Marriage

Christmas can create undue stress as we strive to find the perfect gift for our mate. But it doesn't have to be stressful. With a little creativity and a better understanding of who our spouse really is, we can get gifts they will appreciate for a lifetime and gifts that will help better their lives, learn a new skill, and make them better people as a result.

It’s printed right there on our money: “In God We Trust.” But do we?

99 feasible ideas that could change the culture of your marriage today. 

Christmas doesn't have to be a time when intimacy is lost. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. Even with a small budget due to the strain of Christmas on your finances, follow the suggestions above or create your own romantic night. It doesn't take a lot of money to make someone feel special.

If you're used to rushing out the door in the morning, carve out a little extra time to sip coffee together and talk about your day. Intentional moments like these will help you stay connected through the holidays, reminding you of what's most important.

As wives, we want to show our husbands they are loved. Our gifts are a chance to let them know they are appreciated and seen. Consequently, we women can feel a bit of pressure when shopping for our husbands. We are often also bearing the load of shopping for everyone else in our homes, too! All the planning, budgeting, buying, and more add a layer of stress to this time of year for most married women.

As November begins, start the month with a servant's heart. Simple and small acts of kindness that say, "I love you," break free from the mundane, bringing about an unexpected but welcoming surprise that will be sure to bless your sweetheart. Little acts of kindness will not only speak volumes to your spouse, but it may begin to soften your heart as well. It brings out the meaning that it is often "better to give than to receive."

Being a couple is an awesome thing. You’re always there to help, support, and love each other. Still, we need to look around and see who else could use some help this Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas where you and your spouse can help others with your talents and gifts.

Jesus is the ultimate example of a compassionate heart. As the coming Bridegroom for His Bride, the Church, He shows us how to practice compassion towards our spouse. Here are 10 ways Jesus teaches us how to put compassion into practice for our spouses.

Put an under- and over- communicator together, and you have one spouse dying for some silence and the other one trying to squeeze a few more words out of the non-talker. We have learned to see the humor in this but also extend grace toward the other when the talker wants to have a conversation, and the thinker wants time to think it through.

Read on for some encouragement about how healthy disenchantment can actually be a good and even necessary part of marriage. We will explore some of the potential dangers associated with this change, as well as the tools for using it to herald in a more grace-filled and rightly ordered perspective in your marital relationship.

You may be ready, but is the guy you’re dating ready? How can you tell?

Whether it’s you or your spouse who needs to be less busy (and I’m guessing it’s both of you), we all could use ways to improve our marriage, family, and spiritual life which inevitably happens when we become less stressed. Here are 8 signs your marriage needs you to be less busy:.

All families struggle with the extremes holidays bring out of -and on- us! Here’s a few tips to help you navigate the season.

We bring our insecurities, dysfunction, past hurts, and areas of deception into every encounter, as does everyone with whom we engage. This can lead to misunderstandings and increased hurt. In Matthew 7, Jesus provides steps we can take to guard against this.

When we are committed to being there for each other, offering words of kindness, wisdom, love, and encouragement, a strong sense of security grows in our relationship. We gain this sense of invincibility as a couple—knowing we can face nearly anything as long as we remain a team and God is our leader!

Jesus himself wept at the death of Lazarus, showing that sorrow is a human experience and that even He, who knew He would raise Lazarus, felt the pain of loss. This reassures us that our grief is understood and that seeking comfort in God is natural and necessary.

Holiday stress can strain even the strongest marriages, but this season offers a unique opportunity to deepen your connection with your spouse by embracing sacrificial love and intentional connection. Discover practical strategies for navigating festive chaos, from creative date nights to empathetic communication, and reignite your marital spark through shared experiences and prayer.

In order to have healthy, life-giving relationships with in-laws (or anyone), we have to continually pay attention to boundaries.

We all know quality time matters, but over 24 years of marriage, I've learned how survival mode sneaks up on us. Here are seven signs your marriage needs more quality time together.