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March 19, 2009
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Love Path 911: Can We Have a Good Marriage?, by Joe Beam
Special Note:
Each week, Joe Beam is answering questions submitted by Heartlight.org
subscribers based on his counseling experience, academic research, and
heart for people as a minister. You can submit your questions to
ask@joebeam.com.
Question:
After all the pain we've been through with our "mess," can we actually
have a good marriage? -- from Broken in Austin
Answer:
The short answer is yes, no matter what has happened in the past, a
relationship can have a great future.
Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is to compare the love between
spouses with the love between our Lord and his bride, the church. If
any groom has been repeatedly and severely hurt by his bride, it is the
Lord. Think of all the pain she has caused him over the centuries --
unfaithfulness, hard-heartedness, hypocrisy, and worse. Yet, we know
from a plethora of scriptures that he forgives, reconciles, and pours
blessings on his wayward bride when she repents and turns to him. He
keeps no record of her wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). He endures (1
Corinthians 13:7). Though the church betrayed him, he gave himself to
remove her guilt so that he could view her as blameless (Ephesians
5:25-27). The Lord puts her sin as far away from her as the east is
from the west (Psalm 103:12) and chooses not to bring them up again,
either to her or to himself (Hebrews 8:12).
No matter what has happened in the past!
That is the way to make a relationship good. Repentance. Forgiveness.
Moving on toward the future without hanging on to past hurt and harm.
If you think that Jesus is the only one who could be so gracious and
that human beings cannot do what he did, think again. In my experience
with thousands of couples, I've witnessed remarkable mercy and grace
that has led to nearly unfathomable reconciliation. Name it and likely
I've seen at least one couple deal with it, overcome, and make a great
marriage. Abuse, addictions, adultery, arguments, abandonment -- to
save space, you just fill out the alphabet with anything you've faced
in your relationship. For example, one wife forgave her husband (with a
bit of help, you understand), for a dozen affairs over the life of
their marriage. They now serve in a leadership position in their
church. Another example, a husband forgave his wife as she left her
lover to save her marriage -- even though she still loved the paramour
when she decided to do right and return home. They are now deeply in
love and have a wonderful marriage.
Through penitence, forgiveness, and reconciliation, anything can be
overcome. With time broken and mangled marriages can be wonderful and
fulfilling. It is the miracle of grace.
Yes, no matter what has happened in the past, your relationship can
have a great future.
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If you have a question about love and relationships, send them to me at
ask@JoeBeam.com. I'll answer 1 or 2 questions each week, using my
counselor's experience, academic research, and a deep respect for God's
Word.
And if your marriage is in trouble, we can help. Go to
http://www.JoeBeam.com. Our success rate, even if one partner comes
reluctantly, is three out of four marriages.
Take the Love Path Marriage Compatibility Test!
Find out more about the Love Path 911 "Save Your Marriage Seminar."
---------
(c) 2009 Joe Beam <joe@joebeam.com>.
RELATED LINKS:
* How Will We Survive?
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200903/20090312_survive.html
* Marriage Reconciliation: The Group
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200003/20000302_reconciliation.html
* The Hope That is Within You
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200409/20040921_withinyou.html
* Marriage Saver
http://www.marriagesaver.com/
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200903/20090319_goodmarriage.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
WHEN GODLY PEOPLE DO UNGODLY THINGS, by Beth Moore
Confronts the hard questions of faith and faithfulness, and offers
warnings to Christians to safeguard themselves and others against
Satan's attacks.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?258
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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