Awesome Marriage Podcast

When Eric and Erikah Rivera met and started dating as high school sweethearts, they sensed God’s call on their lives. But they did not know how it would all unfold. Today they are church planters in their hometown of Chicago, and they graciously share their story of how God has met them in the midst of unexpected fear and pain, and the ways He has worked in each circumstance. Don’t miss this encouraging conversation with the Riveras.    We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:  How sharing their fears and grief with each other led to increased faith Unexpected ways God can use our trials when we invite Him to  Should the disciple be known as “Doubting Thomas” or “Ride-or-Die Thomas”?   When God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we hope   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    Application Questions:   What fears are underlying in your heart and mind today? What prevents you from speaking them?  Where do you need to see Jesus show up in your life today? In your marriage?  How do you need support in those things in your marriage today?  How can you better support your spouse in the things they are dealing with today?    RESOURCES You can find Eric and Erikah on Instagram Hear more on the Brook Church website and YouTube Channel  44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage: Sexual Intimacy Cheat Sheet  

This week we conclude our powerful Unpacking the Baggage series with some details on the process of unpacking marriage baggage, and dealing with what’s underneath. I’m so thankful for Dr. Kim’s biblical wisdom on this topic, as well as the excellent guests we heard from this month. If you missed the previous episodes of this series, make sure to go back and listen for some powerful wisdom on how to heal your heart and your marriage.  We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage. Episode highlights include:  Some of the physical signals that can help us prevent overreactions  Slowing down the process to identify relationship triggers  How to begin healing from relationship triggers and figure out what’s underneath What to do if you don’t know what’s underneath    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    RESOURCES 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage: Sexual Intimacy Cheat Sheet The L.O.V.E. Your Way Through Marriage Course, by Chris and Jamie Bailey, is a journey of connecting and learning all the necessary steps to start having healthy conflict. Use promo code AWESOMEMARRIAGE for 10% off!  

How can disappointment or unmet expectations in marriage lead us to God’s healing? Our marriage will only be as healthy as the two people in it, and God wants to restore and heal our hearts. We’re delighted to have John and Stasi Eldredge on the podcast today. The Eldredges share so much wisdom and their personal experiences with God’s healing power in their lives and their marriage.  Episode highlights include:  How to navigate expectations for your marriage and the hurt they can bring  How to take pressure off your spouse and your marriage he two great conversions in the Christian life What they would have missed if they had called it quits   We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.    RESOURCES Dr. Kim highly recommends Pause App, by the Eldredges Check out their site, www.wildatheart.org - it is full of SO many great resources for you!  The L.O.V.E. Your Way Through Marriage Course, by Chris and Jamie Bailey, is a journey of connecting and learning all the necessary steps to start having healthy conflict. 

When we carry parts of our past with us, it still affects us into today. If we aren’t talking about how the past is for each spouse pushing its way into the present, then we’re probably not getting to the depth of the truth of what’s really going on. Dr. Kelly Flanagan is a repeat guest on the podcast, and today he shares some transformative steps to dealing with what’s under the surface, and helping your spouse to do the same. Don’t miss this helpful episode!  Episode highlights include:  Do we really need to bring up old stuff from the past? Why does it matter now?  Is your heart open to your spouse, or closed?  What are steps to helping a spouse deal with their baggage?  What does it mean to “hold space” for your spouse? Plus why and how to do that We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  RESOURCES Find more of Dr. Kelly’s resources, including the Loveable Mini Course, at his website: Drkellyflanagan.com Get Dr. Kelly’s newest book, The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell  Use the L.O.V.E. Your Way Through Conflict Course, by Chris and Jamie Bailey to help you work through conflict productively! 

When we carry parts of our past with us, they still affect us today. You may know there is something going on, but not know what it is. You may sense your spouse has something they are carrying or you might be affected by unresolved conflict in your shared past. Today Dr. Kim shares how these things shape our marriage relationships and what we can do about them. Episode highlights include:   Ever been picked last at recess? Yeah, us too. But do things like that matter in our marriages?  Why aren’t we dealing with this stuff already?  What happens if we don’t deal with our past hurt Is it okay to talk about our spouse’s baggage if they don’t bring it up?  We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.  Subscribe to Podcast Email to make sure you never miss an episode. When you sign up, you will get our 4 Week Connection Challenge for free! Plus you will get noteworthy quotes, resources, and more delivered straight to your inbox.   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    RESOURCES 44 Tips to Better Sex in Marriage: Sexual Intimacy Cheat Sheet This is the FB Live video with Chris and Jamie Bailey that we referred to dealing with Emotional Rationalization  As promised! Here are some Scriptures that speak to the things we addressed today:   Colossians 2:6-10  Ephesians 4:20-24  John 16:33 James 1:2-5  

Here's what's coming up in the next several weeks on the Awesome Marriage Podcast! I'll share which guests will be appearing on the podcast and a snippet of what they'll talk about. This series is full of warmth and wisdom, so make sure to tune into each episode!  

How can just three words help strengthen your emotional, spiritual and mental health? Not only that, but Pastor Mark Batterson says they can shift the tide and change everything. Please, Sorry, Thanks is the name of Pastor Mark Batterson’s new book, and he is here today with Dr. Kim, sharing why it’s worth devoting an entire book to three of the first words many of us were taught growing up! Don’t miss this powerful episode.    Episode highlights include:  Practices to better position ourselves to hear God’s voice over the world’s noise  The psychology of please, the science of sorry, and the theology of thanks The antidote to bitterness, and the lasting impacts of unconfessed bitterness    We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.    RESOURCES For some guidance to try Mark’s idea of asking great questions, try our 52 Questions For Your Family Table. These are designed to help you ask great questions and engage in interesting conversation!  If you enjoyed this episode, you will love Mark’s new book Please, Sorry, Thanks!  

So many parents know the pain of a broken relationship with their adult child. This isn’t how you thought it would go, and you’re not sure how to love your child when they continue to break your heart. Today Dr. David E Clarke returns to the podcast to give some biblical steps that parents can take, individually or as a couple, with their prodigal child.    Episode highlights include:  10 scenarios that can cause relational disconnect with your adult child Steps to repairing your relationship when you’ve fallen short  Resolving parental guilt - and what happens if you fail to do so Forgiving the adult child that has broken your heart  What role do other family members play?    We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  RESOURCES More on this topic can be found in Dr. Clarke's book: Adult Children Who Break Your Heart  www.davideclarkephd.com

Today we tackle listener questions about how to practically apply boundaries in specific marriage situations. Dr. Kim gives some great starting points to help you deal with situations that you may be facing where a boundary would help, but you just don’t know what that boundary should be, or how to set it.    Episode highlights include:  Decision-making boundaries with in-laws  Dealing with a controlling parent How to address an unmet promise without nagging Finding creative solutions to address marriage pain points   We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    RESOURCES Learn all about how to set healthy boundaries for your marriage with our Building Better Boundaries For Your Marriage online course.  Our new Boundaries Workbook Guide helps you decide where and how to start applying this content to your marriage.

Today on the podcast, we’re sharing real stories of marriage boundaries that couples used to help their marriage grow healthier. Dr. Kim and I each share some of our own experiences, and we will hear from 4 members of the Awesome Marriage team about boundaries that helped their marriage.       Episode highlights include:  The money mindset that set Dr. Kim and Nancy up for success together A simple way to transition from your work-from-home to family time   Lindsay and Christina share practical boundaries for couples in ministry  Dr. Kim and Lindsay have opposite takes on one thing their spouses do We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.    *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    RESOURCES Learn all about how to set healthy boundaries for your marriage with our Building Better Boundaries For Your Marriage online course.  Our new Boundaries Guide helps you decide where and how to start applying this content to your marriage. The 7 Most Popular Resource Bundle launches today! It’s available for 2 weeks only, so don’t miss the chance to get 7 of our most-loved resources for just one donation. https://awesomemarriage.com/2023-april-bundle