Daniel and Christina discuss the intricacies of marriage with Brian and Jen Goins and how marriage is like a living art form that demands creativity, evolves, and requires a blending of different perspectives and experiences. The episode highlights the re-release of "The Art of Marriage" series, which encourages couples to engage in open dialogue about love, intimacy, and the divine representation of God's love in marriage. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: Marriage as an art and the re-release of "The Art of Marriage" series The intention behind the creation of marriage and its purpose as a representation of God's love Importance of love, forgiveness, and intimacy in marriage Having healthy and transparent conversations about sensitive topics like sex and intimacy The "Art of Marriage" program as a platform for couples to grow together Stories of transformation and growth in marriages through the "Art of Marriage" program Emphasizing the power of humility, learning, and actively working towards building a strong and healthy marriage For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode183 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever caught yourself scrolling through your phone while your child's voice fades into the background? Yup! Us too. Let's face it, the era of smartphones has us all hooked. But did you know that this habit might be doing more harm than good to our kids? Distracted parenting isn't just about not hearing their stories—it's about the message we send about their value to us. In Episode 182, Daniel and Christina breakdown the costs of distracted parenting and discuss how we can respond to our children's bids for attention to foster intimacy and connection. In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: Distracted parenting and its impact on children Importance of being present and engaged with children Examples of distracted parenting scenarios Emotional impact of distracted parenting on children Responding to children's bids for attention and connection Role of empathy in nurturing intimacy with children Practical tips for parents to improve engagement with children Creating undistracted time to fully engage with children Modeling attentive behavior in interactions with others Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Episode 36: Netiquette: Teaching Our Kids Online Manners Episode 62: Parenting In Our Digital Age The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode182 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Episode 173, we interview Christa Hardin about the Enneagram and how this tool can deepen the love you have for one another. We discuss the importance of individual work and creating a safe environment in relationships. Christa explains the concept of seasons in marriage, comparing them to the changing seasons in nature. She emphasizes the need for couples to engage in deeper relational work during challenging times. We also discuss Christa's book, "The Enneagram in Marriage," which explores the different pairings of Enneagram types and provides tips for navigating the shadows and afterglow stages of each pairing. She shares how the Enneagram can help couples identify their core fears and work on them together.  In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Importance of doing individual work in relationships Creating a safe environment in relationships The concept of seasons in marriage Comparison of seasons in marriage to changing seasons in nature The stages and seasons of marriage as described in "The Enneagram in Marriage" Engaging in deeper immersion work during difficult seasons in marriage Using Enneagram types to understand and meet emotional needs in marriage Benefits of using the Enneagram in couples' work Meet Christa Hardin: Christa Hardin, MA is a relationship expert, author, as well as host of the popular Enneagram & Marriage Podcast. Christa has been working with and researching marriage for two decades, providing hope for couples who are struggling to find their light, love, and mission together in any season of relationship.  Her most recent title, "The Enneagram in Marriage: Your Guide to Thriving Together in Your Unique Pairing," is due out with Baker Books October 3. You can catch up with her at @enneagramandmarriage on Instagram or find her many resources over at www.enneagramandmarriage.com For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode173 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How many times have you lost your cool since the start of this pandemic? How many times have you yelled at your kids or gave the silent treatment to your spouse? No matter your experience with anger, it’s important to be aware of the anger that we feel. It is our body’s way of signaling something is wrong. On today's mini episode, Daniel and Christina address how anger is a secondary emotion; it's a reaction to another emotion. Your anger is trying to tell you something deeper is going on.    What Is Your Anger Telling To Tell You?  1:15 Anger as a secondary emotion.  1:42 Why we need to pay attention to our primary emotions.  2:58 What your anger is trying to signal to you.  4:42 Use your anger as a yellow flag. 4:52 What to do with your anger.  Resources And Quotes Mentioned During This Episode: Hear more about the Palms Down, Palms Up Prayer "What emotion is underneath my anger?" @imbetweenshow "Anger is what we call a secondary emotion. It’s a reaction to another emotion" @imbetweenshow "While anger, frustration, or irritation is what’s showing up on the surface, the emotions are actually much deeper than that.  And knowing those deeper, primary emotions, is important." @imbetweenshow "Our anger is always trying to signal to us something deeper is going on. So when you feel yourself getting angry, when you notice frustration, irritation, and annoyance, stop, take a breath, and notice those feelings." @imbetweenshow The IMbetween Podcast Drops Twice a Week Now?! Got 10 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow YouTube - @imbetweenpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What marriage and parenting advice do a 10, 9, and 5 year old have? To celebrate our 100th episode, our kids are answering your questions! They cover topics like the Enneagram, what parenting advice they'd like to share, and how important they think marriage is.  Looking For Date Night Ideas? Here's a FREE printable to keep the romance alive...even during a pandemic! 5 Cozy Quarantine Date Ideas For Busy Parents IMBETWEEN FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN SHOWNOTES: IMbetween.org/episode100 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Importance of Journaling: 2:05 What's the purpose of journaling?  3:24 Learning to value our every day lives.  3:52 Discovering moments of grace.  5:05 Frameworks around the process of journaling.  7:22 The importance of guilt-free journaling.  9:00 Inviting our children into the process of reflection.  Resources And Quotes Mentioned During This Episode: To find out more about Leslie, check out her website Pick up a copy of Leslie's copy of her newest book: Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing, and Living The Truth Of Your Life "Journaling is an important way of processing the events of the day thoughtfully." @lesliefields "I don't think we value the plain, beautiful, everyday moments, and we miss seeing God in those moments." @lesliefields "Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace." - Frederich Buechner "Journal prompt: How has God shown up today?" @lesliefields The IMbetween Podcast Drops Twice a Week Now?! Got 10 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   _________________________________________________________________ Meet Leslie Leyland Fields:Leslie Leyland Fields is an award-winning author of twelve books, an international speaker, a popular radio guest, the founder of the Harvester Island Wilderness Workshop and a commercial fisherwoman for four decades, working with her husband and six children in a salmon-fishing operation on a remote island in Alaska. Her newest book, Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing and Living the Truth of Your Life presents the fruit of her 30+ years of writing, editing and teaching story-making around the world.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The longer this pandemic goes on, the more things and events are being canceled. Birthday parties, summer camps, vacations — the list goes on and on. In some ways, it feels like COVID has thrown fun out the window! Now, more than ever,  we need to look for creative ways to incorporate more fun into our lives.  In Episode 99, Daniel and Christina share simple ways to incorporate more fun into your daily lives — with yourself, with your family, and with your spouse. IMBETWEEN FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN SHOWNOTES: IMbetween.org/episode99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most married couples know that they love each other. However, do most married couples know that they are FOR each other? When you are in an argument, do you immediately assume the worst of your spouse, even though you know that they love you? If so, it's time to learn about the power of giving your spouse the benefit of the doubt.  Give Your Spouse The Benefit Of The Doubt: 0:33 The difference between loving your spouse versus knowing you are FOR your spouse.  1:28 What happens when you assume the worst of your spouse.  3:32 What happens when you give your spouse the benefit of the doubt.  5:06 How you can calmly communicate that your feelings were hurt.  Resources And Quotes Mentioned During This Episode: Remind yourself that your spouse loves you. @imbetweenshow Remind yourself that your spouse is for you and not against you. @imbetweenshow The IMbetween Podcast Drops Twice a Week Now?!Got 10 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you don't understand your spouse? Have you ever wondered why your spouse handles a situation in a completely different manner than you would? Do you wish for a closer connection, but don't know how to get there? In Episode 98, Daniel and Christina interview Enneagram coaches, Beth and Jeff McCord, about how the Enneagram can give you the language to communicate with your spouse, the empathy to understand your spouse, and the tools to help defuse conflicts before they start with your spouse. IMBETWEEN FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN SHOWNOTES: IMbetween.org/episode98 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While there are a lot of things that are out of our control, it is helpful to underline for our families what we can control. So, sometime today, when y’all are altogether, ask your family this one question. Ask Your Family This Question: 0:38 How things have changed. 1:14 The one question to ask your family. 1:24 Why you should be asking your family this one question. 2:17 What we can and cannot control. Resources And Quotes Mentioned During This Episode: Episode 4: Why slowing down life matters  Episode 68: Why your kids need to be bored this summer The IMbetween Podcast Drops Twice a Week Now?! Got 10 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No one wants their families to look back on this Quarantine and remember the stress, the short tempers, or the frustrated tears. Instead, we want our families to look back on this time and remember feeling safe - not just from COVID, but safe in our hearts and minds as well. This is why we need to show our family grace.  In Episode 97, Daniel and Christina share 5 practical ways to show grace to your family, even when they are driving you crazy!  IMBETWEEN FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN SHOWNOTES: IMbetween.org/episode97 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed that you can't think? Have you found yourself tossing and turning at night because your mind is racing? When you feel out of control, when you can't sleep, try this: Palms Down, Palms Up.    Palms Down, Palms Up Exercise: 1:09 Breathing exercise to prepare. 1:36 Begin Palms Down prayer. 2:54 Begin Palms Up prayer.  4:07 Short breath prayer. Resources And Quotes Mentioned During This Episode: If you want to hear more about the benefits of deep breathing, listen to Centering Prayer  Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22, 23 The IMbetween Podcast Drops Twice a Week Now?! Got 15 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What makes you powerful? What makes you strong? Is strength measured in grit, tenacity, courage, bravery, and never backing down from a challenge? In Episode 96, Daniel and Christina interview author Catherine Parks about where our true strength comes from and how to start the conversation with our kids about character, strength, empowerment, and grace.  IMBETWEEN FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN SHOWNOTES: IMbetween.org/episode96 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bonnie Gray knows a thing or two about being stressed. During the first year of the pandemic, Bonnie's once full, black hair began falling out. Overwhelmed by the exhaustion of disrupted routines and pressure to meet expectations at work, parenting, ministry and a bottomless checklist of To Do's, Bonnie focused on meeting everyone else's needs at the expense of neglecting her well-being. With her usual coping mechanisms stripped away, she was drained by worries, stress, and anxiety. On Episode 172, Bonnie describes how using soul care and breath prayers can create healthy habits with God to help restore peace and joy in your life. You'll Hear About: The concept of soul care and the four areas of wellness The importance of social wellness and building meaningful relationships The impact of negative emotions on our bodies and the importance of naming and discussing them Tips for managing burnout and improving sleep quality The practice of breath prayer and its impact on managing stress Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm by Bonnie Gray Sweet Like Jasmine: Finding Identity in a Culture of Loneliness by Bonnie Gray https://thebonniegray.com/soulcarequiz/ Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul Meet Bonnie Gray: Bonnie Gray is a Soul Care mentor and the author of Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm, Whispers of Rest, Finding Spiritual Whitespace and Sweet Like Jasmine, an ECPA 2022 Christian Book Award Finalist. Heaving healed from PTSD, Bonnie is passionate about helping thousands of listeners detox stress and flourish in emotional wellness with God’s love through soul care, Bible Study and prayer.  Bonnie is a trusted voice writing for Proverbs 31, Christianity Today and RelevantMagazine. She is also the host of Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast. Take Bonnie’s Soul Care Quiz to learn which area of wellness you’re missing at SoulCareQuiz.com. She loves hiking and eating waffles with her husband and two teenage boys in Silicon Valley. For all of the show notes, including discussion prompts for your next date night, check out IMbetween.org/episode172 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anxiety is something that most of us have experienced in our life, especially during these uncertain times. This 5 step exercise can be very helpful during periods of anxiety or panic by helping to ground you in the present when your mind is bouncing between various “what ifs.” The Grounding Exercise: 0:31 What anticipatory grief is and why it matters.  1:33 The importance of deep breathing versus shallow breathing.  2:25 Explanation of the 5 step grounding exercise.  3:24 A step-by-step walk through of the grounding exercise.  Resources And Quotes Mentioned During This Episode: Anticipatory grief is the mind going to the future and imagining the worst. @imbetweenshow I was grieving things that hadn’t actually happened. I had to purposefully pull my thoughts to come into the present reality or else I would spiral out of control. @imbetweenshow If you'd like to be taken through a deep breathing exercise, listen to our first mini episode about Centering Prayer This quick exercise will help ground you in the present. Grounding yourself reminds your body, your nervous system, and your brain that you are safe. @imbetweenshow The IMbetween Podcast Drops Twice a Week Now?! Got 15 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does stress do to a marriage? Does it make it or break it? We are seeing stats come out of China - the first country to be quarantined from the Coronavirus - that divorce rates have skyrocketed once the quarantine was lifted.  While feelings of fear, anxiety, and stress come with the territory of unexpected times, it does not have to break your relationship. Here are 4 keys to help you and your spouse survive your marital stress while constantly being together.  Have You Grabbed Your FREE Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram? We can’t wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations, especially during this time! Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships IMBETWEEN FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/imbetweenshow IMBETWEEN SHOWNOTES: IMbetween.org/episode95 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are two words that we need to erase from our vocabulary during this difficult time. People assume these two words help themselves and others get through a funk. Instead, they stunt the process of grief that we all need to walk through. Do you know what these two words are? Are you saying them? Tune in to find out.  The Two Words To Avoid: 2:30 What happens when we speak these two words to ourselves, our friends, and our family. 3:04 The dangers of comparative suffering.  3:52 The lie we've believed about pain. 5:09 What we should all be saying instead of these two words.  Resources And Quotes Mentioned During This Episode: "Comparative suffering is dangerous. Empathy is not finite. When we practice empathy, we create more empathy. Hurt is hurt, and every time we honor our own struggle, and the struggles of others by responding with empathy, the healing that results affect us all." @brenebrown “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 "It is necessary to hold our pain in one hand, hold the pain of others in our other hand, and go to Jesus and lay them down at His feet." @imbetweenshow The IMbetween Podcast Drops Twice a Week Now?! Got 15 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does everything need to be perfect in order for us to have a reason to celebrate? Can we experience joy even when we are suffering? On Episode 94, Daniel and Christina interview author and advocate, Katherine Wolf. At the age of 26, Katherine experienced a near-fatal stroke when her son was only 6 months old. Katherine shares her inspiring story of recovery and how she learned to celebrate everything even in the midst of pain and suffering.  In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Learn how to survive anything by redefining everything.  Hear how celebration and suffering are not mutually exclusive.  Disrupting the myth that joy can only be found in a pain-free life.  How celebration can be an act of worship, community, faith, and joyful rebellion.  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Purchase a copy of Katherine and Jay Wolf's newest book, Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything Check out Katherine and Jay's first book, Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Love To find out more about Katherine and Jay, visit them at​ Hopeheals.com Quotes and Tweets: Life defines us, suffering redefines us, and hope refines us. @hopeheals Worship in its purest form doesn't happen when everything comes perfectly together; it's most powerful when everything is falling apart. @hopeheals Celebration can be an act of worship and an act of hope and perhaps, in a way, an act of joyful rebellion against fear. @hopeheals We all have a seat at this table, at God's table, if we're willing to be vulnerable and brave enough to sit down to the life we have and celebrate the life we can't yet see. @hopeheals Even in the face of the unknown, we can remember what and who we do know, and help each other remember it too. In so doing, we can start to know the truest things again. We can preach them to our own hearts until we actually believe them. @hopeheals Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. - Corrie ten Boom God made you to do the hard thing in the good story He's writing for your life. Whether tomorrow is the best or worst or last day of our lives, we pray that God will give us everything we need to live it out to the fullest with courage and joy. @hopeheals Celebration and joy can be part of the hard stories of suffering. Celebration and suffering are not mutually exclusive. @hopeheals Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! ________________________________________________________________ Meet Katherine Wolf: At the age of 26 years old, Katherine Wolf experienced a near-fatal stroke. Miraculously, she survived and continues her rockery to this day, including having a miracle baby boy in 2015. Today, Katherine and her husband Jay, run the non-profit ministry Hope Heals, and are advocates for disabled individuals and their families. The couple, and their two sons, live in the Atlanta area. To find out more about Katherine and Jay, visit hopeheals.com For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode94 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you find yourself being bossed around by your feelings of fear or anxiety, try this centering prayer.  Centering Prayer:  2:32 - Why should I do a centering prayer?  3:37 - What is a centering prayer? 5:40 - Daniel walks us through a centering prayer.   Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Great Are You Lord song by All Sons and Daughters  "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26, 27   The IMbetween Podcast Dropping Twice a Week?! Got 15 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe to The IMBetween Podcast, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays!   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can a movie about divorce really teach us important lessons about marriage? Most certainly! We recently watched the Netflix movie, Marriage Story. While it is a heartbreaking to watch a marriage literally crumble, the movie highlights some very important relationship lessons that can make or break a marriage. On Episode 93, Daniel and Christina continue their discussion about the 6 crucial relationship lessons from the Netflix movie, Marriage Story. If you have not listened to Part 1 yet, make sure to go back and do so. Have You Grabbed Your FREE Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram? We can’t wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations. Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Crucial marriage lessons from the Netflix movie Marriage Story What intruders are and how to protect your marriage from them How men and women are wired differently when it comes to physical intimacy Why you and your spouse should have more sex The importance of counseling and how it can help strengthen your marriage Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Listen to Part 1 of 6 Relationship Lessons From The Netflix Movie Marriage Story Tune into our previous episode about How To Strengthen Your Marriage in 15 Minutes Check out Episode 74: Blended Families: Strategies to Help Your Stepfamily Blend and Episode 75: Common Pitfalls in Blended Families and How to Overcome Them Interested in learning more about Stone Walling? Listen to Episode 76: 4 Things to Remember When Marriage Is Hard  The Enneagram is an incredible tool to help strengthen your marriage! Listen to Episode 69: Enneagram and Communication Styles and Episode 70: Resolving Conflict with the Enneagram to find out more.  Want to find out more about bids? Read Dr. John Gottman's books The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work and The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships and What Makes Love Last? How to Build Trust and Avoid Betrayal  Interested in finding out more about intruders in your marriage and how to have healthy marriage boundaries? Read Dr. Henry Cloud's Boundaries in Marriage  Deb Hirsch's book Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations About Sexuality and Spirituality Quotes & Tweets: Intimacy is an important part of a romantic relationship and one of the first areas to suffer if the marriage is going through a difficult season. @imbetweenshow God designed both spouses to invest continually in their attachment to each other. Couples need to work to keep their love secure and safe. @drhenrycloud When a marriage contains conflict or hurt, we tend to busy ourselves in other people and activities. Busyness is less painful than facing some seemingly unsolvable problem in love day after day. @drhenrycloud The reality is that marriage is only as good as the investment people make in it. @drhenrycloud Living in unconditional grace is never an excuse to be irresponsible or hurtful. @drhenrycloud There are other issues surrounding the fact that you do not want to be physically intimate with your spouse. @imbetweenshow Never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you're there. @GottmanInst Every positive thing you do in your relationship is foreplay. @GottmanInst Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are currently living in unprecedented times. And, while we don't have the ability to "fix" the current state of our world, there are some things we can all do. Got 15 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fridays! Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Episode 92, Daniel and Christina interview author Jamie Sumner about the joys and challenges of raising a special needs child with Cerebral Palsy. According to the CDC, 1 in 6 children ages 3 to 17 have a developmental disability (​Source​). Parents raising kids with special needs live exhausting, often unseen and challenging lives. Jamie reminds them that they are not alone. Because of God’s grace, parents can find joy, beauty and hope every day.  With a mixture of humor, honesty, and hope, Jamie Sumner brings comfort to other parents - like herself - who need to hear that God has made them more than capable to raise their special kids.  In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Encouragement for special needs parents. What it looks like to bury your fear in trust so it rises again as bravery. When you should advocate for your child and when you should take a step back. How to show your special needs child that their future is lit with a brilliant, heavenly light. Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Purchase a copy of Jamie's newest book, Eat, Sleep, Save The World: Words Of Encouragement For The Special Needs Parent  Check out Jamie's other books, Unbound:Finding Freedom From The Unrealistic Expectations of Motherhoodand Roll With It - a big-hearted middle grade story about an irrepressible girl with cerebral palsy whose life takes an unexpected turn when she moves to a new town. To find out more about Jamie and her family, visit her at​ ​www.jamie-sumner.com​ Quotes and Tweets: It is we, their parents, who must lead the life of Lazarus. We have died a thousand tiny deaths as we watch them fight their war. We are the dead we come back again to testify to all that God has and is doing for our children. @jamiesumner It’s okay to be angry. Really. It’s an emotion, just like sadness or joy or grief or hope. It’s what you do with the anger that counts. So feel it and then let it pass. Entrust it to God. Entrust your child’s care to Him. Count to ten, or a million, and then pray. Let Him provide another way to handle the difficult situation or person. You simply have to be still long enough to let Him go about His work. @jamiesumner Go now and live in laughter and exuberance for the future that is yours in Christ. Hug your kids and help them see this promise too. This is your calling as a parent: to show your children that their future is lit with a brilliant, heavenly light. @jamiesumner Fear of the unknown is a key player in the special needs game and perhaps the most seductive. There is just so much unknown. It hovers, like a distant tidal wave in the ocean and we watch with our toes in the sand, waiting to see if it will come crashing down. But what would it look like if we buried that fear in so much trust that it rises again as bravery? Because, if, or when, or greatest fear is realized, we cannot let it sink us. @jamiesumner Sometimes advocating as a parent involves silence and distance to encourage independence, and other times it involves stepping in to make change happen for the better. It takes a lot of prayer and stillness to discern what times call for what measure. @jamiesumner Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! ___________ Meet Jamie Sumner:  Jamie Sumner​ has written for the “New York Times” and the “Washington Post,” among many other publications. She is the author of the nonfiction book on motherhood, “Unbound,” and the middle-grade novel, “Roll with It.” She is also mom to a son with cerebral palsy, and she writes and speaks about disability in literature. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tenn. Visit her at​ ​www.jamie-sumner.com​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Coronavirus pandemic, we all seem to be glued to our news media channels or social media to see what our friends and family are posting. We, too, feel like we want to stay up-to-date with everything that is going on. But, is there a point where it becomes an unhealthy obsession? If the gain of more knowledge is driving you to become anxious, fearful, and losing sleep, perhaps this can be a gentle encouragement to take a little breather.   On this episode, we talk about how COVID-19 is causing us to want to break up with our phones. We also discuss why our phones are so addicting and how we can break off this unhealthy relationship.   Grab Your FREE Printable to Create a Guiding Statement For Your Family: This printable will help you create a guiding statement for your family. In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Why we want to break up with our phones Discuss the connection between brain science, slot machines, and phone apps (it's both fascinating and frightening) How the 3 W's can change your relationship with your phone Hear all about joining our 5-day social media detox Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Watch the clip about Social Media Dangers Exposed By Mom Posing as 11-Year Old Want to find out what your child's love language is? Listen to Episode 53 and Episode 54 about Discovering Your Child's Love Language. Hear more about creative ways to connect with your child/teenager on our interview with Melanie Shankle, Debunking The Myths of Motherhood. What does it look like to have technology in its proper place in your family? Check out Parenting In Our Digital Age to find more more. Have you ever thought about the need to teach your kids online manners? We talk about Netiquette: Teaching Our Kids Online Manners on this episode. Do you need some ideas about what to replace your screen time with? Tune into Episode 87: How to Find Your Family's Purpose. Are you wanting to hear more about how to break up with your phone? Read Catherine Price's book, How To Break Up With Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan To Take Back Your Life Quotes and Tweets: We aren’t saying to throw out your phone, shut down your social media profiles, or ban your family from screen time. When used properly, they can be tools to bring you closer together as a family. @imbetweenshow Any time you notice that you are about to reach for your phone, take a second to ask yourself: What For? Why now? What else? @Catherine_Price If you wanted to invent a device that could rewire our minds, if you wanted to create a society of people who were perpetually distracted, isolated, and overtired, if you wanted to weaken our memories and damage our capacity for focus and deep thought, if you wanted to reduce empathy, encourage self-absorption, and redraw the lines of social etiquette, you’d likely end up with a smartphone. @Catherine_Price our attention is the most valuable thing we have. We experience only what we pay attention to. We remember only what we pay attention to. When we decide what to pay attention to in the moment, we are making a broader decision about how we want to spend our lives. @Catherine_Price Technology is in its proper place when it starts great conversations. It’s out of its proper place when it prevents us from talking with and listening to one another. @ahc Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For centuries, people have been using stories and narrative to teach important lessons. Stories have the power to teach us to love, to forgive others, to be empathetic, just, and to strive for better than we have.  On Episode 90, Daniel and Christina interview children's author Sarah Parker Rubio about teaching our kids empathy and compassion through the use of story. Sarah opens the refugee discussion between kids and parents in her book, Far From Home. Far From Home is a simple but multi-layered refugee story (drawing directly from headlines) that will help children understand the world around them and remind them that they are not alone. Grab Your FREE Printable to Create a Guiding Statement For Your Family: This printable will help you create a guiding statement for your family. In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Teaching our kids empathy and compassion through the use of story  How to talk to your children about the refugee crisis Practical ways your family can help refugees  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Purchase a copy of Sarah's beautiful children's book, Far From Home Read Sarah's articles, 4 Ways Anyone Can Help Refugees  and How To Talk To Your Kids About Refugees Listen to our previous episodes about How To Raise Kids That Change The World and How to Raise Grateful Children  Check out Episode 87: How to Find Your Family's Purpose Quotables and Tweetables: "Many of us cannot imagine that level of trauma, but we can think about what would it be like. We can make a connection from an experience that we've had and use our imagination to get to a place of empathy and compassion." - Sarah Parker Rubio @imbetweenshow "Story gives us the opportunity to strengthen our imagination and help us bridge the gap between our experience and someone else's experience that may be very different" - Sarah Parker Rubio @imbetweenshow "Story helps us make points of connection with people who may be different than us and see their humanity." - Sarah Parker Rubio @imbetweenshow "Empathy and caring is really seeing the humanity of another person, being open to their experience, being willing to receive their story, and being willing to put yourself in their shoes as much as you can." - Sarah Parker Rubio @imbetweenshow "Hope is our armor." - Sarah Parker Rubio @imbetweenshow "Wherever we are together, that's home." - Sarah Parker Rubio @imbetweenshow Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow Pinterest - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! _________________________________________________________________ Meet Sarah Parker Rubio:    Sarah Parker Rubio edits children's and young adult books by day and writes them by night. She was born in the United States, grew up in Costa Rica and Ecuador, and now has a bilingual and bicultural family with her husband, Colombian composer Gary Rubio. They live in the Chicago area with their two sons, Gabriel and Adan; two sassy cats, Perry and Bono; and a giant white dog named Finn. Find out more about Sarah via her Website, Facebook, and Instagram   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anyone feeling tired, stressed, and overwhelmed? Are you looking for a tool to simplify your life and bring back the calm, peace, fun, and love in your home? Us too! In this episode, you will discover how brain science can increase the connection with your spouse and your children. We interview author and speaker Cherilyn Orr on the stoplight approach. You will discover the link between brain science and the Bible, and how you can use this knowledge to cultivate a connected and thriving "green home." In this episode, you'll hear about the following: Explanation of the stoplight approach (red, yellow, green brain states) Connection between the stoplight approach and marriage and parenting Comparison of the stoplight approach to traditional parenting techniques like timeouts Description of a "green home" and its pillars (safety, mutual respect, responsibility) Importance of skill-building and empathy in teaching responsibility Application of the stoplight approach to teenagers and the decision-making process Meet Cherilyn Orr: Cherilyn Orr is an educational consultant, trainer, coach, and resource developer. She has been an educator from pre-school to university level for 35 years. Cherilyn was a teaching professor at Vanguard College in Canada for 14 years and has worked with families and educators in Canada, Uganda, Greece, and England to help build safe schools, safe homes, safe communities, and resilient children. The Stoplight Approach she developed synthesizes the latest research in brain science and her years of experience as a teacher (early childhood, primary, special needs), as a mom to 7 children through birth and adoption, and as a foster mom. Her practical, simple, hands-on approach to understanding children's emotional health and relational needs has helped hundreds of parents, caregivers, and teachers build strong, healthy relationships with their children and their students. For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode171 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

100% of married couples have conflict. But, not 100% of married couples know how to resolve their conflict. We recently watched the Netflix movie, Marriage Story. While it is a heartbreaking to watch a marriage literally fall apart, the movie points out some very important relationship lessons that can make or break a marriage. On Episode 89, Daniel and Christina discuss 6 crucial relationship lessons from the Netflix movie, Marriage Story. Whether you have watched the movie or not, these 6 points will help you re-center and re-focus your marriage on the path to growth, connection, respect, and love for one another.  Have You Grabbed Your FREE Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram? We can’t wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations. Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Important marriage lessons from the Netflix movie Marriage Story How marriage is hard, but divorce is harder  What bids are and why they are crucial to your relationship The importance of learning to resolve conflict with your spouse  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Want to find out more about bids? Read Dr. John Gottman's books The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Workand The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships and What Makes Love Last? How to Build Trust and Avoid Betrayal  Tune into our previous episodes about resolving conflict: Episode 19: How to Handle and Resolve Conflict Episode 37: One of The Greatest Secrets to a Successful Marriage Episode 61: I Think I've Married The Wrong Person  Episode 69: Enneagram and Communication Styles (with Lauren Gray) Episode 70: Resolving Conflict with the Enneagram (with Lauren Gray) Episode 86: The Good, The Hard, and The Beautiful  Curious about how the Enneagram can help your marriage? Check out Beth and Jeff McCord's book, Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage Quotables & Tweetables: "Getting divorced with a kid can be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. It’s like a death without a body." @marriagestory Walking away from conflict does not solve it nor does it end it. @imbetweenshow Marriage is hard, divorce is harder. @imbetweenshow Maybe it’s not the depth of intimacy in conversations that matters. Maybe it doesn’t even matter whether couples agree or disagree. Maybe the important thing is how you pay attention to each other, no matter what your spouse is talking about or doing. @gottmaninst Simply put, successful couples are attentive. They listen, and they put their phones down when the other person wants to chat. @gottmaninst Gottman found when couples break up, it’s usually not because of issues like big fights or infidelity. More often, it’s a result of the resentment and distance that builds up over time when partners continually turn away from bids for connection.@gottmaninst Seek to understand the situation and your spouse's feelings. @imbetweenshow Assumicide is when we incorrectly believe we know another person’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations. We assume we understand why they are behaving in a particular way, and then we respond without asking clarifying questions. @enneagram_coach Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes and downloadable images, go to IMbetween.org/episode89 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an age where we measure success, influence, Youtube subscribers, and Instagram likes, how do you measure motherhood? What makes a Perfect Mom? And is being a good Mom just not good enough? On Episode 88, Daniel and Christina interview New York Times best selling author, Melanie Shankle. Melanie shares her wisdom and humor about the realities of motherhood and helps speak truth into the facade of the "Perfect Mom."  In This Episode, You Will Hear About: The difference between a Perfect Mom and a Good Mom What happens when we parent out of fear How you know when you should stop having children  What our kids need most from us Quality time versus quantity time  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Grab a copy of Melanie's newest books, On The Bright Side: Stories about Friendship, Love and Being True to Yourself and children's book, Piper and Mabel: Two Very Wild but Very Good Dogs Check out Melanie's blog, The Big Mama Blog Listen to our previous episode about Why We Need to Teach Our Kids to Fail  Want to hear more about raising kids that are resilient, passionate, and gritty? Tune into Episode 10: How to Raise Resilient, Gritty, and Passionate Kids  Are you a stay-at-home parent? Listen into Episode 14: How to Thrive as a Stay-At-Home Parent Needing to learn how to balance your work and home life? Check out our interview with Christy Wright about Work-Life Balance Quotables and Tweetables: "The perfect Mom doesn't exist. And, even if she did, we would all hate her guts." @BigMama "The perfect mom is a unicorn, mythical at best. But a good mom is the velveteen rabbit, a little worn from use." @BigMama "I'm confident I'm a good mom, because what ultimately makes a good mom is showing up." @BigMama "I've learned that I sometimes want to parent out of fear, and that's not good for any of us." @BigMama "If we're scared, then we're going to raise kids who are scared. And you know what scared kids don't do? Grow up to be people who impact their world." @BigMama "Let's teach our kids to be brave, even if that means we sometimes have to pretend to be less scared than we really are as we watch them learn to fly." @BigMama "And that sums up having a teenager. These are the years that increase our prayer life as we hold on for the ride to see who they are going to become and try to figure out how to show them the way and get out of their way at the same time." @BigMama "Perfect parents exist. They just don't have kids yet." @imbetweenshow Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! _________________________________________________________________ Meet Melanie Shankle:  Melanie writes regularly at The Big Mama blog and is the New York Times bestselling author of four previous books. Melanie is a graduate of Texas A&M and loves writing, shopping at Target, checking to see what’s on sale at Anthropologie and trying to find the lighter side in every situation. Most of all, she loves being the mother of Caroline, the wife of Perry and the official herder of two wild dogs named Piper and Mabel. The five of them live in San Antonio, Texas.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you know what story you are living according to? That’s influencing the way you parent? Do you know what story your children are living? Every day, we are exposed to over 5000 ads a day! At the grocery store, on Instagram, onYoutube, on Tik Tok, and on the bus ride to and from school.  Every day, it is estimated that we make around 35,000 decisions! The stories that we believe and let drive our lives matter because they are not only providing for us the framework to make decisions, but are also influencing the way we spend our time, our money, and our energy. So if we’re not intentional and proactive in living our lives, and parenting according to the story that matters most to us, then we’re opening the doors to allow fortune 500 companies, peer pressure, and fate to write our stories. And, we can guarantee that none of those things or people have our—or our family's—best interests in mind. The fact is, if we do not invite our children into a story, someone else will.  On Episode 87, Daniel and Christina give you the tools to identify and craft a family story that will give you purpose, direction in life, and connection with one another.  Grab Your FREE Printable to Create a Guiding Statement For Your Family: This printable will help you create a guiding statement for your family. In This Episode, You Will Hear About: What a guiding statement looks like Why it is crucial that your family knows what story they are living out How to invite your family into a meaningful story Principles to creating a guiding statement for your family Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Listen to our previous episodes about How to Set Goals and ACTUALLY Achieve Them and How to End Your Year Strong  Not quite ready to set goals for 2020? Listen to our previous episode about The Year of Grace and Gratitude Want a chance to win a copy of Daniel's newest book: You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love? Head to @imbetweenshow on Facebook or Instagram for more details.  Quotables & Tweetables: "The fact is, if we do not invite our children into a story, someone else will." @imbetweenshow "Unless you have an overarching framework for your family’s story, you won’t know what to say yes to, and what to say no to." @imbetweenshow "When your guiding statement introduces a challenge or problem that you see in the world and how your family is going to overcome it, it will be exciting, memorable, and something that everyone wants to be invested in." @imbetweenshow Your guiding statement creates a sense that you are on the same team moving in the same direction toward a common goal." @imbetweenshow "The sweet spot is if your guiding statement scares everyone just a little bit. Like, can we actually do this? It requires a struggle, an investment, faith, and to trust God outside of our own abilities." @imbetweenshow "By defining the key characteristics your family needs to solve an issue, all of a sudden, you and your children wake up realizing that you are playing a much more important role in your life and in the world than you have ever realized!" @imbetweenshow Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode87 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Imagine what would happen if you stopped expecting your spouse to make you happy? What if you no longer believed that a good marriage is something you find, but rather it is something you work for? How would your relationship change if you embraced difficult times as a season of your marriage instead of an excuse to leave it? On Episode 86, Daniel and Christina interview best selling author, Gary Thomas, about God's beautiful design for marriage. Gary will help us stop highlighting where our spouse falls short and encourage us to focus on the divine mysteries of marriage and the lessons it has to teach us.  BOOK LAUNCH GIVEAWAY: Want to win a pair of these AMAZING wireless earbuds? Send us an email (imbetweenpodcast@gmail.com) of your You Are What You Do book receipt, and you’ll be entered in for a draw for a pair of wireless earbuds! 6-8 hours playtime, 60 hours with a case, and the bass is incredible— they are perfect for listening to music and podcasts! In This Episode, You Will Hear About: God's design for marriage What happens when we admit marriage is difficult  How our struggles in our marriage can be sacred  What we should do if we are not happy in our marriage  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Grab your copy of Gary Thomas' books, The Sacred Marriage  and The Sacred Search Check out Gary's newest book When To Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People Listen to our previous episode about Dating Your Spouse in Every Season of Life Make sure to tun into Episode 76: 4 Things to Remember When Marriage is Hard Quotables and Tweetables: "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?" - @garyLthomas "To spiritually benefit from marriage, we have to be honest. We have to look at our disappointments, own up to our ugly attitudes, and confront our selfishness." @garyLthomas "Romantic love has no elasticity to it. It can never be stretched; it simply shatters. Mature love, the kind demanded of a good marriage, must stretch, as the sinful human condition is such that all of us bear conflicting emotions." @garyLthomas "We can run from the challenges of marriage, or we can admit that every marriage presents these challenges and asks us to address them head on." @garyLthomas "It's not holy instead of happy. Holiness preserves happiness." @garyLthomas "You are going to have good seasons, quiet seasons, and frustrating seasons in your marriage. But, you don't define your marriage by any particular season." @garyLthomas "Marriage calls us to an entirely new and selfless life." @garyLthomas "Though marriage is an amazing institution that reflects God's creative genius, when we want to get the largest portion of our life's fulfillment from our relationship with our spouse, that's asking too much. God didn't design marriage to compete with himself but to point us to himself." @garyLthomas We preserve our marriage because it brings glory to God and points a sinful world to a reconciling creator." @garyLthomas Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode86 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To the mom that’s rediscovering herself as her children are growing older. To the dad that’s wrestling through the tension of being present for his children, while also trying to make ends meet and provide for his family. To the student who is not convinced that a traditional nine to five job is right for them. To the individual who wants clarity around their purpose and identity, since there’s such cultural confusion about who we are and where our worth comes from. And for anyone and everyone who is tired of the hustle, grind, and go of life, and wants to experience something different — this episode is for you!    On Episode 85, Daniel and Christina discuss how to recognize everyday lies in your lives—and why it’s sketchy to build your lives upon them. They also unpack the truth on the other side. The truth that leads to freedom. The truth that will move us from surviving to thriving. And ultimately, the truth that will unlock a life of purpose, adventure, meaning, and destiny.   BOOK LAUNCH GIVEAWAY: Want to win a pair of these AMAZING wireless earbuds? Send us an email (imbetweenpodcast@gmail.com) of your You Are What You Do book receipt, and you’ll be entered in for a draw for a pair of wireless earbuds! In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Daniel's latest book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love How to recognize the every day lies we are believing  The dangers of believing these lies What to do if you believe these lies  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Listen to Episode 82: The Lies We Believe About Ourselves where we go more into depth about the lies "You are what you do" and "You are your past" Catch up on Episode 83: The Lies We Believe About Marriage were we discuss the lies: "You are who you know" and "You are what you experience" Hear more about the lies: "You are who you raise"and "You are who you know" on Episode 84: The Lies We Believe About Parenting  Grab your copy of Daniel's book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love Quotables & Tweetables: "At the root of this lie–you are who you raise–is pride. It's the belief that you are the one who is ultimately in control over the destiny of your children. It's the belief that you can shape and mold them into your image and likeness–that you have not only created them but can sustain them." @danielsangi "Underneath the surface, children who grow up with prideful parents that believe this lie–you are who you raise–will never feel accepted just as they are." @danielsangi "I get that there are times where tough love is necessary, but doesn't every child ultimately need to experience unconditional love and affection from his or her parents?" @danielsangi "Unfortunately, children who have been parented according to this lie–you are who you raise– often grow up believing that contentment is found in pleasing others, since this was the pattern set for them as children." @danielsangi  "No one's purpose in life should be to redeem someone else's unhappiness–neither through success nor through any other means. That is not a way to live, and it applies a weight that no person can shoulder." @danielsangi "Forgiveness is something you can do regardless of the other party, whereas reconciliation requires both parties to do the hard work of repeatedly repairing and restoring trust over time." @danielsangi   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode85   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the surface, believing the lie that you are who you raise doesn’t seem too bad, since involvement in your child’s life is better than neglect. However, underneath the surface, this lie frauds us into believing that our children’s success is our success. And their failure is our failure. Are we the ones that are ultimately in control over the destiny of our children? Can we shape and mould them into our image and likeness? Do we have the power to sustain them? Outwardly, of course we would blurt out, "NO!" But inwardly, we may be sitting with a lie that actually tricks us into believing that our self-worth is tied directly to our children.  On Episode 84, Daniel and Christina unpack two of the common lies that we believe about parenting reframed as half-truths: You are who you raise and You are what you know. These two are from Daniel's new book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love Grab Your FREE Guide to Setting a SMART Goal: This printable will help you set and achieve your goals in 2020. We can't wait to hear all about the goals you have smashed this year! In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Daniel's latest book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love The lies we believe about parenting The vicious cycle we create when we believe the lies that you are who you raise and you are what you know Why we need to overcome these lies and how to overcome them Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Grab a copy of Daniel's new book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love Listen to Episode 82: The Lies We Believe About Ourselves where we go more into depth about the lies "You are what you do" and "You are your past" Catch up on Episode 83: The Lies We Believe About Marriage were we discuss the lies: "You are who you know" and "You are what you experience" Quotables & Tweetables: "If media, which includes YouTube, has become the number-one influencer for our children's career choices, what are the implications?" @danielsangi "And then one day we realize that we have no idea why we are doing what we're doing. And when it comes to parenting, that's a scary place to be." @danielsangi "You are who you raise: This lie is so dangerous because it deceives you into believing that parenting ought to be your all and everything. That your children should be the center of your universe." @danielsangi "On the surface this lie, "You are who you raise" doesn't seem too bad, since involvement in your child's life is better than neglect. However, underneath the surface, this lie actually tricks you into believing that your self-worth is tied directly to the performance of your children." @danielsangi "This lie, "You are who you raise" frauds you into believing that your children's successes your success. And their failure is your failure." @danielsangi Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode84 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the surface, while the Internet, smartphones, and the rise of the gig economy appear to be connecting us with one another, they’re actually doing the very opposite. They’re exacerbating the problems of disconnection, isolation, and loneliness. We are more disconnected than ever before, which is leading to a decline in trust. And the more disconnected and untrusting we become, the more we are going to turn inward and become unhealthily obsessed with ourselves.  Marriage is about unity, oneness, and should be the opposite of selfishness. On Episode 83, Daniel and Christina walk through two of the common lies that we believe about marriage reframed as half-truths: You are who you know and You are what you experience. These two lies are from Daniel's new book, You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love. Grab Your FREE Guide to Setting a SMART Goal: This printable will help you set and achieve your goals in 2020. We can't wait to hear all about the goals you have smashed this year!  In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Daniel's latest book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love The lies we believe about marriage  The negative sides of believing that you are who you know and you are what you experience Why we need to overcome these lies and how to overcome them Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Grab a copy of Daniel's new book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love Listen to Episode 82: The Lies We Believe About Ourselves where we go more into depth about the lies "You are what you do" and "You are your past" Quotables & Tweetables: "On the surface, while the Internet, smartphones, and the rise of the gig economy appear to be connecting us with one another, they’re actually doing the very opposite. They’re exacerbating the problems of disconnection, isolation, and loneliness." @danielsangi "If we're not careful, chasing after experiences can become a god in our lives." @danielsangi "Comparisons is a zero sum game. Underneath it all, there is no end to this lie. There is always more comparison. Instead of quenching the flames of jealousy and envy in our hearts, experiences end up fanning them." @danielsangi "And while freedom is the allure of the gig economy— that you will have more flexibility in your schedule to spend time with your loved ones, and money to spend on experiences—it actually leads to the opposite."@danielsangi "Just consider the free time or downtime that you used to have after work to invite friends over for dinner, to talk with your neighbors, or go to the lake with your family on the weekends. Haven’t you replaced some or all of it with hustling, grinding, and working on the side, so that you’ll have more money to spend time with them . . . at some point in the future?" @danielsangi Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode83 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We live in a day and age of fake news where half-truths are everywhere. At first glance, these partial truths don't seem so hard to swallow. We desire peace in our hearts, in our minds, and in our bodies. So, we become less busy or busier. We set goals of numbers that we want to see on the scale by January 31st. We get a new planner to fill with all the things we want to do. We buy into the lie that we are what we do, we are what the scale says we have become, and we are what the calendar block of the day tells us. It's not the outright harmful, evil, or unjust lies that are dangerous; they are the easily recognizable ones. However, the half-truths - the ones that mingle truth and falsehood with the deliberate intent to deceive? Those are the ones we need to pay attention to.  On Episode 82, Daniel and Christina Im walk through two of the common lies that we believe about ourselves reframed as half-truths: You are what you do and You are your past. These two lies are from Daniel's book, You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love. Grab Your FREE Guide to Setting a SMART Goal: This printable will help you set and achieve your goals in 2020. We can't wait to hear all about the goals you have smashed this year! In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Daniel's latest book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love The lies we believe about ourselves The dangers of believing that you are what you do and you are your past Why we need to overcome these lies and how to overcome them  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Grab a copy of Daniel's new book, You Are What You Do and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, & Love Listen to our This Is Us episode where we share about our past and the purpose of our podcast  Quotables & Tweetables: "A life dictated by doing is not much of a life at all." @danielsangi "Freedom and flexibility are hallmarks of the gig economy." @danielsangi "In doers, I don't want to trust."@danielsangi "No wonder we over-identify with our jobs - we've been conditioned to do so, both from within and from without."@danielsangi "Unfortunately, the thing about pretending is that it always leads to anxiety. You're constantly looking over your shoulder, wondering when you'll be found out, and what will happen then."@danielsangi "When we let this lie define our lives, we inevitably end up neglecting the relationships that mean the most to us, our emotional well-being, and our spiritual health." @danielsangi "We're called human beings, and not human doings." @danielsangi Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode82 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy 2020! Can you believe another year has passed?! We have also entered a brand new decade! With the start of the New Year, have you set some resolutions for yourself? For your family? For your business? According to a recent article in Forbes Magazine, less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8% actually accomplish them. But, guess what? You don't have to be a part of that statistic! On Episode 81, Daniel and Christina discuss how to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based) goals and how this acrostic will help you achieve and smash your 2020 goals! Are you ready?! Grab Your FREE Guide to Setting a SMART Goal: This printable will help you set and achieve your goals in 2020. We can't wait to hear all about the goals you have smashed this year! In This Episode, You Will Hear About: How to set goals and practical ways to achieve them What setting goals and Dopamine have in common The SMART acrostic and how it will help you achieve your 2020 goals Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-Based Resources Mentioned During the Episode: The Forbes Magazine article about New Year's Resolutions that Daniel was referring to Listen to our previous episode about How to End Your Year Strong Not quite ready to set goals for 2020? Listen to our previous episode about The Year of Grace and Gratitude Grab the FREE printable for the Date Coupons here PRE-SALE OFFER for Daniel's newest book: You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies about Work, Life, and Love If you buy before Feb 3 using this link, you will get the paperback copy for 50% off retail price, and a FREE copy of a digital version when you email the receipt to daniel@danielim.com. Quotables & Tweetables:"Make sure the goals you are setting in 2020 are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Based - @imbetweenshow Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode81 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What separates happy marriages from miserable ones? What if we told you that you could have a stronger, healthier, more joy-filled marriage in just 15 minutes a day? Sound too good to be true? Authors Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey have studied relationships (and neuroscience) and discovered the joy gap - a length of time between moments of shared joy. When the joy gap gets bigger, problems are more likely to overwhelm you, resentment creeps in, and you start to feel distant and alone in your marriage. When the joy gap is smaller, you regularly feel connected, happy, and your marriage is a source of joy.  On Episode 80, Daniel and Christina interview Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey (co-authors of The 4 Habits of Joy-Filled Marriages) about how 15 minutes a day, and brain science hacks, can boost your emotional, spiritual, and physical connection with your spouse.  In This Episode, You Will Hear About: How 15 minutes a day will help you stay in love The connection between brain science and having joy in your marriage What the joy gap is, why it matters, and how to shrink it Learn how to return to joy more quickly after disconnection 4 habits that shrink the joy gap: Play together Listening for emotion Appreciate daily Nuture a rhythm  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Grab your copy of Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey's book The 4 Habits of Joy-Filled Marriages: How 15 Minutes a Day Will Help You Stay in Love Wanting to hear more about how to stay in love? Listen to Episode 7: Keeping the Romance Alive  Looking for date ideas to stay connected with your spouse? Tune into Episode 58: Dating Your Spouse In Every Season of Life Feeling a little alone in your marriage? Listen to Episode 76: 4 Things to Remember When Marriage Is Hard Have you listened to our previous New Year's episode? Episode 50: The Year of Grace and Gratitude Quotables and Tweetables: "Falling "out of love" is all about the absence of joy." - Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey @imbetweenshow "Joyful attachment is the most powerful motivator in life." - Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey @imbetweenshow "Hope is just around the corner for your marriage." - Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey @imbetweenshow "What you believe about your wife and husband will have a profound effect on how you treat and feel about him or her." - Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey @imbetweenshow "When appreciation is lacking, the joy gap tends to grow, and as it grows, it tends to fill with resentment." "The good thing about joy is that it is contagious." - Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey @imbetweenshow "Healthy marriages are filled with forgiveness, not resentment. It is a way of saying, "I want our relationship to be bigger than our problems." - Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey @imbetweenshow Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! _________________________________________________________________Meet Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey:Marcus Warner is the president of Deeper Walk International. He is a former pastor and college professor who has written several books including Understanding the Wounded Heart, What Every Believer Should Know ablout Spiritual Warfare, and Rare Leadership. Marcus trains hundreds of leaders and equips thousands of Christians each year across the globe. For more information, go to deeperwalkinternational.org   Chris Coursey is an ordained minister, pastoral counselor, published author, and international speaker. He and his wife, Jen, lead and design the THRIVE Training Program that uses brain-based exercises to train leaders, families, and communities in the 19 relational skills and the Immanuel Lifestyle. For more information, go to happyhappymarriage.org   For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode80 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, you will learn about the benefits of couples therapy and discover practical steps to inspire your spouse to attend therapy. You will also learn how to approach your spouse who may be resistant to attending therapy, and how you can present therapy as an opportunity rather than an obligation. Overall, this episode emphasizes the importance of communication, understanding, and patience in working through relationship issues. For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode170 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether we realize it or not, we all have a relationship with money. Some have a wonderful, healthy, and bountiful relationship with money. Others feel drained, owned, or overwhelmed by money. Every person has a unique way of thinking about and dealing with money. This is called a Money Personality. Not everyone has the same money personality. Perhaps you can see it in your own children. Some kids save like money is going out of style. Others may earn a quarter just so that they can tun around and spend it on anything and everything. Like our own children, we have very different ways of thinking about and dealing with money. It may seem obvious, but here’s a good reminder: most of us may assume that our spouse thinks about money like we do, and if they don’t, they are wrong. But, is that really true? In Episode 79, Daniel and Christina help you discover what your Money Personality is in order to help you understand yourself and the way you think about/approach money.  Have You Grabbed Your FREE Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram? We can't wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations. Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships In This Episode, You Will Hear About: What the 5 Money Personalities are Saver Spender Risk Taker Security Seeker Flyer  How to discover which Money Personality you are The strengths and shadow sides of each Money Personality What financial infidelity is and how to avoid it Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Are you wanting to learn more about The 5 Money Personalities? Make sure to pick up The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language by Scott and Bethany Palmer Want to learn more about how marriage and money can successfully go hand in hand? Listen to Episode 17: Money and Marriage with author Art Rainer Pick up a copy of Art Rainer's book The Marriage Challenge: A Financial Guide for Married Couples Are you wanting to teach your kids about handling money in a way they understand? Take a look at Art Rainer's kids books to help your children learn about money: The Great Lemonade Standoff, The Mad Cash Dash, and Trouble At The Toy Store Want to learn how to raise children that are wise with their spending, saving, and giving? Listen to Episode 29: How to Raise a Money Saavy Kid with Rachel Cruze (daughter of Dave Ramsey) Pick up a copy of Rachel Cruze's book Smart Money, Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money Quotables & Tweetables: "Sometimes the combination of different Money Personalities can create serious tension and conflict. But when you know and respect your spouse’s Money Personality, you will have a greater understanding of each other and hopefully money will no longer be such a “trigger point” to a heated discussion." - @imbetweenshow "There is no right or wrong Money Personality. The goal in finding out your and your spouse's money personality is to help you understand each other better and the way you think about and approach money." - @imbetweenshow "In the grand scheme of things, it's not really about the money. It’s about the relationship, it’s about trust, and respect, and communication." - @imbetweenshow   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode79 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you forgive someone that has wounded you deeply? How do you forgive someone when your wounds are still open? We are about to enter what therapists and counsellors call the most stressful time of the year – the holidays! We are surrounded by people and family that we try to avoid because the relationship is awkward. It is difficult to come face to face with people who have hurt us or be reminded that we have hurt them. On Episode 78, Daniel and Christina interview Sarah Mae (author of The Complicated Heart) about ways she has learned to forgive her alcoholic mother. In This Episode, You Will Hear About: How to forgive someone when your wounds are still open What Gaslighting is and why you need to be aware of it The importance of mourning the past Why you need to set boundaries for the present How to have hope for the future, even if the present situation doesn't look so promising Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Grab your copy of Sarah Mae's newest book, The Complicated Heart  Watch the parody about the Mom being interrupted during the BBC interview here Listen to Episode 77: What to Do When Life Doesn't Go As Planned Quotables and Tweetables: "When we face our pain, that is when God will set us on a healing path and begin to set us free." @sarahmae "It's important to know what your core lies are, so that you can replace them with the truth." @sarahmae "Especially during the holidays, you need to know your boundaries. You need to decide what you are okay with and not okay with."@sarahmae "Grief is the process of facing reality and letting go of expectations." @sarahmae "Mourn the reality of what is, but don't ever mourn what God may yet restore. Don't mourn the future because that's where hope is." @sarahmae   Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts Google Play Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! _________________________________________________________________ Meet Sarah Mae: Sarah Mae is a nationally known speaker, the host of The Complicated Heart Podcast, and co-author of the bestselling book, Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe. She loves to travel all over the country, speaking at conferences and events, encouraging women to walk in freedom. She makes her home in Lancaster County Pennsylvania with her woodworker husband, three spunky kiddos, and a naughty yellow lab named Memphis. Learn more at sarahmae.com and follow her @sarahmaewrites. For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode78 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interruptions: They are the worst! Whether it is finding out your plane is delayed, getting stuck in unexpected traffic, or waking up to a sick child, interruptions mess up our perfectly planned plans. Perhaps you are in a season where interruptions are more heartbreaking than getting stuck bumper to bumper on the highway. Maybe you thought you would be married by now. Maybe you assumed you would be carrying a baby in your arms instead of dragging around an aching heart. When life doesn’t go as we had originally planned, what do we do? What should we do? In Episode 77, Daniel and Christina share the lessons they have learned while recovering from their car accident and from this past year of “interruptions.” Have You Grabbed Your FREE Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram? We can't wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations. Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships In This Episode, You Will Hear About: What to do when life doesn't go as planned  Why grief and surrender are important steps to take  The importance of realizing that there is much more that is outside of our control than is in our control  Why we need to show grace to ourselves and how to do it  How even in our disappointments and grief, we can begin to dream again  Learning to wait with hope Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Are you wanting to hear more about learning to dream again? Listen to our interview with Aaron and Jennifer Smith about Why You Should Dream With Your Spouse Are you suffering from decision-fatigue? Listen to Episode 66: 5 Keys to Help You Make Your Next Decision  Are you in the middle of a decision-making process ? Make sure you listen to Episode 71: 5 Tips to Help You Thrive Your Next Transition and read Daniel’s articles on The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next Steps and The Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling  Quotables & Tweetables: "Interruptions can actually be advantageous and redeemed rather than a regret that looms over our heads." - @imbetweenshow "Showing grace to yourself means not trying to repeat the rhythms of yesterday." - @imbetweenshow "So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” (2 Cor 4:16-18) - @imbetweenshow "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matt 6:34) - @imbetweenshow Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes, head to IMbetween.org/episode77 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s be honest. Marriage is difficult. There are seasons in marriage when there seems to be more fighting than kissing and more tears than laughter. On Episode 76 of the IMbetween Podcast, Daniel and Christina share about their hardest year of marriage and the 4 things they learned while journeying through this rough season. A Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram: We can't wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations. Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships  In This Episode, You Will Hear About: 4 important things to keep in mind when marriage is hard The difference between a convenant marriage and a contractual marriage The lies we need to stop believing about our parenting and our children Why it's dangerous to romanticize about a different life outside of your marriage How the Enneagram can be a useful tool while in conflict with your spouse or others Resources Mentioned During the Episode: Are you suffering from decision-fatigue? Listen to Episode 66: 5 Keys to Help You Make Your Next Decision  Are you in the middle of a decision-making process ? Make sure you listen to Episode 71: 5 Tips to Help You Thrive Your Next Transition and read Daniel’s articles on The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next Steps and The Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling  Make sure you pre-order a copy of Daniel's newest book You Are What You Do: and Six Other Lies About Work, Life, and Love  Listen to our interviews with Ron Deal - the leading expert on raising healthy Blended Families, Episode 74: Blended Families: Strategies to Help Your Stepfamily Blend and Episode 75: Common Pitfalls in Blended Families and How to Overcome Them Want to hear more about Stonewalling? Check out Dr. John Gottman's book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work  Looking for a free Enneagram test? This is the test we recommend Want to hear more about the Enneagram and relationships? Listen to Episode 69: Enneagram and Communication Styles and Episode 70: Resolving Conflict with the Enneagram Quotables & Tweetables: "Remember that marriage is a covenant and not a contract." - @imbetweenshow "The happiness of your kids does not trump the health of your marriage." - @imbetweenshow "You are NOT who you raise." - @imbetweenshow "What is the one thing you can stop, so that you can start investing into your marriage?" @imbetweenshow "Divorce will not solve all of your problems, so don't romanticize it." @imbetweenshow "Just keep talking." @imbetweenshow Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode76 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are there certain things stepparents should know about their stepchildren? Are there particular do's and don'ts a blended family should know about? In part 2 of our interview, Ron Deal (the leading national expert and the most widely read and viewed author on blended families in the country) shares common pitfalls blended families may experience and how to overcome them. If you have not listened to part 1 yet, make sure you go back and listen to Blended Families: Strategies to Help Your Step Family Blend  For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode75 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blending two families is not for the faint of heart. There are many conflicts and bumps along the way as you navigate how to blend two separate families into one. On Episode 74, Daniel and Christina interview Ron Deal, the leading national expert and the most widely read and viewed author on blended families in the country. Get ready to walk away from this podcast with new strategies to help your step family blend in a healthier way. And make sure to tune into part 2 of this interview here.  For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode74 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are your mornings full of chaos? Do you wake up already stressed that you are running late and still have SO much to do? Mornings do not have to be the worst part of your day. If you are ready to have a more peaceful start, here are 5 habits that will help make your mornings less stressful.  For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode73 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I've dreamt about my spouse, but I've never dreamed WITH my spouse." Does this sound familiar? You aren't the only ones! On Episode 72, Daniel and Christina interview Aaron and Jennifer Smith (authors of Marriage After God) about why we should be dreaming with our spouse. We also discuss tips and guidelines of how you can start dreaming with our spouse today.  For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode72 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After moving 9 times to 3 different countries and 7 different cities, experiencing both homelessness and unemployment, Daniel and Christina are professional transition-makers. On Episode 71, Daniel and Christina share 5 valuable tips that will help you thrive during your next transition. Whether you are considering switching schools for your children, moving to a different city, or changing jobs, their hard-earned insights will help you and your children take the next step to a better future.  For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode71 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think about the last time you had a conflict with someone. How did it turn out? Did you feel like the other person was misinterpreting your words, your actions, your need for space (or your need to face the conflict head on)? Do you wish you knew how to approach conflict better? On Episode 70, Daniel and Christina continue their interview with Lauren Gray (certified Enneagram coach) about how each type communicates and how to approach each type when you are in conflict with them. If you missed part one, make sure you tune in to Episode 69 for all the details about Enneagram types 1 through 5.  Have You Grabbed Your FREE Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram? We can’t wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations. Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships In This Episode, You Will Hear About: A deeper dive into the Enneagram and why core motivations are a key factor  Style of communication for Enneagram types six through nine  How to approach and resolve conflict with Enneagram types six through nine What healthy and unhealthy look like in the Enneagram  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: For a free Enneagram Test, please click here  For a paid Enneagram Test (which will be more accurate), check out The Enneagram Institute Testing Center Listen to our previous Enneagram interview with Dr. Drew Moser about The Perfect Gift For Every Enneagram Type The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Cron and Susan Stabile The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships by Helen Palmer How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage by Milan Yercovitch Between us: Using The Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel Centered  by Beth and Jeff McCord Listen to our previous podcast episode with Lauren Gray about The Enneagram and Communication Styles  Check out The Enneagram Journey with Susan Stabile Listen to Typology with Ian Cron  Find out more about Lauren Gray via her website and Instagram @laurenelkinsgray Quotables: "Be led by love and not pushed by fear." - @emilypfreeman "Any healthy number can be in a relationship with any other healthy number. But, certain combinations will have challenges that other numbers may not face because they click more easily. " - Lauren Gray  "The Enneagram can help you chart out paths of growth for yourself." - Lauren Gray "You are not your number. Your number is your personality that you have developed to survive in the world. That personality can be flexible. You can integrate different types into your personality to find more balance." - Lauren Gray "With the Enneagram, the work is always on our end first. We can become more self-aware whether the way we are interacting is fueling or helping the conflict at hand." - Lauren Gray  Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For all the show notes and downloadable images, go to IMbetween.org/episode70 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is an affair, how do they start, and how can you affair proof your marriage? In Episode 169, we interview Braden and Kristen Hafner on common reasons marriages are susceptible to affairs, the role of trust in affair-proofing your marriage, how to identify potential vulnerabilities in your marriage, and how to rebuild trust and recover from infidelity if it has already occurred in your marriage. Meet Braden and Kristen Hafner: Since their parents are friends and they grew up in the same church, Braden and Kristen joke that their marriage was arranged. But the truth is Kristen found Braden to have too much hockey hair for her liking. So Braden cut off his luscious locks and the rest is history. Kristen, a former high school science teacher, and Braden an ordained pastor, have been married for 15 years and live in Edmonton. Together they are the Regional Directors of Alberta for FamilyLife Canada. They run Starting Marriage Strong, FamilyLife's pre-marriage course, and Braden co-hosts Pure Victory Podcast helping individuals get free from porn.  For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode169 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever been in a conflict with someone? Have you ever felt misunderstood or not heard? Does conflict make you want to run away or grab your boxing gloves because you are ready to fight? On Episode 69, Daniel and Christina interview Lauren Gray (certified Enneagram coach) about how each type communicates and how to approach each type when you are in conflict with them. This interview is JAM packed with amazing advice that we had to split it into two episodes! Make sure to tune in next week for part 2. Have You Grabbed Your FREE Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram? We can’t wait for you to get your hands on this resource! This printable will help you have a healthier marriage, deeper friendships, and better work relations. Download our FREE printable: The Enneagram and Conflict Resolution: A Guide to Better Relationships In This Episode, You Will Hear About: A deeper dive into what the Enneagram is How types one through five approach communication  The do's and don'ts about approaching Enneagram types one through five when you are in conflict with them  Resources Mentioned During the Episode: For a free Enneagram Test, please click here  For a paid Enneagram Test (which will be more accurate), check out The Enneagram Institute Testing Center Listen to our previous Enneagram interview with Dr. Drew Moser about The Perfect Gift For Every Enneagram Type The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Cron and Susan Stabile The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships by Helen Palmer Between us: Using The Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel Centered  by Beth and Jeff McCord Listen to our previous podcast episode with Lauren Gray about The Enneagram and Communication Styles  Check out The Enneagram Journey with Susan Stabile Listen to Typology with Ian Cron  Find out more about Lauren Gray via her website and Instagram @laurenelkinsgray Quotables: "The Enneagram gives us nine different lenses for how people are viewing the world. The lens you are seeing the world through and communicating through is going to be very different than someone else." - Lauren Gray  "The Enneagram can help us de-personalize some things to the point where we don't take offense when it's just somebody's approach." - Lauren Gray Subscribe and Connect With Us: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Google Play Spotify Instagram - @imbetweenshow Twitter - @imbetweenshow Facebook - @imbetweenshow And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast, so that you will never miss an episode! For the full show notes and downloadable images, go to IMbetween.org/episode69 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Episode 68, Daniel and Christina discuss why our kids need to be bored this summer and how to help us not immediately default to the TV, iPad, or game console to entertain them.  Full all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode68 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it mean to be an intentional parent? And why is it important? On Episode 67, Daniel and Christina interview Justin Batt (author of Daddy Saturday) about creating every day epic moments for our children. For all the show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode67 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices