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Your Marriage Masterpiece: God's Amazing Design for Your Life Together
As a beautiful masterpiece is created by an artist, so it is with marriage, created and designed by the ultimate artist, God Himself. Your Marriage Masterpiece takes a fresh look at the exquisite design God has for your marriage and brings to light the reasons your union was intended to last a lifetime.
- GenresMarriage
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2008
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 29, 2016
“Let us lift the veil and explore the great Artist’s work. Perhaps we can discover what our marriages should look like and how they can shine in their intended colors.” ~excerpt from prologue, Restoring the Masterpiece
Your Marriage Masterpiece is a well-structured look at how God intended marriage to shine, and how our culture has caused it to lose its luster. Marriage is like a house—it will either thrive on a sturdy foundation, or, if built upon the sand, will crumble and fall.
In all honesty, the contents of this book weren’t at all what I expected. I had the notion that it would focus on keeping our marriages strong and fulfilling. In a sense, it is. But I feel it focuses more on marriages that are in trouble. Dealing with strong issues with commitment and selfishness, etc. Rather than an uplifting encouraging pick-me-up, it is more of a guide to strengthen a failing or humdrum marriage.
I’m in a very happy and fulfilling marriage, centered on God, family, and faith, so I didn’t relate to many of the sections of this book, but, and that’s a big BUT, I’ve no doubt this book can change the outlook of a troubled marriage.
I like the premise of the book, and enjoyed many of the story examples. For instance:
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.” ~excerpt from Chapter 8, The Greatest Love Story of All Time
If you are dealing with difficult issues in your marriage, or know someone who is, this book is a valuable tool in helping you see the big picture. The masterpiece God created can be restored.
Cover: Like
Title: Like
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 288
Series: Focus on the Family Marriage
First Line (prologue): Across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel spans one of the greatest artistic triumphs in history.
I received a review copy from the publisher.
Your Marriage Masterpiece is a well-structured look at how God intended marriage to shine, and how our culture has caused it to lose its luster. Marriage is like a house—it will either thrive on a sturdy foundation, or, if built upon the sand, will crumble and fall.
In all honesty, the contents of this book weren’t at all what I expected. I had the notion that it would focus on keeping our marriages strong and fulfilling. In a sense, it is. But I feel it focuses more on marriages that are in trouble. Dealing with strong issues with commitment and selfishness, etc. Rather than an uplifting encouraging pick-me-up, it is more of a guide to strengthen a failing or humdrum marriage.
I’m in a very happy and fulfilling marriage, centered on God, family, and faith, so I didn’t relate to many of the sections of this book, but, and that’s a big BUT, I’ve no doubt this book can change the outlook of a troubled marriage.
I like the premise of the book, and enjoyed many of the story examples. For instance:
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.” ~excerpt from Chapter 8, The Greatest Love Story of All Time
If you are dealing with difficult issues in your marriage, or know someone who is, this book is a valuable tool in helping you see the big picture. The masterpiece God created can be restored.
Cover: Like
Title: Like
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 288
Series: Focus on the Family Marriage
First Line (prologue): Across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel spans one of the greatest artistic triumphs in history.
I received a review copy from the publisher.
October 13, 2016
I’ve read several great marriage books, but what stands out about this one is how inspirational it is. Others are better in explaining key Bible teaching on marriage, and yet others in practical detail, but this one stands out in making you want to be what you should be in your marriage and fulfill God’s will in showing grace.
Janssen clearly excels in creative writing. The book is a joy to read. He uses Bible stories and personal marriage vignettes to make his point. In his Bible stories, he stretches some of them a little beyond what the text can bear, but he makes some great points too. His use of Adam and Eve was his best and most thought provoking.
One of the things that he gives us that I find too often missing is his call to sacrifice in our marriages as our Lord does for us. He believes in protection from gross abuse and practicing tough love in serious situations, but he compels us to sacrifice in our relationship. Sacrifice can feel like pain at times, but that is exactly too what the Lord has done. So many run when loving endurance would not only have honored the Lord, but also likely yielded a great marriage. Simply sticking it out helps many as most couples who dedicate themselves to the marriage, usually rate their marriage great five years later. Selfishness makes many run. For example, he uses Hosea and Gomer, as well as a modern-day Hosea and Gomer to well make his point. (Chapter 14 is riveting).
This turns out to be an updated edition, but somehow I missed the earlier one. In any event, it is a jewel.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Janssen clearly excels in creative writing. The book is a joy to read. He uses Bible stories and personal marriage vignettes to make his point. In his Bible stories, he stretches some of them a little beyond what the text can bear, but he makes some great points too. His use of Adam and Eve was his best and most thought provoking.
One of the things that he gives us that I find too often missing is his call to sacrifice in our marriages as our Lord does for us. He believes in protection from gross abuse and practicing tough love in serious situations, but he compels us to sacrifice in our relationship. Sacrifice can feel like pain at times, but that is exactly too what the Lord has done. So many run when loving endurance would not only have honored the Lord, but also likely yielded a great marriage. Simply sticking it out helps many as most couples who dedicate themselves to the marriage, usually rate their marriage great five years later. Selfishness makes many run. For example, he uses Hosea and Gomer, as well as a modern-day Hosea and Gomer to well make his point. (Chapter 14 is riveting).
This turns out to be an updated edition, but somehow I missed the earlier one. In any event, it is a jewel.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
June 20, 2017
I flew though this book I could not put the book down. Your marriage masterpiece is a great book for any couple to own. Suggest buying one for you and one for your partner. It is a book that talks about how God created marriage as a beautiful work of art that reflects his glory to the world. Shares real life stories with great teaching and biblical scriptures to share the authors point of view it is very much a great study guide for personal reflection or group discussion. I have been married my self for 11 years and I suggest this book to new couples or to couples who have been married even longer then I have.
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
August 18, 2014
Good, not great. In the sense that it got me thinking more deeply about my marriage, then it was good. But there are a lot better marriage books out there. Before Sinners Say 'I Do' is one.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews