In Season 3 Episode 6, Scott and Dawn continue the conversation of nurturing the habits of grace (or spiritual disciplines) in your personal life. In this episode we move on to the habits on engagement, which are prayer, fellowship, worship, study, service, confession and submission. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scripture: Heb. 3:7-8, Heb. 3:15, Heb. 4:7, Matt. 11:15, Matt. 13:43, Acts 2:42-47, Heb. 13:16, 1 Cor. 10:13, Ps. 115:1, Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Cor. 10:31, Jn. 4:23-24, Acts 17:11, 2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Jn. 4:1, Ps. 119:18
• Navigators Word Hand illustration 

In Season 3 Episode 5, Scott and Dawn continue talking about the importance of nurturing the habits of grace (or spiritual disciplines) in your personal life. We began the discussion of these habits, particularly habits of abstinence, in episode 4, and in today's episode we talk specifically about frugality, sacrifice, and chastity. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Galatians 5:22-23
• John 15:13
• Romans 12:10
• Phil. 2:3-4
• 1 Corinthians 7:5
• 2 Timothy 2:22
• Proverbs 13:20
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

*Season 2, Episodes 12 & 13 talk about boundaries (Hedges of Protection to place around your marriage).

In Season 3 Episode 4, Scott and Dawn talk about the importance of nurturing the habits of grace (or spiritual disciplines) in your personal life. These habits can be broken down into two categories - habits of abstinence and habits of engagement. Habits of abstinence are the ones where we push the things of this world away or set something aside in order to pull the things of God into you. The habits of abstinence include fasting, silence, solitude, frugality, sacrifice, and chastity. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Daniel 1:5, 8-16; 10:2-3
• Psalm 139:23-24
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

In Season 3 Episode 3, Scott and Dawn unpack the second characteristic of those who FINISH WELL: Invite Others Into Your Life

Relationships are very important and our willingness to invite other people into our life is key to finishing well. Success in finishing well depends upon a network of key relationships which fall within these three categories: upstream relationships, walking buddies, and downstream relationships.

Questions to consider: Who do you have in your life, beyond your parents and your spouse, that can speak into your life? Who are your "walking buddies"? Who are you pouring into?

Mentioned in this episode:

• John 15:15
• Proverbs 27:17
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8
• Luke 10:38-42
• Proverbs 11:14
• Proverbs 27:6
• Ephesians 4:15
• Proverbs 17:17
• Luke 10:1-9

In the second episode of season 3, Scott and Dawn unpack the first characteristic of those who FINISH WELL: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.

Christ is the source of our life and is worthy to be the center of our affections. We talk about some means and methods that we have found to be helpful in centering our affections on Jesus. We talk about how, as Christians, we are saved by grace alone, in Christ alone, and only by his grace will we FINISH WELL.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Hebrews 12:1-2
• Colossians 3:1-2
• Acts 17:28
• Romans 11:36
• Ephesians 2:8
• John 14:6
• Romans 6:23
• 2 Corinthians 5:21
• 1 Corinthians 15:10
• Ephesians 2:10
• Philippians 1:6
• Jude 1
• Jude 24

Pause and Ponder: Is there any area of my life that needs a course correction so that I can FINISH WELL? If so, what needs to change?

As we kick off Season 3 of the Forever Marriage Podcast, Scott & Dawn discuss what it means to FINISH WELL.

How we start in life is important.  Athletic races are often won and lost at the starting blocks.  But, even more important than a good start is a great finish.  The older we get, the less impressed we are with the “shooting stars” of today who have a great start.  It’s common nowadays for “shooting stars” to become “flashes in the pan” who either finish poorly or don’t finish the race at all.  We are truly inspired by those who exhibit steadfast faithfulness over the course of a lifetime - often 7-9 decades in length.  They are the real stars.  Afterall, real life is more of a marathon than it is a sprint, isn’t it?  The ones who have trained and prepared to run a marathon often know what it takes to “finish with endurance the race that is set before (them)” - Hebrews 12:1.

In our next episodes, we'll discuss these 10 characteristics that seem to be common threads of those who FINISH WELL:

F - ix your eyes on Jesus
I - nvite others into your life
N - urture the habits of grace (spiritual disciplines) in your personal life
I - nvest in others
S - et up hedges of protection
H - ave a focused life

W - alk in a manner worthy of the Lord
E - stablish sustainable habits
L - earn for all of life
L - ive with the end in mind

Mentioned in this episode:

• Jean Fleming's Pursue the Intentional Life
• Word to ponder - Prepare
• Psalm 90:12

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage
Episode 16: Remove Any Barriers to Sexual Satisfaction

In this final episode of Season 2, the Smiths encourage couples to be purposeful in removing any barriers to sexual satisfaction, which include:

1. Inability to discuss openly and honestly sexual desires and needs.
2. When one partner makes requests that makes another partner uncomfortable.
3. Decisions regarding birth control.

Mentioned in this episode:

• 1 Corinthians 13:5
• 5 Keys to a Safe Relationship - blogpost or podcast
• Ephesians 5:21

Couple's Conversation
1. How does the language used when discussing sexual issues make you feel?
2. What can we do to strengthen our love for each other?
3. Do we understand one another's preferences for non-sexual touch and affection?
4. How do you think my interest in sex might be different from yours?

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage
Episode 15: 3 Ways to Fan the Flame of Longing for One Another

In this episode the Smiths finish discussing Key 5 - Pray with and for One Another. In this key, the Smiths talk about these 3 ways to fan the flame of longing for one another:

1. Be loving to your spouse.
2. Treat your spouse as desirable.
3. Remember that sex in the head erodes sex in the bed.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Romans 12:9
• Proverbs 11:27
• Blogpost - You Will Always Find What You are Looking For
• Philippians 4:8
• Keeping Blessing Hill by Joyce Sackett
• Job 31:1

Couple's Conversation
1. With regard to our sexual relationship, how can I best pray for you?
2. From this study, what false or distorted beliefs have you uncovered within your thinking?
3. Share what you find most attractive or appealing about your spouse.

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage
Episode 14: Pray with and for One Another

In this episode the Smiths kick off Key 5 - Pray with and for One Another. In this key, the Smiths talk about how they believe prayer is the master key that has the potential to unlock all the doors of biblical intimacy for you and your spouse. Paul says in Philippians 4:6, " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." We can talk to God about everything and prayer requests regarding our sex life is no different. These are 3 ways you can pray with and for one another:

1. Pray for God to show you false or distorted beliefs you have regarding God and sex.
2. Pray for God to give you longings only for one another.
3. Pray proactively.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Philippians 4:6-7
• 1 John 5:14-15
• Hebrews 4:16
• "Have a daily point of contact" blog referenced 
• 1 Corinthians 6:18
• Ephesians 6:18
• Song of Songs 4:7

Season 2: Six Keys to Better Sex in Marriage
Episode 13: 8 "Hedges of Protection" to Place Around Your Marriage (Pt. 2)

In this episode the Smiths discuss Key 4 - Fiercely Protect Emotional Intimacy with and for One Another. In this key, the Smiths continue to share the "hedges of protection" they have placed around themselves to protect the fidelity of their marriage. The first 4 were covered in episode 12 and the last 4 are covered in this episode.

5. Be cautious of social media interactions with others of the opposite sex, especially former "flames."
6. Keep no secrets.
7. Be mindful of affairs of the heart (emotional affairs).
8. Don't lose your mind.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Matthew 15:18-19
• Genesis 3 (Read and look for key words like "hide", "cover", "blame", "deny," etc.)
• Mark 4:22
• The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
• Ephesians 5:13
• James 5:16
• 1 Peter 5:8
• Proverbs 20:1
• Ephesians 5:15-18

Couple's Conversation:
1. What "hedges" have you and your spouse agreed to place around your marriage?
2. How are those "hedges" working?
3. Are there additional "hedges" you would like your spouse to incorporate into their daily life?
4. Are there areas of your spouse's life where they may have "blind spots" (areas of susceptibility they have that others see but your spouse doesn't)?