One of my close friends, Dr. Mike Dittman, recently challenged me with a profound statement: “Gary,” he said, “God doesn’t care about shells; He cares about the people in the shells.” Mike was referring to churches, but let’s apply this to marriage. Keep in mind, Mike is ardently pro-local church. His ministry is singularly focused […]
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Some of you brush the teeth of your own worst enemy, every day. This blog is focused on marriage and family life, but knowing how God sees you is central to your ability to love as a spouse or parent. Some of you are so hard on yourselves you’ve essentially become an enemy to your […]
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I’m fully aware that my books may not seem as practical as other marriage books, or that that this blog doesn’t always dish out the very helpful “how-to” tips that so many other blogs focus on. It makes me a bit insecure at times; I could sound lost in the clouds to many people, like […]
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So, I ran the Houston marathon a couple weeks ago, rather unexpectedly. I had signed up for it much earlier in the year but was nowhere near trained for it. My longest training run was 12 miles—in November. I took off three entire weeks a month before the marathon when Lisa and I were in […]
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The word “fiasco,” something that is considered a complete failure, was born in Italy. Literally, it means to “make a bottle,” or “make a wine glass.” It can have a fascinating connection to marriage. Some of you may recall that my Italian publisher invited Lisa and me to Italy in December to speak at a […]
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Guest post by Sandy Ralya.. Have you ever been desperate for a breakthrough in your marriage? I mean, the if-something-doesn’t-change-soon-I-don’t-think-I-can-go-on kind of breakthrough? Married at nineteen, I didn’t have a clue about how to deal with the emotional, verbal, and spiritual abuse I suffered. When my husband and I drove through our local McDonald’s, […]
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Most married couples spend a good bit of time thinking, “How can we draw closer to each other?” Sometimes, we need to step back and ask a more fundamental question: “How can we encourage each other to get closer to God?” Doing that will help you get closer to each other. Spirituality isn’t the paint […]
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“But the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” Luke 2:10 I love to look at internet lists like “12 Best Christmas Gifts for Wives.” Lisa and I have been married for thirty years; sometimes, I need a little help to […]
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One of the most difficult things I ever heard from God came when I was praying for someone I love deeply. I was willing to do almost anything to be the answer to the prayer I was praying: “What should I do?” “What can I say?” “How can I fix this?” And then I sensed […]
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Some of you have warm, fun, and loving extended families. I’m so grateful for the extended family God gave to Lisa and me on both sides. But many of you are about to spend a special holiday with a family that makes you prepare like you’re going into combat. Whether you love your extended family […]
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