Category: Marriage & Parenting
Series
Here’s How to Love a Teen
Parents are called to create an environment of love for their kids – even when they’re teens! But how the heck do you pull it off?
The Teen Brain and What to Do About It
Teen brains are still undeveloped so our parenting strategies need to take that into account as we lead our teenagers.
Two Fundamental Principles for Parenting Teens
Learn how our resources at pursueGOD.org can help you talk to your teen in a meaningful way.
4 Signs That Your Marriage Is in Trouble
A couple’s ability to communicate is obviously foundational to a healthy marriage. Gottman would say there are 4 communication styles that often lead to the end of marriage because of the damage they inflict on couples.
The Failing “Power Tools” of Parenting
Paul Tripp teaches that parents often try to force change on their kids but only God has the power to change their hearts.
5 Things You Must Do if Your Spouse Had an Affair
If you’ve recently discovered that your spouse has cheated, there are five tasks you need to incorporate if you want to move forward in a healthy way.
5 Things You Must Do if You’ve Had an Affair
If you’ve had an affair, it’s not too late to change course and save your marriage. Incorporate these five steps to help you think clearly about the direction you should go.
Is There Hope After an Affair?
If your marriage has experienced an affair, all hope is not gone. But saving your marriage will require something from both of you.
Helping Kids Set Boundaries
Boundaries in parenting are all about transferring ownership where your kids grow and learn how to function as an independent person.
Four Boundary Markers In Marriage
Healthy boundaries lead to a healthy marriage and gives you the ability to love selflessly and sacrificially.
Boundaries With The In-Laws
If you experience ongoing conflict with the in-laws, it’s time to draw some boundaries using three steps.
The 10 Laws Of Boundaries
Like anything in the natural world, healthy relationships are governed by basic principles. Here are 10 of them.
What Are Boundaries In Relationships?
Discover what boundaries are, what happens when we don’t have them and how our upbringing impacts our ability to draw them.
Managing a Relationship With a Vulnerable Narcissist
Vulnerable narcissism is characterized by a combination of narcissistic traits and a tendency towards vulnerability and insecurity.
Helping Your Kids Deal with Weird Sexual Thoughts
Your students’ hormones are raging, and that can drive them crazy. The world encourages them to explore their feelings; the Bible says to take those feelings captive.
Parenting Principle #3: Affirm Your Kids
Every kid – even the most challenging ones – need and deserve affirmation.
Parenting Principle #2: Discipline With Love
The Bible says that if you love your kids, you will lovingly discipline them.
Parenting Principle #1: Put God First
If you want to lead your kids to the promised land, follow the timeless advice of Moses to parents and grandparents. The first principle is simple: put God first.
Healthy Couples Keep Talking
Love and trust are great, but without the practical skill of good communication, your marriage might not go the distance.
Trust Is Earned, Not Freely Given
Choosing love will lead to a life-long marriage, but it’ll feel like bondage without a daily commitment to earning trust.
Love Is a Choice, Not Just a Feeling
If you’re working from a faulty definition of love, your marriage is missing the foundation it needs to last a lifetime.
The Secret Sauce of Christian Parenting
The statistics are shocking when it comes to how many kids leave the faith after high school. It’s because we’re missing one important thing.
Learn How To Really Listen to Your Spouse
One of our greatest needs is to be understood by others. This is especially true for a healthy marriage. Learn what it means to really listen so your spouse can feel most understood by you.
Helping Teens with Depression
Studies show that almost a third of teenagers will battle depression at some point during adolescence. We need to be equipped to recognize the signs of depression and how we can help.
Develop Your Love Map
Do you know your spouse better than their bestie? You should, and a love map can help.
How to Pray for Your Family
God has a great plan for our kids, and prayer is a big part of seeing it happen.
Stop Using Universal Quantifiers in Conflict
Universal quantifiers are over-generalizations that only add fuel to the fire in your conflict so avoid them at all costs!
Helping Your Kids With Anxiety
Every kid experiences anxiety so parents need to be on alert and ready to help their kids navigate it successfully.
Personality Types In Marriage
Understanding your temperament can help you appreciate your spouse, rather than trying to change them into your likeness.
Simply Encourage On The Car Ride Home
What does the car ride home from the game look like in your family? Fight the temptation of being critical about the game and find ways to simply encourage.
Dear Dads, Disciple Your Sons!
At the edge of the Promised Land, Moses made it clear that fathers and grandfathers needed to get in the game with their sons.
How To Predict if Your Marriage Fails or Thrives
Gottman’s research shows that your overall attitude towards your spouse directly impacts whether your marriage will succeed or fail.
When Your Kids Get Rejected By Friends
When your kid is heartbroken over friend drama it can be hard to know how to react as parents. Keep these tips in mind so you’re ready for it!
Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Marriage
Aristotle said three things are necessary for any good “argument”- logos, pathos and ethos. Find out how these three things can help you in your next marital conflict.
Tips for Giving Constructive Criticism to Your Teens
Parents often find it challenging to provide feedback to their teens without sounding critical. Is there a right way to do it?
How to Stop Being So Defensive in Marriage
John Gottman defines defensiveness as “self-protection in the form of righteous indignation or innocent victimhood in an attempt to ward off a perceived attack.”
Test Your Co-Dependency in Parenting
Co-dependency is the excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner or even our kids.
Five Bible Verses for Mothers’ Day
Mother’s Day is coming up! Why not add a Bible verse to your card this year? Here are five great options.
When Your Kid Gets Bullied
If your kid seems depressed, withdrawn or lonely, they may be experiencing bullying.
Take the Selfishness Test for Your Marriage
Selfishness is at the root of marital disfunction. Discover the areas where you need to improve.
Boundaries With Teens
John Townsend says that parents (and their boundaries) are like guard rails helping to keep their teenagers on the right path.
Let the Budget Be the Bad Guy
Sick of fighting over money as a couple? Sit down and create a budget together, and then blame the budget when you can’t buy that new toy!
Parenting Grade School Kids into Confidence
During the elementary school years, kids are developing competence (and hopefully confidence) as they compare themselves to their peers. In today’s topic we look at Eric Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development to identify some do’s and don’ts of parenting kids into confidence.
Attachment Types in Parenting
Our kids will grow up with a particular attachment type – which will impact the quality of their future relationships. Good parents will do everything they can to help their kids form healthy attachments.
Attachment Types in Marriage
Just like personality types or love languages, we all tend toward a particular attachment type. Being aware of your “type” helps you identify your default tendencies in times of stress and conflict.
Relational Immediacy in Marriage
Relational immediacy means inviting someone to stop and reflect on what just happened relationally or emotionally in conflict.
The 5 Traits of an Emotionally Intelligent Marriage
An emotionally intelligent spouse understands their own emotions while also being able to empathize and understand their spouse’s perspective.
Avoid the Romeo and Juliet Situation
Parenting teens who want to date can get dicey.
Understanding Expectations in Marriage
If you feel disappointment, annoyance or anger with your spouse, it may be due to an unmet expectation.
Does the Bible Promise My Kids Will Be Perfect?
Parenting would be easy if the Bible had an instruction manual that guaranteed perfect kids. But, that’s just not how it works.