Tuesday, July 8, 2014

5 Checkpoints to Refresh Your Marriage ~ Part 1 & Wednesday LinkUp Party!



Maybe you are like me, wanting all the help you can get to strengthen your role as a Christian wife. For years, I have used a list of ten daily checkpoints to refresh my own marriage. I don't go over them everyday, but I do go over them quite regularly. I first learned them from Anne
Ortlund, wife of Ray Ortlund, but have since tweaked them just a bit. This time I will give you the first five, and next time, I will give you the last five. They are excellent reminders to help you and me keep the main thing the main thing in our marriages.

1.  I will say "I love you" to my partner everyday (at least once a day—it can be said aloud, on a post-it note, in a text, etc.—in any way!).

2.  I will not bring up my partner's past failures today (would you want your past failures brought up to you? Let's treat our husbands as we would like to be treated! Common courtesy:-).

3.  I will put from my mind the weak points of my husband which I cannot change (Bear with each other—forgive grievances and keep forgiving).

4.  I will concentrate on my husband's good points. Everyone has weak point and faults and we can emphasize these and give it our total attention, or we can focus on our husband's strong points. By loving the good we see in our husbands we are walking in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ, and love will flow back to us. Life will be more enjoyable and pleasant instead of stressful and painful.

5.  I will seek to do some active kindness today that will please my husband (do what you know he likes—is it taking the car to get the oil changed? Walking the dog? Making spaghetti? A note on his pillow? It may be small in effort, but huge in effect. We were made for romance. One husband who eventually held off on reconciling with his wife for quite some time told me that he had asked his wife continually to buy peanut butter when at the store—but she never returned with it.) Our part is to do the kind deed. Be creative, have fun. Your laughter and pleasure together glorify God!

Little acts of love can act like a balm after a stressful day of irritating business concerns. Do all you can to make your husband's life as pleasant and as easy as you can (I'm talking to myself too, dear readers, in fact—more than you know! I need these reminders to prevent me from going off and just living life according to my own likes and dislikes!) As Christians, we should live our lives totally differently from how the world lives. 

Try to see life from your husband's perspective. What he has been through? What difficulties does he face? Is he weary? He needs to come home to a place of peace and rest and loving attention. Only a wife with a loving heart could see these things.

"That was the secret of her heavenly power. The one who will be found in trial capable of great acts of love, is ever the one who is always doing considerate small ones." -F.W. Robertson
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It's time for 
Wednesday's Prayer Girls & Link-Up Party!

Each Wednesday I like to offer to pray for your non-confidential prayer request or praise in the comment section below. Please enter a prayer if you would like me to pray for you (and pray for one another!) and I will be reading your prayer and lifting up your request as I read it, or if you just have a comment (click the word "COMMENT" located below my signature below, under the colorful social media 
sharing squares:-)

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If you're a Christian blogger, we all would love to see what you've been writing! Enter your blog link below to join the party! For readers, enjoy the blog party below!
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I'd love to connect with you on your favorite spot:

You may follow my blog here or on Bloglovin'. 

It is my delight to pray for you! 
Remember, God desires us not only to be a believers, but to be wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ! May we listen to Him daily through His word, and obey Him!

Walk by faith,




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7 comments:

  1. We have a home for sale & we are building a house. Please pray for our old home to sell or to be leased by October when our new house will be ready. What can I pray for you?

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    1. Thank you Father that Juana and her family will be building a new home! We ask You to please take care of their existing home in time for them to move in October. You have perfect timing Father and we can be assured that everything works together for good. We thank You and love You!

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  2. I'll be traveling with my parents and eldest son this weekend to attend my sister-in-law's funeral. She died of cancer in her mid-fifties last Thursday. While we knew it was a matter of time and we rejoice she knew the Lord, our hearts still ache - especially for my brother, Tim. Please especially keep him in your prayers, and please pray we will be a blessing as we attend everything this weekend. Thank you so much. In Christ's Love, Emily

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    Replies
    1. Dear Emily, I am so glad you shared this request. I will be lifting up your brother Tim as he grieves his wife's passing. May you and your son be a comfort to him especially as you walk through this week with him. Praying for safe travels for you as well, love, Juana

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  3. I love these tips. I actually just posted about how my husband and I have worked through our religious differences. I'm glad I found your post through the Titus 2 Tuesday link party!

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  4. Excellent reminders. I am currently blogging my way through The Love Dare book and it's having such a wonderful impact on my marriage. A friend shared your link which brought me here today.
    Blessings.

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  5. Sweet little Libby is continuing to improve! She is nursing and getting stronger. She will be having more neurological tests on Monday so please pray for her little brain to be completely healed! Right now she is experiencing withdrawals from the medications, but is working towards hopefully going home next week! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/libbyhagan
    Praises that after canceling our family vacation because we wanted to be there for our son, a friend of another one of my sons offered us an opportunity to make a last minute quick trip to the beach. We left yesterday (myself, two of the boys & a friend) and are returning on Friday. It is free, but we are bringing back some furniture for her. So the townhouse is bare, with only beds. But it is free and a couple of days at the beach!

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