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Better Than Newlyweds

Where the Honeymoon never ends!

A Covenant Marriage

July 17, 2013 by Erin Cuccio

          A few months ago, sweet husband and I were involved in a small group that focused on marriage.  Particularly, it taught on the Covenant marriage.  It was incredibly enlightening.  I follow “Marriage” on Facebook, and recently, I thought they defined it best.  “Your marriage isn’t just a Contract; it’s a Covenant.  A contract is just a piece of paper protecting the rights of two people who don’t trust each other.  A covenant is a God-given relationship where two people lay down their own rights for the sake of the other and bind their lives and hearts together in a love and commitment that can never be broken.”

          Do you remember your blissful day?  You know, your wedding day?  I do.  It was a perfect April day that called for rain but ended up sunny because, obviously, God knew this was my moment—the day I had waited for since birth.  My hair turned out perfect, my dress zipped flawlessly, and every flower was perfection.  I walked down the aisle and tearfully vowed to love my husband for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer until death did us part.  It was magical.  We trekked off to some exotic location where every moment was spent swooning over the fact that we were MARRIED.
          And then we got home.  Do you know that he doesn’t always rinse his dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?  Or that he doesn’t squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom?  And God help us, he SNORES.  What in the world??  I remember just a few weeks into my marriage confiding to my friend who was also recently married, “It’s just… Well, this is it?  I guess, maybe, it isn’t everything I expected it to be.”  She sighed with relief, “Oh good, so it’s not just me.”
          I have been married for nearly five years now, and while I am by no means an expert, I have certainly gained some wisdom.  To answer my question, yes, this is it.  And no, it’s not all that I expected.  But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  I have come to learn that marriage takes work.  Just like anything else worth having, it takes effort and upkeep.  It requires our focus and attention.  Only then can it thrive and be all that God intended.
          I’m going to say it.  We, as a society, are not doing marriage as God intended.  And I’m not inciting a political debate.  I’m talking about marriage- husbands and wives are not aware that marriage is a covenant.  Too many treat it as a contract that can be dissolved when one or both feels dissatisfied with the other’s services.  And y’all, that’s just not what God had in mind.
          Don’t you remember?  You promised for better or for WORSE.  In SICKNESS and in health.  For richer or for POORER.  Until DEATH.  But how quickly we forget… I’d like to challenge you to start treating your marriage as a COVENANT.  I love the song by Train that says, “Marry me- today and every day.”  Remember the way you felt on your wedding day?  When nothing could shake your resolve?  CHOOSE to feel that way everyday– to lay down your OWN rights for the sake of your spouse, to love and SERVE each other in a way that binds your lives and hearts together in a love and commitment that can never be broken.
          It is only when I truly came to this realization– what can I do for my husband, rather than what can my husband do for me– that my marriage became MORE than I expected.  There’s been some better, and there’s been some worse.  And sure, the dishes don’t always get rinsed.  And the toothpaste tube can get a little lumpy.  And yes, he still snores.  But he loves me well.  He makes the best boiled shrimp, always gets up to turn the air down or grab some water, and changes dirty diapers like a pro.  And I fall more in love each day.  There is simply no one else I would rather serve and do life with than that handsome man.  Confidently, I can say that this is IT.  And no, it isn’t quite what I expected– it’s better…
marriage

Filed Under: Better Than Newlyweds Tagged With: God, love, marriage, MARRIED

7 Thoughts that Will Change Your Marriage #1

May 19, 2013 by Mrs. Hudson

I am sharing with you 7 things that I read. This is one of 7 posts so be sure check out the rest. Take a minute and read what I read about 7 thoughts that…if you really stop and think about them… could change your marriage. Change it for the better.  It is important to keep growing in our marriages. We are constantly changing… and so is our spouse. It is important to think about things in a new light every now and then and make sure we are doing our best to serve, Love, and understand our spouse. 

1. God is your Father-in-Law

We like to think of God as our Father, our Daddy, our Abba. That’s all very true. God is our Father, and He does love us, and care for us, and listen to our prayers, and want the best for us. He is going to bat for us.

But do you realize that God is also our Father-in-law?

He’s also your husband’s Father. And that means that He really cares about your husband, and He really loves your husband, and He listens to your husband’s heart cry as well. I imagine that one day, I’m going to stand before God, and He’s going to gently talk to me about Keith. He’ll say, “what did you do to care for my son? How did you love my son?”

I so desperately hope that God will be pleased with the way I treated His son.

I once read a quote from author Sally Clarkson, who asked, “what if the greatest act of worship you could do today is to love your husband?” And it very well could be. God loves your husband, and He planned for your husband to have someone to help him, to encourage him, to inspire him, to love him. God wants someone to appreciate your husband, and to urge him on in faith and in love. And that someone, that He has especially prepared for the task, is you.

via 7 Thoughts that Will Change Your Marriage, Christian Engagement, Newlywed Couples.

Filed Under: 30 posts in 30 days, Better Than Newlyweds Tagged With: God, love, marriage

Love At First Sight | Mrs. Scherer

March 31, 2013 by Mrs.Scherer

I think John and I have a great love story and it was recently suggested that I share it to inspire others to trust in God’s perfect timing and His perfect plan.

I was just starting my third year of college. I had finally surrendered my relationship status to God after coming off some unhealthy relationships. I swore off dating and decided to focus on school. That was August 24, 1987. On September 1st, I was hanging out at the mall with my cousin and her two beautiful little girls. My cousin had gone into a store and I was watching over the girls, when I group of guys from school walked by. I knew one of the guys pretty well. We had been friends for the first two years of school. But there was a “new guy” I didn’t recognize… it was John. We both took an immediate interest in each other. I didn’t really know how much until later that evening when my friend called and said, John wants to spend more time with you. When can we get together. I was focused on school… remember?

I was preparing for an exam for the next day. I said, let me get through that, then you guys can come over tomorrow night after school. John and his friend came over the next night. Turns out my college roommate for two years had known John while we were all in school, but she thought he was too much on the wild side for me. That night John and I talked for hours and hours. He invited me to lunch the following day. He took me to a Chinese restaurant. I didn’t like Chinese, and had no idea what to order. That was the start of John opening new experiences of the world to me. He ordered a shrimp cashew dish for me, still my favorite to this day. After lunch, he brought me back to my place. I have no idea why, it was the craziest idea – but I was headed to the lakes to spend the Labor Day weekend with my family and I decided to invite him along.

He spent the weekend at my grandparents’ lake cabin with our family. We had a fabulous time. My family instantly fell in love with him. John was outside goofing off with my brother, who never really got along with any of my previous boyfriends – not like this anyway… I was inside washing dishes and my grandmother came up to me and said, “Dani, we all really like John, but please don’t move in together until you get married.” What!?! Grandma! I just met the guy! I shared that story with John while we were sitting in front of a bonfire and a beautifully still lake and a gorgeous moon. I thought he’d think I was crazy. He laughed and said, that’s funny…

John popped the question on September 9th. Yes, just 8 days after meeting. Of course I said yes, but we originally planned a long engagement. I was going to finish school. God had different plans, as usual :). John received an amazing job opportunity two states away. The weekend commutes from North Dakota to Wisconsin were a bit much, so we decided to move up the wedding date. We took the first available weekend. We were married on January 22, 1988 – just four months after meeting. My mom must’ve been crazy letting me do it. She laughs to this day and says, “Really, Dani – do you think I could have stopped you?” I think the real question is “Could anyone stop what God had planned?” Of course not!

Filed Under: Better Than Newlyweds Tagged With: Dani Scherer, family, God, John Scherer, Labor Day, Love at first sight

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Hi, I’m Stacy!

I am married to the Love of my life... my Prince. We strive daily to have a marriage better than newlyweds. We want to know each other better than when we were first wed. We want to please God by serving each other. Marriage is so important as it represents the relationship between God and His church... we must protect it and fight for ours. Read More…

Good Reads for Your Marriage:

679599: The Love Dare The Love Dare
By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick
{These are affiliate links but I truly believe these books would add value to your marriage.}

Recent Posts

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