All Articles for Marriage

More stuff means more bills. More bills require more work.The work life balance cycle is as paralyzing as it is addictive. And it is luring every American family.

Meghan McCain's version of marriage counseling is "drinking Jack Daniels, shooting some guns and hanging out." Is that what you should expect?

I didn’t want to work hard to hand my paycheck over to cover his debt. I wanted to spend my money my way. He is the one who went to college and accrued it!

When and how do you get back into physical intimacy with each other after a new baby? As the husband, I have learned 3 nonnegotiables for sex after baby.  

I polled other women on ways to be a better wife. Because I never want to assume that I have all the right wife answers. Let's see if our husbands agree.

I struggled with a lot of fear when it came to sex after baby! I avoided telling my husband that I was wrestling with a lack of desire for quite awhile.

I no longer felt anything for my husband. That thought terrified me--I don’t love him anymore. "Would I be happier with someone else?" I wondered.

Have you ever thought, I just don't get her? You're frustrated at your wife's frustration with you. You desire to please her. But where do you start?

I wish I could speak to that fresh-faced, 22-year-old newlywed. She needed some of the wisdom that God has deposited in me over the last decade of marriage.

1 in 5 women have the higher sex drive. But when our husbands decline--or rarely initiate sex--it leaves us thinking, What's wrong with him? Or is it me?

When dads share the household responsibilities, it’s a win-win for the family and a win-win for society. Bill Gates, tech guru, and wife Melinda proved it.

Following a Major League Baseball career, my husband's work led to a new demanding position. So, I came home to an empty house and had dinner alone again.

Adding a little tenderness to your marriage is easier than you think.

Invest time in your marriage so your family will have a firm foundation.

There are benefits to abstaining from sex while engaged. Here are five reasons to say “I won’t” until you say “I do.”

Attending FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember^® early in our marriage gave us the tools we needed to build a healthy and sustainable union.

Is it ever okay to deny his advances? Everybody needs an occasional raincheck, right?

Marriage is a big deal. It makes sense to work through the hard questions together so you're equipped to keep the lifetime commitment you're about to make.

After we'd been married awhile, I realized I had gone from Dave's biggest cheerleader to his biggest critic.

Meet Dave and Ann Wilson, the new cohosts of FamilyLife Today® who bring the authentic voice of a couple who has struggled greatly in their marriage—yet found hope and help in Christ.

Suffering from Alzheimer's, lifestyle guru B. Smith hardly seems to recognize the other woman now living in her home. Should we sympathize with her husband?

I am still legally married. But all the things that a marriage typically brings, especially in the world of parenting, do not exist in our marriage.

Maintaining the marital bed isn’t always easy. Here are some ideas to help you keep your marriage strong by coming together often as husband and wife.

The core issue regarding sexual temptation is the condition of our hearts.

At the end of my life, I won’t be sad about what I couldn't afford. I’ll be thankful for the rich memories and lives we’ve built with our children.

Having grown up in the church, it came as a shock to me when my husband and I encountered difficulty consummating our marriage.

Ideas to help you feel like you’re living in luxury without spending much money … or any at all.

Setting goals is important to maintaining a healthy marriage. Here are a few ideas to help you stick to them.

I had no idea what being a wife meant other than we’d live together forever, hopefully have some kids, and file a joint tax return.

Exchanging one spouse for another isn’t as easy as returning the wrong pair of shoes. Choose wisely from the beginning and forget the return policy.

When you look at our marriage you see unity, but you also see each one of us as a different and unique person.

Here are five reasons I wish my husband and I hadn’t moved in together before saying “I do.”

Despite their differing marriage scenarios, my prayer for both the Bezos and Tebows is the same: a happy ending

The divine design of marriage calls us to something deeper—to God’s daily involvement. Because we can’t uphold our vows without Him.

It takes little energy, time, or even thought to take your bedroom romps from great to nonexistent.

Marriages are being transformed at Weekend to Remember® marriage getaways. Here are just a few of our favorite stories guests shared with us last year.

When we became parents, our entire universe shifted. What happened to the couple we were?

I want my own marriage to resemble the one our 41st president had with his late bride, Barbara.

There’s no doubt that marrying my high school sweetheart benefited us for the better.

And if there are really no tears, no heartache, and we can remain friends–is divorce really the most healing and whole option?

You might make sure to head to the doctor each year like clockwork, but when is the last time your marriage had a physical?

Marriage is a relationship that will transform you, if you let it. Saying “I do” is only the beginning of a lifetime of laughter, frustration, forgiveness, happiness, and deep joy. It’s worth it.

What was the last negative statistic you heard about marriage? Most of us can quickly cite sources that point to the fact that half of all marriages end in divorce.

You don’t have to look far in order to find advice for how you can improve your marriage. Articles are all over the internet about what you should say to sustain your spouse’s interest, the type of clothes you should wear to appear more attractive, and how you can be even more intimate with your partner.

There’s a secret that nobody likes to tell dating or engaged couples: Marriage is really hard.

Spending an entire weekend learning how to communicate, grow in oneness, and love one another better was like hitting a reset to our busy lives.

Communication in marriage is not easy. But the fight to communicate is worth the work. In the end, you’ll find a thriving marriage rooted in oneness, not division.

At the Weekend to Remember marriage retreat I found a profound sense of community. It reminded me of one simple fact: We are not alone.

Conflict over money and infidelity might be some of the most common reasons for getting a divorce in our society, but I’d argue that there’s a more common root to most separations:“I’m just not happy anymore.”

Having divorced parents doesn’t mean your own marriage will also end in divorce. You are not destined to live out the same mistakes as your parents.

My husband and I have learned much about putting our relationship into the hands of the Master Renovator.

In our crazy, fast-paced lives, it’s easy to be distracted from what is most important. Here are some ideas to make more time for the person you love most.

One simple concept will guide you into the relationship you always wanted to have.

Married couples who have sex regularly live longer, have better heart health, enjoy a deeper connection, and can let go of annoyances easier.

Billy’s marriage to Ruth was a partnership that had a worldwide impact.

Four suggestions on how to be nag free and make life easier for you and your family.

My journey of committing to praying with my wife for 30 days and the tips I learned along the way.

Some wives don't understand how important respect is to a man. Here are some ideas for how a woman can give her spouse the esteem he longs for.

God has given us women the privilege and the ability to bring life to our husbands with our love.

A wife plays a pivotal role in her husband’s transition from boyhood into manhood.

We need to make a practice of tending fully to the love of our life for a few moments a day, every day.

Here’s a new way to think about leadership in your marriage.

Early in our marriage, these simple principles changed our hearts and transformed our relationship.

There is no way to avoid conflict in your marriage. The question is: How will you deal with it?

Are you looking for some new ideas to help your next wedding anniversary really stand out? Take steps now and begin planning a memorable celebration.

If you want to rekindle the romance in your marriage, you'll find it doesn't require a lot of money, and it often doesn't even take that much time.

I've spent a lifetime learning about how to satisfy my wife's romantic needs. That means meeting her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Your spouse approaches intimacy much differently than you. Here are some things husbands and wives need to know about sex.

After you marry you have a duty before God to meet your spouse’s sexual needs. But sometimes healing and restoration must happen first.

As you study your wife and learn how to define romance according to her dictionary, you will become an irresistible man.

If you apply these concepts correctly, you'll experience freedom in your roles and work better as a team to combat isolation and conflict in your marriage.

I asked some girlfriends, “What should a wife stop doing if she wants to improve her marriage?” This list is based on their responses.

Growing up with my stepdad and younger brother I thought I knew a thing or two about men. While I knew not to change the channel during a football game, not to serve quiche for dinner, and not to attempt to fix a broken doorknob with a rubber band, there were a few important things […]

The only way you can experience true joy is by pursuing intimacy with Christ on a daily basis.

The counterfeit pleasure of an affair can never overcome the ways infidelity can destroy a life and marriage.

Four lessons from my journey of regaining trust in my husband.

Marriage is like a three-legged race; these suggestions will help you cross the finish line in first place.

Two ordinary couples who are helping change the world.

Here’s a practical way to revolutionize your relationship with your family. But it requires some risk.

Isolation can be defeated if you are willing to make the right choices to build oneness and intimacy.

Like the box top of a puzzle, God’s Word provides a necessary picture of what our lives are supposed to look like.

Our selfish nature distorts our view of life and marriage. But God has a different plan.

Women have the tendency to pursue secondary purposes over God's primary purpose.

Take a few minutes to evaluate how you can improve your marriage relationship.

The uncomplicated yet difficult path to oneness in marriage.

Parents often put their marriage relationship on the back burner. These four principles will help you balance working on your marriage while attempting to raise children.

Marriage is facing some big challenges today, but that doesn't mean we should replace it with something different.

A growing number of couples are choosing to avoid marriage altogether.

The real 'happily ever after'

We found that attending a Weekend to Remember® marriage getaway was a different experience at different points in our lives.

One the surface, this approach to marriage sounds reasonable, but in the end it won't work.

The uncomplicated yet difficult path to oneness in marriage.

What does it mean for followers of Christ to live in a culture that often defines marriage differently than the Bible does?

What started as a family reunion turned into a time of intense gratitude for the goodness of God in giving us the years my husband and I have had together

How a husband can best protect his wife from the evil that lurks in this world.

In these days it takes an intentional effort to arrive at marriage with optimal spiritual, relational, and emotional health.

When Ryan and Sarah were jolted by forces out of their control, they saw God transform the circumstances into good.

The story of two people who realized that commitment to one another is grounded in surrender to Jesus Christ.

A wedding is not the completion of engagement but the beginning of a new life.

When I asked my coworkers about how they got engaged, I discovered some proposals that put a smile on my face.

The second in a 3 part series.

October 2003 Editor’s Note: This is the final article in a three-part series.  You can read part one here and part two here. Our wedding day couldn’t have been more beautiful. The sun was shining, and the breeze was cool. My first waking moments were serene. “It’s my wedding day,” I thought as I enjoyed […]

If you want a truly "happily ever after" ending, you need to look for love the wise way

So you’re getting married! Congratulations! According to the latest research, if you are under the age of 30, there is a 58% chance that you are entering your marriage as a child of divorce. Do you fall into this category? If you’re wondering what on earth that has to do with the fact that you […]

Every day each partner in a marriage makes choices that result in oneness or in isolation.

If you want a strong marriage, there comes a time to be honest about yourself.

How can we uphold what the Bible says about marital relationships and make good decisions about housework?

I wrote an article for The Family Room ezine called “She Hated Her Husband.” It was about Brian and Julie Moreau’s disintegrating relationship and the key role that a Weekend to Remember® marriage getaway played in saving their marriage. A skeptical reader posted this comment below the article: “If this story is really true maybe […]

New film tells the true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner, who survived on the battlefield but almost lost his marriage in the process.

While the Bible doesn't apply our modern word "role" to marriage, the Scriptures are clear about the unique responsibilities God assigns to a wife.

The goal of a balanced communicator is to properly manage and express both thoughts and emotions.

Most people believe marriage is the cure for loneliness, but you actually began battling the dreaded foe of isolation when you drove off on your honeymoon

Your words have great power in the life of your husband ... they can lift him up and give him confidence, or they can beat him down.

God wired men and women very differently. And a man's sexual performance with his wife is an inseparable part of who he is.

A marriage can't be restored if only one person wants reconciliation, but don't give up hope. God can give you the strength and wisdom you need.

Too many couples today decide that if their marriage isn't working, they should get out. But the Scriptures point to a God who can bring healing.

If you’re anything like me, you dread the feelings this season brings.

In a culture of self-sufficiency, seeking help may seem shameful or weak, but teachable followers of Christ know better.

A few small actions carry surprising power in building a lasting relationship.

For the sake of our wives, we must once again assume our role as leaders who execute our God-given responsibility with humble hearts and loving service.

It takes courage for husbands to fulfill God’s calling to love their wives for a noble purpose.

Six gifts you can give that remove the pressure to perform.

Romance isn’t something you bring out on special occasions. It's one way you can express your care and love for each other.

Good communication requires certain rules and guidelines, which are simple in one sense and extremely difficult in another.

The best way to protect yourself from an affair is to water your own marriage.

As a wonderful example of a godly husband and father, I've always been able to go to my father for advice about anything.

The purpose and objectives of this list of state and local counseling organizations are strictly informative and educational.

Mary Murray felt betrayed, and Mike felt desperate and suicidal. That's when God stepped in.

When Gerald Varlack lost his job, he was involved with several women—at the same time.

Alberto and Debbie Rodriguez were two strangers living in the same house. One was getting lonelier and lonelier … while the other was clueless.

If you drink deeply from the well of God’s love, you will inevitably pour that love into each other.

Rusty Mauney couldn’t forget his wartime experience in Iraq. As he found relief in alcohol, his wife, Marsha, began asking God to save their marriage.

We can learn to live happily even if we are denied things we consider essential.

As you prepare for facilitating a small group, you will find God strengthening your own marriage and giving you a heart to minister to others.

These five steps have personally helped me have enjoyable and satisfying intimacy with my husband.

Constructing "zones" or "hedges" around marriage can help protect against temptation and appearances of impropriety.

Don't let another day go by without communicating admiration for your husband.

No matter what your marriage stage—newlyweds, raising young children or teenagers, empty nest with grandkids—we share some common needs as wives.

Likewise, you can strengthen your husband's self-esteem. But first you must recognize where he needs bolstering.

A list of things to pray for your husband

Your encouragement can breathe life into your husband.

A wife can help her husband be what God wants him to be by understanding his needs.

If you want a great relationship, learn to showcase your spouse.

A couple weeks ago, in my work here at FamilyLife, I was feeling lazy and listless, uncreative and unmotivated.  Looking for some inspiration, I began reading through a pile of comments from couples who attended a recent Weekend to Remember® marriage getaway in Indianapolis.  It took me all of two minutes to shake away my […]

These ideas will help you freshen your love life.

Here's a list of non-sexual ways to make your wife feel loved, valued, cherished, and affirmed. It will do wonders for your marriage.

If research showed you there were five things you could do to turn a marriage around or to keep a marriage strong, and that they were easy and free, what would you do? Well, here’s your chance. Shaunti Feldhahn spent years interviewing couples to find the ones who had the happiest marriages. Her purpose was to […]

We should be alert for the initial warning signs of unfaithfulness.

In the midst of my pain and self-centered complaining, I exhausted my husband and saddened God.

During the early years of their marriage, Jim and Nina Roesner made some life-changing decisions at Weekend to Remember getaways.

There was an invisible barrier between Marc and Lisa Lavalas.

Ideas to help you make your bride feel cherished.

It doesn’t take long for fear to replace trust, for intimacy to be broken. Just look at what happened in the first marriage.

If your needs are vastly different than your husband's needs, work together to find the right balance or compromise for mutual sexual fulfillment.

Less than 12 months after Tim and Teena Hoover married, their vows to God and to one another were shattered.

Concerned about economic, political, racial, and moral instability in our culture? Disheartened by struggles in your personal life? Here’s what to focus on when the ground shakes beneath your feet.

Marriage offers a tremendous opportunity to do something about our tendency to go our own way.

I have come to see that I must think about my singleness in terms of a space for growth toward Christlikeness.

Troy and Sara Groves once said divorce was not an option. But they didn’t anticipate the struggles they’d face with weaknesses, expectations, and bitterness.

If you're willing to wade into the deep waters, God will help you put the pieces of your broken relationship back together. You can survive—and even thrive.

It was one of the biggest conflicts of our marriage. And as I sat there full of anger and self-righteousness, I knew that I hadn't handled it correctly.

Instead of focusing on treating the symptoms, identify the underlying "disease" in your marriage with these six suggestions.

Five issues that warrant outside intervention.

Trusting my husband was not an option, but I wondered if I could trust God.

You have strengths your husband doesn’t have. It takes a bit of wisdom and skill to help in a harmonious, nonthreatening way.

In a culture of counterfeits and mistruths, marriage needs to be re-branded as an awesome, noble, and challenging adventure.

A husband and wife often begin drifting apart so slowly that they hardly recognize it's happening.

He wasn’t looking for love… but love found him.

It's easy to allow unrealistic or harmful expectations about sex to run rampant through my mind. When that happens I need to stop and ask a few questions.

Editor’s note, May 2015:  In a recent FamilyLife contest, participants were asked, “What marriage do you most admire, and why?”  Here’s a selection of their responses.  For more, read “The Marriages We Admire.” 1. My former pastor and his wife … they are both with the Lord now.  They had very different strengths but they […]

Your wife's need to be heard is her way of letting you be the caretaker and confidant her mother and friends used to be.

My wife's suffering taught us that marriage can bind our hearts together in an unconditional love that our human emotions could never manufacture on their own.

No matter where your marriage is, it can always become stronger. Here are some ideas for those who want to shake things up a bit.

Three communication tips based on wisdom gained from years (and years) of trial and error.

Getting to the heart of your communication struggles.

Marriage has taught me how different I am sexually from my husband.

An annual exercise to listen to your wife's words and hear from her heart.

The goal of our love is to see our wives become more like Christ. I must be ready to die to myself as I cleanse her, nourish her, and cherish her.

The unique, fresh traits that attracted you to your spouse can become tiresome after you are married.

No matter how much effort goes into a garden, it will all be in vain if you don't deal with weeds.The same goes with marriage.

We asked readers to send us ideas on special getaways with their spouse. Here are some of the replies.

Renewing romance in your marriage means taking the time to work on your relationship. Epress love to your husband like you want him to express it to you.

Jerry and Olivia Dugan wanted to stay married but didn’t know how.

Every marriage, no matter how good, needs a plan to combat isolation and to bring about intimacy.

The most meaningful of love letters are simply true, humble expressions of the heart. Learn about the elements of a love letter and things to avoid.

It seemed like the 1948th time we’d had the same exchange. But the solution this time was different.

As an NFL quarterback, I yearned to make the big game. But as much as I love football, I realize it can easily distract us from more important goals.

When you face hardships, it helps to know the truth about God’s peace and sovereignty.

In last week’s Marriage Memo, I wrote of seven things men need to know about marriage.  In a culture of counterfeits and mistruths, it’s important to understand what marriage is about.  Here are seven more things men should know.  As you read through the list, ask God to remake you and help you understand what […]

The North Star of relationships is is knowing Jesus Christ and His purpose for marriage, and trusting in His strength.

Your wife needs your creative energy if she is to become all that God designed her to be.

I wouldn’t trade our empty nest years for the relationship we had in our youth for anything.

How does marriage work when the wife has a high-power position in the working world?

How you can put wind in his sails.

Believe it or not, these small changes can amplify your feelings of love without mood lighting or lingerie.

Early in their marriage, Bill and Vonette Bright realized they needed an anchor for their relationship.

One foolish choice made in a moment of weakness can wipe out years of integrity.

When Brad left a note saying he was moving out for good, I wondered where God was.

Over time, repeated hurts can build up to destroy a relationship, but these suggestions can help you heal before the damage is done.

Make sure you use all the resources and tools God makes available to build oneness in your relationship.

These movies fall somewhere in between 'chick flicks' and 'man movies,' with strong romance to please wives, and enough other elements to attract husbands. 

In this on-the-go, always-plugged-in culture, our lives are hectic and our schedules are packed. Here are some ideas to improve intimacy in your marriage.

For mothers, parenting children can be an enemy of romance. Check out these practical tips for reining in a busy lifestyle.

Don’t let little issues grow into resentment and isolation.

The next time you and your spouse find yourselves in a “discussion,” follow these steps for resolving relational conflicts in marriage.

It's nearly impossible to connect your life to another and not have significant disagreements. These ideas will help you direct your conflicts in a positive way.

When I was a freshman in college—back when I was skinny and long-haired and pretty inexperienced when it came to relationships—I met a girl named Nancy.  We sat together five days a week in a French class, and at some point we began dating. I wouldn’t say it was serious, but between those dates and […]

Because God is faithful, powerful, and willing, you can be realistic and hopeful about your marriage at the very same time.

Help in evaluating the emotional health of your marriage.

These three steps will help you restore freedom in your life.

A few ground rules can transform verbal brawls into a communication breakthrough.

One of the most important principles for resolving conflicts or differences in relationships is overlooking an offense.

When did our culture decide that marriage was supposed to be light and fluffy?

Viewing your spouse as a gift from God is a life-changing perspective.

Practical suggestions that any married couple could apply—no matter how healthy your relationship.

It's all in the way you package it.

Here are three principles that can help you address the issues that keep popping up to disrupt your marriage relationship.

Some issues in a marriage demand ongoing engagement.

What could be closer than your own home, and who could be closer than your own spouse.

Recognizing and fixing a fatal flaw in many marriages: the blame trap.

Once we understood each other’s dreams, and once we each realized what the other person was valuing, our attitudes changed.

Before she got a divorce, her mother had one task for her to complete.

An abuser typically has a well-stocked arsenal of ways to exert power over you.

Why would husbands and wives devote an entire weekend to a seminar designed to improve their marriage relationship? Here's what they tell us.

Looking back, it was easy for us to fall in love. But staying in love, well … that takes hard work.

Four things men can do when initiating prayer.

Even before I began working for FamilyLife, I used to tell people that the Weekend to Remember® was the “best conference I’ve ever attended.” Merry and I went when we were engaged, and we’ve attended several times since then. The weekend provided an invaluable foundation for our marriage—a clear biblical understanding of God’s purposes for […]

If your name is on the Ashley Madison list, or if you have some other secret infidelity like pornography or strip clubs, here are some steps to take right now.

Alex and Jill Averitt learned that nothing is impossible for God.

Submission is one of those often caricatured, rarely understood parts of the Christian life.

God has a purpose for our lives and for the homes where we spend those lives.

How do you balance motherhood with being an attractive, romantic, interesting wife?

Tom Flippin resisted God nearly all his life. But in the end, God answered his wife’s prayers.

Your wife needs you to pursue a relationship with her—not just when you want sex, but as a way of life.

First Peter 3:7 tells me to live with my wife “in an understanding way” and to “grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life.”

During the first two days of our recent vacation in western Montana, the air was filled with smoke from forest fires. My wife, Merry, and I could barely make out the outline of the Bitterroot Mountains. Then a cold front swept out the smoke … and replaced it with rain and low-hanging clouds. We drove […]

Seven stories of couples who decided to make prayer a daily discipline.

Only you know how to best cultivate and guard the woman God has given you.

High touch in a time of high tech.

Five pointers that will benefit any couple.

The result of obeying God and forgiving your spouse is not bondage, but freedom.

A radio listener tells how God used the radio to get her attention.

A story of impossible forgiveness and amazing grace.

Protect your marriage by watching how you talk with the opposite sex, even in jest.

Letters from a Weekend to Remember marriage getaway show that people are still hungry to know Christ.

Some would call me “directionally-challenged.” While my husband, Jim, seems to know where he is at all times, I have difficulty following a map or someone’s directions. I’ve been lost more often than I’d like to admit. It happened again when I went to visit a new friend who lives in the country. She gave […]

My wife, Merry, and I have enjoyed some wonderful, adventurous, and romantic vacations over the years. We’ve been on trips to London, New England, Montana, Oregon, Washington D.C., New York City. We’ve relaxed on sunny beaches in Hawaii, Florida, and South Carolina. And then we’ve taken lots of vacations like the one last week: working […]

If your spouse wouldn’t talk to you for a day or two, you’d probably find it difficult. But what if your spouse refused to speak for three years? That was the situation June Sims faced after 34 years of marriage to her husband, Lamar. As you can read in a fascinating article by Mary Larmoyeux, Lamar […]

Most men are not necessarily unwilling to meet their wife's needs; they simply are unaware of what those needs really are.

As we've moved through this new season of our lives, we've realized that God has something great planned for our future together.

When your kids leave the home, you are forced to consider your marriage relationship in a new light.

These suggestions will help you stand firm in the battle for a strong marriage.

The true story of a husband, a wife, and an online affair.

Can a Christian marriage survive an affair? Mine did.

As I began to delve once again into God's Word, I recognized three steps I should have taken when faced with the temptation.

Strange as it may seem, it was a relief when I realized my husband knew my secret.

Be on guard for your spouse … and yourself.

As I read through several articles about an MSNBC.com/iVillage survey “Lust, Love & Loyalty," I was struck by the fact that I was reading a lot more about lust and love than I was about loyalty.

Our marriage was a mess, and we needed to break a lot of bad habits in how we related to each other.

Some women would feel comfortable taking a four-hour drive to the airport with a trusted male friend. I didn’t.

Your affair may have ended in the past, but unless it's dealt with, it will continue to impact the present and threaten the future.

I was so trapped in my sin that I didn't know how to break free.

Comments from the I Still Do event show the power of getting away to get it together.

“Just a week before the I Still Do™ event,” she said, “I used the ‘D word’ against my husband in front of our daughters.”  The “D word” is “divorce.” And that’s a word that children don’t like to hear from the lips of their parents.  “My 9-year-old broke down and cried, exclaiming ‘What’s happening?’ She […]

The blessings that took place in my life after tragedy gave me hope and reminded me that there was someone larger than this life who is in control.

Sometimes the futility of life strikes hard and we're forced to look for the hidden treasures.

Too many men over 55 think their best days are behind them. It’s time to resurrect the noble mantle of “patriarch.”

I learned more than rhythm while taking dancing lessons with my husband.

Part of our passion is encouraging couples to determine how God can use them after their children leave the nest.

Adjusting to a new reality can be an especially difficult task.

A couple can either move toward the death of their relationship, or look forward to what this new season of marriage has to offer.

When you define your identity vertically, you will be able to stand even when the things around you are passing away.

The older we grow, the more our bodies deteriorate. And that's not necessarily bad.

Learning to be content with enough.

I have been challenged by Kathy Helvey's life and legacy.

Many of us have forgotten or never learned how to rest.

It's very difficult to ask God to forgive those who hurt us, especially when the hurt runs deep.

This topical list will guide you to praying for your wife in every area of her life.

Here is some advice that can help you navigate these waters successfully, including a few good lines that always work.

If you want to understand and love your wife, here are some things you should never do.

After 25 years, I can see a few things I should never have done (and sometimes still do).

These five suggestions are not for the weak of heart.

We talk about how important marriage and family is, but where are we directing our emotional energy each day?

Two ways husbands can leave their wives needing more.

Valuing your wife above everything.

We should resist the highly-romanticized modern visions of manhood and look to Christ as the true model.

When my husband surprises me with a night out, he shows me that he has a sincere desire for me to have some time to myself. And that makes my heart soar.

If you want to pray significantly for your wife, stay tuned to her needs.

How do you love your wife as Christ loves the church? For husbands, this involves understanding what Christ does for us, thinks of us, and becomes for us.

A challenge for men to become the sacrificial lovers and servant-leaders of their families.

Husband's don't need to 'fix' the problem, just show that they care.

Why is it that some men can initiate great tasks and conquer overwhelming obstacles at work and remain so passive in relationships or in leading at home?

Whatever you mean by the statement, it doesn't cut it with husbands in the truth department.

It’s the underside of marriage, the reality of living with someone day in and day out in a fallen world. We need to see ourselves as we really are.

Even after more than 40 years together, our need to forgive each other is as fresh as it was on our wedding day.

I believe a negative attitude about sex wages war against Christian marriages.

Eighty-one years ago, John and Ann Betar were told their marriage wouldn’t last.

Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine, co-hosts of FamilyLife Today®, returned recently from FamilyLife’s third annual Love Like You Mean It™ cruise.  The same week of the LLYMI cruise, another cruise ship made headlines when it lost power and had to be towed back to port, but Dennis reports that the LLYMI cruise had plenty of […]

I could tell I touched a nerve in my recent Marriage Memo on “How Do You Change a Bad Attitude?”.  When I asked for input from readers, quite a few began by admitting to the same problem.  “I have found myself in the position you describe far more times that I like to admit,” one […]

What’s next after mom’s big day? If you’re a mom (or have one in your house), Sunday may have been a glorious day. Breakfast in bed. Cards and drawings from the kids.  A family meal together where someone else did the cooking. Or maybe it fell a little short of what you expected for that […]

John Betar and Ann Shawah grew up across the street from each other in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  They fell in love, but her father had arranged for her to be married to a man 20 years her senior.  So John and Ann eloped.   That was in 1932.  John and Ann recently celebrated their 81st anniversary, […]

There’s no doubt about it—for many people, life seems to revolve around the smartphone.  It’s their connection to friends and family.  It’s their source of information and entertainment and distraction. It’s what they use to read and listen and watch.  It’s their phone, their camera, their map, their appointment calendar, their address and phone book, […]

In a recent Marriage Memo, “Reclaiming Date Night,” Suzanne Thomas wrote of her dismay after asking FamilyLife Facebook readers about what they do for date nights with their spouses. “I expected people to respond with some creative ideas, but I was surprised at the response,” she wrote, “Nearly everyone said they have no date nights […]

After Dennis Rainey’s June 10 Marriage Memo, “Establishing the ‘New Normal’ in Your Marriage,” a number of readers wrote to tell about the struggles they faced with this issue.  As Dennis wrote of the “new normal” dilemma: Each of you brings a different background and a different set of expectations into your marriage.  Your family […]

My husband knew me—dark and light—and he loved me anyway.

Bitterness often costs us more than forgiving would, even if forgiving doesn't seem fair.

Three steps for experiencing healing and growing in maturity.

The bedroom should be a place where love and romance are cultivated, encouraged, and celebrated. And yet it is often treated as a storeroom for clutter.

Your sexual relationship can be an oasis for the two of you in marriage. These ideas can help relief from routine and a refuge from stress.

For romance to deepen, here is a truth that should be emblazoned on the heart of every husband.

This spring, why not bring back to life the buds of romance you once enjoyed? These ideas can help you make romance come alive in the season of new birth.

Marriage is designed to meet the need for intimacy and love. Perhaps deep inside a hurting couple is an invisible "emotional love tank" with its gauge on empty.

Words don't cost anything, and yet when used the right way they are priceless ... truly a gift of the heart.

Whether it’s bad breath, a headache, or hot flashes, something often gets in the way of sex. Here are some ways to overcome roadblocks to intimacy in your marriage.

Dealing with a large weight gain in your spouse.

Communication is the key to making intimacy thrive.

It doesn't require much money to revitalize the spark of romance in marriage. What you do need is the commitment to do it.

Ten creative ways to add some sugar and spice to your marriage.

Twenty-five suggestions for non-sexual touching.

Responses from readers show that the love you demonstrate for your spouse will be one of your greatest legacies.

Editor’s note, May 2015:  In a recent FamilyLife contest, participants were asked, “What marriage do you most admire, and why?”  Here’s a selection of their responses.  For more, read “The Marriages We Admire.” 1. My former pastor and his wife … they are both with the Lord now.  They had very different strengths but they […]

Roger and Tonya Haskin had no clue about marriage.

Forgiveness is the key to getting rid of the nasty emotions churning inside you.

My husband could not ignore the fact that I had an affair, but he chose to let go of my offense. Then I had to learn how to receive it.

It didn't take long for me to realize my spouse would fail. It gave me the opportunity to practice what I preached.

Kirk and Chelsea Cameron describe what has made their “Hollywood marriage” work.

Thinking about forgiveness in terms of four basic decisions helps us forgive others the way God forgives us.

As Christians, we can excuse the unforgivable in others because God has excused the unforgivable in us.

The most important cultural question is not, “What are we going to do about same-sex marriage?” It’s, “What are we going to do about marriage?”

After one of my messages, a man told me about the turning point in his marriage relationship.

A good marriage isn't something you find; it's something you make. And you have to keep on making it.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good story? Especially a love story? As a writer for FamilyLife, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing lots of men and women about their marriages and families. But no one has been married as long as Orvil and Edith Thomas. Their commitment to one another has never wavered for more than […]

On July 8, 2009, my wife Laurie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Almost three long years later, she died on April 4, 2012. Soon my two sons and I will have our first Christmas without Mom. Although it hasn’t been easy, I am filled with hope. Like lots of other people I know, Laurie and […]

Many couples today view the wedding as a celebration of what they’ve attained rather than a commitment to spending their lives together.

In marriage we need a love that is faithful to the end—because Christians are a people who lean into the covenant of grace.

Tracey Penrod refused to give up when she learned her husband was having an affair with his ex-wife.

A Weekend to Remember prayer team volunteer tells his story.

by Abraham Lara As Christmas day approaches many of you will be finishing last-minute details at work, or driving to Grandma’s house, or shopping for groceries before the big meal.  As we gather with friends and family to celebrate Christmas, I am reminded of couples who have an extra reason for rejoicing this year.  Couples […]

I knew I had a bad attitude, but I couldn’t break out of it.

Our world is in desperate need of married couples who strive to love and to serve each other.

Jim and Penny Nally's barn was once a sore spot in their troubled marriage, but now is a place of hope.

FamilyLife's new smartphone app is a tool to help you improve communication and cultivate your marriage relationship.

Why is God so often absent from our ceremonies, except as a token prayer or Scripture reading?

An unexpected trial in the early years of one marriage.

How we answered these questions set the direction and foundation for our married life.

Evaluate the issue you're facing to determine the level of help you need.

Here are four biblical reminders when you face serious family problems.

No matter what your situation, I'm confident that there is hope for any marriage.

Join us in standing firm for families and committing to faithfulness in marriage.

National Counseling and Conflict Resolution Organizations

If people can come to grips with the real purpose of money and understand the truth about it from God's perspective, their lives and marriages will benefit greatly.

In death as in life, my brother reflected Christ’s love and compassion.

Some down-to-earth, practical advice for men who want to step up to their responsibilities.

If you're keeping score in your marriage, you're in trouble.

It's important to realize there are different ways to give spiritual leadership in the home.

What to do when you lose respect for your husband.

Here are 18 tips we think your husband will love.

Your spouse is likely to reflect what he or she hears and feels from you

When you're caught in emotional adultery, these four steps will help guide your heart back to your spouse.

A wife has the unique ability to help her husband feel the freedom to reach his fullest potential as the man God has created him to be.

These simple, heartfelt statements will deepen your love for each other.

As their 40th anniversary approached, Dennis wrote the following letter to his wife.

Keeping your vows, not just saying them, is what builds a strong union

Even simple acts of support can give your spouse the boost he or she needs during a busy work week.

A list to keep you talking with your spouse for a whole month.

Just a five-second look helped connect my mom and dad during a frenzy of activity.

True partnerships are cemented by couples who frequently and specifically verbalize their need of one another.

Recognizing what is your responsibility and what you need to leave in God's hands.

Intentional sharing and meaningful time together are too important to the health of your marriage to be neglected.

Ten Bible verses to help family communication.

You can’t avoid the tough conversations in marriage, but you can conduct them in a way that will ultimately bring you closer to your spouse.

Using word pictures was the key to communication in our marriage.

One of the greatest challenges of marriage is how you speak to your spouse.

When did you last have time to talk about the important things of life?

Research shows that five little things separate great relationships from the rest.

Seeking grace and serving God in the midst of ordinary days.

How many couples considering divorce underestimate the impact it will have on their children?

Editor’s Note:  Here are three recipes mentioned on the July 12, 2014, broadcast of FamilyLife This Week®. The bon bon recipe is very old; if you try to make it, we hope that you are successful and have fun! Bon Bons (Dalcie Rainey)  2 cups sugar 1/2 cup white corn syrup 1/2 cup whipping cream […]

Every day, good or bad, my husband and I remain committed to our marriage

Accepting your differences will help you mature beyond the downsides of your personalities.

New film is encouraging and refreshing for mothers.

In 2007 the Pew Research Center surveyed over 2,000 Americans for a study on attitudes about marriage and family. In one of the questions, participants were asked: Here is a list of things which some people think make for a successful marriage. Please tell me, for each one, whether you think it is very important, […]

Regardless of how we arrived in our unequally yoked marriage, we are part of God's plans and our spiritually mismatched homes are vital to His purposes.

The love story of Kenneth and Helen Felumlee was anything but ordinary

My husband and I couldn’t stand one another.

A testimony from I Still Do™.

A testimony from I Still Do™.

Every day, the world bombards you with messages of power, independence, and control. Jesus tells you the opposite: Die to yourself.

A recent study suggests that cohabiting couples do not face a greater risk of divorce after they marry. But the whole picture is a bit more complicated.

Reaffirming the truth of the gospel each day is the most important thing we can do to mature in our faith and to build a stronger marriage and healthier family.

Moving from loving yourself to loving others.

Love your husband without expectation and respect him as the man God created him to be.

When I see God using us to change lives, it stokes my passion for families.

Two tips for battling the “illusion of permanence” in your marriage relationship.

Learning God's principles for marriage the hard way.

The home may be the place where it’s most difficult to live out our faith—and also the most important.

 

Our modern notion of "falling in love" is based on feelings. And following your feelings can get you hurt.

In a culture of counterfeits and mistruths, marriage needs to be re-branded as an awesome, noble, and challenging adventure.

In a culture of counterfeits and mistruths, marriage needs to be re-branded as an awesome, noble, and challenging adventure.

In a culture of counterfeits and mistruths, marriage needs to be re-branded as an awesome, noble, and challenging adventure.

Couples quickly learn that adjustments are inevitable and necessary in the first years of marriage.

You can do something about your husband’s twin fears. In fact, he will never get over them without you.

Whether you’re six months or 60 years into your marriage, God can and will continue to teach you about how to become the man He wants you to be.

Here are some practical things I discovered during my first six months of marriage.

5 things to share with boys about being men of God.

We asked husbands, “What is one thing you most appreciate about your wives this Thanksgiving?” Here are the replies we received by email.   1. I love the insight into our children’s’ hearts that my wife, Karla, brings into our marriage. She is a wonderful household manager who performs miracles of joyous memories, sometimes with […]

We asked wives, “What is one thing you most appreciate about your husband this Thanksgiving?”  Here are the replies we received by email.  You can find more responses in the comments section at the end of the original article. 1. Terry loves me no matter what my faults are. —Barbara Robinson 2. Well… to be […]

When Tommy Nelson began his teaching series from an Old Testament book, his church in Denton, Tex., had about 700 people. Within a few weeks, attendance was up to 1,400. His service for college students grew from 300 to over 700. And what Old Testament book was the focus of this pastor’s messages? Would you […]

These 10 tips will help you in your discouragement.

Understanding the difference between love and infatuation.

Every wrong behavior begins with believing a lie.

Even though we seldom can see how God uses trials for our future benefit, He has promised to use them for good, and He is faithful to keep His word.

God created sex in marriage to be shared, not withheld.

Most couples face common challenges in marriage. If you don't discuss and resolve the differences between you and your spouse, you're headed for rough marital waters.

Many who wrote echoed the words of one reader who said, “I think date night is vital to a marriage.”

In a Marriage Memo on the value of date nights in marriage, we asked readers to share comments and ideas.  Here are their responses. 1. Oh I am so, so, so very sad to hear that so many couples are not finding a way to create regular date nights … and by regular I really […]

Allowing Christ to reset the course of your life.

Through our HomeBuilders study, we want to help military couples who are facing deployment learn to rely on God's power through their separation.

A partnership between FamilyLife and Cru's Military Ministry is affecting families around the world.

Protecting our marriage as we protect our country.

The idea that the ending of a marriage can be anything but devastating is a fantasy that all divorced parents want and so few achieve.

For many, sex has become a hiding place–a behavior that presen