If you’re dating, in a long-term relationship, or engaged, you may be wondering what marriage is like. You probably have friends with good marriages and those who have so-so marriages. Perhaps you’ve got questions, but you don’t know exactly how to ask. Questions like: Is it hard? Is it worth it? Why get married? Well,…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pexels-emma-bauso-3585798.jpg13672048Gena Ellishttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2021-01-20 12:48:002021-01-21 11:53:4610 Things You Need to Know About Marriage
How gritty are you? Is your marriage gritty? Do you teach your kids to be gritty? In her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Harvard-trained psychologist and researcher Angela Duckworth examines what it takes to stick things out and accomplish long-term goals. Grit has everything to do with how we do family relationships. …
These 7 things can help you build a strong relationship.
What’s the difference between a loving, warm marriage and one full of friction and conflict? Trust. There are probably many items on your checklist for having a strong marriage. If there’s one that ought to be at the top of the list, it’s trust. How do you establish trust in marriage from the start? 1.…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pexels-emma-bauso-3585812-1.jpg20481367Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-19 16:25:162021-03-16 13:12:44How To Establish Trust In Marriage From The Start
Fun doesn't always just happen, but you can make it happen!
You’re getting ready to marry the love of your life, and you’ve been reading card after card wishing you a marriage full of love and adventure. With that comes the hope of fulfillment in each other and the desire to have fun, because who wants a boring marriage?! No one… Here are 3 easy things…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Engaged_MarriedFun.jpg344800First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-10-05 22:19:012022-03-18 12:45:21We’re Engaged. How Do We Make Sure Our Marriage is Fun?
You want to have good relationships. You want a healthy marriage AND you want to be a great parent, a wonderful friend, fiancé, or co-worker. But relationships are sometimes complex. They aren’t always easy. Issues arise. And if you’re like me, you could just use some help sometimes. The internet gives us ENDLESS information on…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HowtoFindGoodRelationshipAdvice.jpg454800Chris Ownbyhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-10-05 21:46:132021-04-01 17:22:46How to Find Good Relationship Advice
Engagement season is upon you—congrats, by the way!! With the pretty ring comes some planning, excitement, questions, and ultimately preparing for marriage! With that being said, here are 5 tips to help newly engaged couples thrive during the engagement season: 1. Have the big conversations before you’re deep into planning. If you haven’t already, make…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/annie-marek-barta-qRqEfUfw7TM-unsplash.jpg13652048First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-09-17 15:56:282021-07-29 10:13:095 Tips For Newly Engaged Couples
It’s that time of year! The leaves are changing colors and falling. There’s a cool breeze in the air. Pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season. We’ve moved past the laid-back summer and now it’s FALL, the season of football, fun… and romance. Here are several romantic fall fun date ideas that bring out…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/romane-van-troost-sn61a37mbUM-unsplash.jpg20481365Gena Ellishttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-14 15:36:262020-10-27 10:46:5430 Romantic Fall Date Ideas For Couples
You’re in love, you’re engaged, and you don’t want the butterflies you’ve had all this time to fly away. I mean who would? But sometimes, in the midst of wedding planning and preparing for marriage, you can forget to do the very thing that brought you to this relationship milestone: Date! And that’s what this…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-jasmine-carter-888923-e1599138867989.jpg228450First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-09-03 09:14:392022-02-22 13:07:255 Dates Every Engaged Couple Must Do Before the Big Day
Your wedding day is approaching. You’re looking forward to all the benefits of a fun, stable, vibrant marriage: deep intimacy, unbreakable connection, and unconditional friendship. Taking the time to prepare for your marriage can help you mix all the ingredients necessary for a strong relationship and satisfying marriage. Here’s how – and why preparing for…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/taylor-brandon-rNnoXb3Zq7g-unsplash.jpg20481365Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-09-03 09:10:192022-12-21 08:50:195 Ways Preparing for Marriage Can Make Your Relationship Stronger
Is marriage on your mind for your future? If it is, it doesn’t make a difference whether you’re a single searching for that special someone, in an “endgame” relationship, or perhaps already engaged when it comes to preparing yourself for marriage. If you know in your heart of hearts that you want marriage to be…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/analise-benevides-eNFA3RFYd-A-unsplash.jpg20481365First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-09-01 08:49:012021-05-26 14:58:15How to Prepare Yourself for Marriage
These things can help you think through what's best for you.
It’s normal to get nervous about important decisions. Asking yourself, “Am I marrying the right person?” is one of those nervy decisions because marriage is a lifelong commitment, not something that will come out easily in the wash if you’ve not made the right choice. So you weigh the odds, make a list of pros…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/tanner-ross-BqFurADddWQ-unsplash-1.jpg4411000First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-08-18 14:05:022022-01-21 11:44:235 Signs You Should Break Off Your Engagement
Here are some insights on the state of "becoming."
The morning light playfully casts its shadows on my husband’s face. I ask myself, once again, in my half slumber, if this is really my life. My mornings are filled with “I love you’s” and kisses (morning breath and all) and an alarm set purposely to snooze so we can cozy up to each other…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/jonathan-borba-LLBLQAbzfpw-unsplash.jpg13652048First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-08-17 09:58:452022-02-18 09:55:49What I’ve Learned During My First Year of Marriage
How long should a couple be engaged before getting married? Great question! There isn’t a “magic number” and it doesn’t matter what everyone else is doing. What matters is how well you both really know each other and if you are both ready—individually and relationally—for that big “forever” next step. To help guide you through…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/samuel-rodriguez-3jTLp4o7jDc-unsplash-scaled.jpg28484272First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-08-10 16:50:352021-07-29 10:07:46How Long Should A Couple Be Engaged Before Getting Married?
“I just want to do it right, I want to know what I’m supposed to do.” I kept saying this to myself while I was getting ready to be married. Plus, I wanted to prepare myself for anything that could come our way. I wanted a rock solid marriage with a foundation no earthquake could…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/vince-fleming-Ago_XP43ae0-unsplash-scaled.jpg13662048First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-07-24 14:33:012022-01-07 13:34:35We’re Getting Married And Everyone Is Giving Us Advice
Dating your mate can help your summer get even hotter!
I value my friend who reminded me that summer doesn’t end just because we start talking about our children going back to school. In fact, we are just one month into summer! Summer means different things for different people. For some, summer is about being footloose and fancy-free. For others, summer is composed of trips…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/jonathan-borba-kMnhiuPhzSY-unsplash.jpg13652048Gena Ellishttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-07-24 13:45:432022-05-10 12:00:4210 Date Nights Every Couple Must Do Before Summer Ends
While you’re engaged, conversations tend to hover endlessly around the wedding day, and naturally so. Though working out the details and planning your celebration is exciting, having conversations about other topics is important, too. You and your fiancé are stepping into something beautiful—a promise of commitment, a proclamation of loving each other now and falling…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/corryne-wooten-Cl4o_F1fL4I-unsplash.jpg20481365First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-07-20 08:47:452022-05-10 10:21:15Conversations Every Engaged Couple Should Have Before They Say, “I Do”
Fighting with your fiancé all the time, aka, the person you are planning on spending forever with, can feel just exhausting. Planning your wedding, fear of job loss, or navigating unemployment while trying to secure a future together… uncertainty can definitely stir the dust in the air. Just when you think the dust is going…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AdobeStock_262265119.jpeg13652048First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-07-16 14:25:502022-01-28 14:03:45My Fiancé and I are Fighting All the Time
Make your conversations more productive with these tips.
It’s nothing new to disagree with the ones you love, whether it’s about current events, religion, guns, racism, politics, football or something else. In fact, chances are pretty good that you completely disagree on certain topics with someone you care deeply about. The disagreements may be so intense you wonder how you can actually co-exist. …
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/disagree-priscilla-du-preez-ZxMASvRPEn4-unsplash-1-e1596214094110.jpg205500Julie Baumgardnerhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-07-01 06:07:272022-03-18 12:43:35What to Do When You Disagree With the Ones You Love
Start strong – save together for your wedding and your marriage.
Prioritizing your marriage over your wedding is a beautiful place to grow from. While you dream of, save for and plan the wedding day, it can be magical without hurting you financially. You’ll have some of the same conversations you had while planning your wedding when you talk about preparing for marriage. Those “money-saving” talks for…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/man-and-woman-kissing-on-grass-field-3534497-scaled-e1596214549769.jpg233500First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-06-26 23:17:352022-03-03 14:27:04Money-Saving Tips for Planning Your Own Wedding
It's a big deal for you and your spouse to be on the same page.
As a young girl, I grew up in a neighborhood that was primarily boys. So, I played football, kickball, basketball and baseball with the guys. Throughout high school and college, I always felt comfortable around guys. They were like big brothers to me. I remember one incident when I was going on a date in…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/people-holding-mugs-1524335-scaled-e1596214792211.jpg200500Gena Ellishttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-06-23 14:46:312021-11-23 09:39:00How Opposite-Sex Friendships Change After You Get Married
10 Things You Need to Know About Marriage
If you’re dating, in a long-term relationship, or engaged, you may be wondering what marriage is like. You probably have friends with good marriages and those who have so-so marriages. Perhaps you’ve got questions, but you don’t know exactly how to ask. Questions like: Is it hard? Is it worth it? Why get married? Well,…
Is Grit the Secret Ingredient to Successful Relationships?
How gritty are you? Is your marriage gritty? Do you teach your kids to be gritty? In her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Harvard-trained psychologist and researcher Angela Duckworth examines what it takes to stick things out and accomplish long-term goals. Grit has everything to do with how we do family relationships. …
How To Establish Trust In Marriage From The Start
What’s the difference between a loving, warm marriage and one full of friction and conflict? Trust. There are probably many items on your checklist for having a strong marriage. If there’s one that ought to be at the top of the list, it’s trust. How do you establish trust in marriage from the start? 1.…
We’re Engaged. How Do We Make Sure Our Marriage is Fun?
You’re getting ready to marry the love of your life, and you’ve been reading card after card wishing you a marriage full of love and adventure. With that comes the hope of fulfillment in each other and the desire to have fun, because who wants a boring marriage?! No one… Here are 3 easy things…
How to Find Good Relationship Advice
You want to have good relationships. You want a healthy marriage AND you want to be a great parent, a wonderful friend, fiancé, or co-worker. But relationships are sometimes complex. They aren’t always easy. Issues arise. And if you’re like me, you could just use some help sometimes. The internet gives us ENDLESS information on…
5 Tips For Newly Engaged Couples
Engagement season is upon you—congrats, by the way!! With the pretty ring comes some planning, excitement, questions, and ultimately preparing for marriage! With that being said, here are 5 tips to help newly engaged couples thrive during the engagement season: 1. Have the big conversations before you’re deep into planning. If you haven’t already, make…
30 Romantic Fall Date Ideas For Couples
It’s that time of year! The leaves are changing colors and falling. There’s a cool breeze in the air. Pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season. We’ve moved past the laid-back summer and now it’s FALL, the season of football, fun… and romance. Here are several romantic fall fun date ideas that bring out…
5 Dates Every Engaged Couple Must Do Before the Big Day
You’re in love, you’re engaged, and you don’t want the butterflies you’ve had all this time to fly away. I mean who would? But sometimes, in the midst of wedding planning and preparing for marriage, you can forget to do the very thing that brought you to this relationship milestone: Date! And that’s what this…
5 Ways Preparing for Marriage Can Make Your Relationship Stronger
Your wedding day is approaching. You’re looking forward to all the benefits of a fun, stable, vibrant marriage: deep intimacy, unbreakable connection, and unconditional friendship. Taking the time to prepare for your marriage can help you mix all the ingredients necessary for a strong relationship and satisfying marriage. Here’s how – and why preparing for…
How to Prepare Yourself for Marriage
Is marriage on your mind for your future? If it is, it doesn’t make a difference whether you’re a single searching for that special someone, in an “endgame” relationship, or perhaps already engaged when it comes to preparing yourself for marriage. If you know in your heart of hearts that you want marriage to be…
5 Signs You Should Break Off Your Engagement
It’s normal to get nervous about important decisions. Asking yourself, “Am I marrying the right person?” is one of those nervy decisions because marriage is a lifelong commitment, not something that will come out easily in the wash if you’ve not made the right choice. So you weigh the odds, make a list of pros…
What I’ve Learned During My First Year of Marriage
The morning light playfully casts its shadows on my husband’s face. I ask myself, once again, in my half slumber, if this is really my life. My mornings are filled with “I love you’s” and kisses (morning breath and all) and an alarm set purposely to snooze so we can cozy up to each other…
How Long Should A Couple Be Engaged Before Getting Married?
How long should a couple be engaged before getting married? Great question! There isn’t a “magic number” and it doesn’t matter what everyone else is doing. What matters is how well you both really know each other and if you are both ready—individually and relationally—for that big “forever” next step. To help guide you through…
We’re Getting Married And Everyone Is Giving Us Advice
“I just want to do it right, I want to know what I’m supposed to do.” I kept saying this to myself while I was getting ready to be married. Plus, I wanted to prepare myself for anything that could come our way. I wanted a rock solid marriage with a foundation no earthquake could…
10 Date Nights Every Couple Must Do Before Summer Ends
I value my friend who reminded me that summer doesn’t end just because we start talking about our children going back to school. In fact, we are just one month into summer! Summer means different things for different people. For some, summer is about being footloose and fancy-free. For others, summer is composed of trips…
Conversations Every Engaged Couple Should Have Before They Say, “I Do”
While you’re engaged, conversations tend to hover endlessly around the wedding day, and naturally so. Though working out the details and planning your celebration is exciting, having conversations about other topics is important, too. You and your fiancé are stepping into something beautiful—a promise of commitment, a proclamation of loving each other now and falling…
My Fiancé and I are Fighting All the Time
Fighting with your fiancé all the time, aka, the person you are planning on spending forever with, can feel just exhausting. Planning your wedding, fear of job loss, or navigating unemployment while trying to secure a future together… uncertainty can definitely stir the dust in the air. Just when you think the dust is going…
What to Do When You Disagree With the Ones You Love
It’s nothing new to disagree with the ones you love, whether it’s about current events, religion, guns, racism, politics, football or something else. In fact, chances are pretty good that you completely disagree on certain topics with someone you care deeply about. The disagreements may be so intense you wonder how you can actually co-exist. …
Money-Saving Tips for Planning Your Own Wedding
Prioritizing your marriage over your wedding is a beautiful place to grow from. While you dream of, save for and plan the wedding day, it can be magical without hurting you financially. You’ll have some of the same conversations you had while planning your wedding when you talk about preparing for marriage. Those “money-saving” talks for…
How Opposite-Sex Friendships Change After You Get Married
As a young girl, I grew up in a neighborhood that was primarily boys. So, I played football, kickball, basketball and baseball with the guys. Throughout high school and college, I always felt comfortable around guys. They were like big brothers to me. I remember one incident when I was going on a date in…
P.O. Box 391
Chattanooga, TN 37401
423-267-5383
By engaging with our content or purchasing resources, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy | © 2026 First Things First