 |
 |
|
| In This Issue • Marriage Tip 4: Receive and Give God’s Admonition • Two-Day Marriage Clinic™ • Other Upcoming Opportunities |
| Marriage Tip 4:
Receive and Give God’s Admonition when it Truly is the “Need of the Moment” by “Speaking the Truth in Love” The need for admonition is met by constructive guidance in what to avoid; an exhortation; to warn; a gentle and friendly reproof. 1 Thess. 5:14 “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” Receive God’s admonition. Consider how many problems would be absent if Adam and Eve received and obeyed God’s warning to not eat the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6). It was an act of profound love for Adam. It was not to limit Adam, but to keep Adam from pain and from being separated from God. Many couples could resolve most of their conflicts if they would simply abide by Matt. 7:5 which says “take the log out of your own eye, before you take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” The Bible is filled with practical wisdom to enrich our life. Accept that God may want to admonish you through your spouse. Since we are commanded to “admonish one another” (Col. 3:16), it may mean that God may want someone to admonish us. It makes sense that God might want to use the person closest to us; the one who might more clearly see and feel the negative impact of our failures. Before you admonish, make sure that it truly is the need of the moment. 1 Thess. 5:14 says to “admonish the unruly” and to “encourage the fainthearted.” You might do great damage to someone if you transposed these, or flip-flopped them (by admonishing the fainthearted and encouraging the unruly). Scripture is clear that we should speak only words that “meet the need of the moment” (Eph. 4:29 NASB). Realize admonition is almost always hard to receive, therefore make sure that you are the right person, with the right facts, and that you “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:17) having the right time, manner, and motive. Be receptive to God’s admonition as a means of God’s guidance. We often resist admonition because it reveals that we do not know everything that our way is not perfect. When we admonish our children it is because we see something they do not see and want to help them avoid problems in the future. Likewise, God admonishes and warns us to avoid problems in the future. Ironically, many children are more teachable and open to admonition than the adult parents! How have you given and received admonition? |
 |
||
| Just subscribed? Click here to view all of our previous marriage tips and e-newsletters | |||
| About Karl Elkins Karl Elkins, LPC, ThM, MA, CSC, BCPCC, DAPA has 25 years of counseling experience and is an Adjunct Instructor at College of Biblical Studies teaching Marriage and Family courses. He is Founder and President of Christway Counseling Center P.C. specializing in marriage and family counseling. He earned a Master’s degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Colorado Christian University. He was formerly on staff with Intimate Life Ministries and director of a Houston Minirth-Meier New Life Clinic. He is married to Terry Elkins and has two grown children. |
 |
| Other Upcoming Opportunities Two-Day Marriage Clinic™ The fastest way to marriage harmony! A two-day clinic to learn and experience the 25 Core Relational Life Skills. More Info » Three-Day Accelerated Marriage Counseling (AMC)™ Includes all of the topics, instruction, and counseling projects in the Two-Day Marriage Clinic™, but is completely private—you, your partner and the counselor only. Monthly Marriage Enrichment Group Ongoing accountability group helps you internalize the good practices you’ve learned, avoid returning to bad habits, and develop new marriage-building skills. Next meeting is on March 4. More Info » FREE Marriage Builder Series Don’t just tie the knot, but tighten the knot as you strengthen abilities to incorporate relevant and practical biblical principles in these couples’ group classes. Child care included. First Tuesday of every month (6:30-8:30pm). More Info » Contact Information Phone: (832) 358-0900 E-Mail: terry@christwaycounseling.com Web: www.christwaycounseling.com  |
| © 2010 Christway Counseling Center. All rights reserved. |
We offer Individual Counseling to couples desiring any of the following: