Have you ever had one of those weeks where things just felt off with you and your spouse? We have. There was about a three week period where we were just missing each other and taking out our stress on one another. I was hormonal and moody and Adam was anxious and stressed. Let me just tell you, that's a terrible combination and a recipe for disaster. There were many arguments that seemed like they were pointless. We’d resolve one conflict and then head right into another one. The times where we … [Read more...]
Trading Our Ability for God’s Security
Stability. Certainty. Familiarity. It’s something we all crave. In the famous words of Dorothy, “There’s no place like home.” These words ring especially true for me. I’m an introvert, so I like having a predictable, quiet space to relax and get my thoughts in order. It’s what fuels me to have my best ideas and work my hardest. Last summer, however, my sense of calm was jilted and we had to begin the journey of moving. Our landlord told us he was selling our house and, after much prayer and … [Read more...]
5 Prayers of Protection for Your Marriage
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” It’s when a husband and wife are both seeking the Lord and submitting themselves to Him, that they can make a great impact for the Kingdom of God. A marriage built on the strong foundation of Christ is a threat to the enemy. While you’re dangerous as a united team, separately, you pose much less of a threat. This is why the enemy will do everything he can to cause … [Read more...]
8 Simple Steps to a Lifelong Marriage
As I was growing up, I was a pretty quiet kid. I didn’t say much, but I was always watching. In our church group, I paid special attention to one family. The husband had a sharp mind for business and was always trying something new. He and his wife led a bible study in their home every week for decades--theirs was the longest running group I was aware of. In addition, he ran a men’s group, and she ran a women’s group. They always seemed to be so in love, and have a great dynamic with their many … [Read more...]
Dear Hurting Wife…
Dear hurting wife, I remember when I was walking through so much hurt in the midst of my marriage, I felt as though my dreams of a happy marriage were meaningless. The words “happily ever after” brought resentment and misery, rather than joy. I mourned not having the best friend that marriage was supposed to bring. The loss of my dreams for our marriage brought a brutal combination of pain and numbness. I remember feeling embarrassed. I was ashamed of the spot that I was in. What did it … [Read more...]
A Marriage Journey
One night a young husband dreamed that he and his wife were walking along a long dirt road. It was the path of their lives as they headed toward heaven. The road wound through a valley surrounded by hills. It was beautiful, quiet, and they rarely saw anyone else for long. It was a great place to talk and find peace. They walk together, side by side, staying on the same road, experiencing the journey at the same time, as one. They’re following a set of footprints made long ago. They know these … [Read more...]
To Submit or Not to Submit?
Submission is probably one of the most controversial words in the English language. At least in marriage conversations. This word has caused division between married couples-- husbands abusing the word and, using it as an excuse to react with control, pride, and aggression, while women either reject the word, trying to force respect or misunderstand the word, embracing the fallacy that they aren’t worthy of respect. As a culture, we’ve taken a beautiful concept and tainted it with our … [Read more...]
Money Matters: How to Build a Functional Budget as a Team
This is the second part of a two-part series on money. Check out Part 1 here: Money Matters: How to Talk about Money Without an Argument One of the more difficult steps early in marriage is working to combine finances and spending styles. We’re strong advocates of all money being shared in joint accounts. But that brings the task of spending responsibly as a team, and the best way to start that is with a budget. Now many people have a “budget” where they don’t pay much attention to what … [Read more...]
Money Matters: How to Talk about Money Without an Argument
This is the first part of a two-part series on money. Part 2 is available here: Money Matters: How to Build a Functional Budget as a Team One of the biggest topics of conflict in marriage is money. When you combine two lives and two established financial styles that can be vastly different, it’s really no surprise. But how do we work together to overcome the struggle and start to have productive conversations about OUR money? When it comes to handling money, there are two personality … [Read more...]
Pillow Talk: 11 Secrets to a Great Sex Life
Let’s talk about sex. If you asked me before I got married, I would have told you that one of the things I was most excited for was sex. I couldn’t wait to be connected to Adam in such an intimate way. I thought our honeymoon was going to just be us in our hotel room the whole time. During and after our honeymoon, however, I found sex to be overwhelming, awkward, disappointing, and honestly, just really difficult. Five years later and my tune has completely changed. I enjoy sex and look … [Read more...]