Category Archives: Personal Growth

Enjoy Each Era of Your Child’s Life

Posted on July 18, 2017 by familyencouragement

As I write this it is the last night of our vacation.   In the morning we will get up early and head home.    This will be different though because it will just be my wife and I in the car. … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, close family, Empty nest, familiy issues, Family Issues, Gratitude, Joy, Love, Parenting, Personal Growth, perspective, Time, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Secret of a Strong Marriage

Posted on December 9, 2016 by familyencouragement

The strength of a structure is determined by it’s foundation.   The higher the structure, the deeper the foundation.    The foundation is hidden and unseen, but it is crucial to the strength and longevity of whatever is built on top of … Continue reading →

Posted in adversity, attitude, Bible, Change, character growth, church, close family, closeness, conflict, familiy issues, family, Hope, Husband, Legacy, Marriage, Obedience, Perseverance, Personal Growth, problems, Strategy, Success, Truth, Wife | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Things that Strengthened Our Marriage – Removing Pressure to Conform to My Schedule

Posted on October 27, 2016 by familyencouragement

When we had been married just over a year I learned a valuable lesson.   I was working at a church as a Youth Pastor and our home was about fifty yards away from the church.   Both of us were working … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, Anger, attitude, Bitterness, Change, character growth, close family, Compassion, Complaining, conflict, Criticism, disagreements, familiy issues, family, Forgiveness, Giving, griping, Husband, impatience, Kindness, Love, Marriage, Men, Mercy, Patience, Personal Growth, problems, Repentence, Selfishness, surrender, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mistakes I Made in My Marriage – Failing to Take Her Fears Seriously

Posted on August 22, 2016 by familyencouragement

One of the mistakes I made in the early part of our marriage was failing to take Paula’s fears seriously.    I didn’t mean to do it, but I missed opportunities to encourage and comfort her. From the very first week … Continue reading →

Posted in close family, differences in men and women, family, Family Issues, fear, Husband, listening, Marriage, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, Wife | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mistakes I Made in My Marriage – Parsing Her Words

Posted on July 17, 2016 by familyencouragement

Years ago I was driving through Chattanooga, Tennessee listening to one of my favorite preachers, Adrian Rogers.   He was telling a story about him and his wife when they had a disagreement. In the middle of their “discussion” Joyce, his … Continue reading →

Posted in adversity, Affirmation, arguing, attitude, Change, character growth, close family, closeness, comfort, communication, Complaining, conflict, conversation, Criticism, differences in men and women, disagreements, Discouragement, Encouragement, familiy issues, family, God's grace, griping, Husband, Kindness, Marriage, Men, Mercy, Patience, Personal Growth, perspective, Speech, Wife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mistakes I Made in My Marriage – Being Slow to Initiate Reconciliation

Posted on July 7, 2016 by familyencouragement

I had ordered some material that was important to me and had waited for six weeks for it to arrive.    Finally it came in the mail and I placed it on the piano in the living room to go through … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, Anger, arguing, attitude, Bitterness, character growth, close family, closeness, communication, conflict, conversation, disagreements, familiy issues, family, Forgiveness, Love, Marriage, Personal Growth, Pride, Repentence, Speech, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wise Choices and New Opportunities

Posted on May 3, 2016 by familyencouragement

Years ago I was traveling to a meeting and had to fly because of the distance.   I took some reading material with me, including some correspondence.    Since I had already ferreted through the junk mail pile only a handful of … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, Bible, Change, character growth, counsel, Decision-making, Decisions, familiy issues, family, guidance, Happiness, Opportunities, Parenting, Personal Growth, perspective, problems, Will of God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Most Neglected Advisers

Posted on April 20, 2016 by familyencouragement

When I wanted to ask Paula to marry me, I didn’t do so spontaneously.   There was something that I had to do first.   While I knew she was God’s choice for me I needed to get the approval of … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, Change, Children, church, counsel, Decision-making, Decisions, familiy issues, family, Father, Friends, guidance, Influence, mentor, Mother, Parenting, Personal Growth, problems, Success, Will of God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Three Essential Qualities for Advisers

Posted on March 28, 2016 by familyencouragement

I attended a Christian college and we had chapel services during the week.   Those were great hours when some of America’s greatest preachers and Bible teachers came to speak to us.   Also, announcements were made that pertained to the student … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, Change, counsel, Decision-making, Decisions, familiy issues, family, Friends, friendship, guidance, Influence, mentor, mentoring, Personal Growth, perspective, problems, Rebuke, Success, Teaching, Will of God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Filters for Making Wise Choices

Posted on February 11, 2016 by familyencouragement

A farmer hired a man to work for him. He told him his first task would be to paint the barn and said it should take him about three days to complete. But the hired man was finished in one … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, attitude, Bible, counsel, Decisions, familiy issues, family, Legacy, Marriage, Men, mentoring, Obedience, Parenting, Personal Growth, surrender, Will of God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment