Rhonda Stoppe - The Marriage Mentor: Becoming the Couple You Long to Be

Need help with your marriage? In this insightful and solid book, the Stoppes give real help! They put their fingers on problems and attitudes that plague every marriageand then supply answers, solutions, and counsel from Gods Word.

Elizabeth George

bestselling author, A Woman After Gods Own Heart

A vast amount of the misery and brokenness people experience is the result of lies they believe. This is certainly true of marriage. Steve & Rhonda Stoppe debunk misleading myths with grace, humor, and candor and leave you with hope that your marriage can become more than the stuff of your dreams: It can be the handiwork of God.

Richard Blackaby, PhD

author, Customized Parenting in a Trending World

If youve ever been through a difficult season in marriage, you may have secretly wondered whether youd be happier with someone elseIn this terrific book, The Marriage Mentor walks through several critical areas of discontentment, busts the myths that are so easy to believe, and shows just how important it is to rely on Godand how to do thatin order to move from heartache to joy in your marriage. This is the book for everyone who wants to be content and happy in marriage but may not know how.

Shaunti Feldhahn, social researcher and bestselling author of For Women Only

I just loved reading The Marriage Mentor ! Are you searching for the secret to a happy marriage? The Stoppes not only deliver practical steps to finding your happily-ever-after, they share a life-changing message of how to use a Christ-centered marriage for the glory of God.

Erica Galindo, founder, CEO, and editorial director SonomaChristianHome.com

The Marriage Mentor packs practical wisdom and many aha moments to shed light on the myths that sabotage relationships. Through storytelling, humor, and biblical insights, the Stoppes reveal where true joy originates and the secret of becoming your husbands best friend. Bravo on such a well-written and much-needed message.

Julie Gorman, author of What I Wish My Mother Had Told Me About Men

I loved this book. Read it only if you dare to be inspired to better your marriage. The Marriage Mentor is a must-read for anyone. Steve and Rhondas love for others shines through every page.

Carmen Whittaker

wife of Fermin Whittaker, executive director, California Southern Baptist Convention

If youre finding your happily-ever-after not turning out as expected and being shattered by your not-so-perfect Prince Charming, then Rhonda Stoppe is the fairy godmother who will point you in the right direction for a happy ending made in the kingdom of heaven!

Angela Rose

founder, TheLaundryMoms.com

Rhonda and Steve Stoppe have been long-distance pastors and mentors to my wife and me over the past 15 years. They are the most grounded-in-the-Bible people we have ever met. Because of that they have been an amazing example of how God intended a married couple to live as husband and wife, and mother and father.

Josh Berry

president, LabeLive

Rhonda Stoppe makes me want to be a better wife, a better mother, and a better grandmother. But most of all, Rhonda inspires me to be a better Christian through her own very real and passionate relationship with Jesus.

Joy Lucius

journalist, American Family Journal

author, The Dandelion Trial

When my husband had an affair, I thought my marriage was over. But Rhonda and Steve Stoppe helped us begin the healing process in our marriage by covering my husband and me with the love of our Savior. Their personal mentorship has been instrumental in making our heavy circumstances less burdensome, and they provide godly marriage counsel that imparts hope for the future.

Angie

humbled and blessed wife and student of the Word

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked ESV are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked ASV are taken from the American Standard Version of the Bible.

Cover by Juicebox Designs

Cover photos Andy Roberts / Getty Images / Hand-lettering by Kristi Smith

Back cover photo Jackie Plaza Photography

The Marriage Mentor

Copyright 2018 Rhonda Stoppe

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7143-0 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7144-7 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stoppe, Steve, author. | Stoppe, Rhonda, 1961- If my husband would change, Id be happy.

Title: The marriage mentor / Steve and Rhonda Stoppe.

Description: Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2018. | Adaptation: If my husband would change, Id be happy / Rhonda Stoppe. 2015. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018000520 (print) | LCCN 2018011515 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736971447 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736971430 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: MarriageReligious aspectsChristianity.

Classification: LCC BV835 (ebook) | LCC BV835 .S87755 2018 (print) | DDC 248.4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018000520

All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of authors and publishers rights is strictly prohibited.

To my husband, Steve Stoppe,

the love of my life for more than 30 years:

By your example, you have taught me how

to love selflessly and fervently.

You are my Stoppe-Ever-After.

I pray God gives us many more years to serve Him together

in this mission:

To know Christ and make Him known.

To our grandchildren:

Karis, Ivy, Eliza, Ledger, Everly, McKenzie, Kelsey, and William

(and the many more yet to be):

We pray that God draws each of your hearts

to know and love our Savior

and that God one day draws to each of you a godly

spouse who loves Jesus more than life itself.

To our children and their spouses:

Tony and Kylene

Jake and Meredith

Brandon and Jessy

Estevan and Kayla

We are in awe of how your marriages reflect the love of Christ

to a world in desperate need of a Savior.

Soli Deo gloria

Thank you, Gayle, Molly, Joan, Elaine, Pam, Penny, and Marge, for becoming the Titus 2 women in my life when I was a young bride. The way you love your husbands drew me to you, and the way you love Christ caused me to want to love Him as well. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (Philippians 1:3).

Special thanks to

My husbandSteve Stoppe, for partnering with me to write this book. As a pastor, counselor, and husband, your words are insightful and inspiring to me, and to anyone who takes them to heart.