Loving and serving my spouse…. and loving and serving myself. What’s the relationship between the two? Are they opposites? They certainly seem to be! Is one part of the other? Which one? Two truths from Scripture Jesus is very clear in Luke 9:23— If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. We also have…
5 Habits to Consistently Feel Joy Together (Joy, 4 of 4)
In past episodes we’ve looked at why joy is rightfully attached to our emotions. But, we don’t have to wait until we feel joy to stir it up in ourselves! In this week’s episode we talked about 5 very tangible things couples can do to have consistent joy together. We hope it blesses you! Read the Full Transcript
Crushing Porn Use With God’s Joy Over You
What if Eve had just poked her head around the tree instead of staring at its fruit? What if Adam had reminded her of the fruit hanging from other trees just a few steps away? She could’ve spent her whole day rejoicing in all of the fruit God had given her to eat. Five minutes later she could’ve been so lost in God’s good pleasures…
Dealing with a Persistent Lack of Joy in Marriage (Joy, 3 of 4)
Every couple experiences seasons where things feel joyless. The question is, What do you do to rekindle the joy in your marriage when those times come? In this episode we looked at ways the Bible instructs us to stir our affections for God and why we can expect to experience joy when we do so within the context of marriage. Read the Full Transcript Read…
The Difference Between Joy and Happiness
Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy. Reading those definitions, it’s easy to see why people routinely confuse the two. But make no mistake: they are not the same. The honeymoon is over! I learned this lesson the hard way when I got married. Just after the honeymoon ended, it seemed to me…
Truly Enjoying Your Spouse (Joy, 2 of 4)
You love your spouse, but do you *like* them? It was affection that brought you together, but what should you do when affection fades and marriage begins to lack joy? In today’s episode we talked about truly enjoying each other by looking at three ingredients necessary for a joy-filled relationship. Read the Full Transcript Read the Shownotes
Hope and Lament in Seasons of Heartache
How do we delight in the face of suffering? When we walk through seasons of heartache— including seasons of difficulty in our marriages— how do we maintain a posture of delight? Here’s the bottom line: as Christians, our delight— even our faith—isn’t sustained by us. In my darkest hour, when suffering persists and pain swells, God is still good and faithful. Though my feelings waver…
The Roots of Marital Joy (Joy, 1 of 4)
Everyone wants a joy-filled marriage—one that’s happy and where you feel love for your spouse and you feel their love reciprocated. Life happens, joy fades, and where does that leave us? As Christians, we have the promise of joy as we walk in step with the Spirit. So, what should do in times when joy feels foreign and impossible to find? In this episode we’ll…
War Story, Part 2 (Steven and Brooke Elliott)
In April 2004, Army Ranger Steven Elliott was deployed with the 2nd Ranger Battalion to Afghanistan. The objective of operation “Mountain Storm” was to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden. On April 22, Steven’s squad was attacked by enemy combatants which resulted in 4 casualties, one of whom was former NFL safety, Pat Tillman. This is part two of our interview with our good…
War Story, Part 1 (Steven and Brooke Elliott)
In April 2004, Army Ranger Steven Elliott was deployed with the 2nd Ranger Battalion to Afghanistan. The objective of operation “Mountain Storm” was to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden. On April 22, Steven’s squad was attacked by enemy combatants which resulted in 4 casualties, one of whom was former NFL safety, Pat Tillman. This is part one of our interview with our good…