EP 54. Holiday Hope for You and Your Marriage (revisit EP 11 plus more) and for the New Year
The episode titled 'Holiday Hope for You and Your Marriage' serves as both a reminder and a call to action for couples to embrace hope, particularly during what can often be a tumultuous time of year. They emphasize that regardless of personal circumstances, such as financial struggles or health issues, hope is a vital component that can foster resilience and connection. By revisiting key themes from a previous episode, the hosts introduce new insights that resonate with the season's spirit of renewal and joy. They share personal anecdotes of their challenges and triumphs, reinforcing the idea that even in adversity, couples can find strength in their shared faith and commitment. The episode encourages listeners to not only seek hope for themselves but also to be a beacon of hope for others who may be facing discouragement during the holidays. With the core message being that Jesus came to offer life abundantly, the episode serves as a potent reminder of the transformative power of faith and love in nurturing relationships, particularly in the backdrop of the holiday season.
Takeaways:
- The holiday season is a time to renew hope in your marriage and family.
- Listening to our podcast offers valuable insights on maintaining a loving relationship.
- We emphasize the importance of faith and belief during trying times in our lives.
- Sharing your light and positivity can uplift others who may be struggling with despair.
Links referenced in this episode:
- www. marriedandloveit.com
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/LFxOu11
Website: www.marriedandloveit.com
Our email: marriedandloveit1977@gmail.com
Married and Love It phone number/voicemail/text 919-984-270-6062
Welcome to the Married and Lovett Podcast.
Speaker AWe are Greg and Linda Smith, your host from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Speaker AIt's great that you are taking time to invest into your marriage by listening to our weekly podcast.
Speaker BThe goal of our podcast is to provide you with a weekly dose of marriage teaching to help you stay focused on your marriage.
Speaker BSee it as freshening up your marriage, preventive maintenance, a marriage tune up or fan in the flames of romance, love and passion.
Speaker BWell, you could even call it continuing education.
Speaker AWe will be covering everything that has to do with your marriage, including hot topics like sex, communication, love, and much, much more.
Speaker AOur teachings are based on Christian principles plus over 47 years of marriage and ministry experience.
Speaker BWe want to help you make your marriage great by teaching you how to be married and love it.
Speaker AIt is an honor and privilege to have you.
Speaker BJo.
Speaker BHey, we're so glad you joined us today to get your weekly dose of Married and love it.
Speaker BIt's your marriage booster shop for the week and we're going to be talking today on Holiday Hope for you and your marriage and for the new year.
Speaker AThat's right.
Speaker AAnd we're going to be revisiting episode 11 and we're going to put a little bit in the beginning of it and we're going to have a little bit of extra nuggets at the end.
Speaker ASo hang on all the way through because this is going to be a great episod to bring holiday hope for you and your marriage.
Speaker ABut also use this episode.
Speaker AEven if you're not struggling, you're not discouraged, you don't feel like you need any hope.
Speaker AWell, listen to it anyway, because it's just going to be like hearing and hearing the word that's going to produce faith in you for your holiday season.
Speaker AAnd you know what?
Speaker AGod just might want to use you.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker AAnd maybe your marriage to be a light to somebody who's discouraged and needs some holiday hope and uplifting.
Speaker BYou know, I was just thinking about that.
Speaker BI'm so glad that you brought that up because I'm thinking a lot of times we don't realize what other people are going through.
Speaker BThey're quiet about it.
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker BAnd so us shining our light for them and being there to encourage them could make their world right.
Speaker ABecause like you said, they may never say, you know what, I'm hurting.
Speaker BYeah, they're not gonna.
Speaker ABut by just watching your demeanor, your actions and how you and maybe your spouse respond and react to situations at a Christmas party, a family gathering, Christmas Day, or even New Year's, whatever you, you could impact them by just being new and allowing God to live through you.
Speaker BThat's it.
Speaker AAnd you may never know till six months later.
Speaker AThey may come up to you and say, you know what?
Speaker AWhen we were at Aunt Debbie's Christmas celebration a year, a year ago, six months ago, you did this, you acted this way.
Speaker AAnd you know what?
Speaker AIt instilled into me the will to hang in there for whatever reason they're dealing with.
Speaker BThat's it.
Speaker ASo that's part of holiday hope.
Speaker ASo allow this even to be a blessing to you, to fuel you on.
Speaker AAll right, so let's.
Speaker ALet's get on.
Speaker ABefore we get into episode 11, which we're going to revisit in just a few moments, a scripture we refer to in episode 11 is John 10:10.
Speaker AAnd in it, Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and more abundantly.
Speaker AThis is Jesus birthday celebration.
Speaker AYes.
Speaker AWe have all the commercial stuff that goes on.
Speaker AHey, praise God that people are making money.
Speaker AJesus said that we can come and have life and life and abundantly because he came.
Speaker AYou know what?
Speaker AAt Christmas time, when all these businesses are making money, there's people getting bonuses, people have a job, they're making money.
Speaker APeople have money, more money to tithe or to give.
Speaker ASo that's a good thing.
Speaker ASo don't get caught up judging the world, doing all this stuff, because at the bottom line, it's all about Jesus.
Speaker ASo Jesus came that we can have life and have it more abundant.
Speaker AHe don't want you to settle for.
Speaker BRight.
Speaker ASo if you're discouraged right now, realize that he died for you, for your salvation, and experience all the blessings that he has for you.
Speaker BYeah, he wants you to be blessed in your life right now, today.
Speaker BAnd.
Speaker BBut you know what?
Speaker BLike Greg said earlier, there's many people, especially this time of year, they're having struggles.
Speaker BAnd it could be in their marriage or it could be in their finances or personal issues, could be in their health, and it could be with their children.
Speaker BIt could be a loss of a loved one.
Speaker BThere's so many areas that just go unsaid that people are struggling, and hopefully.
Speaker AIt'S not all of them at once.
Speaker AYeah, but that can happen.
Speaker AYou just don't ever know what people are going through.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker BAnd we want to be sensitive to that.
Speaker ASo whatever situation you're in, know that Jesus came, that you can overcome and have life more abundantly.
Speaker AAnd that's what his birthday's all about, because we're excited to have him here.
Speaker BThe reason for the season.
Speaker AYes, it's the season for miracles, and maybe this season is for you.
Speaker AHowever, this season may be the birthing of a seed of a miracle that you may not realize maybe for next month, two or three months down the road, but the foundation you set in the next week or two from what we're going to talk about could change your future and set you up for an awesome new year.
Speaker ANow talking about struggles, this last four months, three months since September, October, we've had some major health challenges try to still torment Linda and I in so many ways.
Speaker AShe's had like four different procedures to have to deal with.
Speaker AThat means they.
Speaker AWe were in a hospital and they were doing procedures on her regarding her health and her back or her heart issues and different things going in.
Speaker ASo that means one after another.
Speaker AAnd that that puts a draw on her, on me as a caretaker.
Speaker ABut on top of that, I had some issues going on.
Speaker AStill am having to deal with a couple things with some arteries going on.
Speaker AAnd that hit about the same time we're dealing with her.
Speaker ASo we.
Speaker AYou could say, man, that's a marriage busters.
Speaker AThat's a magic busters come in.
Speaker AOur marriage is doing good.
Speaker AWe're standing strong, we're serving one another.
Speaker ABut still that drains on you.
Speaker AIt is a drain.
Speaker ABut we have our trust in God.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker ASo you, your, your situations could be coming so many different ways, but God says he's got a future and a hope for you.
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker BThe Bible tells us about the thief that comes to steal.
Speaker BHe's going to kill and destroy.
Speaker BThose are the marriage busters.
Speaker BThey're trying to rob you of your joy.
Speaker BSo don't let that happen.
Speaker BBecause Jesus said, be of good cheer.
Speaker BI've overcome the world.
Speaker BHe says that he we can have life and life more abundantly, just like Jeremiah 29:11 says.
Speaker BRead it, Timmy dear, for I know.
Speaker AThe plans that I have for you.
Speaker APlans for welfare and not for the calamity.
Speaker ATo give you a future and a hope.
Speaker BAmen.
Speaker AThat's what God has for us.
Speaker ASo whatever you're facing, God's got a future and a hope.
Speaker AJust like years ago when Linda and I were looked at separating or worse.
Speaker ALinda will talk about that in episode 11.
Speaker AI hung on to a hope and then she had to hang on to a hope.
Speaker AAnd she'll talk about that.
Speaker ABut in our.
Speaker AOn our Christmas display this year, I reduced it down, but I still have the big sign.
Speaker AIt's about 7 to 8ft wide and about 3ft tall.
Speaker AAnd it says, only believe in big red Letters.
Speaker ABecause when Jesus came, that's he's saying only believe.
Speaker AIt's believing in God's miracle power.
Speaker AIt's believing that the you have a future and a hope.
Speaker AIt's believing in those Christmas miracles.
Speaker AAnd when you look around, you're going to see Christmas lights and displays.
Speaker ASome of them are Santa Claus, some have the Grinch, some have penguins and all that, but they're usually a lot of lights around them and there's joy and different things happening and, and let these celebrations say, hey, we're celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Speaker AAnd yeah, it's a penguin skating on a pond or whatever characters you are.
Speaker ABut you know what people are celebrating.
Speaker ASome people don't know what they're celebrating.
Speaker AThey're just having a good time.
Speaker AWell, bless God, have a good time.
Speaker ABecause there's still joy is a medicine.
Speaker AHappiness is a medicine.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker ASo don't turn your nose up at that.
Speaker ABut also don't.
Speaker AIf you're going through some struggles and you go, I just cannot go outside and look at all the Christmas lights because it just brings back memories or I can't buy all the gifts I want to buy or, or nobody's buying me a gift, or I don't have a Christmas party to go to.
Speaker AYou know what?
Speaker ALook at those lights and allow that to bring Jesus to light.
Speaker ABecause Jesus said in John 8:12, I am the light of the world.
Speaker AAllow my light to shine on you.
Speaker ASo what happens is what's all around, what the people drive around town looking at walk.
Speaker AThey come over and walk through our, our little area.
Speaker AWhy?
Speaker ATo look at the Christmas lights.
Speaker ANow our lights lead people to Jesus because we got a big sign that says, Jesus is the reason, so let that light.
Speaker ALight is powerful.
Speaker AAnd don't, don't see despair when you see the lights.
Speaker ADon't see what you don't have.
Speaker AHey, that's Jesus telling me because of the, the blue lights, the green lights on the neighbor's house, the ones that have the computer lights that are playing and flashing realby.
Speaker AThat's Jesus like a big neon sign saying, I'm here for you.
Speaker AI was born for you.
Speaker AI died for you.
Speaker AAnd let that be a big thing that you have a future.
Speaker AYou have a future.
Speaker AYou have a future.
Speaker AEvery, every light you go down the road, you, oh, that, oh, that house is awesome looking.
Speaker AWhether they got one string of lights or whether they've got a whole house full.
Speaker AThat's Jesus saying through these people, I came for you.
Speaker AI am the light of the world.
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker BAnd There's a lot of churches, they do candlelight services and that if you think about it, it takes.
Speaker BIt usually starts with one candle.
Speaker AYep.
Speaker BAnd then we're going to one tomorrow morning in our church tomorrow morning.
Speaker BAnd then you take your one candle and you turn and you light the other person's candle.
Speaker BAnd then all of a sudden it's all over the place.
Speaker BCandles and the lights.
Speaker BIt's just incredible.
Speaker BSo that is a representation of the light of Jesus and the hope of Jesus.
Speaker BSo joining us as we revisit episode 11 and there's going to be some extra ending thoughts.
Speaker BSo hang in there all the way through it.
Speaker AAll right, so hang on.
Speaker AEpisode 11 coming up now, I want.
Speaker BTo talk about having hope during the holidays and all year long.
Speaker BWell, we all know and have, we hear this all the time that the holiday season, the Christmas season is a time of miracles.
Speaker BRight.
Speaker BAnd I know it's just been so heavy on my heart that there's people today that are hopeless.
Speaker BThey do not have hope for their marriage.
Speaker BThey don't have hope for their family, their children.
Speaker BMaybe it's the finances, maybe it's their health, maybe just everything going on in their life.
Speaker BDo you have areas that you are feeling hopeless?
Speaker BWell, let me encourage you.
Speaker BToday you can have hope.
Speaker BThe word of God tells us Abraham, he was in a position that he had no hope.
Speaker BBut it's in Romans 4, 18:21, and it says in hope against hope.
Speaker BAbraham believed in order that he might become a father of many nations.
Speaker BAccording to that which had been spoken, so shall your descendants be.
Speaker BAnd this was God talking to Abraham.
Speaker BAnd without becoming weak in faith, Abraham contemplated his own body now as good as being dead.
Speaker BYeah, well, he was about a hundred years old.
Speaker BAnd so he was looking at the fact that he was about 100 years old.
Speaker BAnd Sarah, she had already gone through all of the menopausal stage and her womb was supposedly said it was dead.
Speaker BYet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief.
Speaker BBut he grew strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully assured that what God had promised, he was also able to perform well when everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyways, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do, but on what God said he would do, what God would do for Abraham.
Speaker BSo God had promised Abraham a big family, regardless of the things that the natural world was saying to him.
Speaker BAnd so I've just been feeling so strongly that there's people out there that they're looking at their family, they're looking at their marriage, they're looking at their spouse and saying, there's just no hope.
Speaker BI can't, I just can't see where anything would become of this.
Speaker BAnd maybe you've thrown your arms up and you say, I'm done with this.
Speaker BIt is hopeless.
Speaker BI just don't see anything that can change anything that can make a difference.
Speaker BBut I'm here to tell you tonight, today that there is hope.
Speaker BGod promises us hope.
Speaker BGod promises in his word that in Ephesians 3.
Speaker BI love this scripture, talks about.
Speaker BI'm just going to read it to you.
Speaker BAnd this is out of the Passion translation.
Speaker BNever doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this.
Speaker BHe will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream and exceed your wildest imagination.
Speaker BHe will outdo them all.
Speaker BFor his miraculous power is constantly energizing you.
Speaker BSo there's a few things that I can pull out of that scripture that's talking about.
Speaker BGod's going to take the things that you've been hoping for, the things that you've been dreaming for, the things that is just beyond your wildest imagination.
Speaker BAnd God's going to go above and beyond all of that.
Speaker BHe's going to outdo all of that.
Speaker BAnd in the middle of all that, he's going to energize you.
Speaker BSo that tells me that you, I, we, we have a part in making all of this happen.
Speaker BAnd if you've been listening to our podcast, you have picked up on some of the things that you can do to help out.
Speaker BBut even in the midst of all of that, and you're, maybe you have been doing some of the action steps that we talk about.
Speaker BWell, maybe you have just felt hopeless regardless, because maybe you're not seeing a quick response to the things you've been doing or maybe you just are feeling like there's no reason to keep pushing on.
Speaker BOr maybe you feel like you, you just don't have any energy left to, to be a part of all of this.
Speaker BBut right here it's telling us in Ephesians that God himself, if you'll call on God, if you'll call on him, let him energize you, let him be the one to work in and through you and then just, just maybe put this little scripture up on a three by five card that God, God said that he would do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all you could think or ask, let him do it.
Speaker BSo if you are feeling really Hopeless right now.
Speaker BJust lay it all down before the father's feet.
Speaker BLay it all down and know that he wants to work in you.
Speaker BHe wants to work in your marriage, he wants to work in your family.
Speaker BMaybe it's your children that are acting up and, you know, maybe it's grown children in your family that you're believing for or are seeing things happen in their life that is not exactly what you expected or hoping, you know, to see their life to turn out to be.
Speaker BYou've put your hope in something and you're not seeing results happening.
Speaker BJust, just lay it down and bring that before our father God.
Speaker BBring that before our daddy God.
Speaker BBring that before Papa God, and just let him minister to you.
Speaker BLet him love on you.
Speaker BWhen this time of the year is so crazy, so busy, so spazzy, Everybody on the road is rush, rush, rush.
Speaker BHurry, hurry, hurry.
Speaker BTake a few moments, sit down and quietly get before the Lord.
Speaker BTake a deep breath and just sit in his presence.
Speaker BYou know, we talk a lot about the presence that we give.
Speaker BWe'll give God your presence.
Speaker BMake that be a present that you give to God this year.
Speaker BHe wants to give what?
Speaker BI just got to back up and say, you know, God, he came.
Speaker BThat you might have life and life more abundantly.
Speaker BThat is the present of God.
Speaker BThat is his present to all of us.
Speaker BThe whole wide world talks about the birth of Jesus, the present that God, our father God gave his one and only Son, that we might have life and life more abundantly.
Speaker BSo receive that gift this year.
Speaker BReceive it if you've never received it before, receive that gift from God to you.
Speaker BAnd then what happens when we give gifts to one another?
Speaker BUsually we are like, oh, they gave me a gift.
Speaker BI want to give them one back, right?
Speaker BWell, then look at it like this.
Speaker BYou're giving yourself as a gift to God.
Speaker BYou're giving a gift to God back to him.
Speaker BHe wants to have that relationship with you.
Speaker BHe wants to have that time with you, by you sitting down anywhere in the day.
Speaker BMaybe it's first thing.
Speaker BMaybe it's in the middle of the day when the children may be napping or they're away at school.
Speaker BOr maybe it's the end of the day when everybody's quietly snuggled in their beds waiting for Santa Claus to come, and you have a few moments to just take a deep breath, two, three minutes, and just quietly connect with your father, God, and thank him for giving his one and only son for you as a presentation.
Speaker BBut let's get back to the holiday.
Speaker BHope it doesn't have to just be during the holiday.
Speaker BIt can be all year long and that's what it should be.
Speaker BBut let me just inspire you to receive the promise of God that where you have felt hopeless, that there is hope to be found in the word of God.
Speaker BThis is a time of miracles.
Speaker BYou can believe God for a miracle for your home, for your family, for your marriage, whether it's with the finances in your home, maybe it's your health, maybe it's a loved one that you're believing for that miracle.
Speaker BThis is the time of miracles.
Speaker BThere is no limit that we can, that we could put on can be for all year long.
Speaker BSo just remember that Hope against all hope.
Speaker BAbraham believed, Sarah got pregnant.
Speaker BIsaiah was born, their baby was born.
Speaker BAnd Abraham has been known in the Bible to be the father of many nations.
Speaker ANow, Linda, what you shared some good stuff on hope, but I know that you've applied these principles ever since we've been married.
Speaker ACan you just share maybe about when we got our marriage back together or during the health challenges that you've had and the things we face, how hopes impacted your life or a particular.
Speaker AOh, I know, because you're, you've lived what you're talking about.
Speaker BOh, goodness, I'd have to say.
Speaker BAnd every day you, you know, it's something to hang onto the word of God.
Speaker BI just have to say that the scripture Ephesians 3:20, that I talked about where God said he'd do exceedingly abundant, that was like the scripture I hung onto because when we were at the point of separation, near divorce, it was like I didn't want to hanging there.
Speaker BI was done.
Speaker BMy heart was hard, my heart was hardened.
Speaker BYou know, I was done.
Speaker BI didn't have love left in me to give to me.
Speaker BThere was just no hope.
Speaker BAfter years of believing and hoping that our marriage could turn around.
Speaker BAnd so at that point, you know, and it was then that, you know, God had said, okay, Linda, stay in this marriage.
Speaker BAnd he promised me that he would do this exceedingly.
Speaker BBut I'd say it didn't happen overnight.
Speaker ABut on the other side of the coin, when you told me about wanting to separate and we're going to head back to Florida, when we were in Texas, I was putting on my hope.
Speaker BOh, yeah.
Speaker AThat you were going to stay up.
Speaker AYou were hoping I would change to be somebody to stay for.
Speaker AAnd I was hoping that you would stay.
Speaker ASo we both had our hope going on, weren't we?
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker AAnd I had to hope against hope and believe that God was going to work in your heart.
Speaker AAnd you and God met us both.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker AHe did actually work on both of us.
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker AAnd maybe you got something else on that.
Speaker ABut I also know that you're dealing with pain a lot from the different things going in your body.
Speaker AAnd there's some days when it's hallelujah and some days it's hallelujah with a different type of attitude there.
Speaker BDifferent.
Speaker AHow are you putting on hope on some of those days when it doesn't seem, I mean, what do you do do if you're struggling with that, having that hope and in your faith?
Speaker ABecause when we're going through a series, a time when we need hope.
Speaker AWell, that's when we come in and we mix faith with it.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker ATo get us through that.
Speaker AAnd.
Speaker AAnd faith comes by hearing.
Speaker ASo what are some things maybe you've done through the years when that hope kind of gets tired or weary or maybe the circumstances are saying, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, it's not working.
Speaker AAnd what do you do?
Speaker AI know you crawl up in Jesus lap because I know where your chair is.
Speaker AAnd I come in there when we pray and that's a powerful time.
Speaker ABut is there any other little nuggets or something?
Speaker BI get in my prayer chair and I sit there and I do get in my daddy God's lap and I just cry out to him and I just lay before him.
Speaker BI journal and I take notes, but I get the word on it.
Speaker BI always come back to this scripture, God, you promised me you would do exceedingly.
Speaker BBut when I, you know, I just went through a few days of just feeling, I don't know, I guess I was having a pity party, you know.
Speaker AIs that why we got the chocolate cake in the house?
Speaker BThat was kind of a comfort food?
Speaker BYeah, we kind of.
Speaker BBut you shared that with me, you know, we're a team, actually.
Speaker BYou went out and bought it then, you know, this one, I did all three pieces.
Speaker BOh, no, nobody's count.
Speaker BOkay.
Speaker BNobody.
Speaker BWho's counting?
Speaker BNobody.
Speaker BWell, that went in the garbage today, right?
Speaker AYeah.
Speaker BSo the container.
Speaker BYeah, yeah.
Speaker BI mean, you know, I, I was, I, I kind of got in the flesh, but I did get in the spirit to get through the, you know, believing for our provision, believing for time to have to do everything that's going on.
Speaker BI guess I, you know, when we, let's get talking about spirit, soul and body, because we are right.
Speaker BSo we're going to talk about the body a little bit.
Speaker BOkay.
Speaker BSo getting into the body part, when we eat sugar, we're running off of little bit of sleep.
Speaker BWe're not exercising like we ought to be.
Speaker BWe're not drinking the water that we are to do.
Speaker AMaybe like you're meddling.
Speaker BAh, am I meddling?
Speaker BWell, if the shoe fits, wear it.
Speaker BBut then we start getting touchy with each other in our marriage.
Speaker BWe start saying things that we ought not to be saying.
Speaker BYou know, we really got to practice putting on love.
Speaker BYou know, we got to call on Jesus help.
Speaker BRight?
Speaker BThat's my main prayer help constantly.
Speaker BAnd then the next thing would be to repent of the things that I should have, I should have zipped the lip and didn't, you know.
Speaker BSo yeah, I just have to say, you know, and add in whatever.
Speaker BHow do you overcome with me, living with me in the midst of all of that and still, you know, areas that I'm dealing with, health challenges or chronic pain and you, you know, wanting to be a pleasant person and not a, a bear, you know, with my.
Speaker AFamily members down, having hope and, and making a decision, standing on God's word and knowing that these things are temporal and that, that as we do our part, that God is going to do his part to come in and change things and, and even though some days, you know, things going to change, are you going to get through this?
Speaker AWhat's going on in your body or what's going to happen?
Speaker AEven with our ministry and podcasting and, you know, but it, we have to come back.
Speaker AWe have to have hope because what's it the Bible says Hope deferred makes the harp sick.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker AYou've got to have hope.
Speaker AGet around this Christmas.
Speaker ADon't, don't hang out with the negative Nancy's and the negative Normans.
Speaker AGet around some positive people.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker AFind out if you're at a church party or business party or with your family, find the positive people and hang around them.
Speaker ADraw off there and get away.
Speaker AExcuse yourself from the negative people or the people that are just negative.
Speaker AI can't, I don't know a better word to say it, but.
Speaker AWell, that's find good people to get around.
Speaker AAnd then maybe during the day, listen to a good marriage podcast, but listen to an uplifting motivational.
Speaker AMaybe it's a church service, something to encourage you.
Speaker ASo you've got to put stuff in to stir up your hope.
Speaker ARead your Bible, you know, listen to your favorite speakers.
Speaker AThere's a lot of podcasts out there.
Speaker AThere's a lot of churches that are ministers that have things you can listen to on a lot of streaming services.
Speaker AYou have to build up Yourself.
Speaker BOh, and then how about get a.
Speaker APrayer partner, Maybe call up, yes.
Speaker AOne of your friends, somebody at church and say, hey, can you pray with me?
Speaker AI'm struggling with hope right now.
Speaker AMaybe they'll have a word for you.
Speaker AI don't mean some word, but a positive, encouraging word to uplift your spirit.
Speaker AAnd who knows, you maybe uplift them.
Speaker AYou know, that's true.
Speaker ABut find people that are like minded in the positive side, step out.
Speaker AMaybe.
Speaker AMaybe the enemy says, oh, don't go to that party.
Speaker ADon't go to this activity this week.
Speaker ADon't go to the church.
Speaker BAlso, there's so many, like helping to pass out food, to do the toy donations and to serve a meal or to serve a family.
Speaker BSomehow when you're feeling down and out, what is such a better way is to do for somebody else?
Speaker BGo find somebody else.
Speaker BOh, get this.
Speaker BI love this.
Speaker BI love it when I can go into the grocery store and there's a mom and two little babies with her and she's got a full load of groceries and I can say to her, I'm gonna be covering the whole grocery bill right there for you.
Speaker BWhat kind of hope and message does that, of love?
Speaker BDoes that give to that family?
Speaker AYeah, yeah.
Speaker BI mean, that's something to do.
Speaker AYeah.
Speaker BTo give.
Speaker AFind some way to.
Speaker ADon't allow the enemy to isolate you.
Speaker BYes, that's exactly.
Speaker AHe would love to get you to stay home from the church services.
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker AMaybe a candlelight service.
Speaker AI mean that's during the holidays or any time of the year.
Speaker ABut don't allow the enemy to isolate you.
Speaker AAnd like Linda just said, give.
Speaker AIt doesn't have to be money, but give to the different activities.
Speaker AServe somebody.
Speaker AGet out of yourself, but just build up that hope.
Speaker ABecause God's got good things for you.
Speaker AHe's got a future and a hope for you.
Speaker AJeremiah 29:11.
Speaker ASo did you have anything else?
Speaker BNo, I just feel the strongness to, you know, I've just have felt that there is somebody out there.
Speaker BI'd like to pray.
Speaker AOkay.
Speaker BBecause I feel like there's someone that is really needing to be filled with hope.
Speaker AYeah.
Speaker AYou know, we used to have a sing a song years ago.
Speaker AIt says no matter what the circumstances, what I seal or feel, feel or see, God's word is working mightily in me.
Speaker AAnd that's the only solo you're going to get.
Speaker BYay.
Speaker ASo do you want to pray?
Speaker BI'm gonna let you pray.
Speaker AOh, okay.
Speaker BBecause you know how to power punch the devil.
Speaker AAll right.
Speaker BI might say A word after you get done, but go ahead.
Speaker AYou know, I do a big Christmas display.
Speaker BOh my word.
Speaker AAnd out by the street I have about a seven or eight foot sign that says only believe.
Speaker AAnd that's my word to you.
Speaker AOnly believe.
Speaker AOf course, we're talking about believing in Jesus and believing in the power of miracles working in your life.
Speaker BAnd we know that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Speaker AYes.
Speaker BSo we always keep that before us.
Speaker BAnd, and we know that love.
Speaker AHope.
Speaker BFaith and love is part of the season.
Speaker AYes.
Speaker BAnd always going to be presented there.
Speaker BSo hope today.
Speaker AYes.
Speaker ASo Father, right now I just lift up everybody who's listening.
Speaker ANo matter if it's yes now or in six months down the road, whenever it is, your power is good at all times.
Speaker ASo in particular, I just pray for anybody right now.
Speaker AThat is strength.
Speaker AStruggling with a lack of hope, with despair, with depression.
Speaker AThere may be their marriage is falling apart, they've given up or they're on the verge of giving up.
Speaker AMaybe it's finances, physical situations going on or lost loved ones or whatever it is, or all the above.
Speaker AYour word is working.
Speaker ASo we just right now ask that as people are saying, yes, I need a dose of hope.
Speaker AI need some hope.
Speaker ALord, I just speak to these people's lives tonight or whenever they're listening to this.
Speaker AThat you would just bring hope their way.
Speaker ASend somebody by.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker AHave a song on the radio, a friend, somebody in the grocery store that they know or don't know.
Speaker AIt comes up and encourages them.
Speaker AWe ask for your anointing of hope to come upon each individual.
Speaker ATo that wife who's crying out to that husband is saying, I don't know what to do.
Speaker AHelp me to change or help help my wife to.
Speaker ATo change.
Speaker AIt's kids that are rebellious or there's looking at major financial setbacks going on that straining things.
Speaker ALord, we just ask for miracles.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker BAnd I want to speak hope into somebody's life.
Speaker BI want to speak hope into your life.
Speaker BIf you're listening to this podcast, just receive that right now.
Speaker BI just feel real strongly that there's someone that this is a lifeline for you.
Speaker BI speak hope into your life right now in the name of Jesus.
Speaker AYes.
Speaker AIt's not over.
Speaker AGod has a future and a hope for you.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker BJeremiah 29:11, only believe.
Speaker AAnd maybe today you get feel good and tomorrow it's back on.
Speaker ABut you know what?
Speaker ADon't give up.
Speaker AYes, it's going to get stronger and stronger every day.
Speaker ALive.
Speaker AGod's word says live each day one Day at a time.
Speaker AGet through this day.
Speaker ABelieve.
Speaker AGet up in the morning.
Speaker AAs Oral Roberts used to say, something good is going to happen to me this day, this very day.
Speaker ABase your hope.
Speaker AGetting up and say, God has something good for me today.
Speaker AAnd listen to his voice.
Speaker AHe may give you some specific instructions.
Speaker AHe might what to say to your situation directly to the.
Speaker ATo people in your lives that's a disappointment.
Speaker AOr to your husband or to your wife that he may tell you something to do.
Speaker AYou're going, you want me to do that?
Speaker AAnd he's going to go, yep, I want you to do that.
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker AAnd that can be a no telling.
Speaker AThat could open the door for a miracle.
Speaker BIt might just be something really minor and silly.
Speaker BYou might think it's silly.
Speaker AYes.
Speaker BBut it's not.
Speaker ANo.
Speaker BYou know, nothing is too silly when you're walking in love toward your spouse, when you're walking in love to your children and the people around you.
Speaker BIt's not silly.
Speaker BLove, Love, love, love.
Speaker BPut on love.
Speaker AYep.
Speaker APut on love.
Speaker APut on God's love.
Speaker BGod's love.
Speaker BI hope you enjoyed listening to that episode again like I did.
Speaker BNow, a key to experiencing this holodo Hope is John 15, 7 and it talks about abiding in him.
Speaker BSo take the time and plug into the power, the power of the Lord.
Speaker BTaking the time.
Speaker BHe's the vine.
Speaker BWe are the branch.
Speaker AInterrupt here is maybe when she said abiding in the vine, it makes me think when Linda talked about just getting in her chair and spending time with her bad daddy, God that's abiding in him.
Speaker AYou could be riding around and looking at the Christmas lights and just saying, jesus, I just thank you for meeting every need I have.
Speaker AI thank you for healing my family.
Speaker AI thank you, Lord God, for.
Speaker AFor using me this week to be a blessing.
Speaker AWho can I give some money to this Lord?
Speaker AOr who can I do a service to during the holiday season?
Speaker AIt you don't have to be sitting down in.
Speaker AIn a chair.
Speaker AIt can just you be walking around and praying while you're doing your things and talking to God with your desires or your needs or your pray.
Speaker ASo that's abiding in him because abiding in divine says when we do that, that opens the doors for his power to come into our lives.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker BAnd we want to enjoy the holiday season.
Speaker BSo he's the whole reason for this season.
Speaker AThat's right.
Speaker BBe intentional.
Speaker BEnjoy.
Speaker BAlso, I just want to mention that we talked about holiday romance on episode 53.
Speaker BThat's another good one.
Speaker BTo go back to and listen to.
Speaker AIt's not too late because there's still two weeks if you listen to this.
Speaker BThat's right.
Speaker AAs soon as we release this countdown to get through the new year.
Speaker AThat'll help you get ready for the New Year's Eve kiss.
Speaker BThere you go.
Speaker BAllow this Christmas season.
Speaker BIt's a season of miracles.
Speaker BWe hear about it all over the place.
Speaker BTo see set your expectations for the new year.
Speaker BThat'll be your starting point.
Speaker BSo let's talk about a few little honeydews.
Speaker BSo like we talked about, take some time to abide in the vine and give yourself hope, to rest, to relax, to just settle in, get out of the rush and hustle and bustle.
Speaker BListen.
Speaker BDug in like I mentioned, holiday romance episode 53 and what's the what's another honeydew?
Speaker AIt's the 10 second kiss.
Speaker AImagine that every morning if that that works good for you to find your honey and just grab them and say hey Siri, set my timer for 10 seconds and get a good 10 second kiss on them.
Speaker ABut this time of the year you can do it more than that.
Speaker ALook for the, look for the mistletoe and listen to the holiday romance because I think it will impact your your life in a major way.
Speaker AAnd then you could call it all parts practice for the New Year's Eve Christmas ball drop and then when everybody hits zero, they get that kiss.
Speaker ASo you'll be ready and know exactly what to do.
Speaker BThat's a good one.
Speaker BWell, I hope you've been inspired by today's message and if you know anyone that could benefit from these podcasts, well, tell them about it.
Speaker BPass the word along to them and we're going to see you next week.
Speaker BAnd until then, remember, you can be married and love it on purpose.
Speaker AThank you for investing into your marriage by listening to the Married and Love it podcast.
Speaker ABe sure to be a part of the ripple effect of making marriage great by sharing this podcast with other couples.
Speaker AAlso subscribe to and follow us on your favorite platform and be sure to check out our website at www.marriedandlovet.com where you can learn more about Married and Love it and contact us with with any questions or comments that you may have.
Speaker AAnd remember with God that you have a future and a hope and you can be married and love it on purpose.