Christian Marriage Articles

Are You Fighting a Battle Your Spouse Doesn’t Even Know You Are Having?

What Can I Say to My Spouse When They Treat Me Like a Doormat?

What Can I Say to My Spouse When They Treat Me Like a Doormat?

Do you ever reach the point of exhaustion in your relationship, where you feel like you are always being criticized, unappreciated, dumped on and ripped apart—like a doormat? You think you are being taken for granted or are expected to simply agree with whatever your spouse says or does

Not All Men Need to Keep Talking about Their Hurts and Vulnerabilities

Not All Men Need to Keep Talking about Their Hurts and Vulnerabilities

When I used to do marriage counseling during my days as a pastor, I noticed a distinctive trend among the couples who would come to my office. The husband typically played it close to the vest during the session.

Are You Fighting a Battle Your Spouse Doesn’t Even Know You Are Having?

Are You Fighting a Battle Your Spouse Doesn’t Even Know You Are Having?

Husbands and wives will find themselves in conflict with each other—that is undeniable. In fact, because the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:28 that those who marry “will have trouble in this life,” we can also conclude that some conflict within marriage is by God’s design.

Do You Have the Humility Necessary to Move First?

Do You Have the Humility Necessary to Move First?

When a husband and wife find themselves on yet another out-of-control Crazy Cycle—where feeling unloved, she reacts without respect; and feeling disrespected, he reacts without love—how do they decide who is going to be the first to stop reacting unlovingly or disrespectfully?

What Do You Think When You Hear “Happy Wife, Happy Life”?

What Do You Think When You Hear “Happy Wife, Happy Life”?

"Happy wife, happy life!” Why will a one-sided happiness, even if it helps in the short term, come back to bite both husband and wife in the long term?

Do You Have the Humility Necessary to Move First?

What Do You Think When You Hear “Happy Wife, Happy Life”?

A Cross-Cultural Message

Occasionally someone will say to me, “Emerson, I’m contemplating your theory of love and respect…and I think you may be on to something.” I smile at this but I also clarify that this isn’t “my theory”…this is a command from the all-wise God in Ephesians 5:33, and this is why it is a message that resonates around the world. It’s not a message exclusive to Americans, or a certain age group, or ethnic group. The Love & Respect message is for men and women everywhere.

A Cross-Cultural Message

It’s Not All About Me!

We’ve been talking about wedding anniversaries and romantic expectations… and how to get free from the blame game. Here’s a story from a wise wife who made a powerful discovery about her wedding anniversary:

It’s Not All About Me!

Two Simple Things That Speak Romance to Her

Two Simple Things That Speak Romance to Her

Men, you may not be as romantic as your wife (you sleep during the movie Sleepless in Seattle), but you are a man of honor, and a man of honor discerns the desires in the heart of his wife. Let me recommend two things that feed the romance for her: she needs predictable face to face time with you and she wants periodic surprises.

The Romance Game

Romance. Women generally want more of it…and men feel pressured to deliver. Why does it remain so elusive? Last week I shared how our different expectations as men and women can really mess up a romantic anniversary celebration. But this whole romance thing can get complicated for other reasons as well.

The Romance Game