It was presented by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, including one session by his wife, Sarah.
The biblical principles they are teaching are based on the verse from Ephesians 5:33.
" However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
The greatest obstacle in this whole challenge is:
How can a woman respect a man who doesn't show love to her? (or at least she sure doesn't feel like it!)
AND
How can a man love a woman who doesn't show respect to him? (or at least he sure doesn't feel like it!)
And so the cycle begins, and that is why men and women are literally going crazy trying to figure out this whole love and marriage thing!
After viewing the series, I was deeply convicted and grieved to find out that I had been making some MAJOR mistakes in our marriage when trying to connect with Kurt. (A more realistic way of putting it would be>trying to CORRECT Kurt) I was doing what I knew to do... with information I had taken in through numerous books by excellent authors. I filtered it all through the computer in my "female" brain.
I always have been genuinely "good-willed" in my intentions, and passionate in my heart to try and either better, or restore our marriage. Knowing what I know now, (yes I do claim unmitigated ignorance in a large number of my tactics) I am persuaded my number one mistake was my approach. I, "female," was moving toward a revival and restoration with "male," armed with wife viewpoints, female mindset, and "pink" communication. As Dr. Eggerichs so bluntly puts it, I was not "speaking the mother-tongue" of my husband, and was doomed to fail Every Single Time! No wonder Kurt always retreated so quickly.
There's no quicker way to get to the heart of another person than to confess your wrongdoings (whether they were done willfully or in ignorance), humbly ask forgiveness, and commit to starting anew. Inspired with new and radical insights to start walking the path you have been travelling, but now in a new direction... can be quite exciting! :-)
If you are having troubles in your relationship, or think you have a pretty good marriage, but lack a closeness for some reasons you can't put your finger on, please consider listening to the training of this couple. Maybe you know of someone else who could use these new truths to work on. It will be an eye-opener, I promise!
I thought I had read it all, and heard it all, and tried it all.....NOT SO.
LADIES, IF EVERY WOMAN READING THIS POST WOULD GET HER HANDS ON THIS INFORMATION, PRAY, AND SIMPLY DO WHAT IS TAUGHT, YOU WOULD HAVE WHAT YOU DESIRE FROM YOUR MAN. I AM CONVINCED THAT IT IS THE WOMAN WHO NEEDS TO CHANGE FIRST, NOT THE MAN.
Please see the following link for sources.
http://www.loveandrespect.com/
I passionately believe that if revival is ever going to take place in this country, it's going to start in the homes. God works through families. He always has and He always will.
Please carefully read these selected words from Dennis and Barbara Rainey found in their book, Moments Together for Couples.
The Warning.
"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-7
Did you know that what you grow and cultivate in your garden today could spread to your offspring? Did you know that a sin you now tolerate could still be tormenting your great-grandchildren in the year 2140? That's four generations from now....
Whether you like it or not, your children are becoming just like you. Their little eyes are watching to see how you relate to your mate, how you pray, how you walk with Christ on a daily basis. They hear your words and subconsciously mimic your attitudes, actions and even your mannerisms...
And as time goes by you'll find that they've "inherited" some of the same tendencies towards sin that you learned from your own parents. That's why so many children from broken homes, for example, grow up and fail in their own marriages... I think that God uses our kids to get our attentions. He wants to rule in our lives, but as long as we feel we can succeed in our own power, we won't listen to His Spirit...
Your kids will grow up to be like you. Is that a sobering thought, or an encouraging one?
We can stop the chain reaction by our repentance and confession. God in His grace stands ready to forgive us and grant us favor. You can, by faith, stop even the most tyrannical control of a sin that has beset your family for generations.
The good news is that God also gives us a wonderful promise: Your righteousness can still be influencing others a thousand generations from now. That's encouraging!
*****
To all my sisters (or brothers) reading today's post... Please if not for your sake, then for the sake of your children or grandchildren, decide today to do whatever it takes to change the areas in your own life that are affecting, if not destroying your marriage. Purpose to take a chance, step out in faith, and ask God for a revelation that might just radically change yourself, your partner, your marriage, your home, and ultimately the future of your most precious blessings in this world, your children, and their children!
Kurt and I humbly bow before God for what HE is doing in us. We kneel before an awesome God who desires to do AWESOME, even miraculous acts for us on behalf of His Son, Jesus Christ. Here sits one woman speaking for two people to say we are SO glad that HE does! :-)
Below are the four most important reasons in our lives that we prayed for God to change us, before it was TOO late!
I close with the motivating words of a highly acclaimed 4-star general.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THE RIGHT THING TO DO.THE HARD PART IS DOING IT. <Norman Schwarzkopf>
The Blessing.
"As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments."- Psalm 103:13-18
COURAGE!
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