As required reading for pre-marital counseling, my soon-to-be-husband and I read the book, "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas. One of Gary's main principles explains that the purpose of marriage is to make us holy, not happy. (Okay, it's also the subtitle!) As an...
relationships
Three Ways to Deal if Your Man’s Ex Was Hot and It Affects Your Body Image
Does your man's past affect how you feel about your body? Does your husband have a past that makes you feel insecure-especially when it comes tophysical intimacy? Or do you have a boyfriend with a past and the thought of marriage and intimacy makes you feel...
Ten Ways to Keep Marriage Hot
Last week, my husband and I took a trip to Italy to celebrate ten years of marriage. It wasn't a whim. On our honeymoon, we decided that we would save and plan and do this trip as a celebration of the decade mark. By God's grace alone---we made it! (To both Italy and...
Body Image Issues in Marriage: Why No Mere Man Can Help
Grapefruit, salmon burgers, and plain oatmeal; the exhaustive list of foods--aside from unbuttered vegetables--that were “legal” on my pre-wedding diet. In six short weeks, I'd be sitting in Hawaii eating room service with my new husband. I could endure this...
How to Feel Loved: For Anyone Who Struggles to Feel Loved
Many who struggle with body image and comparison also struggle to feel loved. How do I know? Because I struggle and I've had this conversation countless times with clients and friends. How do we truly feel loved and know we are loved by God? How do we know and feel...
3 Good Reasons to Stop Comparing
Need some reasons to stop comparing yourself to others? Read this. You slip into your brand new one-piece. It looked okay in the store's dressing room. I can do this. You think to yourself. But one accidental glance at the tag's picture of the gorgeous woman wearing...
Can Christians Be Frenemies? How Comparison Kills Christian Friendships
She asks a lot of questions about your personal life, especially your weaknesses, but doesn't share hers. You can't put your finger on it, but for some reason you feel guilty when you spend time with other friends. Somedays she acts like your biggest fan, but, others,...
Michael W. Smith Lied: When Friends AREN’T Friends Forever
And friends are friend forever, if the Lord’s the Lord of them . . . The words of this iconic duet buzzed through the gym’s speakers during one of the most painful experiences of my adolescent life—my high school graduation. Of course it wasn’t Michael W. Smith’s...
Looking Hot Versus Modesty: A Letter to a Young Woman
My Dear Girl: Where did the time go? I just saw your picture on Facebook and could hardly believe how grown up you look. You are not that precocious five-year-old girl to whom I used to sing the Dora the Explorer song. You are technically an adult now. Wow! But, as I...
Why Every Christian Should Read the Bible Daily
When I first started blogging one of the hardest things to deal with was acknowledging that people I considered good friends would never stop to read my words. Pouring my heart out and pressing "publish" felt so vulnerable--like I had allowed the whole world to see...