God's Knot

Picture My Wedding

2011-10-17T08:47:00.004-06:00

If you've got an iPad or know someone that does, there's a great new wedding planning app out in the app store called Picture My Wedding. You can use Picture My Wedding to get organized for your wedding in a fun visual way. Choose photos from your photo library or snap some photos when you're out at vendors. Organize items into categories and add notes, prices, etc. Show off all of your dress options to your friends and family using Picture My Wedding. Share your selections via Twitter, Facebook or email.

Download this great app from the App Store!

Love and Respect by Marissa Ruehs

2011-05-03T21:52:00.000-06:00

When I met my husband, I remember asking my Grandfather the secret to a long and successful marriage. He jokingly said, " Well, a happy wife is a happy life!" Then, he looked at my fiance and said, " If you just say yes to all of her requests, you two should be fine." I knew he was joking, but I was still left with the question, "What is the secret to a successful marriage?"

I recently attended the Love and Respect conference led by husband and wife team Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs. It was a refreshing look on God's perfect design for marriage, and how we, as Christian husband and wives, can positively and biblically motivate one another.

In a society inundated with messages of equality, feminism, and an "all you need is love" mentality, it is easy to get lost in the marriage shuffle after you walk down the wedding aisle. After the vows are said, the pictures are taken, and the honeymoon phase starts to fade to a new reality, what is the secret to success in marriage? Well, according to the Word of God, it's pretty clear! Ephesians chapter 5:22-33 sums it all up very well. However, it is verse 33 that really catches my attention: " However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Does it really all come down to an unconditional exchange of Love and Respect? How do we get past the notion that husband must earn respect and wives should be deserving of love in order to be loved? According to Rev. Eggerichs, it all has to do with something called the "Crazy cycle" and the "Energizing cycle".

Men have been designed with a God-given need and desire for respect; not only from their peers, but specifically from their wives. In fact, they desire unconditional respect, which is a foreign concept in our society! As stated by Emerson, this world has given the wife a license to say, " I love him, but I don't respect him." Is this not equal to a husband saying to a wife, "I respect you, but I do not love you."? When a wife disrespects her spouse, his response is not to show her love, which is the woman's greatest need. And so the cycle continues. This is called the "Crazy Cycle." This cycle is detrimental to any marriage, and often times can starve the couple from God's plan in their relationship.

The "Energizing Cycle" is just the opposite! Rev. Eggerichs has concluded, " Love empowers a husband to energize his wife, and respect empowers a wife to energize her husband." Sounds simple, doesn't it? Well, a few key factors play into this healthy cycle. Husbands, the following list is for you, taken from the outline given by Rev. Eggerichs.

CLOSENESS: WHEN YOU WANT TO BE WITH HER FACE TO FACE
OPENNESS: WHEN YOU ARE NOT SECRETLY MAD AT HER
UNDERSTANDING: WHEN YOU EMPATHIZE WITH HER
PEACEMAKING: WHEN YOU FORGIVE HER
LOYALTY: WHEN YOU ARE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO HER
ESTEEM: WHEN YOU RESPECT HER ABOVE ALL ELSE

Wives, here is your list.

CULTIVATE: APPRECIATE HIS DESIRE TO WORK AND ACHIEVE
HIERARCHY: APPRECIATE HIS DESIRE TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE
AUTHORITY: APPRECIATE HIS DESIRE TO BE STRONG AND TO LEAD
INSIGHT: APPRECIATE HIS DESIRE TO TEACH
RELATIONSHIP: APPRECIATE HIS DESIRE FOR A SHOULDER TO SHOULDER FRIENDSHIP
SEX: APPRECIATE HIS DESIRE FOR SEXUAL INTIMACY

If we want successful, joy-filled, satisfying marriages, then we must not follow the marriage advise of the world. As Christians, we are called to follow God's instructions for marriage! Is it easy? No! But remember, we can do all things in Christ, who strengthens us!

Marissa Ruehs

More information can be found through Love and Respect Ministries, INC.

The 5 Love Language: Acts of Service

2011-05-02T07:57:00.004-06:00

For many of us, servanthood comes easy. We find joy in cooking for others, raking leaves and hosting parties. We are the first one to volunteer, stay late to clean up, and take on nursery duty. For others of us, we haven’t got a clue. Maybe we don’t have the time or energy to serve others, not even our spouse.

Acts of service is doing things you know your spouse would like you to do. You seek to please by serving, to express your love by doing things for your spouse.

Examples of Acts of Service:

Unloading the dishwasher
Changing the cat’s litter box
Vacuuming
Paying the bills
Dealing with landlords and insurance companies

All of these acts require thought and planning. Those whose love language is act of service appreciate when you go out of your way to do something that needs to be done.

Many times, frustration and anger come into play when we make demands instead of requests. It is also important you are specific with what you need help with. Your spouse may want to help out around the house, but may not know where to start. You can jot down a list of things you need/want done.

Practical Tips:

Have your spouse make a list of 10 things he/she would like you to do. Spend a month doing all of these things.
If your spouse is the cook, do the dishes.
Pick a room at home to do a major clean-up/organization. Post a note on the door: “To (Name) with love”

The 5 Love Languages: Quality Time

2011-03-18T15:52:00.003-06:00

Quality time is more about quality than time. We can watch television with our spouse. We can sit in the same room as them, but loving your spouse is taking it to the next step. Creating quality time with your spouse is all about creating quality conversation.

It’s not enough for you to be home together in the evenings. If your spouse desires quality time, you need to talk about her/his day- commenting, listening and showing interest. You need to take a moment with your spouse before you are bombarded with children, dinner plans and activities.

Gary Chapman says, “Quality conversation means sympathetic dialogue when two individuals are sharing their experiences, thoughts, feelings, and desires in a friendly, uninterrupted context. “ It may be for easy for you to “talk” to your spouse, but harder to share feelings, thoughts and desires. Challenge yourself to be intimate in conversation with your spouse.

Practical Tips:
• Maintain Eye Contact
• Give undivided attention: no music, television, phone, computers
• Listen for Feelings
• Observe Body Language
• Refuse to interrupt

Along with intimate conversation, it is important do quality activities together. Be willing to do a 5000-piece puzzle together, not because you love puzzles but because you love being with your spouse. If you can make time for meals and exercise, you can make time for intimate conversation and quality activities. Set aside time each week to spend an intimate night with your spouse. Plan a night at the driving range, a romantic restaurant, or a cozy bookstore.

The 5 Love Languages: Words of Affirmation

2011-03-02T13:55:00.001-06:00

‘Words of Affirmation’ is not just about kind words. Mark Twain may say, “I can survive for two months on a good compliment,” but your spouse may need more than just a couple of complements.

Encouraging Words: We each have areas in our lives where we lack courage. Through our spouse’s encouragement, we can reach our full potential. Through encouraging words, we can show our spouse we believe in their abilities. (Example: You are a great guitar player; you should find an open mic night in town. I think others would really enjoy your music.)

Kind Words: We have the choice to speak in anger or in kindness. We have the option of justice or forgiveness. When we choose kindness and forgiveness, we choose love. When your spouse has wronged you, show mercy. (Example: Your words really hurt me, but I will not let those words damage our marriage.)

Humble Words: When we demand something of our spouse, we are not involved in a partnership. When we make demands of our spouse, we forfeit intimacy. We can affirm our spouse’s worth and abilities by making requests. (Example: I really love that pasta you made last week, can you make it again?)

If your spouse’s Love Language is ‘Words of Affirmation’:
• Remember: Words are important.
• Set a goal to compliment your spouse each day for one month.
• Write your spouse a love letter.
• Compliment your spouse in front of parents and friends (double points).

“Boundaries in Marriage” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

2011-03-02T13:54:00.006-06:00

This book offers some powerful guidelines for creating and sustaining a Christ-centered, thriving, productive marriage. “Marriage is a lot of work. Period.” If couples are willing to pour their hearts into this hard work, the marriage not only sustains but grows and deepens.

If marriage is not all about happiness, than what is it about? This book provides six values that work to produce great boundaries in marriage.

Love God first, with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength.
Loving your spouse: Seeking the best for the other person no matter whether they deserve it or not.
Honesty, accompanied by enough grace to hear and deal with the truth it brings.
A Faithful spouse is one who be trusted, depended upon, and believed in, and one in whom you can rest.
Compassion and Forgiveness - no failure is larger than grace.
Pursuing Holiness means that you and your spouse pursue becoming the kind of people who can produce true love and life.

This book also offers ideas for protecting your spouse/marriage and how to resolve conflicts. The authors always point the readers to the Truth of the Bible. The author states, “When loving God is our orienting principle in life, we are always adjusting to what He requires from us.” Along with Scripture, the authors also share many stories of real couples. These stories address couple’s questions and struggles about marriage.

This is a great book to read as a couple, and a great opportunity to answer questions about yourself and your spouse. It could be life-changing to go through when you are engaged, and also a beneficial read later in marriage, when you’ve both grown as individuals and as a couple and gotten to know each other better!

The Five Love Languages

2011-03-02T13:37:00.004-06:00

In the next few weeks, we will be looking at the 5 love languages: Physical Touch, Acts of Service, Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, and Receiving Gifts. Whether you are preparing for marriage or you have been married for many years, it is vital you and your partner explore how each express and interpret love.

In his book, “The 5 Languages”, Gary Chapman says, “The need for love is primary human emotional need. For love, we will climb mountains, cross seas, traverse desert sands, and endure untold hardships. Without love, mountains become unclimbable, seas uncrossable, deserts unbearable, and hardships our lot in life.”

In our marriages, each of us long to feel loved and appreciated. Chapman says, “We feel secure when we are assured that our mate accepts us, wants us, and is committed to our well-being.” If we understand our mate’s language of love, we can better understand how to make them feel accepted, wanted, and loved.

Stayed tuned for a further explanation of the Love Languages. You can read about the love languages in Gary Chapman’s book: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to a Love that Lasts. You can also find a love language assessment on the 5 Love Languages website.

The Crazy Cycle in Marriage

2011-02-15T22:00:00.002-06:00

The wife says "I have nothing to wear." What does she mean? "I have nothing new".
The husband says "I have nothing to wear." What does he mean? "I have nothing clean." :)

Emerson Eggerichs, author of Love and Respect recently spoke at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI about the "Crazy Cycle" in marriage. It was an excellent look at how husbands and wives interact and view the world differently by design. Have a look at the sermon online at:

http://elmbrook.org/sermonvideo.aspx?vid=4218

You can find out more about Love and Respect ministries on their website at: loveandrespect.com

Bridal Faire at Stonewood Village

2010-04-13T23:27:00.002-06:00

God's Knot will be hosting a booth at the Bridal Faire at Stonewood Village in Brookfield, Wisconsin on June 13th. If you're in the Southeast Wisconsin area on June 13th, stop on by and visit us at our booth. There will be plenty of great wedding vendors at the show to give you some great ideas!

Bridal Faire - Stonewood Village in Brookfield, Wisconsin - June 13th, 2010

We've added books to our web shop!

2010-04-05T00:02:00.003-06:00

Looking for some great Christian wedding books? We've added a books category to our web shop with some great Christian wedding books! Have a look at the titles available now. We're going to be adding more titles over the next several months.

Here's a list of the titles we've added so far:

Complete Book of Christian Wedding Vows, The Importance of How You Say "I Do"

The Marriage You've Always Wanted

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

Inviting God to Your Wedding: and Keeping God in Your Marriage

The Bride's Handbook: A Spiritual & Practical Guide for Planning Your Wedding

New Photos!

2010-04-01T22:29:00.008-06:00

We've been seeing some excellent photos posted on our Facebook fan page over the past few days. It's great to see so many lovely wedding photos incorporating the Cord of Three Strands.

Tasha Heasley recently shared some great photos with us of how she and her husband incorporated the Cord of Three Strands into their ceremony! Thanks for these great shots!

Here's what Tasha had to say: "We used the Cord of Three Strands at our wedding and we got so many compliments on it. A lot of people at our wedding never saw that before. We really liked the readings that went with it as well."

Cord of Three Strands Photos and Videos

2010-03-31T11:49:00.001-06:00

Did you use the Cord of Three Strands in your wedding ceremony? We're looking for some great photos or videos! We'd love to hear from you. Post pictures or videos on our Facebook fan page or email info@godsknot.com.

Wedding Wire Reviews

2010-03-29T23:22:00.004-06:00

Do you use WeddingWire.com? If you do, we'd love to hear from you! God's Knot had a Wedding Wire profile and we need some reviews! Click on the link below to log on to Wedding Wire and offer your review:

Review God's Knot at WeddingWire

500 Facebook fans?

2010-03-29T00:44:00.002-06:00

When will we hit 500 Facebook fans? We're at 497 fans as of this morning (March 29th). Let's see if we can get to 500 today! We love hearing so many great stories about how couples are using God's Knot this wedding season.

If you're not already a fan, click on the link below and become a fan!

Fireproof

2010-03-20T08:10:00.002-06:00

Have you seen the movie "Fireproof" yet? Released in September of 2008, it quickly gained momentum and rode it's way up the charts far exceeding most critics expectations.

If you haven't seen it, you should. It's a good film that does a great job outlining some of the struggles that married couples encounter. If you're engaged or considering marriage, it's a must see if you haven't seen it already. Rent it from the movie store or download it online and spend a night in with your fiancee or spouse.

It's encouraging to see that movies like Fireproof are making some headway in Hollywood. Let's hope quality films like this continue to be produced and screened across the country.

Stuart and Jill Briscoe Celebrate 50 Years of Marriage

2008-08-04T18:41:00.004-06:00

Pastor Stuart and Jill Briscoe of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin spoke about marriage this past Sunday as they celebrated 50 years together. They did an excellent job leading us into Scripture to discover what God has designed in Marriage. Click on the link below to watch the message...

"Some Things Never Change" - Come to The Brook.org

Biblical Marriage Discussed in a Presidential Debate?

2008-01-11T10:15:00.000-06:00

Last night, the topic of the Biblical view of marriage came up in the Republican Presidential debate on FoxNews. We at God's Knot feel that Mike Huckabee did a pretty good job touching on how God views Christian marriage - something that a lot of people in the US pull out of context and know very little about.

On This Day on GodTube.com

2007-10-18T23:01:00.000-06:00

One of the fastest growing websites on the Internet in recent weeks is GodTube.com. GodTube is a website dedicated to broadcasting the message of Christ. It's an interesting twist on the YouTube concept, focused on the Christian market.

One of our featured artists, Ashley Reynolds, has a video slide show of her wedding song "On This Day".

If you'd like to have Ashley's song as a part of your wedding, hop on over to our Christian Wedding Web Shop!

Wisconsin Christian Expo

2007-05-09T08:45:00.000-06:00

On June 8th and 9th this summer, God's Knot will be hosting a booth at the first Wisconsin Christian Expo. It's free admission for all that attend. We'll be meeting and greeting folks in the Wisconsin area. If your in Wisconsin, drop on by and see our booth. We'd love to meet you!

New Web Shop Launched!

2007-04-08T22:27:00.001-06:00

We have recently updated our site to include a full web shop. You can now purchase personalized unity candles, memorial candles and more in the web shop. Of course, our Cord of Three Strands is still available, including new shipping options. Have a look at the web shop and let us know what you think!

Book Review: The Complete Book of Christian Wedding Vows

2007-02-16T07:53:00.001-06:00

If you're looking for a book to help you in your wedding preparation, H. Norman Wright's The Complete Book of Christian Wedding Vows provides lots of help in a short but very informative format. The book begins with a chapter about Christian marriage and what makes it different. It then outlines the meaning and significance of the wedding vows in the wedding ceremony - the essential promise that is made at the altar. Wright does a great job incorporating real life wedding stories and sample wedding vows. He includes chapters on how to personalize your ceremony and incorporate your own style and personality. All in all, a great read for engaged couples that are planning a Christian wedding ceremony.

Cord of Three Strands: Testimonials

2007-02-09T00:25:00.000-06:00

We've been hearing some great things about how Christians have been using the Cord of Three Strands in their ceremonies. Have you used the Cord of Three Strands in your ceremony? We'd love to hear how this unique symbolism played a role in your wedding. Send us an email at: info@godsknot.com. Got pictures? Attach some snapshots of your event! We'd love to hear from you!

Cord of Three Strands: 20 States and Counting

2007-01-30T07:35:00.000-06:00

From California to Connecticut, and Texas to Alaska, the Cord of Three Strands has been shipped to 20 different states throughout the United States! Engaged couples throughout the country have been incorporating this unique symbolism as a part of their special day. We at God's Knot are encouraged by the responses that we hear from so many brides and grooms across the Nation. It seems that God continues to use God's Knot in a very special way. We are excited to see what He has in store for us!

Agape

2007-01-25T07:47:00.000-06:00

When we as Christians approach marriage, it is important to know and understand how God has designed it for us. One of the most basic principles of Christian marriage is that Christians are to marry other Christians. 2 Corinthians 6: 14 - 15 reads as follows:

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Paul illustrates that believers should not be "yoked" to unbelievers. The yoke is a reference to a device in Biblical times that was used to bind two animals together, commonly oxen, to carry a heavy load. It is a picture that illustrates the heavy level of interdependence in a very close relationship. Paul points out that there is something dramatically different about a believer. He or she is a temple of the the living God! Believers are composed of 3 parts, the body, the soul, and the spirit of God. However, unbelievers have a body and soul, but do not have the spirit of God in them.

God desires for us to love and be loved in our marriages. His desire is for that love to be a complete, agape love. Agape is a Greek term for love that is used in the New Testament to describe a spiritual love. God has designed marriage for us to love and be loved as whole persons. A big part of that love is the spiritual love that is only possible in a believer that is a temple of the spirit of the living God.

We are certainly called to enter into loving relationships with unbelievers. However, on the topic of marriage, God has asked us to reserve that intimate, interdependent love for another believer. We should not sell ourselves short of all that God has planned for us in a Christian marriage that is centered around Him.

Origin of the Unity Candle

2007-01-22T23:24:00.000-06:00

Assuming you've been to a wedding in the recent past, it is likely you've witnessed the time honored tradition of the lighting of the unity candle. However, how old is this "tradition" and where did it come from? Has it been handed down from the days of the Renaissance? Or at least from before Edison gave us the electric light bulb? Hardly. It's origins can only be traced back 30 to 40 years ago. It is unclear how the practice started, but according to wikipedia.org, it was a TV soap opera that brought it into mainstream popularity and catapulted it into our wedding routines. It has become so common that most couples even believe it's "supposed" to be a part of the ceremony. I guess our culture has united around this new tradition :)