Martial Principles Wives Need to Know!

Hello and welcome to the second post in the series called Honoring the King within Marriage.  You can read part one HERE.

As I share in the podcast and subsequent info below,  I'm excited for God's people to know about resources created by people who understand the importance of knowing and living by principles.  

Principle.  

Noun.

A fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived:

                                  the principles of modern physics.

To hear today's audio blurb, please listen to the podcast below.

Episode Length  23:17 minutes

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For more info and resources, please continue reading!

From Laura Doyle's Facebook page today I noticed she's hosting a free webinar again! It's for any wives who are interested in renewing intimacy with their husbands.

Husbands: please feel free to forward this to your wives or others if you think they'll be interested.  There's a share button at the bottom of this post.  Feel free to copy and past the link to this page/post, too. 

Personally, I think Laura's stuff is awesome as she shares marital principles which are much needed for many of us who lack skills and knowledge.   I went through her free webinar about six months ago and loved it.  Whenever I apply the principles she shares my hubby immediately notices the difference.   

I'm signing up again because I need to hear this more than once!!

Here's what she writes about the webinar:

"Women, are you looking to renew the spark with your significant other?

In this FREE webinar,  I want to teach you the secrets to empowering your man, getting respect and reconnecting within your relationship. 

I'll teach you how to use your feminine gifts to ignite his "hero gene," critical ways to express your desires, a few key steps you can take today to feel more confident and so much more - all in the name of making your relationship easy and peaceful again.

Will you join me and countless others in renewing the spark in our relationships? It all starts by signing up for this FREE webinar.   Don't delay - learn how to transform your relationship for the better today."

You can sign up for her free webinar HERE.

 Click here to learn more about her books.

Below you can click through to watch her program on Amazon Prime:

Here are some books she has written:

                                        

Here's a wonderful resource I mentioned in the podcast...a book by Emerson Eggerichs.

You can click the image below and go into the site where you can hear an audio sample and purchase it in print, audio or kindle:

Too, I briefly mentioned this book.

Last and definitely NOT least, here is Mark Gungor, author of many books and dvd's and Pastor behind the brilliant 
Mark Gungor Show.

Click the image below to learn more and to purchase the DVD for your home, church, study group, etc.



Click below to watch a short (and in my opinion very funny) clip of A Tale of Two Brains by Mark Gungor

I love talking about making marriage better.  To read more, you can check out another blog I started called Pioneering Again.  

[I'm still sorting out how to streamline the information & resources since EFL covers a broad range of much needed stuff.]

What are YOUR thoughts, feelings and experiences?  I'd love to hear from YOU!  Please comment below or send me an email!

Blessings on your journey to honor the King of Kings within marriage and to encourage those who do!
~Kate

Boys To Men: A Personal Story

As I train up children, one son of the five is especially gifted in the art of knowing his own mind. Washing, drying and putting away the family dishes (with no machines to help) has been his particular and recent scene of battle as it was for a brother before him. This son has never been shy to express his opinions and that particular work has been distasteful to him since day one.

Yesterday, I had planned a very special outing for Valentine's Day. Since the weather has been 20 degrees F (-6 Celsius) and lower for months, we were due to experience temperatures in the 40's (4 Celsius). A trip was planned to traipse up our hill, dig out the snow and get a nice fire blazing. Hot dogs and s'mores were ready for roasting. We were set to enjoy the 2nd annual We Can Conquer the Long Winter Festival on our families three acres. I was so eager.

The one stipulation I required was that everyone's chores had to be done by 3 pm. No exceptions. In our home, chores are a significant part of the work, training and educational component of our children's lives. With the furnace finally working after being on the fritz for two weeks we were enjoying consistent warmth throughout our little home. 

As a humorous challenge, in the early afternoon the plumbing system seized and we had yet another unusual challenge to face. Daughter faced it with her usual tenacity while a son rose to the occasion to trouble shoot and communicate the trouble to those who could help after he did all he could (which was significant). Three of the other sons were dutiful to work on their chores with good attitudes and it looked like we were all set.

HOWEVER.

We win or loose together.

The son who hates the job of dishes (and who can blame him, really?) found numerous reasons NOT to get his work done. 

I've been there. Done that. You? 

With my life often affected by dire things I couldn't get a handle on, I often could not keep thoughts in my head long enough to keep children accountable for their choices and actions/inaction (long, sordid story!). Yesterday was different and I stood my ground.

The result? NO CAMPFIRE. 

There were tears and shouts of protest from the two five year olds who were devastated with anger and disappointment. The older three who had kept up with their chores kept their thoughts and feelings mostly to themselves as I suppose they might have been remembering times and events when they were the cause of similar disappointments due to the inevitable human "I don't want to" attitude.

This morning (and this is really the reason I'm writing this for you) that son came to me with dish towel and wet plate in hands, set his head upon my shoulder and told me how bad he feels that everyone lost out on the campfire because of him.

Short moral to the story? 

Mazur family for the win!

As I have pondered raising boys vs raising men, I am moved with respect by the processes of letting people reap what they sow...and how that work in and of itself is primarily able to cause boys to be men. Not cruelty, unkindness or tough rules....just letting God's ways work as He intended them. Sometimes I think clearing away the mental clutter in order to simply let God's ways work their Wonder is some of the most challenging stuff a family and culture can face. 

Has God left us alone without help as we rear our families and affect our culture? Nope. His truths and treasures and ways are clear to know and do with His leadership unique for each family and situation and culture.

And now, thanks to Him, I have a son who is going from boy to little man, who is shifting from being one who loves to do what he wants to whenever he feels like it to a little man who understands that what he does (and doesn't do) affects the people he loves. 

And he came to me for solace at his actions! What an honor! What trust I have earned in this strong one! 

I'm sure something in the frontal part of his brain is now stronger, as is my respect for him and possibly his for others.

And me? After a really long season stuck in doors I am celebrating that even in the midst of cold and dark seasons in life, love always wins and new things bloom and blossom eventually.

The hero honestly in all of this? Of course it is my hubby, who will remain nameless because he's always so needing time alone to recharge his enormous inner batteries after working so fearlessly to train these five men while at the same time being kind and loving to the two women who reside and live along side him. Not an easy task, I assure you, for oodles of reasons.

To all of you who are pouring into children, and especially the male ones, I send my great big blessings to you as you allow their masculinity to thrive while also helping steer things so they can become protectors and helpers. May they be sensitive to and tend well to their own needs as well as those of others, asking for help unashamedly whenever they need it. May you help them learn to choose what's right when they really do not want to. It's no easy task. And may you mom's and dad's be refresh and renewed as you do the most important work on earth: tending to the needs of your own families!

Love Always Wins

Are you getting ready to feel your own feelings?  It's no small thing.

In fact, it's a HUGE thing.  

As you approach the journey, know LOVE always wins.

Podcast length: 6:44

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Focusing on Strengths in Marriage- An Audio Blog Entry

Hi Everybody!!!!



I don't have time to write out a post today for you all so here it is in audio format!  It's in two parts.  The first podcast (in orange) is  about 8 minutes long.  Click the triangle button below to listen.

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Next is part two!  The length of the second audio blurb is just under 20 minutes.

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See a sample of strengths below.  It's a glimpse of my top five. :)

Are you interested in taking the test for yourself?   You can get an access code to take the test and get your top five strengths when you buy the audio book below.

Click below to hear a sample of the audio book below now.

Take the Strength Finder Test here!!!





These two men together have really helped me understand the book (above) and why it's important.  The video below helped me a lot.  Watch by clicking on the video box below.

I looked at a lot of videos yesterday.  I'm hoping this is the one I watched.  My hubby is an achiever and I never saw it until yesterday...Jimmy's stories are SO helpful for me to see what's been going on and how to go forward.  Click the box below to see another great video.

Other books I really liked for marriage help:



Click below to read about this book which we both REALLY got a lot out of:




Click below to hear an audio sample of this book which was SO helpful for me!




I'm eager to hear about your strengths, too!  Please feel free to comment and share below!

Saying YES

"I surrender all my dreams, heart....  I say yes to Your will and Your plans....I say Yes to Your life in my hands..."

This and other songs from this album have helped some to be released into intimacy with the Almighty.

Click the play button below to hear "Say YES" by Julie Meyer 

Want to here more audio samples from this album?  Click the image below.