On this Thursday Thought, we lean into God's grace and love as we seek to discover God's best for our sex life.

We reflect on:

And much more! We also pray for God's healing, wholeness and best for the areas of sex and intimacy in our marriage.

Next Steps

Have ideas for guests, episode topics, feedback or prayer requests? Get in touch! [email protected]

If you'd like to make a donation to this non-profit ministry, you can do so at our website: https://livingmarriages.com

Grace and peace! Aaron and April

There has been a lot of conversation in Christian circles recently about some of the well-intentioned yet harmful marriage advice that is being perpetuated, especially in some best-selling Christian materials.

Today's guest, Joanna Sawatsky, has been working to shine a light on some of these teachings and their effects on marriages through rigorous research. Along with the team at baremarriage.com, she's also been sharing God's heart for hope, health and healing for our marriages. 

On this episode, we talk with Joanna about:

Resources

Joanna Sawatsky is an author, epidemiologist and biostatistician with the team at baremarriage.com. Please click on the link to find out more about the books, podcast and blog that Joanna referenced in our conversation.

Next Steps

Thoughts, feedback, episode ideas, prayer requests? Please get in touch with us. We'd love to hear from you and pray with you. [email protected]

If you'd like to support this non-profit ministry, please visit our website to find out how you can partner with us in prayer and financially: https://livingmarriages.com

On this Thursday Thought, we take time to reflect on the conversation we had with Matt and Mandy Horne in episode 83. We draw encouragement and instruction from how God held them close and how they walked in "deep trust" with him through challenging transitions in life and marriage. We pray for all of our listeners going through these difficult seasons of transition.

Next Steps

If you'd like us to pray with you, we're here for you! Please drop us a line: [email protected]

You can also donate to this non-profit ministry: https://livingmarriages.com

Mandy and Matt Horne have experienced A LOT of transition in their nearly 25 years of marriage. From several moves to adoption to working in ministry to starting a business, they have experienced the joys and challenges of the different seasons of life God has brought them through.

In our conversation you'll hear:

Resources

If you would like to find out more about Mandy's work as a board-certified Health and Wellness Nurse Coach, please visit her website:

https://www.wellspringoflifecoaches.com/

For Mandy's special offer for a free resource for Living Marriages' listeners, please visit:

https://gift.wellspringoflifecoaches.com/au

If you'd like to get in touch with Aaron and April at the Living Marriages Podcast and ministry, please visit our website:

https://livingmarriages.com

or send us an e-mail with episode ideas, feedback and prayer requests: [email protected]

On this Thursday Thought, we reflect back on Ep. 81 and the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs by Sheila and Keith Gregoire from "The Marriage You Want."

We reflect and pray on the idea that if one of you feels like you're being chased by a bear in your marriage, you both are! Are we on the same level in our marriage and if not, have we communicated about it? Is this a season we are in by choice and if so, are we still communicating openly about it, giving gratitude for the other? And if this is not by choice and one spouse finds themselves in a different level of need, how are we going to support and help one another?

Resources

To see a diagram of the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs and hear Sheila Wray Gregoire and Dr. Keith Gregoire's conversation about this, please click here.

Next Steps

We'd love to hear from you. How do you see the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs playing out in your marriage? Any questions? Ideas for shows and guests? Prayer requests? Get in touch! [email protected]

If you'd like to support our non-profit ministry in finances and prayer, you can visit our website to find how: https://livingmarriages.com

You may have heard of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs before - the idea that basic needs (such as food, clothing and safety) must be met before we can move into higher ideals (friendship, self-esteem, self-actualization.)

What if the same were true for marriage? Authors Sheila Wray Gregoire and Dr. Keith Gregoire think this is the case. In their latest book, "The Marriage You Want", Sheila and Keith propose this idea in the context of marriage and assert "Your marriage...exists on the lowest tier that either of you occupies."

On today's episode, we talk about this concept, see how it has played out in our marriage and how we can build bridges towards one another in terms of communication and sharing the load so that we can move towards a thriving marriage together.

Resources

To see a diagram of the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs and hear Sheila Wray Gregoire and Dr. Keith Gregoire's conversation about this, please click here.

Next Steps

We'd love to hear from you. How do you see the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs playing out in your marriage? Any questions? Ideas for shows and guests? Prayer requests? Get in touch! [email protected]

If you'd like to support our non-profit ministry in finances and prayer, you can visit our website to find how: https://livingmarriages.com

After hearing Christina Worthing's powerful and moving story from Episode 79, this Thursday Thought is a simple one: it's a prayer for those who find themselves in unexpected grief and a prayer for those sharing together in that grief. It's a prayer for the church to step into its calling to "mourn with those who mourn." (Romans 12:15) It's a prayer for humility and wisdom in how we do this and for grace when we mess it up.

Next Steps

Are you going through unexpected grief? We'd love a chance to pray with you.

Have an idea for an episode? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you.

[email protected]

Want to partner with us to keep this podcast and non-profit ministry going? Please visit our website to find out how you can pray for us and support us financially: https://livingmarriages.com

At the Living Marriages Podcast, we feel it a privilege and a calling to share stories of Christ-centred marriages in all of their joys and challenges. Today's stories is about one of those marriages. Christina and Sean loved Jesus and they loved each other. And then suddenly, at a very young age, Sean passed away unexpectedly. 

What came next for Christina was a story of inexplicable grief, confusion, faith, community and healing. 

In this episode, you'll hear:

Resources

If you'd like to connect with Christina in her professional capacity as a registered psychologist, you can find her at FUEL Pain and Injury Recovery Clinic. You can find her on social media: Facebook (Your Pain Psychologist) and on Instagram (@yourpainpsychologist)

Next Steps

Are you going through unexpected grief? We'd love a chance to pray with you.

Have an idea for an episode? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you.

[email protected]

Want to partner with us to keep this podcast and non-profit ministry going? Please visit our website to find out how you can pray for us and support us financially: https://livingmarriages.com

On this Thursday Thought, we invite you into a time and space for reflection and prayer as we ask God 3 important questions:

1. What is the fruit that is being produced in my life (both good and bad)

2. Where do you want to prune?

3. What roadblocks do I have which prevent you from doing that work of pruning?

It is good to reflect on these questions alone at first but if your spouse is willing, we encourage you to listen to Episode 77 together first and then reflect prayerfully on these questions together, as they pertain to your marriage.

Next Steps

We'd love to hear from you, whether you'd like to share you story or ask for prayer! Get in touch with us: [email protected]

If God is inviting you to join our ministry team by partnering with us financially and in prayer, please visit our website to find out how you can do that! https://livingmarriages.com

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

Matthew 7:16-20

God had us confront a difficult yet extremely important question in today's episode: What is the fruit that is being produced by our marriage?

This is a difficult question because God asks us to allow him to shine his light into some areas we are unaware of or would rather leave alone. This can be in some big things or in some small habits (just ask Aaron about his hockey pool and the effects it has been having on his family!)

By his grace, he wants to bring these things into his light and his grace in order to bring his healing and wholeness, so that in our marriages and our families, we might produce good fruit.

Next Steps

We'd love to hear from you, whether you'd like to share you story or ask for prayer! Get in touch with us: [email protected]

If God is inviting you to join our ministry team by partnering with us financially and in prayer, please visit our website to find out how you can do that! https://livingmarriages.com