Follow Him John 1:43 (Part 1 - the critical importance of intimacy with Jesus) “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Come, follow me.’” Our theme so far has been to not just believe, but obey. To respond and don’t waste time doing what Jesus desires most. That is where we find freedom. Today is about the cost of following Jesus Your family (Matthew 10:37-38) Your own life (Luke 14:26-27) Your pride (Mark 8:34) In essence, it will cost you anything you va...
Sep 20, 2018•12 min
'From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”' Matthew 4:17 A true disciple is not first a learner or reader of his words. You are a doer. In v19 Jesus says, “Come follow me”. The first command of Jesus’ public ministry was, “repent”. Jesus wants an inward change because nothing else will stick if you don’t first address YOUYour actions need to be immediate v20 “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”A friend’s wife was...
Sep 19, 2018•20 min
The transformational power of Jesus’ words John 14:23 "Jesus replied,“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” John 14:23 If you really love Jesus, you’ll do what he says! Get to know his commands All his commands are either about loving God or loving others. “The first thing to notice is that loving Jesus is not the same as keeping his commandments. It precedes and gives rise to keeping the commandments. Keeping his wor...
Sep 18, 2018•19 min
Great relationships have grit: Passion and Perseverance GRIT: firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck (dictionary.com) Passion an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. strong and barely controllable emotion. a thing arousing enthusiasm. the suffering and death of Jesus. Perseverance steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. other words for perseverance: persistence, tenacity, determination, staying power, steadfastness, purposefulness… What...
Sep 04, 2018•35 min
'Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Ephesians 5:1-2 MSG What is your dream statement To honor God and others by relentlessly pursuing authentic relationships, valuing hospita...
Aug 28, 2018•37 min
Without a clear and defined purpose (which we will from now on refer to as your DREAM) how can you expect your marriage to be all it can be? If you do not know where you are headed together as a couple, or what kind of legacy you want to leave through your children and moments of your marriage, then how can you expect to truly enjoy your marriage. Spending day after day in a bottomless pit of indecision, confusion, and lack of a dream will (or already has) take a huge toll on your marriage happi...
Aug 21, 2018•36 min
Tim and Nancy's story should inspire anyone about what it takes to stay committed to each other through "sickness and in health"! Tim wrote: Since 1979 I have lived with the consequences of a brain-based mental health challenge called bipolar disorder. Through these years I have experienced episodes of extreme mania, protracted periods of dark depression, as well as eruptions of psychosis. Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, a leading authority and herself a diagnosed bipolar, clearly expresses the effect...
Aug 14, 2018•54 min
Relentless Community Hebrews 10:23-25 “23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Live your life each day with a purpose, to stir one another to acts of love and good works. Why do you wake up each day?...
Aug 07, 2018•43 min
Relentless Grace No matter how far you run away or how disobedient you are, God still loves you and bathes you with His unending grace Phillip Holmes wrote, “He’s not ignorant of all the ways we’ve sinned against him. He knows everything we’ve ever done and is able to stomach it. His knowledge of who we really are will never hinder his love for us. He’s even aware of the evil behind our righteous deeds. The intimacy by which the Lord knows us but is able to lovingly embrace us as his children is...
Jul 31, 2018•49 min
Today we are talking about sex, possibly one of the greatest gifts outside of eternal life God ever gave humankind! To help us with this conversation, Dave Willis of strongermarriages.com, is going to lend his expertise...and trust me, this guy has millions of readers, likes, and more. Coming up next we talk about the 4 things every couple needs to know about sex. About Dave and Ashley Willis (www.strongermarriages.com) Almost 1 million likes on their Facebook page!https://www.facebook.com/stron...
Jul 24, 2018•51 min
The health of your emotional relationship If you don’t feel loved, you don’t want to show love The specific things you are doing to kill your sexual intimacy Invalidation How you respond to your spouse matters. Lack of affirmation Negative beliefs Here’s how you eliminate them Invalidation Start to validate each other Empathize Lack of affirmation Make a list of what you appreciate about your spouse (you can do this on our app) Don’t wait till you feel like affirming your spouse, do it because i...
Jul 11, 2018•39 min
Initiate don’t hesitate… “So slide over here; And give me a moment; Your moves are so raw; I've got to let you know; I've got to let you know; You're one of my kind…” “Honestly, do you really even need a list?” so said my 20 yr old daughter! Be open to change and creativity. Build excitement and anticipation. Serve up a five star meal, meat and potatoes or a fast food meal. Enjoy sex with him, because he truly desires your pleasure too! Stop criticizing him for being a man, sex is not just for p...
Jul 03, 2018•31 min
How to survive the drive! Keep it positive Give each other the benefit of the doubt Are you really supposed to blow everything off? No, you can’t really, but before you say anything Ask yourself, “Is this a life or death issue?” “Could I be judged for the same thing?” In the heat of the moment, should you wait, even if it’s just five minutes? What’s my goal in saying anything...Shame? Apology? Correct? In order to survive the drive, chill, take a breath, and keep these questions front and center...
Jun 26, 2018•18 min
This isn't just another top 10 list! In fact, the first thing on the list is something my father shared with me before I got married, and let me tell you, he was right! Amy joins me once again to have an honest conversation about how to experience the best sex of your life! In today's show, we give you the top 10 things a husband can do to get his wife excited about sex. You'll be surprised by some of them, but there's something important we discuss that every man better know!
May 22, 2018•45 min
One of the most popular posts on our website is titled, "Is oral sex ok for a Christian couple?" It's time we clear some things up for couples and what is allowed or not allowed sexually between a husband and wife. Is there any limit to how a husband and wife can pleasure each other when it comes to sex? Discover how to have an honest conversation with your spouse about sex and what you like and what you don't like.
May 15, 2018•43 min
Married sex is the best sex Why do a series of shows on sex? Married sex is the best sex! Because it seems as though this is the topic of conversation you, the listener is most interested in. Our number one show is titled “Is Oral sex allowed for a Christian couple”. Oddly enough most couples don’t ever truly learn about the needs and desires of their spouse...so we are going to help facilitate a conversation about them. There is still a lot of misinformation out there for couples, we want to cl...
May 08, 2018•45 min
Have you ever wanted to quit on your relationship, because you feel like it’s just too hard? We’ve got another episode of Your Story Matters today, meet John and Erin Kadleck. Your story is God’s story. He gets the glory for your redemption. They rushed to get married, because he was getting deployed to Afghanistan. “He came back a different person.” “He was keeping things from me to protect me.” As he withdrew, she felt more rejected and felt like it was her fault. John would drink himself to s...
May 01, 2018•40 min
Jonathan Decker is the clinical director of Your Family Expert. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, husband, and father of five. Jonathan earned a masters degree in family therapy from Auburn University as well as a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology from Brigham Young University. He runs YourFamilyExpert.com. He’s a “genius billionaire playboy”. Stage comedy. Passionate about interface efforts to strengthen families and communities. He won the BYU talent show for his one man a...
Apr 25, 2018•46 min
"Though paved with pain and heartache, the seasons I struggled the most have also become the seasons I cherish the most. For in those seasons, I found myself at the feet of a good, good Father, lavished with grace, mercy and hope." Amanda Voigt Amanda’s journey with infertility. How did it all unravel? “It’s lonely.” “Your friends get the dream and you’re not.” “I had to be excited to see my best friend’s baby in the hospital.” How does it feel when people try to “Christianese” your suffering. “...
Apr 17, 2018•30 min
Your Story Matters is a series of shows focused on you, the listener. Listen as Amy Smalley showcases women's stories of triumph and victory over seemingly impossible obstacles. Each woman featured in this series of special podcasts has a story to share that will inspire and motivate you. Today's show features Lauren Zachry, a woman plagued by drugs but pursued by an unconditionally loving man. If you struggle in life, you don't want to miss this show because Lauren's story can lead you to feel ...
Apr 10, 2018•41 min
Today we are talking about sex, possibly one of the greatest gifts outside of eternal life God ever gave humankind! To help us with this conversation, Dave Willis of strongermarriages.com, is going to lend his expertise...and trust me, this guy has millions of readers, likes, and more. Coming up next we talk about the 4 things every couple needs to know about sex. About Dave and Ashley Willis (www.strongermarriages.com) Almost 1 million likes on their Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/stro...
Apr 03, 2018•50 min
Did you ever have that friend in college that you just couldn’t get rid of? Me too, in fact, I’ve been trying to get rid of the guy on my show today for more than 20 years! But now he’s made it onto my podcast, and he’s actually got something very cool he wants to share with you today. We are talking cars, marriage, and possibly the four most important things you need to maintain in order for your marriage to thrive!
Mar 27, 2018•48 min
Over the last 6 shows you’ve learned the core skill taught in every one of our Smalley Marriage Intensives. Love Talk is by far the most powerful way to communicate with someone. It is where feelings and needs can get expressed in a way that leads you naturally into win/win solutions. Healthy communication is not Rocket Science! But there are a few rules you need to understand and use when you are dealing with difficult topics or hurt feelings.
Mar 20, 2018•16 min
You are catching us at the tail end of our series on LOVE Talk, the most powerful communication method on earth! Last show you learned how to share your feeling and needs as the customer in a way that helps others receive them and honor them. This week you get to learn how to find win/win solutions to your toughest conflicts. You don't have to live with unresolved conflict any longer. There are just a couple of things you need to learn in order to reach solutions where you both can be happy!
Mar 13, 2018•14 min
The last time we were with you, you discovered the role of employee and how that may be the most important role we learn when it comes to conflict resolution. On today’s show, you are going to learn how to be a great customer. You’ll want to list today, because we are going to show you how to communicate your feelings and needs (the most important things you want to share) in a way that your spouse or others can't help but to listen and validate you.
Mar 06, 2018•15 min
Previously on Smalley Marriage Radio you discovered the most powerful way to stop STUPID conflict by using a time-out. Today, you get to learn the role of employee, that if I’m honest, is possibly the most important role you can learn when it comes to resolving conflict. LOVE is the essence of LOVE Talk! (Listen, Own, Validate, and Express)The employee only worries about Listening and Validating.
Feb 27, 2018•14 min
How timeouts help you stop stupid conflict: Stop escalating,Get away from each other, this allows you to calm downPray, this allows you to gain perspectiveOwn your part, this allows your partner to hear you and not be so defensive
Feb 20, 2018•14 min
Last show we talked about the importance of having structure in how you resolve conflict. So you can’t just go all willy-nilly during conflict and think you’re going to get anything solved. Today is about the most powerful word picture in the history of the world when it comes to resolving conflict! If you’re going to resolve conflict, then you are trying to replicate the experience you get when going through the drive-through at a Chick-fil-a.
Feb 13, 2018•14 min
I just received this question and it jumped right off the page at me! “Is oral sex something that is OK with the Lord, and, is it ok to dress up in a little nurse costume, or such. I know this sounds so crazy, but I am about to go out of my mind needing to know the answers to this question! We have two boys coming up and I want them to have the best life possible in the Lord………these questions are just not talked about enough! Thank you for your time and answer. May God richly bless you and all o...
Feb 08, 2018•3 min
Do you ever get into conflict? I’m in conflict every other day with my wife! And we help couples for a living! Today you are going to discover, possibly, the most important thing about resolving conflict…and you don’t know about it! But no longer, we are going to reveal this truth as we unpack resolving conflict as a couple. If you are going to resolve conflict, you have to have structure!LOVE Talk stands for Listen-Own-Validate-Express
Feb 07, 2018•14 min
