Christian marriage, without the theory.
Ricardo Martins and Vanessa Lima write every day about restoration, betrayal and forgiveness, communication and keeping Christ at the center of the home — as people who hit the bottom and came back.
Young Men Are Showing Up at Church Again. Who Will Walk With Them?
A Pew Research Center report released October 28, 2026, finds that 41% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 22 attend religious services at least monthly — and, for the first time in Pew's surveys, young men in that group attend more than young women. Ricardo Martins on what this asks of fathers, husbands and churches.
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Empty nest: when the kids leave and it's just the two of you
When the last child moves out, many couples realize they became co-managers of the kids and forgot how to be husband and wife. Ricardo Martins draws on Genesis 2, Ecclesiastes 9 and two studies (Brown & Lin, 2012; Gorchoff, John & Helson, 2008) to show how the empty nest can be a crisis or a fresh start.
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After a porn relapse: grace without excuses
You swore it would never happen again — and it did. Ricardo Martins speaks to the married man who relapsed into pornography about the two lies that show up after a fall, the difference between shame and repentance, and a practical way to get back up without hiding.
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Brazilian Weddings Ran 22% Over Budget in 2026 — and the Honeymoon Got Cut First
A Casar.com and Serasa survey reported by Valor Investe shows Brazilian couples planned to spend R$45,800 on their wedding and ended up spending R$56,200; 62.5% cut back on or gave up the honeymoon to avoid debt. Ricardo Martins comments on what that says about a couple's priorities.
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Present dads: what kids learn from watching their parents' marriage
Your kids don't learn marriage from what you say — they learn it from what they see between you and their mom. Ricardo Martins draws on Deuteronomy 6, Ephesians 6 and a two-generation study (Amato & DeBoer, 2001) to show why being a present dad starts with how you treat your wife.
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The wise woman builds her house — without carrying it alone
Proverbs 14:1 says the wise woman builds her house. But building is not the same as carrying everything on your back. Ricardo Martins walks through Psalm 127, Moses and Martha to show the difference between building with wisdom and burning out trying to save a marriage single-handedly.
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Jealousy in marriage: care or control?
Not all jealousy is sin — Scripture speaks of a godly jealousy that guards the covenant and a fleshly one that wants to own. Ricardo Martins explains the difference, what research found about how husbands and wives feel it, and what to do on each side.
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U.S. Fertility Rate Hits Another Record Low: What Are Couples Waiting For?
A CDC report released in October 2026 puts the U.S. fertility rate at about 53 births per 1,000 women ages 15–44 in 2025, the lowest on record. Ricardo Martins reflects on fear, waiting for "perfect security," and what this has to do with marriage.
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The Invisible Fight: How Unpaid Housework Quietly Turns Into Resentment in Marriage
Federal time-use data show women in the U.S. spend about 2.3 hours a day on household activities versus 1.7 for men — and in Brazil the gap is nearly 10 hours a week. Ricardo Martins explains how that gap becomes silent resentment in marriage, and what a Christian husband does about it.
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Does living together before marriage affect divorce risk? What studies find
Age, engagement timing, and marriage duration change how researchers interpret cohabitation and divorce. Three studies, their limits, and practical steps.
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Mental health is Brazil's top health worry — and marriages are right in the middle of it
Ipsos' Health Service Report 2026, covered by Folha de S.Paulo, finds 58% of Brazilians name mental health as their country's biggest health problem, with a 21-point gap between women (68%) and men (47%). Ricardo Martins reflects on what that gap looks like inside a marriage and how a couple can become each other's first line of care.
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How long do marriages last before divorce? The “seven-year itch” and what the data shows
In the U.S., first marriages that end in divorce last a median of 13 to 14 years, according to 2024 Census data analyzed by Bowling Green State University. Ricardo Martins explains why the “seven-year itch” is only half true — and why the real danger in marriage has no date on the calendar.
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