Category

Communication

Our Private Business: Does God Disapprove?

By Communication, Conflict No Comments

Our sex life in the privacy of our home is our business, right? Would God disapprove of anything we do when we’re making love? You and your spouse are incredibly blessed; you get to experience God’s gift of sexual intimacy within your marriage. Making love with your husband or wife can be an adventure, more amazing than you ever dreamed. If you’re engaged but not yet married, you’re probably looking forward to marriage with great anticipation of this almost incomprehensible freedom together. Once you’re married, though, you might wonder what rules God has placed around sex within marriage. What’s OK…

Read More

The Keys to Unlock Great Communication

By Communication 3 Comments

When you ask any couple what the key to a successful marriage is, they’ll likely include “great communication” in their list. But when we’ve asked couples what “good communication” is, we’ve gotten a lot of foggy answers. Not everyone knows the basics to communicating well, and that can lead to a lot of frustration and unmet expectations in a marriage. With so many thick books on communication, it is sometimes difficult to cut through the clutter and sum it all up, so we’ve listed out what we think are great places to start. Here are five keys to unlocking great…

Read More

Living Separate Lives: When Spouses Disconnect

By Communication, Conflict One Comment

My wife and I live separate lives, but God hates divorce. Does God want us to be miserable? If you’re experiencing a dry season in your marriage, take heart–every marriage goes through difficult seasons. Every relationship experiences ebbs and flows in intimacy, and no married couple is going to feel emotionally connected all the time. But right now, it sounds like you feel entrenched, unsatisfied and empty. If you and your spouse have grown overly independent, your marriage may have begun to feel boring and unfulfilling. Maybe you’re still committed, even though that commitment may have been tested. And perhaps…

Read More

Facing Stress Together: How to Keep Your Sanity & Marriage Intact

By Communication, Conflict 9 Comments

Going through a stressful season or life event can take a toll on your marriage and family. How do you deal with the stress together, while keeping your sanity and marriage intact? Today, we’re sharing some tips on how to deal with stressful times as a couple. Remember You’re on the Same Team When the going gets tough, it can be easy for spouses to become agitated with–or even pitted against–one another. We know this isn’t where you want to end up! So when you’re really feeling the pressure of whatever situation you’re in, breathe and remind yourself that the…

Read More

6 Tips for Supporting Your Spouse’s Job Search

By Communication 9 Comments

A change in jobs can be a really stressful time for a couple. Not only are finances in consideration, but the fear of the unknown can take an emotional toll as well. Whether your spouse is looking for a new job because they’re searching for the career they’ve always dreamed about, or they’re hunting for the next thing because they were recently laid off, your strength as a partnership will be put to the test. Here are 6 reminders for supporting your spouse during their job search: Remind them of their gifts, passions, and talents. It’s easy to get quickly…

Read More

How to Listen to Your Spouse–Not Just Hear

By Communication, In-laws & Family One Comment

Is listening important? Why is what we hear more important than what we say in our conversations? It’s been said that the first duty of love is to listen. When we feel heard, we feel loved, known, and understood. Listening is all about communication, and it’s an important skill to cultivate and practice with your spouse. In today’s video, we’re discussing the importance of effective listening when communicating with your husband or wife. When your spouse is communicating with you, it’s important to listen to the verbiage–not just to the words being said, but the underlying emotions. Then, reflect those…

Read More

6 Reasons a Kid-Free Adventure Together is a MUST

By Communication, In-laws & Family, Time 4 Comments

If you and your spouse have children, you know that parenthood is an all-consuming role–especially when the kids are young. Daily routines trump adventure most days, and you find yourself longing for a little time alone together. You might feel a little guilty at the thought of taking a kid-free adventure together, but trust us–it’s healthy for your marriage, for the two of you as individuals, and for your kids, too! Today, we’re sharing 6 reasons why taking a kid-free adventure together is a MUST for your marriage and your family. Grown-Up Time How often do you get time to…

Read More

Raising Independent Daughters: Instilling Strength & Self-Assurance

By Communication, In-laws & Family No Comments

How can I raise my daughter to feel strong and self-assured enough to avoid being dependent on men? You’ve taken time to consider women’s roles in society, and the boxes they often find themselves forced into. But you have a daughter, and you want something different for her. You don’t want her to be dependent on men for approval, or to fulfill her dreams. Instead, it’s important for you to teach your daughter she’s capable of creating a future of her own. So what do you do? In today’s video, I (Leslie) am discussing some ways you can help your…

Read More

What to Do When You Don’t Share Interests

By Communication, Conflict 3 Comments

“Self-interest is the enemy of all true affection.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt He likes going to football games. You like going to concerts. She likes Mexican food. You like Chinese. While love for each other is your common bond, you may not share the same hobbies or interests. So, what do you do when you’re trying to decide how to spend your free time (or even decide what to eat for dinner)? In today’s video, we’re discussing what it means when you don’t share the same interests, and how to leverage that for the growth and betterment of your relationship. “As…

Read More

How to Build Friendships with Other Families

By Communication, In-laws & Family, Time 7 Comments

With the crazy fast pace of the world these days, having a family of your own–plus keeping up with all life’s demands–can feel very isolating. It takes all you’ve got just to get your family through the day…so you’re not sure how to even begin building intentional friendships with other families. The good news is, it’s possible! You can build relationships with other families, and have fun doing it. Today, we’re sharing 3 practices you can put into action right away to start getting connected with other families. Get Connected Friendships are built on having things in common–whether it’s a…

Read More