Life Over Coffee

The cross of Christ has wonder-working power. It can change you and your relationships, but the process is not a passive “let go and let God” exercise. If Christ’s cross is not a practical governing reality in our relationships, we will hurt those we love the most. Though the cross of Christ is not the whole gospel, it’s a poignant reminder of the sacrifice needed to sustain a relationship with someone.

Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/something-must-come-between-us-or-were-going-to-kill-each-other/

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No human has absolute authority over another. This perspective should be common sense, but it’s not for everyone, including Christians. A dictatorial husband and father can put wives and children in a difficult spot, which begs the question that folks have asked me for decades: “Do you think it’s right to correct my authoritarian husband?” This chapter will be instructive and directive for those in this type of relationship.

Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/do-you-think-its-right-to-correct-my-authoritarian-husband/

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Shows Main Idea – EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy. Though it has been around for decades, it has gained a lot of momentum within Christian circles in the past few years. In this episode, Rick interviews Dr. Rhenn Cherry, a professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He explains the history, the suggested benefits, and how the Bible has more effective answers.

Watch or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-535-understanding-emdr-with-dr-rhenn-cherry/

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Sexual intimacy is one of the quickest indicators that reveals how a couple is doing in their marriage. Why? Because it is the most physical and intimate thing they will ever do together. It is different from talking, dating, dinner, or a movie. Sex requires more. Sex demands more from two people. You can do many things as a married couple and even pretend to get along, but sex is the litmus test that reveals the authentic reality of your covenant.

Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/sex-for-a-woman/

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Show Main Idea: A God-centered community provides mutual accountability, encouragement in truth, and prayerful support, helping us to walk in freedom from approval-seeking. Through active support, we can uplift others in their journey to live for God’s approval. This lesson also explores practical ways to keep Christ at the center of our fellowship through serving others and finding joy in God’s truth together.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-535-fear-of-man-cultivating-a-god-centered-community/

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Most relationships begin with transparency, honesty, courage, and optimism. At some point, these things break down. The husband and wife drift from each other, and silence ensues. Even the best intentions derail if the couple does not know how to keep the transforming power of the gospel as the animating center of their relationship. Let me explain.

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Every home has a leader. Someone must be in charge while everyone else follows the de-facto leader. I’m speaking of hierarchy in relationships, not the equality among fellow image-bearers. These concepts work together, not creating tension but fulfilling the possibilities of a God-centered home. As you think about your home, how would you define the orientation? Who is in charge? Who is the rightful person to take the reins of your family? Who do you want to lead?

Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/the-orientation-of-your-home-follow-the-leader/

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Show Main Idea: We dive into understanding our identity in Christ, finding security in God’s provision. Through practical steps—confession, renewing the mind, and embracing the fear of God—we’ll learn how the Holy Spirit empowers us to live with freedom from human opinion. With a renewed perspective, we’ll discover how to walk confidently in God’s approval, anchored in His truth.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-534-fear-of-man-steps-to-overcome-approval-addiction/

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How do you know when a desire for love has changed into a need for love? It’s an excellent question, and the first place to begin a diagnosis like this is with anger. Anger is the quickest way to discern if someone’s craving for love has jumped from a desire to a controlling need. It is not necessarily wrong to desire something like love from another, but when a desire becomes all-controlling, we’re in the deep weeds of relationship trouble. One of the ways you will know if your desire for something has taken over control of your mind is if you become sinfully angry when someone does not meet that desire. This concept applies to any desire you may have.

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Even with the best intentions and truest love, a marriage can go to some dangerous and dark places. Ours went there, which is why I decided the best thing we could do is blow up our marriage, reboot, and start over again, hoping to rebuild our covenant on a surer foundation. A caveat may appropriately modify the seeming hyperbole you just read. Lucia and I have always been best friends. From the moment we met on July 24, 1994, we clicked. There was hardly a time we didn’t enjoy each other. Though we did have a few common interests, more things were uncommon between us, which I believe is vital for two people to maximize all that God would have them to be. Initially, our differences did not matter because of our desire to be together, even though some of them were starkly antithetical.

Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/the-day-i-intentionally-blew-up-my-marriage/

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