100 Ways to Make Your Marriage Rock

I had to repost this article.  It's got such great wisdom for keeping your marriage thriving. These are for the husbands and the wives, both.  Pick just a couple and do them this week!

1. Write him letters
2. Go on regular date nights
3. Write his name on lipstick on the bathroom mirror
4. Revitalize the romance with intimate dates
5. Pray together
6. Hide notes in secret places
7. Go to bed at the same time
8. Listen to music together-share earbuds
9. Send him on a scavenger hunt in the house
10. Buy him gifts he will love
11. Hide a treat in his glovebox or desk at work
12. Read the Bible together
13. Wear shirts that tell the world you love your spouse
14. Praise your spouse to other people
15. Let them overhear you
16. Read a marriage devotional
17. Porn-proof your home
18. Be best friends
19. Sleep in his t-shirts
20. Look to him to make the big decisions (see comment section for my opinion on #20, #21)
21. Let her make the small ones
22. Don’t nag him
23. Put down the seat, pick up your socks for her
24. Renew your vows privately with whispers and memories
25. Renew them publicly with cake and bubbly
26. Fight naked
27. Tell him you like him
28. Receive his compliments
29. Pick your battles
30. Show her you love her and tell him you respect him
31. Go away together at least once a year
32. Frame your wedding vows
33. Her: Read For Women Only
34. Hang pictures of the two of you around your house
35. Kiss in front of your kids
36. Make his favorite dessert
37. Have pictures of just the two of you made
38. Make sex a priority
39. Spend time apart occasionally
40. Learn to enjoy something he loves
41. Surprise each other
42. Meet him at the door
43. Dreamstorm
44. Text each other from across the room
45. Be accountable to each other
46. Set reminders on your phone to remember him/her throughout the week
47. Call him right now and tell him you appreciate him
48. Be affectionate
49. Him: Read For Men Only
50. Leave work and come home early
51. Wash, vacuum her car. Keep it full of gas.
52. Give each other romantic coupons
53. Engage every day in meaningful conversation
54. Compliment each other
55. Touch your spouse several times throughout the day
56. Take one day a month to make your spouse your total focus
57. Let each other sleep in
58. Be spontaneous!
59. Argue fair: avoid these words “you always” and “you never”
60. Kiss every day
61. Find tangible ways to serve your mate without complaining
62. Forgive quickly
63. Be honest.
64. But not hurtful
65. Get on the same page: plan your budget together
66. Look your best as often as you can
67. Guard your marriage
68. Get out of debt (and stay out)
69. Laugh together
70. Have a date night in
71. When your together-BE TOGETHER (take a break from phones, technology, etc)
72. Talk about your favorite memories together
73. Tell him he’s sexy just because
74. Tell her she’s pretty, especially when she’s not feeling it
75. Make him breakfast in bed
76. Do her chores for her
77. Get a couple’s massage or host your own privately
78. Read a book out loud together
79. Dance together-soft music (alone) or rocking music with the kids
80. Bring her/him a favorite drink during the middle of the day
81. Exercise together-hikes, bike riding, etc
82. Choose not to be annoyed by an irritating behavior/disappointment
83. Tell him a secret he doesn’t know about you
84. Thank your spouse just because, often
85. Sit on the same side of a booth at a restaurant
86. Lay in bed together and stare into each other eyes, without talking
87. Learn something new together-take an art class, cooking lessons, etc
88. Leave a sweet comment on the Facebook wall
89. Teach your kids about marriage
90. Stop what you’re doing, look them in the eye and listen to their answer
91. Create art together
92. Support each other’s goals
93. Know when to talk and when to hush
94. Consider counseling (even if there’s not conflict)
95. Doodle his name
96. Bring her flowers (even when she says they are too expensive)
97. Wear something he loves
98. Share furniture-sit in his lap
99. Fight for your marriage
100. Remember your spouse rocks-even when they don’t

Taken from www.wearethatfamily.com

Ten Commandments of a Blameless Life

Remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? I love that story because it's easy to see who to root for. The Turtle is slow but he's humble, he's a hard worker, he's an all-around good guy. The Rabbit, on the other hand, is so arrogant! He thinks he can sick back and nap while the Turtle makes his way, slow step by slow step, around the course of the race. Immediately, you cheer for that slow but true Turtle. You just hope to get a chance, when the race is over, to point a finger at the Hare, and say, "Told you so! That's what you get for thinking you didn't need to work at it"!

The moral of that simple children's story is clear: Pride and laziness lead to ruin. That's a pretty good life lesson, no matter how old you are.

In the wake of moral failure on the part of a pastoral staff member, our wonderful Head Pastor gave a list of Ten Commandments to live by which will help us cross life's finish line in victory. Whether you are a vocational minister or new to Christian faith, wisdom and accountability are essential. We have to work at this Christian faith. We have to humble ourselves and realize we're all capable of screwing up.

It's a steep and slippery slope to complete annihilation of our Christian witness, should we "fall asleep" and think it could never happen to us.

Are you living by the List?
1. Thou shalt never be alone with the opposive gender (except your spouse). Thou shalt never ride in the car alone with the opposite gender.
2. Thou shalt not develop an emotional relationship or friendship with a person of the opposite gender (except spouse). Thou shalt not engage in non-business related email/texting/facebook with a person of the opposite gender.
3. Thou shalt not counsel the opposite gender. Men minister to men, women minister to women. Though shalt not discuss your marriage or sexual problems with a person of the opposite gender.
4. Thou shalt have regular, transparent accountability in your life. Thou shalt have an acct. partner that you disclose all of your weaknesses to, ask prayer from and, give regular reports to. Thou shalt use www.covenanteyes.com.
5. Thou shalt live a life characterized by "glass everywhere." Thou shalt have nothing hidden in your life. No secrets.
6. Thou shalt not go to the "liquor store." Thou shalt remove yourself from temptations and remove temptations from you. (If you struggle with internet - GET RID OF THE COMPUTER!)
7. Thou shalt seek healing for unresolved issues in your life. Thou shalt invest in Christian counseling in order to get whole.
8. Thou shalt attend to the care of your soul. Thou shalt spend daily time with the Lord. Thou shalt allow the Lord to fill you more than the world drains you.
9. Thou shalt watch each other's backs. Pray for one another. Confront one another in love when you see warning signs and questionable behavior. Rescue one another from potentially dangerous people.
10. Thou shalt walk with the Lord, surrender to Him, and be filled with His Spirit through a yielded life. Invite Christ's Spirit to sit in the driver's seat of your life. Love God first, family second, everything else third.

If we think we can live our lives free from these Ten Commandments, we're much like the Hare. If we think we can make it without boundaries and accountability, we're prideful and lazy. 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee the evil desires of youth, pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Is that clear enough? If not, try 1 Tim. 3:2, "Be above reproach."

God wants to use us to be a witness of His love and grace. We can only be a part of His plan if we're willing to use wisdom to help us stay pure. Let's be like the Tortoise - slow but steady. That's the way to make it all the way to the end of life's race and have victory. God is rooting for us. Are you ready? On your mark, get set, GO!