If Peace in marriage was described using music...

In music, harmony is the pleasing blending of notes to enhance the melody.

In marriage, peace provides a harmony to compliment purpose.

If spouses have purpose in their marriage, then peace becomes the satisfying note to give purpose added dimension. Using music to illustrate peace, harmony would be like consonance in intervals - notes that sound pleasing when played at the same time. The notes sound stable. Peace provides stability.

In addition, peace is not passive - it's an active state. Think of a line of harmony in a song (alto, tenor, or bass). Harmony doesn't remain on one note regardless of the melody; rather it follows the melody, creating a pleasing distinction. Just as peace can follow a couple through their life, complimenting new experiences.

How can you tell when peace is a part of marriage? It shows by how each spouse knows and accepts the underlying motivation of the other - regardless of outward actions. Peace provides stability. Each spouse is secure in their understanding of the other's decisions, because they are united in purpose. Peace provides the harmony to the melody of purpose.

Every marriage can have harmony. However, in music there is more than one style of harmony. Will your marriage harmony be like consonance, which can be compared to peace? The other concept in music harmony is called dissonance - where the interval between notes is uncomfortable. That interval isn’t considered stable according to a musical dictionary.

• consonance - notes put together to sound stable, and pleasing to the ear


• dissonance - notes that are uncomfortable together - the listener's ear is waiting for a change of note to make the sound comfortable

You’ll have to take a look at your marriage and decide what kind of interval and harmony you’d like to live. My desire is that both of you will feel & learn the interval of consonance, thereby the peace of harmony in your marriage.

Shared harmony equals shared peace.

A note on peace: The most precious peace is from God, through Christ Jesus. Only He can give true peace. Read John 14:25-27 to begin to understand that peace.

Join me next time, as I introduce the first of - 7 deliberate actions - using encouragement to bring peace and purpose into your marriage relationship.

If Purpose in marriage was like music...

If purpose in marriage were compared to music,

then purpose would be the melody.

Melody has a direction - a beginning, middle and end. It moves. It soars or plunges and, at some point, it ends. However, there is always more than one melody we love – more than one melody we want to repeat or learn. Melody is like purpose in a marriage. There are times when a purpose comes to an end, and it’s time to find and begin a new purpose.

Think of a piece of music currently on the radio or from your childhood. Chances are it's the melody you remember. It’ll be the melody you hum. A familiar melody can evoke emotion – the remembered joy of an experience, or the poignant memory of a time that can’t be repeated.

Purpose in your marriage is like the melody of a song. If you sing the same melody, it'll be a testimony to your life together. And as you continue your marriage journey, you’ll begin, travel through and end a number of activities that will unite you in purpose. Those purposes will highlight the unique offerings of two souls united.

• Sometimes melody is in a major key - that's the joy and inspiration of the happy times – the successes.


• Other times melody is in a minor key - that's the sorrow and trial everyone must work through.

In life, others will hear your marriage melody and take joy in it. Maybe, as they encounter similar life challenges, they'll try to learn your unique marriage melody and adapt it to their marriage.

In the end, all of our marriages – no matter what season they’re in - have a melody. My desire is that each spouse hums the same melody at the same time - a marriage melody on tune and in key!

Shared Melody equals shared Purpose!

My goal for this blog is to...

teach wives and husbands
that are committed to a future together
to use the power of encouragement
- there are 7 deliberate actions they can take-
to bring peace and purpose
into their marriage relationship.

If you want to know more go to http://www.encourageyourspouse.com/ , or come back to learn more about each of the seven deliberate actions and how you can use them in your marriage!

My Purpose at Encourage Your Spouse

My purpose

is that they may be

encouraged in heart

and united in love...

Colossians 2:2 NIV