Tomorrow, June 19, is a special day. It’s our 8th wedding anniversary! So today I’m sharing some of my favorite marriage resources.
As I mentioned in my last post, our courtship was quick. We got married a hair over a year after we met. (Well, technically, we had met once before, but then I left the country for 4 1/2 months and didn’t give him another thought. Hah!)
While quick courtships may not work for everyone, we had the benefit of some good timing.
About the time we were starting to talk about marriage, our pastor taught a sermon series on marriage AND our church hosted a marriage simulcast with some well-known marriage experts. So we received some wise counsel before we even began.
Then, once we were officially engaged, I started doing what I do best — reading and researching. And I got my hands on some fantastic books.
Within the first few months of the newlywed year, I had already racked up a small pile of books on Christian marriage. And much of what I read both surprised and intrigued me.
I am so thankful we started our marriage with those valuable resources. Very little about marriage is intuitive. Our spouses often think very differently, feel very differently, and act very differently from us, and it can be frustrating and confusing at times.
That’s why it’s important to continually seek to learn about and understand each other better.
There is no “arrival” in marriage. From what I can tell from listening to couples who have been married for many years, there is no point at which you no longer have to try. If you’re not seeking to come together, you’re only going to drift apart.
If you’re not seeking to come together, you’re only going to drift apart.
There is no such thing as coasting uphill.
That’s why, in this post, I want to share some of my favorite marriage resources that have helped me learn and grow over the last 8-9 years. I’m no marriage expert, but I can connect you with those who are. 😉
Whether you’re not-yet-married, newly married, or married for years, I hope you will find something in this list to help make your marriage remarkable.
**Links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click that link and purchase the product, I may receive a small compensation. I am, however, committed to honestly assessing the products mentioned. Please read my disclosure policy for more details. **
MY FAVORITE MARRIAGE WEBSITES
- The Flag Page – your chance to see how you succeed in life, what motivates you most and how you’re different from the people close to you.
- 5 Love Languages – Take the 5 Love Languages® official assessment to discover your love language and begin improving your relationships.
- Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage (with Mark Gungor) – Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage is designed with an element of humor that appeals to couples, but is especially well-received by men.
- MarriageToday – Since 1994, MarriageToday has used every medium at its disposal to strengthen families and marriages through its diverse ministry outreaches.
- Family Life – Helping you discover the joy God intended for your marriage and family.
My FAVORITE BLOGS FOR WIVES
- To Love, Honor, and Vacuum | Shelia Gregoire
- Club31 Women | Lisa Jacobson
- Unveiled Wife | Jennifer Smith
- Time-Warp Wife | Darlene Schacht
MY FAVORITE MARRIAGE BOOKS
Marriage – General
- The 5 Love Languages – Gary Chapman
- Now You’re Speaking My Language – Gary Chapman
- The First Five Years – Bill & Pam Farrel
- Love & Respect – Emerson Eggerichs
- Cracking the Communication Code (also called The Language of Love & Respect) – Emerson Eggerichs
- Sacred Marriage – Gary Thomas
- Cherish – Gary Thomas
- Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti – Bill & Pam Farrel
For Wives
- For Women Only – Shaunti Feldhahn
- To Love, Honor, and Vacuum – Sheila Gregoire
- Power of a Praying Wife – Stormie Omartian
- 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife – Arlene Pellicane
- When a Woman Inspires Her Husband – Cindi McMenamin
MY FAVORITE MARRIAGE “EXPERTS” TO FOLLOW
- Gary Chapman
- Emerson Eggerichs
- Shaunti Feldhahn
- Cindi McMenamin
- Kevin Leman
- Gary Smalley
- Bill & Pam Farrell
- Sheila Gregoire
- Cunningham
- Gary Thomas
- Jimmy Evans
Not to seem self-promotional or anything, but if you’re interested in reading some of the other marriage posts I’ve written on The Merry Momma, I’ve assembled a list for you here:
MARRIAGE POSTS FROM THE MERRY MOMMA
- How Marriage Is Like a Puzzle
- The Decision That May Have Saved Our Marriage
- 5 of the Best Books to Fortify Your Marriage
- 3 Goals for a Stronger Marriage
- 9 Meaningful Ways to Love on Your Husband
- 10 Practical Ways to Put Your Husband First
Whether you’ve been married for 0 years or 60 years, marriage takes intentional effort. We should always be striving to learn and grow in every area of our lives, and marriage is certainly no exception.
And the honest truth is if we’re not moving forward, we’re most likely moving backward. So it’s important that we take regular steps toward our spouse on a regular basis. And I hope these resources help you do just that.
SHARE WITH US: Are you familiar with any of the resources on this list? What are your favorites?
Share your thoughts!