Tag Archives: divorce

6 Reasons Couples Think Their Marriage is Doomed …

While doing our Fan the Flame Marriage Intensives for Christian couples who want to save their marriages … we’ve heard a lot of interesting reasons why they thought about ending their relationships.  Here’s a few …

  1. “We’ve drifted apart.”This classic cop out says “we’ve lost those loving feelings;” and we’re too lazy to work to bring them back … it’s easier to find a new lover than it is to rekindle our marriage” Wrong!  Not only is this unbiblical … but research reveals that it is easier to re-kindle an existing marriage than it is to create a new one.
  2. “We fight all the time.” Conflict is a good thing … it shows that there is an emotional connection! We rarely fight with people we don’t have a relationship with … we want them to see things our way. Learning how to resolve conflicts actually builds intimacy … even if it means we’ve learned something new that upsets our spouse!
  3. “We flunked counseling!” Counselors are not magicians!  Be patient.  Realize that the issues in your marriage have been festering for years and won’t be fixed in three or four sessions.
  4. “My parents never approved!” I’m amazed when parents want to break up their kid’s marriages! Genesis 2:24 says a man should “leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife.”  Couples who can effectively distance themselves from parental control will reap the rewards of a stronger marriage.
  5. “We were young and foolish!” Young couples in love can make unwise decisions! So, you parents reading this … urge your kids to get pre-marital counseling. Be sure they are confronted with the fact that marriage is a lifelong adult commitment.
  6. “God told me to marry someone else.” This is absurd … but I have heard it from a former pastor. Listen, God will never tell you to do something that clearly contradicts the Bible!

If you’re having marital problems, and think divorce is your only option, stop and take a deep breath.  Ask God to give you His counsel—and seek help from Christian friends.

Our Heavenly Father’s love and mercy may surprise you.


Join us for a Marriage Retreat in Lancaster!

Lancaster Host Resort, PA – Marriage Retreat and Special Guest Musician – Matt & Kim Goss – October 9 – 11, 2015
(use promo code “marriage50” for a $50 discount!!)

Dr. Bruce and Karen McCracken, founders of House on the Rock Family Ministries will lead you and your spouse through a weekend filled with laughter, romance and re-connection.

Bruce and Karen have been married for over 40 years and have been leading couples events for 25 years.  They bring practical advice for couples … filled with grace that has been tempered by their experience together.

Matt and kim gossMatt and Kim Goss have been married for 19 years. Matt has been on staff as Worship Pastor of LCBC Church in Manheim, PA since 1999.  In that time the church grew from 700 to over 10,000 people! He is a featured worship leader and speaker at Integrity Music Seminars and many other conferences each year.

Kim is also a prolific singer, songwriter and worship leader. Her much anticipated debut CD was released in Feb. 2011.


Additional Resources to Grow Your MarriageMarriage intensives

What is a “Fan the Flame Marriage Intensive”?

Our marriage intensives are more than a couple’s weekend retreat. They are intimate, personalized coaching sessions designed to help you identify and address your specific needs. Intensives are more powerful than one hour counseling sessions because they keep you both focused on your issues for an extended period of time. You will receive over 15 hours of personalized counseling, coaching and marriage building exercises that will fan the flame of your marriage back to life.

Click here for more information or to schedule a Marriage Intensive now!

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Filed under Fan the Flame Marriage Devotional, Marriage/Family

It’s NOW or NEVER for Your Marriage!!

I love the oldies … and there is line from a song I often sing on retreats that goes:  it’s now or never …

Have you ever felt that way?  You are at a place in your life where you just feel things aren’t where you want them to be and you need to make a change … and now is the time … or you will never do it?

Lots of couples begin to feel this way about each other as they approach the empty nest years … their kids are gone or getting ready to go … and mom and dad begin to panic about what they are going to do with each other without their kids.

All those years of focusing their attention on the kids and not each other … has eroded their relationship … and they may begin to think … now is the time for me to get out marriage and … find that perfect spouse.

Well let me say or imagine me singing … it‘s now and never!  You are right …NOW is the time to confront that faulty thinking … because it is NEVER time to cave into the temptation of an affair or divorce.

So what can you do?  First take a walk down memory lane and talk about all the good things about your relationship … hey you’ve been together this long and raised some great kids!  There’s a lot of stuff you’re doing well!  Celebrate those!!

Then you might want to talk about where your marriage is and where you would like it to be as you enter this exciting time of your lives … identify your concerns and understand that both of you have short comings and are not the perfect spouse …

Now talk about how you want to make the changes you need to make in your lives and in your relationship to get your marriage back to where you would like it to be.

Remember … it takes less work to revitalize a tired marriage than it does to create a new one … so NOW is the time … to NEVER give up!


Join us for a Marriage Retreat!  2 Great options!

Cape May, NJ – Marriage Retreat (Click for details and registration) – May 15 – 17, 2015 – (only room for 4 more couples!!)

Our accommodations are neighboring Victorian Beach Houses … one block from the beach. Between the houses, we can accommodate 8 couples … so invite another couple to join you! Ticket prices cover all costs and meals for the weekend …

cape may registration

 

 

 Lancaster Host Resort, PA – Marriage Retreat and Special Guest Musician – Matt & Kim Goss – October 9 – 11, 2015

Dr. Bruce and Karen McCracken, founders of House on the Rock Family Ministries will lead you and your spouse through a weekend filled with laughter, romance and re-connection.

Bruce and Karen have been married for over 40 years and have been leading couples events for 25 years.  They bring practical advice for couples … filled with grace that has been tempered by their experience together.

Matt and Kim Goss have been married for 19 years. Matt has been on staff as Worship Pastor of LCBC Church in Manheim, PA since 1999.  In that time the church grew from 700 to over 10,000 people! He is a featured worship leader and speaker at Integrity Music Seminars and many other conferences each year.

Kim is also a prolific singer, songwriter and worship leader. Her much anticipated debut CD was released in Feb. 2011.


Additional Resources to Grow Your MarriageMarriage intensives

What is a “Fan the Flame Marriage Intensive”?

Our marriage intensives are more than a couple’s weekend retreat. They are intimate, personalized coaching sessions designed to help you identify and address your specific needs. Intensives are more powerful than one hour counseling sessions because they keep you both focused on your issues for an extended period of time. You will receive over 15 hours of personalized counseling, coaching and marriage building exercises that will fan the flame of your marriage back to life.

Click here for more information or to schedule a Marriage Intensive now!

sign up

Leave a comment

Filed under Fan the Flame Marriage Devotional, Marriage/Family