So often, fear can take us down a road that leaves us crippled, trying to be prepared for all scenarios and in control. But that control is an illusion, and instead fear ends up robbing us of our present, and of our future. Stand in God's truth for your life and have confidence in who He is and what He can do. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BMxsQwDhT6BeouLw12ADC?si=hwGjNrh5TZuuv1CgvQabjg As always, we want to hear from you. If you want additional information about our 2 day Marriage...

The reality is that every marriage faces stress, and the first responder world has some additional stressors to navigate. HOW you navigate those, who you turn to, your relationship with Christ, how you listen, how you die to self, and how you handle the adrenaline rush will determine the direction of your marriage. Don't be a statistic. You are easily replaceable in your job but not in your home. As always, we want to hear from you. If you want additional information about our 2 day...

The first responder world is riddled with a high divorce rate, and constant variables that contribute to an unhealthy marriage. We dive into our own experience in this realm as both a team member and spouse, and offer some insight to help protect and bring hope to your marriage. Links: https://thinblue1st.org/mission-%26-vision https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1218&context=honors As always, we want to hear from you. If you want additional information...

We were so honored to have our daughter on this episode as she shares what saying yes to God has done in your life. There were so many truths that emerged throughout this conversation for your faith, life, and marriage. When God asks you to say yes to something, don't practice delayed obedience, and when He asks you to let go, don't hold on. Life is a series of these decisions and God's grace is evident in how He reveals each next step. Follow His peace, His voice, and His Word. Don't...

This is a discussion we had never had before this episode. We openly wrestle through what it looks like to hold both joy and pain together at the same time, and allow you to hear the perspective of both of us and what it looked like to navigate through the first year after our breach in trust. Ultimately, we encourage you to lean into a perspective that changes the outlook of your future and not to let the pain override the promise. As always, we want to hear from you. If you want...

There are many things that can create obstacles to great sex in your marriage. These include your memories, communication, past trauma, libido, age, changes, stressors, insecurities, and addiction. There are many obstacles, but there is such hope! God can redeem, heal, and restore this area. Don't let anything stop you from reclaiming ground in this area and doing what it takes to get help, whether that requires counseling, coaching, getting hormones aligned, stepping out of your comfort...

We navigated a lot of topics on this episode that impact your faith and marriage, including what it looks like to live when someone isn't willing or wanting to pursue Christ, and whether you have the ability to mess up God's plan. Here are some practical things discussed that you CAN do to stay in God's will and show Jesus to your spouse. Pray Seek Jesus' will and lay yours down Move when He says to move and stay where He tells you to stay. Let go of what He tells you to let go...

We loved getting to know Kelsi and Ryan and to have an opportunity to hear their hearts for helping others navigate through loss and grief. There are principles throughout their story that can be applied to any season of life. The Cole family is a beautiful trio in their photo, but behind the scenes, they hold a story of tremendous loss, resilience, and faith. Their journey together began in 2010 with a shared desire for a Godly marriage. Through the trials of miscarriage and stillbirth,...

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. This verse talks about the physical aspect of laying down your life for someone else, and that's part of it, but Christ laid down His life sacrificially long before He did it physically. What does this mean for you and for your marriage? How could this shift your perspective, change your behavior, and impact the dynamic of your home? This doesn't mean you avoid the difficult topics, shove things...

Often we hear the struggles of a couple knowing how to navigate triggers, how to share their story, and when/how to share something with their spouse. We dive into this topic today and address areas that can be very difficult to navigate in communication, marriage, and healing. James 1:19 says "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." As always, we want to hear from you. If you want additional information...

This conversation brought up so much for us as we delved into how you represent Christ in this world and in your marriage. We invite you along for the conversation and hope it helps bring some clarity to an area that can truly set us apart. Here is the YouTube video referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3axFcUUs1gc Here are some great verses to ponder! https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-verses-about-cursing.html As always, we want to hear from you. If you want additional...

The longer you know someone, the more you begin to assume things in your relationship. Often, you walk away from conversations with takeaways that were never said because of someone's tone, their body language, and previous experiences. These assumptions kill curiosity. We want to encourage you to stay curious in your marriage, to commit to growing, and to commit to knowing what is changing and has changed in your spouse. Always chase after Christ and allow Him to refine how you...

Does compromise really ensure happiness in marriage, or instead does it encourage you to lay down parts of yourself that you shouldn't? Does it encourage you to start keeping a tallying score of what has been lost and what you need to gain back? Or, in essence, is it sacrifice that really ensures that a marriage thrives? Isn't this how Christ calls us to love in Romans 12:1-2, and Ephesians 5:22-29. As always, we want to hear from you. If you want additional information about our 2 day...

This past week we had the opportunity to reflect on the power of an invitation, the changing of seasons, and the inevitability of change. How we handle these moments and how we choose to grow as an individual and in marriage determines so much. Don't let obstacles such as perfectionism, expectations, or fear stop you from leaving one season behind and approaching another, or from inviting people into your life to learn from and to mentor. Learn to pray, pivot, and grow with one another,...

Parenting has a big impact on your marriage, and can create conflict for a couple as they learn to navigate different parenting styles, backgrounds, and viewpoints. One of the greatest gifts you can give your kids is to live out a great marriage and model authentic faith. In fact, a recent study shows shocking statistics for when someone reads the Bible four times a week or more. Feeling lonely drops 30% Anger issues drop 32% Bitterness in relationships drops 40% Alcoholism drops 57% ...

What does this look in life, and how do you do these things when facing some level of hurt or betrayal? Join us for this in depth conversation and real-life examples of how we navigated this in our own life and marriage. We want to encourage you that you ALWAYS have hope in your future because of who Jesus is and what He has done. No matter what your marriage may be facing, you have a Savior who beckons to you. Lean into Him, and surrender your spouse to Him. Click below for commentary...

Irritability, unmet expectations, and failures have a HUGE impact on marriage. Work hard to recognize what physical, spiritual, and emotional factors contribute to both your own, and your spouse's stress and irritability. Learn to ask questions and to meet them where they are at, such as are you looking for assurance, understanding, or a solution? Learn to effectively communicate what you are looking for, and be willing to offer your spouse the emotional support they need, regardless of...

Love does not boast, it is not proud. 1st Corinthians 13:4-7 describes how we are called to love, not just in our marriage, but in our lives. Psychology today says, "We tend to think of people who boast as arrogant, self-preoccupied, or, perhaps, insecure, which may be why they need to boast in the first place. Pride, on the other hand, is generally defined as a feeling of self-respect and personal worth or a feeling of satisfaction with one's own (or another's) achievements." We have...

Do you envy your spouse? Is this leading to unsaid, unmet, or unrealistic expectations that can bring about dicontentment and bitterness? Envy in relationships is a killer! It kills joy and peace. It doesn’t call you or your spouse to what can be, but holds you both captive. We found in our own marriage that this has crept up more than we could have imagined, and continues to have a distinct impact on how we view one another and certain situations. 1st Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient,...

We loved this conversation! Our culture has taken hold of this topic in our families for too long. WE HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK. It is time for every parent, and every spouse, to start having the uncomfortable conversations so that we can stand in truth and see sex as God designed it to be...which is beautiful! Kristen Miele has been educating youth on the topic of sex for over a decade. She’s taught in hundreds of diverse settings including 2 different countries and has experience teaching ages...

Kindness is an embodiment of selflessness, care, and compassion. It mirrors Jesus, who, out of overwhelming love, sacrificed His life for us, taking on our punishment. Does your life reflect this? Romans 2:4 "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" Our kindness also extends to how we walk out forgiveness. WE ARE CALLED TO THIS! Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and...

"Patience in the Bible is the ability to endure difficult people and situations without giving into anger or giving up hope. Because God continues to show us patience when we are doing disappointing things, we can show others patience when they disappoint us." renew.org The reality is that we desire for others to be patient with us, we want God to be patient with us, but often find ourselves unwilling to extend the same to God, our spouse, kids, and even to ourselves. We need to remember...

After reading this devotional by Kyle Idleman, we began to contemplate these factors, and how they play into the transformation in our lives, and in the lives of those we have worked with over the years. We found the principles to be unequivocally true. So often we see couples missing one of these key pieces, and failing to see true transformation in their own life and in their marriage. You can read the plan...

On today's episode, learn what it means to entrust your vision into God's hands, truly surrender the things you have held so tightly to, and place it into God's hands. This process of surrender is exactly what Rich & Suzanne navigated through with their marriage, family, and business. Hear how they almost lost it all and the lessons Jesus taught them as they learned to lean into His plan and not their own. We challenge you to take these things to heart and to begin to surrender, find...