The VowsToKeep Marriage Podcast

How to Stop Fighting: What's the Root Cause? (part 2) :: [Ep. 207]

"The outward fights we have with our spouse are a verbal manifestation of the internal war that rages in our individual hearts. When we live divided between two worlds, the result will always be strife. The war will rage."

In this Part 2 episode, we continue in giving Hope to marriages that seem hopeless at times, we look at the answers to these questions, we see who we are really fighting and how to get to the point where the fights cease altogether - whether our spouse is on board with change or not.

Think about the following questions as you listen:
What am I not willing to give up for the life and health of my marriage? 

What have I placed in higher value than this covenant relationship that God has given us?

Let's keep the conversation going. Click to Listen!

For more helpful encouragement, read the following corresponding Blog posts!

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-how-do-we-stop-part-1

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-how-do-we-stop-part-2

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-how-do-we-stop-part-3

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-should-we-just-agree-to-disagree-part-4

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Stop Fighting: What Do You Want? (part 1) :: [Ep. 206]

Whatever your fights look like , the way we stop the fighting is the same.

Quiet fights, all-out shouting matches, and everywhere in between...fighting happens within our homes.

We've tried everything from stonewalling our emotions to our spouse, stuffing everything down deep where we think no one can see to making sure our desires are well represented in every situation and conversation. But we're coming up empty handed. The fights continue and we grow further apart.

Join us on this episode as we begin a series on HOW to stop the fighting. There is Hope and it starts right here, right now.

You ready? Good. So are we. Let's get started.

Make sure you listen to Part 2 of this series to learn more.

For further study and encouragement this week, read James 4.

For more helpful encouragement, read the following corresponding Blog posts!

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-how-do-we-stop-part-1

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-how-do-we-stop-part-2

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-how-do-we-stop-part-3

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/i-m-sick-of-fighting-with-my-spouse-should-we-just-agree-to-disagree-part-4

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Take Action Against Depression in Your Marriage (Part 2) :: [Ep. 205]

Are you or your spouse struggling with depression? Have you considered the root cause? If not, you should!

Finding the root cause can feel so complex. Maybe you're wondering, WHERE do I even begin?!

Well, start here and come join us for Part II of How to Take Action Against Depression in Marriage. We will give guidance on where and how to start the healing process and we will give several important biblical reminders to focus on.

Don't miss it!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Take Action Against Depression in Your Marriage (Part 1) :: [Ep. 204]

Depression is real and many have experienced it. Have you? Has your spouse?

Modern medicine and doctors are arriving to the realization that depression is not always a medical issue cured by medication. In fact, for many, their depression is less about biology and more about life choices or circumstances. Many are left feeling hopeless and helpless. But be encouraged, our God calls us to cast our cares on HIM for he CARES for us!

Tune in for Part 1 of How to Fight Against Depression in Marriage.  We will remind you of important TRUTH about who we belong to and offer practical insight on how to combat the enemy’s attempts to steal our hope.

Don't miss it!!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Love Your Spouse When You Don't Feel Like It :: [Ep. 203]

How's your love life?
Ever feel unmotivated or just plain don't feel like making the effort to love your spouse?
Maybe you're tired?
Maybe you feel unseen?
Maybe selfishness is at play?

Wherever you find yourself this week, you need to listen to this week's episode! We are talking about alllll these things. We are going to give practical ways to love on your spouse and ways to discover the love your spouse needs. And we are going to zero in on God's over-the-top love for each of us and  w h y  that should serve as a springboard to see each day as an opportunity to bless your spouse.

Don't miss it!

Learn more and read our corresponding Blog post:
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/3-ways-to-love-your-spouse-even-when-you-don-t-feel-like-it

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Prayer is a Powerful Tool for Your Marriage :: [Ep. 202]

Prayer is a powerful tool for your marriage! Are you consistently using the tool of prayer for your marriage? You are not alone, if you are not! Many Christians wish for prayer to be a part of their marriage but don’t know where or how to get there. 

Join us as we learn some practical tips on how to pray effectively for our marriages and be reminded of just how  this is a God-given tool meant to be used! 

Don't miss it!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

The Best Weapon for the War on Marriage :: [Ep. 201]

"For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12

There is a war raging against God-ordained marriage. Do you see it? Can you feel it?

We have an enemy and this enemy despises our God and he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy anything created or loved by God - among many things, marriage is one of his targets. BUT there IS a way to fight against this enemy on his war against marriage.

Tune in to this week's VowsToKeep episode, The Best Weapon For The War On Marriage! We will shed light on the enemy's common, yet subtle, tactics that dismantle marriages. And we will teach and remind all of us of how to FIGHT. Don't miss it!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Keeping Score In Marriage :: [Ep. 200]

Are you an imitator of Christ or an imitator of the enemy in regards to your spouse?
Or for clearer perspective, how do you respond when your spouse messes up or makes a mistake? Are you keeping score?

Keeping score in marriage is common and easy to do. BUT that doesn't mean it is the right and healthy way to do marriage with your spouse. When the score is kept, it leaves two people very unhappy and uncomfortable within the relationship. Keeping score makes you your spouse's critic and judge rather than their beloved, friend, and team mate. In this episode, we will remind us all of the cost of keeping score and what Jesus calls us to as a spouse in our relationship. And even more, we will encourage you on how to better imitate your Savior, Jesus. 

Psst...Are you an Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE. Thank you!!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Overcome Trials in Marriage :: [Ep. 199]

What’s the biggest trial that has ever come to your marriage? The biggest test of your relationship? The biggest test of your faith in Christ? What’s popped into your head?

I react to any kind of trial in the same way: get it away from me...QUICK! But could God have a different purpose in it other than me running the other direction? 

In this episode, we will dig into this unknown fact: How we react to trials is determined by our belief of where the trial came from. We'll look at 4 different sources of trials, how you can know where your trial is from and therefore how to handle it, how to react. 

Come join us!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Have a Blessed Marriage :: [Ep. 198]

Blessings are a result - not a condition. To have a blessed marriage takes intentional and prayerful work. Thankfully, God has set us up for success to be blessed! Join us to learn just what we should be pursuing and implementing to in fact experience a blessed marriage! 

Psst. Are you an Apple Podcast listener? If so, would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE. Thank you!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Start Here to Change Your Marriage! :: [Ep. 197]

Does your marriage need to be refreshed? Remodeled? Rebuilt from the ground up? No one has a perfect marriage. We all have things we’d like to be different between us. Marriage problems come in all shapes and sizes. We can’t peek into your home today, listen in on your conversations and arguments, but we can share some of our own experiences and dig into God’s Word and discover together God’s amazing plan for marriage and how it’s possible to attain that for our marriages.

If you want to see a revolution within your home - your marriage - tune into this episode as we have a conversation about HOW to start the process of change in your marriage! We’ll unpack what we call “the cycle of change” and then learn how to restart it when things between the two of you grind to a halt or get off track. GOD is more than ABLE to take what’s broken in your marriage and bring lasting change that will bless you more than you can imagine. How? The answer may surprise you.

In this episode, we talk about a helpful resource...here it is! A clear, concise graphic that will help you to easily see the cycle. Click HERE and print it to put in your Bible so you can always know how to restart the cycle of change.

Can't wait to see what God does next in YOUR marriage!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Undoing the Hurt in Your Marriage :: [Ep. 196]

Our history together is what bind us together...but in marriage it can also be the very thing that rips us in half! When I do not have a history with you, and if you start off nice, often I will have a blind trust. BUT after years together, that history becomes overwhelming evidence against trust.

Is it possible that we can undo our history? Can we wipe the slate clean? Can you become one with someone you have so much history with? In other words, can two become one, drift and fragment back into two ONLY to honor God and become ONE again?!

In this episode, we are thinking and talking about un-doing the pain of our sinful history with our spouse. We will unpack where the divides come from, why we have to work to remove them, and what to do differently so we can have healthy hearts and a sweet one-ness in marriage. Tune in!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Knock Their Socks Off! :: [Ep. 195]

Nothing good in marriage happens accidentally. Being intentional is vital. Come listen to this episode where we remind husbands and wives of the importance of being intentional, even when it's not easy. We will share truth and scripture that will equip you with the insight you need to fulfill one of the highest callings on your life...and of course, we will help you better understand HOW to love your spouse's socks off! Don't miss it!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Your Marriage is a Gift with a Purpose :: [Ep. 194]

Are you missing the winsome joy your marriage used to have? In this episode, we want to  provide you encouragement that a great, fun, JOY filled marriage can be had when both husband and wife strive to do things God's way. And when things are done God's way, God can use that joy filled marriage in so many ways that bless many.

Don't miss it!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Get Through the Winter Season with Joy :: [Ep. 193]

Ahhh the holidays. Many of us enjoy them but we also dread the end of them because that means the beginning of winter - not just with the weather and darkness but in our hearts and homes. We see the signs for sale at the store like Blessed, Joy, Hope and Peace on Earth and many of us have them on display in our living rooms but they aren’t a true reflection of what’s happening inside ourselves or our marriages. 

If you want this winter to look different or if you’re in a winter season in your marriage (where things are dormant and lifeless), we’re glad you’re here. In this episode, we’re going to share how to embrace the season ahead with 5 essential things. Tune in! 

For more encouragement on this topic, be sure to read our corresponding Blog post!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/5-ways-to-get-through-the-winter-season-with-joy

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How Thanksgiving can TRANSFORM Your Marriage :: [Ep. 192]

As a kid I remember one Thanksgiving tradition, when my mom or my grandma would say, “Let’s go around the table and everyone says one thing you’re grateful for.” It’s a nice gesture and an important action- showing thankfulness.

But what does that MEAN- showing thankfulness?

Should it be a one-time thing? An occasional “Thank you, Lord!” when we feel grateful that something happened the way we wanted it to?

Should it be something we practice? Like “no-complain” November when you list something you’re grateful for every day of the month? Or should we take it one step further and write down 3 specific things we’re thankful for at the end of every day… for an entire year?

Is thankfulness something we show whenever we receive something? Like writing thank you cards, or inviting people over as a way to say, “thank you”?

Or is it something more?

Fresh off the heels of our Thanksgiving celebration, in this episode, we are going to spend some time remembering WHY we should continue to be thankful. When our world, at times, seems to be falling apart, WHY should we give thanks and praise? We’ll discuss how gratefulness isn’t to be limited to an occasional “Thanks, God.” Rather, it should be a way of worshipful living. But HOW does that happen? What does it look like to LIVE in genuine gratitude to the Lord? And we’ll also look at how worshipful living can and will transform our lives - and our marriages - from the inside out. Come join us!

For more helpful encouragement and to learn more, read our corresponding Blog post!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/thanksgiving-it-ain-t-just-a-holiday

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Action Plan For Christmas: Budget, Extended Family, & Connection with Your Savior (Part 2) :: [Ep. 191]

The holidays are FUN (or should be, at least!) But most people feel STRESSED by all the things that make up the holidays. Let's change the tune this holiday season from stress to spending ourselves well for the glory of our Father! Rather than exhausting ourselves by trying to meet expectations - leaving no margin for our marriage or our relationship with God - let's ask God to lead our hearts into His perfect will, zeroing in on what matters most and changing the motivation of our hearts.

BONUS! We have a FREE Christmas resource for you to go along with this week's show -  Action Plan for Christmas: Budget, Extended Family and Connection with Your Savior. Click HERE!

We also have a resource from last week's Action Plan For Christmas Part 1 show. Click HERE to get it!

P.S. Did you know we have articles on our website to help you take things one step further?! Check out this post for more about the topic of making margin for what matters during the holidays: click HERE! 

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Action Plan For Christmas: Marriage, Expectations, & Extended Family (Part 1) :: [Ep. 190]

Today on this special episode, Action Plan for Christmas, we’re going to weave together a practical and heart-oriented action plan for Marriage, Budget, Extended Family Relationships, Connection with our Savior and other areas that may need some prayer and reevaluation around this time of the year. 

If the stress of Christmas is stealing your joy and unity as a couple, it is totally possible to get those back. 

Find out how you can transform the way you think about the holidays by looking at all the craziness through the lens of eternity. We’ll change the tune from stress to spending ourselves well for the glory of our Father and the advancement of His Gospel.

BONUS! I have a FREE Action Plan for Christmas resource for you! Click the link to get it in your inbox: https://www.vowstokeep.com/actionplan.

Check out our helpful Marriage Blog covering a wide array of topics at www.VowsToKeep.com!

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Help a Hurting Marriage: Legacy (Part 13) :: [Ep. 189]

It’s a forgone conclusion that you will leave a legacy.

ALL of us will leave behind something for the generation after us – good or bad. Not a legacy made of money but a spiritual legacy that starts with you.

This week's episode, we are wrapping up a 13-week series – How to Help a Hurting Marriage and we are diving into the topic of Legacy. We will offer practical wisdom and advice on how to intentionally build a legacy that will bless the generations to come. Don't miss it!

For more helpful encouragement and inspiration, check out this article!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/see-the-big-picture

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Help a Hurting Marriage: Sex & Intimacy (Part 12) :: [Ep. 188]

Are you happy with where things are at sexually in your marriage? Or is this a struggle within your marriage?

On this episode, we want to equip you with God's Word when addressing issues of intimacy, discuss why God even created this often fought about issue in marriage, and understand the barriers to satisfying intimacy in marriage and how to work through those barriers.

Tune in for practical wisdom which will provide the right tools in your toolbox so you are equipped and able to step back from the emotions that broken intimacy creates and see the bigger picture for your marriage.

For more helpful advice and encouragement, read our Blog articles all about Intimacy.
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/let-s-talk-about-sex
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/why-isn-t-sex-with-my-spouse-satisfying

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.