5 Tips (and Tools) for a Stronger Marriage

Every time of year is a good time to intentionally strengthen your marriage. Many couples Selena and I speak with do have goals, but they rarely include family/marriage related endeavors. Why not? It’s hard to say, but as believers, we’re called to be thoughtful, faithful stewards of EVERY aspect of our lives. So, for a few moments, I want to give you permission to think…

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.

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…

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…

3 Marriage ‘Mines’ and How to Avoid Them

No idea has impacted our marriage quite like the concept of biblical stewardship. When you hear that word you may have preconceptions about what it means, like how it probably has to do with your finances. That’s part of it, but stewardship is so much more! The biggest game changer for us was the notion that we are stewards, not owners, of everything we have.…

3 Ps That Can Poison Your Marriage (Part 1)

Pennies, perversion, and pride. Selena and I have experienced each ‘poison’ for sure; there’s no getting around it. In fact, each poison tries to rear its ugly head and we’re often engaged in full blown warfare to keep them at bay.  They are truly poisonous, they will kill your marriage unless addressed with God’s help. In this post, I’ll discuss our ‘propensity for poison’ and cover the first…

Managing Financial Stress in Your Marriage

Selena and I have seen more than our fair share of financial hardship. We got married during college (Top Ramen date nights!), made lots of dumb decisions, and quit our jobs to start a business. I’ve lost count of how many times our checking account has been below $50 while we were buried in debt, savings-less, and had to pay rent the next day.