The following are Web sites and resources that could help you to determine if “he or she is the one.” We pray they will minister to your heart.

• www.beforeyougetengaged.com This web site helps you to consider various issues that are important as you decide whether or not “he or she is the one” that you should marry some day. It features material from the book Before You Get Engaged, written by Dr David Gudgel, Brent Gudgel, with Danielle Fitch, which is published by Thomas Nelson. On this web site you will find a sample chapter of the book, You Tube advice videos from Dr David Grudgel, a sermon download on relationships, companion book guides to help you as you read the book “Before You Get Engaged”, a radio interview with Dr Grudgel, advice on various issues, and more that you may find helpful.

• HOW DO YOU FIND A MATE? This is a radio broadcast produced by the ministry of Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey aired August 8 -10, 2007. On this broadcast, Alistair Begg, senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, instructs college students on the finer points of choosing a mate. It’s a program that is humorous and yet compelling, and could be helpful for any young person to listen to or read. You can either listen to the broadcast (which has 3 parts to it) or you can read the transcript on the web site for this great ministry. For the first day of this broadcast titled “How Do You Find a Mate?” please click HERE. For the second day of broadcast titled “Instructions to Women” please click HERE. For the third day of broadcast titled “Instructions to Men” please click HERE.

• PRE-MARRIAGE PRE-REQUISITES. This is a two-part radio broadcast produced by the ministry of Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey aired May 22, 2007. The question is asked: How can a person prepare to have an optimum marriage? On this broadcast, pastor Tom Elliff tells how to get the most out of a marriage by identifying five prerequisites that must be in line before a wedding takes place. You can either listen to the broadcast or you can read the transcripts on the web site for this wonderful ministry. To do so, we have provided a web site link you can use to get to the first and second day of this two day broadcast. To go to the first broadcast, please click HERE. To go to the second day of this broadcast, please click HERE.

• www.realrelationships.com This is the web site for Dr Les and Dr Leslie Parrott who are a husband-and-wife team who not only share the same name, but the same passion for helping others build healthy relationships. In 1991, the Parrotts founded the Center for Relationship Development on the campus of Seattle Pacific University — a groundbreaking program dedicated to teaching the basics of good relationships. Their web site has free videos that you can view on your computer which gives relationship advice on many different subjects you will deal with in your married lives together including “Pre-marital” which will help you to decide if you should marry in the first place. We highly advise that you visit their web site to see what they can offer you.

RESOURCE DESCRIPTIONS:

• BEFORE THE RING -by William L Coleman, published by Discovery House Publishers. This book has a different “spin” on things than most, because it actually focuses in on helping couples to know if they really SHOULD consider marriage. It’s a book that is designed for couples to take the time to get to know each other all the more. It suggests questions for couples to to consider. Every couple wants an ideal marriage. They want assurance that their love will last a lifetime. They want some guarantee that they are making the right decision. Although there are no guarantees, author William Coleman says there is a way to assure yourself that you are marrying the right person. Ask questions — lots of questions. Of yourself. Of each other. And then be honest with your answers. To get reliable answers, you have to ask the right questions. And that’s the goal of this book. Preview or purchase this book now.

• BEFORE YOU GET ENGAGED -by David Gudgel and Brent Gudgel, with Danielle Fitch, published by Thomas Nelson. This book was born from an idea that started during a Focus on the Family radio interview with counseling pastor David Gudgel on another topic. It offers advice and direction for those who are dating who are considering whether or not they will want to eventually marry. It can be seen as a pre-engagement book —which makes it unique. It aims at equipping you with insight, confidence, and peace to make one of the biggest decisions of your life. (It also has fun and endearing marriage proposal tips included as well as ways to gently ask your significant other for more time.) Pastor Gudgel says about this book, “My prayer is that whatever the future holds for you, this book will help you be sure that you are getting engaged, and ultimately married, to the right person.” Preview or purchase this book now.

• BREAKING UP …He’s Just Not That Into God -by Stina Wilson, published by Kregel Publications. This is not an easy book because it challenges your thoughts on what God would want from you when and if you enter into marriage. A few of the questions addressed are: “How do you know if a relationship is godly? What does a ‘godly relationship’ even mean? Does it mean abstinence? What do you do if your relationship isn’t godly?” Building on her personal experience and years of working with students in Young Life, Stina Wilson has written this book to help you answer these complicated questions. She will help you find out if your relationship is godly, decide if (and how) you should break off the relationship, cope with guilt and emotional fallout, and finally move forward to a new relationship with God, safe in the promise that He will always care for you. Preview or Purchase This Book Now.

• FINDING THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE -by Neil Clark Warren, published by Focus on the Family. This book will help you see if you’ve really found the love of your life. Through interesting real-life stories, you’ll learn 10 proven principles for choosing a mate and 7 danger signs to avoid. Now your head will know if your heart is right! Preview or buy this book now.

• HOW CAN I BE SURE? …Questions to Ask Before You Get Married -by Bob Phillips, published by Harvest House Publishers, www.harvesthousepublishers.com. This book is actually designed not to be an “answer book for marriage problems”, but rather it’s meant to be an inventory and “discussion guide to help couples open up important channels of communication; express their thoughts, desires, and feelings to each other; and enhance their growing relationship together.” The author recommends that each person should have a personal copy in which to write his or her own responses. As the author Bob Phillips says, “If you will honestly share with each other your thoughts and feelings with regard to the questions, your future marriage will begin on a strong, firm, and mutually satisfying foundation.”

This book is also designed to be a helpful tool in the hands of Pastors and Counselors for pre-marital counseling. The topics covered are: Family Background, Previous Marital History, Status of Present Relationship, Religious Background, Children, Finances, Communication, and also has a Sexual Inventory along with a Wedding Checklist and additional resources. There is a good explanation in the beginning of the book for Pastors and Counselors, Teachers and Leaders (as well as for couples alone) to know how to best use this tool to aid couples know each other better before marriage. Preview or purchase this book now.

• I, ISAAC, TAKE THEE REBEKAH -by Ravi Zacharias, published by W Publishing Group. The purpose of this book is to help you move from romance to lasting love. Whether you are seriously dating, contemplating marriage, or committed to making your marriage strong, the insightful Bible-based counsel this book provides will offer you strength and wisdom as you move from romance to lasting love. Ravi Zacharias says the following about this book,

“It may not be an overstatement to say that a person makes heaven or hell on earth depending on the one he or she marries. …Marriage is an extraordinary relationship. It is a commitment from which you dare not take a vacation. It demands nurture and care, and like a tender shoot, the better the care, the better the blossom. But to be sure it is hard work. Different cultures view marriage differently. If we are not careful, we can begin to believe that marriage is society’s idea within the framework of each culture and, therefore, we may deal with it as we will. Nothing could be further from the truth. Marriage was God’s idea, and He alone has the right to define how it was meant to be. Within these pages I have made an effort to present God’s intention for marriage as given to us in His Word. Sooner or later we all come to the realization only when we do marriage God’s way do we reap the benefits. When we do marriage our way, we damage His intent and pay the price.” Preview or purchase this book now.

• SIX CHARACTERISTICS FOR A POTENTIAL MATE -by Dennis Rainey from the ministry of Family Life Today. Dennis is often asked, “What should a single person look for in a potential spouse?” Singles want to know …and parents want to know so they can pass the information on to the children. So he came up with a list for males and females. To read the list, we’ll take you to their web site. Please click HERE.

• 10 GREAT DATES BEFORE YOU SAY “I DO” -by David and Claudia Arp, published by Zondervan. This book has a unique approach featuring fun-filled dates to help seriously dating and engaged couples strengthen their relationship. Couples will soon discover whether or not to go to the next level of commitment, and will spend quality time together now while preparing for a great marriage in the future. It combines the best of marriage preparation research with a fun, easy-to-follow format. Couples will love growing together while going out together. Some of the topics these dates cover: Share your hopes and dreams, Appreciate your differences, Communicate and connect, Develop spiritual intimacy, Evaluate your relationship, Celebrate romance, and more. Preview or purchase this book now.

• 101 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU GET ENGAGED -by H. Norman Wright and Gary Oliver, published by Harvest House Publishers. The aim of this book is to help couples become more confident about whether or not to pursue marriage. These relationship experts and couple’s counselors steer potential brides and grooms through a series of soul-searching and in-depth questions to discern if they’ve really met “the one.” They also address the delicate subject of calling off the wedding if readers discover that a potential mate isn’t actually meant to be a life partner. Preview or purchase this book now.

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