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…
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…
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…
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—…
Last Things (Priorities, 2 of 4)
What if we lived in full light of God’s eternal promises in Christ? What if we read the book of Revelation as the hope-filled source of joy that it is? And what if we understood the full past, present, and future richness to be lived out as a result of Christ’s resurrection? Everything would change. Everything. In this episode we’ll explore all of that and…
First Things (Priorities, 1 of 4)
“If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” As Christians, we have the clearest and most compelling reason to live life differently by design. Except, so many of us live just like everyone else: prioritizing this life and the things of this world over eternity and the things above. In this episode we’ll kick off our series on priorities by looking at what the…
Observing Sabbath is a Marriage Game-Changer
My husband and I are two very different people. I love to-do lists, house projects, and feeling “accomplished” and “productive.” My husband loves to relax and enjoy the many, many ways God has blessed us. To complicate things, my husband works full-time and I stay home with our two young kids full-time. I often feel frustrated because I never seem to get enough done. My…
Following God Wherever He Leads
Hi there! I’m Zena, the editor at Fierce Marriage and Fierce Parenting. I read this excerpt from Gospelbound by Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and was so encouraged by it— this line in particular got me: “[My wife’s illness] is not some big distraction. This is not some huge detour. This is the path God has for us, and it leads somewhere good.” I…