Happy Thanksgiving!

Marital Bliss Magazine wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving! We pray your time with your loved ones is filled with love, joy and togetherness as you collectively give thanks for all of your many blessings! We would also like to express our gratitude to you for being a supporter of Marital Bliss Magazine! You are dear to us and we pray that each issue will inspire you to thrive in your marriage! Have a very safe and wonderful holiday!

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. ~Psalm 107:8-9

Warmly,
Kennisha Hill
Marital Bliss Magazine, Editor-in-Chief
http://www.maritalblissonline.com





December 2009 Issue Launches December 7th! 


The Christmas season is quickly approaching and Marital Bliss Magazine's Holiday issue will get you in the Christmas spirit! We've got an exclusive interview with Stellar and Dove Award nominee, Lisa McClendon!! We also have 12 Best Gifts for Him and Her without breaking the bank + more! Our new issue will launch December 7th!

Missed our October/November issue? Click HERE to catch up! (The link will direct you to a PDF file. You will need Adobe Reader to view it. Download Adobe for free, here.)

Yearn for your mate!

Do you remember your first telephone conversation with your spouse? If your conversation was anything like mine, I bet your laughing right about now. I remember it like it was yesterday.

” Hello, may I speak to Kee-lieus” I asked, unsure if I pronounced his name correctly.
” This is Kellus!” he said- his strong baritone voice boldly correcting my mistake.

I felt awful. In fact, the first 30 minutes of our conversation, I felt the urge to apologize. A little later, I became more and more comfortable wtih the voice on the other end of the line. And, from that day forward, we would chat on the phone for hours at a time on each call. The mystery of “who is this person” was revealing itself to me little by little-after each conversation. I wanted to know it all and didn’t want to give a second of our talk-time to silence. I yearned for him.

Now that we are married, with a toddler and a little girl on the way, it seems hard to find the time for those “unimportant” conversations; for those sweet small talks. I am a stay at home mom, so I am very busy with our son during the day. When my husband arrives home, these days I find myself itching for a break so I can lay down and relax. Life suddenly appears a routine.

The Lord had to show me that we need to sacrifice to get to know each other more. In marriage, growth is crucial. In fact, in life you will either move one or two ways: closer or apart.
When I say sacrifice, I mean, drop the kids off at a sitter. Put the kids to bed early. Pick a day of the week or two nights a month and designate them as “Date Night”.

Wouldn’t you like to get the same butterflies in your stomach- you know, like the ones you once had during those first phone conversations and dates? If so, make time for them. Trust me, it will only benefit your marriage.
Let’s yearn for time with our spouses- as much as Solomon yearned for his wife; his Beloved.

“My dove in the clefts of the rock,  in the hiding places on the mountainside,  show me your face,  let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” Song of Solomon 2:14

Having Joy, In Spite Of....

When you think of the word Joy, what's the first thought about comes to mind? Is it happiness? Laughter? Fun? Well, if so, you're on the right track. However, real joy isn't always contingent upon your happiness, laughter or bouts of fun. Dictionary.com tells us that joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. Although happiness is usually accompanied by joy, it's not always. It is very well as normal to find joy in the midst of frustration. How so?

     Joy is a fruit of the spirit. It's not just a reaction toward a situation. Real joy goes a bit deeper than that. There are times in your marriage where you will just be flat out frustrated at things. Your spouse may not always treat you the way you'd like to be treated. Your finances may look a hot mess and as if you'll never get out of debt. Your children may cause you to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Your in a marriage, yet, still feel lonely. And to be honest, your spouse might just get on your last nerve sometimes. How in the world can you find joy in the midst of those stumbling blocks? Truthfully, you can deal with those minut frustrations and still have an unspeakable joy!

1 Peter 1:8 says "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible (unspeakable) and glorious joy.

I often compare our marriage relationship to our relationship with Christ (since, in fact, marriage is a representation of God's love for us as the bride of Christ). In this scripture, Peter is explaining how although we have not seen him (Jesus) you love him, and even though we do not see him (Jesus) now, we believe in him (Jesus) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. This is the joy that is brought on by our faith in Christ.

Now, God never promised that our lives as Christians would be peaches and cream. Instead, he went as far as explaining how you should rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)

And, in 1Thessaloneians 1:6 Paul was speaking to the church of Thessaloneians when he said in verse 6 "You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." (1Thessaloneians 1:6)

Similarily, in marriage we should hang in there with the fullness of joy simply because of our faith in Christ that no matter what we are facing in our marriage, God can heal, restore and redem.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever (NASB)

    When you are filled with the joy of the Lord, you could be experiencing a category 5 hurricane in your marriage, but your faith (even the size of a mustard seed) is what's keeping your wind calm and steady. As I mentioned before, real joy isn't contingent upon happiness [always steming from good things.] If anything, our joy comes from God because He is the who can turn any situation into a blessed experience.  This week, I encourage you to hold fast to the word and not look at your situation with your natural eye. Instead, put on this fruit of the Spirit and trust that God will take care of you and your marriage, regardless of how frightening it looks sometimes. Don't let the frustrations of life get you down. Pray and ask the Lord to fill you with His unspeakable joy. This joy will not fade away in the fire.

Thank you for visiting Marital Bliss eMagazine's blog today. For more weekly devotionals, be sure to come back to http://maritalblissonline.blogspot.com/. Subscribe Today to get this free marriage magazine at  http://www.maritalblissonline.com/.

Marital Bliss eMagazine Exceeds Expectations!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 20, 2009 – On August 17th, 2009, Marital Bliss Online launched its first eMagazine issue with interviews from two incredible faith-based artist; Contemporary Christian Artist, Michelle Bonilla and Author, Christine Pembleton.

Michelle Bonilla is a phenomenal Christian singer who delivers messages of empowerment through her songs. In the midst of crucial rehearsals for an upcoming engagement, Michelle took time to chat with Kennisha Hill, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Marital Bliss eMagazine.  "I love the concept, because we all need it [Marital Bliss]", Michelle said. Michelle shares the beautiful story of how she and her husband, CEO of Rocksoul Entertainment Lee Jerkins met, along with awesome tips for young married couples who work together.

In the same issue, Kennisha Hill interviewed Christine Pembleton, the author of Lord, I'm Ready To Be A Wife. Christine's book is filled with timely and very profound principles that single women should apply if they desire to be married.  For our single readers, she gave a few tips on what to do if you're seeking marriage; one of which was to "Burn your list of what your dream man is. A dream man is a figment of your imagination!"

Our most recent issue, (October/November issue) featured  Stellar Award Winner and Grammy Nominated Jazz Musician, Ben Tankard. Ben and his wife Jewel shared with Kennisha Hill their blessing that came after their previous marriages. Their new love story inspired our readers who may be seeking for love after coming from broken relationships.

After giving a survey to our rapidly growing subscriber base, one reader shares,"This magazine has exceeded my expectations! It's a great read and I am thankful that there is finally a magazine like this out there."

Marital Bliss eMagazine is a free bimonthly online publication! You can get this great read directly in your email Inbox by visiting our website ( http://www.maritalblissonline.com ) today and subscribing!

Thrive in your marriage!

# # #
About Marital Bliss eMagazine

Marital Bliss is a bimonthly eMagazine created to encourage newly married couples to do more than survive in their marriages; we want them to THRIVE! Contrary to what the world believes, marriage is an incredible blessing from God! We want to make sure they know it!

We are a Christian magazine, which means our content will always encourage you with biblical principles. We conduct interviews with Christian artist and authors, review dating hot spots, write music and book reviews. Other columns include, parenting, health and nutrition and a Christian Fiction column.

Subscribe Today
http://www.maritalblissonline.com

Pursuing Peace in Marriage

When I think of the word "peace" these are the things that come to mind: quietness, stillness, safety, sanity and comfort. But, when I think of peace in marriage, sanity seems to stick out more than any other word. I mean, let's admit it. Sometimes, we just want a flat out sane mind. With so much opposition towards marriage in this world and the regular challenges we may face, at the end of the day, we just want a sane/sound mind. Right? Well, maybe it's just me. But sometimes I feel like I need supernatural peace to keep my mind right. If you ever feel this way too, this is when you know you need to pray for peace!

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit that's mentioned in the book of Galatians and is very beneficial to our walk with Christ. John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." This is Jesus Christ speaking to Judas about how the Holy Spirit, our Counselor whom the Father sent in His name, will teach us all things(vs. 26). Jesus gave the disciples assurance that they would not have to worry while he's gone because the Holy Spirit will be there (is here) to help be our comfort, peace and Counselor in times of need. And, we all have times when we need those things. Right?

We should also desire to dwell peacefully with one another. Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Sometimes it's easy to just set things aside for temporary quietness and say "For the sake of peace, I'm not going to say a word!" The truth is, that's not really being peaceful. Being a peacemaker means in a very civil and respectful way, you will deal with whatever issue you have instead of putting it on the side to let it fester up. A peacemaker is gentle; even in correction and rebuke. The other person never feels condemned or judged- instead they feel loved. This type of peace is crucial for a healthy marriage.


In Psalm 34:14, we are encouraged to pray for peace; to pursue it. In our ordinary lives outside of marriage, we should seek peace on its own. However, in marriage, we need to ask God to fill our home with it.

The peace of God can provide a safe haven for you and your spouse. It brings calmness in the midst of pain; so much so that when people look on the outside at your circumstance whether you're going through a financial struggle, traumatic incident or the "we just can't get along syndrome" your response is one of peace instead of frustration. This is the peace that's defined as the one that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Meaning, people just don't get how in the world you and your spouse are able to hang in there in the midst of that thing.

Last year, my husband and I experienced our third miscarriage. Though hurtful beyond measure, my husband and I leaned heavily on God's peace. Although we could not understand why God would allow our hearts to be broken again, still, that peace that's described in Philippians 4:7 took precedence and filled our hearts and our home. We would not give room for depression and stress. Instead, we decided to trust in the Lord. And, this was how we were able to hang in there; keep our sanity.

Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trust in you." 

This week, I'm writing to encourage you to pray for peace in your home; to pursue it. Whatever you are facing in your marriage/life, I want you to declare that you will trust in the Lord and ask God to fill your home with his peace. I challenge you to trust in Him because he knows what your situation is and can bring you out of it. Don't let the enemy discourage you or give him room to bring depression, anxiety and worry into your home. Instead, pray to be a woman/man who relies completely on God's word and allow peace to dwell inside!

Thank you for visiting Marital Bliss eMagazine's blog today. For more weekly devotionals, be sure to come back to http://maritalblissonline.blogspot.com. Subscribe Today to get the #1 Christian Marriage Magazine! http://www.maritalblissonline.com. 

Exercising Love in Marriage

Song of Solomon 1:2 "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
       for your love is more delightful than wine."

 I'm sure you can remember the first day you met your eventual spouse. Eyes were twinkling and sweat was probably running down your face in nervousness. You were probably very anxious as you anticipated your first date. This cute infatuation then turned into love as you got to know him/her. Your love blossomed. You both began to paint your own masterpiece and write your own book. You were unstoppable. And then, you said I do and doves flew, you jumped over brooms and ate delicious wedding cake. Again, you were unstoppable.

This love that we experienced at the beginning of marriage should never wilt. Instead, it should constantly grow. It should mature into a love that can sustain hurricane forced winds. No matter what forces may try to come against you, your love for each other should be able to hold firm. It should never crumble.

There's one thing I've learned about love so far in my marriage. Love loves in spite of and not because of. In spite of my husband's imperfections, I love him tenderly. In spite of the many times I may get frustrated over the the smallest things, I love him deeply. In spite of the many disagreements and arguments, I still love him. You see, the real love that we should have for each other, supercedes infatuation. It's not all about the things that I am attracted to in him. Instead, I love him even in things that are unattractive. This is some serious love, right?

In the book of 1Corinthians chapter 13, we learn that "love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..." 

There are times where I have to step back and make sure I'm operating in love. The pressures of life can easily make us snap, get frustrated or even act "ungodly" with our husbands/wives. Let's be real. We do have to check ourselves, occasionally.  I have to pray and ask God to help me be patient and kind with my husband. I have to practice the art of being nice and not rude or short with him. If I want to exemplify real love, Godly love, with my husband then I must learn to examine my actions and love him the way God wants me to; the way my husband needs me to. These verses in this chapter are really powerful. All of these attributes are exactly who Jesus Christ is to us. And, if we truly want to know how to love, we need to learn how to love like Christ.

There is an excellent book out called, The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman. Synopsis: Are you and your spouse speaking the same language? While love is a many splendored thing, it is sometimes a very confusing thing, too. And as people come in all varieties, shapes, and sizes, so do their choices of personal expressions of love. But more often than not, the giver and the receiver express love in two different ways. This can lead to misunderstanding, quarrels, and even divorce. Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch are the five love languages. Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love. Learn to speak and understand your mate’s love language, and in no time you will be able to effectively love and truly feel loved in return.Skillful communication is within your grasp!

I encourage you to add this book to your book shelf, if you haven't already. This book provides an excellent resource for you and your spouse. We all love in very different ways. I believe it's important that we truly get to know what pleases our husbands/wives. This will make our marriage last that much longer!

This week, I encourage you to ask your spouse how do you need me to love you? Find out what he/she needs and practice it for them. To order your copy of The Five Love Languages, visit http://www.fivelovelanguages.com or your local Christian bookstore.

QUIZ

Gary Chapman has a 30 second assessment on his website. Take this quiz and find out what your love language is. Please click HERE to take the quiz.

Thank you for visiting Marital Bliss eMagazine's blog today. For more weekly devotionals, be sure to come back http://maritalblissonline.blogspot.com and visit our website http://www.maritalblissonline.com.

We should grow together!

Saturday afternoon, my husband and I decided we should go out and eat. We went to one of my favorite restaurants, Red Lobster. It was really refreshing to get out with my husband and children. My son behaved so well at the table and our daughter was sleeping most of the time. It was a perfect dinner.

Well, as my husband checked his work Blackberry, I stared at him. I was proud. I told my husband, "You know, you've changed." He smiled and asked, "Really? How so?" I explained to him that by change I mean, he's grown. You see, I notice a huge difference in the Kellus I knew before we got married and the Kellus and I know today. They are two completely different people, ranging from his recreational interest to his work ethic; even his spirituality. He has grown. As we continued to chat, he gave me the same compliment.

This drew me to compare our relationship with Christ to our marriages. When we accept Christ into our hearts, we begin on our earthly journey that is filled with growth! We go through things in life, ultimately to grow. We're tested, tempted and tried along the way. But, the things we endure are not in vain. This is how we grow; it's how we learn. This is what happens in our relationship with God. This is also what happens in our marriage relationship.

Marriage is filled with all sorts of test, Amen? I know I can get a witness. Sometimes we probably wish God would have written a Marriage Manual exclusively for us; one that instructs us on how to live with our mates. That would be nice, but it's certainly nonexistent. It may feel like it's one thing after the next that we go through. But, truth is, the things we are facing is really going to build your marriage testimony. Scripture tells us that All things work together for the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28). This includes things we face in life in general, but also in our marriages. Again, God can use things we go through to build our testimony.

Think of things you previously went through in your marriage. How did you make it out and did it bring you and your spouse closer? Did it help you grow?

In the first three years of our marriage, my husband and I endured a lot. I'll spare the details, but the Lord really has carried us through some very trying times. However, the things we went through together made us stronger; stronger in our Faith and stronger in Love with each other. God had to show us how to go through those things together; how to be each others comfort during times of grief and how pray each other through difficult decisions. This is one very effective way to ensure growth in your marriage; prayer and unity.

We can also help each other grow by being supportive. Our husbands/wives need us to be their cheerleaders. We should always provoke them to do good works- to be successful. They should walk out of the door knowing they have a strong support system at home. This boost their confidence and makes their road a little easier, especially if they were feeling insecure.

Our relationships should be one that is constantly growing to higher heights. Today, I challenge you to sit down and think about how your spouse has helped you grow in life. Think about what you have done that helps your husband/wife be successful in all areas in their lives. I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to help you be a blessing to your husband/wife. Tell them how proud of them you are and how blessed you are. Share your thoughts with them.


Thank you for visiting Marital Bliss eMagazine's blog today. For more weekly devotionals, be sure to come back http://maritalblissonline.blogspot.com and visit our website http://www.maritalblissonline.com.


Have a blissful week in your marriage!


Warmly,
Kennisha Hill