Thad and Amanda Let's T@LK Podcast

It's goal review time.  How did you do? What goals do you still have to complete in 2022? it's not too late to finish strong. We want to encourage you to celebrate the progress you have made and finish the year strong.  We're thankful and grateful to God for helping us make it through 2022.  

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Charles Dickens

The Christmas Holiday for some is a time of rejoicing and yet for others it is a time of despair. Why? Because many are trying to manage celebrating while grieving. How do you celebrate while grieving the loss of a loved one, marriage or other relationship, a job, a home, or get a bad doctor Report? Listen in as we share how we manage the gamut of Holiday Emotions.

Eckhart Tolle said: “Acknowledging the good you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Thankfulness and Gratefulness in a relationship goes a long way and builds your spouse or significant other up. Sharing how thankful and grateful you are of each other lets you know you are appreciated, accepted, and loved and builds equity in your relationship.

This thanksgiving we are reflecting on Philippians 1:3 (NLT) Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. We're thinking of each other, praying for each other and rejoicing over each other.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

"The Seven Enemies of Marriage!" Boundaries are an important aspect of everyday living. Even more so in marriage relationships. Boundaries set the proverbial “No TRESPASSING” or “Private Property” sign up for the enemy. Boundaries provide your relationship with protection and safety from attack.  Listen to this series to learn how to set boundaries and keep your relationship from being A.M.B.U.S.H.E.D.

"The Seven Enemies of Marriage!" Listen to this series to learn how we overcome these challenges and keep your relationship from being A.M.B.U.S.H.E.D. 

MANIPULATION is the intentional attempt to mentally or psychologically exploit, control, or otherwise influence others to your advantage. Manipulators take advantage of others' weakness or gullibility and force others to their will or bidding. In relationships, manipulation occurs when someone wants to have power over or become superior to the person they are manipulating. 

The Seven Enemies of Marriage!" An enemy is not just a person or nation that apposes or is hostile towards you; but it is also a thing that harms or weakens something else. Is Anger one of the enemies that weakens your marriage relationship? Ecclesiastes 7:9 says "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools." Have you ever been angry with your spouse or significant other? We have. Listen is as we discuss how we learned to be angry and sin not. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you; Attack the problem and not each other; and, Pray for & Forgive one another.  These are steps to keep your relationship from being A.M.B.U.S.H.E.D.

Matthew 13:24-29 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.' “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them." (NIV)

"The Seven Enemies of Marriage!" An enemy is not just a person or nation that opposes or is hostile towards you; but it is also a thing that harms or weakens something else. All marriages have challenges.  Our marriage has been no different.  Through our 30 plus years of marriage we know how Anger, Manipulation, Lack of Boundaries, Unforgiveness, Selfishness, Habits, Unmet Expectations and Disconnection can erode the love, joy, and peace in a relationship.  Listen to this series to learn how we overcome these challenges and keep your relationship from being A.M.B.U.S.H.E.D.

Don’t allow ungratefulness to rob you of acknowledging God’s goodness.  There may have been many things that did not go the way you wanted them to go. Don’t allow disappointment to linger and stop you from celebrating the blessings you have experienced.

Forgiveness is the decision or choice to give up the right for vengeance, retribution, or having negative thoughts toward an offender. You will know you are walking in forgiveness when the thing that offended you doesn’t bother you anymore or when you see the person and no longer become angry at them or feel as though they owe you an apology. If feelings of resentment and anger, or thoughts of retribution arise when you see them, you are not walking in forgiveness.  Walking in forgiveness promotes healing and restoration of inner peace and can make room for reconciliation to take place in the relationship. 

In our previous podcast we shared "What a Husband Wants: Honor & Respect." We will now discuss “What A Wife Wants: Security & Love. Neither of these discussions is all-encompassing. There may be some men and women that say these are not the top things they desire foremost in their spouse or significant other. However, from our experience working with couples, these are the top two expectations discussed by both.

Honor and respect are two things husbands need from their wives more than any other,  except sex. Honor is a classic character trait that is often overlooked in today’s modern society. Living an honorable life is not something that just happens – it is something that must be carefully and continually sought after. Respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they're different from you or you don't agree with them. Respect in your relationships builds feelings of trust, safety, and wellbeing. 

In todays podcast we will discuss our journey to discovering what Honor and Respect are in a marriage relationship.  We will also list some ways that wives can show honor and respect to their husbands. 

Part 2 of Becoming One: Many couples struggle with oneness because one or both partners see oneness as having to give up their identity and take on another. The question becomes- How do I maintain my individual identity if I am supposed to become one with my spouse?

Oneness is a direction that two people agree to journey to. Which means they are taking steps to get there.

Many couples struggle with oneness because one or both partners see oneness as having to give up their identity and take on another. The question becomes- How do I maintain my individual identity if I am supposed to become one with my spouse?

Oneness is a direction that two people agree to journey to. Which means they are taking steps to get there.

Conflict usually occurs when emotions control us and we respond from a place of fear, hurt, or the feeling we need to defend ourselves. Strong emotional responses can be rooted in unmet needs or when boundaries are crossed.  If those needs are not met and boundaries are not respected, we begin to feel disrespected, threatened, or undervalued.

• If you're beginning to feel that way ask yourself (why?).  Is it because these powerful negative emotions are triggered when someone says something- a word or phrase that stirs up negative memories or the tone in which they speak reminds us of a place that we don't want to go back to?
  
• Triggers become problematic when we don't recognize them and deal with them from the root.
  
• Identifying or recognizing your triggers can help you respond in grace and love instead of reacting from a place of fear, hurt, or anger.
  

Have you ever asked yourself, "why did I say that?"  We sure have.  Through the years we've learned how to "bite our tongue" and not say something to keep disagreements from escalating.  In our second Cups full of Grace devotion we share how forceful our words are.  Words spoken in the wrong tone and at the wrong time can escalate disagreements.  Whereas, Proverbs 25:11 declares words fitly (rightly) spoken are like apples of gold and settings of silver.  A word spoken at the right time and right way can diffuse disagreements. Job 6:24-26 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forceful are right words!

Cups full of Grace is about the power of your words. Words have the power to heal & hurt or build up & tear down.  Our goal is to encourage you to choose the words that will heal and build those you are in a relationship with.

Colossians 4:6 NLT says  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive[a] so that you will have the right response for everyone.

What roles and responsibilities are you operating in or expecting in your relationship?  Traditional roles from 60 years ago are gender based with the male or husband being the primary breadwinner in the home. In our modern times, that may not be the case.  In this episode we discuss "Traditional vs Non-Traditional" roles in our relationship.  Listen in as we discover our need to explore roles, develop what worked for us, find our balance, and remain flexible in our ever evolving relationship.

In this episode of Let's T@LK, we share our thoughts on what it takes and means for us to "stay committed" to our relationship.  Marriage isn't easy and requires work.  We've discovered through the years and seasons of life what we each are willing to do to have a marriage that lasts.  Join us in our discussion.  Please leave comments or send us a message letting us know your thoughts.

Jealousy is known as the green-eyed monster and surfaces in all relationships. Feeling jealous is a natural emotion, but we don't have to let jealousy destroy our relationships. Using the acronym "BEFIT" our goal is to help couples lessen the impact of jealousy in their relationship.  BEFIT means to 1- Set Boundaries, 2- Communicate Expectations, 3- Walk in Forgiveness, 4- Identify Insecurities, and 5- Build Trust. This discussion will be aired in two parts.  In part one, we define jealousy and discuss setting boundaries and communicating expectations.

This is part two of our two part discussion on How to Overcome Jealousy in Your Relationship. Feeling jealous is a natural emotion, but we don't have to let jealousy destroy our relationships. Using the acronym "BEFIT" our goal is to help couples lessen the impact of jealousy in their relationship.  BEFIT means to 1- Set Boundaries, 2- Communicate Expectations, 3- Walk in Forgiveness, 4- Identify Insecurities, and 5- Build Trust. 

Listen in as we share with you how our story began and has evolved into our purpose.

Happy New Year!  We pray that 2021 is a year of health, safety, and prosperity for you and your family.  At the beginning of each year people resolve to do something, whether it's to exercise more and lose weight or spend less and save more.  These are individual goals which can also be couple goals. In this episode we discuss our couple goals which may inspire you to set couple goals for you and your loved one.  We hope you enjoy.  Blessings, 

Thad & Amanda 

It's Thanksgiving 2020!  It's not time to focus on what you don't have, it's time to focus on what you do have.  How thankful and grateful are you of your spouse or significant other? Thankfulness and Gratefulness in a relationship goes a long way and builds your spouse or significant other up. Sharing how thankful and grateful you are to have them in your life lets them know that you appreciate them and builds equity in your relationship. We encourage you to take some time this season to reflect on the good qualities and value you each bring to your relationship.  Celebrate the gift/prize you have!

We discuss five best practices we use to build and strengthen our connection.

Two important communication skills all couples should develop: Assertiveness and Active Listening.