Becoming a "Face of Grace" with Ed Khouri

In this insightful episode of Neurodiverse Christian Couples, hosts Stephanie and Dan welcome Ed Khouri, President of Equipping Hearts for the Harvest and author of "Becoming a Face of Grace." Together, they explore the crucial interplay between grace and joy, clarifying how genuine grace—being seen as special and favored without earning it—naturally leads to joy, the gladness of being together. Can you have grace AND have boundaries? What about the phrase, "Just give me grace." The conversation tackles deep relational issues common in neurodiverse marriages, such as navigating attachment pain, understanding the differences between sin, transgression, and iniquity, and developing effective boundaries without enabling harmful behavior. Ed emphasizes practical strategies for couples to build emotional capacity and relational resilience, including shared quieting exercises and storytelling techniques aimed at fostering mutual joy and appreciation. Listeners will find hope and practical guidance for overcoming challenges related to executive functioning, emotional regulation, and relational misunderstandings. Ed Khouri’s insights underscore how grace, boundaries, and joy work together to nurture a healthier, thriving neurodiverse marriage. About our Guest: Ed KhouriEd is passionate about helping churches, leaders, and small groups develop thriving, healthycommunities rooted in grace, joy, and peace. He was ordained in 1988 and president ofEquipping Hearts for the Harvest. He serves as an Elder at his church.Ed leads workshops in churches and ministries worldwide, equipping workers to serve hurtingmen and women and their communities. He regularly collaborates with groups that includeThrive Today, Life Model Works, The International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition(ISAAC), and Youth With A Mission’s Addictive Behavior Counseling School. He’s taught classesfor students from approximately 70 nations,Ed authored “Becoming a Face of Grace: Navigating Lasting Relationships with God andOthers,” “Beyond Becoming: A Field Guide to Sustainable, Transformational Communities,” and“The Weight of Leadership: How Codependency and Misplaced Mercy Undermine Life andMinistry.” Working with Dr. Jim Wilder, he co-authored the “Restarting” and “Belonging”Modules of the Connexus Program. He is also the co-author of “Joy Starts Here: TheTransformation Zone.”He lives with the love of his life, Maritza, in Conover, North Carolina. Equipping HeartsEd and his wife, Maritza, founded Equipping Hearts for the Harvest as a 501c3 non-profitministry. In 2004. Our goal is to help equip churches, ministries, pastors, leaders, workers,and volunteers worldwide so that they can effectively serve the needs of their entirecommunity – including those who wrestle with addictions, trauma, abuse, codependency,and other life problems. We Teach to describe the grace-based framework needed for change, Provide skill training that leads to transformation Create materials that allow communities to practice and grow skills that sustaintransformation. For more information: https://www.equippinghearts.com/