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Take the free Marriage AssessmentFive Newlywed Pitfalls
Communication
Navigating a new marriage may not be as easy as the movies make it seem, but with an attentive eye and an earnest heart, you can avoid these pitfalls and have a beautiful newlywed season.
April 22, 2024
5 Debilitating Lies Teenage Girls Believe
Children
Teen girls can easily fall prey to these five lies. Battle them with truth and arm your daughter.
August 16, 2023
Helping Someone Deal with Grief
Communication
The weight of sorrow can feel unbearable, but with compassion, understanding, and the love of God, it is possible to help someone who is grieving.
May 18, 2023
ADHD AND MARRIAGE: HOW TO HANDLE COMMON CONFLICT PATTERNS
Communication
When ADHD and marriage go together, you can face repeating conflict patterns. But you can lessen those patterns and strengthen your marriage.
April 21, 2023
Parenting Adult Children Through Prayer
Children
Spending time in intimate conversation with our Heavenly Father on behalf of our kids can take away the feeling of powerlessness that we sometimes battle. These times spent with God can renew our sense of hope, open our eyes to what God is doing now in our kids’ lives, and impact our interactions with our children.
March 31, 2023
Witchcraft: What Christian Parents Need to Know
Children
Witchcraft is a difficult subject to broach in Christian circles. Many people are so uncomfortable with it, they don’t even want to discuss it, and don’t believe it is real.
March 22, 2023
DATE YOUR MATE
Communication
If we are not diligent to date our mate, the business and busyness of life can infringe until we spend less time together now that we are married than we did before our vows.
March 16, 2023
Teen Defiance? Look for Emotional Wounds
Children
If you have been wondering, “Why is my good kid, all of a sudden, defiant?” Emotional wounds could be the underlying culprit.
February 16, 2023
4 Parenting Styles and Effective Child Discipline
Children
How do you get your children to obey, and what should you do when they won’t?
February 10, 2023
IS YOUR MARRIAGE WORTH IMITATING?
Communication
Our kids are constantly watching us, and how we treat our spouse is probably how our children will treat their own spouse someday. Your marriage is your child’s blueprint for intimacy and relationships.
January 31, 2023
Loving Your Pregnant Teenager
Children
Parenting your pregnant teen is a whole new level of motherhood. It can also be a deepening of your relationship.
January 24, 2023
Helping Kids Stand Firm While Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape of Transgenderism
Children
There is a crucial shift in youth culture, and Christian teens need to understand transgenderism as well as how to respond in love and truth.
January 23, 2023
5 Tips for Keeping Your Kids’ Phone Time Under Control
Children
Phones are everywhere these days. Knowing how to approach phone time for your kids can be tricky. But here are some strategies for how to create a healthy environment for your kids.
January 11, 2023
HOW TO HANDLE ARGUMENTS IN MARRIAGE
Communication
Conflict can lead you toward a deeper marriage connection
January 11, 2023
STRENGTHEN YOUR EMOTIONAL CONNECTION IN MARRIAGE BY BUILDING YOUR FRIENDSHIP
Communication
Friendship in marriage is vital, but the busyness of life can squelch it. Don’t let emotional connection in marriage fade away — revive it using these tips.
January 11, 2023
5 WAYS TO STAY ON THE SAME TEAM
Communication
If you and your spouse are going to function as teammates in marriage, you need to actually understand each other’s situation and validate each other.
December 23, 2022
LOVE YOUR HUSBAND BY LOVING YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW
Communication
Learn how to strengthen your marriage and love your husband by building a good relationship with your mother-in-law.
December 23, 2022
UNHAPPY MARRIAGE? FIX IT WITH THESE SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL HAPPINESS
Communication
How can you fix an unhappy marriage? Learn how you can develop effective, yet simple habits for marital happiness.
November 27, 2022
FAMILY STRESS AT CHRISTMASTIME
Communication
If you and your spouse look for unexpected gifts in your life this Christmas, you just may find a blessing in working together to manage family dynamics during the holiday season.
November 27, 2022
LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES
Communication
Most of us in second marriages can clearly see that adding education, personal awareness and intentionality to our current marriage can create a new, mutually satisfying relationship.
November 16, 2022
WHEN YOUR SPOUSE HAS A TERMINAL ILLNESS
Communication
When you learn your spouse has a terminal illness, everything changes in an instant. What’s important to know as you begin this hard journey?
October 20, 2022
How to Talk to Your Daughter about Puberty
Children
Your tween girl needs you as she starts to go through physical and emotional changes associated with puberty. Learn how to appropriately approach the topic of puberty with your daughter.
October 11, 2022
Reinforce Your Child’s Sexual Identity
Children
Help children understand that their sexual identity is an indelible part of who God created them to be.
September 20, 2022
WHAT DO COUPLES FIGHT ABOUT? YOU’LL BE SHOCKED BY THE ANSWER
Communication
All couples fight. And it feels as if we’re fighting about something. But when we look at our conflicts, they can sound pretty insignificant. Big things don’t ensnare us as often as the little things.
September 12, 2022
JAVA WITH JULI: LOVE YOUR HUSBAND BY LOVING YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW
Communication
By building a good relationship with your husband’s mom, you can show your husband that you love him. Here are some ways you can reach out to your mother-in-law and create a peaceful family bond.
August 18, 2022
Living With Healthy Grief
Communication
Learn how to deal with the grief that comes from the death of a loved one or from divorce. It includes the stages of grief and provides teens with ideas on how to walk through the process of grief after a loss.
August 12, 2022
FEELING TRAPPED IN MARRIAGE
Communication
If you’re in a chronically unhappy marriage, you may feel trapped and hopeless. But transformational options exist for those in a stressful marriage.
August 11, 2022
A HUSBAND’S SELFISHNESS
Communication
Dr. Ron Welch, the author of The Controlling Husband: What Every Woman Needs to Know, shares his story of making his wife and marriage a priority.
June 29, 2022
MY WIFE CONSTANTLY CRITICIZES ME: A GUIDE FOR MENTORS
Communication
When a husband says, “My wife constantly criticizes me,” what do you do? Help him deal with the issue using these tips.
May 19, 2022
DEALING WITH YOUR DIFFERENCES: DO YOUR PART
Communication
We will all blow it sometimes. But if you really strive to limit your reckless words, you will create a climate that fosters openness and closeness in your marriage.
March 2, 2022
HOW TO CONNECT WITH 16-18 YEAR OLDS
Children
As parents, we deal with the tension between providing freedom and boundaries for our teens. Focus on finding routines and habits that can help you better connect with your teens. Look out for things they enjoy or opportunities to develop a skill or interest. Finally, continue to take an interest in your teen’s interests. Ask questions and show interest in their passions.
February 18, 2022
CONNECTING WITH KIDS IN A DISCONNECTED WORLD
Children
What does it mean to live in a disconnected world? There are dramatic implications for kids of all ages. Fortunately, you can foster positive connection with your kids through these tips and strategies.
February 17, 2022
HELPING OUR KIDS GROW AND KEEP A POSITIVE MINDSET
Children
Today’s kids face new challenges and ask questions our kids didn’t have to two decades ago. But God has provided every answer and truth to help them have a positive mindset that cannot be shaken by this world.
February 17, 2022
6 WAYS TO CREATE A CULTURE OF RESPONSIBILITY WITH OUR KIDS
Children
To create a healthy culture of responsibility, it begins with us as parents modeling a willingness to do those small things. Our children will pick up on our actions and will begin to live them out later in life. Watching them do this is in itself a great reward.
January 25, 2022
WHEN BOUNDARIES HINDER BONDING
Children
Rules are important, but connecting with your teen is essential.
January 25, 2022
TEACHING CHILDREN RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND BEYOND
Communication
Sadly, reverence for the elderly is sometimes in short supply in today’s youth-oriented culture. Because they may be slowing down and having more difficulty moving around, there is an assumption that what elderly people have to offer is also in short supply. On the contrary, they have the most to contribute.
January 20, 2022
FIVE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MENTORING
Communication
Maybe you’ve heard about mentoring but don’t really know what it is. Let’s clear up five of the most common misconceptions.
January 17, 2022
WHAT IS MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE THEORY AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY CHILD?
Communication
What is Multiple Intelligence Theory? Explore how our different learning styles affect learning and your child’s development inside and outside of school.
January 13, 2022
PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES: CONQUERING CHORES TOGETHER
Children
Learn to navigate communicating the importance of doing chores to your kids and form your perspective on how chores can impact your family.
January 13, 2022
YOUR TEENS NEED YOU, NOT MORE SCREEN TIME
Children
Would you like more meaningful connection with your teens? Keep reading to learn more about how it’s important to spend face-to-face time with your teens, outside of screen time.
January 10, 2022
AUTISM AND MARRIAGE: 3 SIGNS YOUR SPOUSE MAY BE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
Communication
Marriage stressors reach a whole new level if one spouse is on the autism spectrum — and the couple isn’t even aware of it. If one spouse has ASD and the other does not, the two have significant differences in the way their brains are wired.
January 7, 2022
THE PROBLEMS OF PORNOGRAPHY: SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION AND BEYOND
Communication
NO PORN NOVEMBER:
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is not new, but ED is no longer occurring only in middle-aged and older men. Many men with ED are under 40. Research suggests this might be the result of pornography addiction.
November 30, 2021
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND’S PORN CONFESSION
Communication
NO PORN NOVEMBER:
Relational problems often get worse before they get better. Some husbands wait weeks after the discovery of porn use before they admit to additional bad behavior. Here’s what wives need to know.
November 26, 2021
HOW PORNOGRAPHY PREVENTS INTIMACY IN YOUR MARRIAGE
Communication
NO PORN NOVEMBER:
Does viewing pornography as a couple enhance intimacy in marriage? Marital sexuality is to be exclusive. So, pornography not only decreases true intimacy in marriage but actually prevents it.
November 22, 2021
THE IMPORTANCE OF VULNERABILITY IN FIGHTING PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION
Communication
NO PORN NOVEMBER:
You can’t keep hiding. You can’t kick the habit on your own; no one can. If you really want to be free, you’re going to have to open up to others. You’re going to have to learn to be vulnerable.
November 18, 2021
WHEN YOUR HUSBAND CONFESSES ADDICTION TO PORNOGRAPHY
Communication
NO PORN NOVEMBER:
Meg was devastated by her husband’s confession, but her response initiated a new level of intimacy with God for her. Now she ministers to women devastated by their husbands’ poor sexual choices.
November 8, 2021
SHOULD YOU TELL YOUR SPOUSE ABOUT YOUR PORN PROBLEM?
Communication
NO PORN NOVEMBER:
Counselors have seen that the major benefits of truth-telling are worth enduring the challenges. Before you tell your spouse about your secret past, you have to admit a few things to yourself.
November 6, 2021
RESTORING TRUST AFTER PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION
Communication
NO PORN NOVEMBER:
Restoring trust in light of your spouse’s pornography addiction
November 4, 2021
HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUNG TEENS
Children
Connecting with young teens can be challenging but time spent with them will be rewarding for both parents and kids
October 22, 2021
TALKING TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS: WHEN MENTAL ILLNESS HITS HOME
Children
What happens when the person grappling with mental illness is someone within the walls of your own home? And what are some of the signs?
October 11, 2021
WHEN TEENS LOSE HOPE
Children
If your teens seem depressed or hopeless and you worry that their actions may lead to self-harm, here are some ideas for bringing hope into their situation.
September 28, 2021
HOW COULD DIVORCE AFFECT MY KIDS?
Communication
We now have an enormous amount of research on divorce and children, all pointing to the same stubborn truth: Kids suffer when moms and dads split up.
September 20, 2021
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO YOUR CHILD’S SUSPECTED PORN USE?
Children
There have been countless times I’ve had to respond to a parent’s pleas for help after they have just discovered their child has viewed pornography.
August 10, 2021
6 WAYS TO HELP YOUR HIGHLY SENSITIVE CHILD THRIVE
Children
Parenting sensitive children is a tremendous privilege and responsibility. Here are six ways that we can help our highly sensitive child thrive through our parenting.
July 15, 2021
7 HEALTHY HABITS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR MARRIAGE
Communication
Boot these bad habits for better communication
May 19, 2021
LOSING A CHILD LED TO THE HARDEST YEAR OF OUR MARRIAGE
Communication
My husband, Russ, and I are the parents of 12 kids through birth and adoption, and sometimes more through foster care.
March 15, 2021
6 WAYS TO DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE AND POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE IN CHILDREN
Children
These six steps can help you to build self-confidence and a positive self-image in your children.
March 5, 2021
RECONNECTING WITH YOUR SPOUSE (Part 1 of 2)
Communication
If busyness, exhaustion, and distraction have caused you and your spouse to drift apart, listen in as Dr. Greg Smalley and his wife, Erin, offer practical suggestions for rekindling intimacy in a discussion based on their book Reconnected: Moving From Roomates to Soulmates in Your Marriage. (Part 1 of 2)
March 5, 2021
CONNECTING WITH YOUR EMOTIONAL TEENS
Children
When you have an emotional teen, there are three things that your teen may need from you.
February 18, 2021
FORGIVENESS AND MARITAL DISTRESS
Communication
During this unusual season of “quarantine fatigue” unresolved issues around forgiveness may rush to the surface.
January 25, 2021
STAYING CONNECTED WHEN ONE SPOUSE IS TRAVELING
Communication
Travel is tough on a marriage. But with a bit of planning, you and your spouse can stay connected when one of you is away from home.
January 25, 2021
A MARRIAGE MEDITATION: TIME
Communication
Your marriage needs commitment. Especially a commitment to time with your spouse. Make the most of the little moments and watch your marriage grow.
December 31, 2020
HELPING YOUR SPOUSE WHEN THEY’RE OVERWHELMED
Communication
Your spouse is the one person with whom you can be truly honest and still feel seen and cared for. What do you do when your spouse is overwhelmed?
December 31, 2020
MARRIAGE MEDITATION – LOVE IS A VERB
Communication
Marriage begins with a promise to love. But promises are empty words unless the couple acts on them. Love is a verb. It requires action.
December 31, 2020
HOW TO DEAL WITH A PAST ABORTION IN MARRIAGE
Communication
Keeping heartbreaking information from your spouse can cause even more pain. Here are several ways to deal with a past abortion in your marriage.
December 31, 2020