Relationship

I don’t know where you live in the world, but in the state of North Carolina, we’re experiencing an epidemic. Parents are hysterical. Small children’s eyes widen at the pure horror, pointing fingers and rousing parents from their naps, nestled beneath beach umbrellas. Teens up and down the coast are nervous too, constantly tugging … Read moreDoes Eye Candy Really Matter if I Stay Faithful to My Spouse?

I’ve been accused of being naïve and I’m sure it’s true. I like to believe I think the best about people and generally believe things will work out. Problems will resolve, issues will be settled, and life will return to normalcy. I dream above the current limitations of today.  This all sounds wonderful, … Read moreWhy You Can’t Ignore the Truth in Marriage

Few people walk down the aisle at their wedding, thinking about divorce. But it happens. The reality is that 5 in 10 marriages will end in divorce, and 3.8 in 10 evangelical Christian marriages will not survive, according to statistics. Divorce is one of the most significant stressors anyone will ever experience in … Read more6 Strategies to Help You Thrive after Divorce

You likely prayed for your marriage. Prayed for your spouse. Prayed for God to heal the problems between you. Maybe you kept a journal where you cataloged every prayer without ceasing, or maybe you started praying when your marriage began to falter. Either way, when a marriage ends after much prayer and you are … Read moreShould I Keep Praying for My Ex?

Several years into our journey of parenting three small children, my wife Mary and I decided to take a long walk together, because there were some unspoken conversations hovering around us that just needed to land. We walked because coffee shops are too loud, and because frankly, I’m better when I’m moving. Maybe Mary’s … Read moreThe Secret to Fixing Your Marriage

I recently took my car into the shop for an oil change and tire rotation. In the midst of the mechanic’s “30-point inspection,” he, of course, found a couple more things that he recommended I take care of. Doesn’t that seem to happen every time? As a part of routine maintenance, our vehicles need to … Read more10 Point Godly Spouse Checklist for Men

I had a challenging encounter with my wife, Christie some time ago. During an argument, I had said some hurtful things to her.  She approached me a bit later and said she wanted to talk to me.  “Sure,” I said. “But then I have some things I would like to say as … Read moreDo You Ever Need to be Quiet in Marriage?

Many couples believe that the fewer differences they have with their spouse the better their marriage will be. While that might be true with some marriages, it’s not necessarily a truism. The key factor isn’t how different your spouse is, but how you choose to handle your differences. There are many unique factors … Read moreLearn to Embrace Differences with Your Spouse

Like any healthy relationship, a good marriage requires work. No matter how compatible a couple may be or how in love they feel, there will be times when unforeseen challenges arise, and it’s then that the true foundation of a marriage is revealed. Lizzy Christian shares in her article for Relevant “5 … Read more5 Things Every Couple Needs to do to Have a Strong Marriage

Days before I got married, my pastor’s wife told me, “Your husband will never intentionally hurt you.” Twenty-two years later, I believe she was right—for the most part. Yet the key word is “intentionally”. Even though the average guy isn’t making it his mission to hurt his wife, he can unintentionally leave her feeling rejected, … Read more10 Ways a Man Makes His Wife Feel Ugly without Saying a Thing

I don’t know who was more scared, the teenage boy who wanted to date our daughter, or my husband, who was preparing to interview him. Maybe the boy had never been questioned by a prospective date’s father. And it was the first interview of its kind for my husband. As the young man squirmed, my … Read more10 Things a Father-in-Law Wants in a Son

Jeremy came to Seattle for a Personal Intensive after his wife had left their 25-year marriage. She gave him little reason to hope their marriage could be saved, yet he hoped their marriage, beautiful home and three children would be enough of a bond to hold their relationship while he worked on himself.  … Read moreWhen You Want Your Spouse to Come Back Home

The breakdown of a marriage is a terrible spot to be in. However, there’s hope! I found myself whole in Christ, and once the dust settled, I was able to offer my husband forgiveness. Here’s 5 truths I learned: 1. I know who I am. I know that someone else’s actions … Read moreWhat I Learned about Myself after My Husband’s Affair

It’s not just junior high kids who propagate myths about sex. We adults are guilty too. Sure, some falsehoods are easy to spot, the sort of ideas that make you shake your head and wonder who would believe that. But other times, we hear, read, and absorb messages about sexuality that simply aren’t true. … Read more10 Myths about Sex You Heard in Church

Whether we admit it out loud or keep it to our (oh-so-holy) selves, there are aspects of church life that drive wives crazy. Each week we’re confronted with new challenges—from getting our chaotic clan out the door on time, to making sure that each family member is learning, growing, and having fun while they’re at … Read more9 Things Your Wife Hates about Church

My wife and I have a “contest” going between us. Please understand that we are not keeping score and the “winner” never gloats. Perhaps it’s better to think of this as an understanding we have to enrich our marriage and rescue us from getting stuck in any kind of squabble.  Before I describe … Read more5 Ways to Start a Love Contest with Your Spouse

Divorce is an unfortunate reality in today’s church. The church is said to have a 30-50 percent divorce rate. And regardless of which side you stand on the issue, as Christians, we are called to reach out to those in need to show the love of Christ. And like any issue in the church … Read more4 Most Difficult Things about Divorce (And What You Can Do to Help Those Going through It)

Pretty much everyone who has ever been married, or found themselves in a hard marriage, or on the other side of divorce – in Christian culture – has heard someone tell them that “God hates divorce”, pulling from Malachi 2:16 (NLT) that says, “‘For I hate divorce,’ says the Lord, the God of Israel.” … Read more‘God Hates Divorce’ is Only Part of the Story

Have you ever read a blog post that felt as if it were your own words, your own story? I happened across this post at www.giverherwings.com recently, and that’s exactly how I felt. Megan’s words could have been my own. So today, I bring you a special guest post from Give Her Wings. … Read moreIf I Would Have Stayed

Big news: Last month, I got engaged! (Cue happy dancing and girlish screams.) But the process of moving from casual dating, to couple status, to getting engaged was not the simplest process. I found myself constantly second-guessing if Kyle was “the one”. I mean, our relationship didn’t look like a Nicholas Sparks movie so … Read more10 Signs You’re Dating Your Future Spouse

The trickiest relationship in most families is the in-law relationship. If you’re married, you’ve heard the in-law jokes; you’ve probably told in-law jokes. You know that parents-in-laws can be possessive, clingy, and intrusive in their dealings with you. In-laws might disagree about child-rearing, housekeeping, careers, politics, faith, family traditions, and so much more. Maybe you … Read more10 Things Your In-Laws Want from You

I am asked by couples to “save our marriage.” They are desperate and diligently seeking help. Tired and worn, frantic to figure out what is going on to wreak such havoc, they often travel great distances to work with me.  Most of the stories share similar themes: They have tried numerous counselors before … Read moreHow to Reach a Breakthrough in Your Marriage

Many pastors won’t marry a couple until after they have completed premarital counseling. This can take many forms, and is often very effective in preparing an engaged couple for marriage. Some pastors organize weekend retreats with multiple couples undergoing the marriage course at the same time, while others meet one-on-one with couples for … Read more6 Things Pastors Forget to Tell You in Premarital Counseling

After Micah told me he wanted out of our marriage, the first person I went to was Micah’s Aunt Jan. I wanted to tell only a few people that I trusted and who I knew loved Micah as much as they loved me. He did not need people who were against him, but people … Read moreWhat Real Christian Community Looks Like in the Hardest of Times

Ring before spring. Getting an “MRS” degree. Calling Bible colleges “bridal colleges.” The jokes made about college students (especially Christians) going to school to find a spouse seem never ending, but with so many people marrying young, they aren’t entirely unfounded either. For young adult Christians who have grown up believing that … Read moreShould Young Christians Rush to Get Married?

It’s often been said that A wedding lasts a day, but a marriage lasts a lifetime. While we love the big celebration — two hearts becoming one, the flowers, the matching bridesmaid dresses, crying relatives (and sometimes even the chocolate fountain), we know that a wedding day is just the beginning. The real journey starts when … Read more4 Scriptures to Share with Newlyweds

If you’re a regular reader of this trending blog, you may have heard me talk about the early years of my marriage before. As I’ve written in previous articles, my husband and I got married young, and speaking for myself, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I believed my husband … Read moreWhat You Need to Know about Marriage That Isn’t in the Bible

Marriage is serious. God takes it seriously, and so should we. But in an age where weddings take up more conversation time than marriage itself, it’s easy to jump into an engagement on a wave of infatuation without asking some hard questions. In the church, marriage is sometimes used as a “solution” for … Read more10 Warning Signs that Mean You’re Not Meant to Say ‘I Do’

We were created in God’s divine order to have dominion over the rest of creation. God’s power is in us and in the Universe and permeates all of creation. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17: 27-28) Power is, thus, not a bad thing. To … Read moreWhen One Spouse Has All the Power

As I write this, I’m sitting in the bedroom I share with my husband, staring at our very posed and forced engagement photo, taken 16 years ago. After laughing at the picture’s lack of spontaneity, I remember how I felt while I sat there. I was in love with Markus on a high, ignorant … Read moreWhat Happens When You Stop Making Marriage about You

This post is adapted from Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard. It originally appeared on Crossway.org; used with permission. Pursue Your Wife Thoughtfully Men, you need to come up with your own ideas for how to date your wife. You know your wife better than anyone else. Only you know how to best care for … Read more20 Ideas for Dating Your Wife

After 28 years of marriage, my husband and I have settled contentedly into a good balance of marital and individual growth. While this may seem elementary on the surface, this is no simple task. Most couples—especially young couples with small children—struggle with the tension of growing in relationship together without getting lost in the marriage … Read more10 Ways to Help Your Spouse Grow as an Individual

The message on my voicemail sounded frantic.  “Please call me as soon as you can,” the male caller said. “My name is Tim and my wife left me two weeks ago. I need your help.”  I returned the call and Tim and I talked for a few minutes.  “What’s going on?” … Read moreHow to Hold onto Hope through a Crisis Situation

“There doesn’t seem to be any hope for us,” a woman said to me recently.  “Why do you say that?” I asked.  “I’ve asked him to change and he throws it all back on me,” she continued. “I’m getting so resentful now and I’m not sure if I want it to work.” … Read moreWhen Your Marriage is Hidden under Layers of Resentment

I’ll be honest: Josh and I have probably tried eighteen different “quiet time” formats in the last two years. It’s hard enough finding time for your own devotions; add another person’s schedule and the variables are endless! Despite the difficulty, we continue to make an effort in this area. Whether you’re dating or … Read moreHow to Have a Quiet Time as a Couple

“I don’t like to rock the boat,” Gina said to me recently. She looked anxiously over at her husband who had come with her for a Marriage Intensive.  “I don’t like to upset Tim and always wonder if it’s worth it,” she continued, still looking over at her husband.  “You can’t really … Read moreShould You Suppress Your Feelings to Keep the Peace?

There is never a good evil, what’s not right remains wrong.  This piece by Sarah Coleman is a must read for all. It started with Calvin Klein underwear models. Then came the books, the movies, the objectification, and even restaurants where you can be served by shirtless men in tiny shorts. I’m talking about having … Read moreWives, This ‘Harmless’ Sin Isn’t So Harmless

We all long for intimacy. To find and stay connected with that one person who knows us fully and loves us deeply. But our natural tendency is toward selfishness and pride, traits that weaken relational bonds and lead to distrust and isolation. Dying to ourselves, however, enables forgiveness, helps us demonstrate the fruits of … Read moreWhat Does Dying to Yourself in Marriage Really Mean?

Did you know that 20 percent of divorces involve Facebook? As a former social media manager and avid Facebook user myself, I was not surprised by this statistic. Facebook’s convenient social engagement – sometimes couched in the privacy of a message inbox – is an excellent way to stay in contact with old friends. But this … Read more5 Ways to Protect Your Marriage on Social Media

I stood in awe in the magnificent Musée du Louvre in Paris, transfixed by the treasures of art. “What a privilege to be able to admire such masterpieces,” I told my husband. I scrutinized each painting and sculpture. My traveling companions wanted to shuffle quickly through the museum, but I lingered and stared, … Read more3 Ways to Show Your Husband He is Admired