Author Sheila Wray Gregoire has been writing Christian marriage and sex-advice since 2003. But in 2019, she made a shocking discovery about much of the advice that is out there for Christian couples.

In our wide-ranging conversation with Sheila you'll hear:

• How Sheila discovered the harm that some best-selling Christian marriage books were causing readers and what she's doing about it
• How the beauty and intimacy of sex as God created it goes so far beyond intercourse
• How the message of purity culture was hurtful to so many
• Why we need to be curious about the marriage resources and advice we take in
• Why Sheila is hopeful for the future of Christian marriage and the church

Resources

You can find Sheila's books, podcasts and blog along with many other incredibly helpful resources at baremarriage.com

Next Steps

We feel so honoured and humbled when our listeners reach out for prayer, support and encouragement. We don't have all the answers but we do love praying for others and helping couples find hope and healing for their marriages in Christ's power. If we know of some people or resources that would be a great fit for you, we'll connect you. Get in touch with us! info@livingmarriages.com

If you'd like to support this non-profit ministry, you can make a donation at our website: https://livingmarriages.com

In episode 95, we shared God's invitation to us and you to start taking our marriages more seriously. We asked what neglect looks like in our marriage and how God might be inviting us to turn that around, what new habits or mindsets he might be asking us to commit to.

On this Thursday Thought, we take time to reflect on where some of the chaos and fires might be in our marriage and how those might be pointing to signs of neglect in certain areas. We also pray for God's grace, wisdom and strength to understand and pursue what it looks like to start taking our marriages more seriously.

Next Steps

We'd love to hear from you how God is inviting you to take yourself and your marriage more seriously this year! Get in touch if you'd like prayer or some accountability: info@livingmarriages.com

Want to donate to this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to see how you can make a charitable donation!

It's always a good time to check in with God and one another on the state of your marriage and family. We happened to do our check-in at the end of 2025 and God had a pretty serious invitation for us: start taking yourselves and your marriage more seriously. It's an invitation we're passing on to you!

On this episode you'll hear:

• What it looks like when you're not taking your marriage seriously and how God might be inviting you to change that
• The grace and humour you'll need for the journey and that God is freely offering
• How NOT to become overwhelmed when starting this journey

Resources

Here are a few of the books and resources that have captured our curiosity and imaginations and are giving us good ideas on how we can take ourselves more seriously this year.

The Marriage You Want by Sheila Wray Gregoire and Dr. Keith Gregoire

Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley

Spiritual Health Reflection from Practicing the Way

Next Steps

We'd love to hear from you how God is inviting you to take yourself and your marriage more seriously this year! Get in touch if you'd like prayer or some accountability: info@livingmarriages.com

Want to donate to this non-profit ministry? Visit our website to see how you can make a charitable donation!

Happy New Year! As we step into 2026, we wanted to pray God's blessing and provision for your marriage this year. That prayer involves bringing our "not enough", our "loaves and fish" to Jesus and to see what he will do with them. It means not limiting God in how and where he wants to provide for us.

Join us for this time of prayer and blessing as we step into a New Year together!

Next Steps

Get in touch with us - we'd love to hear from you what you're excited about or worried about for this new year of 2026: info@livingmarriages.com

Want to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation? We're looking for monthly partners! For more information visit https://livingmarriages.com/donate#httpslivingmarriagescomdonate

If you're listening in real-time with us, this episode is being released at the end of 2025. As you look back on the year that was and look ahead to the year to come, how has God been enough for you? In your life and your marriage? Are there areas you've struggled seeing him as enough? Are there areas where you can celebrate his abundance?

In this episode we share:

• The question that really got us thinking about our trust in God this past year
• A great question Jesus asks his disciples before feeding the 5000
• Encouragement from the book of Acts for what God really wants to give us

Next Steps

Let us know how we can pray for you! Or if you have any show ideas, we'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com

Want to make a charitable gift before the end of the year? Visit our website to give: https://livingmarriages.com

If you're listening in real-time with us at the Living Marriages podcast, Merry Christmas!

We've got a short Christmas Day greeting for you complete with an amazing rendition of a winter poem read by our incredible boys, Ethan and Elijah.

Praying the love, joy, peace and hope of the Christmas season for you!

Love,

Aaron, April, Ethan and Elijah

We are so excited to introduce you to our good friends, Cris and Christy Harper. After God moved them to Edmonton from Alabama in the midst of a global pandemic to start church ministry, they felt a bit untethered in life and in their marriage.

As they were approaching the end of the year, God invited them to a new practice, one which they've developed and practiced regularly at the end of each year. It's an incredible way of connecting, of building courage in communication, of repentance, of building friendship and deepening communion with one another and with Christ.

Join us for this humour-filled and deeply encouraging conversation as we approach the end of 2025!

Resources

Here is the Spiritual Health Reflection and the Rule of Life Builder by the folks over at Practicing the Way.

Interested in becoming a marriage mentor? FamilyLife Canada can provide the training and resources you need here.

Next Steps

If you'd like to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you and to pray with you! Send us an e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com

Please pray about supporting this non-profit podcast. For more information on making a charitable donation, please visit: https://livingmarriages.com

In Episode 89, we spoke with our friend Justin Chan about how in being curious about our differences and learning to honour them, God can draw us closer to one another and himself!

On today's Thursday Thought we take time to reflect on some of the differences in our marriage, get curious about them and pray about how the Lord might be inviting us to honour these differences.

We also are reminded about three of the most important words you can use in your marriage: "Tell me more!"

Next Steps

If you'd like us to pray for you or if you have any episode suggestions or ideas, get in touch with us! We'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com

If you're feeling led to make a charitable donation to help keep this non-profit ministry "on the air," please visit our website: https://livingmarriages.com