Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast

Q: We're struggling through the reality check of marriage. It's not always as easy as we imagined it to be. Do you have any tips or advice for us? I often talk about the differences between our expectations of marriage , vs. the reality of what marriage.  But today, I'm excited to tag team this question about the reality check of marriage with my friends Jeremy and Addie Camp. Jeremy Camp and Addi...

Some of the most prominent people in ministry and leadership are dealing with anxiety, you just don't know about it.  The reason is that anxiety doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care about how old you are, what religion you are, or your gender. But unfortunately, not enough people of faith are talking about dealing with anxiety in an open and honest way, and so many people end up struggling alone...

When today's question came in on the Love + Relationships Hotline asking about tips and tricks to managing the early years of marriage, I had to get my friends Ryan and Selena Frederick to join me in tag-teaming this one. Ryan and Selena run an amazing ministry called Fierce Marriage, and they are passionate about honoring God through the ministry of marriage. Today we talk through what it looks l...

Today we're talking about walking through unbelievably hard times.  Whether you're walking through hard times right now, with all that's going on in our country, or maybe you're walking through the hard times of heartbreak, or loss, or grief...whatever it is, today's episode is for you. Jennie and Levi Lusko lost their precious little girl, Lenya, suddenly and unexpectedly at the young age of five...

Today's question is about finding hope after heartbreak. I'm joined by my new friend, Ben Courson, a young pastor and leader who specializes in sharing the message of hope, and who has dealt with his fair share of heartbreak. This conversation with Ben is going to encourage and inspire you as we talk about:  Ways to practically deal with heart break and move forward. The concept of soul ties, what...

Do you feel like you're struggling with singleness? I know that the struggle can be heightened during this season of life, especially with all that's going on in the nation in light of Covid 19. Social distancing, quarantine, sheltering in place can make you feel even more lonely and disconnected than ever before. But struggling with singleness does not make you strange, or crazy, or lacking in fa...

Play hard to get.  If you're in the world of dating, or were at some point in your life - you've definitely heard the relationship advice that tells you to play hard to get. Don't look too interested.  Don't call for at least 3 days.  Make sure they don't know how much you like them.  Don't text back right away.  But is this relationship advice any good? Play Hard To Get There's a reason why this...

Marriage should make you happy. That's the relationship advice we hear all the time. But is it even true? How much weight do we need to put on our happiness? What is the secret ingredient to creating happiness in marriage? Does happiness create a good marriage, or does a good marriage create happiness? And what happens when you're not happy? Is it even realistic to say we're going to be happy all...

You'll "just know" When You Meet The Right Person...that's what they try and tell you. "You lock eyes, as you glance across the room at each other. And all of a sudden, somehow, you just know." The worst relationship advice I've ever heard comes from the people who tell you you'll just know when you meet the person you're going to marry. It's a cookie cutter formula that can't - and shouldn't - be...

When it comes to relationships, have you ever heard the phrase, "women should not initiate"? This is all too common advice, and unfortunately, it's advice that comes with a lot of controversy as well as negative repercussion. So should women initiate? And what does that look like in dating, as well as in marriage? The bad relationship advice series continues at TrueLoveDates.com by unpacking this...

We're continuing our bad relationship advice series with the bad relationship advice that says, "A happy wife makes a happy life".  I can't even tell you how many times I've heard this bad relationship advice. It's advice that has been used as one of the most common approaches in relationships. But why is this bad relationship advice, and what advice is actually BETTER when it comes to how we appr...

I've heard from so many singles over the past few weeks who are struggling and looking for some encouragement as they navigate this time of social distancing and quarantine. So I invited my single friend, Lisa Anderson, to join me as we discuss ways to thrive during this hard time. Lisa is the director of the young adults ministry of Focus on the Family called Boundless, and she is a single woman...

"You just need to wait on God to bring you a relationship." If you're single, there's a good chance you've heard that advice at some point along the way. The problem is that what it means to "wait on God" often get's misinterpreted into meaning that you should DO NOTHING.  Too many singles are on the side of the spectrum of passivity when it comes to their relationships, because they have been tau...

Married couples need a weekly date night out...you've heard that advice before, but is it good advice? The answer might surprise you!! We're starting the bad relationship advice series here at TrueLoveDates.com!!! In this series, I'm bringing you all the BAD relationship advice that you've heard over the years, and maybe you even thought it was GOOD advice, but it's advice that's actually harmful...

There's a higher potential for conflict in relationships when everyone is together all the time. Can I get an amen? I've been hearing from many people who are struggling with the conflict coming up in the relationships during this time of quarantine. "We're gettin' on each other's nerves! Help!" Quarantine Conflict! Today's episode is all about managing conflict. Whether major conflict, or minor c...

There are toxic people everywhere. In churches, schools, at work, and sometimes right in the middle of your own household. And it's important to understand that fact because relationships have the power to bring life, or death. They have the power to lift you up, or bring you down. Right now in our country, the word "social distancing" is being used very liberally to help set boundaries with our p...

There's been a lot of talk about hand washing lately, as the CDC continually reminds us of the importance of washing our hands during a pandemic. We're a hand washing family, and we always emphasize hand washing whether or not there's a national crisis. But with all the talk about hand washing lately, it's no surprise that as I was reading through the book of Mark recently, the chapter on hand was...

This week on the blog, I released an article called 10 Quarantine Self Care Tips for Mental and Emotional Health, and today on the podcast I'm reviewing and expanding the second part of this 2 part podcast series, covering the last 5 tips in Part 2 of the Self Care Tips, as well as how they've played out in my personal life this week. In this episode I cover: The importance of making time for fun...

While we're all on Corona Quarantine right now, and since our world has come to a halt for a period of time, I wanted to adjust the Love and Relationships Podcast this week. Instead of the usual hotline style show, I'm going to be focusing on advice and encouragement to help you navigate this season in the best way possible. This week on the podcast, I released an article called 10 Quarantine Self...

Are you thinking about taking a break in a relationship? Is it possible to take a break from a relationship and get back together in a healthy way? Last week on the Love + Relationships podcast we talked about the On Again Off Again Relationship, and what to be on the lookout for in that kind of relationship. Today we're continuing the conversation by talking about taking a break in a relationship...

What do you do when you find yourself in an on again off again relationship? Do you end it, or do you continue on the roller coaster ride of trying to make things work? Is it worth it to try and take a break in a relationship, and what does it say about the outcome of a relationship if you have to take a break? In today's podcast episode, I'm talking you through what I think about this kind of up...

How do you pray for love? And what if you don't even have one yet? Should you still pray for love even before you have a relationship?  If I knew the effect that my future relationships would have on my life, I would have been praying for love since pre-school. Prayer is the act by which we hand over our needs to the One who actually has the power to impact those needs.  So how do you pray for lov...

Are you looking for places to meet Christian singles? Why am I even asking - you must be. Because you're here. Reading this article. And you're in the right place!! At TrueLoveDates.com (the #1 Faith-based relationship advice blog!) I surveyed thousands of people asking them WHERE they were meeting Christian singles...and today I'm sharing the Top 10 places to meet Christian singles.  10 Places To...

Do you ever wonder if your marriage needs help? If so, you're not alone. The natural trajectory of marriage is drift. The pressure and stress of life can slowly begin to pull people away from one another... If you're not careful, things can slowly start to drift in you relationship without you ever realizing it's happening. With a lack of time to connect, crazy schedules, the fast pace of life, fi...

SURPRISE!!! Bonus Valentines Day podcast episode today!!! It's Valentine's Day, and I just had to release an extra Valentines Day podcast episode for you. This question comes in time and time again...so I decided to tackle it in today's podcast! It's an episode that will mean something to you no matter what your relationship status, and is something I encourage you to take the time to do AS SOON A...