Show of hands: Are you an Amazon box hider? … or do you have your spouse break down the boxes for you?
All joking aside, online shopping can be an issue that hinders couples’ closeness. Money management in general can be a hot topic, but the wide range of ways we can spend money online with just the click of a button can create some additional obstacles, and we hear about it from couples all the time. Today we’re equipping you to resolve this issue.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Red flags that you need to address online spending with your spouse.
The role of trust in marriage money habits
How to know when online shopping has become a problem
The negative cycle of emotional triggers
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“When you look into what’s most important with money, you make a lot more progress more quickly.” - Lindsay Few
"When you quit being a team, that's when it becomes a problem." - Dr. Kim Kimberling
"If shopping is getting in the way of closeness with your spouse, then something needs to change." - Dr. Kim Kimberling
Couple's Conversation Guide:
Main takeaway: Money secrets do not serve your marriage well, so do what it takes to build trust with your spouse around finances.
Questions to Discuss:
Are there any money habits your spouse does not know about you?
What areas bring out money tension for your marriage?
What is one step that would help you work through that and build unity today?
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Learn how to avoid the 4 common budgeting mistakes couples make when in the FREE Centsei Class. Learn more here.
Get the budget conversation started with 27 Money Questions Every Couple Needs to Ask
Marriage Multiplier is a quick and highly practical weekly email to help you invest in your marriage. CLICK HERE to learn more!
We don’t often talk about our failures, but maybe that needs to change. It’s easy to focus on others’ highlight reel, while we’re highly aware of our own personal shortcomings. But the shame of feeling like we don’t measure up keeps us from real relationships.
Today we’re going there with special guest, Becky Kiser, as we talk about the power of the gospel and how God uses us in spite of our shortcomings. Don’t miss this powerful conversation.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Fight the cascade effect of feeling like a failure
The two most debated sections of Becky’s new book - and why!
The 1st step to start loving your spouse well
How to move out of shame and into freedom
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“Even women who are successful; women who have accomplished a bunch, deal with failure.” - Becky Kiser
“The Gospel message is not, ‘Get your life together then God can do something with your life.’” - Becky Kiser
“I’ve found the most freedom from acknowledging I can’t.” - Becky Kiser
"Not all failures are actual failures. They’re just a part of life.” - Becky Kiser
"We spend so much time ‘dying to ourselves’ that we think there’s no value to ourselves.” - Becky Kiser
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Find Becky at https://www.beckykiser.com/ and on Instagram @beckykiser
Grab the new book, “But God Can” today!
Get the budget conversation started with 27 Money Questions Every Couple Needs to Ask
Marriage Multiplier is a quick and highly practical weekly email to help you invest in your marriage. CLICK HERE to learn more!
After five years of marriage, Kristin and Todd Evans’ world was rocked when they learned they were about to become parents to a child with a disability. The stress, grief and the demands of learning to be caregivers to a child with disabilities transformed their once-joyful marriage and nearly broke it apart.
When spouses are also caregivers, the marriage will face challenges that others may not know anything about. Today Todd and Kristin share their powerful story of learning to navigate this reality and how they have kept their marriage strong through it all.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
The additional challenges parents face as caregivers
Learning to cope with the ‘living loss’ of disability
How to set and communicate priorities in an unending to do list
Ways to deepening emotional connection & intimacy while always “on call”
Handling grief and chronic sorrow together
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“For all parents, there’s a sacrificial piece to it. For special needs parents, it goes to a new level of what you have to sacrifice.” - Todd Evans
“1 in 3 caregivers experience depression and anxiety.” - Kristin Evans
“I couldn’t understand why I couldn't’ get over my grief, but Todd had moved on.” - Kristin Evans
“There’s not a right or wrong way to grieve, it’s just different.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Order the Evans’ book, How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities
Follow @DisabilityParenting on Instagram for more great tips!
Get the budget conversation started with 27 Money Questions Every Couple Needs to Ask
Marriage Multiplier is a quick and highly practical weekly email to help you invest in your marriage. CLICK HERE to learn more!
Reduce money stress in your marriage by making sure your money knows where to go!
Don’t avoid talking about money with your spouse: Establishing a budget you can both stick to will certainly pay off long term. Today Dr. Kim shares several simple tricks that help him and Nancy to stress less and be intentional with their finances.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
The basic starting point for building a budget
The budget category Dr. Kim & Nancy would NEVER cut out
The power of breaking a scarcity mindset and becoming generous
Strategies to better money management
How to get started if you’ve never budgeted
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“We felt like it was always important to have a date.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Make sure to build in your budget that you can go out somewhere each week and not have to worry about it.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“God is so generous, and that’s really what we want to emulate.” - Lindsay Few
“My lack of generosity was not the person I wanted to be.” - Lindsay Few
Continue to ask, “What are our financial goals? How do we budget to make them work?” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“If you need help, get it. If you’re going to fight about money for 50 years, that doesn’t sound fun at all. ”- Dr. Kim Kimberling
“When you tithe 10%, the 90% you have left goes a lot further than you thought the 100% would.” - Lindsay Few
“I don’t know anyone personally who would say they regret tithing.” - Lindsay Few
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Get the budget conversation started with 27 Money Questions Every Couple Needs to Ask
Learn how to avoid the 4 common budgeting mistakes couples make when in the FREE Centsei Class. Learn more here.
Marriage Multiplier is a quick and highly practical weekly email to help you invest in your marriage. CLICK HERE to learn more!
Do your habits online support your marriage? Or damage it?
Fewer couples are getting married than ever. Tech is hitting marriages hard today. Yet research shows that marriage can provide a huge boost to personal happiness. Today’s guest Arlene Pellicane has written several books on how technology is impacting relationships, and today she shares tech habits that will help you and your marriage to thrive.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
The 1 habit that leads to a 99% marriage success rate
Simple to streamline your tech habits for more connection
Why today’s tech affects relationships differently than before
Research shows how marriage can impact happiness
Parenting tips to break unhealthy tech habits and get your child back
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“If we seek God and His guidance, He’s always going to have an answer.” Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Is technology bringing you closer together? Or causing you to grow farther apart.” - Arlene Pellicane
“We're missing all these little times to connect. That’s why you feel disconnected.” - Arlene Pellicane
“You have to prepare to be unpopular, because as a parent, it’s your job to protect your child.” - Arlene Pellicane
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
If you need help with family tech habits, DO NOT miss Arlene’s books on the topic.
National Marriage Week is each February 7-14th – and their great marriage building resources are available all year long! Learn more and support the mission on the WEB, FACEBOOK, X (TWITTER) or INSTAGRAM !
Learn more about what boundaries can do for your marriage in Dr. Kim’s free Building Healthy Boundaries Webinar. Learn more here!
What could 1 intentional weekend do for you and your spouse? Find out when you take on our Marriage Weekend Challenge! Click to learn more!
Don’t let screens come between you: Use our free 17 Questions Every Couple Should Ask About Tech printable to get on the same page!
We’ve all wondered at some point … is everyone else living a better life? It looks like they might be, and social media only seems to confirm it!
That’s why we’re delighted to bring you Dr. Kim’s conversation with today’s guest, Sarah Bragg, of the Surviving Sarah podcast. In today’s episode, we’ll hear Sarah’s take on feeling “stuck” in life, how to become happier, and steps to overcome the idea that someone else’s life is better than yours.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Why we face the questions that keep us up at night
Practical strategies for when you feel stuck in life
How to deal with experiencing grief in midlife
Guardrails to protect yourself from the effects of comparison
Staving off the effects of unhappiness in your marriage
Our Couples Conversation Guide helps you apply each episode’s content. Click here to get each week’s guide!
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“We can look back and see where we’ve been. But when we look forward we don’t know what it’s going to look like.” - Sarah Bragg
“When we keep it inside, it grows. It feels bigger than it really is.” - Sarah Bragg
“We all grieve in different ways, over different things.” Dr. Kim Kimberling
“It’s okay to just keep showing up and trying.” - Sarah Bragg
“In this age of social media, it’s nothing but compare and compete.” - Sarah Bragg
“Connection is the root of happiness.” - Sarah Bragg
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Order Sarah’s book, Is Everyone Happier Than Me?
Listen to the Surviving Sarah podcast and find more from Sarah on her website &
@SarahWBragg on Instagram!
Don’t let screens come between you: Use our free 17 Questions Every Couple Should Ask About Tech printable to get on the same page!
Our Couples Conversation Guide helps you apply each episode’s content. Click here to get each week’s guide!
Did you know that marriage can be good for you? Marriage is not always viewed as the gift from God that it actually is, but He has designed this relationship to provide some *amazing* benefits to both spouses.
Today Dr. Kim is sharing several of the ways a healthy marriage supports health and wellness for you, your spouse and your family. Tune in to learn more!
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
The benefits of a good marriage for mental and physical health
Health effects on kids and families
The damaging effects of loneliness - even in marriage
Steps you can take to combat loneliness
Hidden benefits of the process of working on things you need to work on
Our Couples Conversation Guide helps you apply each episode’s content. To get each week’s guide click here to subscribe!
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“There’s all kinds of incentives to work on your marriage, and this is one of them: If you have a healthy marriage, you have a healthier, longer life.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“We hear about so much depression; so much anxiety. Everybody’s under stress. Marriage can help your mental health.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“I was out of my comfort zone, and any time you do that is uncomfortable, but on the other side there might be something really helpful.” - Lindsay Few
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Don’t let screens come between you: Use our free 17 Questions Every Couple Should Ask About Tech printable to get on the same page!
Life’s unpredictable. Build a solid foundation for your marriage with 21 Prayers to Build an Awesome Marriage
Are you ready to join the mission? Our Marriage Changers exist because a world full of awesome marriages can change the world! Learn more HERE
Our Couples Conversation Guide helps you apply each episode’s content. To get each week’s guide click here to subscribe!
We are here to help! Email Info@awesomemarriage.com any time.
Our Healthy Self / Healthy Marriage Podcast Series goes deeper:
Does marriage still matter in this day and age? We say a resounding yes!
Marriage was designed by God, and there are several purposes the Bible gives for why marriage matters. Today we’re digging into what Scripture says about the value of marriage. Tune in to learn God’s purposes for the marriage relationship, and why they matter in your marriage!
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Dr. Kim’s list of biblical purposes for marriage
Several ideas for what it means to “be fruitful” in marriage
The power of a marriage model - and tips on how to find one
The ripple effect of an intentional marriage
Ways your marriage can be a light in our dark world
Our Couples Conversation Guide helps you apply each episode’s content. To get each new guide, click here to subscribe!
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“No marriage is perfect. But if you’re a couple steps ahead, you’ve navigated some things that others haven’t.” - Lindsay Few
“My dream for the marriage changers is that they’re learning, growing and passing that on.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Prayer has had such an impact on our marriage. When God answers prayer like He does, we want to tell everybody what He’s done!” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
The things God calls us to do bring glory to God. They bring us joy, life and peace, and they also bring light and encouragement to others.” - Lindsay Few
“Yes, it’s hard at times. Yes, there are things you have to work through. But the big picture result is worth it.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Don’t let screens come between you: Use our free 17 Questions Every Couple Should Ask About Tech printable to get on the same page!
Life’s unpredictable. Build a solid foundation for your marriage with 21 Prayers to Build an Awesome Marriage
We are here to help! Email Info@awesomemarriage.com any time.
Are you ready to join the mission? Our Marriage Changers exist because a world full of awesome marriages can change the world! Learn more HERE
Our Couples Conversation Guide helps you apply each episode’s content. You’ll get each new guide when you click here to subscribe!
Is it harder to live a faithful life today than in times past? Today’s world does provide some unique challenges that couples face, but there are also unique opportunities. Today’s conversation with Gabrielle McCullough sheds light on some of the ways today’s world can be deeply impacted by Jesus and the effects of our faith can have on marriage.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Unique challenges and unique opportunities for faith in Gen Z
3 questions for biblical accountability
A challenge to help you find your place in the local church
The impact of following Jesus on every aspect of life
Why the local church is still relevant and needed today
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“Following Jesus impacts every area of your life.” - Gabrielle McCullough
“We follow Jesus because he has our hearts. There’s an obedience that is compelled that isn’t out of drudgery but out of true delight.” - Gabrielle McCullough
“They want something that’s authentic. That excites me about my generation.” - Gabrielle McCullough
There’s a beauty in asking, ‘how can I serve the church?’ instead of asking how others can serve me.” - Gabrielle McCullough
“As Christians, our responsibility is to love people the way Christ loves them; with love and with truth.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“If marriages can be healthy and strong, what a testament to the world of who Jesus is and the way he fights for his Bride.” - Gabrielle McCullough
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Find Gabrielle on Instagram, TikTok, and on her website
The Christmas in July Sale is on at Awesome Marriage University and that means you get 30% ANY and ALL of our online marriage courses! BROWSE our course offerings to find which one your marriage needs and use the code JULY at checkout!
Our 5 Days to Deeper Emotional Intimacy digital resource provides practical steps to understand and share your emotions, and to work together to grow your emotional intimacy…and it’s our gift to you for your donation of any amount.
Has you or your spouse’s insecurity affected your marriage? We’re all insecure about something, and the way we see ourselves will end up spilling over into the way we relate to others. Nowhere is this more likely to happen than in marriage.
In this episode Dr. Kim and Christina share ways to address your insecurity and your spouse’s insecurity, including a surprising way Dr. Kim has learned to turn his weaknesses to strengths. Tune in for wisdom and practical tips.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Advice if your spouse’s insecurity is weighing you down
Practical steps to overcome insecurity
How to fight back against your insecurities
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“How you view yourself absolutely affects how you’re going to interact with others.” - Christina Dodson
“I think the role of the spouse is to build each other up. Your marriage should be your safest place, next to your relationship with God.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Perfection is not what God expects from you, nor should anyone else be expecting it from you.” - Christina Dodson
“You begin to believe the things God says about you and who you are in Christ, and that changes your countenance. You will look like a different person.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“There’s less holding you back if you’re not weighed down by your insecurities. There’s more joy, more abundance, freedom to enjoy life together. ” - Christina Dodson
“One thing God does so well for us is he loves us right where we are. Our goal is to love our spouse right where they are.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“You can’t take it over. You can’t fix it for them. But you can come alongside and do what God wants you to do.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“No one is thinking about you as much as you’re thinking about you. To me, that’s really freeing!” - Christina Dodson
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Our 5 Days to Deeper Emotional Intimacy digital resource provides practical steps to understand and share your emotions, and to work together to grow your emotional intimacy…and it’s our gift to you for your donation of any amount.
The Christmas in July Sale is on at Awesome Marriage University and that means you get 30% OFF ANY and ALL of our online marriage courses! BROWSE our course offerings to find which one your marriage needs and use the code JULY at checkout!
Want better connection with your spouse? One thing we hear a lot from couples is that they don’t feel close to each other or that their relationship feels like it’s missing some depth. That’s why today we’re re-airing this episode from Dr. Kim and Christina that talks all about emotional intimacy and gives you ideas of practical ways to deepen the emotional intimacy in your marriage.
We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
What is emotional intimacy, and why does it matter?
Warning signs you need to grow in this area
Emotional intimacy killers to avoid
Tips to start working on this - alone, and together
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“It is hard work knowing someone. You have to pay attention. It takes work to be intimate.” - Christina Dodson
“Laziness and business are going to block your intimacy, so we have to fight against those things.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Give yourself opportunities to connect.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“It adds value to my marriage for me to have a relationship with my friends, just like it benefits our marriage that he has guy friends.” - Christina Dodson
“You could have had the best childhood in the world and you still have baggage because we’re human. That’s okay, and you can deal with that.” - Christina Dodson
“You can’t be emotionally intimate with your spouse if you aren’t aware of your own emotions.” - Christina Dodson
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Our 5 Days to Deeper Emotional Intimacy digital resource provides practical steps to understand and share your emotions, and to work together to grow your emotional intimacy…and it’s our gift to you for your donation of any amount.
Your marriage can only be as healthy as the two of you are. The Bible says, “Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40). Our new Self Check-In Guide will help you do just that!
Print out this Feelings Chart and use it to help you talk about your emotions.
Our Questions To Help Your Spouse Open Up resource is a simple way to help build the closeness between you and your spouseAccountability is a biblical and helpful tool for growing in holiness.
What is a “gospeler”?
It’s probably a lot simpler than you think! It is something that will certainly impact you and your marriage, but also has the potential to have a huge impact on others around you.
Today Willie Robertson shares how one person sharing the Gospel impacted thousands, starting with his family, and he explains just how simple it can be to begin to care enough for others to share the Gospel with them.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Gospel genealogy & the ripple effect one conversation can have
The Biblical basis for this kind of conversation
Where to start if you don’t know where to start
Advice for parents to share their faith in parenting
Different ways to approach sharing your faith
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“When you’re active in sharing your faith, it takes care of a lot of other things for you as well.” - Willie Robertston
“The great commission was for all of us.” - Willie Robertston
“Make disciples, baptize people, teach people; you’re not going to do any of those 3 unless you open your mouth.” - Willie Robertston
“It starts with caring about people.” - Willie Robertston
“You start learning the Word, you’ll start standing out in the crowd.” - Willie Robertston
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Order Willie’s new book, Gospeler today!
Find more from Willie at DuckCommander.com and WillieRobertson.com
Our 5 Days to Deeper Emotional Intimacy digital resource provides practical steps to understand and share your emotions, and to work together to grow your emotional intimacy…and it’s our gift to you for your donation of any amount.
Are you ever a bit too helpful in your marriage? Do you find yourself frustrated with the way your spouse responds to you?
You may be trying to control your spouse by “helping” even if you don’t mean to!
Today Laura Doyle from the Empowered Wife Podcast joins Dr. Kim to teach us some ways to shift our marriage culture - without resorting to control tactics. Tune in to learn how!
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Empowering ways to shift the culture of your marriage, even if your spouse isn’t on board
“Cheat phrases” to help you shift from controlling tendencies to deeper intimacy
The unexpected lesson of sitting down with your spouse and getting nothing done!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Find more of Laura’s content, including her free Empowered Wife Road Map on her website
Check out Laura’s book, the Empowered Wife!
Our 5 Days to Deeper Emotional Intimacy digital resource provides practical steps to understand and share your emotions, and to work together to grow your emotional intimacy…and it’s our gift to you for your donation of any amount.
Most of us deal with self doubt, regret, and feelings of not measuring up. But learning to love ourselves properly means learning to see ourselves as God does, and it allows us to love others more freely and graciously.
Today, Bryan Crum will help you step away from nagging self doubts and into a solid biblical perspective. Give your marriage the gift of seeing yourself and your spouse through God’s eyes.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Unexpected lessons learned from people who are facing their mortality
Why is it hard to accept loving and valuing ourselves properly?
Rewriting negative messages we’ve learned
Ideas to break away from self-doubt
Why relationships are needed to help us learn to love ourselves
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“I’m on a mission to help people fall in love with God’s greatest creation; and that’s us.” - Bryan Crum
“We all want to know our time on this earth means something.” - Bryan Crum
“I’ve discovered 2 truths about living: 1. We’re priceless. 2. For some reason, we’ve forgotten that truth.” - Bryan Crum
“We interact with people every day but we don’t always treat them like they are valuable.” - Bryan Crum
“When we acknowledge the truth of what we’re worth, we’re acknowledging a truth heaven knows well.” - Bryan Crum
“The first step is to stop comparing ourselves to each other.” - Bryan Crum
“There's power in giving each other the benefit of the doubt.” - Bryan Crum
“Giving each other grace is a small step that covers a lot of distance.” - Bryan Crum
“Marriage is promising each other that we’re all-in. We’ve got to make the conscious choice to say, ‘I’m still here.’” - Bryan Crum
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
If your marriage is doing okay but could use a jumpstart, then this 5 Week Marriage Refresher Challenge is for you!
Find more from Bryan HERE
Order Bryan’s book, Neighbor, Love Yourself HERE
Conflict is no one’s favorite, but it is an inevitable part of life. And today Donna Jones teaches us why it’s nothing to be afraid of by busting some of the most common misunderstandings that lead to conflict avoidance, and providing a biblical roadmap to handle conflict in a healthy way.
Tune in to learn more about approaching conflict in a healthy, biblical way.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
The biggest mistakes most couples make in conflict
The trick to de-escalate in the heat of the moment.
The inner characteristics that build better conflict habits
Help to break conflict patterns in your marriage
The healthy way to apologize well
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“When we handle conflict in a healthy way, the outcome is peace. Peace between us and who we have conflict with; peace in our own souls.” - Donna Jones
“When we are in conflict, it literally affects everything about us. We function, but on the inside, we’re torn to pieces.” - Donna Jones
“The reason so many of us think conflict is bad, is that we never learned to see how conflict can turn out good.” - Donna Jones
“When we have conflict, we tend to think it means 1 of 3 things: There’s something wrong with you; there’s something wrong with me, or there’s something wrong with us. But conflict doesn’t mean that.” - Donna Jones
“No relationship can survive an atmosphere of disrespect over the long haul.” - Donna Jones
“The most important thing is not an act, it’s an attitude: Humility.” - Donna Jones
“If you want to know how strong a person really is, look for humility.” - Donna Jones
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Order Donna’s book Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life today!
Find Donna on her website, on Instagram @DonnaAJones or Facebook @donnajonesspeak/
For more help to break the conflict cycle, sign up for Dr. Kim’s “8 Guidelines for Fighting Fair Webinar”
If your marriage is feeling a bit blah, the Marriage Refresher is the jumpstart you need to bring fresh life into your marriage!
We have gotten a lot of questions about gaslighting and narcissism, and today Dr. Kim is answering. This topic is layered and one podcast episode cannot take the place of more in-depth interventions, but we can offer helpful and hopeful next steps. In today’s episode we’re covering how to know what constitutes abuse versus the sin nature we all struggle with. Listen for
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Marriage counseling doesn’t work with abusers – So what does?
Can a marriage recover after long-term gaslighting?
How to diagnose abuse using the power and control wheel
Does the “gray rock” strategy work in marriage?
Reasons why emotional abuse is often dismissed
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“Narcissism is all about power and control. Neither of those have a place in marriage at all.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“I don't think God expects anyone to live in an abusive situation. In many ways, it’s as much a violation of vows as adultery is to not take seriously your vow to love and cherish your spouse.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“You deserve to be safe.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“If you look at the message of the BIble, you can’t defend any type of abuse, for any person, ever.” - Lindsay Few
“The goal would be repentance and reconciliation.” - Lindsay Few
“The reason a lot of people minimize emotional abuse because they haven’t seen it.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“I’ve seen people who gaslight and don't really understand what they’ve been doing.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Nobody’s uplifted or brought closer to Christ through manipulative behaviors.” - Lindsay Few
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
The Power and Control Wheel is helpful to understand what constitutes abuse
If your marriage is doing okay but could use a jumpstart, then this 5 Week Marriage Refresher Challenge is for you!
Past episodes on the topic:
Recent series with Kathy’s Story
Is there a war on fathers? Our guest on today’s podcast thinks so. The impact of fathers on their kids is so valuable, yet it’s incredibly difficult to know how to engage purposefully in the process of parenting.
If you’ve had a hand in raising kids, you already know that parenting is not for the faint of heart! That’s why we are so thankful to share today’s episode and Kent Evans’ practical advice and encouragement for dads. Kent Evans is a wise and helpful mentor for dads who are searching for their purpose in parenting. Listen and learn Kent’s simple, practical tips for dads and moms alike.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
What prevents dads from being confident to engage in fatherhood?
The reasons why your kids need an imperfect dad
Advice for the dad who feels like it’s too late to start to engage well
Steps to growing in your purpose as a dad
Advice for the wife who wants her husband to engage
An incredible tip for finding friends & community
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“Satan wants us to take us out of the fatherhood game by getting us to self-select and walk off the field.” - Kent Evans
“God wants to be known as a dad, therefore there’s a war on fathers.” - Kent Evans
“My experience as a dad is that God can take care of the things I mess up.” - Dr. Kim
“Even if we could be perfect, it would not be beneficial. It would deprive them of the example of how to fall off the horse then get back on.” - Kent Evans
There are few things more motivating to a man than the praise of his wife, but it’s multiplied by an exponent when she does it in front of the children.” - Kent Evans
“I didn’t get it right. I didn’t do it perfectly, but God took my loaves and fishes and they landed as nourishment.”
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Grab Kent’s great tools for dads at ManhoodJourney.org
Listen to the Father on Purpose Podcast
With the Creative Questions Bundle you will NOT lack for great conversation topics! Get all the details here!
Sign up here to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each episode!
Marriage doesn’t have to get boring … but for too many couples, it has. If you’re ready to break out of the routine and restore the joy in your marriage, this one's for you!
Listen for ways to have more interesting and connective conversations, new ideas of things to try, and how to avoid common mistakes that keep couples from enjoying their marriage.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Better questions to ask for better conversations
2 common mistakes that keep couples from having fun together
Several ideas for fun things to try
For Dr. Kim’s bullet point list of steps, sign up for the Conversation Guide
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“When we’re dating our future wife, we guys up our game.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“We loved our time with our kids, but we realized we also had to be intentional about our marriage.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“You have to give yourself time to do the fun stuff. The mundane will still be there when you’re done.” - Lindsay Few
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
With the Creative Questions Bundle you will NOT lack for great conversation topics! Get all the details here!
Check in on your marriage each week with our Weekly Check In Guide to keep your connection strong
Sign up here to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each episode!
Is there a marriage resource you need us to make? Tell us your idea!
Arlene Pellicane will be on the podcast later this summer. She has written some great books on tech in the family!
Do you ever feel like you and your spouse are two ships passing in the night? Strangers living under the same roof? Business partners executing the plans you’ve made for your kids and household? Then you’re in a disconnected marriage. The marriage relationship should nurture both spouses.
If you’ve lost the connection in your marriage, or just want to step up from where you are right now, tune in today to learn the practical steps for reconnecting.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
Why do couples disconnect?
The steps to reconnection
A helpful source for fun marriage ideas and resources
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“Little tweaks can make such a difference.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Living separate lives is not going to get you a connected, fun marriage.” Christina Dodson
“We weren’t always there but we chose to stay in the marriage and work through things. It’s worth it.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“You can continue to grow, but you have to work at it.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Check in on your marriage each week with our Weekly Check In Guide to keep your connection strong Creative Questions Bundle
Sign up here to get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each episode!
The Sex Talk course equips you to teach your kids about sex in a biblical, God-honoring way
If your marriage communication is a struggle, you are NOT alone. So many marriage issues come back to communication, and if your communication is awesome, your marriage will be too! But most of us will have some trouble with communicating well with our spouse, and it’s the biggest issue couples ask us for help with. That’s why today we’re equipping you with 6 tips to communicate well in the good times and in the bad.
We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
How to talk so your spouse can listen
Use the “title page” trick to help your spouse listen to you
Dr. Kim’s 6 tips to communicate well
How to find a good counselor if you need one
How to restart the openness & honesty in your marriage
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“I think what happens for guys is that when we’re dating our future wife, we up our game.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“It’s hard for me to put my thoughts and feelings into succinct words.I can easily ramble on… but that doesn’t make for good communication.” - Lindsay Few
“The bottom line is you want them to hear what you’re saying, so how do you best communicate in a way that they’re going to hear it?” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“If you’re going through a hard time, call it that. Work together to reclaim your time and energy.” - Lindsay Few
“We can’t give away every piece of our heart, mind, time and energy to things that drain the life out of us.” - Lindsay Few
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Get the Couple’s Conversation Guide for each episode by signing up here!
The Sex Talk course equips you to teach your kids about sex in a biblical, God-honoring way
Dr. Kim’s blogs on questions to ask your counselor:
Our FREE Weekly Check In Guide helps with regular communication
Making Your Marriage a Refuge with Special Guest Gary Thomas Ep. 530
It often feels like the world around us is too broken. Where would you even start if you wanted to try and fix it? On the podcast today, Charlie and Andi Ashworth answer this question, and thankfully their answer is much simpler and more doable than it might seem.
The Ashworths have spent decades sharing their creative gifts and encouraging others to do the same, and in today’s episode they artfully equip you to take small steps toward creativity, community, and reflecting the light of God’s love, right where you are.
Don’t miss this bonus episode! We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.
Episode highlights include:
How should Christians engage with culture?
A call for culture making - and how simple it is to actually do it
Why the small things matter - and how to use them for good in your life
Hope for becoming the remedy to the loneliness epidemic
How to balance the desire for creativity and the need to get things done
Battling the dis-integration of “mundane” versus doing things we like
*Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!
QUOTES
“We make less and less meaning of everything now, because it’s happening so fast and we’re receiving so much information.” - Charlie Ashworth
“There’s no small people; there’s no small things. Everything matters.” - Charlie Ashworth
“We don’t know the stories that will continue after we do.” - Andi Ashworth
“If all of life matters to God, then all of life matters to us.” - Andi Ashworth
“We want a formula … but it is a process.” - Dr. Kim Kimberling
“Based on your faith in Christ, what kind of culture are you making? Are you contributing good? Or are you contributing negativity?” - Charlie Ashworth
“It’s antithetical to the word of God and to creation itself to think that we as people of God are somehow standing outside of it. It actually creates an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality that is so unhealthy.” - Charlie Ashworth
“Start with where you're at: You're actually getting up and making culture every day.” - Andi Ashworth
“As an artist, maturity looks like a seamless integration of a diversity of creativity over time.” - Charlie Peacock
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Charlie and Andi’s book, Why Everything That Doesn't Matter, Matters So Much: The Way of Love in a World of Hurt
Find more from the Ashworths on their website: https://thewriterthehusband.com/
Andy Crouch’s book Culture Making
Learn 7 reasons why your sex life may not be where you want it to be, and how to get it there! Sign up here for the 9 Ways to Improve Your Sex Life Webinar
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:
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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.