If your blended family Christmas turned out to be less than you'd hoped for, be encouraged. Bob and Vicki Maday and their grown daughters describe the rough parts of their first Christmas as a stepfamily.
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The holidays can be a challenge for blended families. Ron Deal moderates a panel discussing the complexity of holidays with stepfamilies.
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Holidays for newly blended families can be a minefield of hurt feelings if you don't know the terrain. Ron Deal talks with Michelle Hill to help families navigate the holidays by managing expectations from the start.
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Today on the broadcast, Sandi Patty and her husband Don Peslis tell their story to Ron Deal, and how God has redeemed even their mistakes for His glory.
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Did your wedding gifts include a toaster, crockpot, and a grandchild?
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Have you ever felt like you married the wrong person? Well, I say, you did.
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You know what a hybrid is, right? It's when two things are combined.
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I see you judging me because my family isn't "normal" but just like you, I didn't choose my family.
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Yes, stepfamilies are different than biological families, but God's principles still apply.
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Hey, if your kids and I can't naturally get along then maybe we shouldn't have gotten together in the first place. It shouldn't have to be this much work.
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Yes, Ron, this marriage and family are much better than my first and I feel guilty about it.
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After her parent's divorce, Melody Fabien was hearing one thing about relationships from her mom, and something very different from her dad who had recently come to Christ. She tells her story to Ron Deal from the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast.
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Do you want to start a fight in a stepfamily with adult kids? Just start talking about money.
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Sometimes announcing an engagement is an opportunity to find forgiveness.
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Ron, this is so hard for me to relate to. I've never experienced a blended family. Well, maybe you have.
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For many kids the summer visitation schedule is over. It's time to transition back to the other home.
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We expect the world to try to pull our kids away from Christ, but sometimes, it's their own family.
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Sometimes, the road to marital happiness is a lot longer than you thought.
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Do you remember that old adage about why you have two ears and only one mouth?
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Yeah, most couples divorce anyway so if you're having problems, just accept the inevitable.
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Today, a word of encouragement to stepparents: just keep on trucking.
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Have you ever had someone get mad at you...because you forgave them?
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It's a devastating loss when a loved one dies, especially when it is unexpected. Al Hsu talks about the complex grief he experienced when his father took his own life. Ron and Nan Deal talk about the sudden loss of their son, Connor.
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What right do you Christians have to tell us about marriage you can't even get it right yourself?
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When the cat's away, the mice will...try to play the other parent, that's what!
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Being optimistic about the future of your marriage, improves your marriage.
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Blending a family isn't easy, but it's definitely worth it. Ron Deal reminds couples that their marriage must be a priority if the marriage is going to thrive. Hear one young woman share what it's like to be a stepdaughter.
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If you've ever been to a foreign country you know just what I mean.
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Ron Deal explains that marriage, while typically a two-person dance, gets complicated as couples try to manage all the lives around them. He encourages couples to hold onto God's hand and never give up.
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Hey co-parents, for the sake of your kids find a way to do business.
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Ron Deal talks with Dave and Ann Wilson about how couples often get blindsided when trying to blend two families. He gives some practical advice for interacting with stepchildren.
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Meddling mother-in-law? What if you have a meddling ex-wife-in-law?
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Ron, because my children are adults, I thought me dating wouldn't be a problem. Boy was I wrong.
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Dating for two is difficult. Dating in a crowd is downright complicated.
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Okay, you've already celebrated Mother's Day and now I'm wondering what do you have planned for Father's Day?
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A good father serves and leads his family, and executes authority in the home. Stepdads can do this, too, but in the beginning it may look a little different.
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When no one is talking about the elephant in the room, what you should do is...talk about the elephant in the room.
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I'll never forget it. The first time I came home from work and my wife said, "Tag, you're it."
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When our kids take their frustration out on a scapegoat, what do we do?
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We've all done it. We've all taken our anger out on someone who didn't deserve it. But why?
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There's a shame virus infecting parents and it's time we address it.
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When it comes to social justice, facing adversity with self-control has the biggest impact.
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An axe can split a block of wood and a whisper can divide a relationship.
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So, let me get this straight. I'm expected to raise my stepchildren, provide for them, and pay for college, but I don't have any legal rights to them?
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You may have a deep bond with your stepchild, but you can't give permission for a dental cleaning.
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We expect the law to protect the rights of family members. Sometimes, it doesn't.
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Ron, we can't start a stepfamily Bible class or small group-we don't have all the answers.
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Have you ever taken a road trip with friends? Now, that's good times.
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You know, when you shoot par for the course, you're doing pretty good.
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Travel to a foreign land and you'll realize what you consider normal.
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You've been more of a mom to me than my real mom, so can I call you mom?
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She was happily married for 25 years. Then widowed. Then remarried...at age 83!!??
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As we approach Mother's day in this disruptive spring of 2020, let's consider the effort moms are putting in just to keep our society running as well as possible. Ron Deal, Laura Petherbridge, Kim Anthony, and Tim Challies share about the enduring influence of mothers.
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Discipline and a stern lecture are only for the young, right? Well...
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When a relationship feels fragile, it's tempting to stop speaking the truth.
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Okay, if you have any relationships, anybody you care about, I want to give you a principle that will strengthen those relationships. Are you listening?
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Compared to other siblings stepsiblings have less conflict. That may not be as good as it sounds.
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How do you let stepchildren know you're not trying to take their parent's place?
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Did you know that when it comes to your neighbor, the Bible says that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?
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Conversations about money and inheritances can be uncomfortable. But wouldn't it be better to talk about it with family members while you can? Ron Deal gives suggestions about how to make wise money decisions.
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You can tell a lot about what a person values by the choices they make with money. Ron Deal says finances and personal values are especially complicated in blended families. He lists practical tools to help make asset management easier, on FamilyLife Today
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Life poses many questions. And when painful things happen, our questions reveal a lot about us.
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I've been asked many times, "How do people survive tragedy without God?" Answer: I have no idea.
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With COVID-19 we're all in uncharted territory. Brian Goins and Ron Deal offer us a compass for navigating this frightening new normal. Listen as Brian and Ron talk about the four points of the compass beginning with finding true north in God, on FamilyLife Today.
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When it comes to stepfamilies, there's not a one-size-fits-all estate plan.
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Dave Wilson, Ron Deal, Kyle Idleman, Lacey Buchanan, and Mary Kassian tell their stories of hurt and disappointment, and their biblical source of hope.
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Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words...well words, can hurt even worse.
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Bob Lepine, Ron Deal, Gary Chapman, Juli Slattery, Charlie and Kirstie Dates, and Dave and Ann Wilson discuss expectations in marriage from the 2020 Love Like You Mean It® marriage cruise.
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Circle the wagons. Put up your shield. And don't let it divide you.
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Join Bob Lepine, Ron Deal, Gary Chapman, Juli Slattery, Charlie and Kirstie Dates, and Dave and Ann Wilson for a panel discussion about marriage recorded aboard the 2020 Love Like You Mean It® marriage cruise.
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So, in your house do you say our "daughter-in-law" or "our daughter"?
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Here's a dilemma: How do you find permanence in a relationship without making a permanent commitment?
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Can you imagine-being deployed in a foreign country and losing your children back home?
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Have you ever made a decision and discovered it wasn't everything you hoped?
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Gary Chapman joins Ron Deal to talk about loving your blended family members through the five love languages: touch, quality time, gifts, words of affirmation, and acts of service.
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Gary Chapman and Ron Deal team up to talk about applying the love languages to a second marriage. Both spouses need to be intentional about protecting their marriage and reassuring their children.
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You know, life can be complicated. So, sometimes, we just need to dumb it down a little.
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What says love to you? A tender touch? A surprise gift? Time with your honey? Gary Chapman joins blended-family expert Ron Deal, to talk about the love languages and the blended family.
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How do you form a loving relationship with someone who isn't motivated to love you?
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Ron, I really want to get married again someday, but before I do, I want to learn as much as I can so I don't repeat the past.
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If you're a single parent or dating one, here's a dating myth to avoid.
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Michelle Hill tosses tricky dating scenarios to Ron Deal who offers insight into whether the single-parent situation in question is a red light, a caution light, or a green light.
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Corporations have business meetings all the time. Shouldn't families do that?
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Single Parent Dating 101: How to do it successfully and what to avoid. Ron Deal offers a biblical perspective on this minefield of complex relationships. How to date wisely as a single parent.
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Ron, I so want my kids to love the Lord. So what do I do when their other home is not a good influence?
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What sort of term of endearment do you give a spouse who has the soul of a pterodactyl?
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One of the most common points of contention in marriage is the issue of money. Crystal Paine, Tom Nelson, and Ron Deal offer some strategies to help keep money from being a source of conflict.
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Have you ever thought that one reason kids don't like their stepparent is because they like their stepparent?
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Okay, kids, we just gave some money to the homeless man at the last street corner. Do you give some more to the guy at this corner?"
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Benjamin Franklin said, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail."
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When kids live between two homes, you can't win every parenting battle, but some issues are a hill worth dying on.
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You know that last argument you had-it was definitely the other person's fault.
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Now here's a resolution for you. Colossians 3 says, "Set your mind on things above."
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When it comes to disagreements, a prideful person just makes things worse.
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Do you remember record albums? How many grooves are there in a 12-inch record?
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Have you ever gotten the feeling that your relationships are doing a number on you?
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Parenting a troubled child always begins with managing ourselves first.
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When someone you care about becomes unavailable to you, what do you do?
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Do you have a plan for your work day or future goals? How about a parenting plan?
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Less than half of engaged couples with kids discuss how they're going to parent those kids after the wedding. Hey, that's not a good idea.
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Here's a holiday inspired tip for parents and stepparents: when you make Christmas cookies this year, remember, there's no cookie cutter kids.
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Holiday pictures should have everyone in the frame, right? But sometimes they don't.
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Does your childhood, or previous relationships, ever creep into your current ones? Ron Deal is talking with USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer on this topic.
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Well, the old adage is true: Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.
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Co-Parents: If you really want to bless your children, here's a quality to strive for.
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Have you wondered what's going on inside a child of divorce? Ron Deal and Lauren Reitsema address common questions parents and stepparents ask about kids.
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You know, sometimes members of a stepfamily are confused about what to call each other.
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The Bible says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." What? Speak up! I can't hear you!
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Yeah, kids are sometimes hesitant to warm up to their stepparent. But what do you do when it's the stepparent who won't warm up?
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You know that scene in Forrest Gump when he runs back and forth across the country for three years? Hey, stop running!
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Well, he didn't get to walk his daughter down the aisle, but he did get the daddy-daughter dance.
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Licensed counselor Ron Deal talks about the physical and emotional effects of traumatic stress, and Tracy Lane shares her experience regarding her daughter's heart surgeries.
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Good parenting is in part about managing your children. But often more about managing yourself.
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Parents are lying to their kids...for personal gain. And, it's got to stop.
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A stepmom, Linda, sent me an e-mail. I could see her smile in her words.
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If you want to feel close in your marriage, do things that make you close.
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I'm not sure you want to do this, but if you want to push a friend or family member away, just lie to them.
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Parenting over the long haul is tough. Stepparenting is really tough.
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Ron, I'm an adult and my mom is dating a guy and I'm having a rough time with it.
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Parents, what's your role when it comes to your kids and the other parent?
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For a woman with no biological children, stepping into the role of stepmom can be a bewildering labyrinth of complexities. Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge discuss how to navigate this winding path.
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Okay, let's face it some people are just easier to forgive than others.
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Parents really must work together. So, here's another tip for maintaining your parental unity.
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Now here's another no-brainer about blended families: adding a stepparent to the parenting team is bound to change something.
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Your strength in parenting comes in part from your unity as a team.
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Fighting barriers in your marriage? Well, here's another tip for reducing the cholesterol in your marital heart: Adapt to life, as needed.
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Ron Deal says there's no need to carry around the baggage of your past sins and we should let God deal with it. He talks us through the story of the woman at the well.
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How can I share the gospel if my family is a mess? Ron Deal reminds us that most of the families featured in Jesus' lineage were dysfunctional, so you're in good company.
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Most grief is not processed in a neat little package of five steps. Ron Deal and Abigail Dodds each talk about processing different kinds of grief. They maintain that all grief should be processed--not avoided--in order to heal properly.
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Stepmoms bear a unique burden, and they often neglect their own care. Melanie Anthony offers hope for balance in the midst of the burden.
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Ron Deal and Michelle Hill talk about the grieving process and how to care for yourself and others you know who may be grieving. We'll also hear from Matthew Arbo and Jonathan Edwards on FamilyLife This Week.
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Rodney and Lisa Webb share their difficult blended journey, as counselor and therapist Helen Wheeler and blended family expert Ron Deal speak wisdom.
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Parenting is difficult, but when you add divorce, the challenge multiplies. Navigating even the most routine parental responsibilities can become difficult. Linda Ranson Jacobs talks to Ron Deal, offering help and hope to parents who may be struggling.
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Ronnie Tyler may have been in love with her husband, Lamar, but she wasn't that interested in his help with raising her two children. Ron Deal explores the complex nuances of blended relationships.
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Pastor and theologian John Ortberg talks with Ron Deal, providing a fresh perspective on the nature of eternity and our own connection to an eternal Creator.
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In this encouraging exploration of the real state of marriage, researcher and author Shaunti Feldhahn teams up with Ron Deal for a deep look at the facts behind the statistics.
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Growing up, Dave Bondeson's father told him, "Remember, you're a Bondeson and a Christian." Dave finds it challenging to translate that into a blended family with a stepdaughter whose last name is not Bondeson.
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Authors Dave and Ann Wilson talk to Ron Deal about the impact divorce can have on a person's life. The Wilsons share how the divorce impacted Dave's ability to resolve conflict in a healthy way.
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Dave and Ann Wilson talk to Ron Deal about the hard realities of his parents' divorce when he was seven years old. Hear firsthand how divorce impacts a child.
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A panel of experts answers your questions about forgiveness in marriage. Voddie Baucham, Juli Slattery, DA and Elicia Horton, and Ron Deal address difficult situations with truth from Scripture.
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A panel of experts answers some of your toughest questions about marital intimacy. Voddie Baucham, Juli Slattery, DA and Elicia Horton, and Ron Deal address difficult situations with truth from Scripture.
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No, Ron, I don't think a forever family is possible. At least not for me.
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What happens when a dad and stepdad team up? Kids win-that's what happens.
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Well, you won't hear this in a marriage conference. There's no marriage in heaven.
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Well, you won't hear this in a marriage conference. There's no marriage in heaven.
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This week we've been talking about maximizing the fun-factor in your marriage. But did you know that sometimes the path to fun is full of sacrifice.
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This week we've been talking about maximizing the fun-factor in your marriage. But did you know that sometimes the path to fun is full of sacrifice.
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Guess what? A regular diet of fun predicts whether stepfamily couples have a dynamic, fulfilling relationship or an unhappy one.
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You don't have to be a brain surgeon to guess that having fun together as a couple is good for your marriage. And you'd be right!
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For your kid's sake, wouldn't you like to know the path to great faith?
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Ron, if it weren't for the stepfamily, we'd be a happily married couple."
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But Ron, I don't want to date someone who has kids." Well, good. I don't want you to either.
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There are many people, single AND married, who feel isolated and alone on Valentine's Day. Director of FamilyLife Blended and licensed counselor Ron Deal talks about healthy ways of coping with loneliness.
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Ron, what do you do if you're trying to bond with a stepchild, but all they say is, "Talk to the hand"?
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Ron, what do you do if you're trying to bond with a stepchild, but all they say is, "Talk to the hand"?
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Ron, after the end of a relationship, how long should I wait before dating again?
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Today, I'm stepping into controversy and some of you are going to be irritated.
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Ron, Ron, bo Bon, Bonana fanna fo Fon...Okay, you know what I'm doing. I'm playing the name game. Well, stepfamilies play a different name game.
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We all know that divorce is hard on kids, right? But did you know that adjusting to a parent's remarriage is even harder.
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The book of Proverbs says, listen to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. But what about a stepfather or a stepmother's instruction? Do you have to listen to that, too?
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Ron Deal tackles the delicate topic of sexual intimacy. As Deal explains, to be intimate with someone is to know them at a deep level. But what does a person do with their sexual past, especially as they enter into a new marriage?
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Well, you never saw this one coming. You just became a step-grandparent. How do you do that?
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Well, you never saw this one coming. You just became a step-grandparent. How do you do that?
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If you're single and dating and at least one of you has kids, you need to do your homework.
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If you're single and dating and at least one of you has kids, you need to do your homework.
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All right, here's a hard one. How do you help an irresponsible person to become responsible?
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Have you ever noticed a parent turning a blind eye to their child's poor behavior?
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Do you know what happens when a boomerang child leaves your home? They come back.
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With well over half of couples today living together before marriage there must be some really good benefits to doing so, right?
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We've all heard Romans 5:8; "while we were still sinners Christ died for us."
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We've all heard Romans 5:8; "while we were still sinners Christ died for us."
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Ron, we get married in a couple of months...and now my son gets angry?
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Ideally, kids need two good parents. But what if you only have one?
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If you're in a stepfamily, the holidays can get complicated pretty fast. Ron Deal offers some perspective, and gives counsel for how to navigate Christmas in a stepfamily.
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The best way to love others is to be caught up in a love relationship with God.
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Have you ever felt caught between two people you love? Stuck between a rock and a hard place?
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Do you know what the difference is between couples who get through rough times and those who don't?
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Do you know what the difference is between couples who get through rough times and those who don't?
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What would you say to a stepchild who just said, "You are not my dad. I do not have to do what you say."
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What would you say if your stepdaughter just declared, "You're not my dad; I don't have to do what you say."
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Hey stepparents, do you have positional authority or relational authority?
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Wise new stepparents are like hall monitors. They know what's going on but they aren't always a part of it.
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Sometimes you build a bridge to your stepchild's heart by staying away.
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Sometimes you build a bridge to your stepchild's heart by staying away.
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Here's a tip for building a bridge to your stepchild's heart. Don't take rejection personally.
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A stepparent recently asked me, "Ron, what do you do with the hot and cold from stepkids? I mean, one minute they love me and the next they want nothing to do with me."
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Half of all marriages end in divorce, right? Well, I've got good news.
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Half of all marriages end in divorce, right? Well, I've got good news.
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Ron Deal explains the benefits of "cooking" your stepfamily with a crock pot and not a blender. He stresses the value of being patient as your blended family blends at its own pace.
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Ron Deal talks about struggles that take place in a blended family between the biological children and the new spouse. While it's tempting to want to put the children first, Deal cautions against it.
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Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended, talks about the vital role step-grandparents provide as they help create connection in their families.
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What is the difference between giving grace and giving in? Paul David Tripp, Tim Kimmel, Ron Deal, and Caleb Kaltenbach explain what grace is: in parenting, marriage, or relationships with a watching world.
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Ron and Nan Deal lost their 12-year-old son Connor in 2009. The Deals discuss how they regained their footing, especially in their marriage, after experiencing such a tragic loss.
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Ron and Nan Deal share how losing their middle son, Connor, in 2009 at the age of 12 still has them reeling. The Deals share what has helped them, and hurt them, as they've grieved the loss of their son.
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Ron and Nan Deal walk us through the events in 2009 that took the life of their 12-year old son, Connor. The Deals tells how their family got through this tremendous loss.
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Robbie and Sabrina McDonald, both widowed before they met and now married to each other for three years, talk about the challenges of blending a family.
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Ron Deal joins Robbie and Sabrina McDonald to talk about their blended family three years after saying "I Do."
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Elizabeth Oates reminds us that the family we grew up in marks us, but it doesn't have to define us. Oates and Ron Deal talk about establishing new relational patterns in marriage.
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Elizabeth Oates shares how growing up in a single-parent home, and then in a home with a stepfather, shaped her views on dating and marriage.
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Elizabeth Oates recalls her troubled childhood marked by abuse and loneliness and tells how that emptiness eventually led her to a deep and abiding relationship with Christ.
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How does it feel when one of your divorced parents remarries? Shannon Simmons and Lauren Reitsema share the stories of their blended family experiences.
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As parents, our job is to make sure our children grow into responsible adults. Dru Joyce II and Ron Deal share different character traits to instill in your children and some helpful ways to teach them.
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Parents need to help their kids process difficult things in healthy ways. Meg Robbins talks about walking with her kids through a cross-country move. Sabrina McDonald tells how she coached her kids through the process of becoming a blended family.
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Emerson Eggerichs, along with author Ron Deal, share practical ways for moms to relate to and honor their sons. Even when upset, moms need to continue to speak respectfully.
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Emerson Eggerichs explains that one compelling desire of a mother is to connect to her son, and she can do that by what she says and how she says it.
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Steve and Misty Arterburn talk about the unique way blended families function. Steve and Misty recall bringing three children into the early years of their marriage and what they did to build a firm foundation for their family.
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Ron Deal joins Steve and Misty Arterburn to talk about the complexities of a second marriage. Steve and Misty both experienced divorce in their first marriages. The Arterburns share what they have done to make their marriage work.
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Shaunti Feldhahn and Ron Deal team up to talk about kindness and the stepfamily. Feldhahn helps us pinpoint our patterns of negativity, and Deal reminds us that kindness can melt the hardest of hearts.
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Robert Wolgemuth, along with his wife, Nancy, and Ron Deal, talk to husbands about how to lead their wives as loving shepherds.
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Within the heart of a woman is a desire to be protected. Robert and Nancy Wolgemuth, along with Ron Deal, talk about the challenges of shepherding a wife in a blended family.
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Robert and Nancy Wolgemuth fondly remember the days of their courtship when they discussed becoming a blended family. Robert gives his best advice for husbands seeking to shepherd well. Ron Deal joins them.
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Licensed counselor Ron Deal talks about the physical and emotional effects of traumatic stress, and Tracy Lane shares her experience regarding her daughter's heart surgeries.
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Ron Deal answers some of your most perplexing questions about being a stepfather.
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Ron Deal gives insight into the stepdad's role in the family. Hear him tell stepdads positive ways to impact their new families and how to avoid causing division.
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Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended, talks to men about the realities of being a stepdad and encourages men to step out in faith, relying on God's wisdom, if they're ready to take the risk.
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Pushing through and doing hard things can make the biggest impact on your kids. "That's what Dads do." Find out more from Steve Farrar, Roland Warren, Ron Deal, R.V. Brown and Ben Rainey.
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Barbara Rainey and Tracy Lane encourage families to read more this summer. Ron Deal shares strategies for dealing with the unique challenges a stepfamily faces.
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Dennis and Barbara Rainey, Bob Lepine, and Ron Deal provide solid biblical answers on questions concerning different ministry opportunities for lay-people within the church.
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Lisa Anderson reveals what it's like being a Christian single woman trying to date in this culture. Ron Deal gives advice to those who have been previously married and are ready to date again.
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One of the most common points of contention in marriage is the issue of money. Crystal Paine, Tom Nelson, and Ron Deal offer some strategies to help keep money from being a source of conflict.
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Whether it's family you know and love, or strangers that need to feel welcome, Barbara Rainey and Rosaria Butterfield share about opportunities to express hospitality.
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How does fear affect our walk with God? It depends on how we handle it. Trillia Newbell, Donovan Campbell, Ron Deal, and Ed Harrell share accounts of facing fear with faith.
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Counselor Ron Deal breaks down the most common and vexing issues facing remarried couples, as he provides real solutions and keen insights into the complexities of remarriage.
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When it comes to the issues of marriage, according to blended family expert Ron Deal, remarried couples sail in a completely different ocean.
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Jay and Tammy Daughtry and Ron Deal talk about co-parenting children of divorce in a way that leaves them happier and healthier.
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Jay and Tammy Daughtry and Ron Deal talk about what's required to raise emotionally healthy children after a divorce.
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Stepparenting has its challenges. That's what Jerry and Kate Angelo found out when they married and became a blended family of six.
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Jerry and Kate Angelo reflect on the issues that thwarted their first marriages, and remember with gratitude the circumstances that brought them back to God and to each other.
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When there is a root of pride present in one or both spouses, peace cannot flourish. Ron Deal explains that when you face your own fear and pride first, that opens the door to love and peace in your marriage.
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Fear is one of the core things that gets families "stuck." Ron Deal tells couples how to break out of the fear cycle, and rest in the sovereignty and power of God.
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Blending family Christmas traditions is very challenging. Bob and Vicki Maday's respective daughters describe the uncomfortable but inevitable tension that exists in a new blended family's Christmas traditions.
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Bob and Vicki Maday each had adult children when they got married. Bob and Vicki's adult daughters share the complicated emotions they had to wade through when their parents married and created a new blended family.
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How would you grade your kissing? Ron Deal shares more about kissing, passion, and romance in marriage. Add spice to your relationship by taking the 30-second kiss challenge.
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Want to improve the intimacy in your marriage? Ron Deal explains that while sex isn't everything in a marriage, it's also not nothing. Hear Ron explain a biblical perspective on sexual intimacy.
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Are you wondering what is going on in your stepchild's mind? Some stepchildren are here to tell you about their blended experience. Josh and Emily Gangl and Jenifer Thigpen tell their stories.
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Robbie and Sabrina McDonald join Ron Deal and talk about the good and bad surprises they experienced as they were establishing their blended family.
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Sabrina and Robbie McDonald married quickly but didn't take into account the grief her young son was still experiencing since his father's death. Ron Deal explains how children grieve.
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It was difficult for Sabrina to keep the promise to her late husband, to remarry after his death. But today she is Sabrina McDonald. Her new husband, Robbie, joins her to tell their story.
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Pastor Dave Wilson recalls one of his Sunday sermons when he publicly apologized to the broken and blended families in his congregation for the church's weak attempts to reach out to them.
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Bill and Evelyn Thompson join Ron Deal to talk about their surprising courtship and remarriage, as well as the adjustments blending families has required of them.
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Bill and Evelyn Thompson talk about their first phone call and the launch of their budding romance.
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Bill and Evelyn Thompson join us to share more about their losses, and their second chance at love
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In some step families, parents try to force their kids into a relationship with their stepparent. Ron Deal suggests letting the kids set the pace for the relationship with their stepparent.
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Blending a family is easy, right? Ron Deal says "not so fast". Blending two families is a lot slower, more complicated and more fraught with challenges than anyone expects.
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At the memorial service for Cheryl Spangler, Mathew Spangler shares a moving tribute to his stepmom.
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A father's loyalty and support toward their wives can make a world of difference in a blended family.
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Laura tells you how to avoid making some of the most wicked step parenting mistakes.
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If being a mother is hard work, then being a stepmother is twice as difficult.
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In the midst of deepest suffering, where is God and why doesn't He deliver us and answer our prayers?
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Dating again has its pluses and minuses. When do you know to take caution?
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Dating is hard, and dating again after divorce or loss can be even more complex.
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Parenting is difficult enough when it's your own kids, but throw someone else's into the mix and you may have problems.
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We vowed to love our spouse forever, but the marriage ended in divorce.
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Marriage and family therapist Ron Deal will tell you how to blend a stepfamily so that it comes out just right!
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Ron Deal talks about the covenant of marriage and how that applies to remarried men and women.
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