Hungry Heart
Did you know that your heart gets hungry? Encouragement is one of your heart’s favorite foods and every heart is a hungry heart. We all get those twinges in our tummies telling us when it’s time to eat. In the same way our hearts ache for words of love and encouragement to get us through each day. So, to grow our […]
3 Reasons to Take a Marriage Vacation
Have you ever gone on a marriage vacation? I’m not talking about a second honeymoon or a special anniversary trip. I’m talking about you and your spouse scheduling regular times to getaway together alone as a couple without your kids, to deepen your relationship, friendship and intimacy. Some of you might be wrestling with that idea because you’re a conscientious parent. But if that’s the […]
How to Help with a Friend’s Marriage
We have had people ask us, “How do I help a friend who has confided in me that they’re struggling in their marriage? That’s a great question. And research tells us that about 75% of us are going to find ourselves in that role someday. When someone you care about shares a marital issue with you, your instinct is […]
3 Things to Contemplate Before You Consider a Divorce
Have you ever found yourself asking one of these questions? “Am I the only one working on this marriage?” Or, “What if my spouse is taking and never giving?” or I’m lonely, I’m unhappy and I want to call it quits?” What should I do? For some, calling it quits means living in the same house and experiencing a mutual co-existing marathon of misery. For others, calling […]
Do You Suffer from Couple’s Complacency?
We see couples all the time in our intensive weekends whose marriages are suffering from a fatal illness. Couple complacency is a progressive disease that leads to loneliness, bitterness and indifference. If this is left untreated, it will often lead to a slow and painful death of a marriage because it spreads so unnoticeably many couples don’t even realize the deterioration of their marriages until it’s too late. That’s why the second […]
I Like it When You…
When’s the last time you told your spouse, “I like it when you…” Why that question? Because too many marriages are characterized by negative and blaming phrases like “You never do this for me” or “you’re always doing this wrong”. This negative attitude and tone does nothing positive to build your marriage, so why not try something new? Whenever your spouse does something that you […]
Living Out Your Vowels
What is Your Tone of Voice Saying?
When our children were small, I used to hear my wife speaking to our kids in a tone of voice that sounded like they were her worst enemies….but she couldn’t hear it! And she would hear me speaking to our kids in a tone of voice that made her fear for the lives of our […]
Is Boredom Beating Your Marriage?
Let’s face it … we live in a culture where we’re quickly bored. We change jobs … channels … and conversation topics in the blink of an eye. Today’s media knows this and bombards its ADD audience with sound bite messages every 15 to 30 seconds … Unfortunately many of us who are married … have lost […]
5 Reasons Why a Vacation Can Strengthen Your Marriage
It’s summertime … and for many of us that means … it’s vacation time! A chance to “vacate” our everyday routines of work and life that can break down family relationships! Did you know that going on a vacation can strengthen your marriage and family? Here are five reasons why that’s true: Vacations lift moods: A change […]