The best advice I ever recieved on having a successful marriage was from my Mother In Law... (I know right?) She told us to work on the problems before we had them! Didn't quite make sense to me, but hey we started with a marraige study (ok, God threw away all other options for us, and we were stuck with this one with only about 1 yr of marriage under our belt, we thought it was silly!) But you know what, it has helped down the road.
Our favorite marriage book has got to be Love and Respect By Emmerson Eggerich. Basically breaks down that a man needs respect (and wouldn't you guess, God commands the wife to respect her husband?) and the wife needs love (and guess what? husbands are commanded to love their wife!) and it is all based on Ephesians 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Some of the websites that I love are:
http://www.the-generous-wife.com/ (great daily tips on being a generous wife)
http://www.the-generous-husband.com/ (her husband's blog on being a generous husband!)
http://site.themarriagebed.com/front-page
http://31daystopray.com/31dbbs-challenge/
Of course there is Proverbs 31... It helps with being a godly woman!
10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
That is it for now, just wanted to share a few with you. Browse and please share your favorites with me! I am always wanting to find new ones. And remember to work on your marriage before their are problems... I believe the marriage is such a threat against satan that he will use anything he can to drive a wedge between a man and wife. Who else do you have such an intimate relationship with?
