Family by God&#039;s Design

Beware of Friends When…

We all need friends. Even married couples need more friends than just their spouse. Our friends provide support, companionship, and joy. However, we must exercise caution in our friendships, especially when we’re married. If not, the boundaries between friendship and romance may begin to blur and damage our marriages. If not addressed, the friendship may...

Honor

affair connection intimacy marriage relationship

March 24, 2025

One Question to Save Your Marriage

Relationships tend to drift unless we become intentional. Today, they drift into the stream of a culture that threatens overwhelm with busyness and stressful events, robbing us of joy. Or they drift on negative feelings that, left unaddressed, eventually accumulate and drown our joy. A simple “research-approved” question can turn that drift around, giving married...

Celebration Grace

emotional health intimacy marriage stress management

March 15, 2025

Your Stress & Your Spouse’s Happiness

Does stress ever impact your marriage and family life? Maybe you’re feeling the impact of stress on your family right now. I know stress impacts my marriage and family. But I have some good news. Research completed by the University of California, Davis, offers some helpful advice. In this study, the researchers analyzed 321 adults...

Celebration Honor

happiness intimacy marriage stress management

March 8, 2025

Money & the Root of Marital Conflict?

I often hear people say that money is “the issue that is most often at the root of marital problems.” I agree that money gives rise to many problems, but I don’t believe it is the root of those problems. It is not the money in and of itself that creates the problem. Yes, money...

Honor

communication conflict intimacy marriage money

March 1, 2025

Forgive Myself? And My Family?

Many people have told me, “I can’t forgive myself.” Why? Some say they don’t feel deserving of forgiveness. Others fear if they forgive themselves, they engage in the same negative behavior again. They believe guilt keeps them from committing the same error. Neither of these fears are true. In fact, forgiving ourselves actually has several...

Grace

family intimacy forgiveness intimacy marriage

February 8, 2025

The Danger of the “Little White Lie”…& What to Do About It

Have you ever lied to your spouse? Maybe not a “big lie” but a “little, white lie”? Or, perhaps more likely, a lie of omission? If you have, you’re not alone. Generally speaking, people become “less than honest” with their spouse in response to fear. Specifically, we may fear being evaluated or judged. As a...

Family Shepherds

communication intimacy marriage truth

January 27, 2025

Savor the Ones You Love

One of my favorite aspects of family gatherings arises when people start reliving shared memories. Everybody laughs about the joyous memories…and eyes often glisten at recalled losses. Sometimes the memories start off disastrous but end up being a time of laughter and connection. Many times, families even recall the joyous memories at difficult times to...

Celebration

family intimacy family relationship intimacy memories

January 7, 2025

The Complaint Vs. Compliment Rumble

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” I’m not hunting flies, but this saying is also true when it comes to healthy marriages. Well, I don’t mean the “honey & vinegar thing.” I mean the meaning rings true. You know, compliments (honey) strengthen marriages better than vinegar (complaints). ...

Honor

complaints compliment intimacy marriage relationship

December 14, 2024

An Invitation

Families benefit from phrases that begin with “Let us…” or “Let’s….” “Let us” offers an invitation to engage with one another, to do something together. It is an invitation to a deeper relationship. Sometimes the invitation accompanies fun. Sometimes the invitation comes with work. Even if the invitation suggests a work activity, it implies that...