A lot of married couples are often caught up in the hustles and bustles of life and become distracted. Here is a reminder list of what you should do regularly to each other and how to go about it.
Love, commitment, and endurance are interwoven into stories of lasting unity. In this devotional, I delve into types of couples who will have remarkable tales of steadfast devotion, resilience, and shared growth that offer insights into the secrets of enduring relationships. Read on as I uncover the unique blueprints behind these marriages that will not just survive, but thrive, creating an inspiring lasting impact.
Ten Marriage Profiles Built To Last
1. The Praying Couple
Pray for her. Let it be genuine. This helps you to harness the help of God to come to bear for you. Prayers will solve seemingly impossible problems. Rather than give up quickly, pray about it!
2. The Calling Couple
Whether you will see each other later in the day is not the issue, the issue is that communication is the live wire of any relationship or marriage that will survive. Keep in touch. Send SMS. Use chats.
3. The Exchanging couple
It doesn’t have to be expensive! But let it be touching. Notice what I wrote, exchange gifts; not collect gifts! Those little gestures help to keep the fire of your relationship and marriage aflame.
Ten Marriage Profiles Built To Last
4. The Sharing couple
Share with him or her what God is dealing with you in His word.
Whatever God tells you in your devotion or in your personal walk with God, will also bless him or her as long as it blesses you.
5. The Encouraging Couple
You are his number-one fan. You are her number-one fan. Don’t discourage each other. Don’t dissipate your energy on criticism. Be aware that your input goes a long way because you are the closest person.
I will stop here today and continue tomorrow! See you then! Have a great day!
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
It is understandable when enemies wound you. It is somehow discernible when you have wounds and bandages arising from a battlefront with an opposing side!
But the most significant wounds in our hearts are incidentally sustained by friends and lovers.
We have ex-friends, ex-besties, ex-lovers and sometimes ex-spouses. Sometimes the resulting effect is single motherhood, but how come we don’t hear of single fathers?
This leaves the women folk hurt most of the time because they deal more with hurts, bitterness, and agony of heart arising from disappointments in their quest for love.
Some married couples are not exempt from hurts and bitterness, because marriage can become that place where you are constantly hurt, especially when you want your spouse in a certain way and yet you are not achieving that.
Dealing With Love’s Wounds and Hurts
Zechariah 13:6 (KJV) And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Wounds can be sustained by friends, lovers, and spouses.
That is the reality!
However, you cannot stay hurt and wounded all your life! You have to learn to forgive and let go!
Do you realize that it is easier for the offender to let go? Of course, God’s justice system will deal with such a person. However, the offended find it challenging to move on as they struggle in the mud and mire of bitterness!
This is why it often looks like you are hurt and yet things have really gone slow and complicated. It’s because of bitterness of heart!
Dealing With Love’s Wounds and Hurts
Proverbs 14:30 (AMPC+) A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.
Envy, jealousy, and wrath are the cousins of bitterness. The scriptures say they can cause rottenness in the bones.
It can literally cause sicknesses and diseases!
You don’t want to stay on that page!
The good news is that God heals!
Psalms 147:3 (KJV) He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
That is soothing! He will not only heal your broken heart, He will bind up your wounds!
Why don’t you go to Him this morning? He is waiting to hear and attend to you!
Psalms 147:3 (MSG) He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Harmful Voices in Relationships and Marriage. As children of God, God speaks to us like a father will speak to his children. When we listen to His voice, we will not get into problems. When we disregard His voice, we start listening to another voice. The moment we don’t flee or run away from that voice, we get into a serious mess.
God is good God. God speaks to us. The devil is a bad devil. He also attempts to speak to us. That is why the scripture declares:
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers (John 10:4-5 KJV)
When we make up our minds to listen to God and fill our hearts with His word daily and consistently, we will not listen or take heed to the voice of the evil one. That is why the way Jesus refuted and refused to listen to the voice of the devil during the temptation was to speak out God’s word. Three times he was tempted, three times he said, ‘It is written…’ What if he doesn’t know what is written?
This morning, by the Spirit of God, I want to identify ten areas where we might have been listening to the wrong voice. It comes in subtle ways mostly.
The devil often uses people and situations to speak to us. We must be careful. Here are the people and voices the devil often uses.
Harmful Voices in Relationships and Marriage
1. The user’s voice
I can marry her, but I don’t have to be committed to her
2. The deceiver’s voice
I don’t have to let my spouse know everything, or else the marriage can be jeopardized.
3. The religious voice
Everybody has a lover somewhere, God must accommodate that or we will all go to hell.
4. The foolish voice
As long as I have a prophet somewhere that I consult and pray for me, I can continue with my lifestyle.
5. The sensual voice
I am not sure of my spouse’s commitment. I can as well explore and also live my life.
Harmful Voices in Relationships and Marriage
6. The greedy voice
I can collect money from him to help my spouse. After all, it’s for the family. It’s for us and that can be a secret. If I don’t do it, we will be hungry.
7. The unbelievers’ voice
My family does not need Jesus. I have enough money. It is poor and hungry people that go around praying.
8. The self-righteous voice
I don’t want my family to be fanatical. We don’t have to go to church. The church is full of hypocrites.
9. The carnal voice
I serve God passionately and I give. But God knows that addictions cannot really go like that. I will keep on working on it and one day God might even give me a sign to stop.
10. The confused voice
The only way to keep this man married to me is to allow him to have his way with other ladies out there. As long as he doesn’t bring them home, he can do whatever he wants. Life is give and take, I can’t be policing him around, since he doesn’t disturb me from doing what I am doing.
Well, all the above statements are defective. If you or the person you are engaged with makes these types of statements, you might want to really seek help because they are defective statements indicative and symptomatic of deeper spiritual problems. They are belief systems that are sure to crack and leave you cracked. That will not be your portion in Jesus name.
If you are married, and one or more of the above seems to be the scenario, you will need to pray a lot for God’s help and intervention and then seek counseling as well.
In life, God has laid out His principles and when we deviate from them, things will not work out however we try because the scripture cannot be broken! In any way where you seem lacking, God will forgive, forget, redeem, and restore as necessary when you genuinely repent.
Why not call upon Him this morning?
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
There is a state of heart that makes every spouse stick to each other. It is having an understanding that your relationship is a covenant relationship.
A covenant relationship is based on the principle of ’till death do us part’. A relationship that should only be severed by death. Through thick and thin we stick together.
A lot of couples give up on their marriage and on their spouses too soon. Yes, I am not saying it will be easy and Yes, there are some cases, where it becomes practically impossible to stick together.
As couples, when you get married you are saying, “Your God shall be my God, your people shall be my people”
Ruth understands this covenant relationship.
Every covenant relationship will be tested, just as the relationship between Ruth and Naomi was tested.
The benefit of the covenant of marriage is only enjoyed by those who stick to each other till the end.
For the Singles, you need to ask yourselves can this lady or guy stick with me through the tough times? Can I stick with her for life? Am I that committed to him/ her? Can I cover him/her?
Sticking To Your Spouse
Let’s see Ruth’s understanding of the covenant as recorded in the bible.
Ruth 1:16 KJV And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Ruth 1:16 – 17 MSG But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!”
The Covenant of Marriage is not supposed to be endured but enjoyed.
In other to enjoy the marriage covenant there must be agreement.
Can two walk together except they agree? Amos 3:3
Sticking To Your Spouse
This agreement must be well spelled out. It is like the Vision and Mission statement of an organization. Everybody knows why the organization exists and how to reach its goals.
Without an agreement, there is no sticking together, and definitely, no covenant relationship will exist.
All couples should work on their “agreement”. There has to be the involvement of both husband and wife in all matters. There must be mutual consent or assent.
Let’s see the definition of agreement:
An agreement is a manifestation of mutual assent by two or more persons to one another. It is a meeting of the minds with a common intention and is made through offer and acceptance. An agreement can be shown from words, conduct, and in some cases, even silence.
The agreement involves discussion, rubbing together of minds. It requires patience and understanding for both parties to be on the same page.
There can only be speed when there is agreement.
“All parties must agree about an offer made by one party and accepted by the other.
Something of value must be exchanged for something else of value”
Let us all work towards agreement in our relationship and marriage.
May we fulfill God’s mandate for our marriage in Jesus’ mighty name
Rev. Sophia Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
There are many areas where you need to understand your wife, but there are four critical areas I want to mention this morning.
Understanding these areas will help you to understand your wife better.
Understanding your wife better will bring peace and tranquility into your home.
What are some of these areas?
Connecting Deeper With Your Wife
1. Understand her love language
Her love language is her password!
Language is so powerful that when God wanted to deal with man’s wrong ambition in Genesis 11, all He did was to confound their languages.
“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” (Gen 11:6-7, KJV
There are four love languages. These include
a. Words of Affirmation – saying the right words.
b. Quality Time – spending time with her
c. Gifts – buying her gifts regularly
d. Acts of Service – helping out at home
e. Physical Touch – touching her regularly
I will not be able to expatiate on this now, but your wife will respond mostly to one or more of these.
Connecting Deeper With Your Wife
2. Understand her temperament
Her temperament is the reason she acts the way she does.
There are four basic temperaments.
These include
a. Sanguine – Appealing personality, Talkative, Storyteller, Life of the party, Good sense of humor
b. Choleric – dominant, strong, decisive, stubborn and even arrogant
c. Phlegmatic – easy going, laid back, nonchalant, unexcitable and relaxed
d. Melancholy – thinking, assessing, making lists, evaluating the positives and negatives, and general analysis of facts
Usually, she would have a blend of two of these.
Understanding these will help you better to manage weaknesses and strengths. You will be able to minimize weaknesses and harness strengths.
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
You are a vital part of that marriage. Discover yourself. Who are you? What are your desires, what makes you come alive, what makes you enjoy living? Love yourself. Be a happy you.
As singles, discover yourself and your purpose in life. Find out why you are here before venturing into marriage.
2. Focus on your lover or spouse
As a married person, the most crucial human being on earth is your spouse. Begin to treat him /her as such. Let nothing absolutely come in between that. Let the whole world know, your spouse is so important to you.
Some people treat their wives like ‘one kobo’ and expect her to treat them like ‘ a million dollar’, it ain’t gonna work that way.
Seize every opportunity to let everyone know this one human being is number one on your list.
Focus Unleashed: Six Strategies
3. Focus on God
This is the most important of all. Now, it will be very foolish to want to focus on yourself and your spouse and leave God out. It can not work. God is the center that holds the pieces all together. God is the vital force that crowns all our efforts with success.
4. Focus on your strength
You have strengths. Whether it’s your beauty, your home-making skills, your intellect, your being jovial, whatever it is, focus on it. It’s your selling point in your marriage. Don’t let go of your strong points.it is what will make your spouse keep coming back to you.
5. Focus on minimizing your weaknesses
Don’t ever make the mistake of pretending your weaknesses don’t exist. Please don’t ignore them. Your weaknesses have the potential of destroying the marriage you are building, so destroy your weaknesses before they ever destroy your marriage.
Focus Unleashed: Six Strategies
6. Focus on satisfying yourselves
Why should you spend your energy, time, and money on trying to please or satisfy another man’s wife? That’s called wastage.
Don’t go into an unprofitable venture. Ask yourself, if I satisfy her, how does it add to me or make my own marriage better?
Tend your own garden. When it’s harvest time, you won’t go and harvest on another man’s farm. It is not your own, so focus and build your own marriage.
Pro 12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
God bless your relationship and marriage
Rev. Sophia Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
This three-word sentence is very profound because there is an element of decision and acceptance.
These two elements are very important to the survival of any marriage. The element of the decision will help every couple realize that their choice to marry who they are married to, is a decision that cannot be changed.
I usually tell engaged people, on your wedding day, your guests will enjoy the food and leave afterward but you will have to live with your choice till death do your part. That’s why it is advisable not to fall in love blindly. In marriage, love is not blind at all.
Once you are married to your spouse, your decision is signed and sealed. There is no point in trying to change things. What should be aimed at is working at enjoying your decision.
Elements of a Love Sealed in Vows
The second element is acceptance. When you say, ‘I married You’, you are being specific with no option of comparing your spouse with another. You married your spouse, with their strength, weaknesses, struggles, past, present, and future together.
Marriage is a lifelong covenant journey. Once you are in it, you have to keep at it. Make every effort to make your journey together worthwhile and fun. There is no point in enduring hurts and offenses. Make up your mind to enjoy your marriage all the way. Your enjoying your marriage is not dependent on your situation, it’s dependent on your decision.
Here are five things that will help you in your ‘decision and acceptance’ of the person you married.
Elements of a Love Sealed in Vows
1. Never compare your spouse
Your spouse is unique in his/her own special way. Your spouse can never be like the other person. Your spouse is manufacturer specific. You can not change her, you can only influence them positively.
2. Never secretly prefer another person to your spouse
This is a secret sin. It is dangerous so try it. Whatever happens in mind will happen in time.
3. Never believe the lie that your spouse is nothing to desire or admire
What you appreciate will get better. Shower accolade and appreciation on your wife or husband. Your spouse is your own, why do you leave yours to focus on what is another man’s?
4. Never leave God out of your marriage
Marriage comes with its challenges, it’s only the God factor that makes a great difference. When God is made the center of your marriage, He teaches you how to be merciful to your spouse’s weaknesses and live peaceably with each other in love.
5. Never stop loving your spouse
In marriage, love is both an action word and a noun. The more you love your spouse, the more you see and experience love.
Love is an unending circle, it’s meant to keep going round and round. When you sow love, you reap love and it keeps on.
God bless your marriage.
Rev. Sophia Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Infuse Your Marriage with Joyful Laughter. Truth be told, pressure is one of the things that take away joy, gladness, and of course laughter from our marriages.
When we allow the pressures of life, it has a toll on our marriages. Couples become mere house or roommates.
Only important conversation ensues between them and there seems to be no time for extra curricula activities, not to talk of laughter. There is tension and everyone is uptight.
The marriage becomes very boring and reduced to a motion of routines. Remember our minds are vital parts in making our marriages blissful. However, the devil’s aim is to get our minds preoccupied and downcast with different kinds of pressures.
The danger in allowing pressures without finding ways to handle them is that, they lead to other issues.
Un-handled pressures can lead to unnecessary anger, harsh words or reactions, keeping late nights, trying to ease off tension with ungodly friends, risk of emotional attachment with the opposite sex, inconsistent fellowship with God, lukewarmness in things of God e.g., not attending church services, overreacting to kids or house helps, mental and physical tiredness, emotional vulnerability etc, the list goes on and on.
But, in the midst of life’s pressure as a couple, you must learn to hold on to each other for spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial support.
Infuse Your Marriage with Joyful Laughter
This is the best time to be a pillar of support for each other.
Here is when your kindest words of appreciation and encouragement are needed.
At this time, love making becomes needed and not just wanted, as a means of ministering to each other. Music, especially worship becomes also very useful at such times.
This is the best time to be strong for each other. It is time to show your allegiance in very obvious and practical ways.
This is not the time to make unreasonable demands and demand for your right. This is the time to manage with the best of your skills, especially as a wife, and carry the children along to bear with the situation.
This is the time to have regular confessions together as a family.
God’s word is spoken to the atmosphere as a way of calming the storm and releasing angelic activities and assistance.
In being creative with bearing with the situation, you have to know how to spice up your home with laughter.
Laughter becomes both therapeutic and healing. It does not cost money but its value at such times is invaluable.
You try with the help of the Holy Spirit to remain joyful because the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Laugh at yourself, laugh at the situation, because you know it will soon come to pass.
Remember,
Ps 2:4 ‘ He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.
When you learn to laugh, you bring God’s power into your situation.
You release God’s grace on your behalf.
Your focus shifts from the present situation to the ability of God to change and turn things around.
You begin to trust in God’s Mercy and draw strength from the throne of Grace.
Your fellowship with God is restored as you begin to see Him as your only source of Help and hope.
Then you will begin to truly know Him as your Shepherd, which leads you beside still waters and restores your soul.
May you find such refreshing in your marriage in times of pressure in Jesus’ name.
Rev. Sophia Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Exploring Her Bedroom Wishlist 2. I started on this yesterday and will continue from where I left off. What does your wife want?
2. Sweet nonsense Your wife wants you to whisper in her ears. She obviously prefers that to a silent, no-single-statement kind of thing.
She wants to hear you say a lot of good things about her and when you do so, you will see she is not really frigid as you might probably be envisaging.
Words mean a lot to ladies. And you must be skillful enough to use the words rightly. One wrong statement and you will just lose her.
One right statement and she is all yours. However, your words will mean nothing if it is only during love making you say those things.
She would feel you are speaking from your head and not from your heart.
She would feel you never meant those words, that you are just saying them because of what you want from her.
Basically, those words you whisper in her ears in bed cannot stay in space, they have to be carved upon the platform of the words you already said to her during the day, through texts, phone calls, and whatever means.
3. Essence of her beauty
Lastly, she probably wants to know why you always say she is beautiful.
Explaining that to her in one statement words would fire her up
If you don’t do some of these, you would think your wife has no libido, whereas, it is just that you have not unlocked it.
Words of admiration for your wife from your heart are like passwords! I will have to stop here!
I pray that God will grant more understanding in Jesus’ name!
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Exploring Her Bedroom Wishlist. This area of question is perhaps an area I have often been asked.
“Pastor, my wife is frigid, what can I do?”
“Pastor, my wife will never initiate lovemaking. Is she normal?”
“Pastor, my wife is disinterested in lovemaking, unless on rare occasions and this makes me feel she might be seeing someone else.“
Pastor, how can I make my wife enjoy it more, I don’t like her attitude in bed!”
“The list goes on.
Now, I am going to suggest a few things you can do as a husband to make your love experience a better one.
Some people already have a great and fantastic experience, or so they thought, but it can always get better.
It is actually meant to get better as time goes on. You understand yourselves more, you become more mature, and even more dexterous in bed with each other. You also learn how to satisfy each other, where to touch and where not to, and so on. It’s like old exotic wine that tastes better with age!
Pro 5:18-19 (MSG) Bless your fresh-flowing fountain! Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! [19] Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose— don’t ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted!
Okay, so here are a few things that could help.
Exploring Her Bedroom Wishlist
1. Longer foreplay
If your wife hasn’t told you this, you just might not have been listening.
Oh I don’t mean she said that verbally, but she would have said it many times with attitude and body language.
But I always advise wives to communicate what they want and make it explicit without any inhibitions.
Your wife wants longer foreplay, even if she seems to be the type that is always “in the spirit” all the time.
She doesn’t want a helicopter kind of thing, she wants the airplane experience.
The helicopter takes off and lands at once and abruptly, as long as the blades are working.
The airplane takes time to taxi around before taking off.
The taxi-ing experience is the foreplay
An average woman needs at least twenty minutes of foreplay in order to be ready.
Forty minutes is even better.
More than an hour will be fantastic!
Exploring Her Bedroom Wishlist
While a man is ready in less than ten seconds, it is different with a lady unless she is on a mission of prostitution or some perverse acts in exchange for a mammon.
So, dear husband, your wife wants you to be patient with her, so that she can enjoy it as well.
I will stop here today and continue tomorrow
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Dealing with in-laws’ issues can be quite challenging, especially in this part of the world. It is a sensitive issue, that must be handled with maturity and love.
Remember the law of seed time and harvest. You don’t want to reap later an in-law who treats you badly. Here are some helpful tips that can help you deal wisely with your in-laws.
1. Change your perspectives about them
Put yourself in their shoes and understand their insecurities and weaknesses. Overlook offenses and just work more on having compassionate interactions.
2. Build a strong relationship
Let your priority be building a strong relationship as a couple. Know that your in-laws are a third party and can only come in between you if you allow them.
3. Be there for your spouse
Each spouse should manage and handle their family and parents. It’s easier to deal with your parents. Defend your spouse and empower them.
10 Ways To Handle Your In-Laws
4. Respect your Differences
Due to generational gaps, age differences, and perspectives, differences in personalities, beliefs, and opposing viewpoints are inevitable. Respect your differences
5. Stay positive
Be willing to open up for a better relationship. Try to find common grounds and positive aspects of your relationship, this will help improve your interactions
6. Have Boundaries
Establish clear boundaries. Discuss with your spouse and mutually agree on what extent you will allow your in-laws to interfere in your matters.
10 Ways To Handle Your In-Laws
7. Talk about issues
You must maintain open and respectful communication with your in-laws. Share your feelings and thoughts directly and calmly and listen to their perspectives
8. Be at peace with all men
Choose your battles wisely. Not all issues are worth confronting. Let go of matters that are no big deal
9. Seek Counsel
Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from a therapist or counselor when situations become overwhelming.
10. Pray
Pray about the situation and pray for your in-laws. God indeed answers prayer. He will give you the needed wisdom
Remember having a beautiful relationship with your in-law is a blessing. It is possible if you are willing and patient, asking God for help.
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
This may not really sound as important to menfolk, but I can tell you as a marriage counselor that it is a big deal for ladies.
One woman bitterly complained that the only problem she had with her husband was that he never says “I love you!”
The man went to a recording studio and recorded a seventy-minute audio of his voice repeatedly saying “I love you!”
He took this CD and presented it to his wife.
“Hey dear, my pepperento potatoe, anytime you want to hear me say that, just play this CD!
The wife took it from him, broke it into two, and threw it out of the window.
The man was furious.
The wife said calmly, “I didn’t marry the CD, I married you and I want to hear it from you.”
And that is the way it is.
Dear husbands, your wife needs to hear that every time.
Don’t allow the compliments she gets outside to outweigh your own expressions for her at home.
After childbirth and as they approach midlife, women go through a mix of emotions and they struggle with their appearance, their tummy, and body shape.
That is why mirrors are never far from them.
They need a lot of affirmations from their husbands at this time.
Your affirmations will go a long way in stabilizing their emotions and ultimately make them feel loved.
Husbandry Unveiled: Unmissable Trio
2. Attend Church Together
Very importantly, the husband as the head should ensure he raises a godly family.
Part of doing that is not forsaking the assembly of God’s people.
It is important you keep hearing the same thing.
I do not always subscribe that couples attend church services differently.
Attend the same church and build up yourselves spiritually.
Grow together.
Study together.
Pray together.
It goes a long way to strengthen the marriage.
As the husband, it is your responsibility to give spiritual leadership and direction.
Husbandry Unveiled: Unmissable Trio
3. Resist the Urge To Lift Your Hands Against Her
Finally, as a husband, you should do all in your care to never lift your hands against your wife, for any reason, whatsoever.
This is what separates the men from the boys.
“Oh Pastor, you don’t know my wife. She is stubborn, rude, annoying, and disrespectful. Before I say “A,” she is by the “Z.”
Well, physically abusing her will not be the way out.
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Make a covenant that you will never hit her!
As you make up your mind to do this, to honour her, protect her, and take care of her, God will also honour His Word in your life.
I pray that God will honour you indeed, send help to you in your marriage and fulfill all His desires for your life!
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
The greatest consummation of love yet remains that which you do with the lover of your soul. Did the Holy Writ not rightly say that He is our husband?
Isaiah 54:5 (KJV) For thy Maker is thine husband…
Until this consummation happens, you don’t really know Him yet. It is beyond a romantic adventure, it is a covenant marked by circumcision of the heart!
I presume God wants his love consummated with you so that you can conceive of Him and you can bring forth that which He desires.
There is a place where the intercourse must take place, it is the place of worship, a place of diving into Him, a place of getting lost in His glory!
In that place, you are taken beyond the third heavens, you actually go into the very throne of God to obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need for your relationship or marriage!
Let’s Consummate Our Love
The intercourse with divinity is always a mountainous experience where you are taken into high levels of the revelation of Jesus, and the very life of God, Zoe begins to flow in your veins.
It is a place where your ears will be laid to the gate of heavens and angels would whisper into your ears and that which lies with the divine become available to the humane.
God Himself takes you to a crescendo as you worship and like Peter, you would want a tabernacle to be established there so that you can live there forever.
Oh, that place is a place of victory! Have you been there yet? Even if it’s for only once? It is a place you don’t want to leave, for in His presence is fullness of joy.
Let’s Consummate Our Love
It is a place where you taste the power of the ages to come and you simply become a sign and a wonder to your generation.
Can you hear God calling you? Can you hear His voice? He is beckoning to you and calling you to come and experience His fullness, and from that fullness, there will be an overflow into your business, career, relationship, and marriage!
Song of Solomon 1:2-3 (KJV) Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. [3] Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
Good morning! Ensure you enjoy service today!
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
News filtered in a few days ago concerning the demise and home-going of a general in all respect, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya
The body of Christ, especially in Nigeria, got a rude shock and it dawned on us that this wonderful amiable man of God has transitioned into glory.
His first wife, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya shook the entire landscape of Christianity in Nigeria with her novel message to Singles and Married before she passed away at the age of 45. It was as though she had lived a hundred years in terms of her impact on the body of Christ.
A deep appreciation even emanates when you discover that her ministry which shook the whole world when there was no social media, began with her obedience to her husband, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya.
He told her to speak to the singles and that was it! This is an excellent lesson for young wives to learn from! Rev Victor Adeyemi, who met Pastor Taiwo after the demise of his wife, attested that Pastor Taiwo kept saying she was a submissive woman!
Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, a General Par Excellence
Fast forward, years after, Pastor Taiwo remarried, but sadly enough, his second wife also transitioned into glory.
He gallantly went through these earth-shaking griefs and continued in his assignment. He judged God faithful.
Now, he’s reunited with the loved ones he has lost, and he’s undoubtedly dancing and rejoicing, in that place where we would know as we are known!
Perhaps, you have a lot of questions in your heart, as I do too.
We are the ones that see such as loss, on the other side, death is conquered, it’s homegoing, and I can imagine mighty angels heralding and ushering this great man of God into eternity where there is no sadness, sorrow, or any form of grief.
Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, a General Par Excellence
Everybody has something great to say about this man. He certainly lived and fulfilled his ministry. I had an encounter with him when he came to minister at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, in 2008, hosted by Rev Niyi Eboda.
I was pastorin at Triumphant Assembly under Rev Femi Oduwole, and we needed some finances to move into a new auditorium. I simply emptied what was in the church account at the time (N10,000) and wrote him a check when I saw the grace of God in his life.
It was a Wednesday. By the weekend of that week, we had in excess of a Million Naira, (from the same members) and we were able to move!
The grace of God on him was undeniable!
Several years later, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya’s Facebook page would be a platform that launched Kisses and Huggs Club into social media prominence!
Their impact cuts across! We will miss him, but he is happier where he is now!
We pray for his children, God will keep them and uphold them in Jesus’ name!
Let their lives challenge you to fulfill destiny and God’s purpose for your life!
Good morning!
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Living with imperfection in your marriage requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to embrace the reality that both you and your partner are flawed human beings. Here are some strategies to help you navigate imperfections in your marriage and foster a healthy, loving relationship:
1. Accept the Humanity of your spouse
Understand that no one is perfect, including yourself and your spouse. Embrace imperfections as part of being human and learn to accept each other’s flaws without judgment.
2. Be Grateful for little things
You can learn intentionally to focus on the little things your spouse does. Never take them for granted. They will not always do the right things, but for the good things don’t let ‘thank you’ escape your mouth
Turning Marriage Flaws into Fabulous Moments
3. Communicate with Compassion:
Don’t be known for being always harsh with your tongue. Pass your message across loving and in a meek tune. Choose your words carefully, knowing your spouse is your partner and not your maid
4. Share Responsibilities:
Imperfections may sometimes affect certain aspects of your marriage. Be willing to share responsibilities and work as a team to manage challenges together.
5. Set Realistic Expectations:
Part of your realistic expectations is giving allowance for your spouse’s mistake. He/she will not be perfect in timing, thinking, talking etc. Manage your expectations of your spouse well
Turning Marriage Flaws into Fabulous Moments
6. Invest in Emotional Intimacy:
Building emotional intimacy can strengthen your connection and understanding of each other. Share your feelings, dreams, and vulnerabilities with your partner to deepen your bond.
7. Forgive and let go
Holding onto grudges or dwelling on past mistakes can create resentment. Practice forgiveness, not only for your partner but also for yourself, and learn to let go of the past.
Practice these and the Lord will help you and give you more Grace in Jesus mighty name
Rev. Sophia Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Life is never delivered on the platform of ease! Yes, we will have victory as God’s children, but it’s not victory until there is a fight!
How far are you willing to fight for your relationships and marriage?
How willing are you to hang on to life and refuse to yield to the whims and caprices of the evil one?
Paul summarized his life as a “fight” by saying in 2Ti 4:7 that “I have fought a good fight…”
Again in in 1Ti 6:12, we are instructed to “fight the good fight of faith…”
David also said in Psa 144:1 “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight!”
So there is a fight, but we know through Jesus we already have the victory!
You are not fighting to lose! You are a winner already!
What is that path that must be avoided that leads to the place of hopelessness where you don’t even want to “fight” again?
How To Fight Against That Habit.
Below are the stages that lead to where you stop fighting.
1. Mistake
Everyone makes mistakes. We all do. Making a mistake is not the end, God said He will forgive!
2. Habit
When mistakes become repeated, it morphs into a habit! You are no longer being trapped here, you are the one designing the trap!
3. Denial
At this stage, you simply deny the habit when confronted and blatantly refuse to admit there is an issue to deal with. When you keep denying, you can’t be set free. At this stage, you can’t be helped at all.
4. Self Deception
At this stage, you offer all kinds of excuses for your habit. You say things like, “Everybody does this” If God disproves it, He should have killed me”
This is the stage the devil gets you to where you decide to keep living with the habit rather than fight it. At this stage, you are not interested in being helped.
5. Hopelessness
The last stage is where you lose hope and stop fighting!
You simply personalize the issue and tell yourself you can’t help it. You see yourself as defeated and there is no way out! You start telling yourself God is not wicked to punish you for whatever it is!
How To Fight Against That Habit
Can I tell you something this morning?
Don’t stop fighting! Fight with prayers. Fight by building capacity through reading, study, and research. Fight by seeking counsel.
Fight for that relationship and marriage and do not accept nonsense into your life!
Never accept the timetable of the devil for your life!
If you stop fighting, you won’t be able to fulfill God’s purpose for your life!
Like Apostle Paul, you must keep fighting and be able to say at the end, I have fought the good fight of faith!
God bless you!
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
How Not To Lose Your Spouse Before Losing Them. A lot of folks actually lose their loved ones before losing them in relationships and marriages.
Crisis doesn’t just show up from the blues. Storms don’t just erupt from nowhere, no, they have been brewing and getting ready for a long time, we don’t just pay attention to them or we just ignore them.
Every issue we ever face, either as singles in relationships or couples in marriage, would always give us warning signs!
We never fall into the marital pit in an instant, it’s always a descent, a gradual slide, and sometimes foolishly, an obvious one!
Our ego and pride would always conflict, seeing things are going down the drain and yet trying to prove a point that is really unnecessary
How Not To Lose Your Spouse Before Losing Them
Do you want to know how?
Do not under any circumstance stop communicating!
If you can keep talking, there is hope of resolving whatever situation or storm that might be raging!
The moment you keep quiet, you open the doors for the devil to come in with his assumptions, and we all know that assumptions are the lowest form of knowledge.
When you stop talking, you open your thought life to all kinds of suggestions, which are mostly untrue.
When you stop communicating, you begin to judge every movement, every body language and the reality is that you are mostly wrong at such times!
Once the devil gets you muted and shut out, know he has you exactly where he wants you!
So, what do you want to do? You want to keep talking! You want to keep talking till you eventually resolve that issue! That is how not to lose your spouse before losing them!
Hope you are blessed this morning.
God bless your relationships and marriage! Have a fantastic day ahead of you in Jesus’ name!
Rev Dunamis Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
Love is usually described by burning flames. When we are really in love with that special someone, our love is burning. Like anything burning, if we don’t want the flames to go down we have to keep it rekindled or burning. We have to fan the coals of our love.
Here are some practical and helpful tips to help us achieve this.
Fanning the Embers of Love
1. Express gratitude
As simple as it may appear, failing to express gratitude can quickly undermine affection. Don’t take love for granted; be grateful for everything. Compliment each other frequently.
2. Spending Quality Time
Make time for each other outside of your busy schedules. It’s just the two of you now. Plan date nights and activities that both of you like. It restores and strengthens your bond.
3. Interaction
This is quite crucial. Discuss your feelings and worries openly with one another. Honest communication aids in understanding each other’s wants and requirements.
4. Resolve Problems
Constructively address unresolved issues or areas of contention. Make an effort to make your relationship healthier and happier.
5. Share happy memories
Laughing over and sharing happy recollections with one other is beneficial. Reminding each other of the good times brings back fond memories.
Fanning the Embers of Love
6. Physical Closeness
Physical contact can revive love. Hold hands, kiss, and hug on a frequent basis.
7. Patience and dedication
Be patient and committed to your partner and your marriage. It may take some time to fan the flame of love.
8. Avoid Monotony
Let your relationship be spiced with fun. Break free from the monotony. Avoid boredom by making your relationship more enjoyable.
Rekindling your love for each other is important. When we value our relationship we will want to keep it from going down and becoming obsolete. Commitment to each other’s needs, feelings, mutual respect, and understanding are also crucial
Rev. Sophia Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
This is an issue faced by young and old couples alike. You and your spouse are different and this will have different perspectives.
Understanding each other is about getting your spouse to see your viewpoint. It requires effective communication and understanding.
Both of you have to be willing and ready to work at your marriage. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or with the marriage.
Help, We Don’t Understand Each other
Here are some tips to help you convey your perspective:
1. Choose the Right Time:
Pick a moment when both of you are calm and receptive to discussion.
2. Stay Calm and Respectful: Approach the conversation with a composed demeanor and avoid becoming defensive or confrontational.
3. Active Listening:
First, listen to your spouse’s viewpoint attentively. Show empathy and understanding towards their thoughts and feelings.
4. Use “I” Statements:
Express your viewpoint using “I” statements to avoid sounding accusatory. For example, “I feel” or “I think” rather than “You always” or “You never.”
5. Provide Specific Examples: Support your viewpoint with concrete examples and evidence to help your spouse better understand your perspective.
Help, We Don’t Understand Each other
6. Find Common Ground:
Identify areas where your viewpoints align and build on those shared interests or beliefs.
7. Avoid Blame Game:
Refrain from blaming or criticizing your spouse during the conversation. Focus on the issue at hand without making it personal.
8. Acknowledge Their Perspective:
Validate your spouse’s viewpoint, even if you don’t fully agree. Show that you respect their thoughts and feelings.
9. Be Patient:
Changing viewpoints takes time, so be patient and allow your spouse to process the information.
10. Give Space:
If the conversation becomes too intense, take breaks if needed, and revisit the discussion when both of you are ready.
Help, We Don’t Understand Each other
11. Collaborate:
Frame the conversation as a collaborative effort to find a solution that works for both of you.
12. Seek Professional Help:
If necessary, consider seeking the assistance of a professional therapist or counselor to facilitate the conversation.
Remember, the goal is not necessarily to make your spouse adopt your viewpoint but to foster understanding and find common ground. Respectful communication and empathy are key to productive discussions in any relationship.
Rev. Sophia Okunowo
Giving / Partnership
Deposits: Kisses and Huggs Club MONIEPOINT: 8247660079 GTB:0150088032
