Podcast Outline Show Notes Page: Episode 81 - Martha vs. Mary: Finding Focus in Your Marriage

Introduction

• Welcome and Episode Introduction
• Encourage liking, following, subscribing, and sharing.
• Heather poses the question: If Jesus were coming for dinner, what would your focus be?

The Story of Martha and Mary

• Reading of Luke 10:38-42.
• The universality of the story: We are all Martha and Mary at different times.

Martha: The Hostess with the Mostess

• The pressure of preparations: Planning, purchasing, preparation (the 3 P's!).
• Cleaning and cooking and the desire for perfection.
• The impact of busyness on brain space.
• Wanting to impress Jesus.
• Identifying with Martha's desire to do things well.

The Impact on Your Spouse

• What happens to your spouse when you're in "Martha mode"?
• Feeling forgotten and the potential for snapping.
• The "hurry and scurry" hindering connection.

Considering Martha's Actions

• Why weren't some tasks done beforehand? (A moment of reflection, not judgment).

Mary: Sitting at Jesus' Feet

• Mary's awe and reverence for Jesus.
• Absorbing His teachings and the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit.
• "God moments" of feeling present with Jesus.
• Avoiding judgment of Mary's seemingly "lazy" behavior.
• Mary's priority: Being in the presence of Jesus.

The Contrast and Jesus' Response

• Martha's frustration and request for Mary to help.
• Jesus' gentle response focusing on priorities.
• Martha's good intentions vs. Mary's pure intentions.
• Jesus wants us to sit at His feet, worship, rest, and learn.

The Daily Grind and Our Focus

• The shift from party preparations to the everyday busyness of life.
• Work, errands, bills – where does our focus lie?
• The importance of prioritizing Jesus amidst the daily tasks.

A Personal Anecdote

• Heather's experience at a party: Choosing presence over tasks.
• The impact of a few minutes of intentional connection.

The Danger of Overlooking Loved Ones

• Spouses and children feeling forgotten in the busyness.
• The importance of setting aside tasks for moments of connection.
• Temporal vs. eternal priorities.
• Putting Jesus first helps in managing everything else.

Conclusion

• Recap: It's okay to be Martha sometimes, but prioritize being Mary when your spouse needs you.
• Encouragement to take a breath, pause, and spend quality time together and with Jesus.

Call to Action

• Reminder of the free communication packet at lovehowdeep.com. Click Here: 10 Practical Communication Strategies
• Closing remarks and farewell.

Welcome Back to the Love How Deep Podcast.

We are continuing to talk about communication in this second of a 2 part episode.

• Continue strengthening your marriage communication!
• In this episode, we dive into 5 more practical strategies to help you and your spouse connect on a deeper level.
• Strategies discussed:
  • Avoiding blame and criticism.
  • Maintaining eye contact.
  • Practicing patience.
  • Managing your tone.
  • Agreeing to move forward.
• These tips build on our previous episode, offering a complete set of 10 strategies to transform your communication.
• Get access to our FREE resource, "10 Practical Communication Strategies for Married Couples," to help you and your partner work on these skills together.
• Key Takeaways:
  • Avoid blame and criticism to foster a positive environment.
  • Eye contact and physical presence are crucial for connection.
  • Patience is key during difficult conversations.
  • Tone of voice greatly impacts communication.
  • Agreeing to move forward helps resolve conflicts.
• Mentioned Resources:
  • Free PDF "10 Practical Communication Strategies for Married Couples"
• Call to action: Like, subscribe, and share this episode.

Welcome Back to the Love How Deep Podcast.

In this episode:

• Struggling with communication in your marriage? You're not alone!
• In this episode, Heather and Brian share the first 5 of 10 practical communication strategies to help strengthen your relationship.
• Strategies discussed:
  • The power of prayer.
  • Choosing the right time to speak.
  • The importance of forgiveness.
  • Staying fully present.
  • Sticking to the issue at hand.
• Learn how to build a foundation for healthier communication.
• Get access to a FREE resource: "10 Practical Communication Strategies" to further deepen your understanding and practice.
• Key Takeaways:
  • Prayer is the foundation of good communication.
  • Timing is everything when having important conversations.
  • Forgiveness is essential for a healthy relationship.
  • Being fully present and focused on your spouse.
  • Staying on topic during disagreements.
• Mentioned Resources:
  • Free PDF "10 Practical Communication Strategies".
• Call to action: Tune in for part two next week! Like, subscribe, and share.

Welcome back to Love How Deep Podcast.

In this episode:

• Heather shares her journey through a challenging season where God's plan didn't align with her expectations.
• She opens up about the emotional turmoil, the struggle to trust, and the invaluable support she received from her husband, Brian, and her community.
• Discover how to find strength in vulnerability, accept God's will, and lean on your support system during unexpected seasons.
• Learn about the importance of humility, acceptance, and allowing God to order your steps, even when you don't understand the path.
• Heather also recommends the book, "Not What I Signed Up For" by Nicole Unice.
• Key takeaways:
  • The importance of a supportive spouse and community.
  • How to trust God when plans change.
  • The power of humility and acceptance.
  • The value of leaning on your faith during hard times.
• Mentioned resources:
  • "Not What I Signed Up For" by Nicole Unice.
• Call to action: Like, subscribe, and share this episode.

Episode Title: How Do You Connect With God?

Episode Summary:

Brian and Heather from Love How Deep explore the nine spiritual pathways outlined in Gary Thomas's "Sacred Pathways," discussing how couples can understand and appreciate their differing ways of connecting with God. This episode aims to foster understanding and strengthen relationships by exploring the diverse ways individuals experience their faith.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to the nine spiritual pathways: Traditionalist, Visionary, Socialite, Intellectual, Caregiver, Contemplative, Activist, Naturalist, and Worshiper.
• Discussion on how individual personalities and backgrounds influence spiritual connection.
• The importance of understanding and respecting your spouse's unique spiritual journey.
• Practical advice for couples to discuss and explore their spiritual differences.

Key Talking Points:

• Understanding the nine spiritual pathways.
• How to identify your personal spiritual pathway and your spouse's.
• The impact of differing spiritual pathways on a marriage.
• How to use this knowledge to strengthen your relationship and deepen your faith.
• Encouraging open communication about spiritual experiences.

Quotes:

• "You want to say, well, how do you connect? If this is it for me, but it's not for you, it doesn't mean you're not connecting to God. It's just a different way." - Heather
• "It's all about learning and understanding each other, no doubt." - Brian

Resources:

• Free Resource: 10 Practical Steps for Communication: Click Here

Call to Action:

• Engage in a conversation with your spouse about your spiritual pathways.
• Download the free communication guide to enhance your relationship.
• Subscribe to Love How Deep for more relationship and faith-based content.

Connect with Love How Deep:

• Website: Love How Deep

Thanks so much for listening.

Episode Title: Spice Up Your Marriage: Kitchen Chemistry & Cooking Together!

Episode Summary:

Join Brian and Heather from Love How Deep as they explore the surprising benefits of cooking together as a couple! This fun and insightful episode delves into how shared kitchen experiences can boost communication, teamwork, and reduce stress. Discover practical steps to make cooking a bonding experience, tips for navigating kitchen dynamics, and how to keep God at the center of your relationship.

Episode Highlights:

• Discover how cooking together can enhance communication and teamwork.
• Learn practical steps for planning, cooking, and cleaning up together.
• Get tips on adding creativity and making cooking a fun date night activity.
• Understand how biblical principles support working together in relationships.

Key Talking Points:

• The benefits of cooking together for couples.
• Practical steps for planning and executing a meal together.
• Tips for making the cooking experience enjoyable and stress-free.
• The importance of communication and teamwork in the kitchen.
• Incorporating fun and creativity into the cooking process.
• How to make cooking a regular date night activity.
• The biblical perspective on working together (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Quotes:

• "When we're talking about being in the kitchen and cooking, it's so much fun and just such a neat experience for two people to be in there together doing this." - Brian
• "The goal is really to connect and have fun with this. Um, and just appreciate each other through the process." - Heather
• "It's all about doing, cooking a meal where you're not talking, but that's for another time. But that could be something fun to do." - Brian

Resources:

• Free Resource: 10 Practical Steps for Communication: Click Here

Call to Action:

• Try cooking together as a couple and share your experience in the comments!
• Download our free communication guide to strengthen your relationship.
• Subscribe to Love How Deep for more relationship-enriching content.

Connect with Love How Deep:

• Website: Love How Deep

Thanks so much for listening.