"Without intention, we find ourselves being tossed from one crisis to another without any plan to correct our course...Love is a choice and so our greatest joy comes from intentionally loving another person. The misconception is that when we bring two people together under the umbrella of marriage, it becomes a beautiful thing all by itself. There is no such thing as an auto pilot for a relationship. The truth is: two people, from two different backgrounds, with baggage from other relationships or from dysfunctional families, are suddenly faced with life together under the same roof. Sounds a little scarier than the fairy tale picture of most wedding plans."Dennis and Susan have walked this journey through the difficult years and have seen the benefit of being intentional in their own marriage."This book was born out of our own personal journey and has been "field tested" in our own relationship. Most of the material in this book has been presented in our "Intentional Marriage" seminars. This is a very practical approach to living out a committed and loving relationship. It's about being more than haphazard in our every interaction. It's about choosing to be intentional.

All couples walk to the altar dreaming of happily-ever-after, but many forces in our society work against healthy lifelong commitment. Renowned family therapist William J. Doherty reveals how cracks can develop in even a rock-solid marriage, and what steps you can take to keep your love strong. Learn ways to break free of common traps like confusing desires with needs, comparing your spouse to your fantasies of other relationships, or becoming overtime parents instead of full-time partners. You'll get suggestions for creating relationship rituals--from mundane to celebratory, sexy to silly--that build closeness and connection every day. The updated second edition incorporates Dr. Doherty's ongoing experience counseling couples, plus the latest information on marriage and health, how divorce affects kids, the impact of new technologies on family life, and more. Winner--Best Self-Help Book, ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards

Ryan and Selena Frederick were newlyweds when they landed in Switzerland to pursue Selena's dream of training horses. Neither of them knew at the time that Ryan was living out a death sentence brought on by a worsening genetic heart defect. Soon it became clear he needed major surgery that could either save his life--or result in his death on the operating table. The young couple prepared for the worst. When Ryan survived, they both realized that they still had a future together. But the near loss changed the way they saw all that would lie ahead. They would live and love fiercely, fighting for each other and for a Christ-centered marriage, every step of the way. Fierce Marriage is their story, but more than that, it is a call for married couples to put God first in their relationship, to measure everything they do and say to each other against what Christ did for them, and to see marriage not just as a relationship they should try to keep healthy but also as one worth fighting for in every situation. With the gospel as their foundation, Ryan and Selena offer hope and practical help for common struggles in marriage, including communication problems, sexual frustration, financial stress, family tension, screen-time disconnection, and unrealistic expectations.

What if fear is the new brave? That's the question that you need answered if you are living afraid. Finding courage begins with fear itself--fear of the Lord. I Choose Brave reveals a countercultural plan to help you where you are--knee-deep in fears of parenting, the future, your marriage, and a world that feels unstable. When you're feeling fearful, the last thing you need is a social-media meme telling you to simply "power through" your fears. In I Choose Brave, Katie Westenberg digs deep into Scripture and shows that finding the courage to overcome our fears must start with fear of the Lord. Hundreds of passages speak to this foundational truth, yet we have somehow relegated them to antiquity. In sharing her own compelling story of facing her worst fear, Katie serves up theological truth with relatable application. In this book, you will · discover a fresh take on an old truth that displaces fear once and for all · understand why the culture's idea of "fearlessness" is a farce · access the holy courage you were made for With this new knowledge comes tremendous freedom. Hidden in the cleft of the Rock, the One truly worthy of our fear, you will begin to understand the only path to real courage.

Hope and practical help for parents whose greatest longing is to shepherd their children into a vibrant faith in God. For Christian parents, there is no greater joy than seeing their children learn to walk with the Lord. And there is no greater fear than that their children will walk away from God. After serving together in pastoral ministry and raising their now-grown children, Phil and Diane Comer know those hopes and fears well. Like all new parents, they were intimidated and unsure about how to take on the task of spiritually training their young children. But now, with all four of their children grown and establishing their own households of faith, Phil and Diane have embarked on a quest to help the next generation of parents raise passionate Jesus followers. Drawing on years of pastoral counseling, teaching, leading, and decades of watching families from the perspective of pastors and leaders in ministry, Phil and Diane instruct, guide, encourage, and offer hope and practical help to Christian parents. Raising Passionate Jesus Followers is a manual full of practical, biblically based, and time-tested guidelines that parents will be able to turn to again and again through every stage of their children's development, including . . . Formulating a plan Laying the foundation, ages 0-5 Doing the framing, ages 6-12 Installing the functional systems, ages 13-17 Completing the finish work, ages 18-22 And keeping the front door open for your grown children

Have you ever "secretly" thought to yourself, "I think I hate my husband?" Have you ever said to yourself, ''I can't do this anymore'' or ''I never should have married him?" If you've ever felt this way, don't be ashamed-this book is for YOU! "Becoming an Intentional Wife" is an interactive, self-discovery tool for the wife who has grown weary of either a mediocre marriage life, or wants to take her ENTIRE-life to the next dimension! YOU possess more marriage creativity than you will read in any book or experience at any seminar. "Becoming an Intentional Wife" is more than information; it's about LIFE application.If you think this book is about how to change your husband, keep reading. You will soon discover that change starts within....

Intentional Relationships for Singles is a 12-week Bible study designed to help individuals get healthier through personal growth in all their relationships including God, family, friends, work, and church with the goal of preparing for marriage. TOPICS DISCUSSED - Your Identity in Christ - Gender Roles - Understanding the Opposite Sex - Blind Spots - Boundaries - Conflict Resolution - Forgiveness - Reconciliation - Friendships - Intentional Friendship(TM) - Intentional Dating - Engagement - Plus self/group reflection questions, Online Leaders Resources and Videos. "Kris and Dan have walked the ups and downs of singleness, friendship and dating - and lived to tell about it. Lucky for us, we get to learn from their victories and mistakes. Their immensely practical book is full of advice, strategies and personal, real-world examples that will empower you to pursue personal and relational health - and most importantly, to trust Godin the process." - Lisa Anderson, Director of Boundless.org/Focus on the Family and author of The Dating Manifesto "Every 'us' requires intentionality. Lots of purposeful intentionality before and during dating, and then again before and after the wedding. This guide will help you do just that." - Ron Deal, President of SmartStepfamilies.com and bestselling author of Dating and the Single Parent and Building Love Together in Blended Families (with Dr. Gary Chapman); smartstepfamilies.com "In a world where relationships are lost and have become a dying art too often replaced by cell phones and social media, Kris Swiatocho and Dan Houk have hit a home run. Intention takes time, perseverance, and prayer. Relationships don't flourish without intention. Kudos on bringing practical tips and life application to the millions of singles who desire true and authentic relationships." - Jennifer Maggio, Chief Executive Officer, The Life of a Single Mom Ministries; thelifeofasinglemom.com "Wow! What a powerful book of information and strategy for building intentional, authentic relationships! This book is so fresh, reads well, and is one of the sharpest, laser-focused tools I have ever read to help single adults build God-honoring relationships that last. Without hesitation, I recommend this book to single adults and to those leaders who work closely with single adults. Dan and Kris do a masterful job in sharing their life experiences that only brings greater authority to the content of this book. You gotta get it! You won't be disappointed." - Joseph Northcut, Director of Church Resources, ChurchInitiative.org (creator of DivorceCare.org and GriefShare.org) For more information, to order in bulk to save or to bring Kris and Dan to your city, go to www.IntentionalRelationshipSolutions.org