Within the past few days, life for those of us living in the U.S. has changed. In some other parts of the world this is nothing new. The current pandemic is a real threat—to the health of humans, and to our local, national and worldwide economy. How do you...
While learning to love well is a lifelong process, loving well was something I was privileged to deeply experience with my husband. Though by no means perfect, God blessed me with a very loving marriage. That could never have happened unless I learned to love well.The...
Doing something hard becomes a lot easier when you know the awesome result that's coming. Looking under the surface and dealing with your stuff is hard! But the life you have after dealing with your stuff is truly amazing!Imagine what it would feel like to no longer...
If you're over a certain age, perhaps you can hear it in your head even now: "All you need is love. Love. Love is all you need."But love is not all you need. At least if by "love" you mean that butterflies-and-rainbows, all-engrossing feeling in your stomach when you...
God can and does work any way He chooses. But God did not create you to need only Him. That may sound dangerous to say, but hear me out. God does not work alone. There are at least three ways in which God is not all you need.I know what it's like to look for...
Unhealthy people draw other people into their dysfunction. Anyone trying to be married to, parent, care for or love someone who is harming themselves and others struggles with knowing what to do. How can you tell the difference between codependency and love?Your...
Whether you're a New Year's resolutions person or not, the science is clear that defining clear goals makes it more likely you will reach them. Have you considered some relationship goals for your marriage for 2020?As one year ends and another begins, I take some time...
Happy 2020! Welcome to a new year and a new decade!And if you want this year to be better than last year, the most important place to begin is choosing your focus.Research demonstrates that what you focus on becomes larger in your mind. Regardless of your...
Bring up the topic of spiritual warfare, and some people shout hallelujah and begin praising God. Other people respond to the idea of warfare with anxiety or fear. When it comes to the practical everyday Christian life, can spiritual warfare be healthy?I've seen what...
Christmas is only a day away—and you're alone. Well, not really alone—not totally. But you're single. There's no one to kiss on Christmas Eve, no one to share a hot chocolate with in front of the fire, no one to walk with hand-in-hand through the snow....
The little olive wood creche was special to me ever since I purchased it at a little tourist shop in Bethlehem. Travel and several moves later, it was badly broken, not much more than a pile of wooden pieces. But I couldn't get rid of it.The first Christmas after my...
Gift-giving can be complicated. What does your spouse want? How much money do you spend? You may feel pressure to "top" last year's gift or to "match" what your spouse is giving you. Some couples solve these challenges by agreeing to not give each other gifts. It may...
How long has it been since you walked outside at night in a dark place and really looked up at the stars? The darker the night, the better. Telescopes that look at the night sky are as far from city lights as possible. And to truly see as far as possible, you have to...
How bad is bad enough? When you are unhappily married that can be a difficult question. If you're serious about following Jesus you are reluctant to consider leaving your marriage. But evil exists in our sinful world, even within marriage. And you may find yourself...