July, 2023 - Newsletter from the MERCY

July, 2023 Newsletter from The

Marriage Education and Resource Center (MERCY)

Quarrel between loving couple strolling on city streets

Today, when you go to the dentist, they can make a crown while you wait. So, while I was waiting, I could hear a patient talking with one of the staff members.

She asked the patient how his daughter was doing. He said their first year of marriage was rough and they're already in counseling. The staff person agreed their first year was really hard as well.

I wondered if either of them was Christians.

Did you now that 10% of new marriages end each year prior to the couple's second anniversary?

I wonder how many of them had a relationship with Christ.

That is why we think pre-marital education is so important and must include Biblical teachings on marriage and how to have a relationship with Jesus.

We know many mentors and marriage ministries who are passionate about helping couples (engaged, pre-married and married) who would love to come alongside them and help them navigate the different seasons of their relationship.

If we can help in any way, or direct you, please let us know by emailing: pdhud9@aol.com or call (502) 939-0121.

Grace and peace,

Penny and David

Upcoming Marriage Events

Free Summer Live Event - July 20 - 8.00 p.m.

Online

This is a fun online LIVE event that includes messages from some of XO Marriage Speakers -- Jimmy Evans, Dave and Ashley Willis, Sean and Lanette Reed, Jimmy and Irene Rollins and Luis and Kristen Roman.

Click to register and be entered into their giveaways for HUGE prizes.

click here to register and for more information

RSM - Ready, Set, Marriage -

Engaged couples through 5 years of marriage

Free

4 Friday Night Programs,

July 28, August 4,11 & 18

MERCI Barn

8510 Highway 111

Memphis, IN

Are you a Mr./Mrs. Fix It to the Rescue?

Has someone ever come to you to share about an issue they are dealing with and you weren't sure what to say? You may think, "I need to try to fix it for them."

Stop! They may not want you to try to fix it at all. First and foremost, listen.

According to Dr. Gary Chapman ". . .the next time you're tempted to jump to solutions, allow the other person to clarify the reason they came to you. You can due this easily and effectively by simply asking the following question with genuine concern."

"How can I best help you in this situation?"

Ryan and Brittany Naville have been married almost 11 years and have four beautiful children. They credit their marriage happiness with having received encouragement in Godly marriage principles early on. In that Spirit, they are excited to partner with couples to pass on what has helped them not only enjoy but thrive in their marriage.

To register, click here.

Generous Marriage - Kyle Idleman

Is Your Marriage In a Rut?

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott have a great article on this subject. Here are some key points:

Stop Making Future Assumptions
Express How You Feel
Make Positive Changes Yourself
Set Healthy Boundaries
Have More Good Conversation

We'd encourage you to read the rest of the message on this topic. Simply click here

Engaged Marriage

Dustin and Bethany have a ministry called Engaged Marriage. Dustin says things have not always gone smoothly in marriage, including how he used to HATE marriage. 17 years later he now says, "God has blessed us with a wonderful relationship."

He has a couple of posts you might want to check out. They are:

Take Just 15 Minutes Each Day To Be a Couple and
10 Easy Romantic Ideas to Spice Up Your Busy Marriage

I, Penny, particularly like the ones about Mystery Kisses and Custom Kisses.

Curious? Check them out click here and here

If you are not part of the Southeast Christian Church's family, we'd love for you to listen to Kyle Idleman's recent 4-week sermons on "Generous Marriage."

He did a great job of speaking on four key areas in marriage.

There are even sermon discussion questions you can download.

To listen, click here

Gospel-Centered Marriage

Ryan and Selena Frederick with Fierce Marriage have designed a system of marriage content that includes a 6-week CORE course called Gospel-Centered Marriage (GCM). In addition, they have a growing library of optional enrichment mini-courses. Each mini-course is designed to be super practical and easily completed in 1-2 sittings.

To learn more about GCM and Fierce Marriage Ministry

click here

The Institute of Family Studies tell us:

4 in 10 U.S. births are to unmarried women.
69% of America's children live in two-parent families.
36.5% of single-mother families live in poverty.

Coupletime Activity

I'm borrowing a message from Greg Williams with Love and Lordship this month for our Coupletime activity.

". . .and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you," (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Greg reminds us "Only when we come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord can we truly increase and overflow in our love for others because He is the Source of Real Love!"

Husbands and wives ask yourselves the following questions and jot your answers down.

Are you trying to love others apart from God's love to you, in and through you?

(Note: Greg says, "Quit trying to love from an empty vessel in your flesh and allow Christ and His Holy Spirit to fill you and flow through you so others will know His Love)

Are you spending time with God and in His Word and praying daily?
Are you asking the Holy Spirit to teach you?
Take inventory of your relationships. . .are they rooted in Godly Love evident to all others?
What needs to change, if anything, for you to increase and overflow His Love to your spouse? Children/family? Other believers? Non-believers? Enemies?

After you have answered these questions, share your answers with one another and make a plan as to how you can help one another grow in these areas as a couple.

Thank you Greg for allowing MERCY to share your wisdom.

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