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Relationship Coach PodcasterAward-Winning Author JOHN CERTALIC

HELPING PEOPLE OF FAITH FIND THE JOY WE WERE MADE FOR IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

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    You Were Made For This

    Our relationships are so important to living a fulfilling life, we do ourselves a favor when we do what we can to make those relationships the best they can be. To that end, listen to Episode 139 of You Were Made for This. You’ll learn the benefits of listening to this podcast in helping you find more of the joy God intends for you in your relationships.

    Latest Episodes

    “At the end of the day, nothing matters MORE than relationships.” — John Certalic

    • Real Christmas joy is found in Jesus.

    188: Joy to the World – The Unintended Christmas Carol

    December 14th, 2022|Categories: God in Our Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    In episode 187 last week I talked about the back story behind “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Today I pull the curtain back to look at the

    • Relationships - The back story to the Christmas story

    187: This Christmas Carol Invites You

    December 7th, 2022|Categories: God in Our Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    It’s hard to go anywhere this time of the year without hearing Christmas music. They really help set the mood for the holidays, which I love. The melodies

    186: Thankful for Life After Death

    November 30th, 2022|Categories: God in Our Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    My friend Larry Goring died 2 months ago after a nine-month battle with cancer. He was only 73, and I miss him greatly. Larry was one of the

    • curious people

    185: Thankful for Curious People

    November 23rd, 2022|Categories: Becoming a Better Listener, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    For the past two years, my grandson George has been a resident assistant in his college dorm. Before students check in at the start of the school year,

    184: Thankful for Parents Who Discipline Their Children

    November 16th, 2022|Categories: Family Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    A family friend and listener to this podcast told me about an unpleasant experience she recently had at a big box retail store that got me thinking about

    183: Thankful for People Who Inspire Us

    November 9th, 2022|Categories: Podcast, Relational Skills|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    In last week’s episode, no. 182, we began our Thankful in November series by talking about being thankful for the last time we experienced something. Today we continue

    • Last time ever for the day

    182: Thankful for “The Last Time I Will Ever…”

    November 2nd, 2022|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    It happened a few weeks ago, another one of those It was the last time I will ever … moments. It was the last time I experienced something

    • Tenderness

    181: Tenderness Found in Two Unusual Places

    October 26th, 2022|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    A friend I hadn’t seen in a while asked me the other day what was going on in my life. “Lots of death,” I said, filling in my

    • An Unusual place to find joy

    180: An Unusual Place to Find Joy

    October 19th, 2022|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    You wouldn’t think you could find joy in the midst of difficult life events, but you can if you know how to look for it. Today’s episode is

    Episode Topics

    Good People Are Out There

    I came across a great example of good people doing good things that I thought you would find encouraging. It illustrates well a passage found in the Bible, Titus 3:14,

    205: How to Have a Meaningful Conversation

    To deepen our current relationships, or to develop new ones, it’s helpful to ask ourselves an important question. Namely, “How do I have a meaningful conversation with someone?”

    204: Deep Conversations

    Do you ever long for a deep conversation with someone? Today’s episode is about a creative measure someone took to make that happen. It reveals what many of

    219: The Christmas Story for 2024

    On that first Christmas Day, Mary treasured all its details and thought about them often. May we do the same with the Christmas story in 2024. So here's

    185: Thankful for Curious People

    For the past two years, my grandson George has been a resident assistant in his college dorm. Before students check in at the start of the school year,

     Recent Articles

    Ask Questions Like Jesus Did

    Hi Reader, If you’ve been following my writings or podcast for any length of time you’ll know I’m a big fan of asking questions to deepen relationships. But not just any questions, for despite what your 5th grade teacher told you, there are dumb questions. Some really dumb ones, even harmful questions that are destructive to relationships. I’ve conducted workshops on asking meaningful questions, and I’ve aired more than a few podcast episodes on the subject. But I realized recently there’s...

    Beauty Beyond the Landscape

    Reader, Episode 228 of our You Were Made for This podcast is now live. In it I talk about my recent vacation trip to Ireland. It’s less about scenery and landscape, and more about relationships. I think you’ll find it encouraging. For example, I reflect upon what encouraged me on our trip. Things like: Beauty found in relationships The man who wore bib overalls all the time The most common expression I heard from people in Dublin Several gray-haired men who make art all day long, hunched over...

    Talk About These Amongst Yourselves

    Reader, When I wrote my book THEM several years ago, one of the things I enjoyed most was finding an interesting and relevant quote to begin each chapter. Not many people have read the book, so I thought I’d share a few of these quotes for you to talk about among yourselves. Depression on my left. Loneliness on my right. They don’t need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert, from Chapter 5 “The Visitor No One Wants.” If anger were mileage, I’d be a frequent...

    This Works When We Are Anxious

    Reader, I normally don’t worry about much. But recentlyI was anxious about a trip I was going to take in ways that surprised me. I have taken trips like this before. It was nothing new to me. Yet I was stressed about it and didn’t know why. Sometimes knowing the why we’re bothered is helpful. Other times it doesn’t matter why. This was one of those times. I just wanted to toss my anxiety into the dumpster and move on. In today’s episode of You Were Made for This I share what I learned about...

    Calming Words For Troubled Times

    Reader, I noticed recently that I’ve become more unsettled agitated. All the violence we’re seeing here in the US is getting to me. People stabbed on light rail trains. Speakers shot dead on college campuses. Children gunned down at school. So much evil. Is this getting to you, too? I realized I need to spend less attention to the news these days. So I’ve withdrawn from it a bit, and am looking to fill my mind with something more positive. In doing so, I’m drawn to Philippians 4:8 in the...

    Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016

    THEM is all about relationships and how to make them better. You’ll read real-life stories showing the joy found in bringing out the best in others, which brings out the best in ourselves.

    Have you ever wanted to understand and help someone who is depressed or angry? How about someone who is fearful, or has trouble forgiving and reconciling with others? Maybe you want to know how to better encourage someone.

    In THEM – The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others, John Certalic weaves together real-life stories that practically show how to help others – and ourselves – deal with the challenging relational issues that affect us so deeply.

    Winner of Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016. Endorsed by Dr. Laura Mae Gardner, Ruth Van Reken, Dr. John Powell, Stuart Briscoe, and numerous missionaries.

    Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016

    THEM is all about relationships and how to make them better. You’ll read real-life stories showing the joy found in bringing out the best in others, which brings out the best in ourselves.

    Have you ever wanted to understand and help someone who is depressed or angry? How about someone who is fearful, or has trouble forgiving and reconciling with others? Maybe you want to know how to better encourage someone.

    In THEM – The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others, John Certalic weaves together real-life stories that practically show how to help others – and ourselves – deal with the challenging relational issues that affect us so deeply.

    Winner of Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016. Endorsed by Dr. Laura Mae Gardner, Ruth Van Reken, Dr. John Powell, Stuart Briscoe, and numerous missionaries.

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