What is marriage?

Whether you've been married 5 days or 50 years, marriage was and is defined by God for some specific purposes.  For the young it includes the possibility of children.  For all ages it is to be for an intimate oneness and companionship that cannot be found in any other relationship including the sisterhood like that between ( Read more... )

http://farroutcoachingnotes.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/forgiveness-we-cant-live-without-it/

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A Certification class in the Prepare/Enrich Relationship Inventory/Assessment, for Counselors, Pastors and Marriage Ministry staff and volunteers has been scheduled in Scottsdale Arizona - details below. If this is not a good fit for you please pass this on to others who would benefit.

How often it’s more like Another Marriage Unraveled by the Mysteries of Life - but the truth is that while marriage takes hard work, in the end - it’s still pretty straight-forward.   We have been called individually to a life of holiness.   If that becomes the sincere goal in our life, then the rest truly does fall well into place.

It gave ( Read more... )

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trophy -vs- Momentum

...and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.   Mark 12:30 (see also Duet 6:5, Mat 22:37 and Luke 10:2)

When life gets hectic, we frequently run out of steam for the important things ( Read more... )

Celebrations!

The holiday season rapidly approaches, and our thoughts softly turn to past celebrations and those in the weeks ahead, because celebrations are important to us.  When I read or hear that word I rembember that some years ago, Chuck Swindoll spoke on "extravagant celebrations" at Mount Herman.  He shared his thoughts on Mary's pouring ( Read more... )

 Last month we explored the mistaken approach that most of us make - wanting to see change in our spouse - without considering our own need to grow and change.  We miss how that often ties into our also mistaken view that coming to Christ without personal growth, is about the same as buying a paid up life insurance policy.  Once done - we have to ( Read more... )

Here’s an emotion charged phrase to consider, that I’ve heard both Dallas Willard and John Ortberg use - “fulfilling the minimal requirement for getting into heaven ”.  If we’re to become the individual that God called and created us to be, such a statement will strike something deep inside our soul that will rise and speak to us.  It may be a ( Read more... )