Daly Focus Blog
King Artaxerxes commissioned Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah and his men set to work with trowels in one hand and swords in the other (4:17) defending against enemies on all sides.
In many ways, married couples face similar opposition. They’re building their homes with jobs, hard work, and children in one hand and the sword of the Word of God in the other, defending their families against a culture that’s increasingly hostile to them.
According to a recent report from the United States Census Bureau, most people believe it’s “socially desirable” for the husband to earn more than his wife.
In fact, in the event that a wife does earn more than her husband, researchers discovered that couples tend to downplay or under report the financial difference.
Why?
Obviously, there’s a lot of history, tradition and even controversy surrounding this topic. For instance, the issue of pay equity is hotly debated and often comes up in the midst of political campaigns.
It’s estimated that 80% of women are lonely in their marriages.
Many wives who struggle with loneliness believe it is impossible to change their marriages. Their relationships are plagued by disappointment, anger, or monotony. Why? The answer often lies in unmet expectations.
When we’re dating, it’s tempting to seek complete fulfillment from the person we love. But once we’re married, we find that our spouse simply isn’t able to fulfill our every need. This can lead to a host of issues.
Week ending July 20th:
I Don’t Want a Divorce (by Dr. David Clarke)
30 Days to Taming Your Tongue (by Deborah Smith Pegues)
The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make (by Bill Farrel)
Ken Davis: Good News (by Ken Davis)
Parenting Your Powerful Child (by Kevin Leman)
Raising Kingdom Kids (by Tony Evans)
Job – Bible Study Book: A Story of Unlikely Joy (by Lisa Harper)
Red-Hot Monogamy (by Bill Farrel)
Kingdom Marriage (by Tony Evans)
Unoffendable (by Brant Hansen)
Sharing God’s Big Love with Little Lives (by Jean Thomason)
Growing Kids with Character (by Hettie Brittz)
God & Country (by Andy Stanley)
Through the Eyes of a Lion (by Levi Lusko)
Week ending July 13:
Sharing God’s Big Love with Little Lives (by Jean Thomason)
The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make (by Bill Farrel)
Letters from My Father’s Murderer (by Laurie Coombs)
From Anger to Intimacy (by Dr. Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham)
Raising Kingdom Kids (by Tony Evans)
Parenting Your Powerful Child (by Kevin Leman)
Growing Kids with Character (by Hettie Brittz)
Kingdom Marriage (by Tony Evans)
The First 9 Months (by Vicki L.
I think Jean would agree that I have a pretty good handle on my anger.
Okay, she’d probably rat me out for being “hangry” from time to time. But, c’mon, doesn’t everybody get a little grumpy when they haven’t eaten? The important thing is that I recognize what I’m really angry about. I’m not upset with Jean, I’m cranky because I want food.
That distinction may sound like semantics, but it’s actually key to resolving some of what ticks us off.
The culture is inundating us with messages that chip away at the moorings upon which God’s design for marriage is built.
We shouldn’t be surprised.
Ephesians 5:31 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The next verse says, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (v.32).
According to Paul, an intimate marriage says to the world, “This is a picture of Christ’s love for His church.
By: Ashley Durand
Everyone said marriage would be hard.
But our first year of marriage wasn’t hard in predictable ways.
Sure, there were little adjustments here and there, tiny conflicts like agreeing on how much to budget for groceries or what time to go to bed. But we had a lot of fun together, laughed constantly, and loved each other more every day. We led small group and kids club at church, and felt God’s hand of blessing.
Well-known author and popular guest Dr. Gary Chapman says that if you really want the marriage you’ve always dreamed of, you have to be daring.
It takes courage to ask, “Honey, how can I be a better husband/wife to you? How can I make your life easier?” Those are daring questions because your spouse will give you an answer, and he or she will expect you to respond.
Look at that scenario from a different perspective, however, and you’ll see it as a chance to minister to your spouse’s heart with the love of Christ.
Did God design marriage to make us happy?
Before I answer that, let’s define our terms.
On one end of the spectrum is happiness that’s rooted in pleasure-seeking. Happiness of this sort isn’t necessarily bad, but it does have a shelf-life. It’s like eating ice cream – the dessert is tasty, but the pleasure doesn’t last very long.
On the other end of the spectrum is happiness rooted in meaningful activity, purpose, and deeply-held values that endure.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
