Tag Archives: marriage

Friends Express Their Feelings to Each Other

A close friend had been sick and in the hospital and was rapidly declining.  My wife and I went to visit him.   We didn’t know it would be the last time we would ever see him when we walked into … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmation, Attention, close family, communication, emotions, Encouragement, Family Issues, friendship, Gratitude, Growing marriage, Happy marriage, Kindness, Married and Friends, Speech, Time | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Friendship and Marriage

One of the keys to a happy marriage is to have the same ingredients in the relationship that are present in a friendship. The love story given in the Song of Solomon reflects this when the bride refers to her … Continue reading

Posted in Family Issues, friendship, Marriage, Married and Friends | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Relating to Your Parents at Mid-life

Years ago I taught a small group of married couples that were in the mid-life stage.   It was one of the most fruitful seasons of my ministry.   I brought a series of lessons that dealt with issues unique to that … Continue reading

Posted in close family, communication, conflict, disagreements, expectation, familiy issues, Family Issues, Father, Mid-life issues, Mother, Parenting, problems, Senior adult issues, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gaining Wisdom through Prayer

Recently we celebrated the 80th birthday of my Mom.  It was a wonderful and fun evening as we honored her.  In the days before it I found myself reviewing the years of my youth.  I had specific memories of my … Continue reading

Posted in adversity, Building a family, Children, Decision-making, Family Issues, Marriage, Parenting, prayer, problems, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Key Ingredient in Building a Strong Home

Several years ago we put new locks on the doors of our church and we issued keys to those that needed them.   A few days later when I came to work I put the key in the door it wouldn’t … Continue reading

Posted in broken home, broken marriage, Children, close family, Decision-making, Family Issues, foolish family, Growing marriage, Happy marriage, Legacy, Marriage, Parenting, Principle-centered, rebellion, sorrow, wisdom, wise family | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Empty Nest and Your Marriage

This past Sunday evening I was listening to the choir sing at church and watched my youngest child and daughter, Aubrey, singing.   I was struck by the fact that I had less then forty Sundays to enjoy her ministering in … Continue reading

Posted in Children, close family, Empty nest, familiy issues, family, Family Issues, Growing marriage, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Release Your Children Gradually

In a way I’m not fully qualified to write this as I still have a child at home.   On the other hand my wife and I have experienced six of our kids leaving.   My baby girl will be leaving … Continue reading

Posted in Children, close family, Empty nest, familiy issues, family, Family Issues, Happiness, Hope, Humility, Legacy, Marriage, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Special Family Get Togethers

Last night I attended a wedding rehearsal dinner for my nephew and his soon-to-be-wife. I watched my sister, her husband, their twelve children along with dozens of their friends enjoying companionship, celebrating the wedding of a loved one and friend. … Continue reading

Posted in close family, closeness, Family Get Togethers, Family Issues, friendship, Grandparenting, Gratitude, Happy marriage, Joy, Legacy, Marriage, Opportunities, Parenting, perspective, Wedding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Empty Nest

One summer I asked our congregation to turn in questions to which they wanted answers from the Bible.   One of the issues from the pile of questions was “How do we as parents deal with the empty nest?   Our last … Continue reading

Posted in Death of a child, Empty nest, Family Issues, Marriage, Parenting, rebellion, Will of God | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Making Your Husband Feel Loved

There are differences in the way that men and women perceive and express love.   Understanding them will strengthen your marriage as you communicate love to your spouse in a way they best understand. One of the key ways a man … Continue reading

Posted in Admiration, Affirmation, close family, communication, Criticism, differences in men and women, familiy issues, family, Husband, Influence, Marriage, Men, Wife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment