The Living Marriages Podcast | Christian Marriage, Counseling, Intimacy, Reflection, Praying for Marriage

020 | Anxious In The Valley? God's Grace in Marriage, Cancer and Parenting with Pastor Kyle Brooks

Do you ever wonder where God is in the valleys of life?
If you need hope and encouragement for the journey, this episode is for you! Kyle Brooks, pastor and author of "Through the Valley: 40 Days on Psalm 23 A Lenten Devotional" is our guest.
In our conversation, Kyle candidly shares:
How he came to write a Lenten devotional based on Psalm 23
How he and his wife Stephanie navigated Kyle's cancer diagnosis and treatment while also welcoming their first child
The challenges of having a connected marriage while raising two young children
Through it all, he shares the hope and encouragement we have because, "The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing."
To find out more about Kyle, his devotional and podcast, please check out the following:
https://kylebrooks.substack.com/
https://www.tapestryoakland.org/
https://www.multiracialministry.com/
If you'd like to connect with us for prayer or with some feedback, suggestions or questions about the podcast, we'd love to hear from you! info@livingmarriages.com
 

019 | A Prayer To Discover and Experience Intimacy In Your Marriage

How would you answer these two questions about intimacy in your marriage?
Is it safe to love?
Is it safe to be loved?
If you have positive answers, join us in thanking God that you are able to both give and receive love in your marriage!
If you struggle, as many of us do, please don't lose hope. God is for you and your marriage and he wants you to be able to give and receive love in the fullest expressions of intimacy in our marriages.
Grab a journal and your Bible, your favourite beverage and find a quiet space to reflect and pray together and to hear God's heart for the intimacy and connection he has for us in our marriage.
If you'd like to connect and have us pray with you or walk with you in some way in your marriage, we're here! info@livingmarriages.com 

018 | Why Intimacy Goes Beyond the Bedroom

When we use the word "intimacy," our culture (and even our churches) have conditioned us to think of what happens in the bedroom, of sexual intimacy.
While sexual intimacy is an integral part of marriage, it is not the full picture of what God has created us for and invited us into. There is so much more to intimacy and today's episode is meant to get the conversation going on what intimacy in marriage can look like beyond the bedroom.
According to Eric Erickson, intimacy is the potential someone has for connectedness and it hinges on 3 things:
Commitment
Vulnerability
Communication
Two important questions we ask about intimacy in marriage:
Is it safe to love?
Is it safe to be loved?
Resources:
This is a bit of a technical paper (but still very approachable) and is a good look at Erickson's ideas on intimacy:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2733523/#:~:text=As%20such%2C%20Erikson%20emphasized%20three,communicate%20inner%20thoughts%20and%20feelings.
A link to Henri Nouwen's essays on Intimacy:
https://archive.org/details/intimacyessaysin0000nouw
Have questions or need prayer? Get in touch with us: info@livingmarriages.com
 
 

017 | A Prayer to Overcome Drift and Differences in Marriage

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
It is fairly clear that marriages in our society are under attack. In Episode 16, we learned from Braden and Kristen Hafner of Family Life Canada that two of the enemy's strategies to destroy our marriages are subtle: difference and drift.
Please join us in this Thursday Thought as we spend time together and with the Lord:
reflecting on how difference and drift might be creeping into our marriage
praying for God's strength, grace and wisdom to overcome
Grab a journal and your Bible, find a quiet spot for some reflection and prayer and join us as we seek God together for our marriages!
 

016 | Two Subtle Things That Can Be Deadly In Marriage with Braden and Kristen Hafner of Family Life Canada

Difference and Drift. These 2 things can be subtle but deadly for our marriages.
Have you discovered some differences with your spouse that have left you discouraged? Do you find yourself drifting further and further apart from your partner?
We're so excited to share our conversation with Braden and Kristin Hafner of Family Life Canada about God's hope for our marriages!
On this episode you'll hear:
Why marriage matters to God and us
How differences and drift can sabotage our marriages
How there is hope and healing in Christ for our marriages
How the small habits can really bring transformation
If you'd like to find out more about Braden and Kristin's work with Family Life Canada (including more information about the weekend getaways) please click here: https://www.familylifecanada.com/
What are some "honeymoon habits" that you and your spouse enjoy? Let us know! info@livingmarriages.com
 

015 | Thursday Thoughts Reimagined - An Invitation to Reflection and Prayer for your Marriage

As we have wrestled with what Thursday Thoughts episodes could be about, God has brought some fresh vision! What would happen if, every Thursday, we had the space and time to reflect on God's wisdom from that week's Tuesday teaching and pray that God would bring that wisdom to life in our marriages?
On this episode:
Aaron shares God's vision from Ezekiel 37 for why this two-part approach might make sense
We take some time to reflect on where we're at with God and in our marriage
We also take time to pray that God would breathe his life and Spirit into our marriages, to bring the hope and healing we desire
For Thursday Thoughts moving forward, we encourage you to find some time and space where you can listen and enjoy some reflection and prayer. Grab a warm beverage and your journal and join us as we seek God together for our marriages!

014 | What is a Kingdom Marriage? Why Your Marriage Matters to God and the World

Have you ever paused to consider, that your marriage matters to more than just you and your spouse?
In episode 4 of the podcast, our guest, Dr. John Littlejohn said this: "Marriage is about what glorifies God."
On today's episode, we look at why our marriages, although they are for our good, also have deep kingdom significance. We'll hear:
How our marriages can be the best "relational apologetic"
Aaron confess his selfishness in his marriage to April
How understanding God's purpose in our marriage can pull us out of selfishness
If you'd like to find out more and begin experimenting with a Marriage Mission Statement, here is a resource to help you get started. (We'll have more on this in future episodes.)
https://drkimblackham.com/marriage-mission-statement/
To connect with us, share some thoughts or questions with us, send us an e-mail! info@livingmarriages.com
 

013 | Why You Cannot and Should Not Do Your Marriage Alone

Why is it that our marriages can sometimes feel like the loneliest of places?
On this episode, we explore God's heart and design for community and why that is so critical to us having healthy, hopeful marriages. We chat about:
How community is part of God's character and how Jesus had community
The kind of community God is inviting us into with people outside of our marriages
The differences between "sharing" and "vulnerability" in these friendships
The book by Justin Whitmel Earley that we quote A LOT from in this episode can be found here:
https://www.justinwhitmelearley.com/
Get in touch and let us know how you've found community you can be vulnerable with: info@livingmarriages.com
Our website is: www.livingmarriages.com
 

012 | God's Victory Over Shame and Addiction in Your Marriage with Matt Cline of Restored Ministries

Do you struggle with the shame of sexual addiction and brokenness in your marriage? Have you been hiding a pornography addiction from your spouse, even if you know it's destroying your marriage?
There is good news: God has not given up on you or your marriage! 
Our guest today, Matt Cline of Restored Ministries, has been given an important assignment by God: to help bring hope and healing to marriages that have been broken by sexual shame, addiction and trauma. 
In our conversation, you'll hear:
A story of how a prayer for God's favour in marriage led to a husband's hidden sexual sin coming into the light so that there could be healing and restoration
A question of whether accountability partners are everything we've made them out to be
The role of the Holy Spirit in putting sexual sin to death and bringing restoration and healing in a marriage
To connect with Matt and find out more about the amazing work God is doing through Restored Ministries, check out his website: https://www.restoredministries.ca
If you have any thoughts, questions or episode ideas, we'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com
 

011 | How Weekly Check-Ins Can Help You Move From Being Glorified Roommates to Connected Spouses

Have you ever felt like you and your spouse were just glorified roommates? Like you are ships passing in the night?
We've been there! As God breathes life into our marriages, we're grateful he gives us practices and routines to help us feel more connected and thriving with each other. One of those practices is the weekly check-in.
On this episode, you'll learn the importance of this practice and why consistency and heart questions are key to unlocking the potential of this practice (along with God's Spirit of course!)
Resources: 
"The Marriage Journal" by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff and Chris and Jamie Herb:
https://www.beating50percent.com/products/themarriagejournal?srsltid=AfmBOoq0fgk9udQlcTwS5qV8FPfZ1ZgVIzHs_bzQNRE8IN5QF_eg5e8_
Guidelines for a weekly check-in:
1. Find a consistent time each week and stick with it
2. Ask each other heart questions (see below)
3. Plan the coming week together
Here are some "heart questions" for your weekly check-in:
“How is your heart?”
“What brought you joy this week?”
“What did you struggle with this week?”
“Was there any ways in which I encouraged and blessed you this week Was there a way I hurt you this week?”
“How can I serve you this week? How can I pray for you in the coming days?”
 
Let us know how it's going! Share some of your heart questions with us: info@livingmarriages.com