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| The official newsletter of Marriage Partnership magazine Thursday, February 21, 2008
At various points in my life, I've identified with different biblical characters. As a girl mediating an argument, I looked to Abigail, the "peacemaker" of 1 Samuel. As a college freshman leaving home, I admired Joshua and his courageous entrance to the Promised Land. And as a youngest sibling, I sympathized with Joseph when his older brothers teased him. But as my Bible study group began studying the so-called "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11, I realized something else. The biblical personalities I connect with most are the ones just like me: hopelessly flawed. The "heroes of faith" in that list were petty, jealous, doubting, dishonest people. They struggled to obey God's commands. Yet the Lord used them, despite their short fallings, to stand as paragons of faith for generations to come. The marriages depicted in the Bible are equally damaged. But it's those imperfections that make them real and show us how modern-day Christian marriages should look. Liz Curtis Higgs examines three generations—Sarai & Abram, Rebekah & Isaac, Rachel & Jacob—and what their flawed marriages can teach us.
Blessings,  Elizabeth Diffin for Marriage Partnership P.S. Mark your calendars on March 12 at 7 P.M. central time for a live video chat about prayer with author and speaker Sheila Walsh. Stay tuned for more details next week. And in the meantime, vote in our poll and tell us how often you pray with your spouse! To reply to this newsletter: marriage@christianitytoday.com advertisement
 SPIRITUALITY / FAMILY CONCERNS /COMMUNICATIONPushy Wives and Pushover Husbands Three Bible couples tell all. In the beginning was Eve, that foodie from Genesis 3, who "gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate" (Genesis 3:6). To be fair, Eve simply handed over the fruit; she didn't insist that Adam chow down. At least, not in writing. More …
REAL SEX "My Wife's Gynecologist Is A Man" Also: "I Want to Orgasm!" FAMILY CONCERNS / HELP & HEALING Way Too Busy What to do when your schedules leave little time together.
Be An Encourager Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. Acts 15:32
People tend to focus on what's wrong with the world rather than what's right, and that trickles into our relationships. Instead of being like diamond miners who sift through the dirt looking for one gem, we sift through all the diamonds looking for a little dirt. Most couples don't start out focusing on their partner's negative traits. When people are dating, they often say things such as, "We're so alike." But once they get married, their differences become more apparent. Whenever couples fall into judging each other's actions against personal codes of behavior, they need to understand one important truth: Differences are just differences. There is no right or wrong when it comes to personalities. In contrast, affirming your partner's strengths goes a long way toward creating an uplifting atmosphere. Don't assume your spouse knows what his or her strengths are; point them out. The more you can express appreciation, the stronger your relationship will be. By focusing on the positives, you will be reminded why you married the person you did. By Preston and Genie Dyer in The Couples' Devotional Bible (Zondervan)
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