Build with Boundaries ~ Blended Family Ministry

One of the first things blended families need to do is establish boundaries within the home. Without them, chaos will ensue.

Establish the House Rules:

Before you blend families (and now, if you have already done so), establish the house rules. These rules should apply to all members of the household, regardless of how often the children are present.

Marriage Works ~ Forgive One Another

It's easy to see greener grass when your spouse looks burned out. Brown and wilted, dead under the weight of...your unforgiveness.

It's never easy to forgive someone for whatever they've done to rock your world, warranted or not. Some feel that if they forgive another, they excuse the sin. What they don't realize is that they hold that person captive in their heart. No one lives free when one of you is working as a jailer. The person

Taking the High Road ~ Blended Family Ministry

Fellow step-parenting friend Gayla Grace asked this question on her Twitter feed this morning:

I can't tell you how many times during the first five years of my marriage to Vic I wanted to take the easy road. I wanted to all-out quit. I wanted to walk away and not look back on the anger, frustration, accusations, and silent rebellion I faced as a step-mom.

Marriage Works ~ Never Go To Bed Angry

"Oh, forget it. You couldn't care less."

I'd interrupted my husband, and this was his reply. In all honesty, on occasion I could care less about what he's saying. Because I'm truly not interested in the topic (like gun stuff - I want to know how to shoot one accurately, not how to trick it out--that's his job), and I try not to intrude on his time with topics I know he could care less about (like how to scrapbook). However, I loved our current topic of conversation. Writing.

How many times a day/week/month/year do you face similar situations in your own marriage? Ones where you're misunderstood, where your spouse appears less than interested in your concerns, where

5 Signs of Isolation in Your Marriage

Proverbs 18:1 says, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.”

There are two keys to this verse: He seeks his own desire. He doesn’t care if it’s wrong.
Isolate: quarantine; to separate from another substance to obtain pure or in a free state; insulate (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Isolation will be a marriage killer, if a husband or a wife won’t do something about it. When we marry, two people become one. It’s difficult to walk in that unity if one spouse has isolated themselves from the

How Do I Pick One Word?

The New Year has arrived, and many people are sharing their One Word on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Some are blogging about it. Another trend is to select one photograph to represent what you’d like to have happen in your life during the next twelve months. A third trend is to select one verse of Scripture to live by in 2013.

I’ve {Alycia} chosen my One Word, as well. It’s EVERYTHING. What it means to me is that as I make Jesus the center of EVERYTHING in my life in 2013, I will see order come where there is chaos. In the process, God will prepare me for the next season in life, ministry, and career. Here’s my photo/scripture verse:

So, why One Word?
Rather than making a long list of resolutions you’re bound to ditch by February 1st, selecting one word/image/scripture to focus on gives you a great chance at success in 2013. Rather than make a list of resolutions, let your one word impact every area of your life.

How do I Select My One Word?

• Pray. Ask God to give it to you. This is the absolute best way to discover it. Don’t be alarmed if it’s an unusual word or a challenging word. After all, those resolutions would have been a challenge, right? That’s probably why many of us ditch the list before we ever get started with our pursuit.

• Make a list of the things you’d like to achieve/accomplish in your life this year. Look for a central theme, and use that word.

• Make a list of things you’d like to overcome this year. Any bad habits that need to be broken? What is the opposite of that? {i.e. anger = peace}

• Follow the advice given on the My One Word website: Characteristics of You (While you’re there, be sure to fill in your one word!)

• Ask a friend. If you cannot decide, talk to a trusted friend, pastor, or family member. Ask them what you need to work on this year. A true friend will not be afraid to tell you exactly what you could change to become the person you desire to be in Christ. Remember, don’t get upset or angry when they give you the honest answer. Instead, ask God what He wants to do inside of you to make you more like Him.

So, what will your One Word be this year? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know. We’ll be praying for you!

For more information about My One Word, you can pick up a copy of the newly-released book by Mike Ashcroft and Rachel Olsen.