Awesome Marriage Podcast

Your marriage needs trust in order to be healthy. Without it, your connection with your spouse will fade, and you’ll experience more conflict and tension, and less of the closeness and intimacy marriage is meant to have. Don’t stay stuck like this! Turn things around by closing the trust gaps between you and your spouse and make your marriage a safe refuge for both of you.    Episode highlights include:   Areas where you might not realize you lack trust   How to address it effectively with your spouse - without blaming  How to have grace in the rebuilding process Tips to building financial trust Practical tips to become more trustworthy with completing tasks    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES  “Without trust in a marriage, the marriage just crumbles.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling   “We don’t realize how valuable trust is until it’s broken.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “Trust can be unique to the person and the situation.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “We have to own what’s driving our trust-breaking behavior.” - Lindsay Few “The budget isn’t a prison, it’s a plan. But sometimes it will be uncomfortable.” - Lindsay Few “The sooner you go to counseling, the sooner you’ll resolve your issues.” - Lindsay Few “If you get stuck, you don’t have to stay stuck.”  - Lindsay Few “Your spouse may make some mistakes, so look for Jesus in your spouse.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “I felt like he should trust me … but my action was not giving him anything to trust.” - Lindsay Few    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Sign up HERE to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each week’s new episode  We are bombarded with negative messages about marriage. FIGHT BACK with our Reframing Challenge If your marriage has been damaged by porn, the 5 Steps to Healing After Porn Betrayal webinar is a great first step to healing. Learn more or grab your spot here.   Warm Up Your Marriage (Past Episode)   

Today we answer some of the most frequently asked questions we hear about sex. Dr. Kim and Christina covered this on an episode in 2021, and we’ve distilled their conversation into the most timeless and practical answers to common sex questions.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.   Episode highlights include:   How often is “normal”? Dealing with dead sex drive  Is oral sex ok in marriage? What about anal?  Is there such thing as too much sex when trying to conceive?  How to start talking to your kids about sex  What do do if your spouse withholds sex   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES  “Guys, you have to continue to be romantic.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “I wanted my kids to talk to me about sex before they went to a friend or read it on a bathroom wall or a magazine. You want that door to be open.”  - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “You need to honor each other and respect each other’s body to honor God in marriage.” - Christina Dodson “Guys, if you please your wife first, does it really matter when you orgasm? There's this unspoken pressure.” - Christina Dodson  “There’s always an answer. I’ve never had a couple we couldn’t figure out an answer for.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “Stay at the comfort level of the one who is least comfortable. If you do that, you’re going to be ok.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Sign up HERE to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each week’s new episode  Dr. Kim’s Marriage Multiplier is a quick weekly email with actionable insights to grow your marriage. Sign up HERE!  Resources we recommend for starting the sex conversation with your spouse Celebration of Sex Lovemaking Survey Resources we recommend for talking to your kids about sex:  Don’t Mom Alone Podcast Ep 328  Full Set - God's Design for Sex Series: Revised and Updated Edition by Stan Jones, Brenna Jones  We’re delighted to partner with The Sex Talk, an excellent online course to help you navigate this topic well   

Trust in marriage is not one-size-fits all. There are many areas where your marriage needs trust in order to thrive, and some might matter to your spouse more than they do to you, and vice versa. So today we’re talking about how to navigate any trust gaps you may have with your spouse, how to start the conversation about it, and rebuild what’s been broken so you both feel more connected and secure in your marriage.   We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   Several types of trust marriages need, and why they matter The side effects of missing trust  Simple steps to catch a trust slip-up so that trust is not broken Specific trust-killers you need to avoid  How to build trust - and keep it   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES  “It helps to build trust if you accept me as I am, not as you wish I would be.” - Lindsay Few  “I may not even be aware if I did something that affected the trust, and I want to know.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “If it’s important to her and it keeps coming up, I want her to tell me about it.” Dr. Kim Kimberling  “I’d be so offended when he didn’t trust me, but when I think about the reality, I wasn’t trustworthy.” - Lindsay Few  “Trust is between two people. It’s not just your perception of yourself.” - Lindsay Few  “It’s not like we quit making mistakes, it’s just that we handle them differently now.”  - Dr. Kim Kimberling  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  What would happen if you took the next 4 weeks to reframe your spouse and your marriage with a biblical approach? Cultivate a better perspective – and a better marriage, with our Reframing Challenge Sign up HERE to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each week’s new episode  Does your sex life need a reboot? Improve your sex life with our Locking Lips Kissing Game!  If your marriage has been damaged by porn, the Marriage Undefiled Online Course provides a path to rebuild trust and repair your marriage.   Click HERE to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each week’s new episode!  The free printable Weekly Check Up is a simple way to keep short accounts and keep building trust.

Does lust have a place in marriage? What sets it apart from sexual desire? Today we’re working through the reasons this question matters for your marriage, and how to have a marriage that glorifies God in every aspect, including how you steward your sexual desires.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:    Defining the difference between lust and desire, biblically  The godly purposes for sexual desire in marriage Specific reasons why misused sexual desire is destructive  How to maintain purity in marriage  Why porn affects your marriage even if your spouse doesn’t know you use it   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES  “Lust is more about what you see, what you’re attracted to and what it can do for you.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “In the Bible, it’s not like they lived in a Puritanical culture at that time. No, it was probably every bit as bad…we just access things in a different way now.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “If we look at Scripture, lust was never mentioned in a positive light.” - Lindsay Few  “We won’t ever clear that bar, but he’s taken care of it through his life, death and resurrection, so there is grace and forgiveness.” - Lindsay Few  “The best sex is within the context of a Christian marriage.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “If it’s reduced to that ‘just get it over with’ kind of situation, whoa. Red flag. The goal is not just to satisfy the urge, the goal is mutual enjoyment, pleasure, connection and building of the marriage.” - Lindsay Few “Vulnerability is uncomfortable, but it can lead you to prevent something a lot more painful.” - Lindsay Few    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:   If your marriage has been damaged by porn, our free  5 Steps to Healing After Porn Betrayal webinar with Dr. Kim is a great first step toward healing Our Marriage Undefiled Online Course with Matt Cline takes a deeper look at ways to heal and restore your marriage  Sign up HERE to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each week’s new episode  Getting Your Sex Life Off To A Great Start by Cliff & Joyce Penner The Gift of Sex by Cliff & Joyce Penner The Best Way to Affair Proof Your Marriage (Past Episode)  Does your sex life need a reboot? Improve your sex life with our Locking Lips Kissing Game!   

Most couples are not going to be completely aligned with sex drive. There are a lot of factors that  can cause this, but there are also a lot of solutions! Today we want to equip you to have a productive approach to making your sex life the best it can be in marriage.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   Why is it so hard to have a productive conversation about sex?  Should the lower-drive spouse “just do it” for the spouse’s sake? Why or why not?  Why respecting your wife’s drive level helps her feel sexy  Ways to respect your spouse’s drive    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  What would happen if you took the next 4 weeks to reframe your spouse and your marriage with a biblical approach? Learn how to have a better perspective – and a better marriage, with our Reframing Challenge Does your sex life need a reboot? Improve your sex life with our Locking Lips Kissing Game!  If your marriage has been damaged by porn, the Marriage Undefiled Online Course provides a path to rebuild trust and repair your marriage.   Click HERE to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each week’s new episode!   

Do you hope to break generational patterns of pain? Are childhood hurts haunting your marriage? Today’s guest Kristen Hallinan is a writer and speaker, and today she helps you see how to identify and break generational patterns to find hope, healing and redemption. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:    How your past trauma can affects your current reactions  What makes it so hard to break cycles  Red flags of unhealthy family dynamics  How to work with God to find his redemption  Steps to making a redemption plan for your marriage    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES “It can be easy to say, ‘Why didn’t I know better?’ You didn’t know better because that’s all you knew.” - Kristen Hallinan  “The more I’ve gotten to know who God is, the more I understand who I am.”- Kristen Hallinan  “I used to believe if I just tried hard enough, I could grow up and create this perfect family.” - Kristen Hallinan  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Sign up HERE to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each week’s new episode  Learn more about how to make your marriage conflict healthy by joining Dr. Kim for the 8 Guidelines for Fighting Fair Webinar  Dr. Kim recommends the book, The Body Keeps the Score  Grab Kristen’s book, Legacy Changer for more great info on the topic Follow Kristen on Instagram and check out her website

Today we are sharing the final episode with Kathy McAtee Young and her story of finding safety after decades in an abusive marriage. In this episode Kathy shares some of the barriers that prevent spouses in abusive marriages from seeking safety and help, ways to begin moving out of the abusive relationship, and the ways healing begins afterward.    Don’t miss the conclusion to Kathy’s story. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   Reasons that abused spouse don’t trust their own judgment Steps to get out of an abusive marriage Is it ever appropriate to intervene if you believe someone is being abused?  What the process of healing looks like after you get safe   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES “One of the hallmarks of an unsafe relationship is confusion.” - Kathy McAtee Young   “God sees you. He cares. And he is faithful.” - Kathy McAtee Young  “We don’t want your pity. Compassion, yes. There is a difference.” - Kathy McAtee Young “Healing is a lifestyle, not a finish line.” - Kathy McAtee Young  “When you can name it, then you can process it.”  - Kathy McAtee Young MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline : 800-799-7233 https://www.thehotline.org/ Visit Kathy’s website to learn about the helpful resources and services she offers  Kathy can also be reached for coaching on Instagram  This previous episode explains a Biblical perspective on abuse Lies That Keep You With Your Abuser with Dr. David E Clarke | Ep. 541 

Today in Part 2 of Kathy’s story, Kathy shares the ways she sought support from the church when she realized her marriage was in trouble, the responses she received, and the effects that had on her marriage. In this episode Kathy shares why it’s not possible for the abused spouse to end the abuse, and the difference between biblical versus unbiblical advice about abuse.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:    Interventions the church put in place, and why they were not successful  The wake up moment that turned things around for Kathy  What is an appropriate response to spousal abuse?  The red flags that advice or counsel about abuse is unbiblical    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    Red flags that advice or counsel about abuse is unbiblical  They won’t call out that abuse is abuse They will not call the abuse sin The safety of the abused spouse is not top priority  There is no call for repentance  They advise you to stay, regardless  Blaming the abused for the abuse QUOTES “There is one person responsible for abuse: It is the abuser.” - Kathy McAtee Young  “The Bible definitely commands forgiveness. It does not command reconciliation.”  - Kathy McAtee Young    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline : 800-799-7233 https://www.thehotline.org/ Visit Kathy’s website to learn about the helpful resources and services she offers  Kathy can also be reached for coaching on Instagram  This previous episode explains a Biblical perspective on abuse Lies That Keep You With Your Abuser with Dr. David E Clarke | Ep. 541 

When does an unhealthy marriage become an abusive marriage? Where can you go when you need to get out? In today’s episode we hear part 1 of Kathy’s real marriage story. Kathy shares how she came to believe that divorce was the most God-honoring option in her situation, and how she found safety after 30+ years in an emotionally abusive marriage.  We are so grateful to Kathy for generously sharing her story. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   Dispelling myths about who falls into abuse  Why marriage counseling does not work in abusive marriages How Kathy learned her marriage was abusive Why she stayed as long as she did, and why she later divorced     *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  This previous episode defines a clear Biblical perspective on abuse: Lies That Keep You With Your Abuser with Dr. David E Clarke | Ep. 541    QUOTES “I want to debunk the myth that abused women are poorly educated, lower income, women who can easily be taken advantage of. That’s just not accurate.”  - Kathy McAtee Young  “Within the first year, I knew we had trouble…” - Kathy McAtee Young   “Marriage counseling does not work if there’s abuse involved. I know that now.” - Kathy McAtee Young  “Most people who are narcissists are really good at it.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “You have this idea that, ‘If she could fix all these things, then I wouldn’t be this way.’ That’s the blame shifting.” - Kathy McAtee Young  “The heart of abuse is power and control. Everything else is tactics.” - Kathy McAtee Young 

Do you fight fair, or do you wish there was a referee to call a stop to the foul play when you argue with your spouse? Ground rules are an important step toward having healthy marriage conflict, so today Dr. Kim will spell out how to make sure you’re fighting fair in your marriage. We want to empower you to fight fair, and resolve issues in a kind and loving way.  If you need help to fight fair and truly resolve issues without making things worse, you will love today’s conversation.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   The DOs and DON’Ts of fighting fair  The side effects of unhealthy conflict  A healthy way to “let it all out”  Can honesty go too far?  How do you know?  Tips to the reconnection process - how to make up well    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES “We both learned we needed to reconnect and apologize, but sometimes we werent’ ready to take that step at the same time. We had to learn that somebody needs to take the step. It doesn’t really matter who started the fight or who was wrong.”  “Taking responsibility is huge. Owning your part in it, even if you think you only did 10%, you still did 10%.” “What are you sorry for? Be very specific in what you did and why you're taking responsibility.” “I say it a lot: One of the best gifts you can give your marriage is to learn how to resolve conflict.”  Forgiveness and apologies need to have no strings attached. It’s just that I choose to do this.  We’re not just trying to clear a slate so our spouse stops bugging us. Have you repented before the Lord? That’s where this starts.  We are accountable to Him before being accountable to our spouse. Did I just treat my spouse in the way He would have me treat them? If not, I need to take that up with Him    QUESTIONS FOR YOU When you really think about it, how did it affect your spouse when you had this conflict?  Repentance. Learning from the mistakes made and committing to work on them together.    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Learn more about how to make your marriage conflict healthy by joining Dr. Kim for the 8 Guidelines for Fighting Fair Webinar  Our Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet is your quick guide to get marriage conflict on the right track.  If you’re ready to learn how to do conflict well, the Conflict Resolution Guide helps you diagnose the problem areas in your marriage, then learn the steps to resolve them.  TODAY is the last day for our 7 Most Popular Resource Bundle! Don’t miss the chance to get 7 of our most-loved resources for 1 donation of ANY amount in support of the ministry of Awesome Marriage! Get all the details here!    

Sick of the same old fights over and over with your spouse? Learn to de-escalate marriage fights and resolve issues in a healthy and helpful way. Conflict in marriage is inevitable, but the way you handle it is what matters most. Learning to deal with it well will benefit your marriage in so many ways! Tune in today to learn how.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:   Common conflict pitfalls to avoid The problem with “winning” marriage fights  Tips to help you break the fighting cycle What to do if one spouse is not ready to reconnect  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Are you stuck in a conflict cycle? If so, work together to identify what’s triggering it.  Choose 1 tip from Dr. Kim’s list below that you will both agree to use this week.  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES “When we try our best to avoid conflict, we’re not really equipping ourselves with the skills to handle it well.” - Lindsay Few  “Awareness gives you some insight that can really be useful.” Dr. Kim Kimberling  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Learn more about how to make your marriage conflict healthy by joining Dr. Kim for the 8 Guidelines for Fighting Fair Webinar  Our Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet is your quick guide to get marriage conflict on the right track.  If you’re ready to learn how to do conflict well, the Conflict Resolution Guide helps you diagnose the problem areas in your marriage, then learn the steps to resolve them.  It’s here! Our 7 Most Popular Resource Bundle is LIVE! That means you can get 7 of our most-loved marriage building resources by making 1 donation of ANY amount to support the ministry of Awesome Marriage! The bundle is available for a limited time only. Get all the details here!    

Learn how conflict can create a deeper connection between you and your spouse. Today’s special guest, marriage coach Dana Che is very open about the struggles her marriage faced. In today’s episode she shares her marriage story, what got them through, and how you can use the conflict you face in marriage to draw you toward deeper connection.    We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   What we can learn from our conflict triggers How to deal with different conflict styles in marriage  Steps to break generational cycles in your marriage  The power of speaking life to our spouse and our marriage  How being emotionally unavailable tends to show up in husbands and in wives & what to do about it     *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES “As a wife, I knew I couldn’t change my husband … but that didn’’ keep me from trying.” Dana Che  “When you actually engage in conflict, you can start to learn more about your spouse, what’s important to them.” -Dana Che   “You’ve got to feed the right things if you want to change the wrong things.” - Dana Che  “Just like you learned that bad behavior, you can unlearn it and learn something new.” Dana Che  “True repentance is visible.” Dana Che  “What we believe, we will begin to speak. What we speak, we will begin to behave.” Dana Che QUESTIONS FOR YOU What does your most recent marriage conflict reveal about what’s most valuable to you?     MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Find more from Dana at DanaChe.com, where you can take her “Connection Check” quiz  Listen to the “Real Relationship Talk” podcast  Joining Marriage Changers now means you score a huge haul of marriage-building goods when our annual *7 Most-Popular Resource Bundle* goes live on April 2nd!   

Why do Christians need counseling? Isn’t the Gospel enough to transform us? We hear these questions fairly often. Today Dr. Kim and special guest Jason VanRuler dive deeper into these questions and the conversation about the role of therapy and counseling in a life devoted to following Jesus. Don’t miss this helpful conversation! We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:   How often do clients have no idea that they haven’t gotten past their past?  Unexpected ways your past might be showing up & affecting your marriage today Updating the negative messages we believe about ourselves  The effect of vulnerability on our marriage connection  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES “Where there's a disconnect in relationships, it’s often a disconnect from the system we witnessed growing up and what we’re trying to make happen today.” - Jason VanRuler  “When we get comfortable, the old ways seep out to the surface.”  - Jason VanRuler  “Every time a client says a negative message about themselves, I ask, is that the message you think God gave you?”  - Jason VanRuler  “One of my great joys is working with people to eliminate distractions so they can focus on the truth and live the life God has called them to.”- Jason VanRuler  “If we want to feel connected and we’re not feeling connected, a lot of times that emotional intimacy and depth is the missing link.”  - Jason VanRuler  “When we get vulnerable and honest, it attracts intimacy from our partner and we have a different relationship.”  - Jason VanRuler  “The marriage we want is often on the other side of vulnerability. We just don’t often know how to get there.”- Jason VanRuler   QUESTIONS FOR YOU  Do you recognize any ways you haven’t gotten past your past?    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Get Jason’s book, Get Past Your Past  His site: https://www.jasonvr.com/ If you’re ready to heal your marriage from p*rn, join us for the “5 Steps to Healing After P*rn Betrayal” LIVE webinar. Joining Marriage Changers now means you score a huge haul of marriage-building goods when our annual *7 Most-Popular Resource Bundle* goes live on April 2nd!  

Are you a man living in the stress bubble? It’s when the years of marriage, career building and raising kids all happen at once. You’re figuring everything out, trying to be there for it all, and it. Is. Stressful. If you’re there, you want to hear from a godly dad who has been there.  We’re so happy to share this conversation with Jim Ramos. Jim’s wisdom and experience will equip and encourage you to be the husband and dad you want to be. Don’t miss this episode. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   Jim defines the 4 phases of fatherhood  Advice for the dad who never had a role model to guide him Common mistakes dads make in the “stress bubble” years  Types of provision that the family needs from a husband / father 3 easy things Jim did that he recommends for all couples   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES “Whether we tell our kids that we’ve made mistakes or not, they’re still noticing. Especially during those teen years.” - Jim Ramos "Our families require much more than physical provision. The damage most men do has nothing to do with physical provision; it has to do with heart care and soul care.” Jim Ramos “You don’t have to be flashy. You don't have to be Superman. You just have to show up.”   - Jim Ramos  “As men we have to realize our wife is the most important person on the planet, and it’s our job to make one person feel special.”  - Jim Ramos  “You will not be remembered for what you did 9-5, you will be remembered for what you did 5-9.”  - Jim Ramos    QUESTIONS FOR YOU Jim shared 5 traits that set a “man” apart from a “male”: Protect integrity Fight apathy  Pursue God passionately Lead courageously Finish strong each day  Which one of these is God calling you to grow in today?    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Find Jim online @ https://meninthearena.org/ On instagram @themeninthearena Get the book Strong Men Dangerous Times Listen to the Men in The Arena Podcast 

Dr. Kim has said that prayer is the #1 most impactful thing you can do for your marriage. Today he explains why that is, and how to make it a habit in your marriage. Today we want to make praying with your spouse more approachable by sharing 4 biblical prayers to pray with your spouse that will grow your marriage.  The Bible lists a lot of reasons for marriage, and praying in line with God’s purpose and intention for marriage is very powerful.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   Why prayer is an essential act of spiritual protection against the enemy  Why it’s so hard to get started, and how to overcome  Healthy perspective shifts praying will provide in your marriage  How to handle some of the uncomfortable realities of answered prayers  The power of prayer to help you take personal responsibility   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES “Praying together puts God where he wants to be in our marriage: Right in the center of it. - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “The enemy does not want Christian marriages to work.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “When you pray together you find that it unites you.”  - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “There’s a ripple effect: It’s not just about the couple, it’s about the family; it’s about the community.” - Lindsay Few  “I am more of who God created me to be after being married to Nancy all these years than I would have been without her.” -  Dr. Kim Kimberling  “God put us together. He’s got some fun stuff for us to do. Let’s look out and let’s get this stuff going!” - Lindsay Few Blame is a very human response…but we all have a way we can influence the world. We do have control over how we’re responding to God’s call on us.” - Lindsay Few   QUESTIONS FOR YOU 4 Prayers to Pray together:  Protection from the enemy of our souls That your marriage will sharpen you Pray that your marriage be fruitful That your marriage will be a light    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Our 21 Prayers for Building An Awesome Marriage makes it simple to make prayer a regular part of your marriage <3  Find more prayers to grow your marriage in the 7 Prayers YouVersion Bible reading plan 

When we pray, it can be tempting to make our prayers a wishlist. But praying in line with God’s word changes things, and today we’re talking about why that matters and how to pray biblically for your marriage. Today Dr. Kim shares 4 prayers that line up with Scripture that you can be praying daily to grow you, and your marriage!  Don’t miss this powerful episode. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:   Why it matters to pray biblically What makes a prayer biblical The risk involved in praying these things, and the reward they provide How these prayers have impacted Dr. Kim and Nancy’s marriage  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  QUOTES We’ve probably all heard some things taught, or caught, that were not biblical. We’ve heard ideas like, 'If God loves you, He’ll make you happy,' or 'If you marry the right person, marriage will be easy,' that do not line up with Scripture.”- Lindsay Few  “Trusting him may be the hardest first step for some of us, because we’re not sure what he’ll do.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “Sometimes the prayer we want answered is just the thing that’s easiest for us.” - Lindsay Few  “He’s always good, even though we don’t see it at times.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “Each of us can be thankful that God knows not only what’s best for us, but for the whole world. We don’t have to be burdened with that. He’s got that.” - Lindsay Few  “If you’re lining up with what God states in his word that He wants to have happen, that’s going to be really powerful.” - Lindsay Few  “We can’t hide anything from God.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “Sexual desire is created for a reason. It’s not a secret from God.” - Lindsay Few    4 Prayers to Grow You and Your Marriage:  Pray that God will help you love like Christ loved.  Ask God to search you, know your heart, and reveal any offensive way. Pray that your desire will be for your spouse only.  Ask God to help you see your spouse as He does.    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Make prayer a regular part of your marriage with our 21 Prayers for Building An Awesome Marriage  If your marriage is struggling to recover after infidelity, please check out our Affair Recovery Course. For less than the cost of 2 counseling sessions, this course helps you learn and take the needed steps to healing.  If porn has damaged your marriage, please take advantage of these resources we’ve created just for you:  The Marriage Undefiled Course Dr. Kim’s podcast episode with Matt Cline  Find more prayers to grow your marriage in the 7 Prayers YouVersion Bible reading  plan   

What does it look like to live in intimacy with God each day? We are delighted to have Faith Eury Cho with us today, sharing about what friendship with God means, even in the “wilderness” times in our lives.  Faith is the CEO and founder of the Honor Summit, a gospel preacher, and author of the new book, Experiencing Friendship with God: How the Wilderness Draws Us to His Presence. Faith does a great job de-mystifying this lofty topic, so you don’t want to miss this conversation.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   What does “friendship with God” actually mean?  Practical ways to “practice God’s presence,” even if it seems out of reach  How friendship with God impacts marriage How to grow spiritually with your spouse Ways to take these concepts into parenting / grandparenting  How to navigate the wilderness seasons of our faith    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES “Sometimes without even knowing, we believe so that God can give us a better life.” - Faith Eury Cho “Friendship with God is just intimacy on a day to day level.” Faith Eury Cho “We need to really redefine what experience actually means. Because if we go into any relationship, any - our spouse, our kids, our friends - having a set agenda of what experiencing that relationship should look like to us, it can be very unhealthy really quick.” -  Faith Eury Cho “Start simple. Start with something that is a natural offshoot to your regular rhythms of life.”  - Faith Eury Cho “I remember moments I would tell God, ‘I don’t have a prayer to pray, I don’t have a song to sing, but I’m here.’”  - Faith Eury Cho “God cares about every little thing, and we want to give him the opportunity to show us that.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling  “Some of us are friends with fear, not the presence of God, and I think we’ve got to break up with our fear!” - Faith Eury Cho QUESTIONS FOR YOU What is one way you and your spouse like to worship God together?  Have you seen God move during a ‘wilderness’ season?    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Find Faith on Instagram or at her website, www.faitheurycho.com Grab Faith’s book, Experiencing Friendship with God: How the Wilderness Draws Us to His Presence. Our 2 Week Couples Scripture Challenge is a practical tool to help you get in the Word with your spouse each day. Find out more here!   Our House Prayer Cards are one of our best-loved resources, making it simple to use mundane moments for godly purpose in your home. Learn more HERE! If you’d like to get each of our monthly marriage resources delivered directly to your inbox, while also supporting the non-profit ministry of Awesome Marriage, it’s time to become a Marriage Changer! Get all the details here.

How’s the romance in your marriage? How does it compare to when you were dating? (… and does that matter?) Romance can fall by the wayside in marriage because it seems like an “extra” that you’ll get around to when you have extra time or money, or if you feel inspired to make a grand gesture.  But today Dr. Kim shares several reasons NOT to let that be the case in your marriage. Listen to learn why you need to bring the romance back and HOW to realistically make that happen.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:   Dr. Kim shares specific ways romance benefits a marriage  What does romance look like for men vs. for women?  What to do if you’re just not feeling it  Whose job is it to make sure the romance is good?   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES “Most people would say at some point it was there. So how do you get it back?” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “We kind of quit doing romantic things because we’re not feeling it. Sometimes we have to go ahead and do them, so that we feel it again.”  - Dr. Kim Kimberling “Marriage is a lot better when you’ve got romance in it.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “I think we’d like it to come naturally, like it does in the movies  “It’s ok to have the conversation. We have to get past the mindset of, ‘If you really loved me, you’d know.’” - Dr. Kim Kimberling “Romance is a great way to show your spouse, I see you, I appreciate you, and I care about what you care about.” Lindsay Few    QUESTIONS FOR YOU  Have you talked about romance with your spouse?  Ask them: What is sexy to you? What is romantic to you?  Don’t judge their answers!  Answers may change over time, so check in every now and then.    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  - The ❤️‍🔥Sexy Bundle❤️‍helps bring the romance riiight on home! Get all the details about this limited time Bundle HERE!

Whether you love it or hate it, you spend the majority of your waking hours doing it. And as today’s guest tells us, it’s mentioned over 800 times in the Bible: We’re talking about work.   That’s why we’re so pleased to have Jordan Raynor join us on the podcast today to talk about how your work matters to God - today, every day of your life, and for eternity. This conversation will leave you inspired and encouraged to engage well with the word God is calling you to do, every single day.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:   3 ways your everyday work matters for eternity  Why Jordan advocates for making an “Anti-Bucket List” The Biblical truths of Heaven & Eternity that NO ONE is talking about  The “abridged Gospel” that most of us believe & the implications we miss if we do  The practical ways these deep biblical truths will impact your marriage    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES “When we understand what God’s word has to say about work, it frees us up to be exceptional both at work and at home.” - Jordan Raynor  “While God’s word is clear that our labor in the Lord is not in vain, it also makes clear that GOd doesn’t need you or me - His purposes will not be thwarted. He does not need us, he wants us.” - Jordan Raynor   “I can be at peace walking away from my work at the end of the day … because I know that if the things on my to - do list are on God’s to - do list, he’s going to complete them with or without me. That’s terrifically freeing.” - Jordan Raynor   “Scripture mentions work more than 800 times. There’s no need to doubt whether or not God cares about your work.” - Jordan Raynor  “When you understand that 100% of your time at home and at work matters to God, you become fully alive. And this world is desperate to see people that are fully alive.”  Jordan  “I went to Christian school for 13 years. And I remember frequently sitting in chapel, and quietly dreading the thought of heaven. “We are called to keep watch for Christ’s return, not by sitting on our hands and waiting for heaven to drop from the sky, but by working with our hands and joining him in cultivating heaven on earth today.” - Jordan Raynor    QUESTIONS FOR YOU How does the Biblical idea of stewarding your time change your daily work life?    

Work - life balance is not limited to the workplace: It’s also the work of running a home, and it’s a challenge for most couples to share this load well. Today Dr. Kim is sharing some of his best tips for finding balance in the home.  The struggle to find work - life balance does not end when you get home in the evening. Taking care of a home and family is a huge portion of our workload that you can’t ignore. But you can find ways to handle it well – TOGETHER! We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.   Episode highlights include:   Tips for spouses who work outside the home  Tips for those who work from home  Tips for stay-at-home parents  Signs you & your spouse need to work toward better balance  The need for boundaries to help with balance; how to work on them together What to do if you get stuck, or if you’ve tried to address things and it’s not working   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    QUOTES Resolving conflict doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It takes work, but when you talk and listen well, you’ll find that most things, you can resolve. - Dr. Kim Kimberling  At the end of your life,  you’re not going to look back and say, “I wish I’d looked at my phone a few more times.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling   If you get stuck, it’s ok to get help.  - Dr. Kim Kimberling The things that matter work themselves out in the very small details of life. - Lindsay Few Maybe you think everyone else is doing it all, so you’re trying to do it all. I don’t think that’s realistic or healthy. - Lindsay Few  It’s easy to fall in those traps and not really know that you’ve even fallen into them. - Dr. Kim Kimberling  We have to make sure we’re saying what we mean and what we need instead of just hoping our spouse catches the hint. - Lindsay few    QUESTIONS FOR YOU Is the workload in your home balanced?   Do you have a mentor couple in your life?  Are your boundaries with tech (screentime, phones) working well?  Talk with your spouse and rate how you’re doing with work / life balance together, on a scale of 1-10?    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Get all the details about our limited time Sexy Bundle HERE  Team You & Me  For more help with setting healthy boundaries, listen to our Boundaries Series: Boundaries For Your Marriage: What They Are and Why They Are Important | Ep. 544 Boundaries Within Your Marriage | Ep. 546 Boundaries Outside Your Marriage | Ep. 547 How to Set Marriage Boundaries | Ep. 548 Boundaries & Marriage: What NOT to Do | Ep. 550 Real Stories of Healthy Marriage Boundaries | Ep. 551 Boundaries Q & A | Ep. 552 Boundaries Course