Category: Safety

• Marriage’s Definition and Purposes According to the Bible

  

  Even though our country and world continues to hotly debate what defines marriage, the Bible settled the issue for Christ-followers long ago. It began with the very first people—a man and a woman—that God joined together in a one-flesh covenant in the Garden of Eden. If you’re not a Christ-follower, then you probably don’t believe…

  BethSteffaniak

  August 12, 2018

  Accountability, Affection, Affirmation, Attraction, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Bonding, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Connection, Contentment, Encouragement, Faith in God, Intimacy, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love of God, Marriage, Marriage According to Bible, Motherhood, Oneness, Parenthood, Positive Focus, Prayer, Purpose, Safety, Security, Self-sacrifice, Sex & Sexuality, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Leadership, Spiritual Practices, Submission, Support, Togetherness, Unity

  Bible, Companionship, Definition of Marriage, Marriage, One Flesh, Parenthood, Purposes of Marriage, Reflect Christ, Sex, Sexual Intimacy

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

  

  Did you know that 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 in our marriage. This can be a good thing most of the time. I’m grateful for his openness and willingness to clear the air.…

  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

• 64 Abusive Actions That Spell Trouble for Your Marriage

  

  We live in a culture and world racked by a rising and alarming number of sexual abuse accusations right now. But in marriage, the issue of abuse of every type can be extremely murky and convoluted. I think that’s because it’s so hard to know when your spouse is crossing a healthy and appropriate boundary…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 30, 2018

  Abuse, Affairs, Alienation, Anger, Betrayal, Boundaries, Choices, Conflict, Control, Criticism, Deception, Denial, Discouragement, Divorce, Marriage, Pain, Perspective, Safety, Victim, Withdrawal

  Abuse, Abuse in Marriage, Abusive Marriage, Anger, Boundaries, Conflict, Control, Safety, Separation, Victim, Violence

• The Controller Love Style And FMTM Linkup

  

  With Thanksgiving in the U.S. a day away, it seems appropriate to discuss the many shades of a Controller “love style!” We wouldn’t be able to get through a true Thanksgiving meal or celebration without the “Control Freak” in somebody rising to the surface like a tasty batch of homemade rolls  . . . minus…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 22, 2016

  Abuse, Alienation, Anger, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Control, Counseling, Emotions, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Pain, Parenthood, Prayer, Safety, Self-Protection, Stress, Support, Toxic Baggage, Trauma, Wounds

  Abuse, Anger, Conflict, Control, Counseling, Support, Wounds

• Getting Your Spouse to Open Up! Video

  Getting a reluctant mate to open up to you is about as easy as coaxing a cranky toddler to eat his peas. At least, that’s what I’ve discovered in my own life. And it’s also what I’ve heard from countless others, especially wives, in conversationless marriages. Today I’m answering another reader’s question in my “Questioning…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 20, 2016

  Acceptance, Accountability, Affirmation, Alienation, Attitude, Avoidance, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conversation, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Openness, Prayer, Questioning Marriage Videos, Realistic Expectations, Safety, Self-Reflection, Video

  Communication, Conversation, Fear, Openness, Prayer, Safety, Video

• What I Learned from a Fight with My Husband

  

  Toward the end of my month-long reorganizing, repairing, and purging that I was doing in my house in June, my husband and I had a fight. Mind you, it wasn’t related to the hard work that we were doing on the house. But it was a doozy of a misunderstanding on both our parts. I…

  BethSteffaniak

  July 19, 2016

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Avoidance, Blaming, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Emotions, Expectations, Faith in God, False Beliefs, Fear, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Insecurity, Love, Love of God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Pain, Perspective, Pride, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Responsibility, Safety, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Soft Heart Series, Surrender, Trust, Truth, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday, Withdrawal

  Conflict, Courage, God’s Protection, Love, Perspective, Resentments, Truth, Vulnerability, Withdrawal

• Feel like a Victim in Marriage?

  

  I’m back from a much-needed vacation to continue the series on how our spouses can control us. Today’s focus is about feeling like a victim in a hopeless marriage. Sometimes people who are in a hurtful marriage for a very long time and have tried to combat the issues for as long as they’ve been…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 2, 2016

  About Me, Alienation, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Codependency, Control, Discouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, False Beliefs, Forgiveness, Love of God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Proactive, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Safety, Victim Mentality

  Change, God’s Love, Learned Helplessness, Proactive, Responsibility, Safe People, Victim Mentality

• Steps that Encourage Your Man to Open Up with You

  

  I’m excited about today’s post because I get to focus on the positive communication techniques that wives (or husbands) can do to improve times of sharing and disclosure with their spouses. I’d like to reference the top three responses to the second question on the Men and Openness Survey that I conducted recently. I asked:…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 8, 2015

  Acceptance, Affirmation, Alienation, Attitude, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Communication, Conflict, Control, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Grace, Listening Skills, Men and Openness Series, Perseverance, Perspective, Realistic Expectations, Safety, Trust, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Active Listening, Communication, Empathy, Listening Skills, Openness, Safety, Vulnerability

• Picking Hubby’s Brain on Openness

  Today I’m excited to kick-off a new video series called, “Picking Hubby’s Brain” where I will be exploring what my man thinks on topics that are a mystery to many of us women and wives—in particular to me! 😉 Today’s topic for exploration is on “Men and Openness.”  There’s so much wisdom and clarity on this…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 15, 2015

  Acceptance, Anger, Authenticity, Blaming, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Communication, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Gender Differences, Listening Skills, Love, Men and Openness Series, Positive Focus, Prayer, Safety, Self-sacrifice, Support, Validation, Video, Vulnerability

  Active Listening, Communication, Empathy, Listening, Men and Openness, Video, Vulnerability

• What Men Say About Opening Up And WW Linkup!

  

  Today we are diving into the first of the responses from the “Men and Openness” survey. The first question I posed to men was: What makes opening up and disclosing your feelings to your wife difficult? Here are the results … 65.52% – I am afraid my wife will become upset by my disclosures. 53.45%…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 10, 2015

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Authenticity, Avoidance, Blaming, Choices, Communication, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Fear, Listening Skills, Marriage, Men and Openness Series, Positive Focus, Prayer, Respect, Safety, Support, Trust, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Communication, Confession, Conflict, Emotional Safety, Emotions, Openness, Safety, Vulnerability