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…
Priorities and Unity Q&A
Today is all about your questions! Listen in as we seek to address your questions about priorities and unity from a biblical perspective. We hope it blesses and helps you. Read the Full Transcript Read the Shownotes
God, Spouse, Kids— Priorities Matter
When things are in alignment, everything runs smoothly. But when one piece of the puzzle is missing— or one moving part of an engine is out of place— the whole system becomes compromised. My husband and I hit rock bottom in our marriage before we recognized that our priorities were way out of alignment. Perhaps you feel this in your own marriage right now. Maybe…
Priorities, Practically Speaking (Priorities, 4 of 4)
In this episode, things get practical. How do we step down the path of reorienting our priorities? How do we overcome the challenges and obstacles that stand between us and the priorities God is convicting us to live by? We’ll walk you through our story of writing our first Family Vision statement, and at the end, we’ll give you a link to get a free…
Longing for Love That Lasts: 3 Core Principles of Godly Dating
Relationships are complicated, aren’t they? As a single girl navigating the murky waters of dating, I’ve found myself crying on my bed more than once over the years, asking, “Why is this so hard?” From a breakup that shattered my heart, to getting ghosted by a guy I admired, to the daily decision of seeking God for contentment and joy in the midst of singleness—…