Way better than anything Hollywood could ever portray, today’s guest Alexa PenaVega shares her vulnerable testimony of finding more in her marriage. How do you go from a wife who really doesn’t feel very excited about physical intimacy to finding celebration and joy?

In this episode, Alexa and Francie chat about the fruitfulness that has flowed from pursuing oneness, their callings as mothers to disciple their children and be the best source for all things, including sex.

Note: This episode endured technology challenges and you may note uneven audio levels. Thank you for your patience with the audio, but the contents of the conversation are filled with beautiful truth, testimony and thoughtful ideas.

About Alexa PenaVega:

You may know Alexa PenaVega as an actress from hit shows like Spy Kids. But, today you can hear more about her desire to honor her husband, Carlos PenaVega, and pursue a mutually satisfying sexual relationship. Their book, What if Love is the Point is a must-read, overflowing with both laughter and honest reflections, the PenaVegas’ incredible story—from the red carpet, Spy Kids movies, and Big Time Rush to Dancing with the Stars to marriage and now parenthood will encourage you.

101 Course: Strong Foundations to Starting Well

CLAIMING A HEALTHY VISION FOR MARRIED SEX

To build a love that lasts, you must begin with a strong foundation. Whether you’re newly engaged or in need of a new lens, this course is essential. You’ll be equipped to set a Biblically integrated and practically grounded vision for sex, marriage and the calling to steward the gift of pleasure and intimacy. This course is pivotal as you begin to unlearn unhelpful perspectives and sift through shame, lies and painful messages you’ve received over the years. Learn more here.

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

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Connect with Francie:

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You have permission to break free from silence and shame and show up in a different way.

Perhaps you’ve experienced silence or unhelpful messages about your body and your sexuality. You’ve heard about sex being a man’s need or a wife’s duty. You’ve been told your body is a stumbling block and that sexual desire is dirty. The “don’t do it, don’t do it” message is ingrained in your brain, even if you’re already married.

It’s no wonder you show up to marriage with questions and even some confusion, unable to access desire or express passion. While you want to find answers and learn how to make the shift from “don’t do it” to fully embracing the beauty of the marriage bed, there’s a lot of silence, hurt and unhelpful messages out there that keep us stuck.

To build a love that lasts, you must begin with a strong foundation. Learn about a brand new resource developed to help you get a new lens, a Biblically integrated and practically grounded vision for sex.

The Strong Foundations course provides a comprehensive guide to starting the conversation and building a strong foundation for a healthy and fulfilling marriage.

You’re Invited to Learn in the New Growth Course: 101 Course: Strong Foundations to Starting Well, CLAIMING A HEALTHY VISION FOR MARRIED SEX

To build a love that lasts, you must begin with a strong foundation. Whether you’re newly engaged or in need of a new lens, this course is essential. You’ll be equipped to set a Biblically integrated and practically grounded vision for sex, marriage and the calling to steward the gift of pleasure and intimacy. This course is pivotal as you begin to unlearn unhelpful perspectives and sift through shame, lies and painful messages you’ve received over the years. Learn more here.

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Connect with Francie:

Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

You have a story…and, perhaps the purity culture movement has been a part of shaping your views about your body and your design. Let’s unpack some of the shame and fear that may be holding you back as we walk toward more integration and celebration of the gift of married intimacy.

Playfulness and novelty in your marriage is good and of God. In this episode you’ll get insight and practical tips to bring more of the goodness of playfulness into your marriage and your intimacy.

You’re Invited to Learn in the New Growth Course: 101 Course: Strong Foundations to Starting Well, CLAIMING A HEALTHY VISION FOR MARRIED SEX

To build a love that lasts, you must begin with a strong foundation. Whether you’re newly engaged or in need of a new lens, this course is essential. You’ll be equipped to set a Biblically integrated and practically grounded vision for sex, marriage and the calling to steward the gift of pleasure and intimacy. This course is pivotal as you begin to unlearn unhelpful perspectives and sift through shame, lies and painful messages you’ve received over the years. Learn more here.

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Connect with Francie:

Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

Overwhelm, endless to-do lists, and exhaustion is real, especially in the season of life when you’re pouring your heart and soul into a growing family. Raising little children and having little babies can feel like a sprinting marathon.

Let’s talk about the challenges faced by many mommas to nurture sexual intimacy while raising young children. And, let’s infuse some practicals for navigating this season with grace and helpful perspectives and ideas to help you thrive in every season of life. You are not alone!

Resources Mentioned:

The MomCo (formally MOPS) here

Revelation Wellness here

Date Night Every Night, Episode 48 here

101 Course: Strong Foundations to Starting Well

CLAIMING A HEALTHY VISION FOR MARRIED SEX

To build a love that lasts, you must begin with a strong foundation. Whether you’re newly engaged or in need of a new lens, this course is essential. You’ll be equipped to set a Biblically integrated and practically grounded vision for sex, marriage and the calling to steward the gift of pleasure and intimacy. This course is pivotal as you begin to unlearn unhelpful perspectives and sift through shame, lies and painful messages you’ve received over the years. Learn more here.

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Connect with Francie:

Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

Website

Instagram

Friend, this chat is critical. As we attempt to reframe our view of sex, we are missing the mark if we continue to focus on a narrow and limiting view of “sexual activity” vs. the oneness and meaning that comes through “sexual intimacy.”

Let’s unpack the differences, think about how we got here and how we find a way forward. And, let’s embrace a lifestyle of love making, where intimacy permeates every aspect of a marriage.

We’ll dig into these topics:

• The traditional view of sex as solely sexual activity is limited and fails to capture the depth and beauty of sexual intimacy.

• A more aligned with design view of sex, sexual intimacy, which involves vulnerability, communication, and connection, and extends beyond the bedroom into all aspects of a marriage.

• Practicals for creating a lifestyle of love making prioritizes intellectual, physical, and emotional intimacy, creating a more integrated and fulfilling experience.

• Encouragement to have open conversations in your marriage about your sexual experiences and work towards deepening their sexual intimacy.

101 Course: Strong Foundations to Starting Well

CLAIMING A HEALTHY VISION FOR MARRIED SEX

To build a love that lasts, you must begin with a strong foundation. Whether you’re newly engaged or in need of a new lens, this course is essential. You’ll be equipped to set a Biblically integrated and practically grounded vision for sex, marriage and the calling to steward the gift of pleasure and intimacy. This course is pivotal as you begin to unlearn unhelpful perspectives and sift through shame, lies and painful messages you’ve received over the years. Learn more here.

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Connect with Francie:

Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

Website

Instagram

Let’s pause and get on the same page. Language plays a crucial role in shaping culture and creating a sense of familiarity and understanding. And, a word used quite often in our conversations here is integration. What does it mean and why does it matter?

In 1 Thessalonians 5: 23 we see, “May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.”

We are all on a journey toward more wholeness, more integration. Let’s define integration under our Biblical lens, particularly as we look at our bodies and sexuality through a more celebratory view. Let’s continue to uproot misconceptions and shame that lead to disintegration and disconnection as we learn to lean in to the stirring of God toward more healing and wholeness.

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Connect with Francie:

Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

Website

Instagram

Ever feel stressed out?!?

In this episode, Francie discusses ways to find regulation in the body when feeling stressed out, because we are actually living with chronic stress. Friend, your body is so good to you and even protects you in times of stress. Let's befriend our bodies and understand our nervous system. You’ll get TEN practices to help you regulate your nervous system, including breathing exercises, sensory input, and posture.

Key takeaways include:

• Befriending our bodies and understanding the nervous system is crucial for regulating stress.

• Practical practices like breathing exercises, sensory input, and posture can help regulate the nervous system.

• Being known by others and finding rest in God are powerful tools for navigating stress.

• Understanding the three levels of the nervous system (ventral vagal, activated, and dorsal shutdown) can aid in self-awareness and regulation.

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Discipleship Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Connect with Francie:

Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

Website

Instagram

Walking through seasons of suffering can feel lonely, isolating and can even create a debilitating spiral of despair. Regardless of what your hard looks like, in this episode you’ll be equipped and encouraged as Francie shares her personal journey of embracing the challenges in her life and how it has reshaped her perspective on suffering.

Key takeaways include:

• Emphasizing the importance of living embodied, Francie discusses the significance of caring for our bodies amidst hardship and how it intersects with our spiritual well-being.

• The episode delves into the crucial role of self-care in nurturing our spiritual and emotional health, highlighting its profound impact on our overall well-being.

• Drawing from personal encounters, Francie shares stories of resilience and vulnerability in others who are experiencing hardship, reflecting on the valuable lessons learned from their journeys.

Related Episodes:

Finding Breakthrough from Anxiety, here

When Things Aren’t As They Should Be, here

Returning to Our First Love and Walking Through Suffering, here

Sex in Seasons of Suffering, here

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You’re Invited:

Keep learning with Francie! Join the Discipleship Circle group mentorship. This is a SWEET community of women, connected with the purpose of seeking God’s heart for their reclaiming a redeemed view of sex and sexuality. Inside the circle, we will explore and discover the good news about God’s heart for sex. Learn more here: Discipleship Circle

Donate to the Heaven in Your Home Ministry:

Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.

Listen to Heaven in Your Home Family Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Connect with Francie:

Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

Website

Instagram