Notes From This Weekend's Couple's Conference

My wife and I attended a Couple's Conference this weekend conducted by our church in a local near-by town. We met for dinner Friday evening prior to checking in to our motel. There was one session Friday evening, followed by two sessions Saturday morning. We had about 30 couples in attendence. My wife and I enjoyed the time together as well as the teaching from the word of God regarding the home and husband-wife relationships. Here are a couple outlines from the conference that I thought I would share with my faithful blog readers which may be a help to your own marriage.

Keeping the Honey in the Honeymoon

Characteristics of the Honeymoon

1. Love and not hate.
2. Consideration and not selfishness.
3. Generosity and not stinginess.
4. Affection and not coldness.
5. Pride and not contempt.
6. Relaxation and not tension.
7. Cheerfulness and not complaint.
8. Hope and not pesssimism.
9. Excitement and not boredom.
10. Faithfulness and not infidelity.

Dealing with Temptation (this is from the Men's Session)

1. When faced with temptation, realize that this is an opportunity to obey God.
2. When temptation occurs in some area, seek scripture that deals with the same area and meditate and obey God's word.
3. Temptation is never promoted by God - it is from Satan - James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
4. Temptation comes from our own lust - James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
5. Tempation always follows the same process - Enticement -> Attraction -> Yielding
6. When temptation occurs, God will make a way to escape - I Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Establishing a Spiritual Foundation in the Home

1. Speak to one another about your testimony (how you came to the Lord).
2. Pray together and share answered prayer.
3. Read God's word together and share with spouse - Amos3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4. Give prayer requests to one another - Gal. 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.