A Lifelong Love -- Book Review and Giveaway #alifelonglove

Saying "I do" is like agreeing to get in the car, but true intimate oneness requires a daily commitment to keep driving (keep moving toward each other).   Don't just get in the car.  Take the scenic route with the one you love.  

A few years ago, I read Gary Thomas' book Sacred Marriage, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read and review his newest book, A Lifelong Love:  What If Marriage Is About More Than Just Staying Together?.  The MainMost and I will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary in December.  It is a blessing indeed, but has definitely not been all cotton candy and sugar cookies.  There have been some very tough times, but by the GRACE of GOD we have walked through them together.  

My two oldest daughters are both seriously dating young men and both have Pinterest boards with wedding ideas.  These ideas are ceremony ideas though and not the forever ideas that it takes to truly love and honor one another in sickness and in health, in prosperous times and in lean times, till death do us part.  It takes more than pretty flowers and cute table decorations for a lifelong love.  It is my heart's desire to have taught this to my daughters so that they will fully understand that while GOD does desire our happiness, marriage is designed as a worship experience for couples.  I plan on sharing A Lifelong Love with them.  

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a young lady and she shared with me that she wished there was a word that meant more than "love."  I wasn't quite sure what she meant so I asked her to explain further.  She said that she was so happy and wanted to be able to express more than love with the man she was currently dating.  Seems she had previously said the word love to another gentleman and having found Mr. Right (and not just Mr. Right Now), she so desired something even more meaningful for him.  I recommended that she read A Lifelong Love for ideas and tools that will help her to build a lifelong love to last forever.  

Even after almost 24 years of marriage and a slew of mistakes, the MainMost and I know there are things that we can do better and ways that GOD can use our marriage to bring glory and honor to HIM.  I have enjoyed reading A Lifelong Love and applying the principles shared to my marriage.  I have been convicted, I have been inspired, and I have been reminded to pursue excellence in how I love my husband.  Using a three-point approach, Thomas explains how each marriage can truly be a ministry and representation of worship and how each spouse can love the other more.  Each chapter offers practical hints to honor your spouse that you can do NOW and ends with a series of questions that open your heart and help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses as you pursue a sacred marriage.  This is a great read for new and seasoned marriages alike.  Each chapter ends with prayer -- and that's the very best part.  

About the Book:  Hardcover / 316 Pages 

Discover how to live out a sacred marriage. You believe your marriage has eternal purposes. you long for it to reach beyond your home and encourage others. But what does it look like to have a spiritually intentional relationship in the midst of dirty dishes, work deadlines, and car pools? In Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas showed us that GOD designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy. Now, in A Lifelong Love, Thomas gives us the practical tools to craft our marriages into inspiring relationships that breathe spiritual life to others. (How WONDERFUL is that?)  Whatever season of marriage you are in, A Lifelong Love gives your the practical help you need to infuse your marriage with a spiritual passion that will not only change you but will change the world around you.

You can find out even more about this wonderful book through the following Social Media: 

Official Book Website:  www.alifelonglove.com

Author Gary Thomas’ website: www.garythomas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGaryThomas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/garyLthomas

About the author:

Gary Thomas is writer-in-residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, a frequent guest on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today radio, and a popular speaker.  His award-winning books, including The Sacred Search, have been translated into over a dozen languages and together have sold more than a million copies worldwide. Thomas and his wife have been married thirty years and have three children.

A Lifelong Love is a beautiful marriage resource and one of you can win a copy of your very own. Take just a moment to enter below and please share with your friends.  Our marriages are worth fighting for.  I'll announce the winner on Friday, November 7, so make sure to check back then.

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Because I believe every marriage has great potential,

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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