Upfront & Undivided

We talk at the beginning of this episode about Accountability, and finding someone that you can be accountable to. For a deeper chat, please check out Episode 58. A longer title could be 'Looking for Hope vs Not Wanting to Get Hurt, and Where is that Balance'. We know that would be a bit too long, so we shortened it. So where is that balance? We have been in previous relationships, and we know oth...

Hello all! This week, we are taking some time to check-in and let you all know what is going on. It is important that when you are on your journey, that you have an accountability partner, and regularly assess how things are going. This episode is our first check-in. We have great things planned coming up, and we are looking forward to all of you joining us for what is next. Have the best week! En...

Yes, it is the start of a new year. Yes, we know that "New Year, New You" is overplayed. We wanted to take a spin on it, look at it from a different angle. You are still you, you haven't changed, but your outlook and attitude has. We start this new outlook by being grateful for what is in our lives, homes, families. We thank God for what is in us and around us. Next, we remember that His mercies a...

This will be a short episode. We have dealt with some health concerns in our home, and it has taught us some good lessons. One of those lessons is that we need to find time to rest. Not just rest to "get better", but to rest in the Father. What does it mean to rest in Him? What should we do if we need a greater level of rest? Come have a listen to our thoughts on rest and rebooting. Have the best...

Happy almost Christmas! Yes, we are getting ready for Christmas 2023 here, and hopefully you are too! For this episode, we wanted to sit down and talk about believing in the journey that God has set out for our lives. So often, we want to ask God for things and we want to dictate what it will look like, but God has a better plan in mind that doesn't look or sound like our idea. We know that God's...

We all have those times at the end of the day, or after work, when we need to decompress and let out the stress of the day. This is normal, we all do it. We don't do it in the same way though. Just like how we all communicate in different ways, or charge our batteries differently, there are different ways that we decompress so that we can feel normal again. Listen in as we go over some strategies...

This week, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. It is a time that we pause to remember all that we are thankful for, and how far we have come on our path. Remember that God has been with you on all of your ups and downs in life, and He has covered you. Celebrate what God has done in your life, and encourage those around you. Have the best week! Enjoy the journey!

In this episode, we sit down and talk about Marital Aids for communication. What are some tools that we use to start conversations? We have some books and a couple of phone apps that we look to regularly to get us talking about random things. It is important to keep the lines of communication open and strong in a relationship. So whether that conversation is serious or funny and odd, it is importa...

This week's episode is about getting help. It might be help for your marriage, your spouse, your friend, or yourself. Always know that it is never too late, and you can always get help. Help can come in many forms - pastor, counselor, therapist, friend - and it can take a while for the journey to healing. We have touched on some of these topics before in previous episodes (Ep 54, Ep 60, & Ep 1...

In the past (Episode 6), we talked about Love Languages and communication. In this week's episode, we wanted to talk about something we call your "Love On" Language. It is the language we use to communicate our desires to each other at the times we aren't able to be intimate with each other. So when you are in a season in your relationship - illness, injury, distance - when you aren't able to be a...

In life, relationships, and in the Kingdom, it is important to know what are tools are, and also to make sure that they are ready for use. That is what we are talking about this week. All of the 'tools' that you have in your arsenal, or tool shed, should be well-maintained and ready for use. Also, just because you have mastered one tool, or strategy, it doesn't mean that you won't need to use it a...

How many people are trying to 'conjure' God to intercede, when that is manipulation. Prayer, Worship, Honor, Praise, and Supplication is relationship with God. We have talked about patience and waiting on God's timing, but are we trying to hurry God? Are we saying that if we pray just a little louder, God will hear us and act for us sooner? That is what we are talking about in this week's episode....

If you have been listening so far to our latest few episodes, you know that some health concerns have come up for Dean'na. We use that situation to look at other types of sickness, or hurts, that we can allow into our lives and relationships, and how we can move forward. Should we sit in what is going on, or should we go through to the other side? How does God want us to handle this situation?

Episode 80! Thank you everyone, you are the best audience! As we continue our journey together, we want to share and encourage all of you to not just fight and stand FROM a position of Victory, but we also get to DECLARE our testimony NOW, while we are in the middle of our story. Remember, when going through a struggle, or celebration, involve your friends, your community. Not only do we get to ha...

We all know that life happens. It doesn't matter if you are married, single, a parent, or friends, life happens, and will it will try to knock you down and out. At times, we refer to that as 'Going through the suck', because those are the moments that suck you down and suck your time, energy, attention, and sometimes finances. When those moments hit, or after, you need to take time to reconnect wi...

In this episode, we share a diagnosis and how to prepare for the battles that will come in this world. Recently, Dean'na was told that medical testing had found a tumor near her armpit. We are standing in victory and on the promises of God. It was caught early, and it is getting taken care of. In this world, struggles, obstacles, attacks, trials, and difficulties will come. We are not surprised th...

In marriage and parenting, many different situations and emotions come up. One of the biggest keys to success is consistency. Being consistent is a huge part of your character. Your family is able to rely on you, and feel stable and secure, when they know that you are the same person, same attitude, no matter what location or people you are around. This is especially important in the Kingdom of Go...

So often we hear about the 'No's' of a relationship - You can't do this, you shouldn't do that, avoid this, etc. When starting a relationship, or getting ready to, it is important and helpful to focus instead on what can be done. Finding the 'Yes' of the matter. This shift in focus will help align your priorities and give you a more positive attitude. By focusing on the 'Yes', you can start buildi...

We know that we need to trust in God, and do things in His strength, but we also need to remember to rely on His timing. In Episode 70, we talked about trusting God in the process, here, we talk about trusting God's timing - Having patience. Too often, Christians feel that God should answer their prayers right away, but God answers in His timing. What should we do in the mean time, pout or prepare...

When we are in the Kingdom of God, our family circles increase. At times our friends become close, much like family, which brings the term 'Framily'. This is also the same when it comes to blended, foster, and adopted families. When you have the foundation of communication and have had the conversations about increasing your family, it doesn't matter how it comes or what it looks like, God will in...

What is the difference between motivation and discipline? How would you define them? When we have talked about motivation, we have realized that it is fleeting and fickle. Motivation is not consistent. Discipline, on the other hand, is what gets you moving when you don't want to. Discipline helps drive you to do the hard thing over the fun or easy thing. Life is full of choices and feelings, and w...

Life happens to all of us. When we stumble or break, who can we turn to? We turn to God. We also can turn to our spouse. There are times when we, especially men, have trouble turning to God, or their spouse, because it requires them to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is not weakness, but it is the absence of the walls and armor that we hide behind. Men - find a Godly woman that you can be vulnerable...

Come have a listen as we have a conversation about different qualities of being a parent. This list is good for all types of relationships whether natural, adoptive, mentorship, or Spiritual.  The Qualities are: 1) Be Aware 2) Acknowledge 3) Be Engaged 4) Be Available 5) Be Authentic 6) Be Active 7) Be an Advocate Matthew 7: 16-20 " You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes aren’t gathered fr...

I heard a joke once - If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plan! Jeremiah 29: 11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Living Bible) Have the Best Week! Enjoy the Journey! Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com The Equipped Man - https://theequippedmanpodcast.buzzsp...

When we are out an about, we like to look around and see who we can interact with, and possibly brighten their day. This especially happens when we are in situations that can be serious or heavy. Recently, Luke had to go to the hospital to have his appendix removed, so while we were there, we decided to share the goodness and fruit of our lives. What situations in your life, or daily activities, c...