When marriage is placed within the context of God's redemptive plan, we stay married, as far as it depends on us, as a means to express God's commitment to his people. When the Marriage is ended (i.e. death), by God's design, our ultimate purpose hasn't changed. Now we are free to perhaps more actively serve God in bringing knowledge of his redemptive plan to others.

When marriage becomes our primary pursuit, our delight in the relationship will be crippled by fear, possessiveness and self-centerdness. We are made to admire, respect, and love someone who has a purpose bigger than ourselves, a purpose centered on God's work of restoring people back to Himself.

1) Become the person God created you to be

2) Do the work God has given you to do.

If we embrace these 2 elements, we will have a full-meaningful life. There is a very high probability that we will have a happy marriage too because we have placed things in correct order.

Do you, as a couple, have the guts to look beyond your marriage?

Are You Near the Second Half?

How can you know if you’re near or in the second half of marriage? Check out these symptoms:

• You have kids who will soon leave the nest or who just moved back home.
• You exercise more and burn fewer calories.
• Your parents are aging.
• Your arms are too short to hold your reading material.
• They’re playing your song on the Golden Oldies station.
• You get an invitation to join the AARP.
• By the time you get your spouse’s attention, you’ve forgotten what you wanted to say.

Read the rest of the article from LifeWay's Family Magazine, Living With Teenagers.

Below are 5 steps to handling valid anger. This can be used in any relationship and other areas of your life (i.e. work). I refer to this list often. Not that I have an anger issue, but there have been several times I've looked back and thought... " I wish I didn't say that" or "I wish I didn't send that email".

1. Consciously acknowledge to yourself that you are angry.

2. Restrain your immediate response.

3. Locate the focus of your anger.

4. Analyze your options.

5. Take constructive action.

My biggest struggle on this list... #2. I call it "The Danger Zone"