couple holding hands

Build Relationships and Grow a Marriage Ministry

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommitment, Connection, Dynamic Marriage, Faith, Marriage Courses, Marriage Health, Marriage Ministry, United Marriage

For Avon and Valorie Banks when you grow a marriage ministry it’s all about relationships. And they enjoy getting to know people. So they take couples on marriage retreats that focus on relaxation and building relationships. The retreats might take place at the beach or even on a cruise. And they don’t have a heavy agenda. Avon says their approach …

Older couple walking on beach.- close together.

From Separation to Sharing the Love: A Dynamic Marriage Journey

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommitment, Communication, Connection, Faith, Family, Forgiveness, Humility, Intimacy, Marriage Counseling, Marriage Courses, Marriage Health, Quality Time, Reconnecting, Selfishness, Separation, Uncategorized

Every Dynamic Marriage journey has a “before” story. For *Greg and Kate Watts, the story began when they met in 1976. According to them, it was love at first sight. We enjoyed being together and spending hours in great conversation.  We shared the same sense of humor.  Our interests were similar.  We enjoyed going to church together and our personalities …

What is love?

Real Love: What It Is—What It’s Not

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCelebration, Commitment, Connection, Faith, Intimacy, Marriage Courses, Marriage Health, Patience, Selfishness

Got any special plans for Valentine’s Day this year? In this season, we often feel obligated to demonstrate feelings of love by purchasing things like candy and flowers, or even more expensive gifts.  And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts, there’s a lot more to real love than hearts and flowers. Love is powerful. It is …

Multiply Your Healthy Marriage Legacy

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCelebration, Faith, Giving, Gratitude, Marriage Health

  A legacy is something passed from one generation to the next. Often, we think of legacy in financial terms. But legacy is about more than just money. Over the past 25 years, generations of couples have participated in marriage courses and workshops offered through Marriage Dynamics Institute. And as lives and relationships change—as couples find joy, meaning and purpose …

Offended? Forgiveness brings freedom.

Offended? Try These 5 Steps to Forgiveness

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Connection, Criticism, Faith, Forgiveness, Hope, Humility, Intimacy, Marriage Health, Reconnecting, When Life is Difficult

Question: How do you respond when you feel offended? Do you assume the worst and turn the offense over and over and in your mind, replaying the incident and reliving the hurt? Do you catalogue other offenses committed by the person in question, adding fuel to your resentment? Maintaining healthy relationships requires a willingness to forgive when we are offended. …

You can move forward even when the world is in limbo.

Living in Limbo but Still Moving Forward

Marriage Dynamics InstituteConflict, Connection, Faith, Gratitude, When Life is Difficult

Simple things—like going to the grocery store or spending time with friends—may seem more complicated these days. Depending on where you live, stores and restaurants may be operating at limited capacity with curbside service or takeout only options. Businesses you rely on may have closed temporarily, or for good. If you have been to the doctor lately, you probably had …

What kind of legacy will your marriage leave?

The Gift of A Strong Marriage (Part 3) Legacy

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommitment, Faith, Family, Hope, Loss, Marriage Health, When Life is Difficult

Legacy is often thought of in financial terms. It’s the money or the property or the family heirlooms left behind when someone dies. And while that is true,  legacy is not always something you can hold in your hand. Because legacy is what you pass down to those who come after you. That might include money and property, but it …

Woman looking at Christmas tree with a sad expression on her face.

Christmas: To Those Who Are Not Happy This Season

Marriage Dynamics InstituteChristmas, Faith, Holidays, Hope, Loss

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least that’s what the song says. And everywhere people greet each other with “Merry Christmas!” or “Happy Holidays!” All over town, churches put on their best seasonal productions, and the music rings out joyfully. Lights twinkle, bells jingle. While at the local mall, Santa offers his best Ho Ho Ho. But …

Four Good Reasons to Pray Together

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommitment, Communication, Contentment, Faith, Marriage Health, Reconnecting

Pray together. It’s kind of a crazy idea when you think about it. The Creator of the Universe invites us into a conversation. We talk, and Almighty hears. We listen, and God has messages for us. Prayer is both intimate and powerful, and inviting God into your marriage relationship through prayer is full of possibilities. So while there are lots of …

Dancing in the Minefields-Thoughts on Love and Commitment

Melody MorrisCommitment, Conflict, Faith, Marriage Health

Almost 20 years ago, my husband and I moved to a country in Eastern Europe that had just gone through a war. Orientation to our adopted home included land mine recognition training.  So the first time I heard singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson’s “Dancing in the Minefields” I had a weird flashback. The song is about marriage. And while the first line of the …