Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You'll Love


Greg Smalley - 2015
    Dress. Cake.You’re engaged, and the checklist for the day of your dreams is a mile long. In the who, what, where, and how of planning, the why can be forgotten.Ready to Wed discusses 12 Traits of a thriving marriage and offers a variety of topics to guide and advise those preparing to say, “I do!”Learn to: Define a vision statement unique to your marriage. Positively engage conflict to build a foundation of trust and forgiveness. “Leave and cleave,” even if you are a child of divorce. Manage expectations—and your in-laws! Navigate hot-button issues including, sex and the chore wars. Cope with change, stress, and crisis—especially in your first year. Build a community of support and find mentors. Assess your progress using the Couple Checkup. Loaded with advice, tips, and instructions, this valuable resource is ideal for soon-to-be-newlyweds and those who support them!

Single Men Are Like Waffles Single Women Are Like Spaghetti


Bill Farrel - 2002
    A discussion guide is included for small-group or personal use.

Getting Ready For Marriage


Jerry D. Hardin - 1992
     Our families have shaped our views on everything from religion to finances to sex, and, whether helpful or harmful, these views are brought to our marriage and can unknowingly affect it. Getting Ready for Marriage Workbook helps engaged couples and newlyweds:learn what "ghosts' they bring to marriageexamine their family backgroundsdetermine guidelines for their own marriageThrough interactive exercises, couples discover the roots of their beliefs, sight potential problem ares, and learn how to successfully through problems.  Couples are then encouraged to make their own covenants in specific areas such as financial matters, resolving conflict, religious orientation,. and family planning & children-essential in building a strong marriage partnership.

The Mingling of Souls: God's Design for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Redemption


Matt Chandler - 2015
    We need it. Because emotions rise and fall with a single glance, touch, kiss, or word. And we are inundated with songs, movies, and advice that contradicts God's design for love and intimacy. Matt Chandler helps navigate these issues for both singles and marrieds by revealing the process Solomon himself followed: Attraction, Courtship, Marriage ... even Arguing. The Mingling of Souls will forever change how you view and approach love.

Faith Begins at Home: The Family Makeover with Christ at the Center


Mark Holmen - 2006
    This book is filled with inspirational stories and practical ideas that families can begin implementing today to bring Christ and Christ-like living into the center of their home.  This resource isa perfect gift to give to new parents and it also has discussion questions at the end of each chapter which also makes it a perfect resource for family small groups.

A Fierce Love: One Woman’s Courageous Journey to Save Her Marriage


Shauna Shanks - 2017
    Are we still called to God’s plan of how to love when we are getting none in return? Shauna Shanks’s brave journey through obedience reveals the outcome of when we dare to follow God’s ludicrous outline for love as described in 1 Corinthians 13.Wrecked with news of her husband’s affair and his request for a divorce, Shauna finds herself urgently faced with a decision. Does she give up and divorce her husband and move on, or does she try to fight for her marriage? The former choice seems to contradict God’s plan for how to love, such as “love never gives up,” “love is patient,” and “love is kind.”Taking God at His word and assuming the love chapter was really meant to be followed literally word by word, she not only finds herself falling in love with her spouse again, but also falling in love with Jesus, which changes everything.First Corinthians 13 presents an audacious, illogical, and irrational context of how to love, meant to be applied to every marital context not just the fairytale marriage. If God’s instructions seem illogical and audacious, you might just expect the same kind of results in return!This book is not air-brushed. It was written in the midst of the author’s deepest trauma, and she purposefully did not edit out her mistakes and failures during that season. This book will resonate with women who do not feel like the picture-perfect Christian woman with the fairytale life and marriage.A Fierce Love is the story of a train wreck and reaching out to God not in the calm but in the chaos and finding hope for the future.

Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is) - A Study Guide for Women


Shannon Harris - 2004
    They’re designed for a variety of settings, from one-on-one accountability partnerships to Sunday school classes. Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is) made the statement that lust is a human problem (not just a guy problem) and that Jesus can free anyone from its power. Going further, these gender-specific study guides feature questions and discussion starters that directly address the temptations unique to men and women. These resources are a must-have for anyone challenged to defeat lust and celebrate purity in their lives. Lust Is Not Just a Guy Problem Based on the bestselling message in Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is), Joshua and Shannon Harris offer a companion study guide specifically designed to address the issues women face. For use in a personal or group setting, this in-depth guide is a tool to help you apply the book’s principles as you go further on your journey to holiness. “Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is) offers help and hope—not just for those who are dealing with sexual lust, but for anyone besieged by temptation of any kind.” —Nancy Leigh DeMoss Author, host of the Revive Our Hearts radio program Starburst or banner: Includes a Modesty Heart-Check for Girls Sidebar: Each of the ten small-group sessions includes: Easy Review: A quick chapter summary makes review simple. Discussion Questions: Questions that serve as icebreakers, and then lead to deeper discussion and personal application. Accountability Follow-Up: Questions to help check each other’s progress in a truthful and caring setting. Meditate and Memorize: Key Scriptures that will help women gain victory over lust. Custom-Tailored Action Plan: Women will be led in a step-by-step formulation of an Action Plan, uniquely tailored to combat their specific battles. Story Behind the Book“I was preparing a message on lust when I realized that the book I wanted to consult hadn’t been written. That book would make it clear that only Jesus Christ can free us from the hopeless treadmill of shame and guilt that so many well-intentioned people end up on. It would instill a love for holiness and a hatred for sin without dragging the reader’s imagination through the gutter. And it would be for both men and women, because I’ve learned that lust isn’t just a guy problem—it’s a human problem.” —Joshua Harris

Broken Heart on Hold: Surviving Separation


Linda W. Rooks - 2006
    It is a book of hope. Because it is written by a woman who has gone through the trauma of a separation and the eventual healing of her own marriage, the reader will know she is not alone.This collection of honest, heartfelt messages reaches down into the valleys of a woman's loneliness, travels with her through her mental labyrinths, and sheds light in the dark tunnels where answers seem nonexistent. It provides the emotional and spiritual strength to help a woman sort through her confusion.While winding her way through the maze of her emotions, she will realize there is hope as she hangs on to God and trusts him for the outcome. Broken Heart on Hold is a book she will return to again and again.

Courtship After Marriage: Romance Can Last a Lifetime


Zig Ziglar - 1990
    To those who wonder, Can I still rekindle that spark? Ziglar says, "Yes, you can!" This how-to guide to happily-ever-after combines convincing statistics, advice from experts, and humorous anecdotes from Ziglar's own experience. Inside you'll find:Six steps for starting over – no matter how long you've been marriedTips for improving communicationWays to keep sexual intimacy satisfying and excitingRules for a fair fightA frank discussion of the importance of trustZiglar also includes a sixty-six-question survey to evaluate the state of your marriage. Take it before and after you read this book – you’ll see the difference!

Real Love in Marriage: The Truth about Finding Genuine Happiness Now and Forever


Greg Baer - 2000
    But therapist Greg Baer says you can have a happy marriage by learning to love your partner unconditionally. . .practicing Real Love."--Chicago TribuneWhy do more than half of all marriages end in divorce? And why is there so much unhappiness in the marriages that survive? Greg Baer offers the solutions for a long-lasting marriage in his anticipated follow-up to Real Love: The Truth About Finding Unconditional Love and Fulfilling Relationships .No matter how many wounds have been inflicted in a marriage, Greg Baer believes that they can be healed, giving both partners the sense of fulfillment and joy they've always wanted. With practical anecdotes and exercises throughout, Baer shows you:- Why our spouses are not the root cause of how we feel and behave - The truth about why we get angry with our spouses and argue with them - How to eliminate--not just manage--anger and conflict - How to identify what we need to change about ourselves - How you and your partner can both get what you want out of the marriage - How you can break the cycles of expectation and disappointment - How to prevent divorce, and how to know when it's the right optionThere are no quick solutions to fixing a marriage. With Greg Baer as your guide, you can begin to heal the wounds of the past and cultivate the lifelong commitment to stay with your partner while learning how to unconditionally love him or her.

Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day: A 40-Day Journey to Deeply Change Your Relationships


Peter Scazzero - 2017
    Part of the bestselling Emotionally Healthy Spirituality book collection, this 40-day devotional by Peter Scazzero will help you nurture the kind of healthy relationships you long for.Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day--just like its sister devotional, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day--is your invitation into the ancient yet powerful discipline of the Daily Office, the practice of pausing morning and evening to reflect on God's work in your life.Each devotional will reflect on emotionally healthy relational themes, such as:Clarifying expectationsDeep listeningClean fightingAnd moreYou'll will be ushered into a transformational practice that will deepen your daily walk with Jesus, and along the way, you'll discover the spiritual nourishment, joy, and peace that comes from meeting with him every day.Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day is also available in Spanish, Relaciones emocionalmente sanas Día a día.

#Staymarried: A Couples Devotional: 30-Minute Weekly Devotions to Grow In Faith And Joy from I Do to Ever After


Michelle Peterson - 2017
    Every chapter of this couple’s devotional is a powerful reminder of how small changes in awareness and actions can be the tipping point in any relationship.”—Dave Nelson, Lead Pastor, Great Lakes Church, Kenosha, WIStrong marriages don’t just happen. They require commitment, time, and faith—which can often be difficult to achieve amid the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. But this kind of dedication is essential, not just to getting married, but to staying married.After five years of marriage, Michelle Peterson discovered that many of the couples she knew were separating or getting divorced, and found herself asking a question that would become the foundation of her life’s work: What does it take to stay married? From this question Michelle developed the popular blog and podcast, #staymarried, which has helped hundreds of thousands of couples improve their marriages.#staymarried: A Couple’s Devotional combines everything Michelle has learned in one welcoming and applicable couple’s devotional. In #staymarried: A Couple’s Devotional, scripture-based devotions help you and your spouse work together to strengthen your relationship—to each other and God.In this couple’s devotional, you’ll find: Devotions that require only 30 minutes per week and address everything from finances and arguments to trust and intimacy. Wisdom from the Bible incorporated with up-to-date research from research-based sources such as The Gottman Institute. Inclusive, open-minded guidance that applies to a diverse range of couples. With #staymarried: A Couple’s Devotional, you and your spouse will learn to connect meaningfully and communicate honestly while renewing your shared commitment to your marriage and faith.

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women


Shaunti Feldhahn - 2006
    Through hundreds of interviews and the results of a scientific national survey of women, this book demonstrates that women are actually not random and that they really can be systematized and "mapped." In fact, much to men's delight, this book shows that women are actually quite easy to understand and please--as long as you know what it is they need. This simple map will guide you to loving your wife or girlfriend in the way she needs to be loved. The bestselling author of "For Women Only"teams with her husband to offer men the key to unlocking the mysterious ways of women. Through Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn 's national scientific survey and hundreds of interviews, "For Men Only" reveals what you can do today to improve your relationship. And believe it or not, as Jeff assures men, "It's not splitting the atom." And for every guy who rarely reads a manual: Quick-Start Guide Included! "When we featured Shaunti's book "For Women Only" on "FamilyLife Today," ""the phone rang off the hook! When Shaunti and Jeff come back on our broadcast, I'm buying some more phones. This is fresh and relevant--good stuff for every marriage. Read it!" "-Dennis Rainey, President, FamilyLife "Story Behind the Book "As I was writing "For Women Only "to help women understand the inner lives of men, over and over I heard that men wished there was a way to understand their wives, but they felt it was probably impossible. I heard from them, 'You are writing this little slim volume about men, but if it was about understanding women, it would have to be the size of an encyclopedia! Women are random and complicated!' These men were surprised and encouraged when I assured them that women are neither random nor complicated, and we can be understood. Men just want to love their wives well, and "For Men Only "will help them do that." "--Shaunti Feldhahn"

The One Year Devotions for Couples: 365 Inspirational Readings


David Ferguson - 2004
    You know the problems stem from the ways you relate. But how can you change?The One Year Devotions for Couples will help you give and receive love in a whole new way. Through the proven principles in this devotional, you will find fresh strength and new inspiration to meet your spouse's relational needs. David and Teresa Ferguson, cofounders of Intimate Life Ministries, are seasoned counselors who can guide you toward better relational health. You can--and you will--improve your marriage and grow spiritually as a couple.Whether your marriage is shaky or solid, this devotional will give you health, hope, and healing for your relationship. Discover true spiritual and marital intimacy through the practical and biblical principles found in this popular couples' devotional.

Relationships: A Mess Worth Making


Timothy S. Lane - 2006
    With penetrating insight and practical applications, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making identifies how to work through the most stubborn problems that plague any contemporary relationship - be it marriage, parent-child, or friendship.