It was a Saturday night and there wasn't anything on television we wanted to watch, so David put on Pandora and we listened to 60's music and ended up dancing. This brought back sweet memories as we met at a YMCA dance 59 years ago. Never stop having fun.

There is plenty of research that tells how date nights and having fun can bring couples closer together.

Therefore, we're going to give you some links to some Date Nights and fun activities we hope you will try.

Grace and peace,

Penny and David

A Few Date Night Ideas and Fun Activities

• "25 Fun Dates to Spruce Up Your Marriage This Spring" by Gena Ellis. For more information, click here.
• 60 Outdoor Activities for Adventurous Couples. For more information, click here.
• 52 Uncommon Dates by Randy Southern. This is a book with unique and creative date ideas. For a link to Amazon to review this book, click here.
• 10 Suggestions for Stimulating Adventure in Your Relationship by Dr. Gary Chapman. For more information, click here.
• A few more ideas - First Things First. For more information, click here.
• A free concert at Agape Wilderness Retreat - June 17 - 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Agape Retreat is located at 831 Barebone Road, Bedford, KY. Enjoy a summer day with music in the Wilderness. For more information, click here.
• Hot Stone Massage Set - For more information, click here.
• Around the World in 12 Days - Travel the World in 12 Dates from your home. For more information, click here
• Try Something Different - Aaron Cooper, Ph.D. offers several ideas to stimulate your imagination. For more information, click here.

10 Things to Do to Work on Your Marriage When Your Spouse Won't

FamilyLife offers some great articles on marriage. One they recently published was the one with the above title.

We'll give you the highlights and if you would like to read the entire article, click here

• Understand Your Marriage Calling - Many have been conditioned to believe marriage should be a 50/50 endeavor. However, that's not the view of marriage we get from Scriptures. They are more like 100/100. Both husband and wife giving 100% of themselves, regardless of how much the other gives.
• Get Support for Yourself
• Understand that Seasons Change
• Work on You
• Watch Your Expectations
• Grow Your Faith
• Guard Your Heart
• Find Your Joy in Christ
• Thank and Invite - Make an effort to thank your spouse for the things they do that you might normally overlook.
• Continue to Work on Your Marriage and Don't Give Up.

Satan's Strategies

Gary Thomas, best-selling author, international speaker and whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and each other, recently pointed out Satan's strategies:

• Slowly win popular opinion.
• Take over the education of younger people.
• Corrupt the teaching of religious leaders so that it seems as if God favors evil.
• Make the faithful pay a heavy price for continuing to believe truth.
• Unleash government censure against those who still teach God's commands.
• Turn family and friends against God's teaching so that the remaining faithful will feel ever more compelled to renounce righteousness, lest they lose relationship with those they love the most.
• Make evil sound virtuous.

Satan's strategies haven't changed. He hates the life as God designed it. He knows evil will ruin us and society.

Better Physical Health?

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology reported that positive experiences in close relationships are associated with better physical health.

Researchers found that, on average, people with more positive experiences and fewer negative experiences reported lower stress, better coping, and lower systolic blood pressure reactivity leading to better physiological functioning in daily life.

Upcoming Marriage Events

The World is Passing Away

Pure Life Ministries

April 28-29, 2023

"The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remain forever" - 1John 2:17

Are you in great need of the Lord's mercy in your life? If so, please check out this upcoming conference and the services offered through Pure Life Ministries.

For more information, click here or call (859) 824-2121.

Husband and Wife Journey

April 28-30, 2023

Harvest Heights Orchard

and Vineyard in Scottsville, KY

Conflict and coexistence are not God's design for marriage; it can be so much more. The Growing Your Marriage team invites you to embark on a journey with your loved one, blending biblical teachings with rest and recreation, in a beautiful location.

Cost: $300 which includes housing, program materials, meals-snacks, recreational activities and more. If you could benefit from a get-away and enhance your marriage, we believe you will love this retreat.

For more information or to register, click here.

_____________________________



Blended and Blessed

April 29

Livestream

Blended and Blessed is a one-day live event and livestream just for stepfamily couples, dating couples with kids, and those who care about blended families.

While the event is located in Florida, you can livestream it. It is a day of great speakers, worship, encouragement and practical help.

Cost to Livestream is $20. To register, click here.

Celebrate Your Marriage

May 21-23

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI

If you are looking for a great get-away and a wonderful time to enhance your marriage, "Celebrate Your Marriage" may be just what

is needed.

Jay and Laura Laffoon have been helping couples through laughter and growth for years. And their special guest this year is Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the best-selling book, The Five Love Languages.

For more information about cost, schedule, etc. and/or to register, click here

An Online Workshop -

May 19-21, 2023

Registration open through May 12

In-person Workshop

Nashville, TN

June 23-25, 2023

Registration open through June 16

A New Beginning is a turn-around weekend designed to help couples who feel stuck in an unhealthy marriage, couples who are frustrated and unhappy, and couples considering divorce.

For more information, cost, etc. click here or call (800) 650-9995 or (615) 627-0751.

God's Signpost - How Marriage Points Us to God's Love by Sam Allberry

This is a picture book that shows children that marriage is much more than is often depicted . Lila and Ethan celebrate their grandparent's wedding anniversary and discover that marriage is a special sign that points to God' unique love for us - the kind of love that keeps on going, no matter what.

Wouldn't it be great if our schools, churches and public libraries made this available.

If interested, click here. This book is available on Christian Books as well as other locations.