“What do you do for a living?” “Where did you go to school?” “Where are you from?” “Are you married? Do you have kids?” These are just a few of the questions that people typically ask each other when they meet. Why? Because they are trying to get to know who you are in a quick snapshot. These are questions everyone expects to hear and…
Heads and Helpers, Part 1 (Identity, 3 of 5)
Few topics ruffle feathers like biblical roles, especially when you talk about ideas like headship and submission in marriage. In this episode we began a conversation (that continues into next week’s episode) where we unpacked the what the Bible says about roles in marriage. Next week, we’ll look at the implications for husbands and wives who are seeking to live in full light of what…
Two Individuals— Complete in Christ— Making Each Other Better
Remember the movie Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger? The line that got the most attention and was probably repeated most often was, “You complete me.” It’s hard for me to even type that line without rolling my eyes. While that might be a sweet line for a sappy country song, it reflects a deeply flawed approach to relationships. No human being “completes” us—…
Who Are We as “Us”? (Identity, 2 of 5)
You may have heard the biblical idea that “two became one flesh” when they get married. But what does that mean functionally? In this episode we talked through the implications of that statement when it comes to aspects of our individual identities as they are retained (or discarded) in a one-flesh marriage. Thanks for listening, we trust you’ll learn something and we pray it blesses…
Standing Firm in Your Identity in Christ
Vacationing at the beach is medicine for my soul. I love nothing more than sitting by the ocean with a good book and listening to the tide roll in. This is my happy place, and my plan on a recent family trip was all about relaxation, but that wasn’t happening this particular morning. Our youngest son wanted to surf. Unfortunately, my husband was busy with…
Marriage Reconstructed (Identity, 1 of 5)
Identity is everything these days. Ideas, politics, gender expressions, race, and sexual orientation, and countless other variables all have one thing in common in today’s culture: they can be your identity if you want… and no one can tell you otherwise. The holy grail of our culture is being able to actualize your most ideal self at any cost and through whatever means necessary. But…
Love Your Spouse for the Joy Set Before You
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…