Plan Your Next Date Around Good Communication
I am always looking for great tools that I can use with couples. I have found a tool that is a great...
Household Chores Can Make or Break a Marriage
It’s an argument as old as marriage: Who helps out most with household chores? In a recent survey, more than half of...
Negative Emotion is Vital For a Healthy Relationship
In preparation for my shiny new blog plan (month long themes complete with corresponding love experiments, social media posts and podcast episodes),...
In-Laws An Issue? Here’s What To Do About It.
The holidays can be a wonderful time of laughter and love and gatherings with family. But it can also be a time...
Are You Giving Too Much This Holiday Season?
I’m an expert at killing—plants, that is. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to keep my plants alive. They call...
Why Men Need Words of Affirmation in the Bedroom
Today's post is about the needs of men, but husbands, your wives need words of affirmation too! Here's 102 ways you can...
“My Husband Enjoys Football More Than Me!”
Q: My husband seems to enjoy watching football and spending time with his friends more than he enjoys spending time with me....
4 Money Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Money mistakes are one of the top reasons that marriages end in divorce, yet unfortunately, most engaged and newly married couples fail...
How To Be Romantic Even When You’re Exhausted
Q: Between work, the kids, and taking care of the house, I have almost no time or energy to dedicate to my...
4 Ways to Dig Marriage Roots That Last a Lifetime
In 1962 someone built our home. I don’t have the deeds for the other homes on our street, but I assume they...
10 Tips for Becoming a More Romantic Husband
We’re continuing our monthly series from our book, The 5 Sex Needs of Men and Women. We’ve already hit the top 4...
Can Love Languages Be Harmful For Your Marriage?
I like giving and receiving gifts.
My wife Lisa doesn’t.
In my young stupid pride, I used to double down on gift giving opportunities,...
3 Golden Rules For Rekindling Romance
Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church–a love marked by giving, not...
3 Types of Conflict in Marriage, And The Danger of Confusing Them
There is no one-size-fits-all for dealing with marriage problems, because not all types of conflict are alike.
This month, our Wednesday series is...
Words Hurt, So Don’t Say Everything You Think.
Words hurt, deeply. Check out this verse from the Bible:
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the...
3 Keys To Overcoming Obstacles In Your Marriage
The other day I was telling my coworker stories from the early days of my marriage. It was one of those moments...
Words of Encouragement Can Revolutionize Your Marriage. Here’s How.
It’s been exactly a year since Lisa went into surgery to have her tumor removed. That morning, she told me she wanted...
Watch Your Tone! Say Things In a Way Your Spouse Will Hear
When it comes to communication, even more important than words is the tone that accompanies them. You’ve most likely heard the phrase,...
5 Practical Ways to Rekindle Romance In Your Marriage
A friend recently asked me the following questions about how to rekindle romance:
“What do you do for fun as a couple? What...
7 Common Christian Marriage Myths. #3 Might Surprise You!
Q: We have a Christian marriage—so why is it so painful? Shouldn’t being believers shield us from the problems we’re having?
A: Many...
4 Tricks For Navigating Difficult Conversations
This post from Juli @ Authentic Intimacy isn't primarily about marriage, but it could be. Difficult conversations with your spouse are never...
What To Do If You’re Bored With Your Marriage
Want to know what to do if you're bored with your marriage? Here's helpful information if you're feeling bored with your marriage.
Q:...
Conflict and Fighting Aren’t the Same Thing. Here’s Why That Matters.
I’ve shared with you in past blog posts that my husband, Mike, and I are very, very different. Early in our marriage,...
3 Tough Love Truths About Your Marriage
A lay counselor who has worked with hundreds of premarital couples told me that he particularly looks forward to the session when...
Broken Trust Can Be Restored … But It Takes Time
Your spouse has blown it. You don’t trust him/her anymore. But you want to save your marriage, despite your broken trust. How...
About to Lose Your Cool? Here’s How to Have Self Control During an Argument
I hear stories all the time about how couples have lost it in an argument.
One of them hears something that triggers their...
The “Seven-Year-Itch” Is Real … But You Can Avoid It.
My husband and I are leading a Bible study with mostly newlywed couples. After a few weeks, we noticed how often we...
Good News! Your Spouse’s Needs Aren’t As Hard to Meet as You Think. This...
My wife is super in to any sort of words of affirmation. It is easily, without a doubt, her number one love...
Husbands, Love Your Wives Like Jesus. Here’s 3 Tips For How to Do That.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her – Ephesians 5:25
We have all read it...
Close the Loop: The One Vital Habit That Will Keep Your Marriage Moving Forward
The moment you do or say something that hurts your marriage partner, you stand at a fork in the road. Whether you...
Love Is a Choice, Especially When You’re Not Feeling It.
When my wife and I were going through marriage problems, the last thing that I wanted to hear was love is a...
The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Why Most of Our Fights Start in Our Imagination...
In her recent Netflix special author, researcher, and all-around national treasure Brené Brown describes an argument she had with her husband. They were...
Ultimatums Are Bad, Right? Actually, They’re VITAL For a Thriving Marriage. Here’s Why.
When things happen in married life, whether bad or good, a common reaction is to blame (or give credit) someone else.
While they may have...
Actually, Communication in Marriage Isn’t What’s Most Important. What Is Might Surprise You.
What you have probably heard is the number one problem is communication in marriage.
I don’t believe that’s the case. It’s a problem,...
102 Words of Affirmation Every Wife Longs to Hear
People can't get enough words of affirmation. A while back I was speaking and asked for a show of hands, “How many of...
It’s Not About the Nail? Actually, Sometimes It IS About the Nail
It's Not About the Nail was a popular marriage video that made the rounds (we've done a post on it!. This post is...
How to Ask For What You Need Without Arguing
Sometimes you just have to ask your husband for what you need!
I’ve been talking all month about how to change the dynamic...
What to Do When You Are Last on Your Spouse’s To Do List?
Today's post from the always-helpful America's Family Coaches is a great conversation starter between you and your spouse. The desire to feel...
Your Marriage’s Scratches and Dents Are What Make It Priceless. Here’s Why.
Mike and I recently attended a wedding. The bride was stunning, and the groom gleamed with pride. Not a dry eye in...
Sometimes Your Spouse Doesn’t Want Your Help. Here’s The Reason Why.
The scene is a couple driving in the car on the way to dinner:
Silence for several minutes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
A few more minutes of...
Bids for Connection: The Tool This Expert Says Is the Secret to Great...
It’s not big, blow out fights that wreck a marriage. It’s how we treat each other day to day. And that’s why...
Messy v. Neat Freak: How to Navigate the Cleanliness War In Your Marriage
Q: One of us is very neat, but the other is very messy. How can we keep from driving each other crazy?
A:...
We All Believe Lies. Which Ones Do You Struggle With?
A few weeks ago I moderated a late night panel at the Merge premarital class at Watermark Community Church. The panel included two couples who...
Want to Improve Your Marriage? These 3 Small Changes Will Lead to Huge Results.
I am often trying to find ways of making myself a better person. I imagine all of us at some point wish we...
Husbands, Your Wives Need These 10 Things, They Just Don’t Know How to Ask
I remember watching What Women Want not long after its release in 2001. The movie chronicles a man, Nick Marshall, who receives a fresh...
Tone Deaf: Is What You’re Saying Hidden By How You’re Saying It?
I've said this several times, but Doug Fields is both a ludicrously gifted communicator and a very kind mentor and friend of...
What Are You Doing to Pursue Your Spouse?
You need to make it one of your highest priorities to pursue your spouse. One of my biggest concerns as a married...
Your Spouse’s Perspective Is Annoying. You Should Listen Anyway!
I don’t know about you, but I often overlook the Lord’s eternal perspective. He sees all of time, from beginning to end,...
The Only “Fair” Marriage Is When Both Spouses Give 100 Percent.
Happily married Eric and Jill climbed out of bed at their normal Saturday morning hour. They had a lot to do around...
Self-Righteousness is Satan’s Favorite Attack Against Your Marriage. Here’s What You Can Do About...
What if one of the most dangerous attitudes for believers is self-righteousness?
What if it’s possible to be “right” and toxic at the...