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110 pages

English

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How can a young couple start off on the right foot, helping to ensure that their marriage remains strong and vibrant? This dynamic sixty-day devotional from well-known Christian counselor H. Norman Wright is written expressly for pre-engaged, engaged, or dating couples. The Starting Out Together devotional allows engaged couples to spend quality time together, learning what God says about marriage success. This beautifully designed devotional is a practical, inspirational tool that will help prepare couples of all ages for the wonder and mystery of marriage.

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	16 octobre 1996
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441267788
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0374€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

H. N ORMAN W RIGHT
S tarting O ut T ogether

A D EVOTIONAL FOR D ATING OR E NGAGED C OUPLES

© 1996 by H. Norman Wright
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan. www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Bethany House Publishers edition published 2014
ISBN 978-1-4412-6778-8
Previously published by Regal Books
Ebook edition originally created 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. NIV ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Other versions used are:
AMP. N.T .—Scripture quotations are taken from the Amplified New Testament , copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
AMP. O.T .—From The Amplified Bible, Old Testament . Copyright © 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. Used by permission.
KJV — King James Version . Authorized King James Version.
NASB —Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible , © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
NKJV —From the New King James Version . Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
PHILLIPS — The New Testament in Modern English , Revised Edition, J.B. Phillips, Translator. © J.B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 866 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
RSV —From the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission.
TLB —Verses marked ( TLB ) are taken from The Living Bible © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.
Contents
Introduction
1. The Commitments of Marriage
2. Vulnerability in Marriage
3. Elements That Will Make Your Marriage Work
4. Friendship Love
5. Servanthood in Marriage
6. Some Wisdom About Marriage
7. Listen to One Another
8. A Prayer for Your Marriage
9. It Takes Character
10. Handling Frustration in Marriage
11. Forgiveness in Marriage
12. How to Pray in Marriage
13. Do You Want an Intimate Marriage?
14. The Dimensions of Intimacy
15. How to Develop Spiritual Intimacy
16. Build Your Marriage on the Positives
17. Create a Vision for Your Marriage
18. Don’t Let Criticism Creep into Your Marriage
19. Agape Love in Your Marriage
20. You Are Unique—So Is Your Future Mate
21. Who Will Be in Control?
22. The Gift of Listening
23. Guidelines for Communication
24. Build a Romantic Marriage
25. When You’re Angry . . .
26. Can You Change Your Partner?
27. Are You Marrying an Alien?
28. Are You Marrying the Right Person?
29. Your Partner Is a Gift
30. Rejoice in Your Sexuality
31. God’s Word and Sex
32. Be a Cheerleader
33. God’s Encouragement
34. Who Is in Charge?
35. What Will You Collect?
36. How to Pray for Your Marriage
37. Avoid the “Takens” in Your Marriage
38. Respect One Another
39. An Unchanging God
40. In the Image of God
41. How Do You View God?
42. What Is Forgiveness?
43. Perfect Bodies? Someday
44. It’s Time
45. You Have Been Chosen
46. You Are Marrying an Adopted Child
47. Marriage Is Not for Victims
48. Your Memories and Your Marriage
49. Let God’s Word Rule Your Marriage
50. Renew Your Marriage
51. What Will You Give Up When You Marry?
52. See as God Sees
53. Leave and Cleave
54. Money and Your Marriage—Curse or Blessing?
55. When Tough Times Come
56. The Path of Communication
57. You Can Have an Attitude
58. You Can Change
59. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
60. A Marriage Benediction
Introduction
Marriage—the wonder of it all. You are probably, and hopefully, pretty excited right now. You are about to embark on one of the greatest and longest journeys of your life. I am sure you have dreams for your marriage relationship. Every couple does. Some will be realized and some will not. That is part of the journey.
During the past 35 years of working with couples, many have asked: “What one suggestion would you give us to help us have the marriage we want?” My answer is simple—build your marriage upon Jesus Christ and develop a depth of spiritual intimacy in your relationship.
Spiritual boundary. Spiritual intimacy. Spiritual closeness. This is the foundation for your life together. How close are you spiritually right at this moment? Have you learned to pray together? Have you discussed in depth your beliefs yet? Have you learned to share and apply God’s Word to your relationship?
It is possible for you to grow spiritually together even before you are married. That is what this book is all about. Take a few minutes each day to read a selection aloud to one another. Think about what you have read and then discuss it together. You may be amazed at the results.
You will probably complete this book before you marry; and that is all right. It will be the beginning of your spiritual journey together. Let me encourage you to continue this practice after you marry. Two other resources are available for you to use during the next few years: Quiet Times for Couples and then later Quiet Times for Parents (both by Harvest House).
May God guide you and bless you as you seek to grow together in Him.
H. Norman Wright
O NE

The Commitments of Marriage
C OMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE L ORD, TRUST ALSO IN H IM .
Psalm 37:5 (NASB)
Your marriage—a lifetime of memories.
As you approach your marriage, you are beginning the entry to a lifetime of memories. Years from now you will be amazed at the memories you have accumulated. Not only the quantity of memories is important, but also the quality. What will make the difference in the quality of the memories you gather? One simple word—commitment.
“Commitment” is just one simple 10-letter word; but it’s a costly word. It can bring peace, maturity and stability, but at the same time it can also bring tension, and sometimes questions as well.
During the 1800s in Hawaii, the government developed a policy to take care of those who were afflicted with leprosy. They were sent to the island of Molokai to live their remaining days in isolation. The policy was: out of sight, out of mind. The afflicted were allowed, however, to be accompanied by a Kokua —a person who chose to go with them and be with them for the rest of their lives until the leprous person died. If the Kokua had not contracted the disease, he or she was then allowed to return home. If leprosy had been contracted, however, the Kokua remained in Molokai until death.
In James Michener’s book Hawaii , the story is told of a man who noticed a numbness setting into his toes and fingers. In time, he knew what it was. One evening after dinner he told his wife and children he had leprosy. His wife looked at him and said, “I will be your Kokua.” This is the substance of marital commitment.
What are the commitments you need to make in your marriage?
As you walk through life, which brings rapid, unexpected changes, unfairness, tragedy and unanswered questions, commitment to living by faith will guide you through the journey.
Commit your life to the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. Make this a daily decision together.
Commit your life to the Word of God, which brings stability and peace. Read the Word daily together.
Commit yourself to seeing your partner as having worth, value, and dignity because God sent His Son to die for him or her. Remind yourself of this daily.
Commit yourselves as a couple to prayer. No greater intimacy can occur than when you open your hearts to God together. This will enhance your completeness and oneness as well as help put your differences and adjustments into a better perspective. When the lines are open to God, they are invariably open to one another. You cannot be genuinely open to God and closed to your partner.
Commit your life to giving your marriage top priority in terms of time, energy, thought and planning for growth.
Commit yourself to a life of fidelity and faithfulness, regardless of your feelings or the lure of life around you.
Commit and open yourself to the working of the Holy Spirit in your life.
“When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22,23, TLB ).
Faith, hope and love will grow out of your commitment to one another and to God and His Word.
Follow this advice and you will gather memories. 1
Note
1 . H. Norman Wright, Quiet Times for Parents (Eugene, Oreg.: Harvest House Publishers, 1995), September 2, adapted.
T WO

Vulnerability In Marriage
N OW THE L ORD G OD SAID , I T IS NOT GOOD ( SUFFICIENT, SATISFACTORY ) THAT THE MAN SHOULD BE ALONE; I WILL MAKE HIM A HELPER MEET ( SUITABLE, ADAPTED, COMPLEMENTARY ) FOR HIM .
Genesis 2:18 (Amp.)
The very first thing God declared “not good” was being alone. We were not created to live in isolation, for the pain of it is insufferable. Loneliness carries with it one of the greatest sources of pain in life. The choice to be married is a decision not to live in isolation and loneliness. Some who are married, however, eventually do live in loneliness. T