Purpose Church / Marriage Enrichment

04/18/2024

02/04/2023

Be aware that your words are a very good indication of what is going on in your heart – and your spouse knows it. If a husband pledges Love and a wife pledges Respect, but they speak words that feel unloving and disrespectful, they simply plant seeds of doubt about what is really in their hearts.

Luke 6:45: "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

02/04/2023

My parents struggled for most of their marriage. There were times when even I wasn’t sure if the struggle was worth it. Some problems can take decades to work out, and when you’re in the middle of it, it can feel hopeless. I've gone through those dark days myself.

But my folks never gave up, and, ever so slowly, their relationship improved. Today, they can’t imagine life without each other. My mother and I often reflect on the difficult years and how close they came to ending it.

Sometimes, the hardest part of marriage isn’t so much the marriage, but trusting that God has something great in store for you on the other end of your struggle.

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6).

More hopeful, practical ideas to keep working on your marriage: 🫶 https://bit.ly/3wM2JmJ

02/04/2023

On our wedding day, we vow to love and cherish each other through thick and thin. But sometimes, life can throw us curveballs and we may misunderstand our spouse's actions.

When conflict arises in our marriage, it's important to decode our spouse's actions. They may not intend to be unloving or disrespectful, and instead, may be reacting defensively.

Let's work to break the Crazy Cycle and communicate with love and respect. Divorce is not the remedy to common marriage troubles!

02/04/2023

Here is a photo that captures the character of of a great police officer. Almost 2 years ago a father took this photo when he was driving his son to rehab in St Lawrence. His son decided he didn't want to go and took the father's phone and called 911 and told them he was being kidnapped. When the man got pulled over, his son got out of the vehicle and the state trooper had stood on the side of the road with his addict son for about an hour patiently convincing him to let him drive him to rehab. The father was astounded at the Sheriff and Trooper's dedication to the cause of addiction. Officer's successfully got the son in a vehicle without force and drove him to St Lawrence from Lowville about an hour and a half drive. He literally walked in with him to the rehab. Here is a tribute to great, loving public servants that truly care.
Big shout out to officer Mike Carpinelli 💙

02/04/2023

Knowing your spouse takes a lifetime commitment.

01/15/2023

If you attempt to use words of thankfulness with your spouse but have not made a conscious commitment to being loving or respectful, your words will sound phony, gruff, or sarcastic.
loveandrespect.com

12/07/2022

Don't forget...

Forgiveness isn't easy. Anyone who's been truly hurt will agree. In fact, many who have walked the path of forgiveness in their marriage will tell you that it's a journey, and you often start it without fully knowing where you'll finish. It takes grit and guts to start down the path, and even more to finish. But as always, you can have hope in Christ.
As followers of Jesus, we're taught to "forgive each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (Eph 4:32, see also Col 3:13) Here's the catch: there's nothing in there about it being an easy process. Forgiveness is messy, it takes time, and it takes work.
Perhaps that's why Dr. Chapman said it's a commitment and not a feeling?
God's command to forgive is for our own good. Harboring bitterness and unforgiveness is like poison. It kills you from the inside out over time. Forgiveness in light of God's forgiveness, however, is always the cure.
Does forgiving mean you immediately trust again? No. Trust takes time to rebuild. Does forgiveness mean you stop feeling pain at times? Not necessarily. Healing takes time and help from outside counsel. Does forgiving your spouse mean you're committed to reconciling as far as it's up to you? Yes, it does. But that's why it's a commitment. True reconciliation isn't a quick fix. It takes dedication, communication, work, rebuilding trust, and plenty of time.
Whatever you've dealt with, and whatever you're currently dealing with, we urge you to hope in Christ. Look to him and behold the gift of forgiveness you've received when you are in him. He, of all men, has every right to feel wronged and to hold our wrongs against us, yet he freely forgives. He forgives, he loves, and he accepts because of his merit, not yours. Let that sink in.
If you're feeling hurt, sad, or hopeless right now, our hope is that you'd know that forgiveness is possible though it may not feel like it at times. Trust God as you forgive. It's a journey, and at times the path may feel unclear—you won't always feel it—but your destination is sure.
Stay the course and trust your Guide; he is faithful to bring you to the other side.
Stay fierce,
Ryan & Selena

09/24/2022