The Love Offering

No marriage is perfect. But every marriage can get better. Do you feel like the spark is gone? Has a critical spirit invaded your marriage? Do you want more intimacy, but something is in the way? You could be suffering from the Perfection Infection.   The Perfection Infection happens when we cultivate unrealistic expectations of ourselves and our spouse, gradually leading to intimacy-killing behavior, also known as the "Seven Slow Fades." That was the case for Jill and Mark Savage, and it eventually led to infidelity.   In her book No More Perfect Marriages and in today’s episode, Jill speaks honestly about their struggles, how they came back from betrayal, and the principles that keep their marriage strong today. She guides us in everything we need to know to kick the Perfection Infection right out and return to intimacy.   On today’s show, we discuss:   How the Perfection Infection invades a marriage--even a good marriage How to detect and correct the Seven Slow Fades How to set and communicate realistic expectations What to do if your spouse won't change How to guard your marriage from the Perfection Infection for good   Join us in realizing that hurting marriages can heal and  good marriages can become great. Your marriage isn’t perfect, but it can be perfected.    Connect with Jill: https://jillsavage.org/   Read the Show Notes: https://rachaelkadams.com/      Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Your emotions are not your enemy. They are a gift. Feelings are messy, and we all have different strategies for dealing with them—usually controlling, avoiding, or indulging them. But what if you allowed yourself to follow your feelings in prayer instead of trying to run from them? In today’s episode, Anjuli Paschall helps you move from being stuck in your feelings to a place of peace by: · Identifying and giving you words for every emotion--the good, the confusing, and the complicated--helping you name exactly what you feel · Offering you 75 prayers to pray--one for every feeling · Providing scripture for every emotion Her book Feel is a resource that will guide you throughout your day and offer you hope, wisdom, and courage through some of the most challenging seasons of your life. Instead of navigating around your feelings, allow them to guide you toward healing, wholeness, and abiding connection with God. Then, you will begin to see how feelings are a doorway into intimacy with a Savior who loves you. Connect with Anjuli: https://www.anjulipaschall.com/ Read the Transcript: https://rachaelkadams.com/writing/  Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you tired of up-and-down feelings stealing your peace, sabotaging your relationships, and filling your mind with self-defeating thoughts? What if you had a proven emotional management tool to biblically respond to your feelings with compassion and clarity? Join us for today’s episode to discover three simple steps to manage emotions, reduce stress, improve decision-making, and grow closer to God.   Certified Christian life coach and award-winning podcast host Alicia Michelle is on the show chatting about her book Emotional Confidence. She shares how to effectively implement the method she's taught tens of thousands into an ongoing lifestyle practice to manage emotions for God's glory. Through a  biblical, scientifically based method, she will show you how to:   handle emotional overwhelm, overthinking, and avoidance acknowledge feelings without judgment process emotions through God's clarifying lens of truth courageously choose a scriptural response   Tune in to discover practical ways to process emotions confidently for better relationships, spiritual growth, and lasting calm.   Connect with Alicia: https://aliciamichelle.com/   Read the show notes at rachaelkadams.com/writing.Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Exhausted. Maxed Out. Running on Fumes. Bone-Tired. Drowning. We cannot go one day without hearing these words from friends, co-workers, family members, and sisters in Christ. No matter the season of life - college student, young mother, business executive, teacher, ministry leader, empty-nester, or retiree - we women long for margin, rest, and affirmation that all our efforts mean something. Does anyone even see, let alone appreciate, how HARD we are working? Surely, there must be a purpose beyond this daily grind that overwhelms our schedules and hearts. For many, the busyness of our lives results from saying yes to good things. But at what cost? When did we trade our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health for a couple of extra likes, fewer numbers on the scale, a bit more in our bank account, or one more thing marked off our to-do list? Do you find that your life is checking all the right boxes but still cannot find satisfaction or contentment? What’s the answer for today’s worn-out woman? A shift in perspective. In this episode, Laura Bailey chats about her book Embracing Eternity. We journey through the book of Ecclesiastes and discover how living with an eternal perspective results in more peaceful, purposeful, and plentiful lives today.  Join us to:  Discover how to cling to an eternal perspective in all seasons and situations Determine how to evaluate the worth of your time and energy Dive into scripture for timeless reminders about true freedom When we discover, determine, and dive into God's design for life, we can let go of the lesser things and embrace those with greater, eternal significance. Let's stop surviving and start living. We can experience life filtered through the lens of eternity, garnering the freedom only found in the permanent rather than the temporal, and discover the unimaginable benefits of a purpose and identity rooted in Christ. Connect with Laura: https://laurarbailey.com/ Read the Show Notes: https://rachaelkadams.com/writing/  Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Could you take a break from cooking (and everything else) once a week? Not only is rest vital for your mind and body, but it’s good for your soul, too. God designed us to enter into Sabbath rest one day per week, but as you know, meals still need to be made. Your family still needs to be fed. Kathi Lipp is on the show, providing an easy-to-follow process for meal planning and prep so that we can enjoy a full day each week of real rest and refreshment.   Her book, Sabbath Soup, includes convenient, seasonal meal plans that take the guesswork out of shopping and cooking. More than just a collection of delicious recipes—including main dishes, breads, breakfasts, desserts, salads, sides, and yes, soups—this is your guide to establishing a weekly rhythm and routine of meal planning and prep that allows you to have a true day off. Do something good for your soul and experience the peace with a full day dedicated to spending time with God, family, and friends. Savor your Sabbath as you proudly proclaim, “Soup’s on!” Connect with Kathi: Kathi Lipp Read all the show notes at rachaelkadams.com.Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Life feeling out of control? Overwhelmed and need a break? Join us for a reset that will help you let go of what's not serving you, honor your limitations, and turn your gaze toward a God who loves who you.  We spend a lot of time looking down. Mostly at our phones. Sometimes at ourselves. The artificial blue light in our eyes makes us anxious about the world. It makes us chase trends that have nothing to do with who we want to be. It causes us to put time, energy, and brain space into what won't last. It's time to look up. Whitney Lowe is on today’s episode chatting about her devotional Set Your Eyes Higher. Tune in to find new perspective, purpose, power, and peace. If you're feeling unmoored because you've taken your eyes off of what matters most, the hope you're searching for is within reach--if you're ready to look up. Scribble Devos Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you been struggling to see God lately? Today's episode weaves biblical and historical stories from Jesus-followers turns our gaze again to the One who made us, loves us, and will never leave us. Join us as Jack Mooring chats about his book Portrait of God , in which he explores an attribute of God through a person in church history who radically experienced His nature. When our spiritual life feels like a roller coaster, true stories of faithful Christians help us rediscover our wonder about the unchanging character of our Creator. https://colnashville.com/about-us Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do your prayers resemble last-minute cries more than first-response chats? You’re not alone in calling out to God in life’s pitch-black moments and wondering if He’s listening. Rachel Wojo is on the show sharing the powerful secrets of the Bible's eleventh-hour pleas of men and women in her book Desperate Prayers. Each prayer is a simple three-word prayer that will deepen your trust and affirm your heart that it’s best to be you before God. Rachel vulnerably shares her heartbreaking experiences of loss while pointing you to your Father. Her prayer journey and promising principles will guide you from frenzied desperation to dependent faith. Join us to realize that praying in a panic can create a powerful pathway to peace. Connect with Rachel: https://rachelwojo.com/Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

You are invited to embark on a journey toward greater service, lasting significance, and wholehearted delight—a life truly well lived!In this episode, bestselling author Sally Clarkson explores how God’s astounding grace empowers you to lead a joyful life loving and encouraging others. Drawing from her time in Oxford and years in ministry, she offers wisdom on the topics of discipleship, family, hospitality, and cultivating joy that will inspire you to invite God more fully into your own story.Wherever you are in your life’s journey, Sally’s encouraging insights will call you to deeper faith and guide you toward a life filled with direction, meaning, courage, and contentment. Connect with Sally:https://sallyclarkson.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The storms of life can leave you feeling exhausted and weak. We need help when we feel stuck in our faith journey to realize our inner strength to navigate life's challenges. Pastor Justin Kendrick is on the show chatting about his book How to Quiet a Hurricane. Join us to develop a spiritual resilience that propels you past your weariness and anxiety and into lasting peace.  In this episode you will discover:  Why weakness is the starting point for spiritual strength How lasting endurance comes from understanding the love of God Ways to apply God's promises to your daily life A freeing perspective on what it really means to be secure Why faith rooted in Jesus can bring you through any trial  When your heart tells you that God is far away, remember that he is the God who enters in. He is the God who uses suffering to conquer suffering. He is the God who empowers you to move beyond survival and into a life of victory. Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.