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Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott

Is Living Together Before Marriage OK?

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family One Comment

Living Together Before Marriage? In Biblical days, My fiance and I would be married. What are the differences? Cohabitation is very common these days, and many couples find themselves asking whether they should “test out” their relationships before they get married by moving in together. Conventional wisdom suggests that it makes sense, but research shows otherwise. In this video, we discuss some of the research findings surrounding unmarried couples who live together, versus couples who married before they shared a home. Did you and your spouse wait until marriage to live together? If you lived together before marriage, how did…

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10 Ways to Pray for Your Wife

By Communication, In-laws & Family, Time One Comment

Your wife is a gift. She blesses you with love, companionship, help, and plenty of fun. As the spiritual leader of your family, you are responsible for guiding her (and any children you may have) in God’s path. Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” A major part of your role as husband and spiritual leader is covering your wife in prayer. Through prayer, you have an avenue directly to God; you can approach Him at any time on her behalf. Here are 10 ways you can pray for…

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Initiating Intimacy: Is it OK to Ask My Husband for Sex?

By Communication One Comment

Why do I feel cheap asking my husband for sex? How do I get over it? Transitioning from your role as an unmarried young woman to being a wife is often challenging; suddenly, you’re in a more vulnerable place than you’ve ever been. It can be difficult for some wives to seek out and initiate intimacy with their husbands, but it’s important to start getting out of your comfort zone. In this video, we discuss the importance of approaching your husband to initiate sex, even though it may feel a little awkward for you at first. You’ll let him know…

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5 Ways to Overcome Unmet Expectations

By Communication 2 Comments

The trash is overflowing. The check engine light has been on for weeks. The dishes are piling up. You have a free night coming up and no plans have been made. You thought marriage would fix your problems, yet you find them magnified. Phones, emails, and text messages rule over conversation and quality time. Expectations. We all carry them, and never more so than in the context of marriage. They can be powerful, but can also go very wrong. When they are realistic and communicated in a healthy context, you will typically find a marriage that is thriving. When unmet,…

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ʺMind-Readingʺ Magic: Building Clear Communication in Marriage

By Communication, Conflict No Comments

I feel like since we got married I don’t know what’s going on in my wife’s head. What happened? When you were dating your spouse, you talked about everything–it felt like you were on the same wavelength. But now that you’re married, you realize you have no idea what your spouse is thinking. Everything between you two was open before, but now there are times when you feel totally lost. So what gives? In this video, we share some ideas for practicing healthy “mind-reading” in marriage that will help you overcome the communication barriers you may be experiencing. Did you…

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10 Ways to Pray for Your Husband

By In-laws & Family 9 Comments

Fervent prayer is tremendously powerful. Praying for your husband is one of the most important things you can do for the health of your marriage. Calling on God to bless your husband will not only benefit him; it will transform your entire family for the better. There are numerous ways to cover your husband in prayer. Here are 10 important prayers to lift your husband up as you walk through life together. Pray for his ability to lead spiritually. Your husband is meant to be the spiritual leader of your family. The book of Ephesians says, “The husband provides leadership…

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Secrets for Truly Enjoying Your Spouse Again

By Communication, Time No Comments

How do my spouse and I improve our level of enjoyment when we are together? Over the years, married couples tend to stop focusing so much on the things they absolutely love about each other. They begin taking the things that first attracted them to each other for granted–and this is true for most married couples. So how do we regain our focus on one another and improve our level of enjoyment when we’re together? In this video, we discuss the importance of writing down the best qualities about your spouse that will bring your focus back to what drew…

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What Every Husband Should Know About His Wife

By Communication No Comments

The contrasts between men and women are sometimes so striking that we often hear couples say they’re amazed that the attraction between them can be so strong. Distinctions in gender are undeniable, and in recent years researchers have discovered that men and women have different biological, psychological, and professional realities. There is an inherent completeness when a man and woman marry. Our partner makes up for what we lack. Too often in marriage, though, the fundamental differences between men and women are overlooked and become sources of great frustration and tension. To ignore the gender gap is to risk putting…

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How to Support Your Spouse After a Traumatic Event

By Communication, Conflict No Comments

What Is the Best Way to Support My Spouse After a Traumatic Event? After a traumatic event, you might feel like you’ve lost your spouse–even though he or she is physically with you. As your spouse navigates the waters of post-traumatic stress or depression, you may feel lonely or helpless. How do you help your husband or wife through a difficult time like this? In today’s video, we offer advice for supporting your spouse through the emotional fallout that often occurs in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Have you or your spouse needed support after experiencing a tragedy or…

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Faith & Fighting: Is it OK to Argue in a Christian Marriage?

By Communication, Conflict One Comment

Somewhere along the way, a little lie snuck its way into Christian culture, whispering that couples who are truly following God simply won’t fight. That a Christ-centered marriage means an always peaceful marriage. That good, church-going husbands and wives should not encounter discord. The truth? It is absolutely OK to argue within a Christian marriage. And in fact, not only is it OK, but it’s actually good–when fair, mature, and under the right circumstances. Here are three reasons why fighting is not only OK, but also fruitful. It’s OK because fighting well allows us to live under realistic expectations. We’re…

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