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On this episode of Guys Garage, Chris and Shawn discuss what it looks like to be married to strong women and the importance of recognizing and appreciating the strengths God has given their wives. Drawing from Proverbs 18:22 and Proverbs 19:14, they talk about the blessing of finding a wife and the value of a prudent, godly woman. Strength can look different in every person, and a wife's strength is not just found in her personality or abilities, but also in her faith, wisdom, and the ways she contributes to her marriage. Chris and Shawn also discuss love languages and the importance of learning how their wives give and receive love. Understanding your spouse means recognizing what makes them unique, appreciating their strengths, and allowing those qualities to strengthen the marriage. The conversation challenges husbands to recognize the areas where their wives are gifted and give them the freedom to use those gifts. Marriage is not about one spouse having all the answers or being strong in every area. It is about learning to work together, trusting one another, and recognizing how each person's strengths can complement the other. Ultimately, a strong wife is a blessing, and her wisdom, faith, and encouragement can help shape her husband into a better man. When husbands take the time to learn their wives, value their perspectives, and encourage them to lead in the areas where they are gifted, they create opportunities for their marriage to grow stronger together. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Shawn, Lauren, Chris, and Brooke talk about what it looks like to remember your first love and continue choosing joy and connection in marriage. Brooke shares from Revelation 2, where Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus about remembering the love they had at first. The conversation turns to marriage and how easy it can be over time to lose some of the excitement, fun, and intentionality that came so naturally in the beginning of a relationship. Feelings change throughout marriage, but that does not mean love has disappeared. Over time, those early feelings can grow into something deeper and more intentional. At the same time, couples should not stop having fun together. Sometimes reconnecting means doing something you both enjoy, going on a date, turning on a song that brings back a memory, or simply creating new moments together. This is part of the heart behind Love for a Lifetime date nights, giving couples opportunities to step away from everyday life and intentionally enjoy one another again. They also talk about the importance of remembering the good moments. Take the picture. Remember the music, the places, the scents, and the experiences that remind you of the life you have built together. Those memories can help bring you back to the love, friendship, and joy that are still there, even during seasons when they may be harder to feel. Marriage gives us the opportunity to continue getting to know our spouse on a deeper level. As life and seasons change, so do we. Continuing to pursue, learn, and enjoy one another is part of valuing the marriage God has given us. Ultimately, marriage is meant to reflect the way Christ loves the church. We cannot fix every struggle in our marriage on our own, but we can choose to value our marriage, turn toward one another, and invite God into the places that need restoration. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Brooke and Lauren have an honest conversation about a difficult season in Shawn and Lauren’s marriage. Looking back on the night of Brooke’s daughter’s wedding, they reflect on a time when Shawn and Lauren were working together and doing life together, but were not truly connecting emotionally or physically. Brooke and Lauren talk about the importance of being intentional about intimacy in marriage. Brooke shares the simple reminder that the less you have sex, the less you want it. Intimacy can easily get pushed aside when life gets busy, which is why couples may need to intentionally make time for each other. Scheduling intimacy is not about taking away the romance, but about making sure connection remains a priority. They also discuss the importance of bringing everything into the light with your spouse. Being honest and vulnerable allows couples to talk about what is really happening instead of allowing distance or resentment to grow. Having trusted, godly community can also provide wisdom, encouragement, and a safe place to seek advice when you need another perspective. The conversation closes with the importance of communication, timing, and giving your spouse room to share what they are feeling. Hard conversations are not always easy, but creating space to listen and being willing to extend the olive branch can open the door to healing and renewed connection. Marriage takes intentionality, vulnerability, and a continued choice to pursue one another. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Shawn, Lauren, Chris, and Brooke talk about what it looks like to support your spouse through worry, fear, frustration, and difficult moments. Drawing from Galatians 2, they discuss the importance of carrying one another’s burdens while remembering that we are not called to carry the entire weight for our spouse. Each couple shares from their own experiences. Chris talks about struggling with worry while Brooke approaches it differently. Shawn and Lauren discuss Lauren’s struggle with fear and how they have learned that Shawn’s first response needs to be listening rather than immediately trying to fix the situation. For Shawn, frustration can be a challenge, and the couple has learned the value of listening, validating, and praying together. The conversation explores how husbands and wives can communicate what they truly need from one another. Sometimes support does not mean having the right solution. It can mean listening, speaking truth, praying together, and helping your spouse carry the burden without taking the entire weight upon yourself. Learning your spouse and preparing for difficult moments can help couples respond with greater understanding and grace. Our words have power, and Scripture gives us truth to speak over ourselves and our spouse. Rather than allowing fear, worry, or frustration to define the moment, we can ask, “What does God say about this?” and “What can I practically do to support my spouse right now?” Through communication, prayer, intentional listening, and biblical truth, couples can learn to carry burdens together while ultimately placing them in God’s hands. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of Guys Garage, Chris and Shawn unpack 1 Peter 3:7 and what it means for husbands to live with their wives in an understanding way and show them honor. The conversation challenges men to intentionally learn their wives by listening, asking questions, communicating, and taking the time to truly understand who they are. Knowing your spouse does not happen by accident. It requires curiosity, patience, and a willingness to keep learning one another. Chris and Shawn also discuss the phrase “weaker vessel” and how it should never be understood as permission to use strength or authority against a wife. Instead, biblical strength is meant to be expressed through honor, protection, humility, and sacrificial love. Peter reminds husbands that their wives are “heirs with you of the grace of life,” pointing to their equal value before God and the unity of becoming one flesh. The episode closes with the sobering reminder that how we treat our spouse is connected to our relationship with God. Husbands are called to submit themselves to the Lord first, allowing Him to shape the way they lead, love, listen, and honor their wives. This episode encourages men to stop simply assuming they know their wives and instead study them, listen to them, and love them with intentional understanding. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Shawn and Lauren, along with Chris and Brooke, continue their conversation on love and respect, focusing on what it looks like for husbands to intentionally love their wives. Shawn and Lauren share how a difficult conversation about respect helped them better understand one another. The hosts discuss how respect may come more naturally to many men, while wives often feel most loved through connection, communication, and intentional acts that speak directly to their hearts. The couples share personal examples of what makes them feel loved, from serving one another to words of affirmation and physical touch. They encourage husbands and wives to learn their spouse’s unique needs rather than assuming they experience love the same way they do. The conversation also highlights the importance of wives listening when their husbands share their feelings. Vulnerability can be difficult, especially when someone fears rejection or an unhelpful response, but creating a safe space for honest communication can deepen intimacy and trust. Ultimately, loving your spouse well means being willing to learn what makes them feel valued, seen, and cherished, even when it does not come naturally to you. This episode encourages couples to move beyond simply loving their spouse the way they prefer and instead become intentional about loving them in the way they receive it best. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Brooke and Chris reflect on their daughter’s wedding and the joy of watching her begin a new chapter of marriage. Their conversation becomes a reminder of the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness and the ways He has carried their family through every season. Looking at the Old Testament, they discuss how God's people intentionally marked celebrations and milestones to remember His faithfulness and His promises. Brooke and Chris share how grateful they are for the people God brought into their daughter’s life and the blessing of welcoming a new family into their own. They also offer encouragement for newly married couples, emphasizing the importance of communicating openly about everything, refusing to hide things from one another, and creating a marriage that feels safe and secure. They encourage couples to find biblical community and surround themselves with other married couples they can learn from and lean on. The conversation also touches on preparing for the wedding day, navigating holidays, and learning how to move through the many seasons and celebrations that come with marriage. Ultimately, this episode encourages couples to remember where God has brought them, communicate openly, surround themselves with community, and continue choosing one another through every season of marriage. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Brooke sits down with Allesha Childress, wife, mother, and cofounder of Rock Bottom Hope, a ministry she leads alongside her husband, Danny, to bring hope and support to individuals and families affected by addiction. Allesha joins Brooke for an honest conversation about marriage, personality differences, priorities, and the importance of creating space for the people and things that matter most. The conversation explores the importance of understanding your spouse’s needs and making intentional space for one another. Allesha shares how she balances her need for solitude with a full schedule and reminds us that sometimes we can miss the great things God has placed in front of us because we fill our calendars with too many good things. Brooke and Allesha also discuss how our calendar and bank account often reveal what we truly prioritize. They encourage couples to be intentional about making room for their marriage, family, and time with the Lord instead of allowing busyness to take over. Another important part of the conversation is learning not to assume our spouse’s intentions. Before reacting with anger or frustration, we can pause, ask questions, and seek to understand. Giving our spouse the benefit of the doubt can create greater communication, grace, and unity. The conversation closes with a discussion about walking alongside someone struggling with addiction and how to offer support without trying to control their journey. Through Rock Bottom Hope, Danny and Allesha help individuals and families find hope and support through difficult seasons. Need help or know someone who does? Rock Bottom Hope offers support for individuals struggling with addiction of any kind. Website: www.rockbottomhope.com Hope Line: 877-423-HOPE 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Chris and Brooke welcome Danny and Allesha, founders of Rock Bottom Hope, for an honest conversation about marriage, vulnerability, and intentionally knowing your spouse. Danny and Allesha share how they met and how important it is to be completely open with your spouse. Marriage creates a space to be known fully, and hiding parts of ourselves can keep couples from experiencing deeper connection and trust. The conversation also explores how the differences that initially attract us to our spouse can sometimes become sources of frustration in marriage. Instead of focusing on those differences negatively, couples are encouraged to recognize their spouse's unique strengths and see those differences as a blessing. Being intentional about gratitude, understanding each other's roles and strengths, and setting clear expectations can help couples work together more effectively. Danny and Allesha also share practical ways they have learned more about one another, including taking the 5 Love Languages and spiritual gifts assessments together. Understanding how your spouse communicates, receives love, and is uniquely gifted can help couples love each other more intentionally. The conversation also highlights the work of Rock Bottom Hope, a ministry that walks alongside individuals struggling with addiction and offers a Hope Line for those who need support. Danny and Allesha share how they intentionally separate ministry and work from their marriage while making time to reconnect through regular date nights and their 24 Hours getaways. This episode encourages couples to be vulnerable, appreciate their differences, learn how to love their spouse well, and intentionally invest in their marriage through every season. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or needs support, visit www.rockbottomhope.com or call 877-423-HOPE. Hope is always available.

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Chris sits down with Danny Childress, founder of Rock Bottom Hope, to discuss addiction, biblical brotherhood, and the importance of authentic conversations among Christian men. Danny shares the heart behind Rock Bottom Hope and how the ministry exists to bring hope, healing, and restoration to those struggling with addiction and life's hardest seasons. Together, they talk about why many men tend to keep conversations at the surface and how true healing begins when we are willing to be honest, vulnerable, and show genuine brotherly love. Chris also asks what to do when someone you love is not ready to accept help. Danny reminds listeners that while we cannot force change, we can continue to pray, love them faithfully, and be ready to support them when they are ready to take the next step. Danny also shares how he and his wife, Allesha, intentionally protect their marriage through regular date nights and a dedicated 24 Hours getaway every other month, demonstrating the importance of making time for one another even in the midst of ministry. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or needs support, visit www.rockbottomhope.com or call 877-423-HOPE. Hope is always available. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, hosts Shawn and Lauren, along with Chris and Brooke, record from the beautiful island of Eleuthera, Bahamas, as they reflect on the biblical gift of rest. Surrounded by God's creation, they discuss why stepping away from the routines and distractions of everyday life is essential for our spiritual, emotional, and relational health. The conversation explores how true rest is more than taking a vacation. It is intentionally creating space to meet with God. Whether at home or away, spending daily time in His presence allows us to experience the deep rest that only He can provide. The hosts encourage listeners to disconnect from the demands of life, enjoy God's creation, and remember that rest is a gift from the Lord. Looking to Scripture, they reflect on how God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, establishing a pattern for us to follow. They also discuss Jesus' teaching that "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," reminding us that God designed rest for our good, not as a burden. In a culture that celebrates constant busyness and productivity, Shawn, Lauren, Chris, and Brooke challenge listeners to embrace God's rhythm instead of the world's. God desires for us to experience abundant life, and healthy, intentional rest is part of His design. This episode is an invitation to slow down, spend time with the Lord, and discover the renewal that comes from resting in His presence. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of Girls Corner, Brooke and Lauren talk about the importance of protecting your marriage while raising children. Parenthood is one of life's greatest blessings, but it can also become easy to unintentionally place your marriage on the back burner. The hosts encourage wives to remember that one of the greatest gifts they can give their children is a strong, healthy, Christ centered marriage. Looking to Scripture, Brooke and Lauren reflect on Psalm 127:4, which says, "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth," and Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go..." They discuss raising children to become "arrows" who are launched into God's purpose rather than "boomerangs" who never leave the nest. The conversation also offers practical encouragement for creating a healthy family culture. From seeking the Lord together and prioritizing family dinners to setting healthy boundaries and protecting your bedroom as a place for rest and connection, Brooke and Lauren share simple ways couples can stay connected while navigating the demands of parenting. Most importantly, they remind listeners that the way a husband and wife love one another creates a sense of security for their children. When kids see a marriage marked by love, respect, and intentionality, they gain a lasting example of God's design for family. This episode encourages parents to pursue a healthy balance between marriage and parenthood, trusting that investing in your relationship with your spouse is one of the greatest investments you can make in your children. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, hosts Shawn and Lauren, along with Chris and Brooke, begin a two part conversation on one of the most important dynamics in marriage: love and respect. Drawing from biblical principles, they unpack what it looks like to intentionally respect one another and why understanding your spouse's needs can strengthen your relationship. The hosts discuss how many men are deeply encouraged by respect, while women often respond most strongly to love. Although respect may not always come naturally, especially during difficult seasons, choosing to honor your spouse is a powerful way to build unity and reflect God's design for marriage. Throughout the conversation, Shawn, Lauren, Chris, and Brooke share practical insights and everyday examples of what respect can look like in marriage. They encourage couples to be intentional in the way they communicate, support, and build one another up, recognizing that healthy marriages are strengthened through mutual understanding and Christ centered love. This episode is the first in a two part series. In Part Two, the conversation shifts to the wife's perspective as the hosts explore how husbands can intentionally love their wives in ways that make them feel seen, valued, and cherished. Whether you have been married for a few months or many years, this episode offers biblical encouragement and practical wisdom to help you grow in love, respect, and unity together. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of Guys Garage, Chris and Shawn have an honest conversation about seasons when God feels distant. Whether you are walking through unanswered prayers, unexpected hardship, or moments of helplessness, these seasons can test your faith and leave you wondering where God is at work. The hosts remind listeners that while our circumstances may change, God's presence never does. They discuss how the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, often using discouragement and doubt to pull us away from the Lord. Through Christ, however, believers have authority over the enemy and can stand firm in God's truth. Chris and Shawn also reflect on Jesus' promise in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." The peace God offers is not dependent on our circumstances. It comes from His constant presence. Even when we do not understand what He is doing, we can trust that He is faithful and working in every season. This episode encourages men to keep seeking the Lord, stand firmly on His promises, and rest in the peace only He can provide. No matter how difficult the season may feel, God is near, He is faithful, and His presence is enough. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, hosts Shawn and Lauren, along with Chris and Brooke, discuss the importance of pursuing shared goals, dreams, and God's purpose together. From the beginning, God designed marriage to be a partnership, calling husbands and wives to walk in unity as they follow Him. Chris and Brooke share how a difficult season with their daughter strengthened their marriage as they surrendered their circumstances to the Lord. Their story is a reminder that shared hardships can deepen faith and bring couples closer together when they lean on God. Shawn and Lauren reflect on how reading The Circle Maker inspired them to dream boldly and invite God into every goal for their marriage and family. They encourage couples to stay in step with the Holy Spirit, remembering that dreams can look different for every marriage, but they should always begin with seeking the Lord. The hosts also emphasize the importance of creating a shared vision. Drawing from Amos 3:3, they encourage couples to continue dating, connecting, and intentionally pursuing one another. They remind listeners that where there is no vision, marriages can drift apart, but pursuing God's purpose together strengthens unity and hope. This episode encourages couples to surrender their plans to God, dream big together, and celebrate one another's unique calling without falling into comparison. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to stay connected with future episodes. 📲 Connect with Love for a Lifetime: Website: www.loveforalifetimetx.org Instagram: loveforalifetimetx Facebook: loveforalifetimetx Pinterest: https://pin.it/1WkYgr7DQ