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James 3:8-10 (New International Version)

"My only hope of salvation is in the infinite transcendent love of God manifested to the world by the death of His Son on the cross. Nothing but His blood will wash away my sins. I rely exclusively upon it."

Benjamin Rush

Signer Declaration of Independence

The only hope of salvation and happiness in our marriages is the love of God and time at the foot of the cross together.  Husband and wives being washed in the blood of Jesus.  Spend time at the cross; you will meet the great counselor.

God Bless,  Don

Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (The Message)

Psalm 31:24 (The Message)

Luke 22:61 (New International Version)

The question before us and that God is asking us is....  "Do you remember my word?"   Do we remember what we know to be the truth about being a good husband or wife?  Mother or Father?  Do we remember how to be a good parent?  Do we remember how to be the leader of our family?  We must not wait until it is to late to do the things we know to do, to begin to act the way we know to act.  One day at a time, start to do what you know to do....God will help you as you obey.   God Bless,  Don and Karen

1 Peter 1:22-23  (The Message)

Amos 3:3 (New International Version)

In all you do as husband and wife, decide to agree.  Pray together, seek God together, rejoice together and love God together.   Together with God you will both be stronger.  God Bless, Don and Karen

Psalm 40:2  (The Message)

He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.

God many times has probably lifted you up, in your spirit, your faith, your hope.  He did and does this because of his unconditional love for you.  That same kind of love is what we are to have for our spouse.  He does it also for an example to Christians.  You are to lift up your spouse, pull them up if need be, don't ever let them slip.  God will help you lift them up as he has lifted you up many times.  Together you can stand on the solid rock.

God Bless,  Don and Karen

It is not uncommon today that both parties in a relationship don't know Christ.  This is one of the most dangerous and difficult situation to live live with.  And that is exactly what Satan would have us do...."live with it."   It is our prayer that the link below will be a blessing to those going through this is there life.   If you know someone is this sitituation please forward this information to them also, you will be blessed. God Bless.   Don and Karen

http://www.crosswalk.com/marriage/11545784/

Who Says Marriage Has to Be This Way?
Perhaps nowhere has society's thinking changed more drastically than in regard to sex outside of marriage. Once clearly regarded by the majority as wrong, now only about one-third of the population thinks so. And when we come to the matter of marriage itself, anyone who promotes absolute standards and clearly defined roles for men and women must be prepared to face "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." But if we are to uphold the Maker's instructions, we have no other alternative open to us.
The ever increasing percentages of failed marriages should indicate that secular society's approach to marriage with its lack of absolutes is not working. A significant number of movies have challenged the institution of marriage under the disguise of humor. It is important now, as in every age, that we learn the times in which we are living; so that we can avoid its temptations and challenge its proud assertions. Many of the things that are accepted as natural—perhaps even beautiful—are nothing more than weeds.
No matter how much effort goes into the preparation and planting of a garden, it will all be in vain if the weeds are not dealt with. Let us then resolve to tackle them immediately, ruthlessly, and consistently.

adapted from Lasting Love: How to Avoid Marital Failure by Alistair Begg. Published by Moody Press. Copyright © 1997 by Alistair Begg. Used with permission.

The Following article was taken from "Family Life.Com"  Hope it is a blessing to your marriage.  God Bless, Don and Karen...

Merry and I just returned from a Weekend to Remember® marriage conference at the Gaylord Texan resort in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  When you stay at the Gaylord Texan, it’s hard not to rave about the incredible setting; the hotel’s huge atrium is a wonderland of streams, vegetation, and winding paths evoking different regions of Texas.

But the real wonder of the weekend was the conference itself.  We were just two of more than 3,500 people who spent the weekend working to improve their marriage relationship.  As one speaker said, “Anything you hope will last a lifetime needs regular maintenance.”  And of course, some couples got much more than a tune-up.  One person wrote on an evaluation form, “This was an S.O.S. and we were rescued.  A new life was breathed inside our spirit.  The tears of relief flow like the Jordan River.”

One of the most amazing sights was that of hundreds of couples spread throughout the hotel—on lawns, on benches, in restaurants, sitting on floors—working on projects together.  In the faces of the wives I saw the joy of having their husbands all to themselves for an entire weekend (even in the midst of college basketball’s March Madness) to talk and have fun together.  It was encouraging to overhear bits of conversation like, “And the speaker said I’m supposed to respect you and encourage you!”

Merry and I attended the alumni sessions on the “Peacemaker Marriage: Living Above Marital Conflict.”  And, naturally, we got the opportunity to immediately practice the principles we learned, for it seemed as if several different issues we’ve argued about over the last few months popped to the surface unexpectedly!

Over and over I was struck by the thought that the marriage relationship is a reflection of Christ’s relationship with each of us.  For example, our speaker, Dave Sunde, told us that, “Marriage will call forth from you more forgiveness than you ever thought you were capable of giving.”  When we forgive each other, we model the forgiveness that God gives us through Christ.  As Ephesians 4:32 tells us, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

One of the key principles of the conference is that couples naturally drift toward isolation in their relationship.  It is through weekends like this that couples work against that drift—and build the oneness that makes a marriage flourish.

© Copyright 2007 by FamilyLife.  All rights reserved.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (The Message)

1 Corinthians 1:10 (The Message)

Leviticus 19:18 (New International Version)

1 Thessalonians 3 (New International Version)

 12May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Strive every day to increase your love for you spouse.  Think on good things, think of ways to surprise and lift them up.  Don't complain about work....leave it there.  Day by day do this and God will strengthen your heart and will find you blameless in his presence.  God Bless,  Don and Karen

Amos 3 (New International Version)

Proverbs 17:9 (New Living Translation)

4:9-10 (New International Version)

1-3In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.  (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Paul gives us some good advice here as he writes this letter.   It not only applies to the church but to our marriages and family as well.  We need to as husband and wife to get on the road God has set us, to get on with it.  Not going no where, but maturing in our faith and marriage.  We are to treat one another with humility, to be disciplines in our behavior and attitude.  Steady and pouring ourself out for each other in acts of love...noticing any need that may be present in our mates life and them be quick to repair and breach, no matter how small it may seem before the devil gets his fingers in where we don't want him.    May God bless your marriage today is our prayer.      God Bless,     Don and Karen