Delight Your Marriage

We all go through seasons in passion. Sometimes it feels so easy to make love and sometimes its just not. Today I wanted to talk about those seasons that are hard. Maybe its because of children, stress, or medication but sometimes its hard to make sex a priority in your life. I want you to know how I do it. I'm in a season currently where it's not the easiest thing and I want to encourage you that you can do it too. There's good fruit on the other side, it's worth it. Listen in.   View all show notes and other articles and resources at delightyourmarriage.com/119

When you're laying in ICU and the doctor says this operation may kill you, there's a lot that might go through your mind. What Kimberly Rae realized is that what she wanted most is to love God and the people around her, instead of doing the "important" things that seem so relevant in our overbooked, overloaded lives. Listen in to hear the hard-fought wisdom of a woman who lives these truths on a daily basis as she fights through life with her illness. She has lots to share on how to strip away the unnecessary and get to the heart of how God wants us to live our lives. You'll be inspired to love Jesus and the people in your care more, but in a balanced way. In a way that is more aligned with scripture than the do-everything & be-everything saga that I have fallen into myself too many times. Find all the show notes at delightyourmarriage.com/116

We live in a hectic time where energy for the people depending on us can easily get to the bottom of our todo list. Especially our husbands. But how do you prioritize? How do you make sure when this life is over and done with that you've been who were supposed to be, to the people you were responsible for?   As a wife and mother (of toddlers by the way :) I too feel torn at times. I'm still learning. But there's been a method that has worked for me and I wanted to share that with you. Not that you have to adopt all the strategies that are working for me, but that you might be inspired to create your own. Here's what I do yearly, monthly, weekly and daily to ensure I'm walking the straight and narrow with God before me. Believe it or not, it's actually given me more rest than ever.

If you haven't yet heard part I of Mona's story. I'll catch you up. She was terribly betrayed by not only her husband but he had an affair with her best friend. The horror of what she went through penetrated every part of her being. And then she healed. Somehow, someway Mona has become a wife who says to other despairing couples "there is hope." Listen in to be transfixed by the story of a woman who walked an incredibly painful road but who has reason to say "you are not alone in your pain, and you can make it too".

When Mona was approached by her husband, she couldn't believe her ears. His unfaithfulness was a complete surprise. If you had asked her if her marriage could heal from this affair in the beginning she wouldn't have believed it. But God surprised her with healing that she and her husband now help other couples heal from their brokenness as well.  A powerful story that led to healing she didn't think was possible. Now she and her husband give hope to other couples walking through journey to healing.  Find out all the shownotes at delightyourmarriage.com/113

I have been a wife that thought sex was mostly for the man. And I had to go through a process to change that. Chris' story is a lot like mine in that respect. Today she dives deep into why wives can get in this rut and the season she went through to get out.    What You'll Discover: The journey from a reluctant wife to someone who is released in passion Belah's thought process that make you go from a-not wanting to make love tonight, to b-being turned on and ready to go  The stages Chris went through to become a wife who enjoys sex for her own enjoyment Considering what you want your marriage to be like eventually, the advice she would give herself if she could.

What You Will Discover: How seduction can be so fun and exciting in your marriage-bed. The specific steps of seduction and how you can apply it to your intimacy. What seduction what means to him (compared to being in the dark with the lights off). Why intimacy can feel so much better when you're having an active role.  How to have confidence in the bedroom.   Watch the free 1st video of the DYH video course, here.  Find all the resources mentioned at delightyourmarriage.com/111

Parenting our kids around sexual realities can feel overwhelming (and scary, if you’re anything like me!) Well, I hope today’s conversation with Luke Gilkerson, an expert on the topic, will allow you to breathe a sigh of relief as we learn the fundamentals of raising sexually healthy kids. God gives a lot of insight for us to follow through the Bible and Luke shares with us research that has proven these understandings. If you know young people or are a parent, this episode is not to be missed. You can play a vital, life-saving role in their lives, listen to find out how.   Find out all the resources we referenced at delightyourmarriage.com/110

How does a wife move from stressed, dissatisfied, & doing too much for him, to a woman who actually enjoys love making?  I talk to expert, Laura Doyle, who is leading a movement of women who started with her own strife-filled marriage. Now she's enjoying a life filled with joy and peace.  Well, Laura says we’re looking at this whole thing wrong. What if it was easy? What if it started outside the bedroom and what if we enjoyed our whole life more? What if it honored God more? What if we enjoyed sex, as a result? Surprising and potentially life-changing insights are in this episode you won't want to miss.    Find all the links and show notes at delightyourmarriage.com/109

A show I wish I had listened to YEARS ago! We all have ideas of what we'd like our husbands to do. But for many of us we have a very faulty tactic. Instead of feeling cared for, romanced and cherished, we feel resentful, angry, and alone. This is my story. How I started in marriage, what changed and what has happened. Now, who my husband has become is quite incredible.    Find the transcript at delightyourmarriage.com/108

PII: We're one flesh but clearly we’re different people. How does that work? The Bible tells us “therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh,” Gen 2:24. How do we do that practically? We’re listening in to the second half of my interview with Ruth about what it means to let our husband journey alongside us. And be united at the same time.   All the links, resources, and show notes available at: delightyourmarriage.com/107 Check out Part I at delightyourmarriage.com/106 “JII” = Journey Interview, Part II   Ever wondered how to encourage him to lead? I continue this conversation next week. Check out my story “How To Get Him To Do What You Want” to hear my rocky journeythat has led to a lot of contentment and even (surprisingly the romance and connection I had hoped).

How often do you look in the mirror and judge what is reflecting back at you? How many times have you said something negative about your body? ...this week?   Or when was the last time you thanked God for designing "His temple” exactly as it is?   In today’s episode, we walk through someone else’s shoes to understand how it could be different. And why God wants it to be different.   Ruth Buezis has a heart for God and sex in marriage. She believes that trusting our beauty and worth matters to our Creator. And the way we feel about ourselves in sex matters to the rest of our lives. She didn’t always feel this way, not even close. Listen in for hope and healing.   All the links, resources, and show notes available at: delightyourmarriage.com/106 “JI” = Journey Interview, Part I

Sometimes even with our best efforts, because of our society it can derail our thought-life. Today’s guests know that all too well. Mordechai and Ilana have 4 children and are observant Jews, in fact Hasidic Jews.   Usually my guests are Christian, but I felt they had such helpful insight for us, that I had to have them on. It’s also incredibly encouraging to hear about the culture in which Jesus came and the background from which Paul wrote his letters.   You might not agree with all that is said and you might not want to include every idea into your lifestyle. But, I deeply believe this conversation will edify you and help you to love God and His gift of Jesus SO much more. All the links, resources, and show notes available at: delightyourmarriage.com/105

Though I’m mostly talking about purifying your mind regarding sexual thoughts, this is what I would prescribe anyone battling challenging thoughts. I think we don’t talk about purifying our mind enough, especially in regards to sex. I think it may be because of embarrassment or because we think it’s not necessary to address it head on. Well, this episode, I do. I address exactly what I wish someone had sat me down and explained to me when I struggling so severely with my sexual thoughts. I give you the why, the how and the science behind changing your thought-life towards what God desires. All the links, resources, general transcript and show notes are available at: delightyourmarriage.com/104  

PII: Could it be possible, after the gorgeous ceremony and wonderful party, there could be sexual challenges on the tropical vacation? A story that happens too often, but is not often shared: Kellar gives her perspective on the let-down and challenges they faced after choosing to save sex for marriage. But she also gives a lot of hope and practical guidance for other who desire to live holy before the Lord. What she wish she had known, she shares with you.     All the links, resources, and show notes available at: delightyourmarriage.com/103 Check out Part I at delightyourmarriage.com/102 “JII” = Journey Interview, Part II

PI: After yet another heartbreak, culminating in a night of drinking and a miserable morning... made Kellar realize she wasn’t headed in the direction that would be fulfilling. She was ready to get off the rollercoaster of hurt. And God allowed her to take an opportunity to change her life around. Then she made intentional choices and met a man who she began dating and intentionally choosing saving physical intimacy for marriage. Hear her journey and be inspired in your marriage.   All the links, resources, and show notes available at: delightyourmarriage.com/102   Check out Part II (coming out next week) at delightyourmarriage.com/103 “JI” = Journey Interview, Part I

Has the romance died? Is it hard to remember why you fell in love in the first place? Today, we’re talking about how to bring the romance in your marriage back to life. I have date expert, Debi Walter, on to give a myriad of ideas, recommendations and practical steps to get your romance flame burning brightly. It’s vital. All the links, resources, and show notes available at: delightyourmarriage.com/101

If you're single or married, I believe you'll get a lot out of this episode! How do you fall in love? What should you do WAY before you ever meet someone? How do you make changes that you desire? How do you make sure you'll be a good match for each other? AND how do you find this person? Soup to nuts, here is mindset and practical how-to strategy to truly find the love of your life, for keeps. All this and more are covered on my solo show today. It's just you and me, helping you get to where you want to be! Find all the links and show notes at delightyourmarriage.com/100