Last week we talked about the first pillar of the Bridge of Communication: knowing your spouse. Being curious. Going beneath the surface. If you missed it, start there. But here’s the hard truth: knowing isn’t enough. You can understand your spouse perfectly. You can read them like a book. You
Last week I introduced the Bridge of Communication, the framework that holds every healthy marriage together. If you missed it, [start there
Marriage communication is one of the most important skills to nurture for a strong relationship. I like to say, “Your marriage will
If you just discovered your spouse had an affair, or you are months into the aftermath and wondering when this pain will
Every couple fights. If you’ve been married for longer than five minutes, you already know that. Marriage is beautiful, but it’s also
If you’ve recently discovered your spouse’s affair, I’d be willing to bet your mind has been ambushed by intrusive thoughts. These intrusive
Are you feeling the strain in your relationship? Has the love between you and your partner started to fade? Don’t worry—help is
A weekly date night is your built-in resistance to your marriage’s inevitable drift toward loneliness. Everyone knows it’s essential; most couples want
In today’s fast-paced world, planning a couple getaway is one of the best ways to rekindle the romance with your spouse. As
Going to marriage counseling is a significant investment of time and money. And the last thing anyone wants to do is waste
Signing up for marriage counseling is a significant investment of time, money, and hard work. But is it worth it? Does marriage
Having a lot of money doesn’t eliminate marriage problems, but money problems can definitely lead to some serious problems in your marriage.
The promise you made to your spouse on your wedding day is the most significant promise you’ve ever made. And I believe
First there’s a spark. Then that spark turns in to a flame. As the flame grows, so does the relationship between 2
When I began marriage counseling with Marriage Revolution a few years ago, I knew I had to quickly assemble the best communication
In the tech world, if a device isn’t working properly or living up to its expected performance, performing a reset will often times
I’ve learned a lot about marriage over the past 10 years of counseling couples. Of course this list isn’t exhaustive, but it
There is power and significance in the number 3. Some even say it is the perfect number. Have you ever thought about
2 years into my marriage, I had an affair. I didn’t seek it out. I didn’t want it. I thought I could
I was recently at a leadership event where a very well-known speaker was talking about the importance of being self-aware. There were
News flash: Marriage is hard. Have you ever thought about why? Think about it from a spiritual perspective. When you join a
One of God’s goals for your marriage is for you and your spouse to be better together than you were apart. God
How to love your spouse can be confusing. One of the reasons it’s challenging at times is because you and your spouse
No matter what the stated trouble is between a couple, usually the unstated offense is that the wife does not feel loved
A thriving marriage needs solid communication, good conflict resolution, and two people who are completely committed to each other. But more than
Receiving the truth in love is one of the most important skills you can learn to turn your conflicts around. One of
I learned the art of empathy the hard way. When I left the house for work the other day, my wife kissed
If you had an apple tree in your backyard and the apples started to turn grey and pulpy, how would you fix
To counsel online, or not to counsel online—that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in the car to suffer The slings and
I’d be willing to bet you’ve experienced some level of anxiety over the past several weeks. I know I have. I don’t
You’ve probably developed some different ways of living over the past several weeks. Your relationships look different. Your schedule looks different. The
In our team meeting this past week I asked each counselor to share 1 way they would instruct couples to protect and
As the coronavirus has reached a pandemic level, the situation can seem overwhelming. But before despairing, hit the “pause button” and consider
The Corona virus is impacting almost every area of our lives: our schedule, our relationships, our jobs, our health practices, our budget,
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.” Colossians 3:19 It is repeated enough in the Bible that we
Learning how to respect your husband might be one of the most important skills you can develop in order to improve your
Leading your wife is more than setting goals and giving instructions. It isn’t less than that, but it is so much more.
Who does the dishes? Who makes the decisions? Who pays the bills? Who bathes the kids? Who brings home the bacon? For
If you’ve been married for any time at all, you know that conflict happens. But, that doesn’t mean it always has to
The Ten commandments from Deuteronomy 5:7-21 are an invitation from God to live a life free from unnecessary harm. Following them will
How can we measure our love for God? The amount of Bible study we do? The number of times we go to
It was a different world back then… when Mom and I walked into the department store. There were no computers. No cell
Husbands, I want to tell you a story because I want to communicate an experience that can be remarkably powerful for you
I was fuming. Legitimately angry. Boiling, you might say. After praying for days about it, I finally brought things up with my
When you go to counseling, let’s face it. You do some cheesy stuff on the comfy couch. Feeling this, and feeling that;
1. One thing your spouse really dislikes. You know what it is. Or do you? (I’m thinking your spouse might.) What would
Praying together. It takes minutes—but the effects of your prayers may very well be eternal. Even more, the spiritual and emotional unity
Bring it. My husband and I stood at a makeshift starting line with other couples from our Bible study group, goofy grins
There has been plenty of scoffing, snorting, eye-rolling, and outright anger in the last few decades at that tricky little word in
Maybe you’re looking for a few questions to bump things up a notch: to really make your wife feel loved. To take
A few nights ago while mindlessly channel hopping I stumbled across the 1980’s cult vampire movie, The Lost Boys. For the 30
“Honey, I don’t know how to tell you this, but—I’m not your dad.” Well. Duh. And yet–that was my husband, within the
My husband loves to tinker with vintage automobiles. In fact, he’s restoring an old car right now. When Jim talks about something
What does it look like to love your wife? Appreciate her, respect her, support her, etc… Yes to all these things. But,
Your man needs you to pray for him. But what does it look like to pray for your husband? Here are 31
I get to see some of the worst marriage situations in my counseling office. As challenging and gut-wrenching as this work can
We have all heard lies, half-truths and inaccuracies our entire lives. They started when we were kids, “Don’t cross your eyes or they
Years ago, when my parents were celebrating their golden anniversary, I asked them for their marriage advice. What was their secret to
If you had met me in my younger years, you would have never pegged me as someone who struggled with anger. I
The bookstores are filled with marriage counsel. Conferences abound. Social media is flooded with tips on how to have a successful marriage.
Thank goodness for the editing features on our computers that help our words to be just right! How much better our writing
Elton John was spot on. That simple 5 letter word can be buried pretty deep and even when we try to dig
I know the most important thing you can do for your marriage. I have worked with a wide variety of clientele over
Conflict is normal in marriage. The thing I work on with my clients is not necessarily how to avoid conflict, but how
By David Lord: I have a 3 X 5 card on the cork board above my desk. It contains just 7 words. But
John Maxwell has said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Slanting that quote toward the family, “The family rises and falls on
I’ve heard it said that success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. I couldn’t agree more.
Valentine’s Day is all about sex. The flowers, the chocolate, the special gifts, and the memorable dinner all lead up to…great sex.
The below list was originally compiled by David Ferguson and we have been using it in counseling with couples from the beginning.
All couples fight. Healthy couples know how. Part of knowing how to fight right is making sure there is a real resolution
Whatever way you slice it, divorce sucks. Although I haven’t personally experienced it, I unfortunately get front row seats to couples contemplating
95% of the couples that come to my office for counseling admit they need at least some help in communication. I wouldn’t
Maybe you already know what it is. You know: that one thing. It’s one thing that, like an arm in a cast,
RESPECT – Valuing and regarding another highly. Treating someone as important or with honor. Communicating or demonstrating that someone has worth. Synonyms: appreciation,
If I’ve learned 1 thing about marriage over the past 23 years, its this truth… Marriage is HARD! Anyone married longer than
When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation with your spouse? Not just cliche conversation talking about the weather or
My first job at 16 was a lifeguard at a local waterpark. I thought it would be the perfect summer job. I
Guest Post: Janel Breitenstein is a married mother of 4 who writes frequently for FamilyLife. Janel and her husband John currently serve
Romance (n): 1. a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.[1] Scent your bed sheets. Scatter a few flower petals over
If you went to Sunday school as a kid, its very likely you learned a catchy song with some not so good
One of my favorite authors and speakers, Paul Tripp, is famous for saying, “Change doesn’t take place in big, dramatic moments. Rather,
When I confessed my sin of pornography to Star 4 years after getting married, it was one of the most difficult things
So many married men AND women are struggling with sexual sin (pornography, emotional affairs, physical affairs, etc.), which is destroying their relationship
Guest Post: Janel Breitenstein is a married mother of 4 who writes frequently for FamilyLife. Janel and her husband John currently serve
It usually starts with a phone call. Maybe an e-mail. And this is the part where I feel my gut clench; I
Guest Post: Janel Breitenstein is a married mother of 4 who writes frequently for FamilyLife. Janel and her husband John currently serve
My lovely wife and I talked the other day pleasantly in the car, enjoying its quiet freedom from children. Then she said
Have you noticed how hard it is to extinguish a healthy fire? It’s difficult. Not impossible, but difficult. There have been times
George Booth and I collaborated on this post together. I’ve been to some great weddings! We once attended a wedding in Ireland
One of my favorite parts of my job is doing pre-marital counseling. I’m so encouraged when a young crazy in love couple
Last Friday, Fox news reported that Ashley Madison—the self-proclaimed “original extramarital affairs site”—anticipated a 500% increase in applicants following Mother’s Day. There
A friend and I were out for a rare breakfast, our hands curled around ceramic mugs of decaf. “What’s the best way
I’ll never forget that day. I had been out of town for about a week, and I couldn’t wait to be home to
When I discovered Star was having an affair just 18 months into our marriage I was distraught. I could barely contain the rage
I recently heard the story of a Godly leader I respected that fell into sexual immorality. When I first heard the story I
You’ve probably got insurance on your car—which you lock pretty much everywhere, maybe with the addition of a swanky alarm. And let’s
Do you want a better sex life? Believe it or not, the Bible has something to say starting in the very beginning.
By: George Booth I recently had the privilege of attending a Marriage Vows Renewal Ceremony in Jerusalem, Israel. As we stood on
After being married for just 18 short months, Star and I separated and were in the process of filing for divorce. During
It was nearly a decade and a half ago that I read, “Intimate Issues: Twenty-One Questions Christian Women Ask about Sex.” But
I’m sorry to be offensive, but if you’re a guy reading this there’s a good chance you might be… I know this
Can I talk out of both sides of my mouth for a second? In a previous post, I explained how Adam’s aloneness in
I’ve written a good amount of anniversary and birthday cards over the past 20 years of being married to Star. Don’t tell her,
This next year can be your best yet. But it will only happen if you set some goals and have a plan
Since every marriage deals with conflict, we need to address it. But don’t worry, it won’t be that bad. What better time
Experiencing companionship was likely one of the reasons that led you to marry your spouse. Although many marry for this reason, the
Communication is an essential part of any relationship, especially marriage! Maybe you’ve heard the cliché’, “You have 2 ears and 1 mouth,
I’d be willing to put money on the fact that busyness affects your marriage. When Star and I married, I made $10.49
You’ve seen them, haven’t you? The couple that never talks to each other. We most frequently see them when we’re out to
The only reason Star and I didn’t get a divorce after being married for only two short years was because we didn’t have
The first time I asked Star to pray with me, she looked at me with a deer in the headlight look, cracked
I hate to break it to you, but you’re likely being lied to about what marriage is, what it’s for, and what
Emotional connection is the key to your wife’s heart. One of the ways you can resist the drift towards isolation in your
How stable is your marriage? If you leave the stability of your marriage to chance, I don’t believe your marriage will have
The first step to having a great marriage is to set aside regular time to work on your marriage. Date nights are
By: Glen Solberg In every occupation I have been in, there has always been some element of “continuing education”. When I was
Star and I led FamilyLife’s “Art of Marriage” event at a local church this past weekend and had a blast. If you
One way to sum up God’s goal for marriage is oneness. When two people pursue oneness spiritually, emotionally, and physically, marriage works.
During the first two years of our marriage, we had a lot of conflicts. What’s worse is we didn’t know how to
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