Javier Llerena's Blog

Kim began journaling real-life feelings and happenings after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. Four months later, Steve, her husband, and the love of her life received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Six weeks later, Kim held him as he took his last breath.

Do you ask what is love–in your life, your marriage, in your relationships with your children and family members?

Kim continued writing through all of it and beyond. Inspired to explore the world and test her own boundaries, Kim devoted a year to finding love’s true meaning. Her book, Love Is, A Year-Long Experiment Living Out 1 Corinthians 13 Love, chronicles her sometimes funny, scary, and enlightening journey that led to life-changing discoveries found mostly on the streets of Haiti.

Join Christina and Javier for this wonderfully engaging conversation about the limitless possibilities love gives us in our everyday lives through patience, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Learn about how love is accessible to us, occupies much less energy than anger or hate, and really is living out God’s word in simple ways. As believers, our mission is to love and Kim shows us how to do just that.

What is love in your life look like?

Are you ready to love more?

Bio:

Christina and Javier Llerena hit bottom in their marriage over ten years ago and leveraged their faith to dodge divorce. They wrote a testimonial book entitled, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before It Begins” to help others find strength in God when they cannot find it in themselves. Founders of Boundless Love Ministry, Javier and Christina are speakers, podcasters, and authors spreading their story of hope to inspire others and have ministered marriage preparation retreats for over 15 years to over 1,000 couples.

Boundless LoveGiveaways:

Snag our free Action Guide: “9 Spiritual Principles for a Lasting Marriage” at https://boundlesslove.us/actionguideD... to Boundless Love

Help support our ministry donate at:

https://bit.ly/boundlesslove_donation

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The post Episode 9: Love Is with Kim Sorrelle, Author appeared first on Boundless Love.

How do we take care of ourselves and our spouses during the holidays? So much of walking through this season which can trigger past trauma requires faith. We cannot always see what we desire or wish for in others, in our relationships, in ourselves but we pray and hope for better. We lean on faith when we remember the reason for the season: our relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is vital to cultivate empathy in our marriages. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. To walk in their shoes and so healthy marriages require this capacity, ability to love others in a parallel form. Yet boundaries get blurred and lines can get crossed easily, over time and over years. Or even from the start of the relationship.

The holidays can be a challenge to negotiate family time, traditions, and expectations. To understand our partners’ needs and uphold our own. How can we better discern what is giving out of empathy versus giving up out of enabling?

We are precious children of God. We deserve the best as does our partner but our job is to remember that our faith will lead us to the right holiday path no matter our circumstances.

Come join Christina Llerena, co-author of Boundless Love: Healing Marriage Before It Begins talk about the distinction between empathy and enabling in your marriage especially as it may come up during

Boundless LoveGiveaways:

Donate to Boundless Love at:

https://bit.ly/boundlesslove_donations

Snag our free Action Guide: “9 Spiritual Principles for a Lasting Marriage” at https://boundlesslove.us/actionguide

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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
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The post Episode 8: Empathy Vs. Enabling appeared first on Boundless Love.

Do you ever feel like you are“going through the motions” during the holiday season? Do you say “yes” to others and “no” to yourself? Giving yourself permission to “opt out” of family gatherings or simply find time to go to God in prayer can feel like a tall order.

Come Join Co-Author of “Boundless Love” Christina Llerena for some real talk about the “holidaze” and how to call on your faith, self-care, and communication skills to keep the Christ in Christmas and cultivate an opportunity to slow down instead of speed up so you can be with God and one another fully present.

This episode specifically tackles setting healthy boundaries during the holiday season to say “no” after discerning what is right for you and yoru family. Turing to God in prayer (“God always hears”) helps us determine what this season is about for our own spiritual growth and relationship to our faith which is the most important. Whether it means slipping away for some alone time in the bathroom or taking a walk with your spouse to gather your thoughts, God wants our presence and does not care about the presents this Christmas. Give yourself the gift of self-care this season.

1 John 5:14: God always hears

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Boundless Love Giveaways:

Get a FREE copy of our e-book, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before it Begins” at https://tinyurl.com/y48ek3b8

Donate to Boundless Love at:

https://bit.ly/boundlesslove_donations

Snag our free Action Guide: “9 Spiritual Principles for a Lasting Marriage” at https://boundlesslove.us/actionguide

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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/support

The post Episode 7: Giving Yourself Permission this Holiday Season appeared first on Boundless Love.

Do you ever feel like you are surviving and not thriving during the holidays? That your marriage and family life is stressed out during this time of year. Many of us get emotionally triggered for a number of reasons. Unmet expectations, financial strain from gift-giving, unresolved family dynamics, miscommunication with our spouse– just to name a few. Join Co-Author of “Boundless Love” Christina Llerena for some real talk about the “holidaze” and how to call on your faith, self-care, and communication skills to keep the Christ in Christmas and cultivate an opportunity to slow down instead of speed up so you can be with God and one another fully present.

Christina and Javier Llerena hit bottom in their marriage over ten years ago and leveraged their faith to dodge divorce. They wrote a testimonial book entitled, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before It Begins” to help others find strength in God when they cannot find it in themselves. Founders of Boundless Love Ministry, Javier and Christina are speakers, podcasters, and authors spreading their story of hope to inspire others and have ministered marriage preparation retreats for over 15 years to over 1,000 couples.

Boundless LoveGiveaways:

Get a FREE copy of our e-book, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before it Begins” at https://tinyurl.com/y48ek3b8

Donate to Boundless Love at:

https://bit.ly/boundlesslove_donations

Snag our free Action Guide: “9 Spiritual Principles for a Lasting Marriage” at https://boundlesslove.us/actionguide

—

This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/support

The post Episode 6: Surviving the Holidaze Series: “How to Stay Sane in Your Marriage” appeared first on Boundless Love.

“Cafecito for Two”with John Thomas, “Inspire Your Marriage”

Topic:Finding Out Your Individual and Team Preferences to Strengthen and Inspire Your Marriage

What You Will Learn:

Understand both team & independent qualities in our spouse and marriage

How small tweaks in expectations can prevent conflict and build intimacy

A quiz to assess which qualities you prefer and need from your partner

About John Thomas:

John Thomas wrote, Inspire Your Marriage to help couples with the communication, connection, and passion in their marriage. It’s based on the concept that people want to be united as a team without losing each other’s individuality.

After years of listening to what people wanted in their relationship, he realized there were 5 “Independent” qualities and 5 “Team” qualities that people commonly said were attractive to see in their partner. But people found 1 of each quality to be most appealing to them when their partner displayed it.

Resources from John:

Website: http://www.inspireyourmarriage.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspireyourmarriage/

Book:

Inspire Your Marriage on Amazon athttps://tinyurl.com/2mdrctk9

Boundless Love Giveaways:

Get a FREE copy of our e-book, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before it Begins” athttps://tinyurl.com/y48ek3b8

Donate to Boundless Love at:

https://bit.ly/boundlesslove_donations

Snag ourfree Action Guide: “9 Spiritual Principles for a Lasting Marriage” at https://boundlesslove.us/actionguide/

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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/support

The post Episode 5: Finding Out Your Individual and Team Preferences to Strengthen and Inspire Your Marriage appeared first on Boundless Love.

Rose is a sparkling, dynamic, and skilled life and relationship coach helping others “put religion back into relationships.” Author of numerous books, Rose draws from Scripture, Church teachings, Theology of the Body, the classic study of temperaments, and much more. Rose travels the country to offer group retreats, parish missions, and pilgrimages and is a frequent guest on Catholic radio and TV. She’ll even create a personal, private weekend retreat in her home just for you!

Resources from Rose Sweet:

Website: www.r osesweet.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosesweettalk

Boundless Love Giveaways:

Get a FREE copy of our e-book, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before it Begins” athttps://tinyurl.com/y48ek3b8

Donate to Boundless Love at:

https://bit.ly/boundlesslove_donations

Snag ourfree Action Guide: “9 Spiritual Principles for a Lasting Marriage” at https://boundlesslove.us/actionguide/

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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/support

The post Episode 4: The Spiritual Gift of Having Healthy Boundaries in Your Marriage appeared first on Boundless Love.

Christina reflects on her spiritual development and the cultivation of “holy indifference”–a concept often associated with St. Ignatius which means to let go of worldly control, desires, associations with success, and material wealth for a deeper and more peaceful relationship with God. This sense of “healthy detachment” is rooted in letting God hold one’s life in His hands and surrendering to a deeper sense of trust in one’s life path. This results in less need to control life’s events and become attached to specific outcomes. Indifference does not mean not caring per se, but finding serenity in knowing God is at work in one’s life and in control of one’s destiny bringing a deeper love and enrichment than any worldly pursuits. It’s a slow spiritual evolution and Christina shares her own understanding of this realization in her own life.

Get your FREE copy of Boundless Love
Here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/qnsqrfz8jw

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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/support

The post Episode 3: Embracing Holy Indifference appeared first on Boundless Love.

“Cafecito for Two” with Sonia Cameron

Bless the Work: Strategies for Acing the Job Search Journey and Winning at Work

What You Will Learn: We discuss the TOP 5 WAYS to spiritually create and sustain your best career and work-life on:

How to Rehearse Your Wins

Take a Baby Step Every Day Towards Your Career Goals

Pick a Scripture to Encourage Yourself

Dare to Dream BIG

Stay Organized and Keep Records for your Search

Spend At Least 5 Minutes with God Every Day

About Sonia Cameron: Sonia Cameron is a successful tech support engineer by day and a savvy, self-made author by night. After experiencing her own career hurdles that challenged and strengthened her spiritual growth, she set out to spread what she learned through writing. First published in 2014 with Christian Devotions, Sonia harnessed good old fashioned ingenuity and modern tech skills to grow her prayer and career blog. Since then she has published two books: God, Please Help Me Find A Job: 21 Prayers for the Job Seeker and God, Please Help Me Find A Job: Journal and Job Search Organizer.

Resources from Sonia Cameron

Web Site: www.blessthework.com

Her Book: God, Please Help Me Find A Job: 21 Prayers for the Job Seeker and God on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/yac9jv7x

Boundless LoveGiveaways:

Love Donations to Boundless Love Ministry at

https://bit.ly/boundlesslove_donations

Purchase a copy of our book, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before It Begins” at https://tinyurl.com/yxp4bsje

Grab a free download of Chapter One of our book, “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before It Begins” go to https://boundlesslove.us/

Snag our free Action Guide: “9 Spiritual Principles for a Lasting Marriage” at https://boundlesslove.us/actionguide/

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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/support

The post Bless the Work Strategies for Acing the Job Search Journey and Winning at Work appeared first on Boundless Love.

Here is the first episode of “Cafecito for Two,” a podcast hosted by Javier and Christina Llerena, of Boundless Love, a marriage ministry supporting couples to have life-changing Christian marriages at every stage of life. Do you have faith in life, your marriage, in your relationship with God? Come dive deep into how we can grow emotionally and spiritually to break out of our comfort zone, ruts, and stuck patterns to love ourselves and one another more deeply. You deserve a healthy, happy marriage that grows with time. Invest the time and learn about what makes a great marriage. Join us at Cafecito for Two for wisdom, expert tips, and inspiration on how to make this happen!

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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boundlesslove/support

The post Welcome to Cafecito for Two appeared first on Boundless Love.

So many people ask Javier and I about how people know if they should fight for their marriage. When ours hit bottom over nine years ago, we realized quickly that we had our biggest life choice ahead of us: to keep fighting or go separate ways. Finito. It sounds dramatic and it was.

I remember walking around with my whole body shaking–upended, wandering in circles and frantic to make sense of my world without my partner at my side. Javi asked me during one fateful long distance phone conversation, “Do you still love me?” There it was. I said instinctively without pause, “Yes.” That was our turning point.

It’s not always that simple but if you pray and let go and let God, you will get your sign, your moment, your “yes.” A good friend recently said to me that she’s learned in her life a simple rule. “When I don’t feel welcome, I leave.” 

That may seem obvious but I’ve missed that bus many times in my life. How often did I remain in situations where I did not feel welcome? Countless. I earnestly tried to “fit”, “make it work” or just “blend in.” All the time denying my needs, my self, my soul. 

When our marriage fell apart, this was not one of those times. It was a call to responsibility. power and ownership. It was a realization. “I didn’t know it could get this bad.” It was very shaky ground and every night, we didn’t know where we’d be the next day. But, we prayed and persisted. And we both felt we had to dig in, grind and work our way through–together.

It’s very challenging to know the difference–when to stay and when to leave. It’s similar to feeling welcome. It’s a gut sense of what is right, whole and within you to make better. Sometimes we don’t know we have a fight in us until the battle arrives at home.

So my advice is not deeply wise, sage or anything perhaps different than you already know if you are reading this. You have your answers if you go to Him. Pray, discern, be quiet. God will tell you whether you must stay or leave. He wants your victory and your work is to trust Him to deliver you the truth. It may take time, but it will come. 

I never thought I’d be writing a book, sharing a ministry, and pushing my faith limits with my husband and now my best friend. I thought our marriage was over in 2011 and about to die. But everything including us was being reborn. Alchemizing to something much better than we were then. 

The post When to Stay and When to Leave appeared first on Boundless Love.