Finances, juggling working from home, the different anxiety levels of each spouse over the situation, the list of potential stressors on your marriage goes on and on. Check out these marriage resources to guide you and your spouse through the Coronavirus Pandemic and beyond together.

There’s no doubt that many people will face financial hardship during the Coronavirus situation, but help may be easier than you think! Although assistance may vary depending on where you live and what companies you use, the bottom line is that some of the financial anxiety of keeping utilities turned on can be mitigated by a simple phone call. Various utilities (water, gas, electric, cellular/fiber optics/internet providers) have new, or very flexible, generous payment options – minimum. Many say they will not disconnect service for set periods of time regardless of payment and are automatically reconnecting service to people that have been disconnected. Often, companies are willing to work with people through a variety of programs. It’s well worth your time to call and see what works best in your individual situation.

Tired of Always Initiating Sex? Here’s What To Do!

In marriage, it's common for one spouse to initiate sex more often. But if you're the one every time, it can easily lead to resentment, frustration, and feeling undesirable or unwanted. If you're there, it is not your fault. And it may not…
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How to Overcome Built-Up Resentment in Marriage

Resentment in marriage is a dangerous emotion. It’s a silent killer of relationships. Resentment is bitterness at having been mistreated. It’s anger too, but it’s so much more. When you feel resentment, you’re reliving whatever caused…
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How to Keep Intimacy Strong in Your Marriage

Marriage can be a wonderful experience when both spouses are connected and headed in the same direction. Life can be beautiful when you walk side by side, working together. But marriage isn’t always this way. My wife and I recently celebrated 18 years of marriage, and we haven’t always been on the same page. But we’ve learned having a happy, healthy marriage takes intentionality and commitment. And it requires a healthy level of intimacy. It’s important to keep intimacy strong in your marriage.

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What To Do When Your Spouse Is A Bad Parent

Parenting has evolved since I was a kid. But not necessarily because of cultural shifts as much as access to information. Research, blogs, and social media have made it easy to access information about how our parenting impacts kids. This information…
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what-to-do-when-your-spouse-is-toxic

What To Do When Your Spouse Is Toxic

Concern and confusion about your relationship are completely understandable. On the one hand, people say things like: No marriage is perfect. Marriage requires work and self-sacrifice. Every marriage experiences ups and downs. On the other…
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What Is Emotional Intimacy?

Cultivating emotional intimacy in marriage makes me think of a road trip. Having a destination is essential, but the journey is where adventure lies. My wife and I love a good road trip. I could tell you countless stories of getting lost, taking…
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You know Date Night makes you feel good, and it makes your marriage happier overall. But, how the heck are you supposed to do date night regularly while everything is shut down? That’s why we’re providing you with FREE Virtual and DIY Date Nights to do at home!

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Are you feeling a bit tense in your marriage? Maybe it started even before this Coronavirus pandemic hit and now quarantine has just made it worse. Our Maximize Your Marriage video series was created to help!  Along with a downloadable couple’s guide, each video will reveal how to overcome obstacles, work through challenges and move forward in your marriage during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

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VIDEO RESOURCES

6 WAYS POOR COMMUNICATION CAN AFFECT YOUR MARRIAGE

Here’s the deal: Nobody’s perfect and anybody can find themselves slipping into poor communication tactics that affect their marriage. But, if you know what the landmines are, it makes it easier to either avoid them or catch yourself if you start down that road so you can do something different. Even if some of these are things you do frequently, you can definitely learn new communication strategies. Pick one to work on this week!

HOW TO START TALKING TO YOUR SPOUSE AGAIN

All the kids have gone to sleep. You and your spouse are lying in the bed and… Silence. You can’t think of anything you want to say, though there’s probably a lot of things you’d like to say. This is happening quite often, and you feel disconnected from one another. If this is you, it doesn’t have to stay this way! Join Reggie and Sarah as they talk through some simple things you can do to start talking with your spouse again!

IS IT GOOD TO FIGHT IN MARRIAGE?

Everyone has arguments in marriage. But is it good to fight in marriage? Join John and Julie as they talk through this topic!

5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR MARRIAGE WHEN IT’S FALLING APART

Saving a marriage that is falling apart is possible, but it will take courage, work and intentionality. Rebuilding trust, seeking to understand one another, and cultivating a culture of appreciation is a process accomplished through many small steps over time.

HOW TO BUILD EMPATHY IN MARRIAGE

Have you ever whipped up your favorite batch of homemade cookies to find out in the first bite that you left out that one key ingredient that makes all the difference? Empathy is that key ingredient to a great recipe for a healthy marriage, and here’s how you can mix it in today!

10 SIGNS YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS LESS LIKELY TO FAIL

No one goes into a relationship expecting it to fail. But did you know that there are 10 signs in a relationship that can tell if it’s less likely to fail? Reggie Madison, First Things First’s Program Director, wrote a blog about these 10 ways, but in this video he dives into the one research-proved signifier.

CAN YOU REALLY PREVENT DIVORCE?

With divorce rates looming and challenges in marriage ever-present, it can seem impossible to prevent a marriage from ending in divorce. But in this video, Julie and Gena talk through why it is possible, what tools you need to have a thriving marriage, and how you can get started today on getting your marriage on the right track!

5 THINGS EVERY MARRIED COUPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SEX

Sex & intimacy is one of the most important topics to communicate about, but it’s often the least talked through between a couple! Join Julie and Mitchell as they walk through the top 5 things every married couple needs to know about sex.

HOW TO STOP RESENTMENT IN A RELATIONSHIP

Resentment is something we all feel, but often don’t know why. It can sneak up on us and take over any good thing that’s going on in the relationship! Join Sarah and Reggie for 10 ways you can STOP resentment in its tracks and keep it from taking over again!

HOW TO TALK ABOUT RACE WITH PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH YOU

Seems impossible, right? Join Julie, Reggie, and Gena as they walk through 12 tips you can use to keep conversations civil, even with people you don’t see eye to eye with.

HOW TO DEAL WITH TOXIC FAMILY MEMBERS

How do you know if a family member is toxic? And if you do know, what can you do about it? Join Julie and Reggie as they talk about 4 things you can do to minimize the impact of toxicity in your family.

HOW TO SET RULES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA IN MARRIAGE

Social Media is an amazing tool with lots of positives, but it can also drive a wedge between you and your spouse if you’re not on the same page about what to post, when to use it, etc. Here are a few things to think about as you have a conversation about how to set rules for social media use in your marriage!

3 SECRETS TO INTIMACY IN MARRIAGE

*WATCH VIDEO: 3 Secrets To Intimacy In Marriage* Chris Ownby gives you three secrets to keeping intimacy alive in your marriage. Here’s a sneak peek at the conversation:
0:43 Recognize what intimacy really is.
2:25 It’s all about intentional connection.
7:03 Keep things new and fresh.

HOW TO HELP YOUR SPOUSE DEAL WITH ANXIETY

Anxiety is something that many experience, but not everyone knows how to deal with. If your spouse struggles with anxiety, here are some tips on how you can help!

TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY

Tired of your words getting lost in translation? Or not being on the same page with the people you love most? This 5-minute video has 3 simple tools you can use right away to be a better communicator.

WHY AM I SO MAD AT MY SPOUSE DURING THIS PANDEMIC?

Anger is a normal emotion to have. In fact, it’s good to feel anger from time to time. Learning how to control your emotions when you’re angry and respond instead of reacting to your spouse is what makes anger a positive tool for growth in your marriage. Watch to find out more!

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR SPOUSE IS GETTING ON YOUR NERVES

Being in the same closed space for a long proximity of time can be tough for even the happiest of couples. When you’re together day in and day out, those awkward annoying little things your spouse says or does become MAGNIFIED. In this video, you’ll learn tools to help you both overcome these challenges and move forward together.

I THINK MY SPOUSE IS DEPRESSED

Right now, many people are experiencing anxiety, fear, a lack of motivation, and emotions that they might have never experienced before. But how can you know if you need to seek help, or if it’s just a natural reaction to your environment? In this video, Julie Baumgardner talks with Beth Capecchi, Ph.D., from Grounded Counseling about the warning signs of depression, natural reactions to the stresses we’re all facing, and some great ways you can try and get yourself in a great place both mentally and emotionally.

WHEN QUARANTINE CAUSES CONFLICT IN YOUR MARRIAGE

When you’re stuck in the same house together, tension can grow at even the smallest annoyances. But FTF Facilitator Chris Ownby has a few great tools you and your spouse can use to keep the tension from exploding!

HOW TO PROCESS STRESS IN YOUR MARRIAGE

During this time of uncertainty, anxiety and stress can creep into your marriage. Processing stress together and making a plan to work together as a team will help you both stay calm, cool and healthy in your relationship. FTF Facilitator, John Daum shares 6 tips to process stress together in this quick video.

HOW TO STAY CONNECTED IN MARRIAGE

Physical proximity does not mean “closeness” in relationships. Watch as Lauren Hall asks Gena Ellis (relationship expert) some real-life questions about staying connected to your spouse during a pandemic.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR SPOUSE IS STILL WORKING AND AT RISK DURING COVID-19

For the majority of us, life has shifted to be essentially 100% indoors. But for others, work has not changed, and for the majority of that group, it has gotten much more intense and stressful. So as the spouse of a front-line worker during this pandemic, how can you manage your anxieties, build a routine that works for both of you, and help your household stay afloat? Tamara Slocum, FTF Creative Strategist, mom of two (soon to be three!), and wife to Bobby (a delivery driver), has a few words of wisdom that she has learned over the past couple of weeks!

HOW TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS IN QUARANTINE AS A NEWLYWED

You’re a newlywed. Life is wonderful, love is easy, and your spouse is the best person on the face of the planet! Until… You’re stuck in the same house (or tiny apartment) together. As a newlywed, this quarantine might be hitting a little hard on your marriage! Adjusting to life with your new spouse is hard enough, even when you’re not together 24/7! But Sarah Ham, FTF Relationship Facilitator and resident newlywed, has a few words of wisdom for you during this time.

Couples and Covid-19

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