Explore every episode of the podcast The Living Marriages Podcast | Effective Communication, Intimacy, Healthy Habits, Christian Counseling, Christian Parenting
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| 066 | A Prayer To Know God More In Your Marriage | 25 Sep 2025 | 00:16:04 | |
In episode 65, we asked the all-important question, "Who do I believe God is?" followed by an equally important question, "Who does my spouse believe God is?" On today's Thursday Thought, we reflect further on that, asking God to reveal to us the lies that we believe about him in order that we might discover more fully the truth of who he is and the good that he desires for our lives and marriages! Next Steps How can we be praying for you? Do you need someone to journey with as you discover more about who God is and why that matters in your marriage? If so, drop us a line! We are here for you and want to journey with you: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry? We value your prayers and financial contributions. To find out how you can make a charitable donation, please visit our website - https://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 065 | What Does Your Spouse Believe About God? (And Why It Matters) | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:15:09 | |
One of our callings at Living Marriages is to help couples "centre their marriages on God." But have you and your spouse ever taken time to figure out what you believe about God? In what ways are your beliefs the same? In what ways are they different? Are there any false beliefs that could be causing you to drift apart and miss God's best for your marriage? Join us as we take time to ask some foundational questions about who we believe God to be and why that matters to our marriage. Resources “We must come to an awareness in our own minds concerning the nature of God. That is, we must think about God in ways that match what God is like. Without harmony between our ideas about God and his true character, we will never be able to make the kind of contact with God that will give us confidence, grounded in our experience, in the complete sufficiency of God to provide for our needs.” Dallas Willard from Life Without Lack Next Steps How can we be praying for you? Do you need someone to journey with as you discover more about who God is and why that matters in your marriage? If so, drop us a line! We are here for you and want to journey with you: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry? We value your prayers and financial contributions. To find out how you can make a charitable donation, please visit our website - https://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 064 | A Prayer For The Miracle of God's More In Your Marriage | 18 Sep 2025 | 00:15:39 | |
Today's Thursday Thought provides space for reflection and prayer while asking some extremely practical questions. (If you haven't already, please listen to Ep. 63) So grab your Bible and a journal and join us as we reflect on how God wants to pour into our lives, where we might be missing out on that and practical changes we can make to our habits so we're more available to God and one another. Resources "Find the room where your family spends the most time and ruthlessly eliminate the things that ask little of you and develop little in you." Andy Crouch, Tech-Wise Family Next Steps We'd love to have the opportunity to hear your story and to pray for you. Drop us a line and let us know what cracked jars God is asking you to give up so you can receive his "more" for your marriage and your life! info@livingmarriages.com Thank you so much to those of you who have invested in this non-profit ministry! If you feel God inviting you to partner with us through prayer and a charitable donation, please visit our website to find out how you can do this: https://livingmarriages.com
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| 063 | Are You Missing God's Miracle For More In Your Marriage? 2 Kings 4 | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:14:47 | |
When Bob and Linda Lotich from SeedTime introduced us to the concept of Assets Under Management (episode 61), it was in the context of finances. As we began to consider this more, we've realized that this principal applies to all of our lives and marriages, including how we manage the time, energy and attention God has given us. On this episode, we look at the powerful image of the pouring of oil into jars that God gave April from 2 Kings 4. We consider if we're missing God's miracle for the "more" he desires for our marriage because we're pouring our time, energy and attention into the wrong things, into cracked jars. Resources Read the account from 2 Kings 4:1-7 by clicking here. Next Steps We'd love to have the opportunity to hear your story and to pray for you. Drop us a line and let us know what cracked jars God is asking you to give up so you can receive his "more" for your marriage and your life! info@livingmarriages.com Thank you so much to those of you who have invested in this non-profit ministry! If you feel God inviting you to partner with us through prayer and a charitable donation, please visit our website to find out how you can do this: https://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 062 | A Prayer for Breakthrough In Your Finances | 11 Sep 2025 | 00:17:38 | |
Why is it so hard to trust God, especially when it comes to the area of finances in marriage? In this Thursday Thought, we reflect on our conversation from ep. 61 with Bob and Linda Lotich and God's invitation to shift our mindset from finding our "Net Worth" to stewarding "Assets Under Management." We reflect on the reality of God's goodness and provision AND the challenge it is as humans to continually trust him in that. We also pray for a breakthrough in your understanding and trust of God for your finances in your marriage. Grab a pen and your journal and join us for this time of reflection and prayer! About Bob and Linda + Resources Bob and Linda Lotich have spent the last 15 years helping millions discover true financial freedom with their award-winning blog SeedTime.com and SeedTime Money podcast. Unlike most financial experts, they lead with grace over judgment and focus on creating hope while washing away the shame so many carry with money. In their new book Simple Money, Rich Life, they share practical steps to save and earn more money in order to fund your God-given purpose and dreams. For your free copy of "Simple Money, Rich Life" click here. Support Living Marriages Thank you so much to those of you who have invested in this non-profit ministry! If you feel God inviting you to partner with us through prayer and a charitable donation, please visit our website to find out how you can do this: https://livingmarriages.com
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| 061 | Money Trouble? (Part 2) A Key Mindset Shift for Financial Freedom with Bob and Linda Lotich | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:27:19 | |
In this second part of our conversation with Bob and Linda Lotich of Seedtime.com, we get practical. (Please check out the first part of our conversation in ep. 59 if you haven't already.) One of the key mindset shifts Bob and Linda teach to gain financial freedom is to move away from valuing our "Net Worth" towards stewarding "Assets Under Management." This shift will affect everything from how we budget to how generous we can be, all while growing closer to God and one another in our marriage. About Bob and Linda + Resources Bob and Linda Lotich have spent the last 15 years helping millions discover true financial freedom with their award-winning blog SeedTime.com and SeedTime Money podcast. Unlike most financial experts, they lead with grace over judgment and focus on creating hope while washing away the shame so many carry with money. In their new book Simple Money, Rich Life, they share practical steps to save and earn more money in order to fund your God-given purpose and dreams. For your free copy of "Simple Money, Rich Life" click here. Support Living Marriages Thank you so much to those of you who have invested in this non-profit ministry! If you feel God inviting you to partner with us through prayer and a charitable donation, please visit our website to find out how you can do this: https://livingmarriages.com
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| 060 | A Prayer Before Confronting the GIANTS in your Marriage | 04 Sep 2025 | 00:13:03 | |
In Ep. 59, we heard the incredible story of how God invited Bob and Linda Lotich to trust him with their finances, including giving an incredible 31% of their income. Linda mentioned that they were able to step into this with obedience and surrender because of how they had seen God's faithfulness to them earlier. 1 Samuel 17 tells the story of a young man named David who confronts a giant that nobody else will. How does he do it? It's because God has shown himself faithful in caring for David when he confronted bears and lions first. On this Thursday Thought, we reflect and pray with you as we consider how God is inviting you to trust him with the "giants" in your marriage, whether those be financial or something else. Support Living Marriages Thank you so much to those of you who have invested in this non-profit ministry! If you feel God inviting you to partner with us through prayer and a charitable donation, please visit our website to find out how you can do this: https://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 059 | Money Trouble? (Part 1) God's Wisdom For Your Finances with Bob and Linda Lotich | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:28:41 | |
We are so incredibly excited and honoured to welcome two Spirit-led guests who we've looked up to for years in the areas of finance and marriage: Bob and Linda Lotich of Seedtime. As Bob and Linda sought out God's wisdom for their finances and obeyed him, he moved them from beginning their marriage with crushing debt to giving away $1 million by the time they were 40 with incredible joy. Join us for Part One of this incredible conversation as we hear Bob and Linda's story along with God's invitation to his find financial wisdom and freedom for your marriage. About Bob and Linda + Resources Bob and Linda Lotich have spent the last 15 years helping millions discover true financial freedom with their award-winning blog SeedTime.com and SeedTime Money podcast. Unlike most financial experts, they lead with grace over judgment and focus on creating hope while washing away the shame so many carry with money. In their new book Simple Money, Rich Life, they share practical steps to save and earn more money in order to fund your God-given purpose and dreams. For your free copy of "Simple Money, Rich Life" click here. Support Living Marriages Thank you so much to those of you who have invested in this non-profit ministry! If you feel God inviting you to partner with us through prayer and a charitable donation, please visit our website to find out how you can do this: https://livingmarriages.com
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| 058 | The Couple That Prays Together Stays Together: "For Yours Is The Kingdom..." | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:08:59 | |
As we conclude this series on examining the Lord's Prayer and Marriage, we're reminded of the simple yet profound fact that everything, including our marriage, belongs to God. Are we willing to seek him in our marriages together? Are we willing to surrender our lives and marriages to him daily, in prayer? Research has shown that couples that pray out loud together daily lower the odds of divorce from around 50% to 1%. It's a stunning reality and yet when you pray together, you realize why. Prayer does draw you together, it does bring about unity. So will you join us in praying the Lord's Prayer together daily? Or do you have another prayer practice you'd be happy to share with our listeners? Let us know! info@livingmarriages.com Thanks also to all of you who have been supporting this non-profit ministry. To find out how you can make a charitable donation, please visit: https://livingmarriages.com God bless! | |||
| 057 | Overcoming Temptation In Marriage: "Lead Us Not Into Temptation And Deliver Us..." | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:13:35 | |
"Lead us not into temptation..." has always been an interesting petition in the Lord's Prayer since Scripture clearly tells us that God does not tempt us (James 1:13) Why did Jesus include this in his prayer then? Join us as we explore Jesus' invitation to "keep us from the test" - to keep us from unnecessary testing in our lives and marriages and to have a renewed mindset, finding our hope and deliverance in him. Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 056 | The Price of Unforgiveness in Your Marriage: "Forgive Us Our Debts As We Have Forgiven..." | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:15:35 | |
Unforgiveness...bitterness...resentment. This is fertile ground for God's enemy to sow all kinds of chaos into our marriages and families. And yet this is the same ground where, when it comes into God's light, we can see his incredible transforming grace and love at work, bringing healing, wholeness and hope. That's why today's petition of the Lord's Prayer is so incredibly important for our lives, for our marriages, and for our families. Please join us today as we reflect on our need for God's forgiveness in our lives and our need to forgive one another. Next Steps As we mention in the episode, the journey of forgiveness can be difficult but there are tools available and community to journey together with. We'd love to pray with you and help equip you on this journey. To get in touch with us, please click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 055 | Fresh Manna For Your Marriage: "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread..." | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:14:01 | |
As we continue our series in the Lord's Prayer and marriage, we come to the petition that I (Aaron) find both incredibly comforting and incredibly challenging. Can I trust you, God, to meet my needs and those of our family today? And not just today but every day? This petition, as we'll discover, goes far beyond just our material needs though. It's also a daily call for us to trust God with what we need emotionally and spiritually, personally and in our marriages. Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 054 | When Heaven Breaks Through Into Our Marriages: "Your Kingdom Come..." | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:20:09 | |
Today we pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is heaven." What does it mean to have heaven in our marriages today? Why does God invite us to surrender our lives and marriages to him through this petition and why the heck is that so hard??? Resources To find out more about John Ortberg's book "Eternity Is Now In Session," please click here. You can find that beautiful quote by Thomas Green here, along with a simple and powerful spiritual exercise. Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 053 | Join Us In Praying At The Point of Pain | 24 Jul 2025 | 00:13:03 | |
Thursday Thoughts will be taking a break for the next several weeks. That doesn't mean, though, that we aren't praying for you and your marriage. In fact, we are taking the time we would normally put into recording, editing and publishing these episodes and will be praying for you and your marriage. We'd love it if you joined us in that. We'll still be praying with you on the podcast as well as part of our weekly teaching/discussion episodes. By the way, here is that incredible NT Wright quote in today's episode from "The Challenge of Easter": The Christian vocation is to be in prayer, in the Spirit, at the place where the world is in pain...
Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 052 | Who Comes Out On Top In Your Marriage? "Hallowed Be Your Name" | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:16:43 | |
The Lord's Prayer contains a word we just don't use very often today and so we often struggle its meaning: "hallow". What does it mean to hallow the name of the Lord in our lives and in our marriage? Join us in our series on the Lord's Prayer as we discover what it means to hallow God's name, why that might be scary and the beauty and freedom that can come from this, as God hallows his name in our lives and marriages in answer to this prayer. Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 051 | Pray With Us: "Our Father In Heaven..." | 17 Jul 2025 | 00:11:01 | |
On this Thursday Thought, as we take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer daily in our marriages, we take time to reflect on the opening address of the Lord's Prayer and consider if we might be treating as something transactional or relational. We also pray for those who experience an obstacle praying to our "heavenly Father" because of past trauma and we spend time worshiping the God in heaven, who is worthy of our praise! Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 050 | Are You Treating God Like A Vending Machine? The Lord's Prayer and Marriage | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:11:05 | |
Do you ever worry you're not doing or saying something right in prayer? That if you only knew the secrets to unlocking prayer that you would have your heart's desire? If so, you're not alone. We've been there and still struggle with this idea. If we persist in this attitude of prayer, we may be in danger of treating God like a vending machine. As God invites you to take up the Lord's Prayer as a couple daily, we examine the opening of that prayer: "Our Father in heaven..." In this powerful address, Jesus graciously reminds us that prayer is relational, not transactional (like the transaction of putting a coin in a vending machine and expecting something in return.) As this becomes our framework for our relationship with God, how will it affect our marriage as well? Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 049 | A Prayer For Those Desiring New Ways of Deeper Connection | 10 Jul 2025 | 00:11:58 | |
On today's Thursday Thought, we reflect on the simple habits that allow us to connect in powerful and transformational ways throughout our day and ask God to highlight the habits we can celebrate as well as be open to the new habits he's inviting us to try in our marriage. We also consider how powerfully the Lord's Prayer, as a daily habit we participate in together, will powerfully combat the forces of drift and difference that continually want to pull us apart. Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 048 | One Simple Prayer That Can Transform Your Marriage For A Lifetime | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:13:22 | |
What if there was a small, simple, habit that could transform and shape your marriage for years to come? What if this habit only took you thirty seconds? Over the next several weeks, we'll be doing a deep dive into the prayer that Jesus taught his apprentices to pray - The Lord's Prayer - and how God can transform and shape your marriage through the habit of praying this together daily as a couple. Today, we just want to give you an overview of the subtle yet powerful ways that God has formed our marriage through this simple habit. Next Steps If you and your spouse want to take up the habit of praying the Lord's Prayer together daily, let us know so that we can encourage you! Click here or e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com We'll pray for you, cheer you on and check in with you as you start forming this new habit together! Want to support this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com
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| 047 | A Prayer For A Miracle and Breakthrough In Your Marriage | 03 Jul 2025 | 00:16:33 | |
As you heard in Episode 46, JB and Erin Crocker were only an hour away from having their marriage end for good. And then God gave them a miracle - a miracle of repentance, of transformation, new hope and a new marriage. Join us on this Thursday Thought as we pray for a miracle of breakthrough in your marriage as you seek God's best for your marriage together. Next Steps We realize that some of you may relate to the story of brokenness and despair we reflected on in today's episode. We want you to know that you are not alone. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. We would also be thrilled to get you in touch with JB and Erin if you'd like their insight for your marriage journey. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 046 | Discovering God's New Marriage For Us: Part Two With JB And Erin Crocker | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:30:55 | |
In Part One of JB and Erin's story (Ep 44), we heard about how God brought their marriage to an end - a marriage that was characterized by conflict, manipulation, brokenness and despair. In Part Two today, we'll hear about:
Next Steps We realize that some of you may relate to the story of brokenness and despair you've heard in today's episode. We want you to know that you are not alone. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. We would also be thrilled to get you in touch with JB and Erin if you'd like their insight for your marriage journey. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com
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| 045 | A Prayer For God To Meet You Where You Are In Your Marriage | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:10:56 | |
The good news of the gospel is that God, in his love, meets us right where we are at. The good news though, is also that God loves us too much to leave us there. In Episode 44, we heard the story of JB and Erin Crocker and how God met them in the midst of the brokenness of their marriage and invited them to something new. But before there was something new, something old had to pass away first. Join us for this Thursday Thought as we pray for you to experience the good news of the gospel in your marriage, that meets you right where you are AND calls you into something new. Next Steps We realize that some of you may relate to the story of brokenness and despair in marriage that we were reflecting on in today's episode. We want you to know that you are not alone. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 044 | When God Ended Our First Marriage: Part One with JB and Erin Crocker | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:24:41 | |
JB and Erin Crocker have been on a journey in their marriage. It's one that involved brokenness, despair and ultimately hope and redemption. On today's episode, we are privileged to hear the first part of their story: how God ended "Version 1.0" of their marriage - a marriage that was filled with manipulation, fear and shame; a marriage that was no longer sustainable. We'll hear:
Next Steps We realize that some of you may relate to the story of brokenness and despair you've heard in today's episode. We want you to know that you are not alone. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 043 | A Prayer To See Our Story In God's Story | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:11:04 | |
On this Thursday thought, we consider how God's fingerprints are all over our stories, especially when we're in a place of pain or confusion and may not sense God there. We reflect on what it means that Jesus calls us "friends" (John 15:15) and we pray that we might see how our stories, our marriages are a part of God's larger story. Next Steps In this episode, we share the story of our journey through infertility. We understand that the journey of infertility is painful. We also know that you might be in the middle of another journey of pain or confusion. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 042 | Our Journey Through Infertility Part Two: A Miracle and God's Fingerprints | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:10:24 | |
On today's episode, we share how God showed up in a very unique way for us. You'll hear how April kept seeing the time 11:11 and the Scripture God finally nudged her to check out, the evening before we found out we were pregnant. We also humbly acknowledge that our story is not everyone's story - that God may have another outcome for you in the journey you're on. At the same time, we believe that if we're willing and open, we'll see God's fingerprints all over our story telling us how, in fact, we are a part of his big story. Next Steps We understand that the journey of infertility is painful. We also know that you might be in the middle of another journey of pain or confusion. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com | |||
| 041 | A Prayer For God's Blessing In Our Marriage | 12 Jun 2025 | 00:12:32 | |
On this Thursday Thought, we reflect on what it means to be blessed. We'll discover how being blessed is not about what we have (or don't have) but rather the presence of God in our lives. We reflect on Stanley Hauerwas' invitation to consider the Beatitudes, those beautiful "Blessed are..." from Matthew 5 and what this might mean for our marriage: Too often the Beatitudes are turned into ideals we must strive to attain. But Jesus does not tell us that we should try to be poor in spirit, or meek, or peacemakers. He simply says that many who are called into his kingdom will find themselves so constituted. Stanley Hauerwas, "Jesus Changes Everything" Next Steps In this episode, we share the story of our journey through infertility. We understand that the journey of infertility is painful. We also know that you might be in the middle of another journey of pain or confusion. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com
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| 040 | Our Journey Through Infertility Part One: Learning The True Meaning of Blessing | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:13:30 | |
How many times have you heard someone say, "I'm so blessed..." when they're referring to having something they desire? Does that mean that someone who doesn't have what they desire isn't blessed? On today's episode, April and Aaron share their 3 1/2 year journey through infertility and how God met them in the midst of their journey, even though they couldn't always sense him. You'll also hear how God taught them what true blessing is (hint: it's not in what you have or don't have). Whether you are on the journey of infertility or not, this episode points to the lovingkindness of the God who meets us in the midst of our pain and confusion. Next Steps We understand that the journey of infertility is painful. We also know that you might be in the middle of another journey of pain or confusion. We'd love to be able to hear your story and pray with you. Please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here. You can also e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? Please visit our website http://livingmarriages.com
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| 039 | A Prayer For Friendship And Fun In Your Marriage | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:13:03 | |
Join us for this Thursday Thought as we:
We'll meditate on Proverbs 17:22 together and pray God's grace and blessing on the friendship in our marriage. If you have a story of something fun you like doing in your marriage that we can share with our listeners, please click here! Or you can e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com
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| 038 | Why Fun Matters In Your Marriage | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:07:34 | |
Recently, we have been reminded of the importance of fun and friendship in marriage. To make sure we have time to invest in some of that fun ourselves, we're keeping the episode shorter and asking for your help! We'd love to hear from you about one way you and your spouse have fun in your marriage We'll share your ideas in an upcoming episode. You can click right here and get in touch with us: https://livingmarriages.com/contact#httpslivingmarriagescomcontact Or e-mail us: God bless!
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| 037 | You Mean I Can Enjoy The Bible? A Prayer For Joy and Friendship With Jesus | 29 May 2025 | 00:19:34 | |
We were so inspired by our conversation with Your Bible Coach Keith Ferrin in episode 36! Who knew that reading our Bibles could be helpful AND fun! On this Thursday thought, we spend more time in reflection about what it means that time with God in the word is "relational", not just "informational" and we pray that you may grow in intimacy with God and each other through your time in his Word. Ignatian Gospel Contemplation Resources A helpful short video that explains the practice of gospel contemplation: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-contemplation/ Another helpful website with further explanations and guided examples of Ignatian gospel contemplation: https://www.lindsayboyer.com/ignatian-meditation Next Steps Would you like to explore some of these ideas further or would you like prayer for your marriage? We'd love to journey with you in that so get in touch! info@livingmarriages.com We need your prayers and support to keep this non-profit ministry going. Please consider how you could partner with us. To make a charitable donation, visit: http://livingmarriages.com
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| 036 | Two Tips For Finding Joy In Your Bible Reading with Keith Ferrin | 27 May 2025 | 00:42:54 | |
"We expect the Bible to be true, we just don't expect it to be good." Keith Ferrin Anybody who has grown up in the church has been taught that reading our Bibles is an important part of being a follower of Jesus. The problem is that many of us don't know where to start or if we have, how to stay consistent with it. These problems follow us into our marriages where, with the busyness of life and young families, bible reading habits either disappear of feel burdensome. Today's guest, speaker and Bible coach Keith Ferrin, offers insight into this problem, helping us move from seeing Bible reading as a burden to the joy God has meant it to be! On this fascinating episode we discuss:
To find Keith and his excellent resources, please visit: He also has a wonderful YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@keithferrin If you'd like to connect with us to ask for prayer, coaching or to give us feedback or suggestions, we'd love to hear from you! info@livingmarriages.com You can also visit our website to find out how you can support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com
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| 035 | One Flesh? A Prayer For Unity In Your Marriage | 22 May 2025 | 00:14:12 | |
Grab a pen, your journal, your Bible and your favourite drink and join us for this Thursday Thought! Today, Aaron shares a reflection on what unity is from God's perspective and how it's been his heart for humanity since the beginning of time. He also prays that we'd discover what it means to have Christ at the head of our marriage and that we'd find a "togetherness" as we confront problems. Resources Check out Tim Mackie's excellent bible study on the idea of "One Flesh" from The Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/classroom/adam-to-noah/sessions/15
Next Steps We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like prayer for your marriage, would like us to journey with you in your marriage or have feedback or ideas for us, get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com Support our non-profit ministry! If you'd like to help keep new episodes of the podcast coming, please visit http://livingmarriages.com to make a charitable donation. Thank you!
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| 034 | One Mindset Shift For Greater Unity In Your Marriage | 20 May 2025 | 00:18:28 | |
"We are on the same team!" This one simple truth has the power to transform our marriages and bring us greater unity. Yet, it is a truth that eludes us as so often we find ourselves seeing our spouse as the problem, rather than being able to confront the problem together with our spouse. In this episode, we chat about:
We also discuss the Edmonton Oilers latest Stanley Cup playoff run and what we can learn in our marriages by Leon Draisaitl playing good defence. Next Steps We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like prayer for your marriage, would like us to journey with you in your marriage or have feedback or ideas for us, get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com Support our non-profit ministry! If you'd like to help keep new episodes of the podcast coming, please visit http://livingmarriages.com to make a charitable donation. Thank you!
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| 033 | A Prayer To Overcome Pride and Shame In Your Marriage | 15 May 2025 | 00:16:17 | |
Do you believe that God has "better" for your marriage? Do you want to join God in discovering all he has for you? In Episode 32, we heard from Ron and Amanda Falk about how God has invited them on the journey to discovering the freedom and sanctification he has for them in their marriage. It hasn't always been easy or smooth but it has been good. On today's Thursday Thought, we follow up with some reflections on what sanctification might and might not be in marriage and we pray for the humility and grace we need to be open to what God wants to do in our marriages. Grab your Bible, journal and your favourite drink and join us as we seek God's heart for our marriage! Next steps If you'd like prayer or support for your marriage, or even find a marriage mentor, we'd love to connect with you: info@livingmarriages.com Please consider supporting this non-profit ministry through prayer and charitable donations. You can find out more at our website: http://livingmarriages.com
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| 032 | Why Marriage Counselling Is Not Only For Crisis With Ron And Amanda Falk | 13 May 2025 | 00:23:17 | |
Counselling is often seen as a "last ditch" attempt to save a marriage that is in crisis. But what if that wasn't the only time seeing a counsellor could be beneficial? Today's guests, Ron and Amanda Falk, began seeing a counsellor when things were actually pretty OK in their marriage and have enjoyed incredible growth and fruit in their marriage because of it! In today's episode we chat about:
Resources One tool that they mentioned has been helpful for them is the "Ultimate Intimacy App" designed by a Christian couple. You can find more information on that app here: To become a marriage mentor (or find mentors) in Canada, please visit: https://www.familylifecanada.com/become-a-homebuilder/#become-a-marriage-mentor
Next Steps If you'd like to get a hold of us, we'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com We are a non-profit ministry and need your prayer and financial support to keep this podcast going! Please consider supporting us http://livingmarriages.com
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| 031 | Understanding Your Money Story - A Prayer for God's Abundance and Provision in Marriage | 08 May 2025 | 00:17:58 | |
Grab your Bible, journal and your warm favourite beverage and join us for this Thursday Thought as we reflect on and pray through our money stories that we brought into our marriage. Aaron shares some of his money story and how God has been doing a work of healing in his life around his scarcity mindset. He'll also lead us in a Lectio Divina around Psalm 37:1-7 as we get to hear from the Lord how he invites us to trust and delight in him, especially as it pertains to our money story. Next steps Get in touch! We'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com We are a non-profit ministry! If you're feeling called to support us, please visit our website to find out how you can make a charitable donation: http://livingmarriages.com
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| 030 | What Is Your Money Story? Questions About Financial Intimacy In Marriage | 06 May 2025 | 00:18:33 | |
Money, Sex and In-Laws: These are often the three most intense areas of conflict in any marriage. On today's episode, we dive into the area of finances and see how our "money story" (how we were raised to view and treat money) can impact our marriage. We'll also invite you to explore your money story with your spouse with some of these great conversation starters provided below! Sample Questions to Ask About Your Money Story (from Shaun Maslyk, CFP)
Resources https://www.moneysense.ca/columns/a-rich-life/whats-your-money-story/ If you'd like to support the work of Living Marriages Ministries (a registered non-profit,) you can make a charitable donation at our new website! http://livingmarriages.com Get in touch with your feedback, prayer requests or episode ideas: info@livingmarriages.com
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| 029 | A Prayer For Sexual Intimacy In Your Marriage | 01 May 2025 | 00:16:48 | |
Sex is a beautiful and wonderful gift that God has given us within the context of marriage. It is something that we can enjoy, that we can serve one another in and that ultimately is an act of worship. However, sex can also be a pain point in many marriages as we wrestle with past trauma, shame and bad teaching. On this Thursday Thought, we reflect, together with God on our understanding of sex and his hope for us in this area. We ask some important questions of why we think of sex in the ways we do and if there are areas of surrender and healing we need from God. We pray for God's perspective on sex and to increase the sexual intimacy in our marriage. We also encourage you and your spouse to go back to Episode 28 and our conversation with Kristen Miele. After listening to that and then this episode, spend time with your spouse in a safe and curiosity-filled conversation about sex in your marriage. We pray that it will bless you. Have some thoughts, questions or would you like to reach out? We'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com Please also consider making a charitable donation to keep this non-profit podcast on the air: www.livingmarriages.com We thank you for tuning in, for your prayers and support! | |||
| 028 | Why Sex Isn't A Dirty Word with Kristen Miele of Sex Ed Reclaimed | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:32:07 | |
Is sex something that has brought you and your spouse closer together, or has it been a pain point in your marriage? Is sex something you can talk about freely with each other and your kids, or is there a cloud of shame that still hangs over the subject? We are so thrilled to be joined on this episode by the founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed, Kristen Miele as she shares God's heart and vision for the beauty of sex in marriage. On this episode:
To find Kristen's incredible resources and curriculums, please check out her website: https://www.sexedreclaimed.com/ You can get 15 percent off at Kristen's site with the coupon code CHRISTIANPARENTING Have any questions or feedback? Get in touch with us: info@livingmarriages.com
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| 027 | What Do My Kids See In My Marriage? A Prayer For The Brokenhearted | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:18:44 | |
When our kids look at our marriages, what do they see? Even if you don't have kids, this episode is for you because our marriages matter to others, including the next generation. Join us for this Thursday Thought in which we reflect on and pray about our discussion from Ep. 26 in which we learned that “if we truly want what is best for our children, we need to want what is best for our marriage as well." Grab your journal, your Bible, a pen and find a quiet spot for a time of reflection and prayer as we seek God's healing and his best for our marriages so they may be a blessing to others, especially the next generation. A Breath Prayer from Psalm 147:3 Inhale: You Heal The Brokenhearted Exhale: And Bind Up Their Wounds
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| 026 | What Are Your Children Learning About Marriage By Watching You? | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:21:13 | |
It's so easy to believe that marriage only matters to a husband and a wife. But as God has really been laying on our hearts, it's time for us to realize that our marriages matter to so many more, especially the next generation. Whether you have kids or not, this episode is for you. Now, to the parents listening - this episode is not a guilt trip about the ways in which your marriage is hurting your children. It is though, as we found, a gracious "wake-up" call from the Lord to realize that if we truly want what is best for our children, we need to want what is best for our marriage as well. In this episode, we discuss:
Quote: “In his lab, John found that the amount of stress hormones that show up in a child’s 24-hour urine sample accurately reflects the quality of the parents’ relationship. The worse the marriage, the more stress hormones there are in the child’s urine. There’s no question that the cradle that holds the child is the parental relationship. The cradle can either gently soothe the child to sleep or violently throw her to the floor.” (Dr. Daniel Segel from the Forward to "10 Principals For Doing Effective Couples Therapy") Resources 10 Principles For Doing Effective Couples Therapy by Drs. Julie and John Gottman https://www.gottman.com/product/10-principles-for-doing-effective-couples-therapy/ An Article On the Work of Dr. Gordon Harold A Summary of Some of Dr. Harold's Findings An Academic Study on "Constructive" vs. "Destructive" Conflict
Have questions? Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com Your support, both financial and prayer, make all the difference! To make a charitable donation, please visit our website: livingmarriages.com
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| 025 | Intentional Faith Habits - A Prayer for Overwhelmed Parents | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:16:51 | |
In Episode 24, we had the privilege of having a conversation with Christie Thomas about the importance of small faith habits in discipling our kids. In this Thursday Thought, April leads us in a time of reflection and prayer, giving us a chance to celebrate with God the little habits we might be sharing in already that form us and our children and asking God to help us build simple, new habits that will stick. (Even if you don't have children, this episode is for you as small faith habits matter to all of us!) So grab your journal, your Bible and find a quiet place to spend some time with us and the Lord! Resources: Little Shoots Deep Roots with Christie Thomas https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/ Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker https://littlehousestudio.net/books We would love to hear from you about some of the little habits that have worked for you and your family's spiritual life. You can e-mail us: info@livingmarriages.com If you'd like to support us with a charitable donation or find out more about us, please visit our website: www.livingmarriages.com
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| 024 | How the Small Habits Make a Big Difference in Marriage and Parenting with Christie Thomas | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:29:31 | |
How do you foster a sense of spiritual connectedness with God and your spouse when you also have the reality of little ones bringing daily joy and chaos? This is a challenge that we share with many of our listeners. That's why we're so excited to chat with Christie Thomas from Little Shoots, Deep Roots about ways in which we can cultivate a deeper spiritual journey "with" our kids instead of "in spite" of them! In this conversation you'll hear:
To find out more about Christie's incredible ministry (including books, videos and her new podcast), please visit her website: https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/ For more on Living Marriages or to get in touch with us, visit us at our website: www.livingmarriages.com or email us: info@livingmarriages.com
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| 023 | A Prayer For The Small Things In Our Marriage | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:15:33 | |
On this Thursday Thought, please join us for a time of reflection and prayer as we consider the ways God is inviting us to "plant" and "tend" to the small habits in our marriage so that they may grow into the living, connected and intimate marriage he has for us! We'll consider the "mustard seeds" in our marriages as well as invite God, our "master gardener" to come and help us tend, weed and even prune what's already there. To read the parable of the mustard seed, click here for Matthew 13. Grab your Bible, your journal and find a quiet space to join us and the Lord! Want to get in touch? Send us an e-mail info@livingmarriages.com
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| 022 | How Doing The "Small Things Often" Can Make A Big Difference In Your Marriage | 08 Apr 2025 | 00:18:01 | |
I confess! I (Aaron) love big, radical things! I'm always looking for the "next big idea" that will change our lives and our marriages, the "silver bullet" or "magic formula" that will bring dramatic transformation. However, while we should not discount the big things, I've been learning the ways in which God is inviting us to discover and invest in the small things. When these are done often, with intentionality and care, they will make a big difference in our marriage. In this episode:
Resources A study from Penn State on how the small things make us feel loved: https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/love-actually-americans-agree-what-makes-people-feel-love An article from the Gottman Institute on "bids" in relationship: https://www.gottman.com/blog/marriage-not-big-thing-million-little-things/? A fun blog from the Gottman Institute on some of the small things couples do for each other: https://www.gottman.com/blog/small-things-often-ingredients-happy-relationship/
Want to share with us some of the small things you do often for each other? Send us a note! info@livingmarriages.com
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| 021 | A Prayer For Hope In The Valley from Psalm 23 | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:16:11 | |
Have you felt at times that God has abandoned or forgotten you? - In times of grief, doubt and confusion, do you worry that he might not care for you the way he promises to in Psalm 23? Grab your Bible, your journal and your favourite beverage and join us for this Thursday Thoughts edition of Living Marriages as April leads us in a time of reflection and prayer in Psalm 23. How can we recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd? How can we know that he is in the valley with us and, even in the midst of the darkness, that he will provide for us and for our spouse? April shares a personal story of God's presence as our shepherd through the valley of infertility. Let us know how we can be praying for you! info@livingmarriages.com | |||
| 020 | Hope In The Valley? God's Grace in Marriage, Cancer and Parenting with Pastor Kyle Brooks | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:33:49 | |
Do you ever wonder where God is in the valleys of life? If you need hope and encouragement for the journey, this episode is for you! Kyle Brooks, pastor and author of "Through the Valley: 40 Days on Psalm 23 A Lenten Devotional" is our guest. In our conversation, Kyle candidly shares:
Through it all, he shares the hope and encouragement we have because, "The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing." To find out more about Kyle, his devotional and podcast, please check out the following: https://kylebrooks.substack.com/ https://www.tapestryoakland.org/ https://www.multiracialministry.com/ If you'd like to connect with us for prayer or with some feedback, suggestions or questions about the podcast, we'd love to hear from you! info@livingmarriages.com
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| 019 | A Prayer To Discover and Experience Intimacy In Your Marriage | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:12:59 | |
How would you answer these two questions about intimacy in your marriage?
If you have positive answers, join us in thanking God that you are able to both give and receive love in your marriage! If you struggle, as many of us do, please don't lose hope. God is for you and your marriage and he wants you to be able to give and receive love in the fullest expressions of intimacy in our marriages. Grab a journal and your Bible, your favourite beverage and find a quiet space to reflect and pray together and to hear God's heart for the intimacy and connection he has for us in our marriage. If you'd like to connect and have us pray with you or walk with you in some way in your marriage, we're here! info@livingmarriages.com | |||
| 018 | Why Intimacy Goes Beyond the Bedroom | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:14:59 | |
When we use the word "intimacy," our culture (and even our churches) have conditioned us to think of what happens in the bedroom, of sexual intimacy. While sexual intimacy is an integral part of marriage, it is not the full picture of what God has created us for and invited us into. There is so much more to intimacy and today's episode is meant to get the conversation going on what intimacy in marriage can look like beyond the bedroom. According to Eric Erickson, intimacy is the potential someone has for connectedness and it hinges on 3 things:
Two important questions we ask about intimacy in marriage:
Resources: This is a bit of a technical paper (but still very approachable) and is a good look at Erickson's ideas on intimacy: A link to Henri Nouwen's essays on Intimacy: https://archive.org/details/intimacyessaysin0000nouw Have questions or need prayer? Get in touch with us: info@livingmarriages.com
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| 017 | A Prayer to Overcome Drift and Differences in Marriage | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:13:23 | |
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 It is fairly clear that marriages in our society are under attack. In Episode 16, we learned from Braden and Kristen Hafner of Family Life Canada that two of the enemy's strategies to destroy our marriages are subtle: difference and drift. Please join us in this Thursday Thought as we spend time together and with the Lord:
Grab a journal and your Bible, find a quiet spot for some reflection and prayer and join us as we seek God together for our marriages!
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