Mentoring Marriages.com

04/13/2024

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/college-students-marriage-pact-matched-backup-plan-spouse-all-else-fails ~ I say 'thumbs up' ~ For decades, I've studied about and write a marriage blog, as a 'Financial Therapist'. I see this as good. I've known couples that took a premarital 'compatibility survey' ... showing 'challenged', married, 3 mo. later she leaves. I've known couples that 'dated' totally via exchanging letters --- still married for decades, others that 'dated' only in group settings. All of the above exchange personal values without the distraction of 'he's hot, she's s*xy' - which in 1 to 1 situations tends to make one emotionally justify why 'that person I want to be with'. Only later do you find out what they value. 'Love' will be a decision, and a big part will be 'I want to serve on that persons team as I have the same values'. Sean Rose the pro, invited to chime in.

A college student created a survey for students on college campuses that will match them with their most compatible mate. The Marriage Pact is intended to serve as a dating "backup plan."

07/28/2023

~ Still one of my favorite books, why? because it starts and ends w/ scriptural authority. In https://www.christianbook.com/strategic-pastoral-counseling-short-structured-model/david-benner/9780801026317/pd/26318? the author notes that the way to resolve conflict is to resolve sin issues. Hence, pastor meets w/ couple a couple sessions to identify what may be the sin issues, refers you to faith based counsel, who returns you to the pastor after working on the sin issues. In secular approaches, 'everyone is right in his own eyes', but not in a marriage initiated under God as head of home. It takes so much opinion out of the equation, replacing it with scripturally based focus.

04/11/2023

~ A cord of 3 strands is not easily broken. Amen.

Randal and Tracy Dowdy have put decades of life experience and wisdom onto paper in a new tell-all memoir entitled Beyond Impossible. randalandtracy.comDespi...

03/23/2023

~ What's the number one topic that 'challenges' couples? ... yes, finances. Here's your multi-page 'annual checkup' primer: Tell me what you need further assistance with. ___ ps, send me any couples in the poverty level for little or no-cost tax preparation. This also applies to widows/ widowers and others of modest means. https://mentoringmarriages.wordpress.com/2023/03/23/series-maintenance-the-annual-financial-life-review/

01/05/2023

Perseverance, challenges, and a good 'therapist' ..... what ever that is! https://mentoringmarriages.wordpress.com/2023/01/05/series-challenges-spouse-bankrupt-us-should-i-stay-married-or-divorce/

11/10/2022

Compassionate, scriptural ~ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085820553754

I'm a licensed mental health counselor serving IN residents.

10/27/2022

~ On a perhaps lighter note .... spouses are not 'the same animal'. That's not what God would pair into a team.

Are you a man? It's hard to tell these days. Watch our well-researched video to find out whether you are indeed a man.Follow Chandler's Youtube: https://www....

04/26/2022

~ Church attender 1: 'hi how ya doing?" Church attender 2: "Great!, you?" Church attender 1: "Great thanks!" Church attender 3: {liars} ____ We've all been there, a little honesty will lift a heart more than you know.

10/12/2021

~ 'checks and balances' are a figurative concept, about literal checks and literal balances. This article about spouses not working together from the start can lead to complexities. Blind trust can perhaps equal unwillingness to participate, making blame easier later on. Should you trust anyone that you care about without accountability aspects in place? Financial forensics are part of the 'financial bootcamp' workshop offerings.

Darby Strickland, a counselor and teacher at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, defines financial abuse in marriage and offers advice for helping wives who are oppressed in this way.

09/03/2021

~ Let HIM, and this is how God does it. Wonderful testimony, bless you folks for sharing God's hand at work.

👋 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲!

“July 2015, our marriage was as good as over. Years of struggle had taken its toll and we didn’t know what else to do but to get a divorce. Our boys were three and six at the time and we were already discussing custody, what to do with the house, and how to move forward. As a last ditch effort, if you will, Jenn asked if we could attend church that upcoming Sunday and, much to her surprise, I said yes.

July 5th, 2015 (the first sermon of the Fighting the Battles Within series) we walked into the church as a lost and broken family. Little did we know that the Lord had stepped in and was already at work. As the days, weeks and months passed we continued attending services, growing in our faith, and began working to save our marriage and our family.

We attended the Marriage Getaway that next February. Almost a year after coming to Cascade Hills, June 15th, 2016, my wife and I were baptized together. A few days later on June 19th, 2016 (Father’s Day), the church gave dads the opportunity to baptize their children and I was able to baptize our oldest son Owen, who had prayed to receive Jesus at Kids Week that summer. And just this past Saturday, August 28th, 2021 I was able to baptize our youngest son Evan, who is now nine, after he told us that he had prayed to accept Jesus into his heart and was now ready to be baptized.

Our marriage was saved, our souls were saved, and I know where my family will spend eternity all because God led us to Cascade Hills. Thank you to the pastors, the worship team, the staff, the volunteers, and the entire army that makes up Cascade Hills for working tirelessly to reach lost and broken souls, just like us, and lead them to Christ!

This verse is the anchor to our marriage and carried us through our hardest times:

“𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝.” - 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟒:𝟏𝟑”

Whatever you’re facing, God is there for you! Join us this weekend for at one of our 4 services. We’ll be ready to greet you with a smile! 😊

09/02/2021

~ What ministry purpose can you each do better as a couple than as separate individuals? Do you have similar 'stated' values? or have you found that you joyously serve with one other in 'working together' situations?

Any couple thinking about remarriage should make time to know each other better, to learn how compatible they are and to find ways to make their second marriage a success.