marriage Archives

Reducing Conflict in Your Marriage

Is it possible to enjoy an argument-free marriage?

Author Fawn Weaver says that you can.

Now, before you dismiss her vision for marital bliss
too quickly, give her a chance to explain. She’ll tell you plainly that building
an argument-free marriage takes some grit. Ironically, couples don’t find
harmony by striving for peace at all costs. They don’t avoid serious
conversations or sweep important issues under the rug, either.

You eliminate arguments through effective
communication that gets to the truth of a matter and that offers genuine
solutions.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage March 27, 2020 by Jim Daly

Tips for building a Healthy Family

Home improvement is more popular than ever.

Well, for a lot of you, anyway. I have to be honest. Home renovation scares the daylights out of me. To say I don’t have an aptitude for it is an understatement.

A few years ago, Jean and I had a contractor come to our home to assess some water damage. Water got inside one of our window wells after the cover peeled away. The guy looked things over and said, “This is a simple fix.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage, parenting March 23, 2020 by Jim Daly

Understanding the Two Different Sides of Love

Skyscrapers are amazing feats of engineering. They have to be strong enough to resist the forces that come against them, like gravity and wind. That’s why skyscrapers are built with steel.

They also need to be flexible enough to withstand the forces that come against them … like gravity and wind. That’s why architects design skyscrapers with a certain amount of sway.

Strength and softness. The two sides of a superstructure. The two sides of love as well.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage, relationships March 17, 2020 by Jim Daly

Filling Your Marriage with God’s Best

Do you have a “barely enough” marriage?

Would you like to have one that is “filled to the brim”?

John 2:1-11 tells the story of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. A marriage celebration was underway, and the host ran out of wine. At the urging of his mother, Jesus instructed the servants to fill six stone jars, each holding twenty to thirty gallons of water.

The passage says that the servants filled the pots “to the brim.” Those three words offer a revealing insight into the approach God wants us to take in our relationships.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, marriage, wife March 13, 2020 by Jim Daly

Discovering the Secrets to a Lifelong Romance

Did you get married to work a job? To do laundry? To pay bills?

Of course not. Yet, most of us wind up with marriages in exactly that kind of “ho-hum” condition. Sooner or later, the euphoria of the wedding ceremony fades away and life settles into a daily grind of often-mundane activity. Careers are chased, children are born, and ever-larger homes are purchased. Or newer and newer cars sit outside of garages filled to the roof with stuff we’ll never use.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, love, marriage, relationships March 2, 2020 by Jim Daly

Strengthening Your Marriage Through Daily Choices

If your marriage is in trouble, I have one question: Do you believe God can work a miracle in your relationship?

If your answer is no, I encourage you to tune into our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Strengthening Your Marriage Through Daily Choices” to hear the story of Ron and Jody Zappia.

It’s an understatement to say that they had a very shaky start to their marriage. Within the first six months, Jody was overcommitted in her career, and Ron had an affair with a co-worker.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, crisis, marriage, relationships February 27, 2020 by Jim Daly

Bringing Laughter to Your Marriage

Today, I’ve got a simple idea that will help you build a great marriage. It’s fun, too.

Laugh together.

Studies show that couples who laugh are healthier, happier, and more connected to each other. Even little giggles between you and your spouse can play a meaningful part in creating bonds that you’ll share forever.

That’s because laughter is a powerful connecter. In fact, at its heart, laughter is mostly about connection. It’s only partially about humor. Studies show that we laugh more when we’re with other people than when we’re alone.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage, relationships February 18, 2020 by Jim Daly

How to Have a Better Sex Life by Understanding Your Love Styles

Sex is the one activity that differentiates marriage from every other relationship. You can have a great conversation with a friend. You can have lunch with a co-worker. You can go on vacation with a family member. But if you’re following God’s design for relationships, sex is only rightly expressed through marriage.

Milan and Kay Yerkovich say that dynamic is hugely consequential to a couple’s relationship when they can’t negotiate their sex life in healthy ways.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, love, marriage February 14, 2020 by Jim Daly

A Lighthearted Look at Wedded Bliss

Marriage is serious business.

But it can also be hilarious.

You’ll discover that’s true when you hear our next Focus on the Family Broadcast: “A Lighthearted Look at Wedded Bliss.” We’re airing a recorded message from John Branyan, who takes a humorous look at the differences between men and women and explains how a couple’s unique characteristics impact their relationship in serious and hilarious ways.

John also shares a poignant story about his great-grandparents’ 70-year marriage, explaining that while married life isn’t always wedded bliss, it is life’s most profound expression of unconditional love.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, love, marriage January 17, 2020 by Jim Daly

Making Daily Choices to Love Your Spouse

Theresa had a stroke 18 years ago. She lost control over her hands. Which means for all these years she’s struggled to do simple things in life, like styling her own hair. That’s why when she goes to the beauty salon, she leaves with a smile. She feels beautiful.

The trouble is, as soon as she washes her hair it falls flat, and she can’t get it to look the way her stylist does. Which means, until her next hair appointment comes around, Theresa doesn’t smile as much.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage, relationships December 27, 2019 by Jim Daly