In America, the average amount of money, time, and energy spent on a wedding are astronomical. While thousands of dollars are spent for the wedding day, little if any money, time, and energy are spent in preparation for the marriage itself. To Have & To Hold: Preparing for a Godly Marriage offers a different approach from "pre-marital counseling." It is more of a marriage education helping and equipping couples to build smart marriages and healthy families. The days prior to a wedding can be busy and hectic. This Bible study book format maximizes the time couples have by focusing on important information in a simplified and condensed version. One of the biggest mistakes couples make is collecting great resources and then becoming overwhelmed by the amount of information gathered with little time to complete the reading. Oftentimes, those resources are put on the shelf for later, only to be pulled down when a crisis hits ... often too little, too late. This study may be used in a variety of ways including: For couples to do on their own as a pre-marriage study. For pastors or others to use in pre-marriage counseling with couples. For small groups where a leader has a group of young couples preparing to wed. For couples or small groups in the early years of marriage who did not receive pre-marriage preparation and counseling. Some of the weekly preparation is fun, creative, and light. It is a good escape from the wedding plans for a while helping couples find a balanced approach will help them gain insight during the fast-paced days. These weekly interactive prep activities will be focused on the specific topic for the week. They will encourage couples to look at scripture passages, do biblical words studies, listen to podcasts, go to a romantic place, or do some other activity to creatively challenge their thinking. These assignments are not a major time commitment, but they are vital as a couple works through issues. God''s purposes for marriage are much higher and greater than our own. In Genesis 2:18, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone," He created Eve as an answer to that aloneness. Even though Adam had a perfect relationship with God, a perfect environment, and had all the possessions he wanted, there was still a void of intimacy. Blending two individuals into oneness was the Divine goal. They were made to become suitable helpers, counterparts who could balance and back one another in every way. God ordained marriage to be an earthly picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Jesus Christ''s love for the Church, according to Ephesians 5, is sacrificial and unconditional. He laid down His life to present the church, His bride, whole, and complete. Likewise, when a husband and wife love each other as they do their own bodies, nurturing and caring for each other, they live out the beautiful picture of Christ''s oneness with the Church. Features: Interactive questions and tools to guide discussion and make the study personal for couples Practical and simple to equip couples for marriage not only the wedding Tools and suggestions for pre-marital education and counsel Bible study book for couples (sold separately) is included in the Leader Guide for Pastors, church staff, small group leaders, or facilitators Benefits: Understand God''s Biblical foundation and purpose for marriage in order to establish a foundation that provides stability and oneness in the marital relationship. Following God''s principles leads to oneness and freedom in the roles and responsibilities of the husband and wife. Help couples understand and follow God''s stewardship principles as they work to experience financial freedom. Challenge the thinking of couples regarding needs, intimacy, and oneness in marriage Encourage and challenge each partner to individually keep Christ as the first priority as well as to grow together in spiritual oneness as a couple Equip couples with tools to learn the necessary skills to effectively communicate through expressing oneself, listening, and managing conflict. Create healthy expectations for marriage and set a course action for the future. Join Byron and Carla Weathersbee in this eight-session study To Have & To Hold: Preparing for a Godly Marriage as they explore and focus on the keys to a healthy marriage.

As you begin counting down to your wedding day or find yourself in the midst of the early years of marriage, it's important to invest time and energy into building a lifelong partnership. Over 8 sessions, learn to develop your foundation as individuals and a couple while growing in your understanding of Christ and His divine goal for marriage. Allow Him to be your teacher, guide, counselor, and coach as you discover biblical principles behind living life to the fullest as a couple. Features: Interactive questions and tools to guide discussion and make the study personal for couples Tools and suggestions for pre-marital education and counsel Seven weeks of personal study segments to complete between eight weeks of group sessions Benefits: Understand God's biblical purpose for marriage to establish a foundation that provides stability and oneness in your relationship Learn that following God's principles leads to freedom in the roles and responsibilities of husband and wife Follow God's stewardship principles for financial freedom Challenge thinking regarding needs, intimacy, and oneness in marriage Keep Christ first and grow in spiritual maturity as a couple Learn the necessary skills to effectively communicate and manage conflict Create healthy expectations for marriage

Learn when to say yes and how to say no in the context of your marriage relationship. In Boundaries in Marriage, Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, counselors and authors of the New York Times bestseller Boundaries, teach us that healthy boundaries are the property lines that define and protect you and your spouse as individuals. Once you have them in place, a good marriage can become better, and a less-than-satisfying one can even be saved. Boundaries in Marriage will give you the tools and encouragement you need to: Set and maintain personal boundaries and respect those of your spouse Understand and practice two key ingredients to a successful marriage: freedom and responsibility Establish values that form a godly structure and architecture for your marriage Protect your marriage from different kinds of "intruders" Work with a spouse who understands and values boundaries--or with one who doesn't It's time to deepen your love by providing a better environment for it to flourish, and Drs. Cloud and Townsend are here to help. Discover how boundaries can make life better today!

In this book, Adam Hamilton explores how, with God’s help, we can make love last. Drawing upon a survey of thousands of couples and singles, interviews with relationship and marriage therapists, the latest research in the field, and wisdom from the Bible, Hamilton looks at what it takes to create and sustain healthy, meaningful romantic relationships across the course of a lifetime. Contents include: More Than a Piece of Paper; What She Wants; What He Wants; The Significance of Sexual Intimacy; Habits That Hurt, Habits That Heal; Clothe, Bear With, and Forgive; A Love That Lasts a Lifetime

Leadership Principles from a Renowned Agent of Change Cultures and organizations do not change without strong leadership. While many leadership books focus on management or administration, the central focus of The Conviction to Lead is on changing minds. Dr. Mohler was the driving force behind the transformation of Southern Seminary from a liberal institution of waning influence to a thriving evangelical seminary at the heart of the Southern Baptist Convention. Since then he has been one of the most prominent voices in evangelicalism, fighting for Christian principles and challenging secular culture. Using his own experiences and examples from history, Dr. Mohler demonstrates that real leadership is a transferring of conviction to others, affecting their actions, motivations, intuition, and commitment. This practical guide walks the reader through what a leader needs to know, do, and be in order to affect change.

A clinical psychologist’s exploration of the modern dilemmas women face in the wake of new motherhood When Molly Millwood became a mother, she was fully prepared for what she would gain: an adorable baby boy; hard-won mothering skills; and a messy, chaotic, beautiful life. But what she did not expect was what she would lose: aspects of her identity, a baseline level of happiness, a general sense of wellbeing. And though she had the benefit of a supportive husband during this transition, she also at times resented the fact that the disruption to his life seemed to pale in comparison to hers. As a clinical psychologist, Molly knew her experience was a normal response to a life-changing event. But without the advantage of such a perspective, many of the patients she treated in her private practice grappled with self-doubt, guilt, and fear, and suffered the dual pain of not only the struggle to adjust but also the overwhelming shame for struggling at all. In To Have and to Hold, Molly explores the complex terrain of new motherhood, illuminating the ways it affects women psychologically, emotionally, physically, and professionally—as well as how it impacts their partnership. Along with the arrival of a bundle of joy come thorny issues such as self-worth, control, autonomy, and dependency. And for most new mothers, these issues are experienced within the context of an intimate relationship, adding another layer of tension, conflict, and confusion to an already challenging time. As Molly examines the inextricable link between women’s well-being as new mothers and the well-being of their relationships, she offers guidance to help readers reclaim their identities, overcome their guilt and shame, and repair their relationships. A blend of personal narrative, scientific research, and stories from Molly’s clinical practice, To Have and to Hold provides a much-needed lifeline to new mothers everywhere.

Cloud and Townsend apply their award-winning boundaries concepts to the dating relationship. This workbook helps readers work through the principles in "Boundaries in Dating" to make the dating arena a more satisfying, productive one. Those in the dating phase can learn to enjoy its benefits to the fullest, increasing their ability to find and commit to a marriage partner.