Marriage on the Mend Table of Contents

A Letter from the Authors Chapter 1 Honoring the Process Would Our Marriage Make it the Second Time Around? True Restoration Takes Time Learning from the Past CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 2 Recognizing Your Roadblocks The Road of Restoration Would Our History Repeat Itself? Nehemiahs Roadblocks Take an Honest Inventory CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 3 Forming a Firm Foundation Laying the Groundwork Going Deeper with God In Hot Pursuit CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 4 Synchronizing Your Standards Whats Your Standard? Veering Off Course Coming into Alignment Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 5 Using Prayer as a Power Tool Facing Each Day with Prayer Making Your Marriage a Prayer Priority Prayer with a Guarantee Cutting through Everyday Conflict Gradients of Agreement Severing Your Strongholds Getting Specific with God Rebuilding Intimacy with Prayer CHAPTER EXERCISES

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Chapter 6 Building Bridges of Forgiveness and Faith Whats the Difference? Building Bridges over Unpleasant Memories The Heart of Reconciliation Different Bridges, Same Outcome CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 7 Deepening Your Discussions Jesus Tackled the Tough Topics Communication Tool 1: Make an Effort to Study Your Spouse Communication Tool 2: Honestly Acknowledge Your Feelings Communication Tool 3: Demonstrate Affirmation and Affection Communication Tool 4: Bathe Courageous Conversation in Prayer Communication Tool 5: Humbly Ask for What You Need Communication Tool 6: Courageous Conversation Should Please the King CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 8 Rebuilding on the Ruins of Your Past Hitting Rock Bottom Rediscovering the Past Rebuilding Trust with Tenderness What the Evidence Tells Us Talking About Trust Rebuilding Trust with Your Children Treasuring Your Shared Past, Anticipating Your Shared Future CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 9 Guarding the Gates of Marriage The Sheep Gate The Fish Gate The Jeshanah Gate The Valley Gate The Dung Gate The Fountain Gate The Water Gate The Horse Gate The East Gate The Inspection Gate Coming Full Circle Being a Marriage Gatekeeper CHAPTER EXERCISES

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Chapter 10 Retrofitting Your Relationship Identifying Your Opponents and Their Tactics Coming at Us from All Sides Posting a Guard Developing a Weekly Strategy Being Equipped and Ready Keep at It CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 11 Managing Your Margins What are Marriage Margins? How God Measures Marriage Getting Away with God What a Mini-Marriage Retreat Looks Like The Seven Focus Areas Mini-Marriage Retreat Sample Goals Last Minute Trip Tips CHAPTER EXERCISES Chapter 12 Traveling Into New Territories Prone to Wander Staying True to Form Plumb Line Principle 1: Less is More Plumb Line Principle 2: No Compromise Plumb line Principle 3: No Confidence in the Flesh The Momentum to Turn the Tide A Change of Season CHAPTER EXERCISES References and Research Sources Know Before You Go! Mini-Marriage Retreat Goal Setting Worksheet Additional Resources General Marriage and Family Reconciliation and Restoration Other Marriage and Family Resources Online Bible Study Aids Recommended Daily Devotionals Books to Read Together Acknowledgments

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