Marriage Focus by MarriageVine
 

Communication Is a Choice
by Dr. Gary Chapman

  

Marriage You Always Wanted - click here

Communication is an act of the will.  Paul illustrated this when he said to the Corinthians: Our heart is opened wide...Now, Open your hearts to us."  He would not have requested what they could not do.  We cannot truthfully say, "I cannot communicate because of my personality."

 

It is true that some of us have what I call a Dead Sea personality.  The Dead Sea receives the waters of the Jordan, but has no outlet.  So we have many thoughts, feelings, and desires throughout the day, but we are perfectly content not to express them.  We have no compulsion to talk.

 

Others have what I call the "babbling brook" personality.  Everything that enters the mind comes out the mouth, and usually there is not a sixty-second lapse between the two.    But the Dead Sea can learn to talk and the Babbling Brook can learn to slow the flow. We are influenced by our personalities, but we are not controlled by them.   

 

Communication is a choice and its skills can be learned.

 

 

 

 

Article written by Dr. Gary Chapman.  Based on the book, The Marriage You've Always Wanted by Dr. Gary Chapman. Published by Moody Publishing.  For a complete listing of Dr. Chapman's books and resources, click here    

What Are Your Foxes?

by Joseph and Linda Dillow
& Peter and Lorraine Pintus

  

 

Song of Solomon 2:15: 

"Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom." 

 

All marriages have foxes. Often the wife sees the foxes first because of her inborn alarm system, but men see foxes too. Some men cite sex as a fox, so they are grateful for this book that helps to ignite intimacy. Which foxes pester you?

 

 

Are your foxes related to people or circumstances?

Overwork

Kids

Finances

Pornography

Conflicts with Relatives

Health Problems

Communication Issues

Unemployment

 

 

Are your foxes related to attitudes and emotions?

Apathy

Anger or Resentment

Shame

Grief

Depression

Other______________

 

 

We must catch the foxes that gnaw at the root of our love because if we don't, they will destory our desire for sexual intimacy.

 

 

Intimacy Ignited - click here for more  

 

Content taken directly from Intimacy Ignited by Joseph and Linda Dillow
& Peter and Lorraine Pintus
published by NavPress, copyright 2004. 
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