How Our Thoughts Affect Our Marriage
This Week’s Quick Hits:
This Week’s Quote:
Babe Ruth is considered to be the best baseball player of all time. He posted Hall of Fame-caliber numbers in his first five seasons with the Boston Red Sox (981 OPS, 190 OPS+). Then, on Dec. 26, 1919, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000 cash. The Babe had so many great quotes that I could not settle on one.
Here are my four favorites:
“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”
“Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.”
Random Music Trivia:
A very famous singer was John Lennon’s hero, but John was disappointed when they finally met. Name the singer.
What is the name of the rapper guest featured in Justin Bieber’s “Baby”?
What is the name of the band who wrote the song that inspired Lady GaGa’s stage name?
Which spokesperson for CoverGirl Cosmetics has her own line of cosmetics called “The Queen Collection?”
What was Willie Nelson’s job before becoming a famous country & western singer?
Did You Know?:
Only 18 out of 1 million Lego pieces are defective.
The molds at the manufacturing plant at Lego are so precise and effective that just 18 out of 1 million are found to be defective. That's out of the 20 billion pieces that are manufactured every year!
Damon Sumner discusses millennial marriages with Dr. Kim
Awesome Marriage This Week:
AM Podcast: Break Away From Criticism & Grow in Appreciation | With Special Guests the Manns | Ep. 519
John Mann and his wife, Ana, are co-authors of “The Go Giver Marriage,” a marriage parable containing five practical steps toward lasting love. Today they join me me to talk about becoming a giver in your marriage.
AM YouTube Channel: Simple, Practical Ways to Know Your Spouse Better
Most of the couples that I talk to say that at one time in their marriage they really knew each other well or were at least on the right track to deepening their knowledge of each other. Then they quit growing together. It probably doesn’t happen all at once but gradually and one day they no longer recognize the touch point opportunities in front of them. Join me in this week's video as I talk about the importance of daily touch points with your spouse.
Sneak Preview: https://youtu.be/zvLXZiJdcHs
AM YouVersion Plan: Growing Your Marriage While Your Spouse Is Away
Many couples today face times of being apart. It may be work related, a deployment, or some other reason. Are there opportunities to invest in and protect your marriage during these times? In this 6-day plan, Awesome Marriage Care Director and my Personal Assistant Tiffany Miller discuss ways to be on guard and fight for your marriage when your spouse is away.
Dr. Kim’s Insights:
How Our Thoughts Affect Our Marriage
What is the number one thing you are thinking about today? How about yesterday? Would you say most of your thoughts are positive or negative? What is your first thought if I asked what you think about yourself?
Do you ever feel stuck in your thinking? Maybe there are negative thoughts that you just cannot seem to shake. How do they affect you? How do they affect those around you? Our thoughts have much more power than we like to give them credit for. They affect our choices and our decisions.
So how do our thoughts affect our marriage? There have been times in our marriage when my thoughts towards Nancy have not been what they need to be. If I am frustrated with her or if I get angry, my thoughts can focus on those feelings and as a result, I can see her in a negative light. I can see her as my adversary instead of my advocate. I can let those thoughts cover up the good things I know to be true about her. Don’t get me wrong here, I am not saying we will never be angry or frustrated with our spouse. But how far do we take that? Do those thoughts snuff out the positive truths about our spouse?
We are human and in our humanness we sin. We get upset. We become selfish. The key is not to get stuck there. Go back to my initial questions. If you are upset with your spouse, what are you thinking about them? How long have your thoughts about your spouse been negative? Are you stuck in a pattern of thinking negative thoughts about your spouse? Have you lost hope?
The good news is that we can change our thinking. We can ask God to help us see our spouse through His eyes. When we have negative thoughts, we can hand them off to Him. God can literally help us change our thinking. We just have to invite Him into our minds.
In Paul’s letter to the Phillipians he gives us a template to lay over our thinking. He says to think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Your spouse is the person you chose to do life with. Your spouse is a gift from God. If you are not thinking about them that way, what needs to change? What steps can you take today?
Next Steps:
Write out the things you have been thinking about the past two days.
Write out the things you have been thinking about your spouse.
Do your thoughts in general and about your spouse follow Paul’s guidelines?
What is your first step to change your thinking?
Random Music Trivia Answers
Elvis Presley
Ludacris
Queen
Queen Latifa
Bible Salesman