H. Norman Wright - 101 Ways to Build a Stronger, More Exciting Marriage

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

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101 WAYS TO BUILD A STRONGER,

MORE EXCITING MARRIAGE

Copyright 2014 H. Norman Wright

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wright, H. Norman.

101 ways to build a stronger, more exciting marriage / H. Norman Wright.

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-7369-6127-1 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-6128-8 (eBook)

1. MarriageReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title. II. Title: One hundred one ways to build a stronger, more exciting marriage. III. Title: One hundred and one ways to build a stronger, more exciting marriage.

BV835.W733 2014

248.8'44dc23

2014011077

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Contents

Welcome to a journeya marriage-enrichment journey. The questions and brief comments are designed to help your relationship grow, improve, and be even more satisfying and fulfilling. And hopefully your partner and you will also grow personally and spiritually as well.

Marriage is the most powerful of all relationships. You and your spouse will either enhance and give the glory to the other or steal the glory of the other. Are you enhancing the glory in your spouse? Can you think of ways to do this? Most of us have never thought about this. Look at your partner. What do you see? Do you see the glory of God residing in him or her? Do you see a unique reflection of God? If not, take a closer look.

As a married couple, you both can encourage and shape the glory of God in the other as no other person can. Enjoy the reflection of Gods glory in your spouse. Honor it. Enhance it.

What does this mean? Your marriage relationship comes with a challengeto take the raw material you each have and work toward revealing more of the glory of God in each other. Thats a far cry from what most of us are focused on. But this is what marriage is all about. Its not a time to just kick back and expect to be waited on or catered to. And your marriage isnt just going to happen and thrive. For a successful and vibrant marriage, each of you needs to take an attitude of allowing yourself to be stretched.

You are called to create , so create. How? By serving, loving, and living out Gods Word in ways that build up your spouse. Glorify God by drawing the best out of your spouse. Go for the excellent instead of focusing on the not-so-great. Find the rich treasure God has placed in your partner. There is untapped, undeveloped potential in your spouse that, with your help, can surface and grow even more.

Today we hear way too much about marriages that are in trouble or dont make it. Yet there are many, many couples who have fulfilling and even exceptional marriages. Its no accident that strong marriages are the way they are. Good marriages dont just happen. Couples in exceptional marriage are willing to learn and grow by developing a positive, biblical attitude; discovering how to speak their spouses personal and love languages; and celebrating their differences as well as their similarities.

Does an absolute formula exist that couples today can follow to guarantee achieving the marriages they want? You already know the answer to that question. There isnt. But there are principles that have worked for many. Consider the questions in this book as a personal consultation with the nations leading authorities on what makes marriages work.

Although this book will help and possibly act in place of going to a marriage seminar or a series of counseling sessions, dont expect numerous stories or clever examples. The information youll find here is bottom line and straight to the point. Because the questions are designed to help you think, share, and grow, they will require some effort on both your parts. And whatever you learn, you need to apply or it wont do any good. These principles and guidelines have made a positive difference for so many couples, and they can also work for you.

Marriage is a lifelong adventure. Every journey has its highs, lows, and detours. And every love journey is unique. No two couples experience the same road. Many couples experience their marriages without giving them much thought, while others constantly take their marital temperature. Some underrate marriage and choose to see problems that arent there. Others view marriage with blinders on and are oblivious to issues that eat away at the core of their union until its too late. Which of these descriptions do you connect with?

Think of it this way. Your marriage is like a car. Every now and then it needs a tune-up. Often when your car is receiving a tune-up, the mechanic may find the beginning of a problem and take corrective action. This minimizes the damage. However, if you neglect this service, something may break, resulting in the need for a major overhaul. And thats more expensive, time-consuming, and disruptive. Its the same when you assess your marriage. You may discover the slight fraying of some wire insulation that may eventually cause a short circuit and fry the engine that makes your union work. But discovering it early gives you a head start on taking corrective action.

Commit to spending time each day or each week to connect via this book. Make a determination to read, contemplate, and answer each question. You may not like some of the questions or your spouses answers, but reflect on them rather than react. Discuss your answers openly and sincerely. Remember that the advice in this book comes from many people who are specialists in the relationship field. Be hopeful. You can grow, and so can your spouse. Your marriage can be better than ever. Each day consider these Scriptures: