Awesome Marriage Podcast

While their life appeared to be successful, fun and amazing, Andy and Sara's marriage was at a breaking point. Their life was at a high point, but their relationship had reached a low. In today's episode they share how their marriage recovered. Can a marriage survive the damage of gaslighting and blame? Today's episode is proof it can. Dr. Kim got to witness a complete transformation in Andy and Sara's marriage. Their story is full of grace and hope, and we are so thankful to them for sharing it with us today. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: How did things look good from the outside for as long as they did? How Sara used waiting to grow closer to God The turning point that allowed Andy to start to change The specific process that changed Andy from the inside out *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES "We lived this big, giant, amazing life. The problem was, I was getting wrapped more and more into my success, thinking I was this great gift to humanity." - Andy "I felt like he didn't know me. He didn't know my heart." - Sara "I was searching for the world to fill that void in my chest that only God can fill." - Andy "You need to meditate and delight in the word of God to change the trajectory of your life." Pastor Mike (via Andy) "The Lord didn't care about all my success. He wanted me broken at the foot of the cross." - Andy QUESTIONS FOR YOU How have you seen God show up in the midst of difficult times? What are the little things your spouse does that make you feel loved? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Questions about gaslighting and blame? Submit them anonymously HERE or over on Instagram for Dr. Kim to answer in an upcoming episode Want to reduce unnecessary arguments, decrease stress in your home, develop better understanding of your spouse, OR just strengthen your bond as a couple? Our 30-Day Communication Challenge is for you!

Your faith is a foundation for every aspect of life. So when you're not on the same page with your spouse spiritually, it can make marriage more complicated. Dr. Kim has helped couples deal with this situation time and time again, and in today's episode he shares valuable insight into how you can deal with spiritual disunity in your marriage. Episode highlights include: Practical ways to pursue unity when you're not unified on faith The common mistakes Dr. Kim sees spouses make in this situation The major shift your marriage needs to start thriving How to change your focus in order to enjoy your marriage We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES "God loves them, and knows them so much better than you do, and He knows what works and doesn't work for that person." Dr. Kim Kimberling "Just accepting your spouse and not trying to change them is essential. You can't really have a thriving marriage until you make that shift." - Lindsay Few "Growth hurts, but I'm glad I'm not the same as I was." - Lindsay Few "My life is so much different and better because I married Nancy, even though some of it was so hard for both of us." - Dr. Kim Kimberling QUESTIONS FOR YOU Have you let go of trying to change your spouse, and let God take over that job? Pray and ask God: How can I love my spouse well today? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: When your marriage is struggling, everything feels more overwhelming. We created 21 Prayers for Struggling Marriage to help make praying for your marriage less challenging. God is the one who can change your hearts and your marriage for the better, so inviting him to do those things is the best thing you can do for your marriage. Do you want to reduce unnecessary arguments, decrease stress in your home, develop better understanding & connection with your spouse, or strengthen your bond as a couple? If you do, then our 30-Day Communication Challenge is for you!

No one loves talking finances, but we do think you'll love today's conversation with Julie Baumgardner! Julie shares how to get curious about what money means to your spouse, how two spouses' separate financial backgrounds and "money stories" can stop being a source of tension, and start becoming a shared value. Listen to this episode if you're ready to get on the same page with your spouse about finances this season - without fighting about them! Episode highlights include: Questions to start a productive conversation about finances with your spouse How to uncover the hidden money lessons you learned growing up, then to get on the same page with your spouse. What recent research says about the connection of money and marital happiness How to learn more about your spouse's perspective about money Ways to work together toward shared values around money in your marriage *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES: "You have different perspectives about money. You don't necessarily talk about what it means to you, how you think about it, therefore you argue about it." - Julie Baumgardner "You can have conversations about money without having to be methodical about every single penny." - Julie Baumgardner "If you can't figure out how to live within your means with a little, it will be very complicated to figure out how to live within your means with a lot." - Julie Baumgardner "It isn't 'You're right, I'm wrong,' you're being curious. And in being curious, you're learning." - Julie Baumgardner "If you can tell that money is creating stress, what is it about money that's stressful?" - Julie Baumgardner "Keep your eyes wide open for where God is calling you to join Him in his work. Be aware, and where you see a need, be a Kingdom builder. " - Julie Baumgardner QUESTIONS FOR YOU: What matters most to the two of you when it comes to money? It's never too late to define your core values around money in your marriage. What is it about money that's stressful? If it's "what ifs," then name the what-ifs and talk through them. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: We found Julie's article on this topic SO helpful: Do finances in childhood impact your marriage? Research says yes Winshape Marriage online and on Instagram Find the Money Habitudes game online 🎉 Giveaway time! We are giving away a bundle of our TOP 3 RESOURCES of 2023: 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage, 21 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge, and 21 Day Wife Appreciation Challenge! To enter just leave an honest review of the podcast wherever you listen, screenshot it, send in to [email protected]. Giveaway ends 12/15 10am CST. Dr. Kim's newest book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half is now available as an eBook! Grab your copy here! We want to help you make 2024 your best married year yet with 12 Marriage Resolutions for the New Year! Click though for all the details of this uplifting resource!

Is it possible to parent without fear of the teen years? We say yes! So does today's guest, Kristen Hatton. We are delighted to have Kristen on the podcast today to share how to prepare for some of the aspects of parenting teens that many parents find daunting. Episode highlights include: Kristen shares ways to know if your fears are becoming idols in parenting Proactive VS reactive parenting: Which one are you? The difference between overparenting and underparenting and how they affect your kids *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES "Frequently parents are living in "reactive" mode, and often it's because we're just so busy." - Kristen Hatton "If I always say yes to my kids going in different directions with their friends, or being on a travel team, and we're always just so busy, then all the sudden, church goes by the wayside. Family time goes by the wayside." - Kristen Hatton "Often, what children experience from their parents is how they view God. So I want them to know my unconditional love and acceptance, so that they see that that's how God is too." - Kristen Hatton QUESTIONS: To evaluate if something you love has become an idol: Are you holding it with an open palm, or a clenched fist? Can you be OK without it? Evaluate your emotions to help you see your idols. Ask: Why am I so angry? Why am I so irritable? Is something controlling me? What occupies my time, habits, thoughts, money, and conversations? Talk with your spouse to decide: What do we want most for our family? How are we doing to get there? What do we want to impart to our kids? What will we allow? What won't we allow? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Learn more from Kristen: Follow her @RedemptiveParenting on Instagram Find all of her books and resources at KristenHatton.com Get Biblical wisdom for parenting teens in her book Parenting Ahead Our FREE 16 Ways To Navigate the Teenage Years as a Team will help you keep your marriage strong during this season. GIVEAWAY TIME! We are giving away a bundle of our TOP 3 RESOURCES of 2023: 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage, 21 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge, and 21 Day Wife Appreciation Challenge! To enter just leave an honest review of the podcast wherever you listen, screenshot it, send in to [email protected]. Giveaway ends 12/15 10am CST. Dr. Kim's newest book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half is now available as an eBook! Grab your copy here! We want to help you make 2024 your best married year yet with 12 Marriage Resolutions for the New Year! Click though for all the details of this uplifting resource!

Holiday season is upon us, and with it all things festive! I'm guessing your schedule didn't have much extra space to begin with, so now there's a risk of becoming truly overbooked. How can your marriage be a priority, even with so much going on? Today Dr. Kim is sharing several of his best tips for prioritizing your marriage, even in this busy season. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Ways to share the load of holiday tasks & preparation better How prioritizing your marriage this season can decrease your stress Dr. Kim's 5 ways to prioritize your marriage this season How to implement this if you aren't on the same page right now Tips to de-stress your holiday gatherings and enjoy them more *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES: "It doesn't have to be a whole evening, it doesn't even have to be a whole hour. It can be just 15 minutes, but you protect that time." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "I think quality time is one of the most important things we do in a marriage, and it also seems to be one of the easiest to bump." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "Make sure you're on the same page together, then enjoy it together." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "There's so much unnecessary tension you can eliminate if you can start to use team language and work together." - Lindsay Few QUESTIONS What is one favorite Christmas tradition you and your spouse have, just for the two of you? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: GIVEAWAY TIME! We are giving away a bundle of our Top 3 Resources of 2023: Our 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage, 21 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge, and 21 Day Wife Appreciation Challenge! To enter just leave an honest review of the podcast wherever you listen, screenshot it, send in to [email protected]. Giveaway ends 12/15 10am EST. Dr. Kim's newest book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half is now available as an eBook! Grab your copy here! Related episode: "What is team Language? Ep. 501"

You can reduce the stress and conflict in your marriage simply by creating margin. Today's episode unpacks several practical ways to create margin in your marriage. Scripture demonstrates how essential a healthy mindset is, so all month we're getting practical about how to cultivate a healthy mindset and a healthy marriage. Tune into today's episode to learn how to create margin in your marriage. We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage! Episode highlights include: The practice Dr. Kim recommends to help you build margin into your marriage and the free resource we offer to make this simple to do Mindset shifts to help you find margin Practical ways to prioritize your marriage *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES "It's not just carving out more time for each other, it's how you use that time." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "We talk about your home and marriage being a refuge. You want to create that." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "It's worth the effort to get intentional about this and get on the same page, so you can tackle it as a team." Lindsay Few "Learning to really listen makes a big difference. There's so much value to feeling heard, and knowing that your spouse cares to really listen." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "One thing that really helped us is when we realized we were not each other's enemy." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "Be ok with being counter cultural if that's what's best for your family and your marriage." - Dr. Kim Kimberling QUESTIONS: How can you and your spouse work together to create more margin in your marriage? How can you work together to create a culture of grace in your marriage? What do you really want for your marriage? What do you need to say no to in this season to make that happen? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Contentment doesn't come easily, but is more than worth the effort. Take the steps to grow your contentment with our 15-Day Contentment Challenge! It's yours for a donation of ANY amount to the ministry of Awesome Marriage this Giving Tuesday! Dr. Kim highly recommends a Weekly Check In for every couple – so to make this simple for you, we have created a Weekly Marriage Check In Guide. You can snag this resource for free when you sign up for the One Thing to Grow Your Marriage email series! We really enjoyed the book "Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" mentioned in today's episode

Cut the stress out of gift giving this Christmas. If shopping for your spouse (and anyone else on your list) feels daunting, this episode is for you. In this episode Patrick Kucharson, the Better Gift Coach, shares how to give gifts that will resonate with their recipients, strategies to become a better gift-giver, and great gift tips for any budget (including free!). Tune in to learn more! Episode highlights include: Simple strategies to know what they really want Why you need to make brainstorming gift ideas a team sport - and who to recruit to your team The categories of not-so-good gifts you do not want to fall into this Christmas! Patrick's Golden Rule of Gift-Giving *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES "How much thought you put into a gift doesn't necessarily translate into the value the gift recipient will assign to it." - Patrick Kucharson "Give gifts that you know they want to receive, over gifts that you want to give." - Patrick Kucharson "It's showing that you appreciate them. You're listening." - Patrick Kucharson "A shortcut for gift-giving: Look around, take note of the negatives, and try to give gifts that will remove them." - Patrick Kucharson QUESTIONS: What's your favorite gift you've given your spouse, and what made it great? Who can you recruit to your "gift brainstorming team" this season? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Patrick's Better Gift Coach free weekly email is every bit as entertaining and insightful Patrick was on today's podcast! Sign up HERE! You can also find him on Instagram In the midst of all the gift talk, take time to look for something only God can give: Contentment. Grad our 15-Day Contentment Challenge with your donation of ANY amount and pursue true contentment.

Gratitude is a powerful mindset – it affects our mind, our marriage, even our physical health! Scripture is clear that our mindset is very important, so this month we're digging into how to cultivate a healthy mindset and a healthy marriage. Today we're talking about the power of gratitude. What makes this trait so important, and how can we cultivate it? Tune in for all the details! Episode highlights include: Dr. Kim and Lindsay share how gratitude helped them each deal with depression The way gratitude helps your marriage and your outlook on life Why growing in gratitude actually ends up leading to – more gratitude! Practical ways to cultivate gratitude in every day *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! QUOTES "I think we're wired to give thanks and be grateful to God." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "When we acknowledge on a regular basis what we're thankful for, we tend to be happier and less depressed." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "It's looking at what's actually happening in my life. What is God doing? What is here today? It brings you back into the present."- Lindsay Few "I think the more we acknowledge who He is in our lives and worship him for that, that goes a long way to changing our gratitude." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "I don't think God put us together to grumble for 50 years. I think He put us together to grow, to learn, and to be grateful." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "I think it helps us to serve our spouse and serve our God better when our frame of mind is healthier. And I think gratitude makes it healthier." - Dr. Kim Kimberling QUESTIONS So many things in the world are out of our control, but God IS in control. What is 1 reason you are thankful that He is in control today? When you think something good about your spouse, say it! What do you appreciate about your spouse? What is 1 thing you can do to be more present with your spouse today? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Contentment doesn't come easily, but is more than worth the effort! Grab our 15-Day Contentment Challenge with a donation of ANY amount to the ministry of Awesome Marriage this Giving Tuesday! LEARN MORE HERE! The 27 Scripture Prayer Cards resource is a beautiful way to remember scripture and to bring the power of prayer into your marriage each day! It's the perfect time to sign up for Dr. Kim's daily One Thing to Grow Your Marriage email series, since this week's emails give you simple ways to practice gratitude with your spouse

Has blame crept into your marriage? If so, your marriage is certainly suffering its effects. But it does not have to stay that way! Today Dr. Kim helps you discover how to identify and remove this damaging habit from your marriage. Scripture is clear that our mindset matters, and that we have the ability to change our minds! So this month we're digging into how to cultivate a healthy mindset and a healthy marriage. Dig in today to start dismantling the blame. Episode highlights include: How to identify - and break - subtle blame patterns Why expecting each spouse to give their 50% share to the marriage just doesn't add up Dr. Kim and Lindsay get real about how blame has impacted their marriages How to remove blame from our efforts to show our spouse love How to address the issue healthily instead *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Dr. Kim mentioned this article from Harvard Health in the episode Contentment doesn't come easily, but it's SO worth the work! Get our 15-Day Contentment Challenge with a donation of ANY amount to the ministry of Awesome Marriage this Giving Tuesday! Learn more here! 15 Daily Prayers Bundle More mindset resources: Dr. Kim's Mind Craft Plan Switch On Your Brain by Dr. Leaf (includes the "21-Day Brain Detox")

Calling all military spouses AND frequent travelers: Do not miss this bonus episode! Today we're thrilled to have Jen McDonald of Milspouse Matters join us on the podcast. Jen is full of wisdom and warmth as well as practical tips and advice on how to weather a marriage separated by distance and the unique challenges of military life. Tune in and be encouraged by her story! Episode highlights include: The parts of military life that Jen was NOT prepared for The realities of deployment and reintegration Practical things that helped her marriage stay connected during deployment *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Find Jen on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter (X) Get Jen's Amazon bestselling book: You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse And her new book Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories She also has several Military Spouse Resources on her site (including the The 5-Day Deployment Devotional and deployment resources for families and kids). Jen has graciously offered our listeners 10% off when you use the code marriage10 at checkout! (Discount available through 12/31/23.) Resources for kids / families: The Comfort Crew for Military Kids Military Child Education Coalition Military Kids Connect Military OneSource (info and support for families) Military and Family Life Counseling Program (free!)

What does it mean to "reframe?" And how can you know if you need to do it? Reframing is a term Dr. Kim has used in past episodes, and today we learn exactly what it means and the practical steps to do it. Scripture is clear that our mindset is very important, so this month we're digging into how to cultivate a healthy mindset and a healthy marriage. Tune into today's episode for the details! Episode highlights include: The Biblical basis and Scripture to support the concept of reframing Practical steps of the reframing process What to do if your spouse frames you negatively *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Dr. Kim's Mind Craft Plan (I accidentally referred to it as Mind Your Marriage in the episode) is a great place to start! Caroline Leaf's book, Switch On Your Brain includes the "21-Day Brain Detox" Dr. Kim mentioned in the episode The Weekly Marriage Check In is a great way to stay connected with your spouse, and you get this printable resource FREE when you sign up for the One Thing email! Get all the details here. Being self-aware is a gift to your marriage, yourself and everyone around you! Our Self Check In Guide is a tool to take you through the process of growing self-aware. Dr. Kim mentioned our Marriage Changers Membership, where he and Nancy share exclusive video content each month. Marriage Changers also get automatic access to each new monthly resource we create. Learn more here. Scripture references: Romans 12:2 Proverbs 4:23 1 Corinthians 2:16 Romans 8:6

You know that moment when things go quickly from okay to "What just happened?" in your marriage? Suddenly there's tension and you're totally disconnected. Today, we are so happy to have Dr. Glenn and Phyllis Hill join us on the podcast. They do a great job explaining what goes wrong in that moment, and how to prevent it from happening again. Tune in to learn more! Episode highlights include: The shift that completely changed how they approached conflict The 1 question to stop asking in fights and the better 1 to ask instead The Hills unpack what it means that identity is the #1 human need, and how that plays out in marriage A practical tool to easily learn how to emotions well together How disconnection can affect family life and strategies to handle it *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Find more from Dr. Glenn and Phyllis at their website: https://www.connectioncodes.co/ and make sure to use the code AWESOME20 for 20% off any of their classes! Learn more about using this process to connect in their book: The Connection Codes or on The Connection Codes Podcast! Download your free copy of the Hill's Core Emotion Wheel! You are invited to Dr. Kim's free webinar, 8 Guidelines for Fighting Fair in Your Marriage. Get all the details HERE

We're so used to seeing sex allll around us - skin sells, after all! But today, Joshua Ryan Butler shows us how we are still likely to miss so much of what sex is designed to show us. Sex is everywhere – except being talked about by the married couples who are (hopefully!) having it, and the churches and families who desperately need a robust theology of God's purpose for sex and sexuality. Today's episode takes a look at why sex is so much more than right / wrong or rules, and why that truth is incredibly freeing. Tune in to learn more. Episode highlights include: Why does it matter what we believe about God's purpose for sex? How to unpack the tension between what culture says vs church says about sex Why a better relationship with God leads to better sex in your marriage (and a better marriage in general!) Specifically why our male / female differences are so valuable The shift from rule-keeping to image-bearing and what it means for our lives *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Find more from Joshua on his website at Joshuaryanbutler.com If you enjoyed today's episode, you will love Joshua's new book, Beautiful Union! You can break the conflict cycle in your marriage! Dr. Kim is hosting a FREE webinar on Friday 10/27. Get all the details HERE Ready to gain REAL freedom and healing from porn in your marriage? Learn more about how you can do that with our new course, Marriage Undefiled: How To Overcome Porn and Heal Your Marriage HERE

This is the place for honest conversations and practical advice on how to have an awesome marriage. In this brief trailer, Dr. Kim Kimberling and co-host Lindsay Few share what you can expect to hear on the Awesome Marriage podcast each week. If you enjoy the podcast, follow along here or at awesomemarriage.com/podcast for questions in each week's show notes that will help you and your spouse apply the info in each episode. We pray this content is helpful for you and your marriage! * Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! * You can find all of Awesome Marriage's helpful resources on our website.

What is a gospel perspective of sexuality? It's hard to answer, since too often, sex is not talked about in the church. Yet it's literally everywhere in the world around us. Most couples struggle with their sex life at some point and parents are deeply concerned about helping their kids navigate the topic in a God-honoring way in the midst of all of culture's chaos. That is why we are honored to have Dr. Juli Slattery on the podcast today, sharing her vast knowledge and wisdom on the subject. You don't want to miss what she has to say. Episode highlights include: Why a biblical worldview of sexuality is actually very freeing How disruptions to your sex life can become a springboard to greater intimacy 4 specific aspects of God's love that should define healthy sex in marriage The process to engage so you can equip your kids to navigate sexuality biblically Encouragement for couples who are struggling in this area *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: For more great info from Juli: Her newest book: God, Sex, and Your Marriage Her podcast: Java with Juli Her website: authenticintimacy.com Books by the authors mentioned in the episode: Celebration of Sex, by Douglas Rosenau, The Married Guy's Guide to Great Sex and Enjoy! The Gift of Sexual Pleasure for Women, both by Cliff and Joyce Penner Refresh your marriage this fall with the 4th Annual Online Marriage Retreat. The retreat is live NOW! This year's theme is Refresh: Break Through the Barriers to an Awesome Marriage. It's packed with teaching sessions from our amazing speakers to bring you practical ways to break through the barriers that keep your marriage from being awesome. Click HERE for all the details! Set your marriage up for better satisfaction in the bedroom when you get your head in the game with the Think Sex Challenge!

This week it's the husbands' turn to weigh in. Today we hear what men said they wish their wives knew about sex. Would your husband agree? Dr. Kim strongly encourages couples to talk about their sex life, not argue about it, but… most couples don't! So listening to today's episode together is an easy way to start the conversation. Sex in your marriage matters because God created it to draw spouses together, but all too often pain and tension lead to exactly the opposite. Tune in today to learn the next steps in your marriage. Episode highlights include: Some common Christian sex myths that might be hindering your sex life... ... And what the Bible says about them Some really effective ways to talk about sex with your spouse ... ... And some others you definitely want to avoid *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Set your marriage up for better satisfaction in the bedroom with the Think Sex Challenge The 4th Annual Online Marriage Retreat launches THIS WEEK! This year's theme is Refresh: Break Through the Barriers to an Awesome Marriage and this retreat is packed with helpful sessions from amazing speakers. Click HERE for all the details! Ready to gain REAL freedom and healing from porn in your marriage? Learn more about how you can do that with our new course, Marriage Undefiled: How To Overcome Porn and Heal Your Marriage. Has sex has fallen down the list of priorities? In Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half Dr. Kim and Nancy tell how they have handled the challenges to their sex life later in marriage. We highly recommend the book Celebration of Sex to educate yourself and your spouse on exactly what works for the two of you!

The wives have spoken! Today we share what women said they wish their husbands knew about sex. Would your wife agree? Dr. Kim wants couples to talk about their sex life, not argue about it! So an easy way to start is by listening to today's episode together and talking about it. Sex in your marriage matters because God created it to draw spouses together, but all too often pain and tension lead to exactly the opposite. Tune in today to get the conversation started! Episode highlights include: Tips to help balance the mental load spouses are carrying Women don't get tired of their husband's compliments – with this 1 exception! Practical reasons why it can be helpful to schedule sex Addressing assumptions spouses make that will deter them from great sex *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Set your marriage up for better satisfaction in the bedroom with the Think Sex Challenge Ready to gain REAL freedom and healing from porn in your marriage? Learn more about how you can do that with our new course, Marriage Undefiled: How To Overcome Porn and Heal Your Marriage. Has sex has fallen down the list of priorities? In Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half Dr. Kim and Nancy tell how they have handled the challenges to their sex life later in marriage. We highly recommend the book Celebration of Sex to educate yourself and your spouse on exactly what works for the two of you! The 4th Annual Online Marriage Retreat launches NEXT WEEK! This year's theme is Refresh: Break Through the Barriers to an Awesome Marriage and this retreat is packed with helpful sessions from amazing speakers. Click HERE for all the details!

We are delighted to have Toni Collier on the podcast today. Toni has spoken and written plenty about the way that embracing brokenness, though counterintuitive, is the key to experiencing a full life in Christ. She talked to Dr. Kim about how –and why– to effectively embrace your brokenness personally, what that means, and what it can do for your marriage and family. Don't miss this grace-filled episode! We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The faith "secret" that transformed Toni's perspective on brokenness The deeply personal origin of Toni's new book, and why a children's book is so important The biggest mistake she made early in marriage, and how she recovered *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Be sure to check out Toni's children's book Broken Crayons Still Color! It is beautifully designed to help kids deal with big feelings and gain the tools to handle them well. And don't miss Toni's book, Brave Enough to Be Broken: How to Embrace Your Pain and Discover Hope and Healing, which is full of Biblical wisdom and practical tools to help you heal right where you are today! Grow closer to God while you grow closer to your spouse with the 2-Week Couple's Scripture Challenge! Click through for more info. The mind is a powerful sex organ, and the 25-Day Think Sex Challenge is designed to help you harness that power to experience more fun, intimate and fulfilling sex in your marriage.

Ministry couples face both unique joys and unique challenges. If you've been around Awesome Marriage for a while, you've probably heard Dr. Kim say to put God first and your spouse second. But when your job is ministry, it can be really hard to balance your vocational ministry with your primary ministry - your marriage. Today we're talking about how to keep your marriage thriving when you are in ministry. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The surprising data on how ministry affects marriage and family Our personal experiences of what makes ministry hard on marriage What to do if you work in a ministry culture that does not prioritize marriage or family 4 specific ways to protect and build your marriage *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Don't let your ministry take out your marriage! The Sustaining Your Marriage In Ministry online course was designed to help you through the challenges you face. Learn more HERE. Our friends at Emotionally Healthy Discipleship offer resources that equip leaders to lead from their inner life with Christ. Anything you want to hear about that we missed today? Shoot me an email and let us know!

You may know Jeff Allen from one of his many comedy specials on DryBar Comedy, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, network TV and more. If you do, you know he can make you laugh about even the hard parts of life and marriage. In today's episode we get to go behind the scenes of some of the hardest seasons Jeff and his wife, Tami, experienced in their marriage, and how God brought hope, healing and redemption. Don't miss this encouraging episode! We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The *surprisingly* effective way Jeff's comedian friend helped him find Jesus What changed in Jeff and Tami's marriage when Jesus entered the picture Jeff's journey to sobriety and learning new coping mechanisms *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Get the rest of Jeff and Tami's story in Jeff's Book "Are We There Yet?: My Journey from a Messed Up to Meaningful Life." Jeff's comedy is a part of this year's Online Marriage Retreat! Registration is open NOW so click over to learn more! If it's been a while since you felt sexy or were excited about your sex life, our 25-Day Think Sex Challenge will help you get back in the mood! Learn more HERE!

Your mindset has a powerful impact on everything in your life - including your marriage. Is yours helping or hurting your marriage? Today Dr. Kim shares some sneaky ways your thoughts might be harming your marriage, without you even realizing it, as well as practical advice for how to overcome them. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: How to identify and correct unhealthy thought patterns Why even our fleeting thoughts matter One thing that prevents many of us from being honest with God and with ourselves, and how to overcome it *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Work on healing your mindset with the "Cut the Criticism and Cultivate Companionship" Bible Reading plan on YouVersion If you're a One Thing Subscriber, you know all about Dr. Kim's Daily Declarations already! If not, sign up HERE and receive a practical daily step each Monday-Friday to help you be intentional about building your marriage. If it's been a while since you felt sexy or were excited about your sex life, our 25-Day Think Sex Challenge will help you get back in the mood! Learn more HERE! When you sign up for Dr. Kim's weekly Dispatch email, you receive a copy of his Daily Declarations FREE as a sign up bonus!

One reason marriage can be difficult is because it faces real spiritual opposition. 1 Peter 5:8 says the enemy is like "a roaring lion looking for someone to devour," who would love to destroy us and our marriages. But Christian couples can be confident that God is on our side, He is for us and He has the victory. So how can we be on guard and ready to fight for our marriage, spiritually? Tune in today to learn how. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Reasons why marriage is a target of spiritual attacks Ways spiritual attacks can show up in marriage Steps to fight back and fight for your marriage in those times *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Dr. Kim shared his heart behind our Marriage Changers membership in today's episode. Get more info on the membership HERE. We are happy to have 50+ AM YouVersion plans. Here are the two we mentioned in this episode: Learning to Apologize Well In Marriage Praying Over your home If you haven't already, check out our perennial fave House Prayer Cards. They're Like Dr. Kim's scripture on the walls thing, but without needing to repaint! Our 2-Week Couples Scripture Challenge helps you fight for your marriage by building the habit of getting into God's Word together.

How should the rhythms of our child's season of life inform our parenting? How can your family rhythms and routines cultivate the kind of family atmosphere you are longing for in your household and set your child up for success? Today our special guest Nellie Harden helps you see where you are in this season of your child's growing up years and how to parent well in this time. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The perspective shift to more peaceful parenting Why to number the days of your child's childhood How our own perfectionism affects our kids and our parenting The parenting shift we need in the second half of childhood A practical way to reduce sibling strife *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Find Nellie's book, learn more about the 6570 Family Project and more on her website Here's the article Nellie wrote for Focus on The Family that we loved: "Family on the Rocks!" Taking a few minutes a week to check up on your marriage is simple and effective with the Weekly Marriage Check Up Guide Our 27 Scripture Prayer Cards are both beautiful AND powerful!

This time of year, so many families are thinking about how to make this new school year go even better than the last. You may be wondering how you can possibly build in helpful, healthy rhythms when you're Already. So. Busy. If so, you do not want to miss this episode. Today our guest Justin Earley shares how to build intentionality and meaning into your existing family habits. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: What our messy attempts at forming good habits can communicate to our kids (you might be surprised!) The perspective shift that lets you take advantage of your family's existing habits for good What does it actually mean to be a spiritual leader? Practical advice for wives who want their husband to lead spiritually *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Hear more on these topics in Justin's books: The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship Find resources, writing an more from Justin at Justinwhitmelearley.com The Weekly Marriage Check Up Guide makes it simple to check in with your spouse each week.

Ever wondered why you can't break a habit you hate or form a new one you want to start? Today's bonus episode is for you! Debra Fileta always brings wisdom and practical tools to help us connect spiritual practices with mental health and relationship health, and we're delighted to have Debra back on the podcast with us today. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Why issues seem to surface at unexpected times and what you can do about it The equation that leads to lasting change - and why most people get it wrong How to effectively begin to break bad habits *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Debra has also been on these past episodes: Choosing Marriage: Interview with Debra Fileta | Ep. 207 Love In Every Season: Interview with Debra Fileta | Ep. 411 Are You Really OK? With Special Guest Debra Fileta | Ep. 471 Oneness Vs. Codependency - What's the Difference? With Special Guest Debra Fileta | Ep. 511 We think you'll love Debra's new book, RESET: Powerful Habits to Own Your Thoughts, Understand Your Feelings, and Change Your Life Are you getting the Marriage Multiplier? It's a quick weekly email from Dr. Kim that gives you ways to intentionally invest in your marriage. Sign up HERE.

As we enter the fall season, it's a great time to look at the routines in your life. This month we're talking all about life-giving routines and rhythms. Sometimes in marriage, we can get into bad habits of conflict or miscommunication, BUT we can also use our habits and routines to build up our spouse and grow our marriage. Today we're sharing some of our personal routines and family rhythms that help keep our marriages strong. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Dr. Kim's personal routine and why it's so important to him The small things that don't even feel like "things" – and why they matter so much Practical ways to build the kind of culture you want to have in your marriage *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES: If you're not getting Dr. Kim's One Thing daily email, sign up HERE! The Weekly Marriage Check Up Guide makes it simple to check in with your spouse each week. Get a better dinner experience when you bring good questions to the table with 52 Questions for Your Family Table

We talk to a lot of couples who don't know what makes them a great team. And if you don't know what makes you a great team, how can you operate as one? All too often, opposites attract and it takes intentionality to tap into all that God has for you in the gift of your marriage. So today we're talking about leaning into what makes you a uniquely gifted team in your marriage, and resolving the tension that comes from the ways we differ from our spouse. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: What are the common issues that keep couples from being a strong team? Dr. Kim gives great ideas of creative solutions to issues How to combat the competition that sometimes creeps into marriage We share ways we've personally done this in our marriages *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Get the team conversation started with Team You & Me: A Guide to Approaching Your Marriage as a Team, a resource designed to help you be more intentional to tap into all God has for you in the gift of your marriage. Dr. Kim and Nancy's book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in Second Half is out now! Grab your copy HERE! Related episodes you might like: What is Team Language? | Ep. 501 Make the Most of Your Differences with Special Guests Jay & Breona Washington | Ep. 476 Wives Edition: How to Ask For Help

Has marriage been harder than you thought it would be? We often say there's hope for every marriage, no matter where you are today - and there truly is. But you may be wondering how exactly to hold on and fight for your marriage if you're in a really hard season. Today, we are sharing Dr. Kim's conversation with special guest Toni Nieuwhof. Toni is an author, speaker and family law mediator, and she brings such hope and wisdom in today's episode. Tune in for hope and help to make the future of your marriage better than today. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The mental shift helped Toni and her husband keep fighting when their marriage was on the brink Practical steps they took to start healing Common issues Toni sees couples divorce over How to change your mental narrative about your marriage *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Get more of Toni's wisdom on this topic in her book, "Before You Split" On her website at https://toninieuwhof.com/ And on the Smart Family Podcast Are you willing to do what it takes to reset and renew your marriage? Fight for your marriage with the Marriage 911 online course. Missed the other episodes of our summer Worth Repeating Series? So far we've aired: Worth Repeating | Be Your Authentic Self in a Superficial World With Special Guest Sam Acho Worth Repeating | Breathe: Don't Be Prickly Worth Repeating: Cultivating Curiosity & Courage with Special Guest Bob Goff

How can curiosity help you have an awesome marriage? How can you grow yourself and your marriage, even in the busyness and life's changing seasons? As we share some of our favorite past episodes this summer, we are so happy to re-air Dr. Kim's interview with Bob Goff. Bob and Dr. Kim talked about how to dream big, be courageous and grow closer with your spouse. Don't miss their encouraging conversation today - it's certainly worth repeating! We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The role curiosity plays in keeping you - and your marriage - interesting Learning to align your dreams as a couple What to do if you don't have any big dreams to chase *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES 27 Scripture Prayer Cards combine the power of prayer and the power of God's Word, designed beautifully to help you invite God's to work in your marriage Find Bob @ bobgoff.com Check out Maria's new book, Love Lives Here Dr. Kim especially liked Bob's book Everybody Always Missed the other episodes of our summer Worth Repeating Series? So far we've aired: Worth Repeating | Be Your Authentic Self in a Superficial World With Special Guest Sam Acho Worth Repeating | Breathe: Don't Be Prickly

One common theme we hear from our couples at Awesome Marriage is that life and marriage have been difficult the past few years. The unexpected and unpredictable realities have taken a toll on many of us, and the anxiety and angst have made us quite "prickly." In today's episode, Dr. Kim and Christina talk about that prickliness and help you evaluate if you've been a little prickly and if so, how to work through it. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Defining exactly what we mean by "prickly" Dr. Kim shares some healthy ways to deal with the pain Red flags that can help show us our prickliness What do I do if this is me? What if it's my spouse? *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Dr. Kim and Nancy's book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in Second Half is out now! Click HERE to grab your copy! 27 Scripture Prayer Cards combine the power of prayer and the power of God's Word, designed beautifully to help you invite God's to work in your marriage

We're on our annual summer break from the podcast, and during the break we love to re-air favorite past episodes. Today we're sharing Dr. Kim's conversation with former NFL linebacker Sam Acho, a speaker, podcaster, and humanitarian. They had an honest and encouraging conversation about what holds us back from being authentic and how to break through fears and be more real. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The breakthrough that first helped Sam to stop hiding & pretending he was ok Why the closest relationships can also be the places we feel the most insecure Why the small steps we take to be real are actually big! Steps to take when you feel you're not living in authenticity *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Dr. Kim and Nancy's book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in Second Half is out TODAY!! Click HERE to grab your copy! 27 Scripture Prayer Cards combine the power of prayer and the power of God's Word, designed beautifully to help you invite God's to work in your marriage Sam & Dr. Kim talked today about his book, Let the World See You, and he also has a new book, Change Starts With You: Following Your Fire to Heal a Broken World Find Sam on Twitter and Instagram @thesamacho

Marriage is more of a marathon than a sprint, and to go the distance, it definitely helps to learn from someone who has gone before. Who better to learn from than Dr. Kim? He and Nancy are more than 50 years into marriage, and continue to have so much fun together. It's not always easy, but it's definitely worth it! Today Dr. Kim shares his top 5 ways to build a marriage you love that will stand the test of time. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Practically speaking, how do you put "God first, spouse second"? Is the goal to just stay together - or to keep making the marriage better and better? The power of looking forward to something together Tips to reclaiming fun in your marriage *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Dr. Kim and Nancy's book Love, Intimacy, and Sex in the Second Half is out! Click HERE to order your copy! When it comes to having fun and not taking things too seriously, Dr. Kim and Nancy have got receipts! See all the shenanigans on TikTok and Instagram :) Want to have more fun with your marriage? Our 14 Days of Marriage Fun resource helps you break up the routine and enjoy more fun and laughter together!

Recovery after porn is possible. Your mind can heal and you can break the addiction. Today's guest, Matt Cline, is the founder and director of Restored Ministries, which leads men and women out of sexual brokenness and into a life of freedom and impact. Matt has seen countless lives radically changed around the world.Today he talks about his healing process, how God restored his beliefs about sex We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The God-given purpose of our sex drive - and why that matters How do you define the actual difference between "sex" and "making love"? Lies porn teaches us about sex and how to replace them with truth Specific ways the mind changes after porn recovery The process of turning temptation into an opportunity for worship *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Find all of Matt's resources at www.restoredministries.ca Restored Ministries is on Instagram @restoredsexuality, Facebook @ Restored Ministries, and the Pure Victory Podcast. You don't have to settle for a struggling marriage. The 90 Days to Save Your Marriage plan starts right where your marriage is today and helps get it on the road to healing. Click HERE to preorder Dr. Kim's new book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half!

Can your marriage be happy, even after…? Our guest today said that, "About 70% of men in the church are struggling cyclically or addictively with pornography, and about 30% of women. It's time to stop giving the enemy the power of our silence." We completely agree! While this story is not easy to tell, letting light into our darkest places is how we will experience the healing God wants for us. We are so thankful that Dannah shared her story with us this week. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The antidote to "I don't even know what to do" about this Does a porn addiction always escalate? And why? Some of the science behind why this addiction is so hard to kick The impact of betrayal trauma on a spouse RESOURCES Order Dannah's book, Happily Even After, for more of her story and insights Protect your kids from porn with the help of https://protectyoungeyes.com/ Click HERE to preorder Dr. Kim's new book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half! Don't settle for a struggling marriage. The 90 Days to Save Your Marriage plan starts right where your marriage is today and helps get it on the road to healing.

If porn use has damaged your marriage, you may struggle to feel close and to re-engage in sexual intimacy. You know that healing is possible, but how do you get there? Today Dr. Kim shares ways that couples can overcome the hurt caused by porn and re-establish the intimacy that will make the marriage thrive again. Time and again, we have seen couples restored, and their marriage even better than before. Tune in today and learn how this can be true for your marriage too. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Overcoming intrusive thoughts and insecurities How porn and comparison are similar Why the marriage can be better than before after healing from this *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Do you love the Bible app as much as we do? Do not miss Dr. Kim's Verse of the Day on YouVersion Friday! Keep your marriage thriving for the long haul! Order Dr. Kim's new book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half! Has the Awesome Marriage podcast helped your marriage? If so, will you take a moment to leave us a rating and review? They take just a moment to leave, but they do make an difference in getting the show in front of more people. In Spotify, click the "star" icon right under the show's heading On Apple Podcasts, scroll down to the "Ratings & Reviews" section of the show page Don't settle for a struggling marriage. The 90 Days to Save Your Marriage plan is affordable, practical, and starts right where your marriage is today to get it on the road to healing.

Porn use is a pain point for all too many marriages. Today we talk about how to begin healing and rebuilding trust if porn has damaged your marriage. We have seen countless marriages restored from this issue, and we believe God can do the same for you and your marriage. Tune in to learn how you can begin to trust again. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: The key to knowing if your spouse has changed and is trustworthy What if they haven't changed? Why confession is vital to healing and freedom *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES If you are ready to be free from porn, our friends at Restored Ministries offer several options to help both. Please do not hesitate to reach out. If your marriage has been affected by infidelity, our online Affair Recovery Course can help. This course is helpful whether you're just starting the recovery process, or are already in process. Use code: "AWESOMEMARRIAGE" for %10 off. Has the Awesome Marriage podcast helped your marriage? If so, will you take a moment to leave us a rating and review? They take just a moment to leave, but they do make an difference in getting the show in front of more people. In Spotify, click the "star" icon right under the show's heading On Apple Podcasts, scroll down to the "Ratings & Reviews" section of the show page Learn how to keep your marriage strong for the long haul! Order Dr. Kim's new book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half!

We know this topic is a painful one for all too many marriages, and we also know that God can bring full healing if your marriage has been damaged by porn. Today Dr. Kim shares how he's seen porn impact marriages over the years, why it's always a problem if it's part of a marriage, and how to start breaking free. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Why porn use is never a one-person issue Why keeping porn use secret makes it harder to stop using Addressing common cultural myths about porn such as, "everyone does it" and "it doesn't hurt anyone" Steps to breaking free if you are using porn *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES If you are ready to be free from porn, our friends at Restored Ministries offer several options to help both. Please do not hesitate to reach out. If your marriage has been affected by infidelity, our online Affair Recovery Course can help. This course is helpful whether you're just starting the recovery process, or are already in process. Use code: "AWESOMEMARRIAGE" for %10 off.

Great things are happening on the Awesome Marriage Podcast this summer! In this quick update Dr. Kim and I pop in to talk about what you can expect and what you'll be hearing over the next few weeks. Plus an exciting announcement from Dr. Kim! We pray these episodes are helpful to you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Learn to make your marriage strong for the long haul -- Order Dr. Kim's new book, Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half. If you need anything from us, don't hesitate to reach out at [email protected]

When Eric and Erikah Rivera met and started dating as high school sweethearts, they sensed God's call on their lives. But they did not know how it would all unfold. Today they are church planters in their hometown of Chicago, and they graciously share their story of how God has met them in the midst of unexpected fear and pain, and the ways He has worked in each circumstance. Don't miss this encouraging conversation with the Riveras. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: How sharing their fears and grief with each other led to increased faith Unexpected ways God can use our trials when we invite Him to Should the disciple be known as "Doubting Thomas" or "Ride-or-Die Thomas"? When God doesn't answer our prayers the way we hope *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! Application Questions: What fears are underlying in your heart and mind today? What prevents you from speaking them? Where do you need to see Jesus show up in your life today? In your marriage? How do you need support in those things in your marriage today? How can you better support your spouse in the things they are dealing with today? RESOURCES You can find Eric and Erikah on Instagram Hear more on the Brook Church website and YouTube Channel 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage: Sexual Intimacy Cheat Sheet

This week we conclude our powerful Unpacking the Baggage series with some details on the process of unpacking marriage baggage, and dealing with what's underneath. I'm so thankful for Dr. Kim's biblical wisdom on this topic, as well as the excellent guests we heard from this month. If you missed the previous episodes of this series, make sure to go back and listen for some powerful wisdom on how to heal your heart and your marriage. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include: Some of the physical signals that can help us prevent overreactions Slowing down the process to identify relationship triggers How to begin healing from relationship triggers and figure out what's underneath What to do if you don't know what's underneath *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage: Sexual Intimacy Cheat Sheet The L.O.V.E. Your Way Through Marriage Course, by Chris and Jamie Bailey, is a journey of connecting and learning all the necessary steps to start having healthy conflict. Use promo code AWESOMEMARRIAGE for 10% off!

How can disappointment or unmet expectations in marriage lead us to God's healing? Our marriage will only be as healthy as the two people in it, and God wants to restore and heal our hearts. We're delighted to have John and Stasi Eldredge on the podcast today. The Eldredges share so much wisdom and their personal experiences with God's healing power in their lives and their marriage. Episode highlights include: How to navigate expectations for your marriage and the hurt they can bring How to take pressure off your spouse and your marriage he two great conversions in the Christian life What they would have missed if they had called it quits We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. RESOURCES Dr. Kim highly recommends Pause App, by the Eldredges Check out their site, www.wildatheart.org - it is full of SO many great resources for you! The L.O.V.E. Your Way Through Marriage Course, by Chris and Jamie Bailey, is a journey of connecting and learning all the necessary steps to start having healthy conflict.

When we carry parts of our past with us, it still affects us into today. If we aren't talking about how the past is for each spouse pushing its way into the present, then we're probably not getting to the depth of the truth of what's really going on. Dr. Kelly Flanagan is a repeat guest on the podcast, and today he shares some transformative steps to dealing with what's under the surface, and helping your spouse to do the same. Don't miss this helpful episode! Episode highlights include: Do we really need to bring up old stuff from the past? Why does it matter now? Is your heart open to your spouse, or closed? What are steps to helping a spouse deal with their baggage? What does it mean to "hold space" for your spouse? Plus why and how to do that We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Find more of Dr. Kelly's resources, including the Loveable Mini Course, at his website: Drkellyflanagan.com Get Dr. Kelly's newest book, The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell Use the L.O.V.E. Your Way Through Conflict Course, by Chris and Jamie Bailey to help you work through conflict productively!

When we carry parts of our past with us, they still affect us today. You may know there is something going on, but not know what it is. You may sense your spouse has something they are carrying or you might be affected by unresolved conflict in your shared past. Today Dr. Kim shares how these things shape our marriage relationships and what we can do about them. Episode highlights include: Ever been picked last at recess? Yeah, us too. But do things like that matter in our marriages? Why aren't we dealing with this stuff already? What happens if we don't deal with our past hurt Is it okay to talk about our spouse's baggage if they don't bring it up? We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Subscribe to Podcast Email to make sure you never miss an episode. When you sign up, you will get our 4 Week Connection Challenge for free! Plus you will get noteworthy quotes, resources, and more delivered straight to your inbox. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage: Sexual Intimacy Cheat Sheet This is the FB Live video with Chris and Jamie Bailey that we referred to dealing with Emotional Rationalization As promised! Here are some Scriptures that speak to the things we addressed today: Colossians 2:6-10 Ephesians 4:20-24 John 16:33 James 1:2-5

Here's what's coming up in the next several weeks on the Awesome Marriage Podcast! I'll share which guests will be appearing on the podcast and a snippet of what they'll talk about. This series is full of warmth and wisdom, so make sure to tune into each episode!

How can just three words help strengthen your emotional, spiritual and mental health? Not only that, but Pastor Mark Batterson says they can shift the tide and change everything. Please, Sorry, Thanks is the name of Pastor Mark Batterson's new book, and he is here today with Dr. Kim, sharing why it's worth devoting an entire book to three of the first words many of us were taught growing up! Don't miss this powerful episode. Episode highlights include: Practices to better position ourselves to hear God's voice over the world's noise The psychology of please, the science of sorry, and the theology of thanks The antidote to bitterness, and the lasting impacts of unconfessed bitterness We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. RESOURCES For some guidance to try Mark's idea of asking great questions, try our 52 Questions For Your Family Table. These are designed to help you ask great questions and engage in interesting conversation! If you enjoyed this episode, you will love Mark's new book Please, Sorry, Thanks!

So many parents know the pain of a broken relationship with their adult child. This isn't how you thought it would go, and you're not sure how to love your child when they continue to break your heart. Today Dr. David E Clarke returns to the podcast to give some biblical steps that parents can take, individually or as a couple, with their prodigal child. Episode highlights include: 10 scenarios that can cause relational disconnect with your adult child Steps to repairing your relationship when you've fallen short Resolving parental guilt - and what happens if you fail to do so Forgiving the adult child that has broken your heart What role do other family members play? We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES More on this topic can be found in Dr. Clarke's book: Adult Children Who Break Your Heart www.davideclarkephd.com

Today we tackle listener questions about how to practically apply boundaries in specific marriage situations. Dr. Kim gives some great starting points to help you deal with situations that you may be facing where a boundary would help, but you just don't know what that boundary should be, or how to set it. Episode highlights include: Decision-making boundaries with in-laws Dealing with a controlling parent How to address an unmet promise without nagging Finding creative solutions to address marriage pain points We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Learn all about how to set healthy boundaries for your marriage with our Building Better Boundaries For Your Marriage online course. Our new Boundaries Workbook Guide helps you decide where and how to start applying this content to your marriage.

Today on the podcast, we're sharing real stories of marriage boundaries that couples used to help their marriage grow healthier. Dr. Kim and I each share some of our own experiences, and we will hear from 4 members of the Awesome Marriage team about boundaries that helped their marriage. Episode highlights include: The money mindset that set Dr. Kim and Nancy up for success together A simple way to transition from your work-from-home to family time Lindsay and Christina share practical boundaries for couples in ministry Dr. Kim and Lindsay have opposite takes on one thing their spouses do We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Learn all about how to set healthy boundaries for your marriage with our Building Better Boundaries For Your Marriage online course. Our new Boundaries Guide helps you decide where and how to start applying this content to your marriage. The 7 Most Popular Resource Bundle launches today! It's available for 2 weeks only, so don't miss the chance to get 7 of our most-loved resources for just one donation. https://awesomemarriage.com/2023-april-bundle

Today we're going to get into what healthy boundaries do and do NOT look like. We will troubleshoot the confusion and frustration that boundaries can bring when they're not working like they should, and tell you what to do about it. Episode highlights include: We unpack some reasons you might avoid setting boundaries Red flags that you are doing boundaries wrong How to clarify the importance of the issues you discuss When you have assumed your spouse knows your boundaries We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Learn all about how to set healthy boundaries for your marriage with our Building Better Boundaries For Your Marriage online course. Dr. Kim covers why and how and gives practical tips and examples to help you put them in place. Our new Boundaries Guide helps you decide where and how to start applying this content to your marriage. For more information on boundaries, Henry Cloud and John Townsend's book, Boundaries is an immensely helpful time-tested staple.

Do you ever get a little defensive when your spouse disagrees with you? Marriage disagreements get real because we can't just ignore what we don't agree on like we can with an acquaintance. Today Mike Donehey joins Dr. Kim on the podcast and shares gospel-centered wisdom that shows us a better way to disagree. Episode highlights include: How Christians should handle defensiveness A great way to diffuse an argument as soon as it begins What can happen when we take the time to really hear the other person's argument We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here! RESOURCES Read Mike's book, Grace in the Gray: A More Loving Way to Disagree Find Mike at MikeDonehey.com Listen to Mike's podcast, Chasing the Beauty