Us Unveiled
Marriage, sarcasm, and Jesus - this is Us Unveiled.
We're a Christian couple unpacking the real stuff: the laughs, the random moments, and the realities of marriage and everyday life. Each week, we keep it fun, light, and honest while sharing what God is teaching us through it all. From Sunday sermons, to everyday situations, we break down how faith actually plays out in real life (not just in church).
Us Unveiled
Droppin' Bombs with this Faith Q&A
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
After a few weeks on the road, we’re back home and diving into some of your biggest faith questions. We share what Sabbath looks like in our marriage, how we became more comfortable praying out loud, how to reconnect with God during a dry season, and why the actions of imperfect people should never be confused with the heart of Christ.
We also talk honestly about women in Christianity, faith while dating, finding meaningful community, and discovering your calling in a season that feels uncertain. We’re not experts...we’re simply a husband and wife learning to follow Jesus and inviting you to grow alongside us.
⛪️ Dropping the church service we referred to here:
https://youtu.be/PSmq9ZvvIS8?si=gsUnMysGXDGsqOrD
‼️ Don't forget to leave a comment to help us out and let us know what you'd like to see more of on this series! Sooo much more to get into!!
➡️ Subscribe to my YouTube channel or follow along on Spotify/Apple Podcasts as we will drop new episodes weekly. You also can't miss the everyday fun on my Instagram stories @movinwithmandy - https://www.instagram.com/movinwithmandy/
Thanks for letting us talk your ears off ! 😋
Joe, we're back.
SPEAKER_00We're back, baby.
SPEAKER_02We're back. I just said that. You just took my line. I literally just said that right before we started. And you just took my line.
SPEAKER_00No one heard you say that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, now the world just heard you say, we're back, baby, first. That was my line. The wonderful joys of being in a marriage.
SPEAKER_00I said it first.
SPEAKER_02I actually said it first. You just get all the credit for it.
SPEAKER_00You have no proof of it.
SPEAKER_02That's how marriage works, right? Like one person says something and then the next person, you know, gets all the credit for it. It's fine. I mean, that's part of it. You give and you take.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, for sure. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Oh, well, anyways, welcome back to Us Unveiled. I'm so excited because it's been a couple weeks and it was so hard to just like sit down and film when we're on vacation. Especially we were on a road trip from Texas through the coast of California up to Utah, down to Colorado, literally all over the West Coast under the sun. Um, but there's not really a place to film in like hotel room and all of that. So we did what we could, but I'm excited to be back and actually filming weekly again for you guys. So stay tuned because we have so much to cover, especially in this episode. Um, by the way, make sure you're liking, subscribing, commenting all of the things. I'd like to see what you guys think of the podcast. If you have questions, any topics that you want us to talk about, drop them in the comments because we are just so excited to dive on in.
SPEAKER_00The only bummer coming back though is we did not bring the weather with us. It literally the day we got back, I think it was 100 degrees. And then even when we were coming back to, I started looking at the weather app and saw 100, and I'm like, oh crap. And then I went to Google and looked up a 10 10-day forecast, and it was even more discouraging because it just said 100 for 10 days, which is kind of crazy because we've literally been in like 75 or we've actually worn a sweatshirt some days, which is watching. Yeah, you were actually kind of uh mis or unprepared in California, I feel like.
SPEAKER_02Well, yeah, I I I don't know why. I grew up in California and it's like I forgot what the weather was. I don't know.
SPEAKER_00It's like I never though, especially in Northern California, because like the mornings, a half the day it's it's pretty cold, and then the other half of the day it kind of burns off. And then by evening, though, it gets cold again.
SPEAKER_02So I didn't really bring any sweaters. I dressed for I packed for a hundred-degree weather there, and it was 75 and chilly in the evenings, chilly in the mornings, and I was not prepared. So that was always a joy. But it's hot now, so but now we're in Texas, now I can wear on my 100-degree weather, which I actually don't even like dressing for 100-degree weathers. I would rather dress for the 75 weather. That's a disappointing thing.
SPEAKER_00That's fair. Sweater weather.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm a sweater weather girl. Like fall, give me all the fall. Like I'm I'm thinking about fall right now.
SPEAKER_00Who isn't sweater weather?
SPEAKER_02Actually, though, like who chooses summer over fall?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you might you might want to check yourself if if you kind of err on the summer side.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, if you're a summer girl or guy, red flag.
unknownI'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_02Anyways, while we were on vacation, it was just so cool getting to like go back to our hometown and see friends that we haven't seen in a long time, catch up with people. It just made me realize like that I just need to invest more in my friendships. And like, I don't know, it's it's hard. I feel like we moved out when in our like mid-early 20s, and so it was like you had built all these friends from like college and stuff, and then it's like you leave, and it's hard to stay in touch, you know, life changes and stuff, but it's cool going back and seeing how like friendships have literally stayed the same, and you can just go back and talk to your friends and be like just like normal, but it makes me also want to like invest more in those long distance friendships being far away, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, long distance is hard in general because it I mean it's easier now with social media, I feel like just because you can kind of at least know what people are doing or comment on what they're doing. Um but uh it is hard, but I mean it is kind of a give and take, like you definitely have to put in the effort to to have a friendship, and it has to be from both sides, which is interesting. But it takes too much. And I feel like area has a lot to do with it too. Like where we used to live in California, like it was a smaller populated area, and a lot of the population was older people, so it was like the amount of younger, you know, friends that was there, even was so so small and dense. And whereas like in Dallas or DFW area, it's like eight million people or some crazy. Yeah, it's like you can find friends. I mean, you might have to drive a little bit, but like, yeah, yeah, it's it's just a lot easier, and there's more to do here and stuff. I don't know. One of the biggest bummers though is one of our really good friends, and in fact, our first friend in Texas, um, they called us up like a couple weeks into our trip and said, Hey, um, well, we knew that they were gonna be moving, but they said, Hey, someone placed an offer, all cash, we're moving in 10 days.
SPEAKER_02And we're like, We don't even get to say goodbye.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, nothing. And so it's like that's the other flip side of friendships. It's like, you know, when it is it does get hard when when good friends leave, yeah. And it's like you're happy for them because you know they were moving towards family and stuff, but like it is a bummer, but it just goes to say, like, you had a really good friendship in the first place.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, this couple, we actually um they were our first friends in Texas, like first people that we met, first couple, we went to all the honky tonks and live music and stuff. So we were all they were from Minnesota and we were from California, so two separate worlds colliding and like just experiencing the West, the country western like vibe. It was so fun. But we got to see them get married, we got to see them have kids and like literally just go through their lives in and it's just I'm it breaks my heart that they're gone. That's so sad.
SPEAKER_00We'll see them again though.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah, we just have to go to Minnesota, which I honestly don't know if I even want to go to Minnesota, but yeah, I guess like how do we get to about there? I heard I think summers are fun there. They talk about the state fair a lot.
SPEAKER_00I'm not a fair girl, but I mean the lakes are nice in Minnesota. I've I've been up there once. Yeah, for his bachelor party, yeah, with him, and it's fun up there.
SPEAKER_02I feel like you gotta you questioned when you said it's fun up there.
SPEAKER_00Well, I I feel like it's it's like any other place. Like you just have to be with the right people to kind of like show you around. Like, we we didn't stay in Minneapolis, for example. Like, we actually we weren't there at all. We went straight up north. Uh on the outskirts. Yeah, we're I think we stayed at like a golf course or a lake or something.
SPEAKER_02See, that's nice. I'm not a city person, I love the outskirts. I don't want to be around a bunch of big city.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so like we we had a lot of fun on a pontoon, which you've probably never been on a pontoon. Pontoons are fun. Okay, it's a good time.
SPEAKER_02Okay, drop where you where you're from in the comments where you're listening from because I'm curious where y'all live and like where you're listening in from.
SPEAKER_00And more importantly, where the best place to go is where you live. So that like what do you mean where the best place is? Like in Sonoma County or or DFW. Like, what's your favorite like place you as a local know about that you would go to?
SPEAKER_02Okay, give me yours in Dallas. Where's your where's your favorite town?
SPEAKER_00I had a feeling you would ask.
SPEAKER_02Uh well, you brought it up.
SPEAKER_00I mean, stockyards is definitely up there for somebody coming to vacation.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Go to stockyards, go to the largest honky tonk, which is Billy Bob's, go have a good old time in the country. Um, don't get caught in a tornado.
SPEAKER_00I think wine country is way easier.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Sonoma County. I could give you all the spots on the country.
SPEAKER_00Like number one, Sonoma County Robert Young winery.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, just go to Heatzburg or Geyserville, out Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, all the wine. If you want to go wine tasting, just let me know and I'll give you some some wrecks out in the because I honestly think Sonoma County is a lot better than Napa Valley, personally.
SPEAKER_00And it's uh so Napa Valley too is really hot. Yeah. And so versus like Sonoma County, like there's it's it's wild. Like there's some areas in Sonoma County that will be like 10, maybe even 15 degrees temperature difference. Yeah. And it's only like a 30-minute difference.
SPEAKER_02Well, because it's like you'll be by the Russian River or on like a mountain. So it's like you have these different like elevation and temperatures. And it's interesting because when you go wine tasting, you'll notice that each winery has like if you go out different roads in like this town, Hiltsburg, you'll notice that each one like kind of focuses on a specific wine because wine type or style or whatever you call it, because um, because of where they're located or where their vineyards are located. So it's interesting you learned a lot about that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, like I I don't even know how long we lived there, like eight or ten years.
SPEAKER_02And I live there my whole life.
SPEAKER_00I never once cared about wine, and now I'm like so invested on like and so interested on like how you know this varietal's grown here and this varietal is grown here, and then come to find out like Cab Franc, which if you don't know about Cab Franc, you should look into it.
SPEAKER_02It's his favorite wine.
SPEAKER_00Uh I I think I like cab sauve now.
SPEAKER_02Oh, a little bit better.
SPEAKER_00It's I'm I'm I'm in between the two.
SPEAKER_02It's also just cab. You can say cab. Most people know that you're talking about no, most people know that you're talking about cabernet Sauvignon when you're talking when you say the word cab. They don't think you're saying cab franc because most people don't know what cab franc is, or most restaurants don't sell cab franc. So you just say, hey, I want the cab, they know it's a cab sab.
SPEAKER_00Especially for this discussion, you're just plain wrong. I no, listen, you know what? Never mind. Anyways, it was really interesting, like it was really cool to learn, actually learn about like where you used to live, how the grapes are grown, like X, Y, and Z. So it was fun though. It was a good trip. It was, it was I'm glad to be home. It it was crazy too. Like, like we uh actually talked about this in my men's Bible study this morning, but I thought it was interesting how like yes, we were working a lot of the time while we were away, um, but we were did have a lot of fun. But what was interesting is despite being in all these beautiful areas having fun, I don't know about you, but I started to get kind of like anxious a lot about just like life, um, which usually you would think, like, why would you be anxious in a nice place like that? And so it was interesting coming home because I felt like like just this sense of uh relief and relaxation the minute we walked through the home or into the home. And so it's it's just wild. Like you kind of fantasize about vacation all the time, but it's there's something to be said about being home.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I I loved our vacation, but it was so funny because before we went, we were like, I can't imagine like going to Sonoma County and sitting outside with the beautiful vineyard view and like reading our Bible and just like being out in the nice weather, like we're gonna go outside and read our Bibles all the time, we're gonna be so close to God, all these things, and like that was how I envisioned this trip going. And we barely read our Bibles, and I'm calling myself out on that, like not proud of it, and not proud of it at all. Like, and and I was getting anxious and frustrated that I wasn't, and then like I would go to open my Bible, and it was just like I wasn't in it, and it was really it was hard for me to like adapt to new environments and like be in my routine and like feel good about like all of what I was doing and stuff because it's like you're in a new place. We were traveling a lot, so it's like we're in different hotel rooms or Airbnb's, and it's like you're you have wine tastings, you have all these things going on, and it's like it's hard to be committed when you're not in a routine.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think it's also more importantly, proved to me though, you don't need to be in this perfect setting, a quiet setting, whatever it is, to be in the presence of God. Like, I think for me that it was a it was actually really good for me too, because prior to all this, I was thinking, like, oh, I could be so much closer to God if I was like out in nature and like you know, with fresh air and all this stuff. And I think there's some truth to that, like being in walking on a beach in Carmel, it's like, yeah, you can take a second and be like, holy smokes, like this place man couldn't have created this.
SPEAKER_02God's spoiling us, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And like you can soak it in for a moment, but like that daily consistent, you know, time can be done anywhere. And in fact, like I feel like in Texas where there's really nowhere to do anything outside, especially during the summer, it's like because you have to sit inside, you end up reading your Bible a lot and or going to Bible studies, and like you end up spending way more time with God.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I also think the culture here in Texas around like um around church and biblical values is very like prevalent. Like a lot of people go to church here, whereas like California, there not as many people go to church, so I think it's just not as like top of mind there.
SPEAKER_00Um but I think people in California want church.
SPEAKER_02I do too.
SPEAKER_00I think I think there's the sorry, this is going on a rant, but I when we're like Sonoma County, especially, like I have the deepest like thing in me where it's just like people want church so much there. Um it's just like what you're saying though, it's not really as much of a norm or you know, as as prevalent. So I think it's it's uncomfortable for for people sometimes, and most people don't want to go alone either. So it's like you know, but I I it's growing though. Like we have friends in in Sonoma County that um their church is blowing up right now, so it's like the people want it, it's just like you know, if if you live in an area that's not as prevalent and you go, like try inviting a friend because odds are that friend might actually really want to go, they just don't have anyone to go with.
SPEAKER_02Finding a good church with good values that that reads scripture, like that has the Bible open all the time. Um, if you find that, then you can bring friends and yeah, create your community there. Anyways, speaking of faith, we are diving straight into faith today. Um, not too much outside context, like normally, but um, we have a lot to cover today. So we asked, or I asked on Instagram, you didn't, it's my page. I asked on Instagram a couple weeks ago um what faith questions you had, if you had any, and you guys provided some really good questions. So we wanted to do a QA and um kind of give some answers to those questions. So, what does Sabbath look like for you and I?
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, it used to kind of look like not a lot. We didn't know. We would just go to church. Yeah. Um, I would say in the last six months it's changed a lot after a church service. Yeah, we felt on the Sabbath.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we felt very convicted in a church service one time that um preached on the Sabbath and how it was one of the Ten Commandments, and how just it's a gift from God. Like God gives us six days of work and one day of rest. He built this whole world in six days, and then he rested on the seventh day. So it's a gift that I think that we should take advantage of, and it's important to take advantage of.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, for us though, to answer the question, it is first of all, zero work, like flat out no work. Um, I would say the other comment is um I used to think it had to be Sunday. For us, we actually do it Saturday. Sometimes we'll do it Sunday if like there's a conflicting thing that we just you know have to do on a Saturday. We'll kind of like switch it back and forth. But um like if you have to work weekends or something, like I feel like there's nothing wrong with like a Monday Sabbath or we talk to somebody who takes a Friday Sabbath, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um another influencer, she has her team post for her on Fridays. I just am not posting on Saturdays or not, you know, just turning my phone off. I actually um for me what I do is, and I said it on your phone too, but basically you can do like a do not disturb feature that like allows I I titled it Sabbath and everything. So every Saturday at like midnight to midnight, it turns on and my phone becomes like this do not disturb. So I don't like receive incoming text messages. They're in there if I want to go to my text app and view them, like if I'm expecting something or whatever. Otherwise, I don't have to go on that. Um, they are it just kind of turns off all my apps, it just makes it kind of a quiet mode so that I don't have to worry about it, which is nice.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I think that's that's a huge plus for both of us. Well, yeah. Um, I would say the other thing is like just trying to be in the presence of God as much as possible, um, and just enjoying the day. Like it, I I feel like yes, God is the focus of the day, and you know, whether it's going to church or worshiping him or reading your Bible, like those are all very important things to grow closer to him, but also like go enjoy your family, like go have fun. I mean, the to me that's what a Sabbath is. It's it's it's honoring God, thanking God, and spending time with him, and also like enjoying the gift that he gave you with your family, or maybe some money that you made that week. Maybe you can go shopping a little bit, or like just and enjoy your life.
SPEAKER_02I think that's a common misconception about Sabbath, and that's why I think a lot of people don't like take advantage of it, is because they think it's this like strict thing where you have to like sit and maybe read your Bible all day and go to church and like just be honed in on like the Lord. And yes, it's a beautiful thing to worship the Lord, like play worship music throughout your house in the morning when you're getting ready or whatever it is, but like the day is meant to be a gift, like use this gift and and explore, go see God's creation, go enjoy friends and family, go hang out with other like Christian couples and like just enjoy the day off, away from your phone, no distractions, just like enjoying earth. I think there's a difference between making excuses for not working, like using Sabbath as an excuse to be lazy, and also like using it as like a reward for rest. So keep that in mind too.
SPEAKER_00Maybe healthy versus unhealthy desires.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00I don't know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it could be. I mean, like social media. I want to be on social media every single day. I want to be posting, I want to be like present hanging out with you guys on there, but like it's healthy for me to also like take a mental break and just like step away from it all and not look at the notifications, not look at anything, and just be present. Like, because it's hard to be present when you're filming and doing all the things all the time, you know.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, yeah. But um, I no phone is a huge start though.
SPEAKER_02That has if you can like there was one day where I like I left my phone here and we have church that's like an hour away from us. I left my phone here, I didn't even bring it.
SPEAKER_00And it's like and we had a I think we had a group study after that.
SPEAKER_02It was like a full six hours, it was like a yeah, full six hour day, and I did not have my phone, and it was it's refreshing. Thanks, give me that high five. No, it's refreshing though to just like kind of set it away and be like, you know, I don't need it.
SPEAKER_00I dare you to do that on Saturday.
SPEAKER_02Well, I'm um we're going to the farmer's market though, so I I want to be anyways. Anyway, um, next question. Um, this is a really good one. It says, How do you feel more comfortable praying out loud? I think we both have experience like with this because we've uh grown in this a lot recently.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and we we never did it before. In fact, we never even we well, I shouldn't say never. We used to pray together when you know we were under like difficult situations, whatever. Now it's a daily occurrence, but um I would say the one thing that helped us was being in a group. Um so we did a rooted uh program. Through our church at Lake Point. And you can even do rooted, I think, if you're online too. So if you don't live in DFW, you can do it through uh Lake Point online. But can you? I th I believe so.
SPEAKER_02Oh, I don't know.
SPEAKER_00I don't know. I don't know.
SPEAKER_02I can fact check.
SPEAKER_00But even with your local church, like most local churches have um some sort of group. Yeah, or a Bible study. And within that group, um we we just each week they called on a different person uh to pray for another person. And it was by far one of the and and we all knew this going into it. They told us first week, it was like a 10-week program. Um, they told us the first week, hey, this is what we're gonna do. We're gonna start it as the leaders, and then we'll choose someone each week. And it was the scariest thing and also the best thing because um they would just throw you in and be like, hey Joseph, can you pray for Amanda today?
SPEAKER_02And you'd be like, Okay.
SPEAKER_00Well, yeah, and it it is intimidating and scary, and but I think it's just like anything else, it's like riding a bike, like you are scared out of your mind about falling or failing, but then you do it and you're like, Oh, okay, I I got the basics of it at least. Like, I feel like you just have to do it, and like I know everyone says that there's no wrong prayer, and I think there's mostly truth to that. Like, I I do think that like when you're in the yeah, there's it's it should be all truth. Like, there's uh because when you're when you're praying, like you can I feel like you can just keep it super simple at first.
SPEAKER_02Prayer is just a conversation with God. So it's like if you have, if you are on your knees and you have a heartfelt thing that you just need to get out to God, like do that. Like if you if you are stuck on words and you don't know what to say, God can read your mind. God literally understands your heart, he can see into you. So it's like you don't have to have it all figured out to be able to pray out loud. That was actually my testimony coming out of Rooted was that I was grateful to have now now be comfortable to be able to pray out loud. But like I think you just if you're insecure about the words that you're saying and how you're doing it at first, like that's okay. You'll get better at it the more you do it and the more you put yourself in these uncomfortable positions to do it. But yeah, just talk to God, tell him what's on your heart.
SPEAKER_00Um I I mean, I think it for me it's it's a couple things. Number one is just doing it, you can keep it simple to start out with. I think the other thing is the Lord's Prayer, like just reading the Lord's Prayer and pulling out the kind of the rubric of that and using that as a way to pray. Because I that was one thing that kind of clicked for me, because I'm more like, okay, like help me with structure. Because I think there can be a structure to prayer, and you know, I think using the Lord's Prayer is a phenomenal way to structure a prayer, and then that's how he taught his disciples to pray. Yeah, just use that and keep it simple, it just to start out with, and then as you get more comfortable, you start to kind of like elaborate a little bit more on like maybe some situations that someone's going through or like things that you're feeling, and you can kind of expand on your prayer. But I feel like that's the best place to start.
SPEAKER_02And I think as you read the Bible more, you start to learn more like terminology and like you learn more of like the ways to speak like that, and so it's like it just comes a little bit more naturally when you're reading his word and you know like the way he talks. Um, I feel like it just comes more naturally for me after I started reading the Bible daily.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I agree, especially in the new New Testament.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, for sure. But praying out loud in specific, you just have to challenge yourself to do that in different situations. There was one time where I literally did not, I prayed um over a group and I did not know what to do, I didn't know what to say, and I was so nervous. And I think I was so worried about what everybody else thought about me in the moment, instead of me just being focused on my conversation with the Lord. And I think that if you're just if you are in the presence of God and you are in your head focused on just the Lord in your heart focused on just the Lord, like it it should just come very naturally to you, and it does take practice. Like it's not just gonna, it's not just gonna like be there, but I think it should come naturally with time.
SPEAKER_00I think it's fair to recognize too that most people all still get kind of nervous praying out loud.
SPEAKER_02I'm still working on praying. I'm I'm not I'm not bro at it at all.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, me either. Like if you ask me right now to just pray for five people or even one out loud, you know, like that still gets me nervous. And like, but it's it's just something you get, what do they say, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable? Like that's I feel like all it is.
SPEAKER_02Yep, but it's just a conversation with God. So let it go, let it out to God. If if you are seeking him, he will be so excited, no matter what words you say. He's rooting for you, he wants to hear from you, he will listen. So pray. Okay, number three. Okay, this was a really good question, and um, I felt like I had to bring it to the pod. It says, Do you think religion oppresses women? I want to join, but I don't want to be belittled. That's a big that's a good thing.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, there's a lot to unpack there, and it is a actually a really good question, I think. Yeah, um I would first start by um religion. Like, there's so many different religions. So, like, you know, we focus on Christianity through the Bible, and the Bible is our complete roadmap for life. There's other religions out there, I think, that are completely different. You know, I I don't really know a whole lot about other religions just because I've never looked into them, but I know that there are some out there that have historically suppressed, you know, and pushed down women a little bit more. Um, but I guess with that being said, the Bible itself, so Christianity, does not oppress or suppress women.
SPEAKER_02No, it's about there's a lot of it that preaches the equal of men and women.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly. And it says multiple times in the Bible how men and women are viewed equally in God's eyes, and especially when you start looking at the teachings of Jesus. Yes. I mean, that's where it really hits home in the New Testament. Um, but I guess with that being said, though, like just across the board in the Bible, men and women are both viewed equally in God's eyes. Jesus' eyes as well.
SPEAKER_02Made in his image, both of us.
SPEAKER_00However, I will comment there are different roles between men and women, and I think that's where things can get kind of like um misconstrued. Yeah, or or you know, the perspective of them. Because like in the Bible, for example, like the men are supposed to protect the house, they're supposed to be strong, and men generally are more physically strong than women. Um, and they have that role in the household. The women, they're I mean, you know more about it than I do, but they're you know, they Proverbs 31, women.
SPEAKER_02We have a lot.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, they they they emotionally support the household, they bear children, you know, you name it. And but there's nowhere in there does it say that one is better than the other. Um, even if the man is physically stronger.
SPEAKER_02Think about when think about when like Adam and Eve were um formed in the beginning. Like, God started with Adam, and then he's he said, man is not good alone. He needs a helper, he needs somebody by his side, so he created women.
SPEAKER_00But it is fair to recognize though that like even unfortunately, even in you know, Christianity, I think power dynamics can play into a lot of this, and like there unfortunately has been situations where I think some women have been suppressed, but that is that is a result of sin. Yeah, which is it it can happen within groups like that, but it's not the teachings of the Bible at all, it's that person, and unfortunately, you know, they probably did a sinful act and oppressed a woman, but I think we live in a broken world, and some people do not reflect the heart of Christ, and so that's why I feel like we need to lean on Christ in situations and not judge Christ for the actions of people holding on to his name, if that makes sense. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_02Like there's a lot of Christians that do bad things, and I'm I'm a sinner too. We are all sinners, but we were born into sin. But like, I don't think you should let somebody else's sin reflect God's image, if that makes sense, or reflect his name.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. No, I think that's a great way to put it. Um, but yeah, I'd it's a phenomenal question because and that's the other thing too. Like everyone's experience in church is generally tied to like a direct church or a direct person at that church, like you name it, and unfortunately, like it's not always the same. Um, but the Bible is the same. And so I think if if you are in a situation like that where you're feeling that way, I would suggest like well, if you're around a person like that, probably find a different church or something, but more importantly, like head straight to the Bible and look for guidance on it. I think that's a good place to start.
SPEAKER_02And learn who God is. I think when you learn who God is and you see how much he adores his people, both men and women, you'll see his love for you. Like we I I actually looked this up in the Bible because I was like, man, I want to have some like some this is a hard question, and it's um, and I'm sorry that you feel this way, and I'm sorry that that this is a valid question, and I'm so sorry that like it shouldn't be, but it is. Um, but Galatians 3.28 actually says, um, there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And I think that's a beautiful representation of Jesus creating men and women equal. If you read the Bible, as you read, like I've I'm about halfway through the Bible right now, and it's just it's beautiful to see women lifted up so much. There's so many women who are heroes throughout judges. There's so many women who, like Esther, who risked her life to save the Jewish people. There's Mary Magdalene, who is the first woman who she she was the first person to witness Jesus' resurrection. Women in that time period were not well respected. And Jesus wanted her to see it first. And so it's like, it's it's shocking that like a woman was the first person to see that, and the first person, the first eyewitness, like unheard of. And then it's like Ruth was a widow who, without her faith, we wouldn't be led to Jesus' lineage. So it's like there's so many important women in the Bible too, and Jesus uses us women, and he uses us today too. And it's it's I think it's once you learn more about Christ and you read more of the Bible and you really learn who he is, you'll see that he loves you, and you can't um you can't blame people, please blame him for people's actions here.
SPEAKER_00The the roles of women in just the Christian lifestyle as well is huge.
SPEAKER_02Huge. I agree. I think I think God built all of us as individuals for a different purpose, and um and so find your purpose, whatever that is, and utilize that because yeah, whether you're male, whether you're female, whatever, God's using you. You may not even know it, but God is using you, and it's cool.
SPEAKER_00Acts 2024.
SPEAKER_02That's my favorite verse.
SPEAKER_00Look it up.
SPEAKER_02He's like, don't remember it, but look it up. All it all it means is I live my life for no other purpose other than to serve God and tell people about Him.
SPEAKER_00Doesn't matter whether you're a male or female.
SPEAKER_02That's why we're here, just to preach the gospel.
SPEAKER_00Yep.
SPEAKER_02Um, also the world is probably ending soon anyway, so let's preach. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_00Speaking of that, I saw a post that said, oh no, it's the time capsule on the 250th uh on July 4th. Okay, and so they created a time capsule, put all these things in it, so in 250 years they would open it and like you know, keep doing this. And I'm like, you guys really think we're gonna make it in another 250 years?
SPEAKER_02I mean, we could.
SPEAKER_00It's just really hard to believe.
SPEAKER_02I think Jesus is coming.
SPEAKER_00I yeah, I I I really, yeah. I don't even see it making it past like our kids' generation.
SPEAKER_02I don't either, and it's I mean it's weird to think about it. Yeah, but I'm excited. I'm excited to be that we we get to be a part of this like last generation, or like what we think or hope at least.
SPEAKER_00This is our speculation.
SPEAKER_02We're we're we're just gabbing over here. I mean, don't they call the tinfoil hats? Yeah, this look at that tinfoil hats on. I don't know. We're just gabbing, but um, but yeah, like I mean, how cool is that to be a part of like if we actually are a part of the last generation of like yeah, like crazy, and to live and then to go see Jesus and live this like crazy amazing life in his presence?
SPEAKER_00Wild.
SPEAKER_02Send me okay. Next question. Um, I'm not feeling close to God no matter what I do. I'm drifting. How can I build a relationship and believe in him? I also got another question that I felt like related to it that was how to bounce back after a dry season. So I felt like those kind of go hand in hand. If like you're trying things, it's not working, and then you also have just like fallen off, um, which is normal. Don't be so hard on yourself if you have fallen off or you're trying and you're not seeing it because it's it's okay. Like we're we're human, we are not perfect. So don't give yourself grace. The Lord is giving you grace.
SPEAKER_00I think groups is a big deal. Um, like in your church or find a local church, and I know it can be a little intimidating at first, um, especially if you're doing it alone, not with like a spouse or a friend. But do it, yeah, get in a group. Like they're probably some of the nicest people, first of all. Um and then judging you, yeah, they're all there for the same reasons, and it's it's really just what you just said to build a relationship to grow closer to God, be with other people that are God like, and yeah, I I think groups are a huge catalyst into being consistent with just being in God's presence.
SPEAKER_02I think it's a daily, a daily journey too. Like, it's not like you're doing it one day and then you do it a week later. It's like it's a daily thing. Like, I think of my relationship with God, and I wake up every single day, and I like I in the shower, I always thank him for for giving air to my lungs and for just waking me up because it's not my control that I wake up, it is the Lord that woke me up, you know? And I think when you go through your day thinking of everything as a gift from the Lord, you'll be so much more appreciative and your eyes will be kind of opened with new lenses on to see just God's hand in everything in your life. And that is that's special to me at least, because now when I see people or I pray for something and then I see it happen, I'm like constantly looking with new lenses and I'm able to see God's God's hand.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I th I think that's a really important point too, is gratitude and worship. Um, I mean, worship's a big deal too. Like just riding in the car and like if you don't normally do this, flip on Christian music. Yeah, worship music. Some really good Christian music nowadays, and a lot better than when I was a kid. Uh but like the I mean if you're a commuter, I would highly recommend at the very least, like either on your way to work or coming home, like flip it on for 30 minutes or an hour.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I do that a lot too. I just do no music and I will just like sit and pray in the car as I'm driving.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and it's I just like there's I don't know, like there's something about being in a car that's weirdly peaceful. I don't, or or like you feel just these moments of connection with God until someone cuts you off and then you're like, whoa! But but it is like I think being in the uh in the car is a huge opportunity. That's funny.
SPEAKER_02I just yeah, I think I think find your moments throughout the day where you can just talk to God. Like um one of our pastors or was saying that like she like walks down the grocery store aisle and will like just be talking to God, or like another one that we've talked to will be like, I can't find my keys. Lord, help me find my keys. Like I do this all the time where I'm like talking to God as I'm doing my day. Like, I I'm where the heck is this thing? Like, Lord, help me find it. Like, and I think the more that you're just involving him in your daily conversation, you'll talk about him more. He'll become more centered in your life so that like you don't even have to like question whether like you have a relationship with him because he is present and you can you you know it, you're making him a part of your life. And I think that also like like how much time do we spend on our phones scrolling? Like, if you have time to scroll on your phone, you have time to talk to the Lord, like pray, play worship music, do something else other than maybe scroll. Because we spend hours and hours on our phone. I'm guilty, yes. We spend hours and hours on our phone, and not enough time in this. Like, this is this is meant to like learn the presence. Like, highlighters are falling out. This is meant to learn the presence of God. This is meant, this is God's living and breathing word. This is where you will find him. This is where you you will be able to hear his voice. This is where you will get to know him, and this is where you can like find him on the daily. So open up your Bible every single day. That's how you get closer to him, that's how you get out of a funk, that is how you learn to build a relationship with him, is you read the word.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I I think that's number one. And I might be calling uh either some people out or like pushing people away from our podcast here, but like if you listen to podcasts about God more than you spend time in the Bible, I feel like that could be a problem. Like, I would I mean it's it's not bad that like people are listening to podcasts about faith and stuff like that, but but you can't do it. Take it from the author, like yeah, don't take it from someone I mean, take it from good people who are you know spending time in it as well, but like just have that be your your final authority, and it's a little bit more hard to read sometimes, um, especially the old testament, but like the New Testament, I would highly encourage you to start there. Like, I Romans is phenomenal. John, all the gospels, like, you know, it's but yeah, like the Bible is number one.
SPEAKER_02It's kind of like what it's kind of like what we talked about in the last episode. I think it was the last episode, where we talked about like how I don't want to like idolize these Christian influencers who I want to be like or who I'm listening to on Instagram, who I'm getting biblical information from on Instagram, right? Same with y'all, like I don't want you guys like putting us on a pedestal because we're like bringing you like all this like biblical information or whatever because we're just people out here living life. But like I think this is the final word. So, like if we say something that you're more interested in or whatever, or somebody from another podcast says something, use the word to back it up. Like, always go back to the word. Don't just don't just trust human word because humans we we live in a broken world. But Jeremiah 29 13, I actually wrote this verse down because I thought it went so well with this, but it says, You will seek me and find. Me when you seek me with all your heart. And I think that's so important. Like you can't just seek him with one foot in, one foot out. Some I I actually saw this on Instagram the other day where somebody was saying that you're following Jesus with your feet, but not your heart. And so you're walking in all the ways that you should as a Christian. You're doing all the right things. You're wearing the Christian apparel, you're serving, you're doing all of the things with your feet, but your heart, do people, can people see that you love Christ just from looking at you? Just from your presence, just from being around you. When they get near you, are they experiencing Christ too? And I think that's a question that you should ask yourself and see and evaluate, evaluate and see what you can do differently in your life to walk more like Christ and to follow him with your heart. Seek him, seek him, and when you seek him with all of your heart, that is when you will find him. All of it, not part of it. All of your heart, all of your heart in the Bible, all of your heart in him. Seek him.
SPEAKER_01Boom.
SPEAKER_02Wow. We both dropped the bomb at the same time.
SPEAKER_00I mean you dropped it.
SPEAKER_02I was just we both did. That was a good thing.
SPEAKER_00No, but you literally dropped it. I was just like.
SPEAKER_02We both did that with our hands. Wow. Anyways, if you're listening, sorry. We both like did the exact same hand mission. Okay, so next question. Um when to talk about okay, so this is a good one. When to talk about religion when dating or how to handle a relationship with a partner who's not on the same path. First of all, that second part of that question where there's a partner who's maybe not on the same path as you religiously. I think we talked about this in episode three. So go back to episode three to listen to that. But to answer the first part, which is when to talk about religion when dating, I think immediately? Yeah, I think I think it should just like I said answered in the last question, like this other person should know that you love Jesus with all of your heart and that Jesus comes above that person when they first meet you. It shouldn't even be a question. I don't think that you should have to tell somebody that you're your love for God. I think they should just be able to see it and know. And I think that should be so centered in your life that the Lord should be such a big part of your life that it's just a non-negotiable peeps.
SPEAKER_00But at the same time, like do it with an understanding heart.
SPEAKER_02Like Well, I'm saying you shouldn't even talk, you shouldn't even have to say it.
SPEAKER_00No, but I think eventually it'll get it's gonna get brought up in conversation. For sure. Like, I mean, I mean the reality of it is like let's say we're in a new relationship. I find out this is how it works. Yeah, let's fact this is the reality I've talked about. No, I know.
SPEAKER_02If you're in a relationship right now and you've never talked about it before, you uh and they don't, they're just or you have talked about it before and you're just not on the same level.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think like we so we would start talking about it. I mean, eventually from the beginning, yeah, and and eventually, you know, you would find out like, hey, I go to church and you know, these are my values, and this is what I stand behind, the Bible, um, X, Y, and Z. And I think on that initial onset, like, if that person's not even willing to like take it in or understand, then that's hard. Like, I don't know if I could really continue with that relationship. On the flip side, though, if that person was like, look, you know, I totally respect what you believe in. Um, it's just you know, I'm I'm not really there yet, like type thing. Maybe there's potential to like change that person's heart, and maybe it just takes time. And maybe it's you, and maybe it's not gonna work out too. Like, I don't know. It it's it's hard to say.
SPEAKER_02But if it doesn't work out and you brought someone to the Lord, but then that's beautiful too.
SPEAKER_00But I I do think like it's it's definitely a big judgment call. And again, this is early in a relationship, not one that's you know, later on. But um, yeah, I I think it is one of those things you just kind of have to work with time. And it's for me, it's always if the person's at least willing to understand or listen, then I feel like, all right, like there's something here, like there's potential.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I just think it should be the first, first and ultimate thing. I think if it's on your heart, just talk about it. Make sure that you are getting in a relationship with someone who is aligned or willing to work with potentially like going to church with you and learning more about what you um love and do and all the things.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I agree.
SPEAKER_02Next question. Um, how to find a community of like-minded friends that can help you move spiritually?
SPEAKER_00Church.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we kind of talked about this a lot too. Go to church, join a group, join a Bible study, get out of your comfort zone. Sitting on the couch, watching TV, playing video games, scrolling on your device, that's not gonna get you like-minded friends, that's gonna get you sitting on the couch. Go out and get to church. Go, folks. We gotta get off the couch. Telling myself here. Um, I also wrote to not be afraid to talk about God to people. I think it's interesting because um even in my friends who I don't know if they're believers or whatever, I'll be in a conversation with them and bring up God and um and how he's moving in my life and just talking about him because he is on my mind all the time and he is moving in my life. So if I talk about that to a friend who I don't necessarily know if they're a believer or not, it's so interesting, and you'll be surprised when you do this to find out how many of your friends that you already have are actually believers. And they might not be as like, they might be more of a lukewarm believer, which is okay too, but you might be the bridge to getting them over that, like, over that hump of being lukewarm to like actual all in. So I mean that's the really cool part is like you can inspire a conversation that's very fruitful rather than a conversation over gossip or whatever else within your friend group just because of you talking about your faith. Last question was how to find your calling. I'm gonna link a message from a couple of weeks weeks ago that was actually on this in specific from our church, and I thought it was really a great way to find your calling. I feel like I'm kind of struggling on this, like, what is my purpose right now in the present moment? Because I um I feel like I like did all the dancing, I did all the like highs of my life, and now I'm like on this, like, I'm not yet a mother, so I feel like I'm like, where is my purpose going? Like, where is it? It what is the purpose of my present? And so I feel that, and I feel like that message really helped me a lot to like um understand more how to find your calling. So I'll link that too in the caption for y'all. Um, but yeah, I think that is everything, and I think I hope that answers a lot of your questions. I'll do these again because I really thought your questions were so valuable to everybody because we're all wondering the same thing. And y'all, just a disclaimer, we are not professionals in this industry by any means. We are just a husband and wife who love the Lord and want to talk about the Lord, and we're still new to our faith, learning um how to do this whole thing. So um we're right alongside of you guys, and we're running right alongside of you. So don't be afraid to ever comment or let us know if you have any questions that you want us to go over. But, anyways, like, subscribe. Please let us know if you're liking this podcast. Don't forget to drop in the comments where you're listening from and where your favorite place is in the area because we want to know maybe future trips. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you so much for these folks behind the screen. I thank you so much for our marriage and friendships of the world. Um, Lord, I want to pray over everyone listening to this podcast. I pray that you just put some encouragement on them and you allow them grace in their journey with you, Lord. Um, we're not perfect here. We live in a broken world and we are sinners, all of us. Um, and I just pray that you give us grace. I pray that you redeem us and I pray that you just continue to be our pillar that we go to daily for um guidance for just everything that we need in life. You are our life saving, you are our redeemer, you are our healer, you are everything to us, Lord. So I just pray that you watch over everybody here and that you continue to guide them in their relationship with you, Lord. And it's in Jesus' name that I pray. Amen.