Emma promised “for better or for worse” on her wedding day, but when hard times came, it seemed impossible for her marriage to survive. Some around her advised divorce. But God spoke truth to her heart and helped her see her part in the crumbling of her marriage. She discovered she needed to let go of her demands to be loved in a prescribed way, and learn to love like Jesus—unconditionally. God helped her have compassion for her husband and see the sin in his life as the effects of traumas he suffered over the years.
The “love verses” in 1 Corinthians 13 guided Emma in how to love like the Lord. Over time, this caused her to love her husband more than she ever thought possible and brought healing to her heart and to her marriage. The trials in her marriage also created an intimacy with God, which she believes was unattainable any other way. Now she and her husband enjoy a marriage that’s better than it’s ever been and look forward to “the best is yet to come” as they soon celebrate 43 years of marriage.
Зміст
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: Can This Marriage Be Saved?
Chapter 1: Lisa and Chris’s story
Chapter 2: Saying “yes” to Jesus
Chapter 3: A Change in Attitude
Part II: Embracing “As Long As We Both Shall Live”
Chapter 4: Letting Go of Other Vows
Chapter 5: The Purpose of Marriage
Part III: Winning “I Don’t Love Him Anymore” Attacks
Chapter 6: When Feelings Fade
Chapter 7: Lord, Show Me How To Love This Man
Part IV: Willing To Wait
Chapter 8: Weary of Waiting
Chapter 9: While I Am Waiting
Part V: A Passion for Compassion
Chapter 10: Lord, Help Me To Be Kind
Chapter 11: Dealing With Compassion Fatigue
Chapter 12: Compassion: A Gift From God
Part VI: Learning Contentment
Chapter 13: Let Go Of Marriage Envy
Chapter 14: Let Go of Complaining
Chapter 15: Letting Go of Discontent
Part VII: Humility—The Key to A Happily Ever After Marriage
Chapter 16: Letting Go of Pride
Chapter 17: Marriage: God’s Tool To Humble Me
Chapter 18: More Aspects of Humility
Part VIII: The ABCs of Respect
Chapter 19: Discovering My Disrespect
Chapter 20: Pink versus Blue
Chapter 21: More Aspects of Respect
Part IX: Submission; A Worthy Mission
Chapter 22: Learning to Submit
Chapter 23: The Battle to Submit
Chapter 24: The Benefits of Submission
Chapter 25: More Challenges in Regard to Submission
Part X: The Gift of a Gentle Wife
Chapter 26: Stop Focusing on His Anger
Chapter 27: Dealing With My Anger
Chapter 28: Gentle and Strong
Chapter 29: More About Anger and Gentleness
Part XI: Remove Roadblocks to Forgiveness
Chapter 30: Letting Go Of Myths About Forgiveness
Chapter 31: The Necessity of Forgiveness
Chapter 32: Willing To Forgive
Part XII: The Role of My Husband’s Cheerleader
Chapter 33: Learning To Encourage
Chapter 34: When My Husband Backslides
Chapter 35: Discovering Blocks to Encouragement
Part XIII: The Faithful, Faith-filled Wife
Chapter 36: Growing in Faith
Chapter 37: More About Dealing with Fear and Anxiety
Part XIV: A Test of Endurance
Chapter 38: Learning Endurance
Chapter 39: Never Give Up
Part XV: Holding On To Hope
Chapter 40: Putting My Hope in God
Chapter 41: Avenues of Hope
Part XVI: Remain in His Love
Chapter 42: Healing My Broken Heart
Chapter 43: Abandonment to God
Chapter 44: Keeping Love Alive
Appendix #1
Reasons To Stay Married
Appendix #2
Tough Love: Five Keys To Staying Married When You Feeling Like Calling It Quits
Про автора
Emma Chambers is a pen name for an author, inspirational speaker, former radio show host, and blogger who lives in the southeast. She has written for numerous Christian magazines as well as for her town’s daily and weekly newspapers. She writes of her personal experiences in articles and poems to show how God intervenes in her life. She also writes articles about spiritual growth and social issues. Because of her heart for the mentally ill and her own healing from clinical depression, for the past sixteen years, Emma has worked as a mental health tech on the psychiatric ward at a local hospital.