The Living Marriages Podcast | Effective Communication, Intimacy, Healthy Habits, Christian Counseling, Christian Parenting
The Go-To Podcast for Those Who Want To Rebuild Intimacy and Connection in Their Christ Centered Marriage Has the excitement of your wedding day now faded into the background? Are you so exhausted that the last thing you want to think about is your marriage? Do you and your spouse feel like ships passing in the night? If you’re craving the intimate, connected marriage God has for you, you’ve come to the right place! We’re April and Aaron Au, marriage coaches with over a decade of experience, who are on the journey to finding God’s best for our marriage while raising two young boys. We recently heard this wisdom: “If your marriage isn’t growing, it’s dying.” Yikes! That really got our attention! But if you think about it, it’s true. Marriages need direction, purpose and a common vision to thrive. If they don’t, they will inevitably drift apart. When you add the pressures of raising young children and the grind of daily work to the mix, there are even more forces that threaten to pull our marriages apart. Thankfully, God has a beautiful vision for our marriages. He wants us to cultivate and enjoy intimacy and connection in our marriage. What’s more, God wants to breathe his Spirit and life into our marriages through beautiful encounters with him in prayer and worship. In this podcast, we’ll learn about: - Simple, healthy habits that lead to effective communication and intentional conversations - The assumptions and expectations that can sabotage our marriages - How community is essential for a connected marriage - God’s heart to bring healing and wholeness to us, as individuals and as a family And of course, we’ll dive into all of the fun topics like sex, money, parenting and why you shouldn’t buy a car without talking to your spouse first. We’ll also have space to encounter God through prayer, worship and reflection through regular episodes called “Thursday Thoughts.” So join us on this beautiful journey that we call “Living Marriages.” Get in touch! info@livingmarriages.com Like the podcast? You can make a charitable donation to keep fresh content coming: livingmarriages.com
Listen on:
Episodes
Thursday May 29, 2025
Thursday May 29, 2025
We were so inspired by our conversation with Your Bible Coach Keith Ferrin in episode 36! Who knew that reading our Bibles could be helpful AND fun!
On this Thursday thought, we spend more time in reflection about what it means that time with God in the word is "relational", not just "informational" and we pray that you may grow in intimacy with God and each other through your time in his Word.
Ignatian Gospel Contemplation Resources
A helpful short video that explains the practice of gospel contemplation: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-contemplation/
Another helpful website with further explanations and guided examples of Ignatian gospel contemplation: https://www.lindsayboyer.com/ignatian-meditation
Next Steps
Would you like to explore some of these ideas further or would you like prayer for your marriage? We'd love to journey with you in that so get in touch! info@livingmarriages.com
We need your prayers and support to keep this non-profit ministry going. Please consider how you could partner with us. To make a charitable donation, visit: http://livingmarriages.com
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
"We expect the Bible to be true, we just don't expect it to be good."
Keith Ferrin
Anybody who has grown up in the church has been taught that reading our Bibles is an important part of being a follower of Jesus. The problem is that many of us don't know where to start or if we have, how to stay consistent with it. These problems follow us into our marriages where, with the busyness of life and young families, bible reading habits either disappear of feel burdensome.
Today's guest, speaker and Bible coach Keith Ferrin, offers insight into this problem, helping us move from seeing Bible reading as a burden to the joy God has meant it to be!
On this fascinating episode we discuss:
A mindset shift from an informational to a relational approach to Scripture
A methodology shift that will help us understand and enjoy what we read
How Bible reading that is enjoyable and alive can transform your marriage and family
To find Keith and his excellent resources, please visit:
https://www.keithferrin.com/
He also has a wonderful YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@keithferrin
If you'd like to connect with us to ask for prayer, coaching or to give us feedback or suggestions, we'd love to hear from you! info@livingmarriages.com
You can also visit our website to find out how you can support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com
Thursday May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Grab a pen, your journal, your Bible and your favourite drink and join us for this Thursday Thought!
Today, Aaron shares a reflection on what unity is from God's perspective and how it's been his heart for humanity since the beginning of time. He also prays that we'd discover what it means to have Christ at the head of our marriage and that we'd find a "togetherness" as we confront problems.
Resources
Check out Tim Mackie's excellent bible study on the idea of "One Flesh" from The Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/classroom/adam-to-noah/sessions/15
Next Steps
We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like prayer for your marriage, would like us to journey with you in your marriage or have feedback or ideas for us, get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com
Support our non-profit ministry! If you'd like to help keep new episodes of the podcast coming, please visit http://livingmarriages.com to make a charitable donation. Thank you!
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
"We are on the same team!"
This one simple truth has the power to transform our marriages and bring us greater unity. Yet, it is a truth that eludes us as so often we find ourselves seeing our spouse as the problem, rather than being able to confront the problem together with our spouse.
In this episode, we chat about:
How easy it is for us to forget that we are on the same team
God's invitation to shift our mindset to one of unity
How making the time and effort to connect with one another is an important key to unity
We also discuss the Edmonton Oilers latest Stanley Cup playoff run and what we can learn in our marriages by Leon Draisaitl playing good defence.
Next Steps
We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like prayer for your marriage, would like us to journey with you in your marriage or have feedback or ideas for us, get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com
Support our non-profit ministry! If you'd like to help keep new episodes of the podcast coming, please visit http://livingmarriages.com to make a charitable donation. Thank you!
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Do you believe that God has "better" for your marriage? Do you want to join God in discovering all he has for you?
In Episode 32, we heard from Ron and Amanda Falk about how God has invited them on the journey to discovering the freedom and sanctification he has for them in their marriage. It hasn't always been easy or smooth but it has been good.
On today's Thursday Thought, we follow up with some reflections on what sanctification might and might not be in marriage and we pray for the humility and grace we need to be open to what God wants to do in our marriages.
Grab your Bible, journal and your favourite drink and join us as we seek God's heart for our marriage!
Next steps
If you'd like prayer or support for your marriage, or even find a marriage mentor, we'd love to connect with you: info@livingmarriages.com
Please consider supporting this non-profit ministry through prayer and charitable donations. You can find out more at our website: http://livingmarriages.com
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Counselling is often seen as a "last ditch" attempt to save a marriage that is in crisis. But what if that wasn't the only time seeing a counsellor could be beneficial?
Today's guests, Ron and Amanda Falk, began seeing a counsellor when things were actually pretty OK in their marriage and have enjoyed incredible growth and fruit in their marriage because of it!
In today's episode we chat about:
The benefits of counselling in helping them understand themselves and each other better and how their communication has improved
How counselling did help in a time of crisis as well
God's heart for marriage as a place of hope and freedom and their call from God to become marriage mentors
Resources
One tool that they mentioned has been helpful for them is the "Ultimate Intimacy App" designed by a Christian couple. You can find more information on that app here:
https://ultimateintimacy.com/
To become a marriage mentor (or find mentors) in Canada, please visit:
https://www.familylifecanada.com/become-a-homebuilder/#become-a-marriage-mentor
Next Steps
If you'd like to get a hold of us, we'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com
We are a non-profit ministry and need your prayer and financial support to keep this podcast going! Please consider supporting us http://livingmarriages.com
Thursday May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
Grab your Bible, journal and your warm favourite beverage and join us for this Thursday Thought as we reflect on and pray through our money stories that we brought into our marriage.
Aaron shares some of his money story and how God has been doing a work of healing in his life around his scarcity mindset. He'll also lead us in a Lectio Divina around Psalm 37:1-7 as we get to hear from the Lord how he invites us to trust and delight in him, especially as it pertains to our money story.
Next steps
Get in touch! We'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com
We are a non-profit ministry! If you're feeling called to support us, please visit our website to find out how you can make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Money, Sex and In-Laws: These are often the three most intense areas of conflict in any marriage.
On today's episode, we dive into the area of finances and see how our "money story" (how we were raised to view and treat money) can impact our marriage. We'll also invite you to explore your money story with your spouse with some of these great conversation starters provided below!
Sample Questions to Ask About Your Money Story (from Shaun Maslyk, CFP)
What were your childhood experiences with money?
What is your earliest money memory?
What are your childhood memories, both positive and negative, about money?
What money lessons did you learn from your mother, father or another parental figure?
Resources
https://www.moneysense.ca/columns/a-rich-life/whats-your-money-story/
If you'd like to support the work of Living Marriages Ministries (a registered non-profit,) you can make a charitable donation at our new website! http://livingmarriages.com
Get in touch with your feedback, prayer requests or episode ideas: info@livingmarriages.com
Thursday May 01, 2025
Thursday May 01, 2025
Sex is a beautiful and wonderful gift that God has given us within the context of marriage. It is something that we can enjoy, that we can serve one another in and that ultimately is an act of worship.
However, sex can also be a pain point in many marriages as we wrestle with past trauma, shame and bad teaching.
On this Thursday Thought, we reflect, together with God on our understanding of sex and his hope for us in this area. We ask some important questions of why we think of sex in the ways we do and if there are areas of surrender and healing we need from God. We pray for God's perspective on sex and to increase the sexual intimacy in our marriage.
We also encourage you and your spouse to go back to Episode 28 and our conversation with Kristen Miele. After listening to that and then this episode, spend time with your spouse in a safe and curiosity-filled conversation about sex in your marriage. We pray that it will bless you.
Have some thoughts, questions or would you like to reach out? We'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com
Please also consider making a charitable donation to keep this non-profit podcast on the air: www.livingmarriages.com
We thank you for tuning in, for your prayers and support!
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
Is sex something that has brought you and your spouse closer together, or has it been a pain point in your marriage? Is sex something you can talk about freely with each other and your kids, or is there a cloud of shame that still hangs over the subject?
We are so thrilled to be joined on this episode by the founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed, Kristen Miele as she shares God's heart and vision for the beauty of sex in marriage.
On this episode:
We talk about how our upbringing affects our sex life in marriage, including the effects of "purity culture" teaching
We hear God's heart and design for sex and how it is in essence, worship
We discover how learning to talk about sex with our kids is not only essential for them but good for our marriage
To find Kristen's incredible resources and curriculums, please check out her website:
https://www.sexedreclaimed.com/
You can get 15 percent off at Kristen's site with the coupon code CHRISTIANPARENTING
Have any questions or feedback? Get in touch with us: info@livingmarriages.com