Successful Marriage Solutions

Keep informed of all the latest information posted to enhance the effectiveness for success in your marriage. I also offer devotional tidbits quite frequently! Be sure to click the orange RSS button to keep updated!

Oct 31, 2008, James 1:2-4 Getting through Trials

Notice that the title is getting THROUGH trials!! Recently, I have been doing a Bible study about trials and tribulations of life and what the Bible has to say about them. I learned some very important facts - facts that takes self-discipline and control - but it can be done!! First, James 1:2 says,"Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials". How many people do you know that are happy when trials hit?? The fact is that we should be happy because God has a plan for us, one to make us stronger by going through our trial with Him and praying fervently for His direction! Notice also that it says "whenever you encounter" --the Bible also states that we WILL have trials and many of them. This is God's way of showing us how to be dependent on Him and teaching us better ways of dealing with our trials. Then moving on to James 1:3-it states "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance". That's something we definitely need in this world if we are going to keep moving forward. What a reward to know that God gives us more endurance for a strong faith and that he will not put any more on us than we can bear. So--bottom line-look at your trials as an opportunity to show God that you are His child and you know that He will bring good things to those who love him, even in and THROUGH our trials!

Sep 28, 2008, Ephesians 4:1-3

Today, we had our small group Bible study, which is a new one focusing on marriage. Ephesians 4:1-3 talked about some of the ways God wants us to walk in our marriage to our spouse. These include longsuffering, being humble, being gentle, and bearing with one another. These are key traits that every marriage needs! Being humble is to be forgiving of the things your spouse may say or do that may rub you wrong-Forgive as Christ forgave us! Being gentle-think about your spouse's feelings before you let your mouth fly open! Last but not least is bearing with one another! None of us are perfect, no not one-as it says in His word-so don't be so quick to "judge" a particular quirk about your spouse. We all have little things that our spouse may find aggravating or annoying, but it is also true that your spouse may believe the same about some of the things you do! Communication can play a key role in working out those little "quirks" if done in a positive, loving way. Keeping these things in mind daily will help to keep the devil from creeping in on your marriage and will bring your relationship closer. Trust God for your guidance and He will bless your marriage if you will put Him and His ways first in your marriage!

Sep 16, 2008, Psalms 34

It is too much to write out all of Psalms 34 in this blog-but please look it up in your Bible. It is about the happiness of those who trust in God. I experienced this happiness in an awesome way this past weekend as I taught at a women's retreat out-of-town. Not being sure that I was really getting my point across, God gave me confirmation that the words He gave me to speak to them DID indeed have an impact! I can't even explain the happiness that I felt there as I seen women open their hearts and accept the Big God that we worship! I didn't want to see the weekend come to an end because of the way He moved through everyone there. I am especially grateful to my buddy, Terri, that organized the retreat and for my sisters in Christ that also taught classes last weekend. Most of all, I am grateful and praise God for the love we all shared in Him. I definitely came away with a renewed spirit of love, peace, hope, and joy----all of the things that God gives us to enjoy. As I sat down with my husband after returning home, I was speechless and did not even know how to explain my thoughts and feelings of a truly God-given weekend. I pray that any of you that may read this also have the opportunity of experiencing such a weekend with your Christian sisters!

Aug 16, 2008, Proverbs 22:6

Wow, what a strong verse at this time of my life!! It states, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it". As I am going through parenting pains of having a 17-year-old, I have to constantly remind myself that I did train him up right and trust in God's promise that he will not depart from it. My son is in a technical school an hour from home. He drove back & forth the first six months, but then found a friend he could move in with that was only 5 minutes from his school. It was a BIG leap of faith for us to let him move down there, but the drive was growing tiresome and traveling the roads everyday was risky as well, so we let him move there. He has done fairly well and has had great grades in his classes but, of course, he's not perfect and has made some bad decisions in the past. It is my faith that tells me he will learn a lesson from those poor decisions and won't make them again. As I spend my quiet time with the Lord each morning, it is a regular prayer for the safety of my son and that God will put good Christian friends around him. These days, those are somewhat hard to come by, but I still have faith. I know things will be different when he graduates in three months and returns home, but we will get through it with God's help then as well. I rely strongly on my heavenly father to protect my son and lead him on the right paths. Joshua, the one in the Bible, was a very strong believer and strong person because of his faith. This is why I also named my son Joshua! I know that God has BIG plans for him and I am excited to see where He will lead him next(Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope"). I have learned that our whole lives are a learning process, so remember to expand your minds by reading and studying your Bible so that you will be better equipped daily to handle the stressors of this this world. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Love in Christ-Julie

Jul 11, 2008, Hope for Family Issues

Guide for family issues in areas of blended families, dealing with in-laws, and parenting as a team!

Jul 11, 2008, Ephesians 4:11-12

Spiritual gifts--It's something that God gave each one of us, we just have to ask for His guidance to figure them out! I have been searching for awhile now to understand my gifts and how to use them to fulfill my purpose. Some time back, I read the Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren and that helped some, but it still didn't give me a clear picture about my career. Currently, I am reading a book by Dan Miller called, "48 Days to the Work You Love". If you don't feel enjoyment and pleasure in your current job or career-You should read this book! I have had a wonderfully eye-opening experience since starting it and have realized my gifts. Even though I took a spiritual gifts class at church years ago, I wasn't sure how to use them at the time, but I do now. Everything is all in God's timing and He has set me on a wonderful new path and I am very excited. Dan Miller also has a website that you will find in the book that allows you to take a personality test, spiritual gifts test, and values test. I actually done all three and every one of them was very accurate!! It amazed my husband and we have had some great communication time discussing the future that I am embarking on. Check back soon and I will share more about my new journey! God Bless!

Jul 2, 2008, Colossians 3:15

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful". Thank God that my son got his car back today! From the moment I got up and spent my quiet time with God this morning, I had a feeling of peace. I went about my work on the computer and around the house and a peace remained. I felt songs of praise and worship in my heart wanting to burst out. This was all even before my son picked up his car! Our God truly is an awesome God! Once I turned it all over to God and quit trying to handle everything on my own-there He was-waiting on me as always. What was really interesting is that when my husband and I went to dinner this evening, I had not even mentioned the peace that I had felt all day to him. Mid-way through our meal, my husband looked at me and said, "I don't know why, but I have really felt at peace today". WOW!!! My husband and I are truly one together and when God reveals signs like this to me, I can't help but be overwhelmed and excited for what he may do next in our lives. He is a God of peace. If you are struggling in an area of your life that you don't feel peaceful in, pray and ask for your needs specifically and wait on God. His timing is always perfect and He will put you back on track!