What’s New at FamilyLife?

Need a low-stress way to keep the holiday fun while still focusing on the meaning of Christmas? We’ve got you covered with this family Christmas countdown.

If you're looking to take your next date-night convo to the next level, try out these 25 questions to ask your spouse.

One of the most stressful aspects of blended family life is the relationship between a stepparent and stepkids. Here are four tips to help you manage the emotions you feel.

From "I do," there will be forces trying to pull you and your spouse apart. Fight the drift by focusing on intentional, quality time.

Obviously, sexual stress negatively impacts a marriage. Blended-family marriages are no different, but the nature of the stressors is different.

In FamilyLife’s newest Christian podcast, Shelby Abbott discusses music, Scripture, and raising the bar for his young-adult listeners.

A godly home isn’t a perfect place but a place where others sense the influence of Christ. Here are 30 traits that help define it.

Godly homes are where imperfect families rely on God’s grace to be faithful reflections of Him in the way they relate to others.

When my wife was pregnant, I was excited about being a new dad. But balancing fatherhood and marriage was a challenge I needed help with.

After finding out your wife is pregnant, it’s normal to ask, “Am I ready to be a dad?” And where do you find guidance for what’s ahead?

When we became parents, our entire universe shifted. What happened to the couple we were?

I love family vacations. But when seven of us are in the minivan, sinful natures threaten family fun. Relate? Here are three reminders.

Spiritual intimacy creates the deepest, most significant bonds between wives and husbands, but that doesn’t mean it comes easy.

The emotional and spiritual pain after an abortion is overwhelming. Here are five ways to help a friend process.

Still looking for a gift for dad? Try something that offers appreciation, forgiveness, and grace. Trust me, he’ll love it.

Abuse is a far-ranging collection of behaviors designed to maintain power and control. But how do you know if you’re in an abusive relationship?

Leaving an abusive relationship is not a decision any woman should take lightly. If you're making this life-altering decision, take the following into consideration.

If you are a woman recovering from domestic abuse, how do you heal and reclaim your life to become the person God designed you to be?

Time and space for soul care feels impossible for parents. But what if you could have your break-cake and eat it too?

Dave Weier considers it pure joy to father three stepsons. But while he didn't hesitate to step in, he admits it wasn’t always easy.

Our marriage proves “opposites attract” to be true, but it doesn’t come easy. Thankfully, we've learned we also complement each other well.

My church said something, and all of a sudden, the shackles that silent pulpits had placed on me fell off.

When you’ve been hurt by a parent, forgiveness can be hard hard, but letting go of resentment is possible. Here are three things to remember.

Most of us dream of deeper emotional intimacy with our spouse but have no idea how to achieve it. Instead, we tend numb or fix what we feel.

When you’re asking “Should We Stay Together for the Kids?”—it’s hard to know where to go. Begin with questions like these.

We can’t control who our kids marry, but there are things we can do to steer them in a godly direction before the engagement announcement.

Want to pray more with your spouse, but don’t know where to start? Try these five simple prayers for couples.

Different values aren’t just “out there,” they’re in your living room. Amidst all your loss and hurt, can family conflict grow you stronger?

It can be tough to connect with a child who’s different from you in their interests, passions, even their core. How can you close the gap?

If lust, porn, and fantasies are men’s issues, women who struggle in these areas may wonder, "What in the world is wrong with us?"

Your words have great power in the life of your husband ... they can lift him up and give him confidence, or they can beat him down.

I want to be open in talking to my kids about Ukraine, but how do I explain something to my kids that I can’t wrap my own head around?

In thin, exhausted places, it’s oh-so-easy for sex to freefall down the priority list. But could our marriages need sex more than we think?

Conversations with external processors can feel like a firehose to the face. A few tips on how to converse well.

It’s easy to think the effects of porn are minimal. But is porn bad? Here are six ways porn hurts your marriage.

When sex becomes infrequent, it’s natural to search for ways to spice things up in the bedroom. Yet three areas are often overlooked.

If you’re dreaming of a healthy marriage, start with healthy habits. Here are seven to consider establishing for a stronger relationship.

When you get stuck thinking romance is all roses and bubble baths, it starts feeling like something you'll never achieve.

Emotional flooding makes every marital conflict feel like an emergency. How do you slow down so every argument doesn’t lead to devastation?

Why are unhealthy habits so much easier to form than healthy ones? Here are 16 to watch out for in your marriage.

Instead of just wondering, what to get the person who has everything, commit to pray for the one you love to find fulfillment in God.

Each of us carries a playbook of marriage strategies in our relationship. But what do you do when those plans no longer work?

When your marriage is on the rocks, it’s easy to lose hope. But here are four important truths to hold onto to not lose heart.

Scripture holds up marriage as an example of Jesus’ relationship with the church. So what do you do when your spouse wants a divorce?

Is marriage even worth it? Here are three compelling benefits of marriage.

Part of me can turn Grinchy over the holidays. And my husband, if I’m not careful, becomes my Roast Beast. Wondering how to stop fighting?

Their problems won’t evaporate in an hour over coffee. But if you want to help a marriage in trouble, here are some things you can do.

When we gather together for holiday meals, we satisfy more than our immediate hunger. It’s a feast for our souls, bodies, and imaginations.

Doubling a recipe isn’t nearly as hard as you’d think, but it’s a lot more rewarding. Find Friendsgiving ideas to make your gathering doable and happy.

Parents want their kids to have qualities like love, joy, and patience, but is it possible to teach the fruit of the Spirit? Where should we start?

Award conversations gravitate to our holiday tables year after year. But could we all truly get along, even for 30 minutes of face-stuffing glory?

Is it possible your money problems aren’t what you think they’re about? Stop fighting about money—by pursuing solutions from the inside out.

How can we squirrel away spiritual life skills for kids that make them want to connect with God? It could be easier than you think.

In the face of yet another epic failure or season of pure pain, God often creates beauty and an unforgettable teachable moment.

Parenting an adult child is new territory for us, but my wife and I are learning. Here are five ways we’re trying not to be toxic parents.

When it comes to parenting and control—could holding on too long, protecting too much, actually damage my teens?

Ever heard of National Stepfamily Day? No matter what season you’re in as a blended family, here are three reasons you should celebrate.

After a season of isolation, I miss parenting in community. Here are three reasons it takes a village and why we’d all benefit from one.

Parenting can be overwhelming. But getting away without the kids can strengthen your bond as husband and wife.

The process of planning and preparing for the wedding can help build family identity and bonding even before the ceremony.

You’ve invested time to build your relationship with your partner. You need to be just as intentional with children to co-create a blended family.

It can feel overwhelming to plan a blended family wedding. Here are six drama-free ideas to make your ceremony special.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes leading Bible study groups over the years. But here are seven things I’ve learned not to do in a small group.

Mom rushed around the house, busy getting both herself and a 2-year-old ready. Going to church has always been a weekly occurrence for my family, but this morning, unusual events spoiled the normalcy—I shoved Fruit Loops up my nose. Mom worked to remove them all before leaving, but there wasn’t enough time. The reality: I […]

When we learn to embrace our differences as a stepfamily and keep God at the helm of our family, we walk away from shame and brokenness.

Most of my experience mentoring women is casual as a frappuccino or pair of sneakers. It’s purposeful, curious, God-inviting friendship.

Has a loved one mentioned you might spend too much time on your phone? FamilyLife Today host Dave Wilson shares his quick test.

I was getting some things wrong about hospitality. Could gathering around the table be less—and so much more—than I thought?

Chances are, at some point in your life, the idea of "home" will feel a bit complicated. How do you go about making your house a home?

I’m my kids’ father, not their God. I don’t need to model perfection. My failures give me the chance to model repentance, faith, and growth.

It dawned on me how much my boys need a father. But anyone can be a father—my boys need a dad. All those years, I needed a dad.

Are clean countertops and a warm meal that big a deal? Homemaking—no matter your gender—might mean more than you think.

With my son’s nightmares punctuating our nights, I knew we needed to hide the living and active Word of God in his heart.

Stepdads don’t always get the attention and gratitude they deserve. But it’s never too late to show appreciation for all they do.

If you’ve grown up outside of a Christian home, it can be straight-up intimidating to try to raise your children to follow Jesus.

For a while, expressing our needs was helping our communication. Until the day those needs were clearly in conflict. That’s when I lost it.

I am the worst sinner in the family. But thankfully, marriage and parenting give us lots of opportunities for practicing humility.

In this home, we’ve found that sometimes you need to say no to the good, to make room for the best.

You can make a difference through your marriage just by inviting others into your not-so-perfect, sometimes chaotic life.

Your baby has graduated, leaving you an empty nester. But how do you grow your relationship with them while encouraging their independence?

A spouse’s struggles with God can rattle you. Here, ideas to help your spouse through spiritual depression.

Infertility is exhausting, and it can make or break your marriage. Here are seven tips my husband and I learned along our own journey.

Your marital roles have less influence over who cooks dinner or takes out the trash. They serve to shape the way you serve your marriage and home.

This day doesn’t have to be difficult for stepmoms. Celebrate Mother’s Day by making memories that leave you feeling blessed.

It is rare for a couple to meet, fall in love, marry, and parent their children the exact same way. It is even more uncommon in stepfamilies.

You don’t have to take away your grieving child’s pain. When they come to you with a heavy heart, help carry it as our Father does for us.

We are a Chinese American family witnessing a 150% spike in anti-Asian violence. As a father to three kids under the age of 9, the hardest question I've had to answer recently is, "Daddy, are we safe?"

Whether or not God answers your prayers for marriage the way you want Him to, praying is still worth the time and effort.

Do you and your spouse have the same definition of what romance is? Often in marriage, romance suffers an identity crisis.

Your stepfamily wilderness season may involve a broken marital vow, a stepchild who doesn’t want to be part of the family, or loneliness. Regardless of your circumstances, you don’t have to stay stuck wandering in the wilderness.

Ministry marriage can be complicated. Like money or sex or time, ministry can work in tandem with your relationship. Or against it.

Knowing what to do with teenagers to tighten your bond isn’t always easy. But teens don’t need us less as they get older … just differently.

If you’re rebuilding a marriage after separation, expect the road to be rocky. But know that God can rebuild your relationship into something better.

No one has a perfect marriage—we certainly don't. But we strive daily to walk closely with God to have a marriage that glorifies Him.

Children are remarkably intuitive when it comes to what makes sense and what doesn’t … even on more mature topics like cohabitation before marriage.

An unhappy marriage is a form of suffering. But while culture suggests we avoid suffering at all cost, Scripture offers a different take.

Glancing back at what contributed to my friendship with my sister, here are five key influences that shaped sibling relationships in my home.

What makes a man marriage material? In my own search, I’ve kept a list of nonnegotiables—most revolve around Christlike character.

While every divorce is unique, they are always painful. So how can you come alongside your friend going through a divorce?

Kids asking, “What is Lent?” We’ve got a rundown of Lent for kids to help you explain, plus activities to help bring it home.

If you friend’s child is marrying a non-Christian, you’re probably looking for ways to help. But the best way to help is through prayer.

In February, we have the opportunity to learn more about the strength and history of Black individuals. Check out these ideas for celebrating Black History Month with your family.

Romance easily gets pushed out when we’re juggling the overwhelming emotions and hard-to-navigate circumstances in a blended family.

Before counseling, my husband and I misunderstood each other all the time. Which made vulnerability (and as a result, sex) difficult.

Wading through a down season? A fresh start for your marriage means more than cooking up a few romantic moments.

A sexual relationship in marriage teaches us something about the nature of real love—God’s love.

I began to see how God would use my broken engagement when I stopped fighting for control. He wanted to grow me through it.

Among the hectic schedules and between-home dilemmas, stepfamilies can have fun memory-filled holidays, too. It just takes some extra work.

When most people think of separation, they think it's the beginning of the end. But the ultimate goal is reconciliation.

As we celebrate MLK Day as a family, we’ll take time to talk about the sacrifice Dr. King and so many others made on behalf of our family . . . and yours.

This past year was filled with losses—jobs, plans, loved ones. But despite the hardship shadowing 2020, the wins shine through.

We’re called to “give thanks in all circumstances…” But with its challenges, it can be hard to name things to give thanks for this year.

Holiday seasons aren’t always merry for blended families. The season can resurrect grief from divorce, death, or another tragedy.

The truth is, no people group is immune from challenges. And no one group is the standard for virtuous lives, marriages, or families.

Looking for ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with kids? We’ve got you covered with the #UltimateFamilyNight.

Roughly 2,000 years ago, Israel awaited their promised king. As Christmas approaches, we continue waiting for God to accomplish His plans.

Do canceled plans have you home for Christmas? Grab a few energizing, low-prep ideas to create some unforgettable moments.

Does "peace on earth" describe your relationship with your mother- or daughter-in-law? Here are some tips to keep the peace this Christmas.

Our path to family ministry wasn’t a straight line. It’s been filled with spectacular failures, highs and lows, and detours and delays.

The truth is, God has one big, beautiful diverse family—by design and for His glory. And as believers we share a common identity in Him.

Do the holidays leave you feeling empty after ministering to everyone else? Here are 25 ways to bring rest and peace this Christmas season.

Grief at Christmas can bring fresh ache and pain, but the hole grief creates can become a sacred space for the comfort Christmas brings.

Good ministry to stepfamilies must also begin with good theology. Sin is messy. But it is no match for God’s unfathomable grace in Christ.

It’s likely your holiday season will include tense moments. Don’t fret. Holidays can be joyous and memorable even if they’re not perfect.

If you find yourself struggling to engage your teen this Christmas, here are a few ways to make memories this season.

As my son and I talked through his anxiety about the election, I realized his fears ran much deeper than mere policy preferences.

So many of us are struggling to catch our breath this year. Gratitude might even feel wrong. So how can we be thankful?

There are plenty of things vying for our attention during the holidays. Toxic thoughts don’t need to be one of them.

It’s been a tough year on marriages. But make no mistake: happily married isn’t the same as easily married.

You want to marry your best friend—someone you’d have fun with whether traveling the world or washing your car. But how can you be single and content?

Does political polarization—that ever-increasing gap between political convictions—fill your family conversations with relational razor blades?

Anger issues make our homes feel like an emotional battlefield. But with planting and perseverance, we may discover the field we’re on is actually a garden.

Boys will be boys, unless we train them to be men. Here are some principles to keep in mind as you raise a boy to be a man.

It’s far more acceptable for men to be pro-women—or women to be pro-women!—than to honor your husband. But it's been a jetpack for my marriage.

Rejection shows up at some point in most every stepparent’s life. If you’re not a stepparent yourself, you might wonder how to help. Here are a few ideas.