Welcome! I haven’t posted in awhile but thought I would share three books that have truly helped me not only in my marriage but in my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In fact, I am coming to realize more and more, overtime just how intertwined my relationship with my Heavenly Father and my relationship with my husband is - “A Strand of Three Cords Cannot Easily Be Broken” Ecclesiastes 4:8-12. If my relationship with Jesus falters, so does my relationship with my husband. I hope you are blessed by these books as much as I have been! God Bless! Kathleen
It seems to me that many women are constantly searching for ways to improve their marriage but I believe in order to improve your marriage, you also need to improve your relationship with your Heavenly Father. The two really seem to go hand-in-hand. I thought I would share some “gems” that have really helped improve mine over the years.
As many of you may know and for those who don’t my husband and I were basically strangers when we married. We only knew each other five weeks and I use the word “knew” very loosely. We were both brand new born again Christians and when I look back I realize how God did indeed arrange my marriage and it has taken a lot of hard work and firm committement to have the wonderful marriage that I have today.
One of the first things I did and continue to do it read books on marriage. Some I have re-read many times. I have three books that I would like to share with you today. I know there are many more and in the comments if you would like to list and share a little about your suggestion(s), that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance ☺
The first book is titled How to Get Your Husband to Talk to You by Nancy Cobb and Connie Grigsby, Multinomah Press 2001. The title does not do this little gem justice. There is also a question and answer session in the back for group discussion. This book also stays on my night stand. I am not sure how many times I have read it. It is easy reading and jam packed with practical, helpful advice and what is more, the authors are often humorous and the book helps you to have a sense of humor about your differences. It also helps you develop “thicker skin”, which most women certainly need in a marriage.
On the back is a small description:
Men and women communicate differently and, all-too-often, not at all! This book is a sort of “linguistics” school that will teach you to speak your husband’s language: Male!
The second book is one my sister Shannon gave to me. It is titled Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin, Bantam Press, 2007. It was first published in 1963 amidst the feminist movement and I tell you what, if those unfeminine feminist would have read this book, they would have been much further ahead. This book is packed full of common sense suggestions.
Fascinating Womanhood has come under a lot of criticism but in my opinion you need to humble yourself, and learn to set aside your self serving pride in order to be the godly wife and partner that God would like you to be for your husband.
From Amazon.com
Fascinating Womanhood offers timeless wisdom, practical advice, and old-fashioned values to meet the needs and challenges of today’s fascinating woman. Inside you’ll learn:
What traits today’s men find irresistible in a woman
How to awaken a man’s deepest feelings of love
Eight rules for a successful relationship
How to rekindle your love life
How to bring out the best in your man—and reap the rewards
Plus special advice for the working woman—and much more!
Fascinating Womanhood offers guidance for a new generation of women—happy, fulfilled, adored and cherished—who want to rediscover the magic of their own feminine selves.
Lastly, and maybe I should have shared this priceless gem first as this book is more about getting us in touch with our Heavenly Father and King but to me, my husband is my earthy King, the love of my life and if I am right with my Heavenly Father, then I know I am also on track with my earthy King, my husband. If my relationship with my Heavenly Father is hurting, my marriage also seems to be suffering. You need both for a godly, healthy, happy marriage.
Finding Favor with the King: Preparing For Your Moment in His Presence by Tommy Tenney, Bethany House, 2003. The book focus’ on Esther’s “patten of preparation” and “teaches us how to create that moment”. The book has step by step instructions for you to prepare for your moment in his presence. “Favor is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”. What better recipe for a celestial union with your Heavenly Father and earthly King.
Finding Favor with the King is full of practical as well as spiritual suggestions and if followed your relationship with your Heavenly Father and King and your earthly King, your husband, the man God has blessed you with, will surely deepen. n this outstanding work author Tommy Tenney takes us on a journey, that if followed could change our lives and bring us to a place with the Lord that is breathtaking.
On the last page are the, “Twelve Protocols of the Palace,” Esther’s secrets of finding Finding Favor with the King. Please don’t miss this wonderful book opportunity to improve both your relationship with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and your husband, the man God has blessed you with. I can’t praise this book enough.
I would really love to know if you have read these books, what you think of them and also, if you do purchase them please let me know what you have learned from them.
Lastly and certainly not least, if you have prayer requests concerning your marriage I would be very happy to pray with and for you. Simply send me an email with your prayer request. God Bless You! Kathleen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgTPnWJ9a90
Two of those are favorites of mine, so I am definitely going to check out the third! Thanks for writing about Fascinating Womanhood. It CERTAINLY is controversial, but I love it.
Dear blessed woman,
I am very impressed with your passion, love and care towards marriage and relationship with God.
I am a woman of age 39 that went through a lot of insult, ridiculing, rejection and loneliness in my marriage of 11 yrs.
I really give God all the glory for his strength, love and protections over all these years, sometimes I felt like quitting, but god’s word of encouragement and assurance of breakthrough kept me there.
The wonderful experience I had was when the lord told me he is preparing me for an assignment to help and guide people in marriages and relationships.
During the period of my trials I actually thought I was forgotten, but the lord never leave my sight, He said to me clearly if I want to be used by him I have to sacrifice my home and allowed Him to use my circumstance and this will bring glory back to His name.
Who am I to say no!
Some of my friends think I was stupid when all of these were going on, but the love of the father kept me in there.
Before I come to know the lord, I was a timid and very low self esteem lady, but God almighty used my marriage to be a training ground that make me to be who I am today.
He uses my testimony to save so many marriages and I can not give anything for the experiences I had in this relationship.
There was a day, after so many pain and tiredness the lord gave me the book of Isaiah 51:1-23.(pls read)
This scripture gives me hope and assurance to have faith in God and to know that I am loved and not forgotten.
Thank you very much blessed woman! May God continue to increase you more and more in wisdom and understanding?
I will remember your ministry in prayer! God bless.
I will check the books out also and will let you know as soon as possible.
Keep loving him.
Sola Ogunseitan
Hey,
Loved this post. I just purchased the book, How to get your husband to talk to you. I am thinking about using is for a several posts over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage.
Love you, Lynn