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You love Jesus—but marriage still feels complicated. Ministry pressure. In-law tension. Career moves you didn’t plan. What does a strong Christian marriage actually look like after 25 years? If you're wondering How can I make a relationship last? Stephanie Carter and her husband Bryan--author of Made to Last: 8 Principles to Build Long Lasting Relationships--get you started in the right direction. They chat about conflict, calling, compromise—and the quiet resilience that keeps love standing. If you’re tired of clichés and want faith that works at home, this one’s for you.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about Bryan Carter's and his book Made to Last: Eight Principles to Build Long-Lasting Relationships at bryancarter.org.
• Attend a Weekend to Remember marriage getaway, our faith-based retreat with biblical teaching, practical tools, and focused time for couples: Register now at WeekendToRemember.com
• Sign up for the free Blended and Blessed livestream: a one-day event focused on building unity in blended families: Happening April 18, 2026 — register at blendedandblessed.com
• Set sail on the Love Like You Mean It Marriage Cruise! Now through 3/31/26, use promo code CruiseMadness27 and enjoy exclusive savings on your stateroom. 

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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We live in a time where wrongdoing is rationalized and excused. We’re quick to blame others...and slow to accept responsibility for our actions. However, the reality is no one else makes our choices for us. A sign of maturity is admitting our offences and making things right.

Pastor Chuck Swindoll presents four specific actions from Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians about living among non-Christians.

From the Series: Contagious Christianity

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I'm not sure if it's harder for a baby to have major surgery or adults like us. Little Jamie? He was not even a year old, but he had to undergo heart surgery; which I associate kind of with older people. Jamie was the nephew of one of our team members, and she was from Australia. The miles made it pretty tough on her, so we all joined her in praying for this little guy so far away. And thankfully, Jamie came through with flying colors. His heart was fixed. It was a tough operation, but it had to be done. You see, Jamie, they said, had a hole in his heart, and you can't just leave it that way!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Heart Holes."

It's understood that a hole in the human heart is serious business and that you have to take corrective action to get it fixed. Thank God, there are surgeons with the ability to do just that. But when it comes to emotional holes and the spiritual holes in the human heart, it's amazing how many people are walking around with that heart condition totally untreated. But, like its physical equivalent, a hole in your heart spiritually will greatly limit what your life could be, and one day it will cost you your life. The good news is there's a surgeon who repairs the spiritual hole in the human heart. He's done it for many people. He's done it for a long time.

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from John 4. It's a story out of Jesus' life. It's noon, it's hot, and Jesus stops at a well for a meeting that it turns out God has arranged. A woman arrives at the well with her water pot to get another day's water supply. She has no idea Jesus knows all about her. She's a woman with a past, a reputation, with a lot of mistakes, and a lot of men in her life. As the conversation proceeds, she's forced to admit that she's been divorced five times and she's currently living with another guy. Her life has been an endless search for love and fulfillment in a series of unfulfilling relationships. She's got a hole in her heart that's never gone away. Maybe like you.

Jesus addresses it in a disarming way by comparing it to the physical thirst that brings her to the well that very day. Verse 13 of chapter 4, He says, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again." Thirsty again. You know, that's a word picture for our lifelong search for something that will quench the thirst in our soul - to fill the hole in our heart. It could be that every relationship, every accomplishment, every religion has left you "thirsty again."

Listen to Jesus' offer: "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Who needs all these trips to wells that never fill you up when Jesus could put a spiritual and emotional spring inside you that will finally quench your thirst.

All our lives, it's our creator we've been thirsty for, because all of the me - first, sinful choices of our life have cut us off from the One who made us, whose love we were made for. But all the garbage was heaped on Jesus when He went to the cross to pay for your sin and mine so we could finally find that peace-giving relationship with God we've needed all along.

It's a relationship that's within your reach right now; if you'll tell Jesus you want Him to be your Savior from your sin. That woman we just read about did not have "meeting the Savior" on her list for that day, and you probably didn't either. But Jesus met her where she was, which is what He's doing with you right now. So today could be your last trip to wells that never satisfy.

Would you tell Him, "Jesus, if you died for me, I know I can trust you with my life. I need my sins erased from God's Book. Come into my life today I'm putting all my trust in You." Our website, A

Read: John 3:13-17; Romans 6:23

“And I’m just so thankful God forgives and helps us, or else I’d be totally lost!” Mandy’s mom was saying as she talked on the phone.

“What is she talking about? What does she mean God forgives us? For what?” Mandy’s friend Hailey asked as they sat coloring at the kitchen table.

“God forgives us for our sins,” Mandy replied.

“What does ‘sin’ mean? Why do we need to be forgiven?”

“Umm…” Mandy was uncertain how to respond to her friend’s questions.

When Mandy’s mom got off the phone, Mandy asked her Hailey’s questions. Mom sat down at the table with them. “Hmm, let’s see…” She drummed her fingers against the table. “Mandy, why weren’t you allowed to play on the tablet yesterday?”

Mandy blushed and gave a nervous giggle. “Because I sneaked a cookie right before dinner.”

“Do you ever get punishments like that, Hailey, for doing something you’re not supposed to?” Mandy’s mom asked.

“Yes, lots!” Hailey nodded.

“Exactly. We all do things we’re not supposed to, and because of that, we deserve punishment. God, who created us and everything there is, never does anything wrong. The stuff we do wrong is called sin, and sin separates us from God because God is perfect.”

“But you said God forgives us for our sins,” Hailey pointed out.

Mom nodded. “God’s Word, the Bible, tells us the punishment for sin is death—not just physical death, but complete separation from God. But God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to take our punishment. Jesus is God and a human. He lived a perfect life and never sinned! Then He died and took our punishment on Himself.”

“Right,” Mandy said, “Like if Dad would’ve taken my punishment and said he doesn’t get to play on the tablet so I can.”

Mom laughed. “Kind of like that. But Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose again and now lives with God in heaven! Because Jesus took our punishment, God forgives all our sins when we trust Jesus as our Savior. Then, when we die, we won’t stay dead either—Jesus will raise us from the dead and we’ll live with Him forever! I know that was a lot. But do you think you understand?”

“I think I get it,” Hailey said. “But I have lots of questions!”

–Elizabeth Cooper

How about you? Do you have lots of questions about God and the Bible? That’s okay! God loves when we seek to know Him better. Are there any believers in your life or a nearby church you can go to and ask questions? Ask God to show you someone who can help you understand more about Jesus and what it means to trust Him as your Savior. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today's Key Verse: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Jesus took our punishment

Meditating on God’s Word, following His instruction, and trusting Him to provide for your needs are the foundation of obedience.

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In March 2024, a US aerospace corporation failed a safety audit conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The audit came on the heels of multiple safety incidents, including a flight that experienced a dangerous drop in cabin pressure when a door-plug panel on the jet tore away. A spokesman for the company acknowledged that the failures were due to instructions for employees being difficult to understand and altered too often, resulting in them not faithfully adhering to approved procedures.

Paul told the church at Corinth that they should view him and other leaders as faithful and approved “servants of Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:1). He also declared that he had been “entrusted” (v.2) with being a steward for God. Stewards in Paul’s day were entrusted with overseeing the management and distribution of household resources. Above everything else, a fundamental requirement for those entrusted with responsibilities was faithfulness. Paul labeled himself as a steward who “[worked] hard with [his] own hands” to live out his responsibilities (v. 12)—carefully using what God had given him, especially the wisdom He’d been given and the mysteries of the gospel (v. 2).

As Jesus provides, let’s strive to be faithful stewards, adhering to His approved and flawless standard in our spiritual practices, work duties, and personal relationships.

The post Rev. Art Larson – Trade Marks of a Christian appeared first on MGO Radio/Canada's National Bible Hour.

Read: John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:1-5

“All right!” Garrison exclaimed as Dad pulled the car into Grandma’s driveway. “We’re finally here!” Grandma lived so far away that they had been traveling for two days to get to her house.

“Yay!” said Charis. “I’m tired of being in the car.”

Dad grinned. “Me too. All I want to do right now is relax with a nice tall glass of iced tea.”

Garrison laughed. “Well, when you called Grandma a little while ago, you said you couldn’t wait to have some of her iced tea. I bet she has a pitcher of it all ready.”

Charis pointed. “Look! Grandma’s at the door, and she’s got a glass of something in her hand. It’s probably your iced tea.”

Charis was right. “I knew you’d want this right away,” Grandma said as she handed the glass to Dad. Then she gave everyone big hugs. “You must be hungry. Come to the kitchen. I made your favorite pie, Garrison. And here’s some of that fudge you like so much, Charis.”

“Oh, and I see a wonderful cheese tray here on the counter!” Mom said. “You know just what snacks we all like, don’t you?” She helped herself to some cheese and crackers.

“You got new books for us!” Charis called from the living room. “And there are new games here too! Thank you, Grandma!”

Mom smiled. “I can see you’ve been very busy getting ready for us to come.”

“Well, I loved preparing for you to get here because I love you,” Grandma replied.

“That sounds like what we talked about in church last week,” Garrison said. “About how Jesus loves us and is preparing a place for those who trust in Him.”

“That’s a great thing to think about,” Grandma said. “He prepared a place for us in God’s family by dying for our sins, and one day He will welcome us into the new, perfect world He’s getting ready for us. I’m so thankful to know that each of us here trusts in Jesus and that we’ll all enjoy heaven together with Him. What a wonderful place that will be!”

Dad nodded. “You’ve given us a great welcome here, but you’re right. We can’t even imagine how special Jesus’s welcome will be!”

–Lenora McWhorten

How about you? Have you helped prepare for company by getting everything just right for those who are coming to visit? If you know Jesus as your Savior, He’s preparing a place for you in the perfect world He will create when He makes everything new. It’s hard to imagine what a special, wonderful place that will be—and it won’t be just for a visit. It will be forever!

Today's Key Verse: [Jesus said,] “I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Jesus is preparing a place for Christians