Dear Young Married Couple

Google searches for “sexless marriage” are 3.5x more common than “unhappy marriage”. So what exactly makes a marriage sexless? There’s no precise definition, though some experts say it’s when a couple has sex less than 10x/year (or about 1x/mo) while others say it has more to do with one spouse wanting sex more than the other and not feeling like they’re having enough sex. Today, our podcast guest is Rev. Jason Carr, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (and pastor) in Beaumont, TX. He says, “I don’t know that I’ve ever counseled with a couple that were on the same page when it comes to the desire for sexuality.” Why? He says, “Sex is the thing that nobody wants to talk about in many church circles. It’s rarely (if ever) addressed in premarital counseling, and when it is, it’s usually the pastor handing the couple a book and saying, ‘Here, good luck,’ and they don’t actually talk about it. 90% of marriages have problems in their sex life and don’t actually talk about it. They might hope it gets better or even pray it gets better, but having the boldness to open up and communicate about it requires an intimate relationship.” All about that today on the #DYMCpodcast You can get in contact with Rev. Jason Carr by going to www.tac.life. The book recommendations he made is "Sheet Music" by Kevin Leman. Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com P.S. Here are the links to the marriage card decks we talk about in the episode: FOUNDATIONS: https://amzn.to/2RaXF7g SEXPECTATIONS: https://amzn.to/2GbVMRA REALIZATIONS: https://amzn.to/3brNTWh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Find someone you can glorify God with and someone you can grow with." In this episode, Tovares and Safa Grey of @godlydating101 offer many practical dating tips for both premarital and married couples. Check out their podcast for dating couples by searching "Godly Dating 101" and catch them up Instagram where they offer daily dating advice. Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com P.S. Here are the links to the marriage card decks we talk about in the episode: FOUNDATIONS: https://amzn.to/2RaXF7g SEXPECTATIONS: https://amzn.to/2GbVMRA REALIZATIONS: https://amzn.to/3brNTWh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People don't wake up and say, "I'm going to have an affair." People usually “slide” into affairs. They think that crossing a boundary will feel like an electrical fence (“Ouch! I don’t ever want to do that again!), but it doesn’t — it often feels good. It can feel liberating because it usually involves feeling heard and understood by someone. It doesn’t even seem like a problem at first. In today’s episode, Lori Pearring, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, walks us through very practical steps for affair-proofing your marriage. She also guides us through some affair-recovery principles that she uses in session with couples. Here are the books that Lori references in the interview: Torn Asunder by Dave Carder Torn Asunder Workbook Hold Me Tight: 7 Conversations for Connection by Sue Johnson Created for Connection by Sue Johnson + Kenneth Sanderfer Here's a link to Lori’s website. Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com P.S. Here are the links to the marriage card decks we talk about in the episode: FOUNDATIONS: https://amzn.to/2RaXF7g SEXPECTATIONS: https://amzn.to/2GbVMRA REALIZATIONS: https://amzn.to/3brNTWh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She blushed as we questioned, “HOW did you make it special when he came home?” and then she responded: “A special meal, special candles, special music...” This was all part of their intention to “have something familiar in the midst of the crazy”, both as a couple and as a family in the military. Today on the podcast, Pastor Robert + Maria Rodriguez, Missionaries to Mexico, talk about their experience in the military for decades, and they give practical tips for couples with this dynamic in their marriage and family. Link in bio or swipe up in our story. We had the privilege of doing a #MissionsForMarriage retreat with the church that this couple pastors in Mexico, and we put pictures of their building in our story today. They did NOT ask us to do this, but we felt the Lord laid it on our hearts to put their account out there for folks to contribute to the building needs for this growing church. Give to their missions efforts here (even if it’s a small amount, it all counts): www.paypal.me/ensenadamxmissions. Book Recommendations from Team Rodriguez: Love and Respect Amor y Respeto The Five Languages Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com P.S. Here are the links to the marriage card decks we talk about in the episode: FOUNDATIONS: https://amzn.to/2RaXF7g SEXPECTATIONS: https://amzn.to/2GbVMRA REALIZATIONS: https://amzn.to/3brNTWh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ll hear a snippet of a story in the very beginning about a broken man (warning: it’s about a man who pulled the trigger with a gun held to his head)... and then the beauty that came from this brokenness when he committed to intentionally building his marriage and family. In this episode, Pastor Paul and Lori Elder (pastor in Pueblo, CO for 30+ years) teach us practical tips about building traditions in our marriage and family — whether we come from intact families or from broken homes. The “I love your more than ______” is a tradition that Pastor Paul and Lori Elder have done in their marriage and with their kids for decades. “Our intention with that was to instill the idea that love for one another is greater than things,” he said. And then she added, “You can make anything a tradition — just something that you repeat, that the kids know is going to happen.” From ways to read Chinese fortune cookies to Totino pizzas in a mini oven, to the very traditions that bind us together as a church family — this episode is chock-full of practical traditions and spiritual insight for your marriage and family. Book Recommendations from Team Elder: Creative Correction The Book of Virtues Zeal without Burnout "Mary Did You Know" - by the Elder Family Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com P.S. Here are the links to the marriage card decks we talk about in the episode: FOUNDATIONS: https://amzn.to/2RaXF7g SEXPECTATIONS: https://amzn.to/2GbVMRA REALIZATIONS: https://amzn.to/3brNTWh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“People have these rich fantasy sex lives with decades of porn use and then they go into marriage and they’re thinking it’s going to be a different kind of sex life. It creates an incredible conflict and it’s difficult to just “get over”. Some people think that if they just kick the habit then they can get on with a healthy marriage and it doesn’t work that way at all.” - Dr. DeVon Mills Today’s podcast episode is about HEALING YOUR MARRIAGE FROM PORN. Did you know that about 75% of millennial Christians (regardless of gender) are viewing pornography on a weekly basis? In this episode, we interview Dr. DeVon Mills about the effects of pornography on the marriage, but also how to heal from it. There IS hope. Send this podcast link to somebody who can use it as a resource. More importantly, pray for that person, that couple, that spouse, or even yourself. Pray that God would equip you with tools to take action in a healthy direction. Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com P.S. Here are the links to the marriage card decks we talk about in the episode: FOUNDATIONS: https://amzn.to/2RaXF7g SEXPECTATIONS: https://amzn.to/2GbVMRA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We had the privilege of interviewing Pastor Myles and Sheila Young, who also happen to be our very own pastor here at The Rock Church in Elk Grove, CA. Having them as our first podcast guest was very intentional - they have supported us from teenhood through present day and have guided us through each decision we've made for the Dear Young Married Couple ministry. We look up to them for how they support each other's dreams - but they don't stop with simply supporting each other - they are also committed to their own journey of personal growth. We've seen many marriages in which one spouse is committed to growing in their ministry, education, physical fitness, or career, while the other spouse supports, but stays personally stagnant. In this episode, we ask them practical questions about how to grow WITH your spouse and not just support his/her dreams. Pastor Myles Young is currently finishing his doctoral degree in Missiology and Sis. Sheila Young is currently finishing her doctoral degree in Economics, Leadership and Development. Book Recommendations from Team Young: DiscipleShift Leading Change Atomic Habits A People's History of the United States Lift Up Thy Voice Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com P.S. Here are the links to the marriage card decks we talk about in the episode: FOUNDATIONS: https://amzn.to/2RaXF7g SEXPECTATIONS: https://amzn.to/2GbVMRA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices