Sam and Erica's Marriage podcast

Romance in Your Marriage Part 1 of 4: Romance - Date Night

Episode 005

February 4, 2019

1. Who we are

1. Having a real Date Night, it’s really important

1. Having a real Date Night, it’s really important

Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. She is the reward!!!

1. Date Night Builds Intimacy
   1. Intimate conversation - we did this before we married.

1. What to do

A.Pick a time that fits your schedule

1. Pick the prime real estate not the leftovers.

1. Be creative

1. Think about the things you did before you were married

1. What not to do

1. Don’t talk about the finances

1. What’s holding you back?

1. Small children

1. This time we want you to go out on a date. If it’s been a while and you  struggle with what to talk about try sharing things you’d like to do on future dates.

Recreational Enjoyment Inventory from His Needs, Her Needs

Recreational Enjoyment Inventory

His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F. Harley, Jr.

His Needs, Her Needs on Amazon

Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Love & Respect on Amazon

A Celebration of Sex by Dr. Douglas E. Rosenau

A Celebration of Sex on Amazon

Next we continue our discussion on Romance In Your Marriage.

Sam and Erica's Marriage podcast

Money in your marriage Part 4 of 4: Money - How we give it

Episode 004

January 28, 2019

1. Who we are

1. Giving to our church

1. Giving to the Church (We’ll come back to this one)

Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Gifts

Birthdays

Holidays

Special Occasions

Legacy

College

Inheritance

1. Giving to your friends

1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

1. Gifts

1. Wanna be in a position to GIVE and not loan. Lending creates hardships for the family/friend  in need-they are already short of monies. Tension in the relationship.

• Spouses should not loan each other money… ONENESS. If one of you is “short”, you both are “short”-Allowance helps.

1. Giving to those in need

Charity

Matthew 6:2-3 "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

1. John 3:16.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal  life”. The ultimate sacrifice can show the love of Christ to others

1. Giving to your church

Tithe

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

1. The tithe is God’s standard for giving. Not debatable.

1. Net vs gross

1. Some people have the spiritual gift of charity and tithing is easy, natural, even supernatural.

1. Malachi 3:8-13

1. You find the promises…”See won’t I open up the windows of heaven…” is just the beginning!

Gifts/ Offerings

1. The tithe isn’t all of the giving that you can do at your church.

1. If you had a conversation about money this month that you wouldn’t have normally had go celebrate. You just started a new thing in your marriage and it will take it to new heights.

Budget - Excel spreadsheet

Our Spending Plan (Budget) spreadsheet

Dave Ramsey - Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover on Amazon

Money and Marriage God’s Way

Money and Marriage God's Way on Amazon

Follow Josh and Bre on Instagram (just click the links below)

Follow Josh on Instagram

Follow Bre on Instagram

Next we begin our discussion on Romance In Your Marriage.

Sam and Erica's Marriage podcast

Money in your marriage Part 3 of 4: Money - How we save it

Episode 003

January 28, 2019

1. Who we are

1. Why should we save?

Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

1. How do we save.

Types and tiers

1. The Emergency Fund

1. $1000

1. Retirement savings

1. Super important

1. Offered to participate in 401K program through work and I opted out

1. Special occasion, event or purchase savings

1. Christmas - same day every year

1. We didn’t always save or have a plan

1. When you plan there is less stress. You can actually vacate while on vacation, no worries about the bills or what the bills will look like when you return home

1. Household upgrades - sofa, tv, refrigerator

a.Make a list of what you want to get done in the house, together.

1. Save towards getting those things accomplished. Consider order of importance.

1. Make sure you are in agreement on how you will save and what you are saving for.

1. Plan a day to discuss all of your thoughts on saving and what you would like to save for. Hear each other’s hearts about saving and develop a strategy to address what you uncover. You may realize how all of our action plans require some sort of discussion. That’s our way of getting you to discuss your finances.

Budget - Excel spreadsheet

Our Spending Plan (Budget) spreadsheet

Dave Ramsey - Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover on Amazon

Money and Marriage God’s Way

Money and Marriage God's Way on Amazon

Next week we'll discuss how to give it.

Sam and Erica's Marriage Podcast

Money in your marriage Part 2 of 4: Money - How do you see it?

Episode 002

January 21, 2019

1. Who we are

1. Money is a tool.

Money is not bad or evil.

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

You use it to build or destroy

Build wealth

Bless others

Buy more comforts

Do you want money to:

Live a certain lifestyle, buy nice things, a nice home, nice cars, etc.

Luxuries

Provide security

Emergency fund, college fund, retirement savings.

Debt

The Bible warns against debt

Proverbs 22:7 - The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Proverbs 22:26 - Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

But we still use debt, why?

What is your attitude about debt?

Some people hate it

Some people love it

Some people accept it as “that’s just a part of life”

The normal American has $38,000 in debt, not including their mortgage.(CNBC)

Is all debt created equal? Good or bad:

Credit cards

Mortgage

Payday loans

Student loans

The Bible doesn’t discriminate

So should you use debt?

The amount of debt you have, as  a couple, coupled with the risk tolerance of each of you creates the formula for catastrophe in your marriage.

That’s a decision that should be made jointly.

Debt will impact other decisions. You may not be able to do things the way you would like to because of your debt and the obligation to make those payments.

Payments affect:

How you spend

How you save

How you give

I would sponsor a family at Christmas or help my children but...

So what do we do?

Discuss all debts

Only add new debt if both of you consider it and agree

Develop a plan to get out of debt that you agree on

No one would argue that the God’s perfect will is that we, his people, not be borrowers.

1. Plan a day to discuss all of your debt-may require getting a copy of your credit reports. Hear each other’s hearts about debt and develop a strategy to address what you uncover.

Budget - Excel spreadsheet http://www.christianswithambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/glbl-budget-template_v1_1.xls

Dave Ramsey - Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover on Amazon

Money and Marriage God’s Way

Money and Marriage God's Way on Amazon

Next week we'll discuss how to save it.

Who we are

How we got here

What the podcast is all about

To bless our family, especially our spouse.

So, what do you want money for?

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV — But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Proverbs 13:22 ESV — A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

Deuteronomy 28:12 ESV — The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Live a certain lifestyle

Buy nice things, nice home, nice cars, luxuries, etc.

Provide security

Emergency fund

College fund

Retirement

Find a format that works for you

We use a spreadsheet

Spending cash/ envelope system (Dave Ramsey)

Money and Marriage God’s way has examples of four systems

cash/ envelopes

pencil and paper

Software

Apps and web based

Begin with prayer

Be open to each others concerns

Review at the end of the month so you both understand the adjustments for next month.

Allocate every dollar

Estimate all income then subtract all expenses

Allowances are important!

Budget money for dates, eating out, shopping, etc.

Be honest!

Your first attempt won’t be perfect. Stay at it. It will get better.

Proverbs 27:23 NIV — Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;

Ecclesiastes 7:12 NIV — Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.

Try to prepare your own budget

Pray for our podcast

Share our podcast with your friends

Copy and share this link: seasonsministries.org/podcast

Budget - Excel spreadsheethttp://www.christianswithambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/glbl-budget-template_v1_1.xls

The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey

Money and Marriage God's Way - Howard Dayton

Welcome to Sam and Erica's Marriage Podcast. On our podcast we'll discuss ways of making better marriages. Join us each week as we have a fun discussion about enjoying the highs and reducing the lows of marriage. You can also find us at seasonsministries.org/podcast.