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"Marriages fail because of how right it seems to justify sinful responses to sin."
John Piper- via Twitter

Rules for fighting

One thing that people appreciate during our class was establishing some rules for conflict. Here are a few of the suggestions:

• Don't bring up the past
• Don't go to bed angry
• Stop and listen
• Seek to understand before being understood
• Be willing to take the blame
• Trust the good in your spouse

Ask yourself: "Am I trying to bring peace, or do I want to be heard?"

There will always be conflict in relationships.  Learn to build trust even in your disagreements.

Why Can't My Spouse Say What They Mean?

A little humor

-I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.

-Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.

-Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck. Nathan, age 10.

A grim reminder

A clear image of the tragedy of divorce.  They both got half.

Lord, grant us the grace to be committed "as long as we both shall live".

Money Matters

A man said this his credit card was stolen, but he decied not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.

A lot of frustration in marriage can come from a failure or inability to communicate well about money.  Learning how to be on the same page in relation to finances can be a challenge.  It takes time and energy to talk about these issues, but it must be done.

Ray Ortland says "Usually what wrecks married couples isn't the 'high cost of living', but the 'cost of living high'". 

We are often caught in the cultural trap of buying things that we cannot afford.  We create our own financial trouble by failing to be content.  This frustrates our relationships.  It often stops us from giving. 

Any practical tips for effectively managing money?