Category Archives: Marriage

Who Do You Relate To?

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Have you noticed that not many husbands and wives are mentioned in the New Testament? Besides Joseph and Mary, there are two quite famous couples–Priscilla/Aquila and Ananias/Sapphira. Though both were loyal to each other in marriage, one was a noble team and the other ignoble. One focused on the Lord’s work; the other, on their personal benefit. Which one would you most likely be compared to? If your marriage is not being used of the Lord for His glory, time is running out. Shouldn’t you make some changes now?

How are you preparing your children for life? One aspect, is being good stewards of God’s provision. Are you raising them with the goal of them being debt-free? If you are committed to raising them to be debt-free, please write me by replying to this email. I would like to help.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

Steve

Blessing or a Curse?

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When rain comes, it is going to “rain on someone’s parade” spoiling some outside plans.

Snow makes driving hazardous. 

Employment can get in the way of other things one would prefer to do.

Marriage means being accountable to someone who will not always agree with you. 

Whether you live in the desert, a big city, the mountains, or Alaska, each has its drawbacks.

It all depends what you make of it. Will you, in faith, look beyond your circumstances and trust God to do a work that will bring you good and Him glory? 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Steve

Walk-ins Welcome

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At first glance, it sounds very inviting and maybe even too good to be true. For businesses where appointments are the norm, however, “walk-ins welcome” causes one to wonder why the appointments are not filled. Maybe a new doctor, hygienist, barber, or mechanic has come on board and needs to fill up his schedule. Possible, but perhaps lack of attention to existing customers or poor business practices has driven customers away. 

Over the years, I have observed some husbands “advertising” in a similar way due to marriage problems. They might just as well be wearing a sign “Walk-ins Welcome.” Sadly, all-to-often there seems to be some woman desperate enough to “walk-in” when she should avoid the guy like the plague.

If your marriage is in trouble, first look at what might be broken with yourself. Seek the Lord’s light to shine and expose and then by His grace fix it. Divorce, like abortion, is seen as a quick fix, but it only “breaks” lives. My dad and mom divorced when I was in my early teens, and it broke my heart and ruined their lives.

Brothers will come alongside of you to help, but whatever you do, don’t choose easy–choose good.   

“Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.” (Malachi 2:14)

Steve

An Introduction …

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I want to introduce someone to you. To you all, she is Teri Maxwell, to me, she is my wife and “Sweetheart.” 

To homeschooling moms, she is seen as the mom who made scheduling practical and achievable with the resulting benefit of an organized and peaceful home. She has helped tens of thousands of moms see that it is actually possible to get it all done AND be both sane and happy. Years ago she was in trouble, with too much to do, and not enough time to do it. Together we worked to simplify her life so that it was manageable. We found by simply “automating” many of her daily decisions we got the big, ugly, evil green gorilla off her back. To me, she is a fantastic manager of our home, where it is peaceful and orderly – a place I’m happy to come home to and proud to welcome guests in.

To those struggling with depression, Teri is a beacon of hope pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ and a myriad of practical choices that gain freedom from the “evil gorilla.” Because Teri has been crushed by depression, ruled by anger, and hounded by the guilt of what she wasn’t accomplishing, nor the mom she wanted to be, weary, heavy-laden, moms know Teri understands them. To me she is a trophy of how God, in His mercy, can exchange beauty for ashes in all of our lives.

To our ten children she is “Mom.” Eight children who are seeking to follow their Lord Jesus Christ on this earth and two more who are with the Lord Jesus waiting for her in Heaven. Teri knows the pain of losing children through miscarriage therefore others who have lost children know she can relate to them. To me, her walk is one of daily, obediently, trusting in her Lord, that all things work together for good. She is the love of my life.

To her daughters-in-law she is one who will (like clockwork), spend time lovingly playing with and reading to the grandchildren and will invest in their homes when she senses she can be an encouragement. To me she is an example of investing energy into the lives of those you love.

So why this for a Seriously? I want the story of our lives together to encourage you in a couple of areas. You are a team with your wife. As goes with her – goes with you. If she hurts, you hurt. Brothers, I plead with you, if she is trouble, do whatever can be done – move Heaven and earth – to help her.

Show her your gratitude and if you aren’t grateful, repent. Love, cherish and nourish her. “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:29). Lavish your love on her, not only Sunday, Mother’s Day, but every day.

Steve