Category: Grace

• 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 Biblical Ways to Honor Your Spouse in the Midst of Parenting Conflicts

  

  Today I’m excited to have Stacey Pardoe as my guest speaking about the challenges of parenting and how to navigate them with our mates. I hope you’ll make her feel welcome by commenting and sharing to all your favorite social media places. Thanks! No matter how like-minded we are when it comes to our relationships…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 29, 2018

  Acceptance, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confronting With Grace, Differences, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, Grace, Humility, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenthood, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Realistic Expectations, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Submission, Surrender

  Conflicts, Faith in God, Honor Spouse, Humility, Marriage, Parenting, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Unified Front, Unity

• 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

• 6 Lessons that Motivate Me to Forgive My Mate

  

  I’ve always struggled to let go of offenses and forgive my husband from the heart. In the moment it feels like God needs my help to point out my spouse’s sin or at least to stop it from happening again. When I give in to that thinking it mushrooms. I feel like I need to…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 23, 2018

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blaming, Choices, Christ-Centered, Confession, Conflict, Control, Denial, Emotions, Entitlement, Expectations, False Beliefs, Forgiveness, God’s Redemption, Grace, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Marriage, Marriage Mistakes, Negative Self-Talk, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-deception, Self-Protection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Surrender, Victim Mentality, Wounds

  Anger, Bitterness, Christ’s Forgiveness, Forgive, Forgiveness, Realistic Expectations, Redemption, Surrender, Trust in God, Wounds

• Feeling the Forgiveness

  

  I’ve talked a lot about forgiveness on this blog over the years, because I’ve learned first hand that it’s what brings calmness out of messy moments in my marriage. So it only makes sense that it should be the foundation of marriage, since forgiveness is the foundation of what Christ did for us in all…

  BethSteffaniak

  July 8, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blaming, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love of God, Marriage, Perspective, Positive Focus, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth, Wounds

  Acceptance, Forgiveness, God’s Love, Offended, Offenses, Perspective

• How Being Broken in Your Marriage is a Good Thing!

  

  Ever ignore something that is or might be broken in your life or marriage? It can be scary and intimidating to face this harsh reality. I know, because I did so with one of my my sons and also with my marriage to its detriment. Years ago, my two oldest sons were enjoying a fun…

  BethSteffaniak

  June 24, 2018

  Accountability, Attitude, Bad Habits, Brokenness, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Confession, Denial, Discouragement, Emotions, Entitlement, Expectations, Failure, God’s Redemption, Grace, Laziness, Lust, Marriage, Marriage Mistakes, Perfectionism, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Redemption, Responsibility, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Practices, Surrender

  Broken, Brokenness, Confession, Entitled, Laziness, Lust, Perfectionism, Perfectionist, Prayer, Self-deceived, Self-Righteous

• The Unfair Task of Holding in Your Personal Truth in Marriage

  

  Did you know my husband is an open book with a transparent cover and see-through pages?! I always know exactly where I stand with him at just about every moment of our marriage. This can be a good thing most of the time. I’m grateful for his openness and willingness to clear the air. But…

  BethSteffaniak

  May 20, 2018

  Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Authenticity, Blaming, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Connection, Criticism, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Grace, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Pain, Patience, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Relief, Respect, Safety, Self-Protection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Practices, Support, Truth, Unfair Realities in Marriage

  Boundaries, Communication, Discretion, Hold Tongue, Kindness, Listen, Openness, Respect, Sensitivity, Timing, Truth, Understanding

• The Unfair Task of Respecting Your Mate No Matter What

  

  I think people often confuse respect and trust. Why do I say that? Because I hear people, women in particular, saying their mates must earn their respect before they will show respect. I totally understand the challenge to treat with respect the mate who acts in a way that is not respectable. It certainly feels…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 22, 2018

  Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Avoidance, Betrayal, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Discouragement, Emotions, Entitlement, Expectations, False Beliefs, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love, Love for God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Patience, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Self-deception, Submission, Surrender, Trust, Unfair Realities in Marriage, Vulnerability

  Disrespect, Emotions, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Respect, Respectable, Submission, Trust, Unfair Realities, Withdrawal

• Unfair Task of Forgiving an Unapologetic Spouse

  

  Back in the early days of my marriage, I would shut down emotionally whenever my husband did or said something to hurt my feelings. And I wouldn’t open up to him or forgive him until he apologized. This was one of the stupidest moves I made back in the day! It fueled even greater conflict…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 15, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Apologies, Blaming, Christ-Centered, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Unfair Realities in Marriage, Vulnerability, Wounds

  Acceptance, Anger, Apologize, Bible, Encouragement, Forgive, Forgiveness, Scripture, Unapologetic, Unfair, Unfair Realities

• 6 Motivators for Improving Your Love Language Deficit

  

  No one would argue that speaking our mate’s love languages can really improve the feeling of love in our marriages. But what do we do when our love languages conflict and change over time? And more importantly, what are the motivators for improving how often and how much we speak our mate’s love language in…

  BethSteffaniak

  February 18, 2018

  About Me, Affection, Affirmation, Alienation, Avoidance, Bonding, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Connection, Differences, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Grace, Infatuation, Love, Love for God, Love Languages, Love of God, Marriage, Marriage Spark, Negative Self-Talk, Positive Focus, Prayer, Priorities, Proactive, Romance, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-sacrifice, Sex & Sexuality, Smothering, Spiritual Practices

  Change, Love, Love for God, Love Language, Love of God, Positive Focus, Prayer, Romance, Seasons in Life, Seasons in Marriage