Helping engaged, pre-engaged, or recently married couples develop a strong foundation for a healthy, happy marriage. A Cord of Three Strands is a faith-based, preparatory program designed to help engaged, pre-engaged, or recently married couples develop a strong foundation for healthy, happy marriage, built around husband, wife, and God. Using lecture and discussion, the prep for marriage course helps couples learn about each other while focusing on communication skills, conflict resolution, financial management, and both sexual and spiritual relationships.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
In my opinion, the number one problem in the human race is selfishness. It is why people lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, do illegal things, smoke illegal things, get drunk, get high, shoot people, hit people, abuse people, have road rage, and on and on. The list of things we do because we put ourselves first could fill a book. Selfishness ruins lives and destroys marriages.
Most of us did not begin marriage with the intent of getting our way all the time. In the beginning, we show concern and empathy for our spouse. This might even last through the honeymoon but, honestly, not much longer.
On the second night of our honeymoon, Nancy got sick – really sick. We had eaten dinner at this beautiful open air restaurant that looked down over Acapulco Bay. It was a breathtaking view and extremely romantic. It was a great evening. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our villa and had a great time together. Then at 3 a.m. she had the nerve to get sick. My first thought was that she was going to ruin our honeymoon. I could not believe she could be so selfish! I mean, we had spent all this money and I was going to have to play nurse? The good news is that I kept those thoughts to myself. I wasn’t totally stupid at twenty-two. The bad news is that I really thought I was right. Obviously, the selfish one was me.
Selfishness plays out in a myriad of ways in our marriages. We want our way. We want to eat where we want to eat, see the movie we want to see, spend the money on what we want to have, and never consider the desires of our spouse. It becomes a game and all we think about is winning while our marriage is quickly going down the tubes. Selfishness isolates us from our spouse and shuts down emotional and physical connection. We may get our way, but at what cost? A marriage will never survive the sin of selfishness. Never!
So, maybe you are thinking that you are not that bad. You don’t fit the profile that I just described. You would never go to those extremes. Good for you, but I challenge you to look deep into your soul. Look at that place that God knows all to well and you seldom, if ever, visit. It is that place where each day we decide who is going to run our life. Is it you or is it God? If it is you, then you are as much as telling the Creator of the Universe (which includes you) that you do not need him. Your way is best and He can leave you alone. The only problem is that He won’t – at least for awhile. You see, he knows what your selfishness will do to your life and your marriage and He wants so much more for you. So, He will keep after you, wanting you to give Him a chance at the wheel. He wants to drive your life and He wants to drive your marriage. His plan is full of grace and love and it works. Oh my, how it works. You see, the second night of our honeymoon did not end my selfishness in marriage. No, it was only the beginning. I am really good at getting my own way but always at a cost. The cost is an OK marriage instead of a good one or a good marriage instead of a great one.
Let me give you a formula for success. It is quite simple.
God + = success. That’s it. God plus nothing equals success. If I put Him first and if I follow the path He sets before me, my selfishness falls to the wayside and my life and my marriage begin to look like Him. Don’t get me wrong. I struggle with this almost every day but I know what happens when God wins because then I win, Nancy wins, and everyone around me wins. Let God win in your life and in your marriage.
