Learn to Apologize

"The positive strength of a heartfelt apology is one of the most powerful ways to draw closer and experience true forgiveness. Couples do have an incredible capacity to forgive. But without a genuine apology, it is much more difficult".....

https://homeword.com/jims-blog/learning-to-apologize/#.XgpSkUdKiUk

3 Rules for Experiencing Real Honesty with Your Spouse

"The opportunity to love is greatest when honesty abounds and nothing is hidden. True honesty can be difficult at first, but it’s uniquely liberating once established in your marriage. I urge you to fight hard for an honest marriage".....

https://fiercemarriage.com/3-rules-experiencing-real-honesty-spouse

Letting Go of Control In Your Marriage

"Being a control freak in your marriage–or in your life, in general–means you don’t exactly make life easy for your spouse. That probably seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? We control because we want to make life feel easier, more predictable, or more secure. But it actually makes the people around us miserable–and it makes us miserable, too".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/10-ways-to-let-go-of-control-in-your-marriage/

What Your Wife Needs When Your Career Calls You Away

"When life gets stressful for a family, everyone goes into survival mode. Too often, survival mode involves everyone focusing on oneself and achieving his or her own agendas. We end up disconnected and hurt".....

https://www.allprodad.com/what-your-wife-needs-when-your-career-calls-you-away/

5 Ways Advent Can Transform Your Marriage

"Reconciliation in marriage requires that we go to one another with the intention of making things right. It requires active forgiveness and the pursuit of the other. Perhaps you’re due for some true reconciliation?".....

https://marriedpeople.org/5-ways-advent-can-transform-your-marriage/

3 P's That Can Poison Your Marriage

"Ok, so we’re all sinners. Got it. Us being sinners translates into our marriages. Of all the sins that will pollute our marriage, I’ve discovered three that pose the greatest threat".....

https://fiercemarriage.com/3-ps-can-poison-marriage

6 Signs You're a Control Freak in Your Marriage

"Anxiety-fueled, controlling behaviors manifest in a number of different ways. Today, we’re going to talk about six signs that you might be a control freak in your marriage".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/6-signs-you-might-be-a-control-freak-in-your-marriage/

4 Tips to Help You Keep Your Holidays Conflict-Free

"Trying to make sure everything measures up to our standards of holiday sparkle and specialness can leave us feeling rundown, irritated, and exhausted. But there’s another way. 'Let It Go' is more than a Frozen anthem for the pre-school set. It’s also a surefire strategy for giving yourself (and those around you) a truly happy holiday season".....

https://shaunti.com/2019/12/4-tips-to-help-you-keep-your-holidays-conflict-free/

The Pain of Anger and Freedom of Forgiveness

"Anger destroys relationships, but did you know that anger can heal them? Let us explain".....

https://homeword.com/jims-blog/the-pain-of-anger-and-freedom-of-forgiveness/#.Xe591OhKiUk

When Your Spouse is Mentally Ill

"As a Christian wife who dearly loved my husband, I wanted to do right by him as he faced this illness—but I had no idea what to do".....

https://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2017/august/marriage-and-mental-illness.html

Walking Alongside Your Spouse Who's Dealing with a Mental Illness

"When a marriage or family experiences their loved one's mental health distress or disorder, it brings about a lot of emotions and frustration. I can relate because my wife's mental health journey had me searching for answers from God, myself, and others".....

https://mentalhealthgracealliance.org/christian-mental-health-and-mental-illness/7vkgdlazdaievaxd30lrknujr4jl4w42018?rq=5%20noteworthy%20tips

Attitude and Thoughts

"So much of a marriage relationship comes down to our thoughts and attitudes about the marriage. If we acted like the person we would want to come home to, most of our conflicts would disappear. Who would have thought that the quality of life isn’t determined solely by what we do or by what happens to us, but how we choose to think about it".....

https://homeword.com/jims-blog/attitudes-and-thoughts/#.XeWGG-hKiUk

Overcoming Gridlock

"What I’m talking about is the emotional traffic jam that happens in a relationship, which has all the same accompanying emotions and more –  feeling stuck, frustrated, or disrespected. The holiday season is the best time as any to reconsider how to approach gridlocked problems that arise in your relationship".....

https://www.gottman.com/blog/overcoming-gridlock-holiday-season/

A Good Marriage in All Seasons of Life

"Prominent author and pastor Rick Warren and his wife Kay recently sat down for an honest and heartfelt discussion about how to fight for an awesome marriage in a society that continually pulls against it".....

http://kaywarren.com/article/rick-and-kay-warren-tips-on-how-to-have-a-wholesome-marriage-in-every-season-of-life/

4 C's That Can Spell Catastrophe in Marriage

"There are all kinds of pressures that can create marriage trouble, pressures that can compound marital challenges and complicate married life. Sure, all marriages face pressure, and some of that pressure is necessary to sustain a healthy relationship. But if that pressure gets too high, catastrophe can strike. What may set a sick marriage apart from a healthy one is the way couples deal with these 4 pressure point C’s".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/4-cs-that-can-spell-catastrophe-in-your-marriage/

Differences Between a Critical Mind and a Critical Spirit

This isn't an article that is specifically talking about marriage but it very applicable to marriage....

http://ericgeiger.com/2019/11/5-differences-between-a-critical-mind-and-a-critical-spirit/

3 Core Truths for Successful Communication

"The happiest of couples don’t rely solely on communication rules, their secret lies in understanding that good communication is built first on who you are – and only later on what you do. Simply put, successful communication starts with good personal qualities".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/3-core-truths-for-successful-communication/

10 Ways to Push Your Spouse Away

"I originally wrote this post a few years ago. It was so popular with married couples that I decided to update it and share it with you once again. I hope that by reading these 10 Ways to Push Your Spouse Away, you’ll actually learn how to pull your spouse toward you".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/10-ways-to-push-your-spouse-away

Dealing with Change in Marriage

"If you’re in a funk lately, or you’re wondering ‘What is up with my spouse,’ chances are that something has changed and you’re experiencing its effects. Maybe it’s just how they feel that’s changed, or maybe something legitimate is different. Either way, change can be unsettling, but it can be downright destructive when we don’t see how much it is affecting both our lives. So what should you do about it?".....

https://marriedpeople.org/dealing-with-change-in-marriage/

Do I Deserve Marriage My Way?

“'The first purpose of marriage,' Gary Thomas says in his book Sacred Marriage, '… is to please God.'  It’s not to please ourselves."

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/gods-plan-for-marriage/do-i-deserve-marriage-my-way/

10 Strategies to Restore an Ailing Marriage

"Many good marriages often go through times of tension, difficulty or pain. It’s important to remember that just because your marriage is ailing doesn’t mean it’s failing".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/10-strategies-to-restore-an-ailing-marriage

When the Enemy is Attacking Your Marriage

"Every marriage goes through ups and downs. That’s precisely why we say vows like '…for better or for worse…'. We relish in the good days, but what are we supposed to do we do when we feel stuck in a prolonged 'for worse' season—when we feel like we are trying our best, but our circumstances and feelings seem to keep getting in the way of our progress?".....

https://marriagetoday.com/what-to-do-when-the-enemy-is-attacking-your-marriage/

Why do we keep fighting over the same thing?

"Have you ever felt like your marriage was stuck in a cycle of negativity? Without meaning to, you and your spouse seem to keep falling back into the same rut of negativity and criticism, and you’re not sure how to get out of it. You keep letting the same topics trigger you into a rut of rehashing the same arguments over and over with no resolution in sight".....

https://marriagetoday.com/why-do-we-keep-fighting-over-the-same-thing/

Does your wife think your marriage has lost its spark?

"Phil loves his wife, and he has the best of intentions. But, like many men, he needs to understand a bit better what women most need from their husbands, during the emotionally difficult adjustment to an empty nest and in every season of life".....

https://shaunti.com/2019/10/does-your-wife-think-your-marriage-has-lost-its-spark-heres-how-to-respond/

Don't Miss These Meetings

"Some people dread meetings. But in a marriage, we think three types of weekly meetings can help a relationship grow more than you might imagine: a regular date with each other, a business meeting to tackle the family needs, and a time to grow spiritually together".....

https://homeword.com/jims-blog/weekly-meetings/#.XadQnuhKiUk

Are you "Acting Ugly" in your marriage?

"As someone who focuses on marriage full-time, I’m always amazed by how quickly people can go from ‘acting beautifully’ to treating their spouses ugly".....

https://marriedpeople.org/how-one-southern-phrase-can-change-marriages-everywhere/

Good Words Bring Good Fruit

"Proverbs 18 is a very interesting passage of Scripture. Verse 21 says, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.' Then, the verse right after that reads, 'He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.'  In other words, a verse about the power of our speech is followed immediately by a verse about marriage. The way we speak to each other is crucial to the health of our marriages".....

https://marriagetoday.com/marriagehelp/good-words-bring-good-fruit-laws-sowing-reaping?sfns=mo

Are You Treating Your Marriage Like a Contract?

"Covenants are unconditional, based on love; contracts are based on certain conditions being met. Covenants are sacrificial towards someone, while contracts are reciprocal arrangements—'if you do this, then, and only then, will I do that.' Covenants are based on mutual trust, while contracts assume mutual distrust. A covenant of marriage is for life, but a contract is for here and now".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/7-signs-you-may-be-treating-your-marriage-like-a-contract/

Overcoming Boredom in Marriage

"Despite all this encouragement on dreams and romance, you can still become bored. How? Two things, you’re either living life too fast or too slow. The pace of your marriage is crucial in creating excellence".....

https://marriedpeople.org/overcoming-boredom-in-marriage/

8 Decisions that Will Define Your Marriage

"Having Christ at the foundation of not only our lives, but also our marriage, has made a huge difference. My husband and I are both able to draw on God’s strength and wisdom. The closer we have become to Christ, the closer we have become to one another".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/gods-plan-for-marriage/8-decisions-that-will-define-your-marriage/

10 Bible Verses that Changed My Marriage

"The Bible has changed my life and my marriage. Seriously. Depending on where you are on your faith journey, you may look at the Bible (as I do) as a love letter from God filled with inspiration and instruction for life OR perhaps you just see it as an antiquated, outdated relic. Regardless of your current faith (or lack of faith), I’d encourage you to read the ten verses below, because they’ve had a tremendous impact on my life and I believe they could provide some encouragement to you as well".....

https://marriagetoday.com/marriagehelp/ten-bible-verses-changed-marriage/

H.A.L.T.

"In the alcohol-and-drug-recovery world, the acronym H.A.L.T. helps keep addicts from relapsing by reminding them not to get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. These same words are important in keeping a marriage together".....

https://homeword.com/jims-blog/h-a-l-t/#.XZOj30ZKiUk

Put Conflict to R-E-S-T in Your Marriage

"Resolving conflict can be one of the biggest challenges in marriage. When it goes unresolved, a conflict more than likely will cause tension, resentment, discouragement, bitterness, and anger in your relationship. So how can you resolve conflict successfully in your marriage? One way is to practice the R-E-S-T method".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/how-to-put-conflict-to-rest-in-your-marriage

Repair is the Secret Weapon

"When you think about it, every couple in every relationship is set up for failure. It’s impossible to be emotionally available to your partner 100% of the time. In his book, The Science of Trust, Dr. Gottman explains that both partners in a relationship are emotionally available only 9% of the time. This leaves 91% of our relationship ripe for miscommunication".....

https://www.gottman.com/blog/repair-secret-weapon-emotionally-connected-couples/

4 Ways to Avoid Being a Social Media Marriage Casualty

"Did you know that a third of all divorce filings contain the word 'Facebook'?".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/life-issues/challenges/media-and-entertainment/4-ways-to-avoid-being-a-social-media-marriage-casualty/

Four Key Things to Understand About Your Man During Football Season

"If you feel a bit like a football widow, and find yourself resenting all the time your man spends watching football, a few crucial 'aha moments' might be the start of a new perspective—and a new way of addressing it. You may or may not always see dramatic changes in his actions, but it is likely that you’ll see dramatic changes in how you feel about it. And you might just have a little fun along the way".....

https://shaunti.com/2019/09/four-key-things-to-understand-about-your-man-during-football-season/

I Don't Love Him Anymore

"I’ve felt it too. Several years ago, I found myself in a bad season. I was not a happy person. I was struggling in my marriage and frustrated with the way life was going.  A dark cloud shadowed my heart. I no longer felt anything for my husband. That constant thought in my mind terrified me. I don’t love him anymore".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/commitment/i-dont-love-him-anymore/

8 Mistakes I've Made in Marriage

"You see, I’m just one decision away from doing something really stupid that could really damage or perhaps even destroy our relationship. And I can tell you that I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my marriage. Here are 8".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/8-mistakes-ive-made-in-marriage/

Are You Married and Lonely?

"Most people believe that marriage is the cure for loneliness, but I want to warn you: You began battling the dreaded foe of isolation as soon as you drove off on your honeymoon. Isolation has reached epidemic proportions in the most intimate of human relationships. Isolation not only leads to divorce, but it also saps the strength from millions of marriages that still appear intact".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/commitment/married-and-lonely/

Will a Happy Marriage Prevent an Affair?

"The devil knows the way to take one down is not through a deficient spouse but through a deficient self. 'Sometimes when we seek the gaze of another, it’s not our partner we are turning away from, but the person we have become,' Patel writes. 'We are not looking for another love so much as another version of ourselves.'".....

https://www.russellmoore.com/2017/09/14/will-happy-marriage-prevent-affair/

Think Your Marriage is Dying?

"It’s your billionth fight about the same thing. And you’ve noticed your go-to script involves throwing out the d-word like a threat. Back when the temperature in your marriage was pretty hot, you could have never imagined things could get so cool. Even cold. But how do you know things have gone from bad to worse? What should you do if you think your marriage is dying?".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/troubled-marriage/saving-a-marriage/think-your-marriage-is-dying-7-signs-to-consider/

5 Common Mistakes Men Make in Marriage

"Guys, mistakes are, by definition, unintentional. More often than not, we aren’t thoughtless; we just don’t think like our wives want or need us to think. Here are 5 common mistakes men make in marriage and what can be done about it".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/5-common-mistakes-men-make-in-marriage/

10 Things Every Married Couple Needs to Know About Sex

"Sex is one of the most powerful gifts God ever created. It was designed to bring a man and woman together in a physical, emotional and spiritual bond that would create, pleasure, intimacy and also procreation. Marriages that neglect or misuse this gift are headed for frustration and maybe even divorce".....

https://marriagetoday.com/ten-things-every-married-couple-needs-know-sex

3 "A's" of Empathy in Marriage

"Being more aware of your spouse’s feelings starts with being observant around him or her. You can’t read minds or hearts, so you have to observe and ask and listen".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/3-as-of-empathy-for-your-marriage

18 Texts that Say "I'm Sorry"

"While it’s important to give a formal apology in person when you’ve messed up, it’s also good to follow up with a phone call or text to remind your spouse how sorry you really are. Sending 'I’m sorry' texts shows you’re trying to rebuild trust and repair your relationship. These texts are to help inspire a more in depth conversation. Just be sure to make them personal".....

https://marriedpeople.org/18-texts-that-say-im-sorry/

Taking Ownership During a Fight

"In any fight, it’s important to understand that it’s not who is wrong but what is wrong that counts. And good fighters know this. If you are lacking the tools you need to own your piece of the pie, then this post is for you. There are two rules for cultivating this kind of ownership, and we are discussing them today. Let’s dive in".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/two-rules-for-cultivating-ownership-during-a-fight/?mc_cid=d3e35e0b52&mc_eid=82de7e3bbf

4 Myths About Marriage

"You’ll find all kinds of marriage advice out there, and some of the most popular advice is very unhealthy and potentially destructive to a marriage".....

https://marriagetoday.com/4-myths-about-marriage/

What Every Husband Needs to Know

"Obviously, it’s important to know who you’re dealing with! That’s especially true when it comes to marriage. Women often baffle us men".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/husbands/what-every-husband-needs-to-know/

Can't Stop Fighting?

“What are some practical things that you can do when you and your spouse are fighting all the time and you feel you are not on the same page anymore?”

https://www.wintertonstory.com/family-matters-blog/2019/5/4/cant-stop-fightingtry-this

How Infertility Was Affecting Our Marriage

"That day I remember Teri saying, through tears, things like:

• 'I feel like we’re never going to get past this.'
• 'I’m tired of seeing everyone else get pregnant.'
• 'I don’t know how much longer I want to do this.'
• 'We said a year ago that we felt like we were finally getting somewhere, but we’re still here.'".....

https://marriedpeople.org/how-infertility-was-affecting-our-marriage-and-what-we-did-about-it/