Afleveringen
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Grab a pen, your journal, your Bible and your favourite drink and join us for this Thursday Thought!
Today, Aaron shares a reflection on what unity is from God's perspective and how it's been his heart for humanity since the beginning of time. He also prays that we'd discover what it means to have Christ at the head of our marriage and that we'd find a "togetherness" as we confront problems.
Resources
Check out Tim Mackie's excellent bible study on the idea of "One Flesh" from The Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/classroom/adam-to-noah/sessions/15
Next Steps
We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like prayer for your marriage, would like us to journey with you in your marriage or have feedback or ideas for us, get in touch: [email protected]
Support our non-profit ministry! If you'd like to help keep new episodes of the podcast coming, please visit http://livingmarriages.com to make a charitable donation. Thank you!
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"We are on the same team!"
This one simple truth has the power to transform our marriages and bring us greater unity. Yet, it is a truth that eludes us as so often we find ourselves seeing our spouse as the problem, rather than being able to confront the problem together with our spouse.
In this episode, we chat about:
How easy it is for us to forget that we are on the same teamGod's invitation to shift our mindset to one of unityHow making the time and effort to connect with one another is an important key to unityWe also discuss the Edmonton Oilers latest Stanley Cup playoff run and what we can learn in our marriages by Leon Draisaitl playing good defence.
Next Steps
We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like prayer for your marriage, would like us to journey with you in your marriage or have feedback or ideas for us, get in touch: [email protected]
Support our non-profit ministry! If you'd like to help keep new episodes of the podcast coming, please visit http://livingmarriages.com to make a charitable donation. Thank you!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Do you believe that God has "better" for your marriage? Do you want to join God in discovering all he has for you?
In Episode 32, we heard from Ron and Amanda Falk about how God has invited them on the journey to discovering the freedom and sanctification he has for them in their marriage. It hasn't always been easy or smooth but it has been good.
On today's Thursday Thought, we follow up with some reflections on what sanctification might and might not be in marriage and we pray for the humility and grace we need to be open to what God wants to do in our marriages.
Grab your Bible, journal and your favourite drink and join us as we seek God's heart for our marriage!
Next steps
If you'd like prayer or support for your marriage, or even find a marriage mentor, we'd love to connect with you: [email protected]
Please consider supporting this non-profit ministry through prayer and charitable donations. You can find out more at our website: http://livingmarriages.com
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Counselling is often seen as a "last ditch" attempt to save a marriage that is in crisis. But what if that wasn't the only time seeing a counsellor could be beneficial?
Today's guests, Ron and Amanda Falk, began seeing a counsellor when things were actually pretty OK in their marriage and have enjoyed incredible growth and fruit in their marriage because of it!
In today's episode we chat about:
The benefits of counselling in helping them understand themselves and each other better and how their communication has improvedHow counselling did help in a time of crisis as wellGod's heart for marriage as a place of hope and freedom and their call from God to become marriage mentorsResources
One tool that they mentioned has been helpful for them is the "Ultimate Intimacy App" designed by a Christian couple. You can find more information on that app here:
https://ultimateintimacy.com/
To become a marriage mentor (or find mentors) in Canada, please visit:
https://www.familylifecanada.com/become-a-homebuilder/#become-a-marriage-mentor
Next Steps
If you'd like to get a hold of us, we'd love to hear from you: [email protected]
We are a non-profit ministry and need your prayer and financial support to keep this podcast going! Please consider supporting us http://livingmarriages.com
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Grab your Bible, journal and your warm favourite beverage and join us for this Thursday Thought as we reflect on and pray through our money stories that we brought into our marriage.
Aaron shares some of his money story and how God has been doing a work of healing in his life around his scarcity mindset. He'll also lead us in a Lectio Divina around Psalm 37:1-7 as we get to hear from the Lord how he invites us to trust and delight in him, especially as it pertains to our money story.
Next steps
Get in touch! We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]
We are a non-profit ministry! If you're feeling called to support us, please visit our website to find out how you can make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com
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Money, Sex and In-Laws: These are often the three most intense areas of conflict in any marriage.
On today's episode, we dive into the area of finances and see how our "money story" (how we were raised to view and treat money) can impact our marriage. We'll also invite you to explore your money story with your spouse with some of these great conversation starters provided below!
Sample Questions to Ask About Your Money Story (from Shaun Maslyk, CFP)
What were your childhood experiences with money?What is your earliest money memory?What are your childhood memories, both positive and negative, about money?What money lessons did you learn from your mother, father or another parental figure?Resources
https://www.moneysense.ca/columns/a-rich-life/whats-your-money-story/
If you'd like to support the work of Living Marriages Ministries (a registered non-profit,) you can make a charitable donation at our new website! http://livingmarriages.com
Get in touch with your feedback, prayer requests or episode ideas: [email protected]
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Sex is a beautiful and wonderful gift that God has given us within the context of marriage. It is something that we can enjoy, that we can serve one another in and that ultimately is an act of worship.
However, sex can also be a pain point in many marriages as we wrestle with past trauma, shame and bad teaching.
On this Thursday Thought, we reflect, together with God on our understanding of sex and his hope for us in this area. We ask some important questions of why we think of sex in the ways we do and if there are areas of surrender and healing we need from God. We pray for God's perspective on sex and to increase the sexual intimacy in our marriage.
We also encourage you and your spouse to go back to Episode 28 and our conversation with Kristen Miele. After listening to that and then this episode, spend time with your spouse in a safe and curiosity-filled conversation about sex in your marriage. We pray that it will bless you.
Have some thoughts, questions or would you like to reach out? We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]
Please also consider making a charitable donation to keep this non-profit podcast on the air: www.livingmarriages.com
We thank you for tuning in, for your prayers and support!
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Is sex something that has brought you and your spouse closer together, or has it been a pain point in your marriage? Is sex something you can talk about freely with each other and your kids, or is there a cloud of shame that still hangs over the subject?
We are so thrilled to be joined on this episode by the founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed, Kristen Miele as she shares God's heart and vision for the beauty of sex in marriage.
On this episode:
We talk about how our upbringing affects our sex life in marriage, including the effects of "purity culture" teachingWe hear God's heart and design for sex and how it is in essence, worshipWe discover how learning to talk about sex with our kids is not only essential for them but good for our marriageTo find Kristen's incredible resources and curriculums, please check out her website:
https://www.sexedreclaimed.com/
You can get 15 percent off at Kristen's site with the coupon code CHRISTIANPARENTING
Have any questions or feedback? Get in touch with us: [email protected]
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When our kids look at our marriages, what do they see?
Even if you don't have kids, this episode is for you because our marriages matter to others, including the next generation. Join us for this Thursday Thought in which we reflect on and pray about our discussion from Ep. 26 in which we learned that “if we truly want what is best for our children, we need to want what is best for our marriage as well."
Grab your journal, your Bible, a pen and find a quiet spot for a time of reflection and prayer as we seek God's healing and his best for our marriages so they may be a blessing to others, especially the next generation.
A Breath Prayer from Psalm 147:3
Inhale: You Heal The Brokenhearted
Exhale: And Bind Up Their Wounds
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It's so easy to believe that marriage only matters to a husband and a wife. But as God has really been laying on our hearts, it's time for us to realize that our marriages matter to so many more, especially the next generation. Whether you have kids or not, this episode is for you.
Now, to the parents listening - this episode is not a guilt trip about the ways in which your marriage is hurting your children. It is though, as we found, a gracious "wake-up" call from the Lord to realize that if we truly want what is best for our children, we need to want what is best for our marriage as well.
In this episode, we discuss:
God's vision for the next generation of marriagesHow our marriage can impact our children's well-being positively and negativelyHow the simple practice of apologizing to our spouse and children can be transformationalQuote:
“In his lab, John found that the amount of stress hormones that show up in a child’s 24-hour urine sample accurately reflects the quality of the parents’ relationship. The worse the marriage, the more stress hormones there are in the child’s urine. There’s no question that the cradle that holds the child is the parental relationship. The cradle can either gently soothe the child to sleep or violently throw her to the floor.” (Dr. Daniel Segel from the Forward to "10 Principals For Doing Effective Couples Therapy")
Resources
10 Principles For Doing Effective Couples Therapy by Drs. Julie and John Gottman
https://www.gottman.com/product/10-principles-for-doing-effective-couples-therapy/
An Article On the Work of Dr. Gordon Harold
https://danieldashnawcouplestherapy.com/blog/parents-fighting-in-front-of-kids#:~:text=In%20another%20study%2C%20Gottman%27s%20research,with%20happy%20and%20stable%20marriages.
A Summary of Some of Dr. Harold's Findings
https://www.familysolutionsgroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Inter-Parental-Conflict-and-Family-Separation.pdf
An Academic Study on "Constructive" vs. "Destructive" Conflict
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3829624/#:~:text=Exposure%20to%20marital%20conflict%20places,Grych%20&%20Fincham%2C%201990).
Have questions? Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]
Your support, both financial and prayer, make all the difference! To make a charitable donation, please visit our website: livingmarriages.com
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In Episode 24, we had the privilege of having a conversation with Christie Thomas about the importance of small faith habits in discipling our kids.
In this Thursday Thought, April leads us in a time of reflection and prayer, giving us a chance to celebrate with God the little habits we might be sharing in already that form us and our children and asking God to help us build simple, new habits that will stick. (Even if you don't have children, this episode is for you as small faith habits matter to all of us!)
So grab your journal, your Bible and find a quiet place to spend some time with us and the Lord!
Resources:
Little Shoots Deep Roots with Christie Thomas
https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/
Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker
https://littlehousestudio.net/books
We would love to hear from you about some of the little habits that have worked for you and your family's spiritual life. You can e-mail us: [email protected]
If you'd like to support us with a charitable donation or find out more about us, please visit our website: www.livingmarriages.com
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How do you foster a sense of spiritual connectedness with God and your spouse when you also have the reality of little ones bringing daily joy and chaos?
This is a challenge that we share with many of our listeners. That's why we're so excited to chat with Christie Thomas from Little Shoots, Deep Roots about ways in which we can cultivate a deeper spiritual journey "with" our kids instead of "in spite" of them!
In this conversation you'll hear:
Why small habits rather than large changes are much more effective in discipling your kidsSome small practical habits that will help your kids grow with JesusWhy and how God is freeing us from the guilt of hypocrisy in raising and discipling our kidsTo find out more about Christie's incredible ministry (including books, videos and her new podcast), please visit her website: https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/
For more on Living Marriages or to get in touch with us, visit us at our website: www.livingmarriages.com
or email us: [email protected]
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On this Thursday Thought, please join us for a time of reflection and prayer as we consider the ways God is inviting us to "plant" and "tend" to the small habits in our marriage so that they may grow into the living, connected and intimate marriage he has for us!
We'll consider the "mustard seeds" in our marriages as well as invite God, our "master gardener" to come and help us tend, weed and even prune what's already there.
To read the parable of the mustard seed, click here for Matthew 13.
Grab your Bible, your journal and find a quiet space to join us and the Lord!
Want to get in touch? Send us an e-mail [email protected]
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I confess! I (Aaron) love big, radical things! I'm always looking for the "next big idea" that will change our lives and our marriages, the "silver bullet" or "magic formula" that will bring dramatic transformation. However, while we should not discount the big things, I've been learning the ways in which God is inviting us to discover and invest in the small things. When these are done often, with intentionality and care, they will make a big difference in our marriage.
In this episode:
We talk about how "small things" is a kingdom principal that applies to our marriagesWe explore the concept of "bids" in relationships as put forward by Dr. John GottmanWe invite you to find the small things that are already happening often in your marriage and discuss where they aren't happeningResources
A study from Penn State on how the small things make us feel loved:
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/love-actually-americans-agree-what-makes-people-feel-love
An article from the Gottman Institute on "bids" in relationship:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/marriage-not-big-thing-million-little-things/?
A fun blog from the Gottman Institute on some of the small things couples do for each other:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/small-things-often-ingredients-happy-relationship/
Want to share with us some of the small things you do often for each other? Send us a note! [email protected]
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Have you felt at times that God has abandoned or forgotten you? - In times of grief, doubt and confusion, do you worry that he might not care for you the way he promises to in Psalm 23?
Grab your Bible, your journal and your favourite beverage and join us for this Thursday Thoughts edition of Living Marriages as April leads us in a time of reflection and prayer in Psalm 23. How can we recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd? How can we know that he is in the valley with us and, even in the midst of the darkness, that he will provide for us and for our spouse? April shares a personal story of God's presence as our shepherd through the valley of infertility.
Let us know how we can be praying for you! [email protected]
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Do you ever wonder where God is in the valleys of life?
If you need hope and encouragement for the journey, this episode is for you! Kyle Brooks, pastor and author of "Through the Valley: 40 Days on Psalm 23 A Lenten Devotional" is our guest.
In our conversation, Kyle candidly shares:
How he came to write a Lenten devotional based on Psalm 23How he and his wife Stephanie navigated Kyle's cancer diagnosis and treatment while also welcoming their first childThe challenges of having a connected marriage while raising two young childrenThrough it all, he shares the hope and encouragement we have because, "The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing."
To find out more about Kyle, his devotional and podcast, please check out the following:
https://kylebrooks.substack.com/
https://www.tapestryoakland.org/
https://www.multiracialministry.com/
If you'd like to connect with us for prayer or with some feedback, suggestions or questions about the podcast, we'd love to hear from you! [email protected]
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How would you answer these two questions about intimacy in your marriage?
Is it safe to love?Is it safe to be loved?If you have positive answers, join us in thanking God that you are able to both give and receive love in your marriage!
If you struggle, as many of us do, please don't lose hope. God is for you and your marriage and he wants you to be able to give and receive love in the fullest expressions of intimacy in our marriages.
Grab a journal and your Bible, your favourite beverage and find a quiet space to reflect and pray together and to hear God's heart for the intimacy and connection he has for us in our marriage.
If you'd like to connect and have us pray with you or walk with you in some way in your marriage, we're here! [email protected]
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When we use the word "intimacy," our culture (and even our churches) have conditioned us to think of what happens in the bedroom, of sexual intimacy.
While sexual intimacy is an integral part of marriage, it is not the full picture of what God has created us for and invited us into. There is so much more to intimacy and today's episode is meant to get the conversation going on what intimacy in marriage can look like beyond the bedroom.
According to Eric Erickson, intimacy is the potential someone has for connectedness and it hinges on 3 things:
CommitmentVulnerabilityCommunicationTwo important questions we ask about intimacy in marriage:
Is it safe to love?Is it safe to be loved?Resources:
This is a bit of a technical paper (but still very approachable) and is a good look at Erickson's ideas on intimacy:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2733523/#:~:text=As%20such%2C%20Erikson%20emphasized%20three,communicate%20inner%20thoughts%20and%20feelings.
A link to Henri Nouwen's essays on Intimacy:
https://archive.org/details/intimacyessaysin0000nouw
Have questions or need prayer? Get in touch with us: [email protected]
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"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
It is fairly clear that marriages in our society are under attack. In Episode 16, we learned from Braden and Kristen Hafner of Family Life Canada that two of the enemy's strategies to destroy our marriages are subtle: difference and drift.
Please join us in this Thursday Thought as we spend time together and with the Lord:
reflecting on how difference and drift might be creeping into our marriagepraying for God's strength, grace and wisdom to overcomeGrab a journal and your Bible, find a quiet spot for some reflection and prayer and join us as we seek God together for our marriages!
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Difference and Drift. These 2 things can be subtle but deadly for our marriages.
Have you discovered some differences with your spouse that have left you discouraged? Do you find yourself drifting further and further apart from your partner?
We're so excited to share our conversation with Braden and Kristin Hafner of Family Life Canada about God's hope for our marriages!
On this episode you'll hear:
Why marriage matters to God and usHow differences and drift can sabotage our marriagesHow there is hope and healing in Christ for our marriagesHow the small habits can really bring transformationIf you'd like to find out more about Braden and Kristin's work with Family Life Canada (including more information about the weekend getaways) please click here: https://www.familylifecanada.com/
What are some "honeymoon habits" that you and your spouse enjoy? Let us know! [email protected]
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