Category Archives: Conflict

The Safety Net Of Romance

I have the privilege of writing monthly for Dustin Reichman’s blog, Engaged Marriage, on the topic of romance in marriage. This month’s post talks about how romance acts like a safety net when facing difficult times…. Cultivating romance into your … Continue reading

Posted in Blog Love, Christian Marriage, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, Romance in Marriage | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Guilt Caused By Marriage Blogs

When Tom and I first started The Romantic Vineyard there weren’t many marriage blogs focusing on the positives of married life–romancing your spouse, date night ideas, honoring and respecting your spouse. Most were focused on the struggles marriages encounter and … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, Troubled Marriage | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

4 Ways We Should Never Settle In Marriage

  There are times when settling is a good thing, like when you find a place to call home, or when you’re finally able to settle a long-standing argument. Settling on a purchase price of something means both parties are … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, Troubled Marriage | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Using Our Internal Alarm System For The Good Of Our Marriage

I had just walked out of Lowes Home Improvement store and wasn’t paying much attention to the car sitting idle outside the door. I stepped in front of it heading towards my car when the driver put the car in gear. … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

When Jealousy Whispers–Flee!

Do you or your spouse struggle with jealousy? Is it towards your spouse or is it towards others who have more than you or something you want, but don’t have? Jealousy is a destroyer of marriage. It is an impostor. … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, The Gospel & Marriage | 2 Comments

When Love Requires More Than You Can Give-The Captain and Tennille Story

I grew up listening and singing along with the Captain and Tennille. Their music had a way of sticking in my head even when I didn’t want it too–“I will, I will, I will…” See? On January 16, 2014, after … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Christian Marriage, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, Seasons of Life, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

When You’re Not Living Your Happily Ever After

Face it. Most of us married with rose-colored glasses on. We expected our love would carry us through whatever storms life sent our way. But.life.is.hard. Tom and I married when I was only 19 and he was 24. I moved … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Christian Marriage, Conflict, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Parenting, Seasons of Life, The Gospel & Marriage, Troubled Marriage | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on When You’re Not Living Your Happily Ever After

It Matters

How well do you watch your words when you’re around your children, your friends? Do they hear you talk down to your spouse? Do they hear you react to a request or question? If so, you’re like the majority of … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages | 4 Comments

Do You Differ or Defer?

It’s amazing to me how often the Lord will get my attention by defining two words. One is usually what I should be doing, and the other is what I tend to do left to myself. Case in point: Differ … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, Leadership, Roles In Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Manipulating Motives

Our pastor often asks the question, “Why do you do the things you do, and who do you do them for?” It’s a great question to help discover what motivates you in the mundane of everyday life. But have you ever … Continue reading

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Two Words That Change Everything

I’m reading through the One Year Bible this year, and the last book I read was Job. Now I’m about half way through Ecclesiastes, and what a contrast! The first book contains the story of a man who seemingly did … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, The Gospel & Marriage, Troubled Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I’m Right and You’re Wrong–So There!

We had a conversation recently with some friends about our tendency to notice every little error our spouse says when sharing a story. As we discussed this we all realized that we do this way too often. And why? After … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Encouraging Your Spouse, Growing Strong Marriages, Seasons of Life, Showing Honor | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Turning A Deaf Ear Isn’t Love

I heard it again this morning. I was lamenting the fact to Tom that I’ve gained 10 pounds, and I’m having a hard time losing them. <sigh> His wise counsel to me was something I’ve heard over and over–you need … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Encouraging Your Spouse, Growing Strong Marriages, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

My Spouse Has Little Or No Desire For Sex

In our culture, with all the emphasis on sex, you wouldn’t think this is as big of an issue as it actually is. Yet no one wants to talk about it. Except, of course, for the spouse who is having … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Blog Love, Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Newlyweds, Seasons of Life, Sexual Intimacy, Troubled Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Men On Pause

Years ago our pastor jokingly referred to menopause as “Men On Pause.” I thought he was kidding at the very best, or I hoped he was exaggerating at the very least. Turns out he was quite right. <sigh> Based on … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, Seasons of Life, Sexual Intimacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

What To Do When You’re Not In The Mood

Everyone at some point or another in marriage will face times where you just don’t feel like making love. But what happens when this happens and your spouse really, really wants to? There are several options. But first it’s important … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, Conflict, Growing Strong Marriages, Intimacy, Seasons of Life, Sexual Intimacy, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When Your Sex Drive Putters Out

Last week I pulled back the curtain, and I’m compelled to do the same with this post, but it is a lot more personal. However, I can’t shake the importance of this topic, so here goes… A few months ago … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Intimacy, Seasons of Life, Sexual Intimacy, Troubled Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Happy Hour

Hard to believe it’s time for our Specials of the Week already. And this week we’re sharing several posts because we just couldn’t choose one blog to highlight. Take some time this weekend reading, gleaning and enjoying your marriage! Intimacy … Continue reading

Posted in Blog Love, Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Date Night Ideas, Forgiveness, Growing Strong Marriages, Happy Hour, Intimacy, Sexual Intimacy, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Hour

Confronting Confrontation

Such a harsh word, don’t you think? Con.fron.ta.tion. It sounds like it wants to pick a fight! And oftentimes it does in many marriages. But.what.if.we.were.to.think.differently? What if the next time our spouse mentions something in which they believe we need … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Difficulty, Forgiveness, Growing Strong Marriages, The Gospel & Marriage, Troubled Marriage | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Confronting Confrontation

Beware Of These 6 Little Foxes

Marriage is a privilege, a gift from God that allows us to reflect the love Christ has for the church. In our culture oftentimes the most important part of getting married is the wedding itself! Imagine if a vineyard owner … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments