Pursuits of Passion

PMS looks different for many women. Symptoms during this time vary from person to person however it is not a secret that it can be an emotionally charged time. In this episode, I share a personal PMS story and 4 helpful tips I have acquired along the way, to navigate sex, marriage, and PMS. Find more encouragement by following the podcast on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM

Can money be a tense topic in your marriage? Today my guest gives us some insight as to what’s going on deeper behind the money issues in marriage. Shaunti Feldhahn has completed extensive research around the tie between love, money, and relationships, and reveals some of the things she found on today's episode. She also paints a picture of what becoming a true team in handling our money looks like as a married couple. Toward the end of the episode Shaunti describes how we as wives can take...

Does any sign of conflict in your marriage make you cringe or run for the hills? Let's be honest, marriage provides no shortage of opportunities to practice conflict resolution skills. This week we get to hear part two of the Conflict as a Catalyst conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery. She discusses what our ultimate goal should be when faced with a situation of marital tension and get into how the "right and wrong" perspective can be dangerous to a healthy marriage. The topic of dancing also...

Conflict is a part of every marriage. And arguably, not a fun part for many people. On today's episode Dr. Juli Slattery gives a different perspective to conflict based off of her latest devotional on the You Version Bible App. This is part 1 of a two part series. We talk about how when healthy conversations surround conflict, it can lead to a deeper intimate connection with your spouse. This episode is part 1 where Juli shares what happens in our brains when strife occurs and the...

Media and pop culture sends us the message as wives that if we don't have amazing sex with our spouse every time we "do it" that there is something wrong. In this episode I talk about having boring sex. Boring sex is defined by: the physical act of sex in a way that may not include orgasms for both parties, may seem monotonous, and is used as a means to an end. I break down when it is not the best idea to settle for a watered down intimate life, and when maybe settling for mediocre sex can...

On today’s episode Joy Skarka joins us. She is the director of discipleship at Authentic Intimacy and is passionate about sharing her story of redemption. Joy was recently published in a book titled Sanctified Sexuality where she writes about Forced Sexuality. Today we get to hear her story and how her experience with sexual assault has affected her spiritual life as well as her married life. Joy gives us a glimpse into what intimacy looks like after healing from a difficult sexual past and...

Sometimes in the midst of the day to day, it seems like a difficult task to think of a great gift for your husband. In this episode, I take you through my fool-proof thought process that always helps generate great gift ideas that are practical. I'll give you a secret, searching your husband's internet history is not it! Early in the episode, I also share a Biblical story of gift giving that occurred the night before Jesus died. This story helps point to the spiritual significance behind...

The mind is the biggest sex organ we have. On this episode, Dr. Jennifer Degler, a psychologist, life coach, speaker, and author, talks candidly about some of the mental road blocks women have when seeing themselves as sexual beings. She also sheds light on some practical tips for women who may have a hard time getting in the mood or shutting off their mind to distractions during intercourse. Say goodbye to staring at the ceiling, Jennifer has a few great tricks that can help ignite your sex...

Different influences throughout our lives can lead us to have different images of what a godly wife actually is. In this episode, I take a look into scripture to see what "godly" means as well as some examples of wives in the Word. I also note the dictionary definitions of 'godly' and finally share what I personally mean by "encouraging women to be godly wives..." Scripture mentioned: Proverbs 31 Titus 2:11-14 Psalms 4:3-4 Julie Slattery Quote resource Check out the podcast on...

In this episode I sit down with an old friend, Lauren Green, who gives awesome insight into how to talk to our children about sex and their sexuality. We cover a few different age groups and the topics which may be discussed with a Biblical worldview. She also speaks to why it is imperative that our children learn about their sexuality from their parents. Later in the episode we talk about how the culture influences our children's view of sexuality and how discussing safety topics is more...

Do you want to have a successful date night with your lover? In this episode I outline the 5 guidelines I think lead to success. Although Jesus himself never went on any dates and we cannot emulate his example explicitly, I do share something about his behavior around people that we could easily carry over into our special time with our spouses. Share this light episode with a girlfriend and review Pursuits of Passion on itunes!

The fight against sexual temptation is not a battle fought by only nonbelievers who are unmarried. Married men and women who love the Lord have these struggles as well. My guest today, Jonathan Daugherty, joins me and sheds light into how we open up these vulnerable conversations with our spouse. He gives ideas on how to achieve intimacy and a better understanding of your husband when fears may arise surrounding this topic. Jonathan works in a ministry that provides resources for men,...

Learning that the nuptials do not rid a man (or woman) from sexual struggles, is a difficult and harsh reality. Men are visually stimulated and living in our hyper-sexualized culture inevitably leads to struggles along the way. In this episode I share a personal story of my own ignorance as a wife. I also share two concepts I learned early into marriage. 1. Men are visual and can be tempted easily, but being tempted is not living in sin. 2. Learning how to fight and flee from sexual...

It’s officially the one year anniversary of this podcast. To celebrate, in this episode I answer some of the questions you submitted. From deep to silly, this episode is meant to celebrate the one year mark of Pursuits of Passion. Listen to hear which episode was my favorite, how I pray for my husband, and what we do as a couple at bedtime.

For some women, a physical connection is better made when an emotional connect is made first. In this episode, I share what my husband did emotionally that sparked a physical reaction. Before that, I discuss the old wounds that had been brought to the surface with the high racial tensions over the last few weeks and how my husband responded to the tears. Next episode will be the 1 Year Anniversary of Pursuits of Passion. This episode will be Q&A style and I would LOVE to answer any...

Sometimes when you read, you learn and understand your surroundings a little bit better. The book "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge gives insight into the adventurous nature of a man and is helpful for understanding this need. In this episode I talk about how taming our husbands can be our unconscious agendas as wives. Men are wild. They need adventure. And learning more about the beginning of man, in Genesis, has shed light on my personal understanding of them. I share how taming their...

In this episode, I'm filling you in as to why biting my tongue has been at the forefront of my mind. I share how, as wives, we have the ability to bring our husbands death and life with our words. Proverbs and James is littered with warnings and wisdom in regards to how we use our tongues. Did you know that the statistic for how many positive interactions cancel out a negative one is 5:1. The better solution that does not involve constant positive comments and compliments is found in...

Gender stereotypes can wreak havoc on relationships especially when you don't fit into it. In this episode I talk about the flip side of a gender stereotype that can make a woman feel dirty, abnormal, and weird. What happens when you want to have sex more often than your husband? Why is it uncomfortable for higher driven women to talk about this struggle? And what could be helpful to know and do in regards to this particular difference? All of these questions are discussed in this...

The times we are living in currently sure are crazy. With uncertain circumstances arising, the thought of working on your marriage can feel impossible while you are just trying to remain sane yourself. On this episode I share how diving into God's word is an awesome solution for both problems. The Bible brings comfort in times that are hard but also inspires you to pursue your love life in the way God has pursued us. Do you like free things? Take this short survey to help better this...

We all notice things in our spouse that are quite different. From small personality quirks to larger issues that can drive a wedge into the marriage relationship. In this episode, I talk about how personality tests can give you a better understanding of your spouse. One that they may not have been able to completely verbalize to you. I also break down a Biblical understanding of why we as women attempt to control our husbands and the way they do things.