The Radiant Marriage Podcast

Have you ever thought about how a couple should prepare to get married when they are blending two families with children in the mix? Maybe this is your experience or maybe this is the experience of someone that you know. Join us on today's podcast as Ron Deal gives some great advice on how a blended couple can prepare the best way for their marriage before saying "I do". He gives practical tips and gets into the nitty gritty of how to prepare well so that your marriage is set on a solid foundation. Blending a family can be difficult, but there are practical steps that couples can take to build up a family and honor each family member. If you are preparing to blend, then this podcast is specifically for you! #28: To the couple preparing to blend their families (with Ron Deal) Mentioned in This Episode: Where you can find Ron: Family Life Blended and Blessed Follow Ron on Facebook and Twitter Book: Preparing to Blend: The Couple's Guide to Becoming a Smart Stepfamily Bonus Material for Couples & Leaders More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Have you and your spouse experienced a pregnancy loss? Have you been a foster parent? If you answered yes to either, then this podcast is for you. Our guest on today's podcast is Rachel Lewis, author of "Unexpecting". Rachel authentically shares her experience of pregnancy loss as well as her experience as a foster mom. She is raw, real, and speaks life in this episode. Not only does she speak to her experience, but she also shares how she and her husband processed through their grief. This is not one you want to miss. Friend, if fostering or pregnancy loss are a part of your story, you are not alone. We hope that this episode blesses you and speaks to your heart. #27: To the couple who has experienced pregnancy loss (with Rachel Lewis) Mentioned in This Episode: Where you can find Rachel: thelewisnote.com Follow Rachel on Facebook and Instagram Book: Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss When Man Grieves (Rachel's Husband's Blog Post) FREE Bonus Book Chapter Free Bonus Chapter More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Do you ever feel that you and your spouse are just too different sometimes? It can be difficult to pursue our marriage when we feel that our spouse doesn't see things the same way we do. Join us on today's podcast as we talk with our guest, Carey Nieuwhof, about "marriage success killers" and about how to continuously be curious about our spouse. Carey has one incredible piece of advice "Curiosity combats cynicism". It's time to be curious about our spouse and seek to understand them, even though they may handle things or think about things differently than we would. Being different can actually be an immense blessing--it just means that there is a lot more to discover! #26: To the couple who is SO different from each other (with Carey Nieuwhof) Mentioned in This Episode: Where you can find Carey: careynieuwhof.com Follow Carey on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Books: Didn't See It Coming: Overcoming the Seven Greatest Challenges That No One Expects and Everyone Experiences At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor Also Mentioned Toni Nieuwhof's Podcast (Carey's Wife) More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

When we walk hand in hand with the Spirit, we become predictable spouses. This means that our character is in line with Christ and we are securing ourselves on His firm footing. This type of predictable character will help our marriages to flourish. Do you find yourself walking hand in hand, step in step with the Spirit, or are you just visiting from time to time? Join us in the final episode of Season 1 as we talk about how to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, produce predictable fruit, and how to protect our marriages from the enemy in the process. #25: The Beauty of Predictability Mentioned in This Episode: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23, NIV “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30 NIV Discussion Questions: Are you walking with the spirit or are you visiting? Is your marriage one that produces fruit? How would your marriage change if you and your spouse were both walking more closely in step with the Holy Spirit? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Have you ever experienced broken trust or betrayal in your marriage? In today’s episode, we talk about betrayal, broken trust, and how to work towards healing, both individually and as a couple. Betrayal can have damaging consequences, but it doesn’t have to negatively define our marriage. In fact, it can lead to deeper levels of connection if both spouses are submitted to Jesus. If we doubt the possibility for reconciliation, then we put God in a box, doubting the healing power of God. He can work beyond all logical understanding to truly provide healing. #24: Overcoming Betrayal and Broken Trust Mentioned in This Episode: Discussion Questions: What struck you in today’s episode? If broken trust is part of your story, how did today’s episode shift your perspective? What is the hardest part of forgiveness? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Are you in a place where finances are really tight or have you been? This can be such a difficult place to be in and it can be really difficult to put our marriage as a priority when we are overwhelmed by our finances...or lack thereof. In today’s episode, we tackle how to keep your marriage strong even when it feels like you are being crushed under the pressure that finances can bring. We hope that this episode encourages you and challenges you to keep a God-focused perspective and to pursue your spouse and your marriage, even through the difficulty. You CAN do this. #23: When Finances Are Tight Mentioned in This Episode: Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Matthew 6:1-4 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 25:14-30 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers,

Have you ever thought about what makes Christian marriage different? Or why having a marriage that is founded on God makes all the difference? We’ve talked before about how to make Jesus the center of our marriages and our home, but on today’s podcast episode, we dive into the WHY behind the how. Having Jesus at the core of our marriage grounds us and unites us better than anything else ever could. #22: What Makes Christian Marriage Different? Mentioned in This Episode: Discussion Questions: Do your vows mean more to you today than they did when you first got married? If so, how? How has having God at the core of your marriage shaped how you view “til death do us part”? How have you seen God bring you and your spouse together in the midst of struggles? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Have you ever found yourself feeling that technology is slowly taking over your home and your marriage? Maybe you have felt like the screen takes precedence over connection with your spouse? With social media, the games, and the constant attention grabbers, it’s sometimes hard to put the screen down. These things aren’t bad in themselves, but we need to be aware of when they start to take over and when they act as a distraction...from our spouse, from life, and from God. Join us on the podcast as we talk about technology, some of the struggles with it, and how to set boundaries so that your marriage and your relationship with God stay the main priority. It’s all about balance. #21: Keeping Technology from Taking Over Mentioned in This Episode: Discussion Questions: If you were to ask your spouse to comment on your tech use, what would they say? Would they say they feel second? What is a change that you can make today? Where are you doing well and where can you be more deliberate? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Have you and your spouse ever been in different places about a decision...even when you were thinking about things WAY in the future? We definitely have been. We are planners and tend to want to be on the same page all the time and be able to think years into the future. However, this isn’t necessarily realistic. We aren’t going to be on the same page all the time. We have different ways of processing decisions and we each have our own desires and dreams. Join us on the podcast today as we talk about what to do when we aren’t on the same page, how to respond to one another, and how to move forward towards a decision even if we aren’t exactly on the same page. It’s all about adjusting...adjusting to life, adjusting to making decisions as a team, and adjusting our mindsets. #20: How to Move Forward as a Team When We Disagree Mentioned in This Episode: Resources: #14: The Fear Trap (the Episode about Idaho) Discussion Questions: Is there an area that you and your spouse are so focused on the end result that you're missing the journey? Where do you need to listen and seek to understand your spouse? How can you work as a team, even if you disagree? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Have you or your spouse ever had a crisis of faith? Have you ever had struggles or had to wrestle with Biblical concepts? Many of us will struggle with doubts at some point in our life, but what do we do when we feel a disconnect with our spouse because of doubt? Join us in today’s episode as we dive into what to do when our spouse is struggling with their faith and how to support them on their faith journey! We had so much fun recording this one and hope that you'll be blessed by it. #19: I Thought I Married a Christian--Now What? Mentioned in This Episode: Discussion Questions: Have you or your spouse ever struggled with your faith in your marriage? What did that look like? How did it impact your marriage?/li> Are there any other ways you can think of to support your spouse on their faith journey? /li> More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Did you know that our belief about God is directly related to how we respond in our marriages? In today’s podcast episode we dive into how our view of God can impact our marriage. So often our feelings overshadow the truth about God’s character and we can start to relate to our spouse based on a false belief of God driven by fear, shame, or guilt. It’s when we have a true understanding of God’s character that our marriage is secured in the strongest foundation possible. We need to truly know who God is and Whose we are. #18: How Our View of God Shapes our Marriage Mentioned in This Episode: Discussion Questions: What are some beliefs that you have about God that you know aren’t true? How do you see those beliefs impacting your marriage? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Hey everybody, Instead of having a podcast today, we would love to invite you to take the time you would normally listen in and go check out this amazing free workshop that we have going on. It’s called the Radiant Marriage Workshop. This is a compilation of 4 videos that focus on overcoming disconnect in your marriage and really having the tools in place to be able to set your marriage on a solid foundation. So head on over there and take a listen. This is only going to be available for a...

Did you know that there’s a honeymoon period after a couple gets married that usually lasts one or two years? The honeymoon stage is so much fun and it’s easy to intentionally pursue our spouse when the butterflies are there. The problem is that the transition from infatuation to disconnection can happen so slowly we don’t even realize it. On today’s episode, we dive into why being intentional and keeping a strategic mentality is vital to a thriving marriage. By being intentional and strategic, we fiercely protect our marriages and the result is something beautiful! #17: Finding a Strategic Mindset Mentioned in This Episode: Resources: Radiant Marriage Workshop, a FREE four-part video series, designed to help you overcome disconnect and start taking control of your marriage. It's FREE, but available for a limited time only. Discussion Questions: Do you and your spouse have a strategic mentality with your marriage? What areas could be better? How are you and your spouse intentional with each other and with your marriage? What is one step you can take today to be more intentional? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

You ready for a BIG truth? The enemy wants to destroy your marriage. As a united team, you pose a threat. Separately, you're less of a threat. His mission is to separate you and your spouse by enhancing feelings of shame, guilt, and pride. On today’s episode, we talk about how destructive the “DIY” mentality can be with marriage, and dive into HOW to keep your marriage strong, combating the enemy from an offensive position. Let’s do this. #16: Combating the Enemy as a Team Mentioned in This Episode: Resources: Focus on the Family Counseling Referrals (also at 1-855-771-HELP) Radiant Marriage Academy, our comprehensive 16-lesson marriage experience, designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Discussion Questions: Have you and your spouse tried to DIY your marriage? If so, how? What was the result? What steps do you need to take today to fight the enemy and put your marriage on a strong foundation? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

This episode has some content that you may not want little inquiring minds to hear. Check out the questions below before listening with kiddos around! Today on the podcast we answer the questions that you guys wrote in for us. :) We’ll be doing Q&A podcasts every now and then, so if you have questions, please let us know so that we can start compiling for our next Q&A episode! Specifically, we'll answer the following questions: What is an appropriate response to wandering eyes? How do I learn to trust my husband again after emotional infidelity, pornography, and so many lies...especially when he doesn’t see that he did anything wrong? Is masturbation wrong in marriage? Is living in separate spaces okay when working through infidelity? Is counseling really depending on God to fix things? Any advice for empty-nesters? We loved getting into these questions and can’t wait for you guys to listen in for the answers! We’ll be doing Q&A podcasts every now and then, so if you have questions, please let us know so that we can start compiling for our next Q&A episode! #15: We Answer Your Questions (#1) Mentioned in This Episode: Resources: Every Man's Battle Every Woman's Battle Boundaries in Marriage Submit your questions for the next Q&A episode here! Discussion Questions: Was there anything from today’s Q&A that challenged you? How can you have a heart of reconciliation and forgiveness when your spouse has let you down? Did your thoughts on counseling change after listening to this episode? Why or why not? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

So, there we were in Idaho really frustrated with one another... We had been talking about moving out of California since we got married and dreaming specifically of Idaho for the last 6 months. We were finally in Idaho to check it out and we were finding that we weren’t on the same page. We were both scared and polarizing each other in the process. What if we couldn’t get on the same page? What if Idaho wasn’t the place we both wanted to move? What if we had to start the process ALL over again to find somewhere where we both might be happy? What if…? What if…? What if…? Listen in on today’s podcast to hear about how fear can create division in a marriage, how to stop fear from polarizing you and your spouse, and how to get back on the same page...or even the same planet! We can’t wait for you to hear this one! #14: The Fear Trap Mentioned in This Episode: Discussion Questions: Has there been a time where fear has made you handle a situation poorly with your spouse? How did fear impact the situation? How can you and your spouse keep fear from putting up a wall between you? Is there a place where you are afraid today that might be negatively impacting your marriage? If so, where are you feeling afraid? Name your fear and share it with your spouse. More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Have you and your spouse ever made a decision that took you out of your comfort zone? Have you ever made a decision because you were following God’s leading? In today’s episode, we talk with Tim Lundy, senior pastor of Venture Christian Church in Los Gatos, CA. He gets real about the disruptions that God has made in his life, the ones God may make in our lives and how to handle them as a united team in our marriages. It’s so important that we embrace God’s calling and don’t allow fear or passivity to overpower our obedience. We had such a great time talking with him and can’t wait for you to listen in! #13: Making Disruptive Decisions (Tim Lundy) Mentioned in This Episode: Where you can find Tim: Venture Christian Church Discussion Questions: What is God calling you and your spouse to right now? Are you both willing to be uncomfortable and follow in obedience? Is there anywhere that you aren’t responding with obedience? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Have you ever been really frustrated with your spouse about money? So many couples don’t talk about their money and see it as a taboo subject. Today on the podcast, Shaunti Feldhahn unwraps the why behind struggles around money in marriage. She gives us an exclusive look and dives into her latest research about how men and women operate differently. We talk with her about the importance of understanding one another, being trustworthy, and the meaning of oneness with our finances. We had so much fun talking with her--she was on fire🔥🔥🔥. This is one you DON’T want to miss! #12: Money and Marriage (Shaunti Feldhahn) Mentioned in This Episode: Where you can find Shaunti: shaunti.com Follow Shaunti on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Books: Men, Women, & Money (His) Men, Women, & Money (Hers) Discussion Questions: Do you feel comfortable talking with your spouse openly about money? Did anything that Shaunti talked about get you to see a new perspective? How will this impact your marriage? How can you honor your spouse when it comes to your finances? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Any pastor will tell you that keeping Jesus at the center is the key to having a marriage that will stand the test of time. But why is that the case and what does that really look like? Today on the podcast we’ll dive into the reasons why having Jesus at the center is crucial to having a strong, intimate marriage and what that practically looks like. We had a great time recording this one and we are so excited for you to listen in! #11: Building a Christ-Centered Marriage Mentioned in This Episode: Articles: 3 Dangerous Lies We All Believe Dr. Stoop - The Couple That Prays Together Discussion Questions: How are you pursuing God as individuals and as a couple? How would keeping your focus on or shifting your focus to the Lord help your marriage? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

T oday, we had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Matt Turvey, director of Winshape Marriage. He talks about how marriage retreats help to jumpstart the healing process for a couple that's struggling. They can also be a great way for a couple that's doing well to be proactive and breathe new life into their marriage, providing a solid foundation to continue building on. He has great wisdom and believes that couples need to actively address the little things before they become big wedges. His advice is a great help for any marriage--listen in! #10: Marriage Retreats: Breathing Life Into Your Marriage (Dr. Matt Turvey) Mentioned in This Episode: Winshape's (AMAZING) Marriage Retreats & Intensives We've been to one of Winshape's retreats and we can't recommend them highly enough...and no, we don't get paid to say that! :-) Retreats Intensives Adventures Discussion Questions: What scares you most about the idea of a marriage retreat? How could a marriage retreat help your marriage right now? More information: Get our FREE eBook, 7 Days to an Awesome Marriage Learn more about us and our story Check out Radiant Marriage Academy, a FREE 16-session experience designed to help you set your marriage on a solid biblical foundation. Remember to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!