Category: Forgiveness

• 5 Ways to C.L.E.A.N. Up Manipulating Your Spouse with Guilt

  

  Today, I’m excited to continue in the “Spring Clean Your Marriage” series with my next guest blogger, Karen Friday. I feel a special kinship with her because she’s a pastor’s wife like me! I hope you’ll check out her bio below and make her feel welcome by commenting and sharing her wise words all around…

  BethSteffaniak

  May 19, 2019

  Acceptance, Anger, Avoidance, Bad Habits, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, False Beliefs, Forgiveness, Grace, Guilt, Insecurity, Marriage, Nagging, Negative Self-Talk, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Practices, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Toxic Baggage, Withdrawal

  Acceptance, Boundaries, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Disrespect, Faith in God, Guilt, Guilt Messages, Insecurity, Jealousy, Manipulation, Marriage Boundaries, Respect, Trust, Trust Spouse

• 7 Ways to Clean Up Being Disrespectful to Your Spouse

  

  Recently, I was disrespectful to my husband while we were at our small group Bible study, of all places! It was just that the direction my husband was taking during our discussion just got under my skin. So I sat there stewing—thinking of what I would say to him later in a private moment. Apparently,…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 28, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Amends, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Humility, Listening Skills, Love of God, Marriage, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Respect, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Surrender, Vulnerability

  Communication, Conflict, Cover with Love, Criticism, Disrespect, Forgiveness, God’s Love, Listening Skills, Respect, Surender to God

• 5 Tips for When You Undermine Your Spouse’s Parenting

  

  I’m excited to continue my “Spring Clean Your Marriage” Series with my next guest blogger, Aimee Imbeau. See her bio below to find the link to her site and, then be sure to connect with her on social media as well. I had a choice to make…and only moments in which to make the best…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 21, 2019

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blaming, Bonding, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Criticism, Differences, Encouragement, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Marriage, Motherhood, Oneness, Parenthood, Prayer, Respect, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Unity

  Conflict, Messy Motherhood, Parenting, Respect, Support, Support Spouse, Team Mentality, Undermine Parenting, United Front, Unity

• Are You a More Perfectionistic or Realistic Spouse? Take the Quiz!

  

  My husband and I are both perfectionists—meaning we have double trouble when it comes to being realistic in our marriage. No wonder we had a very messy start and still dip into messy moments more often than I’d like to admit! 😉 And maybe, if you’re a perfectionist like us, you chant these words to…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 17, 2019

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Apologies, Attitude, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Connection, Criticism, Desires, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Failure, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love of God, Marriage, Nagging, Patience, Perfectionism, Personality, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spouse I Want to Be Series, Support, Surrender, Unity, Wounds

  Acceptance, Limitations, Love of God, Perfectionism, Perfectionistic Spouse, Realistic Expectations, Realistic Spouse, Trust in God

• Are You More of a Humble Spouse or Insecure Spouse? Take the Quiz!

  

  I’ve always wanted to become and be known as a humble spouse. But for the life of me I can’t seem to grasp this elusive quality. It feels very much like chasing after a butterfly. The more I try to capture it, the faster it flits away beyond my grasp. Part of my problem stems…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 10, 2019

  Acceptance, Anger, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Control, Encouragement, Entitlement, Expectations, Faith in God, Fear, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Insecurity, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spouse I Want to Be Series, Vulnerability

  Bible Verses, Confess to Spouse, Faith in God, Humble Spouse, Humility, Persevere, Perspective, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

• Check out My Book Review and Giveaway of The Marriage Knot!

  

  I’ll be honest. Most marriage books do not hold my interest, unless they point me back to Christ in some form or fashion. So, I’m happy to say that the book I want to review and giveaway today does exactly that! It anchors the reader in the truths of Scripture—challenging us to live out the…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 3, 2019

  Acceptance, Affairs, Affection, Betrayal, Bonding, Book Review, Boundaries, Brokenness, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Counseling, Discouragement, Divorce, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Give-Away, God’s Redemption, Intimacy, Love of God, Marriage, Marriage Mistakes, Marriage Spark, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Redemption, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Trauma, Trials

  Affair, Book Review, Faithfulness, God’s Redemption, Gospel-driven Marriage, Infidelity, Love of God, Marriage Mistakes, The Marriage Knot

• 6 Ways to Be a More Compassionate and Forgiving Spouse

  

  Have you ever noticed how hard it is to be compassionate toward your spouse when you’re angry with him or her? It gets even harder when we let our anger turn into bitterness because we’ve chosen not to forgive them. Ironically, keeping this same mindset and practice in place inevitably creates a hard heart as…

  BethSteffaniak

  February 17, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blaming, Bonding, Boundaries, Brokenness, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Connection, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love for God, Love of God, Marriage, Pain, Perfectionism, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Self-Protection, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spouse I Want to Be Series, Vulnerability, Wounds

  Christ’s Forgiveness, Christlike, Compassion, Empathy, Forgiveness, God’s Love, Perspective

• 5 Ways to Prayer Journal to Improve Your Attitude and Marriage

  

  I had just finished up loading the dishes into the dishwasher, while listening to worship music and offering up a prayer of joy. Little did I know how quickly my attitude would move from worship to all-out-war! You see, our 5 yo son (who is now 25!) wanted to go out to play in the…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 13, 2019

  21 Days of Love Series, About Me, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenthood, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Proactive, Relief, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth, Wounds

  Bible Study, God’s Word, Journaling, Perspective, Prayer, Prayer journaling, Processing, Spiritual Growth

• 3 Ways to Fix Broken Communication in Marriage

  

  Today, I’m honored to offer one more post in my “Lessons Learned in Marriage Series”—this time on communication by guest blogger Crystal Twaddell. I hope you’ll read Crystal’s insights to find out how to navigate this challenge in marriage better. And be sure to check out her bio below, as well as supporting her with your…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 25, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Avoidance, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Counseling, Differences, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Grace, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Listening Skills, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Openness, Pain, Perspective, Positive Focus, Proactive, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Toxic Baggage, Unity, Validation

  Communication, Counseling, Emotions, Filters, Grace in Marriage, Listening Skills, Openness, Processing Pain

• 5 Ways to Love Your Man When He Doesn’t Listen

  

  Have you ever found yourself sharing something really close to your heart with your mate, only to realize he or she is far, far away? Not really listening at all? Ouch! In my marriage, this has been done to me and, quite frankly, done by me to my husband more times than I can count! It’s so easy to…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 26, 2018

  About Me, Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Conversation, Desires, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Grace, Listening Skills, Love, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Patience, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Self-Protection, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Practices

  #lovemyman, Communication, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Listen, Love Mate, Prayer, Trust God