LOVING LIFE AT HOME - Christian Marriage, Biblical Parenting, Creative Homemaking, Purposeful Living

There is no coasting in marriage. You’re either growing closer together or drifting further apart. You must be intentional about investing in your marriage and nurturing your relationship to your spouse every chance you get.

- Romans 12:10 - "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

- Ephesians 5:33 - "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himsel...

The CDC announced last week that the US General Fertility Rate has recently hit an all-time low of only 1.6 children per woman of childbearing age. That makes me sad, because I know how much joy children bring to life. The more, the merrier! In fact, as parents of twelve, my husband and I have reaped a lot of blessings from having a large family we could have never anticipated beforehand -- and so have our kids.

A listener wrote me recently to say she's made more mistakes that she can count. She wanted advice as to how she could get back on track. "How do I change course when I've done everything wrong?"

She had lots of other great questions, too, so in Episode 91, I'm tackling all of them. I hope you'll listen in and be blessed.

- James 1:5 - “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God...."

- Deuteronomy 30:19 ...

We don't have to wonder or make wild guesses about what Jesus would do -- the Bible tells us clearly how He lived when He was here on earth, the kind of things He prioritized, and what He expects of anyone who chooses to follow Him.

- Philippians 2 - "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ..."

- Mark 10:45 - “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life...."

-...

I read a book last week called The Art of Making Memories. It was fascinating, though nothing like I expected. In this week's episode, I share what I learned and what I think of this work.

- John 16:21 - "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."

- Deuteronomy 11:19 - "Teach t...

Each and every one of us has been born with qualities that cannot be altered and into circumstances beyond our control. The question is, how will you approach the unchangeables in your life? Will you learn to accept and live with them (and maybe even appreciate them)? Or will you allow bitterness and resentment over those unchangeables fester in the depths of your heart? The choice you make will have a profound impact on the purpos...

Father's Day is less than a week away, so I thought this would be a wonderful time to share a story about my father. I have lots of cherished memories to choose from, but this is one of my all-time favorites.

I'm sure that, in the midst of the childhood crisis I was experiencing at the time, my dad never dreamed what a lasting and long-reaching effect of his response would have in my life, but it did.

1 Jo...

Our oldest son just celebrated his 37th birthday and told us over dinner what he considers the two most important and impactful things his dad and I did for him growing up, so I'm unpacking both this week's episode. I hope you'll listen in.

James 1:23-25 -“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who ....”

Psalms 1:3 - “...his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth ...

The best way I know to "meditate day and night" on the Word of God is to commit large portions of Scripture to memory. Then you'll always have it with you. Want an easier way to do that? Listen in to Loving Life at Home for a simple, straightforward way to memorize Proverbs 3 with me -- the entire chapter.

Proverbs 3

Psalm 119:97

EP 28: Bible Memory Tips

Memorization Toolbox by Abigail Martin

Several months ago, a reader named Donna sent me the following request: “I’d love to hear your summary or take away of how not to diet but lose weight."

So on this week's episode, I'm discussing Dr. Michael Greger's book, How Not to Diet, and the amazing effects implementing his suggestions have had on my health, weight, and energy levels.

Psalm 139:16 - "Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in T...

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so that’s what I’d like to discuss on the podcast this week. Even if giving birth to you is all your mother ever did, she would still be worthy of your gratitude and respect. But for most of our moms, the end of labor and delivery was when the real work began. 

Ephesians 6:2-3 - "Honor your father and your mother --which is the first commandment with a promise--that...

Much of the material from this week's podcast comes from a blog post I wrote on cultivating contentment over a decade ago, but the same strategy still works today. If you've ever found yourself fixating on your problems, stewing about things over which you have no control, or struggling to "rejoice in all circumstances," this episode is for you!

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now godliness with contentment is great gai...

Sometimes life's responsibilities seem so overwhelming and inescapable that you feel like you're barely treading water. How do you cope when the going gets tough, and your energy's already depleted? Here are seven strategies that have kept me afloat during the busiest, most exhausting seasons of mothering 12 children and managing a increasingly busy household.

- “These things I have spoken unto you, that in...

We're right in the middle of holy week, which makes this a great time to discuss some of our family's favorite Easter traditions -- especially those that keep our focus on the finished work of Christ on the cross.

- Matthew 13:44 - “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” 

- 1 ...

Little known fact: Today (April 9) is Winston Churchill Day in the US. So today, I'm taking some of my favorite quotes from the British Bulldog, examining them in light of scripture, and applying them to marriage. I hope you'll listen in!

- Luke 12:48 - “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required....”

- Romans 12:10 - “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above...

Proverbs 14:1 tells us, “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.”

I normally like to focus on the first part of that verse and consider, “What are some wise ways we can build our homes and strengthen our family relationships?”

But instead of taking my usual approach and discussing how to nurture your marriage and make it better, today I’d like to examine some very common and very foolish h...

This week on Loving Life at Home I'm answering a couple of questions about starting a family during medical school, but the principles also apply to other decisions people put off while waiting for perfect timing.

- Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

- Psalm 127:3 - "Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD."

- John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

- Romans 12:10 - “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

- A Prayer for Singles - free printable prayer guide

- The State of a Union - How grows your marriage?

- In Praise of the Manly Man - a poem I wrote for...

Pop quiz: Which would you prefer?

(a) That your husband focus his thoughts on your loveliest, most noble and praiseworthy characteristics?

(b) That he ignore your good points completely and concentrate instead on your most annoying and bothersome flaws?

That's an easy answer, as far as I'm concerned. So shouldn't you make every effort to treat your spouse the way you'd want to be treated yourself by emphasizing your husband's good ...