Marriage & You!

A Christian Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1 October, 2012
Anointed One Ent. Pvt. Ltd.

Naked and not ashamed.

Christians love weddings. Mention the first marriage and the whole scene at the Garden of Eden is played out in their minds up until the time the fruit was eaten. Then the entire scene changes. To many, one line is endearing (yet they would never mention it even at gun-point) And they both were naked...and not ashamed. Oh well. Not the physically naked that need not even be imagined these days. There is more to that sentence than anything ever that grips the human heart. The desire to be naked baring your soul to the other and yet, to be accepted as you are. Some couples have managed to bare all but with boundaries, with the limits My space is so valued and cherished. My time and your time, which is good, of course. After the fall, nakedness took on a new form. It began to describe something that is not good. Shame, shame , puppy shame you have heard it and it has been inSo why do people need to be accepted? Why that longing to belong? That sense of self-worth where does it come from? Every human being has a need to belong and that can only be filled by the One Who created him or her. In your marriage, are you completely naked with your spouse? And not ashamed? To be able to be yourself with your other half is what makes this relationship the most unique. To be able to share life, together, and not be ashamed. If God has died for them when and as they were, how could you, His child, expect more? Follow the Creator and love like Him.

John Piper: Questions that every couple should go through together and discussPages 2 & 3 Looking for a spouse? Email your profile : bestchristianmatrimony@gmail.com

A rustic wedding cake!

grained in us to not show or bare all that we are , because we may be flawed. YOU may not be accepted.

Inside this issue:

TD Jakes daughters struggle Questions to answercouples Rev. Billy Graham defends marriage Current News Sexual Health in marriage Unequally Yoked December marriage month?

1 2 3 3 4
Next issue Next Issue

TD Jakes daughter a very important message

I have built my ministry and identity around being the best wife and a mother I can be. For quite sometime I have tried to steer through some serious troubles at home. As much as I wanted my marriage to last, it cannot. After professional counseling, and prayerful consideration I have decided to end my fouryear marriage. ask for privacy while I navigate through this difficult season in my life so that I may now concentrate on being the best parent for my children possible.

There are Biblical grounds supporting this decision and I have attempted every other recourse but after multiple infractions over the course of the union, and for my per- Thank you for your prayers. sonal safety and that of my children, I have come to this Please pray for her as she navigates through this painful decision. season experiencing the Now that it is made, I would redeeming love of Jesus.

NEXT ISSUE!

Marriage

Page 2

Questions to Ask when preparing for marriageJohn Piper

The following is a list of questions you can discuss before marriage. ( if married, works as well!) Theology What do you believe about...everything? Discover how you form your views. What is the reasoningbelieving process? How do you handle the Bible? Worship and Devotion How important is corporate worship? Other participation in church life? How important is it to be part of a small accountability/ support group? What is the importance of music in life and worship? What are your daily personal devotional practices? Prayer, reading, meditation, memorization. What would our family devotions look like? Who leads out in this? Are we doing this now in an appropriate way: praying together about our lives and future, reading the Bible together? Husband and Wife What is the meaning of headship and submission in the Bible and in our marriage? What are expectations about situations where one of you might be alone with someone of the opposite sex? How are tasks shared in the home: cleaning, cooking, washing dishes, yard work, car upkeep, repairs, shopping for food, and household stuff? What are the expectations for togetherness? What is an ideal non-special evening?

Preparing for marriage the discussion questions help Christian couples.

Will we go to bed angry at each other What are the expectations of togetherness ?

Questions to askcontd.
How do you understand who and how often sex is initiated? Who does the checkbookor are there two? Children If and when, should we have children? Why? How many? How far apart? Would we consider adoption? What are the standards of behavior? What are the appropriate ways to discipline them? How many strikes before theyre...whatever? What are the expectations of time spent with them and when they go to bed? What signs of affection will you show them? What about school? Home school? Christian school? Public school? Lifestyle Own a home or not? Why? What kind of neighborhood? Why? How many cars? New? Used? View of money in general. How much to the church? How do you make money deci-

sions?
Where will you buy clothes: Department store? Thrift store? In between? Why?

Questions to askcontd.
Entertainment How much money should we spend on entertainment? How often should we eat out? Where? What kind of vacations are appropriate and helpful for us? What are the criteria for movies and theater? What will our guidelines be for the kids? Conflict What makes you angry? How do you handle your frustration or anger? Who should bring up an issue that is bothersome? What if we disagree both about what should be done, and whether it is serious? Will we go to bed angry at each other? What is our view of getting help from friends or counselors? Work Who is the main breadwinner? Should the wife work outside the home? Before kids? With kids at home? After kids? What are your views of daycare for children?

One of a kindwedding table centerpieces!

How many toys? Snowmobile, boat, cabin? Should we have a television? Where? What is fitting to watch? How much?

Volume 1, Issue 1

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Rev. Dr. Billy Graham defends traditional marriage

Renowned evangelist Billy Graham who has been among the top 10 of USA Today/Gallup poll's annual most admired people in the world list more than 50 times issued a statement in support of Chick-fil-A's leaders and their public stance on marriage. Graham called Chick-fil-A's founder Truett Cathy and his son and company president Dan Cathy "good friends" whom he has known for many years. And he applauded the Cathys for being able to grow their family-owned chicken sandwich restaurant without "compromising their values." Within less than 50 years, Chick-fil-A has expanded to more than 1,600 stores and had over $4 billion in sales last year. "Each generation faces different issues and challenges, but our standard must always be measured by God's word," said Graham, who is sometimes called the pastor to presidents for his close relationships with U.S. commander-in-chiefs. "I appreciate the Cathy family's public support for God's definition of marriage." Graham, who is known for preaching the Good News more than taking a stand on hot-button social issues, had also voiced his support for the marriage amendment in his home state of North Carolina earli er this year. The amendmen t p assed on May 8., 2012.

Rev. Dr. Billy Graham

NewsIndia & the World

Enthused with the wealth of human capital in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday pledged to do his bit in building a long-term relationship with the youth of the state and fulfill their aspirations. Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata said he was feeling very emotional in saying that, "it has been a real step forward to be able to have a conversation with a great wealth of human capital that exists in Kashmir". The Miss India International Contest, 2012 is going to be held during the month of October at Okinawa, Japan. The finale is on 21st October, 2012. Miss India International , Rochelle Rao is representing India. Social media company Facebook Inc reported on Oct. 4th that it reached the 1 billion user mark last month, while CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it would keep pursuing growth through mobile devices. Debt-strapped Kingfisher Airlines, devoid of a turnaround plan to get back into the air, faced a possible shutdown by the government during the first week of October.

Each generation faces different issues and challenges, but our standard must always be measured by God's word," Billy Graham

Questions to askcontd.
What determines where you will locate? Job? Whose job? Church? Family? Friends Is it good to do things with friends but without spouse? What will you do if one of you really likes to hang out with so and so and the other doesnt? Health and Sickness Do you have, or have you had any, sicknesses or physical Do you believe in divine healing and how would prayer relate to medical attention? How do you think about exercise and healthy eating? Do you have any habits that adversely affect health? Going through these questions problems that could affect our relationship? (Allergies, cancer, eating disorders, venereal disease, etc.) will help you as you embark on lifes journey together. EVERY couple needs to go through this so they understand each other better. It does not make any couple less in value ,if they go through pre-marital counseling, in fact, it makes them stronger. Marriage & You advises you to pray and honestly go through this questionnaire to help any coupleeven post-marriage!

Rahul Gandhi

Colorcoordination!

Marriage & You!

This is a monthly newsletter on issues related to Christian weddings, marriage advice and news.
A Publication of : Anointed One Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Chennai600 007 Tamil Nadu, India.

Todays generation has it all in terms of information. This is an attempt to give you, the reader, the best information that pertains to Christianity and marriage. Marriage in the Bible is one of the highest relationships as it is compared to Christ and the Church. We honor the Lord Jesus Christ and our mission is to encourage the Indian Christian in his marriage and update him on current issues as well. Welcome to our community!

For further information email : bestchristianmatrimony@gmail.com

Faith frees from the guilt of the Past: Focus : sexual health in marriage.
Faith increases the joy of sexual relations in marriage because it frees from the guilt of the past. I have in view, mainly, us who are married but have to look back on an act of fornication, or adultery, or incest, or a homosexual fling, or years of habitual masturbation, or preoccupation with pornography, or promiscuous petting, or divorce. And what I have to say to us is this: If it genuinely lies within you, by the grace of God, to throw yourself on the mercy of God for forgiveness, then he will free you from the guilt of the past. There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). To the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness (Romans 4:5). Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin (Psalm 32:12). He does not deal with us according to our sins nor requite us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:1012). If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). There is no need for a child of God to carry any guilt into the marriage bed. But that takes a solid faith because Satan loves to make us feel unforgiven for the rottenness of our former life. Resist him, firm in your faith (1 Peter 5:9). Quench his flaming darts with the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave himself for you (Galatians 2:20), who for your sake was made to be sin that you might become the righteousness of God (2 Corin-

Christ died so that in Him we might have guilt-free sexual relations in marriage.

thians 5:21). ..To be continued.