The Jar Podcast | Dignity, Restored, Marriage, Healing, Forgiveness

The deep work I did helped for either outcome: together or not. Married or single-mom. I was whole regardless. And you can be, too. Walk through separation or divorce AND experience healing and wholeness? Today I walk you through the three Cs that will help you navigate a broken marriage and separation. Counseling services, articles and more: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/  Loads...

How can we possibly make a kingdom impact and a difference OUTside our home if our impact IN the home is hurtful or hypocritical or harmful? How do you become a woman of your word? What do we need to do to stop acting one way in public and another way in our homes? Today I ask you 5 questions that will challenge you to be the Christian wife and mom in your HOME first and foremost. Bring your cup o...

There's a scene in the show The Chosen where two disciples are walking and talking together about when Jesus called them, and one of them says, "I was one way... and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between... was Him." But what if you've been hurt by this person claiming they're different now? The world will say "Once a ___ always a ___." Does Jesus think that? How ca...

"I'm an introvert. He's an extrovert." "I'm an early bird. He's a night owl." "He's a homebody. I'm an outdoor adventure girl." We are just.so.different! Ever felt like it's hard to find things in common anymore? You thought you knew him, but these days it feels like he's a stranger. How do we keep our differences from causing division, resentment or divorce?? Loads of Love , Lydia --> SUBSCRIB...

WIVES, are you sick of repeating yourselves, feeling unheard? Do you sometimes decide to step up and take over, get things done and think "why bother" when things don't get done around the house and he's not helping? Do you find yourself mumbling "SOMEone's gotta do it..." and you stuff your feelings down? I see you. And I can tell you there are better ways! No more exploding emotionally. No more...

You've sinned. You've screwed up. You failed someone you loved.  But you've repented, turned from your sin, and you've begun healing. You're forgiven and are trying to take steps forward, but comments are still being made. People still stare, glare, whisper, and point.  You feel the shame and defeat in your gut and the tears brimming in your eyes. How do you move forward when others keep...

Stop the scrolling.  Put the wine down. Turn off Netflix. I know, I know. Your marriage is not what you'd like it to look like right now, and you're wallowing in hopelessness. It's just too heavy and too big to deal with--and why are you always the one to have to "deal with" it or work on it or care anyway?  Get UNstuck, exchange your spirit of heaviness, and walk away empowered with thi...

Ever comforted your crying child as they list their fears before bed and not been sure what to say? Or maybe they had a tough day at school, and you feel tongue-tied. Or maybe it's worse. Maybe your family is separated or divorced, and you feel completely helpless to help them through their hard feelings. Mama, don't reinvent the wheel! God's Words are right there, available, and POWERFUL. If His...

Divorce. Separation. Abuse. Miscarriage. Loss. Death. Destruction. Natural Disasters. You name it, it's bad and it's happening to good people. WHY?  Have you ever asked God why these things happen? When life doesn't go as planned and expectations are shattered, how do you go from anger, anxiety, and all the "what if" questions to a solid, sure "even so" faith?  Tune in to today's episode...

I stared at the boxes on the form and suddenly didn't know which one to choose: single? married? Why wasn't there one for getting-divorced-but-it's-not-final-yet-and-this-is-awkward-and-I-want-to-cry?? Have you been there, too?  Or maybe you haven't, but you sure have cried yourself to sleep a time or two (or ten) because of how lonely you feel in your marriage or how small you feel when he d...

Alarm goes off. You drag yourself to the bathroom to brush your teeth as you begin mentally replaying the past week, month...make that months. Nothing ever changes, and you sigh as you get your day started, just waiting for "that argument" to come up again or for the remorse and self-criticism that comes immediately after losing your cool with your kids...again. Your brain feels like it's heavy, a...

Has your husband or significant other ever called you out on something and your thought might be “Ok, maybe I shouldn’t have done or said that but... he just doesn’t understand me!” Do you have friends in your life that enable your negative thoughts toward him with phrases like “gotta look out for number one!” Have you ever lain in bed at night and wondered if you’d made a mistake? Or have you eve...

No Christian wife wants to admit that she nags and she DEFINITELY doesn't want to hear her husband say she is. But are you?  Our words are so powerful, and the Bible talks so much about the power of the tongue, the damage your words can do, and the value in using wisdom with our words.  What if your words were indicators of the state of your heart? What if what you say was a symptom of s...

Stop scrolling and listen, Linda. Lean in close... What you want is change in your relationship or marriage, but there are three things you might be doing that in fact lead to your own discontentment, lack of fulfillment, and missed opportunities!  Tune in so you don't continue to make these common mistakes and learn how to USE discontentment to your advantage!  Loads of Love , Lydia --&...

When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Rebuilding trust takes TIME, ENERGY, PATIENCE, and most of all, a DEEPLY rooted sense of self in Christ alone.  Your person will fail you. Without fail. Increasing trust begins with YOU and your relationship with the Lord THEN the other person. Tune in to hear some helpful tips on how to do this! Loads of Love, Lydia --> SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a...

Ever thought you could never trust your spouse/ significant other/ family member or friend again? Too much damage done and no chance to rebuild trust?  Tune in to hear how MY marriage recovered and trust was reestablished, maintained, and INCREASED! Loads of Love, Lydia --> SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a show --> Leave a 5-star rating & written review --> Join the Christian Wife and Marriage Facebo...

Curled up in a ball on the bathroom floor. Sitting in the back row at church and leaving the second service is over. Declining an invitation to lunch with a friend. Not answering calls. Self-sabotaging with food. Shame can show in many different forms, some more obvious than others. When we feel shame, we are essentially wearing our circumstance or sin as our identity, and it's time to SHAKE. IT....

What do you do while you're sitting in a waiting room, waiting for a diagnosis? How do you walk through a separation in your marriage, unsure of the final outcome? What about job insecurity, singleness, or infertility? I don't have answers to your questions, but I can tell you that there is a way to wait "well," and by that I don't mean perfectly. Tune in to today's episode to hear some biblical e...

My special guest (my husband!) and I continue the conversation, get real about lessons we've learned and offer a little dash of humor to encourage YOU in YOUR marriage.  Marriage is great? Praise the Lord! What lessons have you learned? Would LOVE to hear! Marriage just meh? Need to spice things up? Well, we actually suck at dating but are getting better haha! Still tune in. Living undivorced and...

Yep! You probably guessed correctly: my husband is my special guest, and we are spilling all the beans on what we've learned in our dozen years of marriage. As we crossed the 12 year mark this month, we looked back and remembered all God's done and some lessons we've learned along the way--lessons from the good, bad, and the ugly. And we sure have been through some "uuuuglay" (She's the Man refere...

Ouch. The words your spouse just said stung. Or maybe it’s something a parent or childhood bully said to you years ago, and you can still feel that pain now. What if you were able to lessen the sting, to confidently forgive those hurtful words, and to resolve conflict because you know who you are and Whose you are... because what He says matters more, and His words hold more weight? Tune in today...

Tired of the blame game? Feeling like a victim during conflicts? Ever find yourself saying things like “You make me feel mad every time you...”?  Listen, Linda, we have a CHOICE in how we feel and in how we respond to someone in a conflict that either helps us resolve the conflict or makes it worse. Let’s start owning our part and see how the Lord brings unity and understanding to our relationship...

Mamas, we’ve all been there, or you ARE there: as you sweep Cheerios off the floor for the hundredth time today the thought crosses your mind, “Who am I now?” You pass by your reflection in a mirror and roll your eyes as you tighten your mom bun back up to the top of your head where it belongs. “How did I go from actress/ athlete/ CEO... to glorified butt wiper??”  The Acting Mom, Karissa Bar...

Ever feel like no matter what you say, your conversations with your spouse/ family member/ coworker turn into arguments or disagreements? You might not have started it, but you may be unintentionally contributing to the conflict instead of resolving it.  Listen in, Linda, and jot down some notes today as we dive into how to have a better communication habit that diffuses an argument instead of mak...

Quit pickin' yourself up by your bootstraps. Let go of trying to control your pain, pretending it doesn't exist, or thinking you can fix yourself. You've tried in your own strength for so long that it's left you weary, filled with doubt, and suppressing any ounce of hope left.  Good news is: Hope has found you. He is kneeling down right in front of you and asking you, "Do you want to be heale...