marriage Archives

Keeping the Romance Sizzling in Your Marriage

The culture is inundating us with messages that chip away at the moorings upon which God’s design for marriage is built.

We shouldn’t be surprised.

Ephesians 5:31 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The next verse says, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (v.32).

According to Paul, an intimate marriage says to the world, “This is a picture of Christ’s love for His church.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, intimacy, marriage, relationships July 5, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Blog: Why My First Year of Marriage Was Both Easy and Hard

By: Ashley Durand

Everyone said marriage would be hard.

But our first year of marriage wasn’t hard in predictable ways.

Sure, there were little adjustments here and there, tiny conflicts like agreeing on how much to budget for groceries or what time to go to bed. But we had a lot of fun together, laughed constantly, and loved each other more every day. We led small group and kids club at church, and felt God’s hand of blessing.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, husband, marriage, wife June 27, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Navigating the Common Challenges of Marriage

Well-known author and popular guest Dr. Gary Chapman says that if you really want the marriage you’ve always dreamed of, you have to be daring.

It takes courage to ask, “Honey, how can I be a better husband/wife to you? How can I make your life easier?” Those are daring questions because your spouse will give you an answer, and he or she will expect you to respond.

Look at that scenario from a different perspective, however, and you’ll see it as a chance to minister to your spouse’s heart with the love of Christ.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, marriage, relationships, wife June 26, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What’s the Deal with God, Marriage, and Our Happiness?

Did God design marriage to make us happy?

Before I answer that, let’s define our terms.

On one end of the spectrum is happiness that’s rooted in pleasure-seeking. Happiness of this sort isn’t necessarily bad, but it does have a shelf-life. It’s like eating ice cream – the dessert is tasty, but the pleasure doesn’t last very long.

On the other end of the spectrum is happiness rooted in meaningful activity, purpose, and deeply-held values that endure.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, marriage, wife June 21, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Rescuing Your Marriage from the Ashes

Jesus could have judged the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11). She was guilty, after all. The crowd knew it. She knew it, too. And according to the strict law of Moses, she deserved death by stoning.

Rocks in hand, the men dragged the woman through the streets, and asked Jesus for her final verdict. Instead of condemning her, Jesus forgave her.

That story from the book of John is helpful for couples whose marriages have been assaulted by the betrayal of adultery.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, divorce, family, husband, marriage June 12, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Don’t Go to Bed Angry – Stay Up and Fight

Ding, ding, ding! Put your gloves on for round 1!

It’s healthy to disagree. Why? Because nobody is 100% correct 100% of the time. Disagreement improves ideas, charts a new course or corrects an old one, and allows people to see their faults and to grow from them. The trick is to engage in conflict in productive ways.

That’s particularly true for married couples.

With us on our radio program to offer practical guidance for strengthening your marriage through disagreeing are Ron and Deb DeArmond, authors of the book Don’t Go to Bed Angry: Stay Up and Fight.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, marriage, wife June 4, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on the Family Best Seller List

Week ending May 29th:

The Graduate Survival Guide (by Anthony ONeal & Rachel Cruze)
Through the Eyes of a Lion (by Levi Lusko)
The Birth Order Book (by Dr. Kevin Leman)
A Family Shaped by Grace (by Gary Morland)
Our Newlywed Kitchen (by Laura Schupp)
ESV Economy Bible
Raising Kingdom Kids (by Tony Evans)
Swipe Right (by Levi Lusko)
Kingdom Marriage (by Tony Evans)
Grace Based Discipline (by Karis Kimmel Murray)
Faith, Hope, Love, and Deployment (by Heather Gray)
The Antelope in the Living Room (by Melanie Shankle)
A Lifelong Love (by Gary Thomas)
Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love (by Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, family, marriage, parenting May 31, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on the Family Best Seller List

Week ending May 22, 2018

Swipe Right ( by Levi Lusko)
Through the Eyes of a Lion (by Levi Lusko)
Our Newlywed Kitchen (by Laura Schupp)
The Perfect Dad (by Rob Stennett)
Grace Based Discipline (by Karis Kimmel Murray)
Raising Kingdom Kids (by Tony Evans)
The Antelope in the Living Room (by Melanie Shankle)
A Lifelong Love (by Gary Thomas)
Kingdom Marriage (by Tony Evans)
The Marriage Builder (by Larry Crabb)
Love and Respect in the Family (by Emerson Eggerichs)
The Focus on the Family Guide to Talking with Your Kids about Sex (by J.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, marriage, parenting May 25, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What to Do When You and Your Spouse Are Different

When Jean and I entered premarital counseling, we were goo-goo-eyed and knew that we were meant for each other. We enjoyed most of the same things and were alike in almost every way.

When we finished our last session a week later, that had all changed. We were both thinking, “Wow, we are nothing alike,” and we were wondering, “Are we going to be okay?”

At some point, every couple begins to recognize their differences. And something strange happens when they do: The whole idea of “two becoming one” gets turned into, “My spouse should become more like me.”

How do couples manage their differences effectively?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, husband, marriage, wife May 22, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Recipe for Cooking Up a Happy Marriage

Some of the best influence on my boys’ future marriages takes place in our kitchen. That’s where Jean, I, and our sons gather to prepare the evening meal and catch up on our day.

Okay, Jean does most of the cooking, but the rest of us help out where we can. Most importantly, we’re all together. We talk about life. We talk about goals. We talk about success and failure. We laugh a lot. We’re doing more than fixing and eating dinner – we’re immersing our boys in relationship.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, marriage May 18, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Keeping the Romance Sizzling in Your Marriage

Guest Blog: Why My First Year of Marriage Was Both Easy and Hard

Navigating the Common Challenges of Marriage

What’s the Deal with God, Marriage, and Our Happiness?

Rescuing Your Marriage from the Ashes

Don’t Go to Bed Angry – Stay Up and Fight

Focus on the Family Best Seller List

Focus on the Family Best Seller List

What to Do When You and Your Spouse Are Different

The Recipe for Cooking Up a Happy Marriage

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