How to Help a Hurting Marriage: Forgiveness & Trust (Part 5) :: [Ep. 181]

We can’t deny sin is part of our lives and it’s often undeniable that our spouse is in sin because we can feel its effects. And our spouse can feel the effects of our sin, as well. Sin separates. It damages. It breaks trust. Every one of us will be sinned against – we should expect it. So with this in mind, we should know HOW to respond when sinned against.

Tune in to VowsToKeep's Part 5 of the How to Help A Hurting Marriage series where we talk about forgiveness and trust in marriage. We will counsel you on what to do with sin - first with our own sin and then with your spouse’s sin. Come join us!

Read this corresponding Blog article to learn more!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/help-my-marriage-is-stuck

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For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

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How to Help a Hurting Marriage: Idols of the Heart (Part 4) :: [Ep. 180]

When something is valuable, we guard it. We protect it. Your heart is something of huge value and God says guard it! 

If we are not on guard or careful, it is so easy to let things - other than God - become our priority and focus. When we have things in our life that have taken God's place and have let things rule us other than God...that makes us an idolator. And if we are struggling with Idolatry, our marriage WILL innevitably suffer! 

VowsToKeep is in week 4 of our series How to Help a Hurting Marriage. We will highlight common idols of the heart and how to better guard our hearts against these idols. Come join us!

After you listen, come back and read our corresponding Blog article to learn more!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/how-do-i-get-what-i-want-in-my-marriage

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Help a Hurting Marriage: Spiritual Condition (Part 3) :: [Ep. 179]

Could you run an actual marathon today? 

For most, the answer is NO! Daily conditioning is essential to adequately run and even train others for a marathon. A person’s spiritual walk is the same – maturity CANNOT be obtained without conditioning.

Tune in to our Part 3 of the How to Help A Hurting Marriage series where we talk about the importance of Spiritual Conditioning for yourself and for the friend with the hurting marriage.

Read the corresponding Blog article to learn more!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/how-understanding-your-spiritual-growth-deeply-impacts-your-marriage

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Help a Hurting Marriage: Purpose (Part 2) :: [Ep. 178]

Are you witnessing a close friend’s marriage up in flames and feeling completely uncertain of how to help?

Join us for Part 2 of the How to Help a Hurting Marriage series. We will remind you of the true purpose of marriage, offer clarity on what to focus on first and what the foundational essentials must be to truly offer effective help.

Read the corresponding Blog article to learn more!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/is-change-even-possible-for-my-marriage

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

How to Help A Hurting Marriage: Intro (Part 1) :: [Ep. 177]

Ever had a moment where a friend, family member, or co-worker confessed that their marriage was in shambles? And in that moment, you had NO clue what to say to help?

If so, this series, How to Help a Hurting Marriage, is just for you. In this series, we will teach practical steps you can take to not only provide HOPE but equip the hurting marriages in your life.

After you listen, come back and click on this link to read our corresponding Blog article to learn more!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/enough-is-enough

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Creating a Restful Way of Living :: [Ep. 176]

Does the thought of summer winding down and the school year rapidly approaching leave you feeling stressed? Or maybe you are already in the crazy cycle of busy and experiencing the overwhelming feelings of burnout and longing for rest but don't even know where to start to get things on the right track?!

A couple weeks ago, we talked about burnout and seeking TRUE rest. (If you missed those episodes, go check them out! Start at Episode 171 https://www.vowstokeep.com/podcast/episode/79ae99ba/burnout-are-you-getting-the-rest-you-need-ep-171) So often, many of us seek rest in the wrong things that can never provide the rest we long for. Which is why this episode is one you don't want to miss. We will be talking about Creating a Restful Way of Living.

With summer coming to an end and busy schedules picking up, this episode will come in handy in teaching you how to intentionally create a sustainable, life-giving, restful way of living in the midst of all the busy. Don't miss it!

P.S. Once you have listened to today's podcast, come back here to pray this prayer!

My Savior, thank you for the cross and for giving me eternal rest! I lay the burdens of my sins at your feet (name specific sin and ask for forgiveness, thanking your Savior for His rest). My Master, this is YOUR day. Thank you for asking me to come under Your yoke, so I can learn to rest in my heart and soul as I work next to you. Show me right now where You are plowing. Open my eyes to the needs around me. My Teacher, thank you for being humble and gentle with me. Help me learn from You today how to handle this situation (be specific). Show me Your way of doing things and help me to rest in Your love so I can live a life of love poured out. AMEN!

P.S.S. Check out a couple of our corresponding Blog posts about Creating a Restful Way of Living in your heart and marriage!
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/god-s-rest-or-my-work-making-a-choice-to-let-go-and-trust-god

https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/a-marriage-at-rest-appetizers-and-dessert

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

God Isn't Done With You or Your Marriage!: Sanctification (Part 2) :: [Ep. 175]

Understanding salvation, justification, sanctification and adoption is KEY to a Biblically healthy marriage. Surprising, huh?!

In this two part series, YES, we’re going to do some theological digging – BUT don’t be scared! As we walk through Biblical truths like…

salvation, justification, sanctification and adoption

…we will not only gain an understanding of our position in Christ, we will more accurately understand our Savior and His heart for us.

And when we’ve got those things firmly in hand, we will see the people God has put in our lives, like our spouse and our children, with NEW eyes.

What so many marriages desperately need are new eyes, new perspective, new purpose, a new compassionate heart of Hope.

God is not only asking you to grow spiritually, He’s asking you to play a critical role in your spouse’s process of spiritual growth! We believe that when we really grasp and understand these theological concepts, our marriages will begin changing for the better.  Our marriages will be built on a stronger foundation and together we will begin to look more like our Savior.  Come listen now!

AFTER you have listened to this episode, come back and grab this helpful resource by Jim Putman which goes along with our teachings in this episode and the next!
https://jimputman.com/downloads/The%205%20Stages%20Of%20Spiritual%20Maturity%20LM%20.pdf

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

God Isn't Done With You or Your Marriage!: Sanctification (part 1) :: [Ep. 174]

Did you know that your spiritual condition and your spiritual growth significantly affects your marriage relationship? In this two-part series, we are going to do some digging, delving, and defining into words like salvation, justification, sanctification, and adoption. You might be thinking, what does this have to do with marriage? Or how can this help me in my relationship with my spouse?! Great questions!

We firmly believe that when you and I really grasp and understand these theological concepts, our lives and marriages will begin changing for the better. Our marriages will be built on a stronger foundation and together we will begin to look more like our Savior to our spouse, our kids, and to a world which needs to see HIS love.

Take some time today to invest in your marriage by listening and learning along with us on VowsToKeep!

AFTER you have listened to this episode, come back and grab this helpful resource by Jim Putman which goes along with our teachings in this episode and the next!
https://jimputman.com/downloads/The%205%20Stages%20Of%20Spiritual%20Maturity%20LM%20.pdf

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Burnout: Exploring 7 Kinds of Rest  :: [Ep. 173]

For the past couple weeks, we have been talking about BURNOUT. We are excited to continue this series, learning that God offers us true rest and that we can live in it every day.

Last week, in part 2 of this series on burnout, we talked about tangible ways of throwing off old masters and old yokes. We walked through the first 3 of 5 steps that will give the rest and freedom we’re looking for.

In this episode, we will get into the 4th step where we will (re)calibrate our thinking to God’s design for rest, as well as, look at different kinds of rest that culture says we all need. 

Tune in if you are ready to learn how to take action against burnout and pursue true, satisfying rest!

We also have a few Blog posts providing good, practical wisdom about how to implement rest into your life and marriage. Check it out!
A Marriage At Rest: Apps & Dessert:
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/a-marriage-at-rest-appetizers-and-dessert

A Marriage At Rest: Finding Peace & Balance Where You Least Expect It: https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/a-marriage-at-rest-finding-peace-and-balance-where-you-least-expect-it

Why Am I So Tired? Identifying the Weight We Carry When We Aren't Hooked Up With Christ:
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/why-am-i-so-tired-identifying-the-weight-we-carry-when-we-aren-t-hooked-up-with-christ

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Burnout: A Shift from Crazy Busy to True Rest :: [Ep. 172]

This summer, we are replaying some of our most popular episodes! When we last aired our series all about Burnout and Rest it became one of our more popular series so we thought it was worth the replay! So if you missed it the first time around or want to refresh your memory on what was discussed, join us! 

This part-2 episode in the series will cover the following:
Purpose. Passion. Pursuit. It’s what gets us up in the morning, what keeps us striving for the next big thing. It's often what keeps each of us so dang busy...and those things keeping us BUSY are, more times than not, the wrong things to pursue. 

Question, when was the last time you really took time to pray about what you are pursuing? When did you take time to think about what is keeping you so busy? In this week’s podcast, we will talk more about this and uncover the rest you and your marriage need. 

Join us for this important conversation because getting the rest you need is not only possible, God Himself is the Creator of rest and He wants to give it to you in abundance. 

In this episode, we’re going to study the two different kinds of rest Jesus offers to us and practically how we can begin the process of shifting from crazy busy to true rest. It’s our prayer that by the end of this series that you will be free from the burnout, free to rest - the way that God designed you to.

Your homework for this week after you listen to the episode:
1: Identify the yokes in your life
2: confess your sin of letting something other than Christ master you
3: Answer Christ’s invitation to trade your yokes for His

Then join us in our next episode as we look at steps 4 and 5 - to look at rest in all of its forms and test their validity and place in our lives. Then finally, the practical part of living yoked to Christ.

We also have a few Blog posts providing good, practical wisdom about how to implement rest into your life and marriage. Check it out!
A Marriage At Rest: Apps & Dessert:
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/a-marriage-at-rest-appetizers-and-dessert

A Marriage At Rest: Finding Peace & Balance Where You Least Expect It: https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/a-marriage-at-rest-finding-peace-and-balance-where-you-least-expect-it

Why Am I So Tired? Identifying the Weight We Carry When We Aren't Hooked Up With Christ:
https://www.vowstokeep.com/post/why-am-i-so-tired-identifying-the-weight-we-carry-when-we-aren-t-hooked-up-with-christ

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.