the irritation.

*Moments of Oneness will grow __________________________________ ______________________________

and allow you to thrive

Oneness:

Oneness evolves and grows over time. It is the result of stringing together special moments that contribute to authentic intimacy. A good moment adds to oneness, a bad moment takes away from it. Examples:

*An af?irming word -‐ a positive moment that contributes to oneness *A harsh word -‐ a negative moment that tears at oneness *An act of kindness -‐ a positive moment that contributes to oneness *Sel?ishly ignoring the needs of your spouse -‐ a negative moment

Three Levels of Oneness:

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” I John 5:7

Oneness Level #1: _____________________________________________

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one ,lesh.” Ephesians 5:31


The physical is not enough by itself to make a complete relationship, but neither will your marriage be complete without it. Here are some red ?lags to help you diagnose whether or not you need help with physical oneness.

*Past violations of God’s ideal for sexual intimacy *An uncertainty on the part of either spouse to understand God’s plan for sex in marriage *Constant ?ighting over the sexual relationship

Moments of physical intimacy or oneness are a ______________________________ ____________________________ part of your relationship.

Oneness Level #2: ______________________________________________

“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new

life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)

“A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or be given any other of,icial responsibilities. He must be free to spend one year at home, bringing happiness to the wife he has married.”

Deuteronomy 24:5 (NLT)

Each spouse is responsible to create emotionally af?irming moments that contribute to oneness.

Women who discover that one of their husband’s greatest needs is ____________________________________, create af?irming moments into their daily lives.

Men need to discover the signi?icance of the _____________________________________ moment.

The key to emotional oneness is clear ______________________________________________________.

Communication Practices:

* Regular time every day to ____________________________ * Regular time every week to __________________________ * Regular ground rules for _____________________________

Suggested/Recommended Ground Rules for Arguing:* No name-‐calling* Avoid absolutes (always, never)* Don’t shift the focus; stay on point without clouding the issue* Leave baggage at the door (if you had a bad day, don’t take it out on your spouse)* Don’t keep score. Marriage isn’t about who wins and who loses, it’s about a common goal.


Oneness Level #3:_____________________________________________

Spiritual oneness is the ____________________________ that holds everything else together.

Going to church together is good, but that is not enough on its own. Serving together is good, but

service alone is not enough. _________________________________________ together with one another and for

one another is the deepest level of spiritual intimacy and oneness.

Oneness is best seen as a _______________________________________. Over time we slowly become ONE.


One-on-One Moment

Session #4 - The Moment of Oneness

To be completed at home on Saturday evening

You are home now and back to the grind, but please take time for a Marriage Moment before you end the day. Right before the lights are out, talk to one another about the seminar, and consider the following:

1. What did you learn at the Marriage Moments seminar that you believe will help your marriage?

2. Af?irm your desire for spiritual oneness and for God to be the center of your marriage. If you have never prayed together and made God the head of your home, this would be a great time to ask God to begin a covenant union with you. If you have already established a covenant relationship as husband and wife in the past, begin your time this evening by praying together and reaf?irming that Christ is the head of your home and your relationship.

3. Hold hands and pray together. Experience spiritual intimacy as you ask God to help you grow a spiritual relationship and home. Pray that...

*the Marriage Moment seminar will only be the beginning. *the two of you will grow in your ability to communicate. *God will seal your marriage as a covenant relationship. *with God’s help you will always work through issues together.

Marriage Moments Resources

Recommended Books

• Why I stayed, by Gayle Haggard – Tyndale House

• His Needs, Her Needs, by Willard F. Harley – Baker Books

• Spirit-Controlled Temperaments, by Tim Lahaye – Tyndale House

• Love and Respect, Emerson Eggerichs – Tomas Nelson

• Fireproof Marriage Kit, The Love Dare – At most bookstores

Recommended Websites

• www.Focusonthefamily.com

• www.Marriagebuilders.com

• www.fireproofmymarriage.com

• www.familylife.com

• www.smartmarriages.com

Recommended Resources for Women at Risk

• Summit County Toll Free Hotlines: (888) 395-4357

• National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233)

• Battered Women’s Shelter: www.scmcbws.org/

Recommended N.E. OH Counseling Centers

• Emerge Counseling Center: 330-867-5603

• Well Spring Counseling Center: 330-896-0856

• DaySpring Counseling Center: 330-645-9975

http://www.Focusonthefamily.com

http://www.Focusonthefamily.com

http://www.Marriagebuilders.com

http://www.Marriagebuilders.com

http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com

http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com

http://www.familylife.com

http://www.familylife.com

http://www.smartmarriages.com

http://www.smartmarriages.com

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