5 Ways to Spiritually Equip Your Teens for College and Life
Each new generation of parents faces new issues that make their responsibilities feel impossible.
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Dennis & Barbara's Personal Blog
We are on a journey of embracing a personal, moment-by-moment surrender to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We wish we could offer you a series of snapshots of how we achieved “perfection,” but alas, like you we are pilgrims who doubt, wander, question, and struggle with unbelief. We believe that we were divinely designed to have a relationship with God and experience His love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy on a daily basis. We also believe that some of the most important lessons we have to share come from our failures, not our successes. And we are confident God allows storms in our lives to test us, to purify us, and to help us pursue Him wholeheartedly.
So we invite you to journey with us as we share how we experience God and attempt to walk with Him on a daily basis. It’s our hope that we’ll be able to post our journey every week … lessons we’re learning as a couple and as individuals. Enjoy…
- Dennis and Barbara
Ephesians 2:10
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Barbara Rainey
- Aug 15
Using Your Home for Influence
Establishing your home as an embassy of the King of Kings is probably much less complicated than you think.
Barbara Rainey
- Aug 1
Did You Know Your Home Is an Embassy of the King?
Have you ever visited an American Embassy while traveling in a foreign country?
Dennis Rainey
- Jun 28
Divine Appointments
Have you ever had a “divine appointment”? I have.
Barbara Rainey
- Jun 27
Where Can We Find Stability in an Unstable Time?
In the current climate of our country I feel my stability—my sense of peace, my rootedness—is buffeted continually by news about political a
Barbara Rainey
- Jun 14
Using Chores to Teach Your Children the Value of Work
Early in our marriage, Dennis and I discovered we had very different views on the value of work.
Barbara Rainey
- Jun 13
Lies You May Believe About God: If I Do My Part, God Will Answer My Prayers
As a new Christian, and a few years later as a new wife, I eagerly prayed for everything.
mscallion
- Jun 6
Lies You May Believe About God: “God Never Causes ‘Bad Things’ to Happen to Us”
Did you grow up hearing fairy tales read to you?
Barbara Rainey
- May 23
Pentecost: The Forgotten Celebration
As you have probably noticed, holidays are important in my life and in the life of my family.
Barbara Rainey
- May 16
Happy Ascension Day! 4 Reasons This Critical Event Deserves a Celebration of its Own
This Thursday, May 18, 2023, marks 40 days since Resurrection Sunday.
Barbara Rainey
- May 9
3 Steps to Getting Along With Your Mother-in-law
All six of our children had adjustments and challenges with their in-laws.
Barbara Rainey
- May 2
Avoid These Three Mistakes to Become a Wise Mother-in-Law
Why is it that one of life’s most difficult relationships is often between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law?
Samuel Rainey
- Apr 25
4 Questions to Help You Resolve Conflict
What’s the first thought or feeling that comes up for you when you hear the word “conflict”?
Samuel Rainey
- Apr 17
Making Peace with the “DMZ’s” in Your Marriage
Amy came to me for counseling several years ago to get help with the growing disconnect in her marriage.
Barbara Rainey
- Apr 10
Savoring the Savior after His Resurrection
In the historical church, the season between Easter Sunday and Pentecost is called Eastertide, a festive season for celebrating the risen Ch
Barbara Rainey
- Mar 28
Anticipating Easter: Waiting With Eagerness
Laura is my youngest child, and from the time she was four or five she woke up before dawn on Christmas day.
Dennis Rainey
- Mar 24
Courageous Manhood: The Man Who Almost Fell to Temptation
Dan is a man’s man.
Barbara Rainey
- Mar 21
Anticipating Easter: Wearing White on Resurrection Sunday
I was working outside on a glorious spring day when out of nowhere I started thinking of the words to an old Easter song by Irving Berlin th
Dennis Rainey
- Mar 17
Courageous Manhood: Becoming Intentional As a Dad
Years ago my son Ben and I had the opportunity to attend a World Series game in St. Louis.
Barbara Rainey
- Mar 14
Anticipating Easter: Tune Your Hearts to Worship
To celebrate well, we must plan to celebrate.
Dennis Rainey
- Mar 10
Courageous Manhood: The Courage to Step Up in the Valley
The greatest tests for a man may come in the valleys—grim and gray times of hardship, loss, suffering, and sorrow.
Barbara Rainey
- Mar 7
Anticipating Easter: 14 Ideas to Make Easter Memorable
Easter is the holiday that sneaks up on us and finds us unprepared.
Dennis Rainey
- Mar 1
Courageous Manhood: 5 Ways Men Need to Step Up as Husbands and Fathers
One of my favorite stories is about what happened at Arlington National Cemetery when Hurricane Isabel slammed into the East Coast of the Un
Samuel Rainey
- Feb 28
What Husbands Need to Know About Their Porn Use
It's Friday afternoon, and I'm wrapping up my work week before I head home to help my wife setup for a birthday party.
Samuel Rainey
- Feb 21
What Wives Need to Know About Their Husband’s Porn Use
Several years ago, I got a call from a man who was in a mild panic after his wife caught him looking at pornography.
Rekindling the Romance in Your Marriage
Have you ever read stories about how couples got engaged?
Barbara Rainey
- Feb 14
4 Tips for Recovering Oneness in Your Marriage
It was a warm, early summer day when Dennis invited me to go to lunch.
Dennis Rainey
- Feb 10
5 Valentine Investment Tips to Grow your Wife’s “Life Portfolio” (Part Two)
I remember a TV commercial for a stock brokerage called E.F. Hutton.
Barbara Rainey
- Feb 7
Questions to Help You Share Your Story
Everyone has a story … a fascinating tale involving adventure, laughter, courage, pain, and romance.
Dennis Rainey
- Feb 3
5 Valentine Investment Tips to Grow your Wife’s Life “Portfolio”!
Hey, we are on the verge of one of THE most terrifying holidays of the year for men … Valentine's Day.
Barbara Rainey
- Jan 31
Dear Barbara: How Can I Respond to a Husband Who Isn’t Trusting God as He Should?
Dear Barbara: How do I still respect my husband when I feel like his lack of faith negatively affected the plans God has for our family?
Dennis Rainey
- Jan 27
Do You Need “New Normals” in Your Marriage?
You’re snuggled in your warm bed, about to drift off to sleep.
Barbara Rainey
- Jan 24
Parenting Children With Both Visible and Invisible Limitations
Of our two sons, one was more athletic, while the other was more scholastically inclined.
Dennis Rainey
- Jan 20
Don’t Ignore the Spiritual Dimension of Marriage
If you want your marriage to grow strong, one of the most important questions you and your spouse should answer is, “How are we going to gro
Barbara Rainey
- Jan 17
Disappointment Is Universal: Even the 12 Disciples Were Disappointed in Jesus
At the end of a very full day teaching a huge crowd of people by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go across to the o
6 Tips to Help You Pray for Your Teens
If other experiences in life have not humbled you and shown you how dependent you are on God, then try parenting a teenager!
Barbara Rainey
- Jan 10
Disappointments Come In All Sizes
Six weeks before the big day, my daughter Laura began searching for the perfect invitations.
Bringing Back the Sabbath
We live in a culture of weary people.
Barbara Rainey
- Jan 3
Do You Need Hope? Have You Been Disappointed With God?
Only one week after my 13th birthday I experienced my first big disappointment with God.
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 27, 2022
Savor the Savior This Week
Stop for a minute.
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 23, 2022
Jesus Is the Word
When you speak, what happens to your words after they leave your lips?
Dennis Rainey
- Dec 23, 2022
10 Ways to Celebrate the One Who Made Christmas Famous—Jesus Christ
I know you are busy with all the activities and commitments which swirl around during the Christmas season.
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 22, 2022
Jesus Is the Son of God
Joseph and Mary were about to become mom and dad to a son.
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 21, 2022
Jesus Is the Messenger
Have you ever wished to walk along a beach and discover a message written long ago and placed in a bottle on the ocean?
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 20, 2022
Jesus Is the Light of the World
Have you ever been afraid of the dark?
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 19, 2022
Use the Names of Jesus to Worship Christ this Christmas Season
The celebration of Christ’s birth has gotten lost in a swirl of fairy tales and merchandising.
Dennis Rainey
- Dec 16, 2022
Do You Know Who Made Christmas Famous?
On a December day I stopped by my bank to make a deposit.
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 13, 2022
Hope for All Who Are Unhappy This Christmas
As we approach Christmas, I’m wondering today if you are feeling lonely or troubled or disappointed.
Dennis Rainey
- Dec 9, 2022
Taking Advantage of “Teachable Moments” to Help Your Children Connect with God
I had just pitched my travel bag in the back of our Honda station wagon.
Barbara Rainey
- Dec 6, 2022
What About Santa?
Dear Barbara: How should our family handle the popular tradition of Santa? I know Christmas is about Jesus, so is it wrong to talk about San
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