Things never go as planned. I have an idea of where I’d like my days to go, but the only predictable thing about life is that it’s unpredictable. The vast majority of my life feels like I’m just along for the ride and the driver could care less where I think we should go. Why is life so hard to plan perfectly? Because things happen which…
Finances in Marriage: 7 Principles Every Couple Should Consider
Finances are a hot topic in every marriage. It can be insanely stressful, and if we’re not careful we can get caught up in the comparison game. We certainly don’t know everything about this or have a sliver bullet to fix every financial woe in your marriage. However we have learned a few principles that help us stay focused on the main thing: God. Having…
5 Tips (and Tools) for a Stronger Marriage
I love this time of year. It feels like the eye of the storm—the chaos of Christmas has passed, and a fresh new year is just starting. It’s a time to reflect on the past year (good and bad) and anticipate all that can be in the year to come. Many make goals and resolutions this time of year, and they’re great when they work!…
The 3 P’s That Can Poison Your Marriage
Marriage is a magnificent gift from God, but we’re imperfect people. We have a propensity for poison: our sinful desires tend to poison the pure things in our life. God uses marriage to sanctify us. Our latest episode is also officially live on iTunes (and the Android podcast app of your choice). Listen to this week’s podcast: Listen below, or better yet, choose a button…
Keeping Christmas Simple: Low Pressure, High Impact Gift Ideas
In last week’s episode, we set the foundation for keeping sight of Christ through the consumerism, hustle, and bustle of the holiday season. It’s more important than ever to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as the creator, provider, and sustainer. In today’s episode, we keep it light. Time to get practical. Listen in as we discuss tangible, creative, and inexpensive gift ideas, how to…
Resisting Unchecked Consumerism During the Holidays
The holidays are an incredible time to celebrate together with family. It can also be a very hectic, pressure-filled time for many. How can we maintain perspective (and our sanity) and not get swept away by consumerism? The answer? Jesus. In this episode, we discuss how to be consumed by God instead consumerism this holiday season. Feel free to review the [brief] show notes below…
Dealing with Financial Arguments: Why More Money Isn’t the Solution
Every couple deals with money issues at some point in their marriage. It’s continually a source of stress and a trigger for arguments. Almost every problem around money stems from a lack of margin in every area of life. We tend to live our lives right to the edges, working long hours, spending too much, and struggling to find any semblance of peace in the…
Crushing Unhealthy Comparison
It seems natural to compare ourselves to others. As humans, we compare appearances, careers, marriages, and even spouses. Society encourages it. The chief problem of comparisons is that they’re usually based on romanticized half-truths. Most often when we compare, we base expectations of ourselves on standards that aren’t accurate – they’re perceived.
Reflections On Hardship in Marriage
Over the years (particularly on social media) I’ve seen arguments back and forth about a wealth and prosperity “gospel” and how it aligns (or doesn’t align) with the message of Christ. As I read through some of the articles, I started thinking about how these conflicting messages affect marriage. In John 10:10, Jesus talks about “life to the full” or “abundant life.” What exactly does that mean for…
3 Big Fears Most Couples Face and the Only Way to Shut ’em Down
How many times have we allowed fear to dictate our decisions in marriage? Ryan and I are somewhat opposites in the fact that he is more of a daredevil; ready to summit that next mountain; ride that next wave or simply try a new (somewhat risky) experience without much hesitation. This is one reason why I fell in love with him! On the other hand, I’m…