Have you ever felt that when your spouse is listening to you, it only LOOKS like they're listening? That as soon as you're done speaking, they will unleash their advice and their opinions on you?

On this Thursday Thoughts episode, we'll discover HOW we listen matters just as much (or more) than the fact that we are listening. We'll also learn:

• that "listening to understand" is more important than "listening to convince"
• how listening to understand can help us escape the drama triangle

Resources:

“In a study of two types of listening, clinical psychologist Faye Doell demonstrated how people who listen in order to understand versus listen in order to respond have higher across-the-board relationship satisfaction.”

from "Good Inside" by Dr. Becky Kennedy

https://www.goodinside.com/book/

An excellent article on the drama triangle:

https://www.idmin.org/_files/ugd/0d9c11_b989426836064bd3a9dfdfe15fe4e382.pdf

Want to get in touch with us? info@livingmarriages.com and check out our new website: www.livingmarriages.com

"Shame is the most powerful force on the planet, apart from grace."

Katie Skurja, founder of Imago Dei Ministries, is an internationally recognized inner healing practitioner, spiritual director and marriage counsellor. We were thrilled and honoured that she could join us in this conversation exploring the devastating power of shame in our marriages and the joy and freedom available in Christ's healing work.

Topics we explore include:

• What are "shadow vows" and why every couple should do them
• God's grace that is available for us to turn into and confront our shame rather than hide it
• How, as image bearers of God, we are like "Peanut M&Ms"
• When we understand the paradoxes of God, we understand ourselves and our spouses better
• What the drama triangle is and how it threatens our marriages

Resources:

For Katie's incredible conversation with children regarding the image of God and "Peanut M&M's", check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVTBnl5iEEg&t=310s

An excellent article on the "Drama Triangle":

https://www.idmin.org/_files/ugd/0d9c11_b989426836064bd3a9dfdfe15fe4e382.pdf

Where to find Katie, her resources and courses:

Imago Dei Ministries - https://www.idmin.org

Companying Center - https://www.companioningcenter.org

Let us know what you think of this conversation! Contact April and Aaron at info@livingmarriages.org

When is the last time you thanked your spouse? For who they are or for something they did? Has it been awhile?

On this Thursday Thought, join Aaron as he explores another tip on creating a healthy marriage with God, this time by looking at the transformative power of gratitude in your marriage.

Topics we cover:

• Why gratitude matters
• How gratitude can transform your marriage along with some of the science that backs it up
• How keeping a gratitude journal transformed one man's view of his wife and his marriage

Resources

Gary Thomas: “Gratitude With Purpose In Marriage”

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/gratitude-with-purpose-in-marriage/

Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/imperfect-spirituality/202310/gratitude-could-help-your-marriage-last

Are you thankful for something in your marriage or your spouse? Please feel free to share! info@livingmarriages.com

Do you want to know God's will for your life but you're not sure where to start? Do you want to hear his voice for your marriage but you're not sure what you're listening for?

In this episode, we explore what it means to discern God's will in the context of your marriage and how Paul provides some (uncomfortable) direction in Romans 12.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1

Join Aaron and April as we discuss:

• What it means to offer your marriage to God as a living sacrifice
• Why being a living sacrifice can be uncomfortable (especially when the heat gets turned up on the altar)
• Why we can still trust God and know his heart and will when things are getting hot

Here is the discernment tool we talk about that we have used in our marriage to know if we are hearing God's voice:

https://www.prmi.org/four-discernment-tests/

Have any other thoughts, questions, ideas? How can we be praying for you? Get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com

Are you wanting to bring some health, vitality, new life to your marriage? Are you wanting to have God at the centre of your marriage but aren't sure where to start?

Over the next 5 Thursday Thoughts episodes, we'll explore practical ideas of how we can create a healthy, vibrant marriage with God and our spouse.

On this episode, April starts at the very beginning. If you want God at the centre of your marriage, you have to see how he's already there! We'll discover:

• How God is already at work in your marriage
• Why we need to make space to encounter him there already (as a couple and as individuals)
• Some practical ideas on how we can encounter him

This is not an episode to induce guilt to becoming a "better" Christian but rather a gracious invitation from the God who loves us and desires his best for us, to encounter him in our life and our marriage.

Suggested devotional resources for couples:

https://timothykeller.com/books/the-meaning-of-marriage-a-couples-devotional

https://www.scottkedersha.com/the-ready-or-knot-prayer-guide

Suggested devotional resources for individuals:

https://timothykeller.com/books/the-songs-of-jesus

https://bibleproject.com/reading-plans/

Connect with us!

info@livingmarriages.com

Our website: livingmarriages.com

Have you wondered what people mean when they say they want Christ "at the centre" of their marriage? What does it look like to hear the voice of God in our marriage, together and as individuals?

In today's episode, we are so excited to welcome our first-ever guest, Dr. John "Adidam" Littlejohn! A deeply loved pastor and internationally recognized musician, John explores with us in this fun and in-depth conversation, questions like:

• If God desires to speak to us, how do we hear God's voice in our marriage?
• If God is at the centre of our marriage, how do we keep moving towards him, no matter where we're coming from?
• Does God have a vision for our marriage?

We were so incredibly blessed and challenged by our conversation with John and we pray you will be too!

Find out more about John here:

https://www.adidammusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/adidammusic/

https://www.infinitusmusic.com

https://www.thekingdomlife.ca

Connect with us:

info@livingmarriages.com

www.livingmarriages.com

Welcome to the first “Thursday Thought” of the Living Marriages Podcast!

Over the next several episodes, we are exploring our vision statement together: “Create a healthy marriage through encountering the living God.”

Today, Aaron reflects on the idea of “creating” in our marriages:

• Why creating beauty in our marriages so important and why it’s something we rarely think about
• Why as image-bearers of God, he’s inviting us to co-create with him in our marriages
• What co-creating in our marriages could look like (hint: I’m not 100% sure yet but let’s be creative together!)

We pray today’s episode gets those creative juices flowing for your marriage!

Check out Dr. Curt Thompson’s inspiring book “The Soul of Desire” here:

https://curtthompsonmd.com/books/

Get in touch with us! info@livingmarriages.com

On today’s episode, you’ll get to know your hosts of the Living Marriages Podcast, April and Aaron, better!

God has given us a crazy and fun story to share:

• Hear how God brought us together in some rather miraculous ways
• Discover how God's best for you is WAY better than broccoli flavoured cough syrup

We'd love to hear your marriage story as well! Get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com