Is there a more beloved couple than Chip and Joanna? I’m thinking, no. The love they have for one another is evident. Not only is their love evident, but you can also see how much they actually like one another too. They just have this way of making marriage look fun, don’t they? 

Now sure, we want a lot of what Chip and Joanna have (her taste and talent and his adventurous spirit and fun)—but don’t they make you want a marriage like theirs too?

A Chip and Joanna kind of marriage may not be as hard to achieve as you might think. Let’s see what we can learn to do in our own marriages from these two, crazy talented, love filled Texans.

Chip does the same. We all know Joanna has that garage entirely filled with stuff for projects that Chip has no idea what she needs it all for. You also know that he has sat through countless shopping trips as the bag holder without complaint. Why? Because he loves his wife and knows that all of that is important to her. 

Parent Together and Parent Well—It’s not uncommon for a Fixer Upper scene to involve all the Gaines’s kids. You can find them collecting eggs, exchanging nuts from a tree for cash, or helping to pick out the perfect antique for a house. Some of these adventures they do together, and some involve just one of them in charge.

It’s not uncommon for Joanna and the kids to bring their dad his favorite sandwiches or cupcakes when he’s been working on a house all day—nor is it uncommon for Chip to bring dinner to Joanna when she has a long night of decorating ahead. You see, they work together, they tag each other in, and they model what it is to love one another well.

Accept Each Other for Who They Are—Chip and Joanna could not be more polar opposite, could they? It wouldn’t be difficult for Joanna, a more straight-laced, structured woman with a plan, to be constantly frustrated with Chip, a trouble making, prankster who is constantly on the hunt for fun. But instead, what we see is her appreciation of his ill-timed silliness and his acceptance of the importance of a project done well. Chip loves his fun, but he never has it as his wife’s expense. She appreciates that side of him and he knows his limits.

Seek Balance—As hard as it was for all of us fans, Chip and Joanna knew when to call it quits on their obligations. They knew that in order for their family and marriage to have success and balance, they needed to let go, even if it was letting go of something they loved. They knew their limits as a family. They knew what they were about and weren’t willing to sacrifice their family for anything.

The success of their show was fantastic, but the success of their marriage and family pulled rank. In order for the most important thing to remain successful, they needed to fight to keep it the priority.

Chip and Joanna, we thank you. We thank you for all the designs, for your Target line, and all the things you taught us on your show—but most importantly, we thank you for these hidden little gems for our marriage.

If you want to take this one step deeper, click below to go grab our conversation worksheet on Questions to Ask to Fix Up Your Marriage.

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith would not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

When I look around today, it’s almost as if our entire world has drastically changed. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, fear is abundant, hopelessness is running rampant, and racism has become so horrendous that many are finally completely appalled by it, even though there are still those whose pride won’t allow them to see it.

Is it possible that the Enemy has asked permission to sift us and God has said yes? 

I think so.

The sifting of wheat is purposeful. Sifting removes all the useless junk. It gets rid of the unnecessary so the necessary can be all that is left. I think our world has needed this sifting for a long time.

We cry out with our mouths that we love God, yet we place many idols before Him. Our sporting events have taken His place, our jobs, our pride, our children, our finances—they’ve all squeezed Him out. And now, when tragedy hits, we ask, “Where are you, Lord? Why are you not doing anything?” 

Perhaps, He’s where He’s been all the time, on His throne—waiting for us to remember Him. Perhaps in His grace instead of bailing us out, He’s letting us learn and see the error of our ways. 

When God allowed for this time of testing in Simon Peter, it was purposeful. The Enemy’s schemes to test us will never thwart God’s plan. 

Quite often what looks like a win for him is often a setup for a grand slam by God. This sifting was not going to ruin Simon Peter, in fact it was going to transform him—because while the sifting was taking place, the prayers of Jesus were being lifted up, and He had already declared that they would be effective.

While we’re waiting and pleading for the rescue–is it possible that Jesus is also praying us through this sifting?

I think so.

Is it possible that God holds the victory on the other side of this? That’s not even a question—BUT, what is a question, is who will we be when we come out of this—a Simon, or a Peter? You see, when Simon was sifted like wheat, he had a lot of junk to be disposed of, and when it was all said and done, even despite some failures, he was ultimately found faithful. Simon entered into the sifting denying Jesus, but he exited the sifting as Peter, the unwavering rock, boldly declaring the mighty name of his Savior.

And when that sifting was over, Peter arose and found himself taking part in leading 3000 others to the Lord–I bet the enemy didn’t see that coming when he asked for the sifting process to take place! However, is this how we will be found after all of this? Will we come out strengthening our brothers, leading them to Jesus, or will we go right back to our old ways of denying the lordship of Christ in our lives while we settle for lesser things? 

Sifting is about removing junk—removing all that is useless. Friends, my dear Christian friends, we’ve needed this for a long time. There is only One that deserves first place in our lives, and there are only a handful of things that matter on the other side of eternity—so why, oh why do we invest in so many things that will just burn up and waste away?

“Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

Why do we so easily throw away people, but desperately cling to ignorance? Why do we trust fear more than we trust the God who created us? Why do we quiver at the threat of a virus, but yet stand pridefully and fearlessly in front of the God who reigns over it. 

These days of 2020 have been long and hard–they are not fun times by any means, but we will make it through this. The question is, when we do–when this season of sifting is over, will we once again pick up our useless junk, our misguided thinking, our old ways, or will we finally begin to simply and yet boldly, love God and love others, ALL others as much as we love ourselves?

There’s no doubt that through all of this the chaff will fall to the ground, but it’s going to be up to us to leave it there. So how about it? What are you willing to leave behind? What are you willing to allow God to transform in you?

Oh, and Jesus, while the sifting is being done, please Lord, keep praying for us.

Book

Newlywed Couple's Devotional

(for Newlywed Couples and Newlywed Wanna-Be's)

features:

•  52 Weekly Devotionals that explore common issues and themes every couple experiences, such as intimacy, love, commitment, household duties, finances, and more

•  Everyday Scripture and Reflective Bible Studies that provide practical solutions to bringing marriages closer to God

•  Action-Oriented Discussion Prompts that hold couples accountable for maintaining their God-anchored vows

•  Weekly Prayers that are specific and relevant to the topics discussed

Whether you’re celebrating your own father or the father of your children, we don’t want you to miss the value of dads. Fathers have such a strong role within the family. Even when they’re not intentionally teaching, they’re still teaching. And, if absent, this loss is strongly felt by the family and by society at large. Dads are meant to be the anchor of their families, and, for those of you blessed to experience their presence, you likely felt the safety and assurance a dad can provide.

As we pause to celebrate the fathers in our lives, here’s five lessons your dad might have taught you, or that your children might be learning from their dad now:

To be fearless—For generations, fathers everywhere have tossed toddlers in the air, run behind wobbly bicycles as children learned to ride on their own, and encouraged their kids to take risks. On occasion, dads help you rub a little dirt in your wound and get back up. And these small, simple lessons have been shown to shape less anxious children. A dad’s ability to throw your laughing toddler just a little higher actually prevents anxiety with the ups and downs of life down the road.

To work hard—There are many examples of dads who prioritize work over their families. This should never be the case. However, there are many hardworking dads who prioritize providing, even though they might lose balance on occasion. Don’t miss their dedication to hard work and to doing whatever it takes to provide well. And, if you’re a hard worker, your dad likely helped show you how. 

To play hard and laugh hard—Dads have their own brand of jokes, #dadjokes. They’re all so cheesy, but so beloved. They pop up out of nowhere and rise to any occasion. And the family reluctantly (and also secretly lovingly) relies on them. Dads are the best at play and lightheartedness, and, yes, even sometimes to a fault. But no matter what’s going on, dads seem to always make time for play, wrestling around, throwing a ball, or telling a dad joke. Learn to play like the dad in your life.

To see love in many forms—Even when dads struggle to openly express their emotions, we can still learn to see and receive love in different forms. The dad in your life may need to practice sharing his feelings more. But, if you look for his love, you will still find it. Dad’s love often comes in the form of a pat on the back, changing the oil in your car, slipping you an extra $20 just because, or a long-winded, how-to lecture to keep you safe and help you achieve what’s best. Dads may not always execute love clearly, but that doesn’t mean their heart isn’t fully invested. Dads taught us how to find love in unexpected places.

To believe in yourself—Dads are the ones who teach you how to swing a bat and never give up. They help you get behind the wheel and into real traffic for the first time. When they don’t coddle you or go easy on you, it’s often because they believe in you. They are willing to force you to do brave things, because they believe that 

you can. Your dad may not say it with words, but, when they set you free and allow you to fail your way forward, it’s because they believe in you and think you should believe in yourself, too. 

As Father’s Day approaches, let’s take the time to appreciate the gift of safety, security, and encouragement fathers share. Not all of them are perfect, but a lot of them do the very best they can in the ways they know how.

If you want to gift your dad with something he’ll love this Father’s Day, check out the link below to find The Perfect Father’s Day Gift.

Book

Newlywed Couple's Devotional

(for Newlywed Couples and Newlywed Wanna-Be's)

features:

•  52 Weekly Devotionals that explore common issues and themes every couple experiences, such as intimacy, love, commitment, household duties, finances, and more

•  Everyday Scripture and Reflective Bible Studies that provide practical solutions to bringing marriages closer to God

•  Action-Oriented Discussion Prompts that hold couples accountable for maintaining their God-anchored vows

•  Weekly Prayers that are specific and relevant to the topics discussed

When I was a little girl, I had a pink room with two windows—one that looked directly into my backyard and another that looked at our neighbors’ home. I had a rainbow comforter, a Strawberry Shortcake doll, and a couple of Care Bears sitting in a row in front of my pillows. Most of my time was spent in that room—I still remember it so vividly.

My home was not a healthy home—it was pretty far from it—and that room of mine, well, it was more of a hiding place, a place where I could sometimes find the peace and solace that I craved. I always longed for a healthy home, even though I had no concept of what one really was. I just knew it was different from what I had.

2. Everyone is HEARD. Everyone gets to have a voice that matters, and, when that voice speaks out—people listen. No one has to agree with what is being said, but that voice, no matter how little, how shy, or how loud and afraid, it is important enough to be heard. Respect can still be instilled without a voice being stolen away. There is simply an environment of freedom to express what is really going on with each person.

3. Everyone feels SAFE. When people within a family know they are seen and heard, it begins to produce safety. Safety is formed out of responsiveness. Safety happens when you can have a hard day, and you are allowed to cry or be angry and still be listened to — instead of being sent away, dismissed, or judged. Safety encourages asking for help and leaning on one another. Safety looks for signs of hard days, sadness, or anger. It says, “I have your back, and you can trust that.” 

4. Everyone experiences COMFORT. Comfort is having a known place to turn to when life is hard. It is a valuable resource that makes sure no one ever feels alone in their struggles. Comfort teaches us that when hard things happen, we need not fear, because we have a resource. We have someone willing to sit with us, help us, and just be there. Comfort says, “You matter.” Comfort doesn’t sweep things under the rug, dismiss, or lash out in anger; it just offers, well, comfort.

As moms and dads, we have a responsibility to create a healthy home. Most of that effort comes from how we treat one another. When we, as parents, have God in the center of our marriage, we will focus on loving one another well, just as He commands. It will be much easier for us to show grace, compassion, empathy, patience, and love.

So, if you need a starting place, start with your relationship. Do you feel SEEN, HEARD, SAFE and COMFORTED with one another? If not, there’s a high probability your kids don’t feel those things either. Prepare yourself to do what it takes to get your relationship in order. Be willing to work on your marriage, so your kids won’t have to work on theirs. 

If you want to see how you’re doing, go check out these tough but necessary questions to ask the members of your family today!