It's all about Love and War

I must say that when I think of doing a devotional, I'm really hesitant.  They are usually long and/or tedious to get through.  I'm not a deep thinker - I usually feel lost or horribly inadequate when asked to delve deeper into the meaning of something. Maybe I've been looking in the wrong direction! 

The Barna Group found in its latest study that born again Christians who are not evangelical were indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of divorce with 33 percent having married and divorced at least once. Among all born again Christians, which includes evangelicals, the divorce figure is 32 percent, which is statistically identical to the 33 percent figure among non-born again adults, the research group noted. 

 While a higher proportion of born again Christians marry (84 percent) compared to the national average (78 percent), recent trends indicate that Americans are growing more comfortable with divorce.  www.christianpost.com

Does that sound a little more than depressing?  It's certainly not encouraging, but it's a life-long marriage is not impossible.  The first year of our marriage was tough.  We were both trying to figure out who we were, how to adjust to being married, letting go of pre-conceived expectations, and meshing two lives into one.  This summer, Honey and I will celebrate 21 yrs. of marriage - I'm not sure how the years passed so quickly, but they did.  I think of those we know with 50+ years of marriage: Honey's parents, my grandparents, the many mature marriages where we attend church.  I know each has not been without struggles, difficult experiences, and boundless joys.  So how did they do it? Do they solely take credit for their long marriages?

Trying to sort your way through marriage without God in your life is like trying to be gracious when you are utterly sleep-deprived.  Love and War

I'd like to introduce you to John and Stasi Eldredge's book: Love and War Devotional for Couples  is heralded as "The 8-week adventure that will help you find the marriage you always dreamed of."

• based on their Love and War book
• simply written and easily understood, - no deep theology, questions, or need for dissection of what was written 
• five daily devotions per week, 2-3 pages long, taking less than 2 minutes to read, allowing time for discussion it may lead to.
• compact with 134 pages, making it easy to take with you where you go 
• specific topics each week with sub-topics each day.
• each day is backed by specific scripture twice each devotional day
• a short prayer penned at the conclusion of each day
• A simple exercise concludes each week, bringing into focus that's weeks topic

I liked the Eldredges' personal voice which reaches both husbands and wives without specifically targeting either, a melding with balance. I appreciated how each weekly topic and devotion unite and build on each other to give ample opportunity for extended conversation on a daily basis.  

This is not a feel-good, bubbly, everything is a fairy-tale devotional with a magic wand, nor is it a fix-it-all, or 12-step program.  In reality, it is a personal, relevant, and applicable tool for couples, newlyweds and those with many years of marriage:

• whom are struggling
• whom desire to strengthen the foundations and commitments, 
• need to do preventative maintenance or repair 

When they speak of finding "the marriage you always dreamed of," you should know that you'll be expected to take a journey, transform, and really work for your marriage - for better or worse, learning and growing.  Are you ready for a journey? How have you worked to save or strengthen your marriage?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love and War, head on over here for a sneak peak. 

DISCLAIMER: “I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review in exchange for an honest review  If you would like more information on Blogging for Books, head over to Waterbrook Press.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”