Spring Faith@Home Focus

Small Steps to a More Vibrant Marriage

Love Connection Challenge

In Genesis 2:24, God tells us that “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” This biblical design of leaving, cleaving, and weaving—or marital oneness—is often easier to understand than to implement consistently in our marriages, particularly in today’s fast-paced culture. Yet a strong oneness with or “connectedness” to our spouse is essential to building and maintaining a strong, healthy, and satisfying marriage relationship.

Our spring Faith@Home focus is to be more intentional and consistent in developing and maintaining a stronger level of connectedness to one’s spouse. The challenge is to make a small and simple 2° Change in your level of connectedness with your spouse in at least one of the following (or other) ways:

Date Nights—Commit to have a date night at least 2 times per month over the next 4 months. A “Fun and Inexpensive Date Nights” Idea Card contains a host of fun and inexpensive ideas.

Daily Connections—Commit to practicing a “daily connection” with your spouse. One simple way to do this each day in 5 minutes or less is for each to ask the other “Tell me one important thing that happened in your day today and how you felt about it” and then simply listen, attentively, to your spouse’s answer. A “Connecting Daily in your Marriage” Idea Card, contains other simple ideas.

Prayer—Commit to praying together with your spouse consistently (at least 2 times per week) outside of meal times. A “Praying Together in Your Marriage” Idea Card provides practical ideas for starting out or for deepening your prayer routine with your spouse.

Faith@Home Resources

Visit the Faith@Home Center in the lobby or check out links below for one or more of the following marriage-related resources.

“Love Connection” Idea Cards

Pick up examples of creative and simple ideas for being more intentional about connecting with your spouse:

Podcasts

Available at the Faith@Home Center and Corresponding Date Night Idea Card

The Art of Marriage
Marriage Masterpiece
Love and Respect

Past Sermons Pertaining to Marriage

Additional Resources at Midland Free

Marriage-related resources, events and classes to help strengthen
your marriage, family, and personal growth are available at Midland Free. Please see below for details.

Preparing for Marriage—God’s Way

An 8-week premarital class designed to provide engaged couples, dating couples and singles with the study of God's design for a Biblical marriage. Class meets January 22-March 18, 2012 on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:30 am. For
questions or more information contact Dave and Cheryl Beyer at 989.837.1471 or dcbeyer@charter.net.

Men Mentoring Men

A ministry combining mentoring and discipling. Men who are more mature in their walk with God are matched with men desiring to grow spiritually or needing guidance in a particular area.

Interwoven Hearts

A ministry that facilitates spiritual mentoring relationships between women.

Marriage Mentoring

Marriage mentoring is available for couples who would like to meet with another couple. Arrangements may be made on an individual basis by contacting
Pastor Gib Giblin at the church office 989.631.4411, Ext.1016.

The Marriage Course

A course designed to help any married couple strengthen their relationship. This practical course gives couples the tools to build a healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime. Next offered, Fall 2012. For questions contact Jody Best at
jodybest@mefchurch.org or 989.631.4411, Ext.1001.

Other Books and Resources

For Date Nights

Simply Romantic Date Nights Kit
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey from Family Life Ministries)

A kit filled with ideas guaranteed to add fresh sizzle to your relationship. His and Her cards and an interactive book will enhance connection and intimacy in your marriage.

52 Fantastic Dates for You and Your Mate
by Claudia and David Arp

Provides creative and fun ideas to enrich your relationship.

Love Connection