Welcome to the CMBA Newsletter!
Life doesn’t always unfold the way we expect it to. As marriage bloggers, we are not immune to changes and transitions in life and in marriage.
Both good and bad changes require us to let go of the familiar. Transition isn’t always an easy thing, even when we welcome it.
This month’s newsletter invites you to share links to places where you’ve supported and encouraged another marriage blogger, introduces you to two great new books for women, and reminds you of the consequences of being a marriage blogger.
New Members
The following blogs joined CMBA since our last issue. Do visit their sites and share an encouraging word.
Ndoa Poa – Steve & Gladys
Marriage 4:29 – posting anonymously
Live Your Best Marriage – Pesa & Whitney
Beautiful Womanhood – Sandy Ralya
Agape Her – Micheal Boyd
Please check your listing on the member’s page to make sure that it is accurate and up to date. If it needs to be changed, send an email to Chris at chris@forgivenwife.com.
From the Forum
The CMBA Member’s Forum is a safe place for us, away from the eyes of our readers, where we can gain insight, encouragement, practical help, and prayers.
Have you visited the forum recently? Come by and take a look. Update your profile, post a question, and see if there are questions from others you can weigh in on.
If you’re new to the forum, you might find it helpful to start in the Getting Started area. You’ll find information about how to use the forum. New members can introduce themselves in this thread.
Click here to join us. If you have questions about the CMBA Member’s Forum, contact Lori at lori@the-generous-wife.com.
Blog Challenge
Share your links!
Did you participate in the August blog challenge? Add the link to where you supported or encouraged another marriage blogger at the bottom of this post. CMBA members who post a link by September 12 will be entered in a drawing to win an Amazon gift certificate or a marriage book (thanks to The Marriage Bed!)
Social Media
Are you on social media? Follow CMBA!
- Pinterest (If you would like to be added to CMBA’s collaborative Christian Marriage and Sex board, email Bonny at pearlmail3@gmail.com. It is easiest if you follow CMBA first.)
Please promote CMBA posts on your own social media. It’s a great way to support other bloggers and point your followers to some great material.
Marriage Resource
If you write for women, be sure to check out two recent books that are already making a splash.
9 Thoughts That Can Change Your Marriage, by Sheila Gregoire
The author gives us nine biblical truths that can help us take responsibility in how we think about our marriages–truths that help us move beyond complacency as we seek oneness and intimacy in our marriages. Sheila’s post about her book includes links where you can purchase a copy.
Through a Man’s Eyes: Helping Women Understand the Visual Nature of Men, by Shaunti Feldhahn and Craig Gross
What does it actually mean when we say that men are visual? How is that a gift in our marriage, and how does it challenge men who want to be godly and honorable in their thoughts? This book explains mens’ visual nature to women and offers strategies for how women can understand and support the men in their lives. You can purchase copies here. The website also includes links to additional resources.
Do you have an e-book, devotional, printable, or other resource that you’ve developed? Let us send a little love your way. If you have a resource that you’d like help promoting, send an email to Chris at chris@forgivenwife.com. A list will be included in a future newletter. It’s a great way to help us encourage each other and see what we’re all up to.
How Do I . . . ?
Consequences of Marriage Ministry
By Brad Aldrich of One Flesh Marriage
It might seem usual to encourage you to become a marriage blogger by talking about the consequences. Yet, everything positive has negative consequences. I have seeing several bloggers jump into marriage ministry without out preparing for the consequences and quickly burn out. In order to maintain an active growing vibrant ministry you will need to prepare for attacks and exposure.
Under Attack
As soon as you launch your marriage ministry you will attract attention. Much of it will be very positive. You will have friends and family who are thrilled to see what you are doing. You will also attract people who disagree with you. They may leave scathing comments, send you nasty emails, or even disparage you and your site on social media. These attacks can be emotional and discouraging for any blogger. Figuring out how to deal with them is an important part of preparing for your ministries launch. We will be talking about specifics ways to deal with outside attacks in a future article, “Spam, Hecklers, Flamers and Haters: How to deal with comments”
Attacks From Within
Running a marriage ministry is risky. Many marriage speakers will tell you that they had the worst fights with their spouse before speaking events. When you stand up to do proclaim marriage God’s way, you become dangerous. When you become dangerous, the enemy attacks. Ephesians 6:12 proclaims, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”(NLT)
As you launch an online marriage ministry prepare yourself and your marriage for attacks.
- Maintain good communication,
- Seek accountability,
- Balance the demands of time blogging with time together
- Pray together
- Recognize attacks for what they are and seek to give grace
- Remember the lessons you have learned, and
- Practice what you “preach” in your marriage!
Over Exposed
One of the best remedies to deal with attacks of the enemy is to bring a group of people around you to pray for you, hold you accountable, and offer you support. This however, leads directly into another potential consequence. Feeling very exposed.
Marriage, the real stuff that goes on behind closed doors does not often get talked about in public settings. Online marriage ministry changes all of that. The light of day shines brightly on the good and the bad of your marriage. As you tell your story you will find a variety of reactions from your friends and family
You Said WHAT?
Many, but not all bloggers choose to share at least some about the importance of positive sexual intimacy in marriage. In sharing this you are breaking some social norms about not talking about the bedroom. All of the sudden many friends might look at you with different eyes (either envious or appalled). This has the potential to change some relationships.
Aren’t You Perfect!
On the other hand some friends and family feel resentment toward anyone who “flouts” that they have everything figured out. No matter how “real” you are about the struggles you have experienced some people will still resent the fact you are a marriage “expert”. This also has the potential to change some relationships.
Dealing with Exposure
Understanding the potential reactions will help you in preparing what to share and how to respond. It is perfectly appropriate to establish blogging boundaries, topics or issues that you are not willing or prepared to discuss. It is also very important that both you and your spouse are on the same page with your decisions. You might be perfectly happy to share your “dirty laundry” with the world, but if your spouse isn’t so sure, or is concerned about the consequences, then you need to listen. Remember your marriage comes first!
A Word about Anonymity
Several of CMBA’s members have decided to deal with these consequences by blogging anonymously. This has benefits and consequences to consider before making a decision. The benefits are obvious; you can avoid the sideways glances in the supermarket, and the whispered words in church. Being anonymous you can also speak “freer” about your past, or about sensitive topics. J from Hot Holy & Humorous had done this very well.
However, before you run off to decide your new blogging alias, there are consequences of anonymity as well. It will be much more difficult to grow your blog when you don’t have the immediate support of friends and family. These are usually the first people to join your page and help share your content. You are missing a huge amplification potential if you don’t tell them who you are. Also, anonymity can have future consequences that could impact your ministries future, making it difficult or impossible to share your content in other forums (speaking or authoring a book).
Don’t be discouraged, but do make sure you consider the consequences before you launch!
Behind the Blog
It’s fun to get to know the person (or people) behind a blog. If you would like to be featured in one of our upcoming newsletters, contact Chris at chris@forgivenwife.com. We’ll provide you with some questions if you like. It’s a great chance to bring some fresh attention to your blog and let us know a little bit about you.
Photo credit | Chris Taylor
Blog Love Challenge: Please share a link to your post here.