Does your marriage need help?

Does your marriage need help?

The fact is that God made us different and we live in a sinful world. The combination creates combustible situations. Love can overwhelm differences but one must proactively pursue Love.

 

If your marriage is rocky, get help. Talk to your pastor. Your Church is a great resource to begin the search for help.

 

Depending on the depth of the issues the second step could be an insightful book. Ask around, I guarantee someone close to you is two steps ahead and has a suggestion. Several that have remained on my shelf include:

 

  • The Love Dare by Stephen &Alex Kendick
  • What wives wish their husbands knew about women by Dr. James Dobson
  • If Only He Knew – A valuable guide to knowing, understanding, and loving your wife

 

Consider a weekend marriage refresher such as:

 

Family Life presents Weekend To Remember: What you and your spouse will hear during the Weekend to Remember® is the result of more than three decades of biblical research by a team of men and women who distilled what it takes to have a successful marriage and family.  Our speakers will show you exactly how to pursue a marriage that really works through stories of their own breakthroughs and blunders.  We want you to leave the weekend with encouragement, hope, and practical tools to build and grow your relationship.

 

Worldwide Marriage Encounters: The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is a positive and personal experience offering married couples an opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It is a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God. It is a time to share their feelings, hopes and dreams with each other.

The emphasis of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is on the communication between husbands and wives. The weekend provides a conducive environment for couples to spend time together, away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, while encouraging them to focus on each other and their relationship.

It is not a retreat, marriage clinic, group sensitivity, or a substitute for counseling. It is a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Marriage. It truly is a marriage enrichment program.

This is a time for you and your spouse to be alone together, to rediscover each other and together focus on your relationship for an entire weekend. Every marriage deserves that kind of attention! Simply put – it is one of the best marriage enrichment programs offered to married couples.

 

There are many others so ask around and commit to making it happen.

 

There are multiple home courses you can work through with your spouse. Check out:

 

Intimate Encounters
A 16 week DVD small group study from David and Theresa Ferguson

Build a more loving and intimate marriage as you and your spouse engage in this 16-week small group home study. You will learn how friendship, fellowship and physical intimacy are all part of God’s design for an abundant marriage—your marriage.

This DVD study, created by David and Theresa Ferguson and used for more than a decade at Scottsdale Bible, will give you the tools to experience freedom from painful emotions, unhealthy thinking and self-defeating behaviors as you are guided into vulnerability, mutual giving and affectionate caring. During this study you will:

  • assess your marriage intimacy
  • discover one another’s real needs
  • understand the role of emotions in your relationship
  • learn how to heal hurts through confession and forgiveness
  • find freedom from fear
  • gain emotional closeness with your spouse
  • learn how to avoid “games”
  • the underlying things in “leaving’“ to cleave
  • create a vision for your marriage

 

 

Lastly and most importantly do not be slow to embrace professional help. Most men think they can work through issues without outside help. I know I did. I was wrong and so are you. Good professional marriage counselors provide the safe environment for you and your spouse to take two steps backwards, work through the problems so you can move forward together. Two individuals I would recommend interviewing:

 

Dr. Sam Adams: I am a clinical psychologist with almost 20 years of experience in my Christian Counseling practice. I work with a full range of issues for individuals and couples. My treatment approach is supportive, present-centered and solution-focused within the context of a Christian worldview. I specialize in providing a safe environment within which to process your issues and concerns in order to gain insights for accomplishing your goals. I especially enjoy helping individuals learn to live life with intentionality and I’m passionate about helping couples rediscover intimacy and closeness.

 

Dr. Steve Stratton

 

Dr. Dana Doerksen: Providing individual, couples and family counseling.

Treatment specialization includes:

  • Therapy for Depression and Anxiety
  • Couples Counseling
  • Family Counseling
  • Parenting Support
  • Grief Counseling
  • Work and Career issues
  • Stress Management
  • Addiction & Recovery
  • Conflict Resolution

I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues providing services that span from therapy for depression and grief counseling to parenting support, couples counseling and beyond.  In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, I offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each of my clients individual needs to help attain the personal growth they’re striving for.

Great marriages are very rewarding but they take time, commitment and selflessness. Work at making yours better. If you need help get it. Professional help is readily available and can with God’s grace work miracles even if it takes a while. Be aggressive seeking help and take a leadership role in the process.

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