Podcasts about covenant eyes

What if the key to salvation and real spiritual maturity is something most Christians completely overlook? Austin Habash shares the mission that took him out of monastic life and into the streets with a commitment to knock on every door in his community, share the Gospel, and train others to do it too.This episode will fire you up to go out two by two and reap the harvest as Jesus instructed. Austin shows how to explain the Gospel in the simplest way possible and offers practical tips that actually work. Austin's website: https://www.sentevangelization.org/team/categories/meditationSumma in a Year: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7JUPOQSdC4Uu_8CzvqTvHt4gptxAl_TVJoin our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-EveryLife Women: https://www.everylife.com/lila Buy diapers and women's health products from an amazing company and use code LILA to get 10% off!-Presidio Healthcare: Healthcare and doctors who share your values. If you're in TEXAS visit: https://www.presidiocare.com/ If you're NOT in Texas, visit: https://www.prolifeproviders.com/-Hallow: https://www.hallow.com/lila Enter into prayer more deeply this Advent with the Hallow App, get 3 months free by using this link to sign up! -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!

Is the devil personally invested in keeping you single, and if so, what is your counterattack plan? What ways can women single their interest in a man? And what's the ideal first date?These are just a few of the topics from our banter-filled dating panel, where our beloved chaos crew returned for round two, mostly to roast each other and boldly declare: for the love of all that is holy, date someone equally yoked!Ryan's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanbetheashow?themeRefresh=1Alessandra's IG: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakeralessandraconti/?hl=enFranco's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefrancotv/?hl=enJoin our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-We Heart Nutrition: https://www.weheartnutrition.com/ Get high quality vitamin supplements for 20% off using the code LILA. -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!-EveryLife Women: https://www.everylife.com/lila Buy diapers and women's health products from an amazing company and use code LILA to get 10% off!-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee and Save up to 25% with promo code 'LILA' & get up to four FREE gifts this Christmas season: http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com

I'm unpacking a mystery no one else has spoken of, a mystery that unlocks the answers to the mysterious behavior of President Trump lately. Join me as I unpack the unspoken Jehu mystery. Why is Trump making alliances with evil figures? What part does Mifeprestone play? Which idols has Trump erected in America?TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, get Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways foryou to support the ministry:

In this episode of the Covenant Eyes Podcast, Theo McManigal sits down with Dr. Peter Kleponis—Catholic therapist, author, and creator of the Integrity Starts Here recovery program. Dr. Kleponis shares his 30-year journey into counseling, his discovery of a growing digital-behavior crisis, and how faith-centered healing can transform individuals, marriages, and even vocations.He discusses:• Why unwanted online habits often stem from emotional wounds, not desire• How these behaviors impact trust and intimacy in marriages• What spouses need to begin healing from betrayal• The difference between a habit and a full-blown behavioral addiction• How accountability tools and supportive communities foster long-term freedom• Why prayer alone is not meant to “make the struggle disappear,” and how God instead walks with us through healing• Practical steps clergy, parents, and couples can take right now to protect themselves and those they loveDr. Kleponis also offers insight for parents navigating early exposure risks, tips for choosing a therapist, and encouragement for anyone ready to take the first step toward lasting freedom.✨ Connect With Dr. Kleponis:https://PeterKleponis.comhttps://IntegrityCounselingPA.comIf this conversation encouraged you, please like, comment, and subscribe so more people can find this life-giving content.#covenanteyes #accountability #faithSend us your feedback!Try Covenant Eyes for FREE today!Use Promo Code: FreePodcast © 2024 Covenant Eyes, All Rights Reserved

Flip Side Notes: Join an upcoming Beyond the Battle online group at www.beyondthebattle.net   Support Flip Side sponsor Angry Brew by using promo code FLIP at angrybrew.com or fivelakes.com to pick up some Angry Brew or Chris' Blend coffee at 10% off.   Get a free month of Covenant Eyes at www.covenanteyes.com using promo code BEYOND   Get a free month of Accountable2You keyword accountability: a2u.app/beyond (do not use “www”)   Your recurring gifts make Noah's ministry & The Flip Side possible. Get some sweet swag by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/noahfilipiak – includes exclusive access to Noah's episode commentary, interaction, and email access. (Not tax-deductible)  Tax-deductible recurring gifts can be given at www.noahfilipiak.com/give.      Purchase Beyond the Battle and Needed Navigation by Noah Filipiak.

277. Breaking Through Addiction in Marriage with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith   *DISCLAIMER* This episode is intended for adults.   1 John 1:9 AMP "If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].”   *Transcription Below*   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management Company   Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith are clinicians, speakers, and authors with over 20 years of combined experience in counseling, coaching, and guiding couples toward healing and transformation. Their mission is to help couples navigate the complexities of relational challenges, particularly in the aftermath of sexual addiction and betrayal trauma, fostering deep restoration and growth.   Matthew is a Professional Certified Coach (ICF) with a background in pastoral leadership, while Joanna is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, EMDR practitioner, and Certified Clinical Partner Specialist through APSATS. Both hold Master of Divinity degrees and have served together on multiple church leadership teams. Currently, they co-lead their private practice, The Raabsmith Team, where they specialize in helping couples rebuild connection, trust, and intimacy.   Their passion for this work stems from their own journey of restoration. After experiencing the devastating effects of sexual addiction and betrayal in their marriage, Matthew and Joanna embarked on a years-long pursuit of reconciliation. This transformative experience led to the creation of tools like The Intimacy Pyramid™, a practical model for relational restoration and growth co-created with colleague Dan Drake.    Their first book, Building True Intimacy (2023), has sold over 1,000 copies and provides practical guidance for couples to use the Intimacy Pyramid to create enduring connections. They also founded Renewing Us Recovery™, a comprehensive program designed to support couples in the later stages of relational restoration. In November 2025, they will host the inaugural Renewing Us Couples Retreat, offering workshops and connection opportunities for couples on similar paths of recovery and growth.   Matthew and Joanna live in Memphis, Tennessee with their three young children. They prioritize self-care through shared adventures, new experiences, and a weekly game of pickleball.   Free Resource Mentioned in Episode   Building True Intimacy book   Questions and Topics Discussed: What were the warning signs that you noticed when you were newlyweds that tipped you off to believing things weren't quite as they seemed? Are there any common life circumstances, whether nature or nurture, that predispose someone to be more likely to struggle with a sexual addiction? As couples seek to thrive in marriage, will you give us an overview of the intimacy pyramid you wrote a book about?   Other Episodes Mentioned During Episode: Pornography: Protecting Children, Personal Healing, Recovery, and Victory in Christ with Sam Black Pornography Addiction and Helpful Recovery with Crystal Renaud Day   Additional Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: Anatomy of an Affair with Dave Carder Protecting Your Marriage Against Unfaithfulness with Dave Carder Stories Series: Recovery From Sexual Sin in Marriage with Garrett and Brenna Naufel Supernatural Restoration Story with Bob and Audrey Meisner Special Patreon Re-Release Wholehearted Quiet Time with Naomi Vacaro   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   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.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:12)   Laura Dugger: (0:13 - 1:38) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com, or connect with them on Facebook.   Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith are my guests today. They are clinicians, speakers, and authors with over 20 years of combined experience in counseling, coaching, and guiding couples toward healing and transformation. Our conversation takes a few turns, from getting to hear their incredible and vulnerable story of healing and then getting tips for talking to our children about topics like sex, and also even receiving some practical wisdom and tips for enhancing our own marital enjoyment.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Matthew and Joanna.   Matthew Raabsmith: (1:39 - 1:40) So good to be here.   Joanna Raabsmith: (1:40 - 1:42) So glad to be here. Thanks for having us.   Laura Dugger: (1:42 - 1:51) Oh, truly my pleasure. And let's just start here. Can you share your story going back to meeting and falling in love and your first part of marriage?   Matthew Raabsmith: (1:53 - 2:17) Sure, yeah. It was a little bumpy at first, actually. So, I knew Joanna through her brother. Joanna's brother was one of my best friends, and I got to meet her whenever she would come in town and visit, and she would invade guy night. He would usually bring her along to like a Lord of the Rings movie or something, and I would be a little frustrated because I would be like, oh, you brought your sister. Great. That's wonderful.   Joanna Raabsmith: (2:18 - 2:24) A little off-putting, not super friendly. And I was like, your friend's kind of a jerk. We did not like each other at all in the beginning.   Matthew Raabsmith: (2:24 - 2:54) Not big fans. And eventually over some time, we started to realize we had a lot in common. We liked to do a lot of the same things.   And one summer that Joanna was in town, we started hanging out, started doing more and more together, and really just kind of developed a friendship, which was really fun. And at the very end of the summer, realized that there was something between us. And so, we went on one date.   Our first date, we entered a golf tournament. We won it, and that was a good sign.   Joanna Raabsmith: (2:54 - 2:55) That's a pretty good sign.   Matthew Raabsmith: (2:55 - 3:02) And we went on three more dates over the course of two months and got engaged.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:03 - 3:07) And then two months after that, we got married.   Matthew Raabsmith: (3:07 - 3:16) Yeah. So, her brother went from like, yeah, it's cool you date my sister, to like, you're not ready to get married. But he's come around now.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:17 - 3:19) 15 years later. Yeah.   Matthew Raabsmith: (3:19 - 3:40) And, you know, a lot of it was, I think we had a definite sense of being kind of called together, being, you know, something special about who we were as a couple. And also, a recognition that we wanted to figure out what a good marriage looked like. We were really excited about marriage, but we didn't really know what we were doing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:41 - 4:15) Yeah, I've had a really great model of healthy relationship. My parents have a wonderful marriage. They work really well as a team.   And so, I knew, like, I want something like that. But as soon as we got married, we realized, but how do you actually build that? There's no, like, instruction manual for, okay, here are the things to do to have a great relationship.   And so, we read books. We went to conferences. You know, we did what we could, but we still found ourselves getting stuck, not able to really create, like, that deep sense of, like, connection intimacy that we really wanted.   Matthew Raabsmith: (4:15 - 5:17) And we started kind of hunting more and more for resources. We found some incredible resources that really changed our understanding of the way relationships work, the way people work, and really, for us, shifted our entire focus of kind of what we wanted to do, even with our life. And as we started to do that, though, we still kind of found ourselves at this kind of glass wall.   We felt like no matter what we tried, there was always this kind of distance between us. And that started to grow kind of over the years that we were together. It wasn't getting better.   It was actually kind of getting worse and worse and worse. And so, Joanna had actually decided to, after we finished our first grad degree together, the idea was we were going to go be pastors. And so, we had finished our kind of theological training.   Joanna decided she wanted to get a master's in marriage and family therapy so we could do some work around marriages and ministry in that way. And her very first-class kind of just set our life in a completely different direction.   Joanna Raabsmith: (5:17 - 6:26) Yes. So, my first class in the MFT program was a two-week intensive called Shame and Guilt. So, that's a really fun two-week intensive to be a part of. And as a part of that, though, they had an anonymous pastor come and share his testimony of struggling with sex addiction, becoming sober, getting into good recovery, healing and restoration in his marriage, kind of like that whole journey. And as he was talking, something inside of me started stirring. And I knew, OK, what he's saying is resonating way too much with me right now.   I think this is the thing. This is what is keeping us stuck, not able to really create the relationship we want. And so, that day I went home and first I just kind of started talking about my class, what I learned, what this pastor had shared.   Right. And nothing. Right.   We're just kind of talking generally about it. And so, finally I couldn't do it anymore. And I just stopped and I looked him square in the eyes and I said, “Are you struggling with this in our marriage right now?”   Matthew Raabsmith: (6:26 - 8:03) Yeah. And for the first time in my life, 20 years, I had been struggling with pornography, sexual addiction, and acting out in our marriage. And for the first time in my life, I was honest.   I had lied for years, both with Joanna and everyone else. And the kind of floodgates just kind of opened up. And I finally said yes.   And it was really hearing the story, I think, is what did it for me. I think it was knowing that somebody else had made it, that their life hadn't come crashing down because that was the greatest fear for me. That the moment anyone found this out, everything in my life would be over. Everything that I loved would be gone.   And so, this kind of story of hope gave me a little bit of courage that day, to be honest. But that started a really long journey for us because there was a lot of damage that was done in both of my hiding. And now kind of this revelation, all the pain kind of came crashing down on Joanna and kind of her shoulders.   And so, we started a quite intensive recovery process. We talked about it being kind of a full-time job. I went to recovery for my addiction and for kind of my acting out behaviors. Joanna had to begin a process of healing from the trauma of this discovery. And that process took us a number of years. It really was a long kind of arduous journey, but one that we ultimately survived and now thrive in our marriage and get the incredible luxury and the kind of gift of helping other couples do that.   So, that's kind of where we find ourselves.   Laura Dugger: (8:04 - 8:30) That is incredible. I just really appreciate you sharing your story. Clearly, stories are so powerful and that's what led to some healing for you and hopefully can open the floodgates for somebody else listening.   So, if we go back in your story, then, Joanna, I'd love to start with you. What were some of those red flags in early marriage that things aren't quite as they seem?   Joanna Raabsmith: (8:31 - 10:28) Yeah, there are a few. You know, I think that, you know, one of the pieces we kind of talked about, like, OK, we knew we're still getting stuck because there's 90 percent that felt really good. But then 10 percent that was extremely chaotic, really destructive.   Right. We would get we call the pain cycles when we get emotionally dysregulated. And there would be some things that, right.   Sometimes we would get into pain cycles, get dysregulated. And I kind of understand why. Right.   Like something happened. There was the disagreement. But other times I couldn't put my finger on it.   Right. Matthew would just get really angry and really shut down. And I wouldn't be able to connect it to anything that had happened in our life.   And so, it was very confusing. It was really hard to understand what was going on. And I think kind of in the same way, when I would pull too close into that connection, that intimacy, he would pull back.   Right. And it felt like even though we both named this goal and this desire, he would never actually partner with me in it. And so, again, that was really confusing because the actions were not matching up with reality and what was happening.   And I think the other piece that was kind of true for us and true for a lot of other people is that our own sexual relationship was fraught with pain. And so, there was, again, a lot that was really good, but also a lot that was really painful and confusing. And some of the pieces just didn't connect.   Right. And I would wonder, OK, what's going on? Well, I guess this is just the reality that like this is how much we get to expect in this area of our life, right.   In our relationship. And so, it was when the pastor started describing his life and addiction and what that looked like emotionally, sexually, relationally. I was like, oh, those are all the things that I'm currently experiencing.   Here's one thing that would answer all those questions that I have. And so, I think that was part of it. He kind of told me, like, OK, this is it.   Laura Dugger: (10:28 - 11:00) That would be so eye opening. And my heart's going out to the couple who is maybe starting to identify with this. Was it and share whatever you're comfortable with from your story or the person's story who opened things up to you?   So, sexually, I'm wondering if it was for you, Joanna, if you were hoping to connect sexually and that wasn't happening and that was confusing. You didn't feel pursued. But I don't want to fill in the blanks.   So, could you elaborate?   Joanna Raabsmith: (11:00 - 12:03) Absolutely. Yeah. And we find it a lot of different ways than couples that we work with.   Right. And so, it can be sometimes on either side of the extreme. And so, for us, it was where there would be kind of times when he'd be fully present and interested and engaged. Right. And then all of a sudden, kind of like I described emotionally, he would just withdraw and not be there. And I would reach out to connect.   And that was this like non-response. And which, again, didn't match up with those other times when he was engaged and wanting to connect. And he would give some sort of excuse that didn't totally make sense.   Right. But I was kind of like, what else? What was I left with except that?   So, I would kind of believe that and go with it, even though it didn't sit right. And so, yeah, I think that was part of it. We will see on the other side for some other couples.   It's the opposite. And maybe that spouse is hypersexual in the relationship. Right.   To the point where there might be pressure, even pressure to do things sexually that people aren't comfortable with. And so, yeah, it can look a lot of different ways. But that was kind of what our disconnect looked like.   Laura Dugger: (12:04 - 12:33) That's so helpful. And there's two different directions I want to go, Matthew. So, I'll set it up.   I guess I'm thinking of the guilt and shame and how those are usually so present. So, I have two questions. Were you when Joanna came to you, were you at a point where you recognize something was off and you wanted freedom from this and or had tried freedom before?   Let's start with that and then I'll go into the other one.   Matthew Raabsmith: (12:34 - 14:40) Yeah, it really was holy timing in a lot of ways. I, you know, for a lot of years I had I hated what I did. I didn't feel like I could stop it, but didn't have a lot of interest in kind of doing anything to stop it.   I kind of just like would just say, “OK, this is going to be the last time.” And then, you know, of course it would come back. But I think at this point I had really started to see the damage that was happening to our relationship.   I could feel us growing close, growing further apart. I could see kind of Joanna and the confusion that she was having. And like she couldn't understand things.   She would ask me a lot of questions that I didn't have answers to. And so, I actually a couple of months earlier, we were at a worship service, and they had said like, “hey, if you are ready to give something up, if you feel like there's something holding you back, come forward and confess it.” And Joanna and I were sitting next to each other, and I remember feeling like the Holy Spirit just like pulling me to like get up out of my seat and I wouldn't move.   I was like, no, because she's going to ask me what I went down for. I'm going there's you know, there's a random kind of prayer partner at the front. I'm like, I'm not going and confessing this to some random person.   And so, I was ready. But I think like I said, I think there was no path forward. It was kind of confess this and everything stops and ends.   But everything like marriage ends, life ends. And so, when she when she brought this, it really did feel like God had kind of been answering a prayer that I've been praying of like, if you give me a way out, I'll take it. I'm desperate.   I want it to stop. And it felt like that. I think it was both this kind of terror and this hope that day.   And even when I said, yes, it was a little bit like, what have I done? Like, could this have been different? Should I have just gone and told someone else privately?   Right. But I think ultimately that it was out between the two of us and that we kind of knew it. We knew what we were dealing with made a huge difference.   But I mean, God had been working in my life, offering opportunities for so long. I just been saying no, no, no. And then finally, you know, I think my heart just broke and it was like, yes, OK, I'm ready for this.   Laura Dugger: (14:40 - 15:14) I love how the Holy Spirit equipped you with that humility and courage to be brave in that moment. And it's such a blessing for all of us to get to see the end or I guess not the end of the story, but you at this point in your story where you're thriving. And so, I hope that offers a lot of hope to people listening.   But let's also pause. And so, going back further in time, Matthew, this was the other part of my question. What was life and attachment and your growing up journey like?   Matthew Raabsmith: (15:15 - 18:09) Yeah, I didn't know that at the time. Right. I a lot of this I figured out in the last couple of years of recovery.   You know, if you would have asked me, you know, as I was growing up about my life, I would have told you I had the perfect family. I had the perfect life. I think I did not realize that some of the things that I was going through weren't perfect, were harder.   And part of that was because I think the way my family dynamic worked was we just swept everything under the rug. You know, whatever happened, we just kind of went, OK, and moved on from. And I learned to do that as a kid.   And that meant a lot of emotional chaos. There was a lot of physical chaos and kind of volatility in our house growing up. And even though I had parents who are still married to this day, have stayed together and have tried to create kind of a stable life.   There was a lot of emotional and kind of relational instability. We moved around a lot. And then once we started moving, I found myself more and more kind of isolated at school. I started dealing with bullying and some things that really kind of left me not knowing how to deal with the pain that I was going through. And so, my way of stuffing things under the rug was getting, you know, escaping, you know, kind of escaping into anything that I could. I watched a lot of TV.   I was a latchkey kid, so I would come home. I'd watch TV a lot in the afternoon and then TV kind of just turned to more and more. And I was exposed pretty young to pornography, actually at a church camp.   I was at a summer church camp. Someone brought a Playboy magazine, and I was exposed to pornography. And I kind of felt that high, that rush.   And that just became kind of a mode of my escape. Right. Of whatever I could do to engage sexually, whether with my mind or with others.   That's how I could get out of the pain I was in. That's how I could stop feeling kind of the chaos that I was having and not realizing that it was becoming this kind of adaptive habit, that it would just be this thing I would go back to more and more. And I grew up at a time that technology was still emerging.   So, I can remember when we got our first computer and no one was talking about safeguards or anything. And so, it was just kind of exposure. Here you go.   Here's everything you could ever want and don't need. And that really became my life. And the more and more that I did, the better and better I got at lying and hiding and even being kind of vulnerable in kind of fake ways.   I would mention things like, yeah, we all have this struggle. And even Joanna, I had told like, you know, that was a struggle of mine in the past, but I've moved on from it. Right.   I told myself and other people just kind of lie after lie after lie so that I could have really this double life. I could appear one way and then I could be acting a completely different way, kind of in the dark.   Laura Dugger: (18:10 - 20:41) Yeah. And that makes sense. I'm thinking back to two episodes.   We did one with a male, Sam Black from Covenant Eyes, and he speaks so much of the origins of pornography and that foothold that Satan gets. And so many times it is in childhood, unwittingly you're exposed and then what it can turn into. And then Crystal Renaud Day came on to share a lot of females struggle with this as well.   And so, I'll link to those if those are a help.   And now a brief message from our sponsor. With over 1700 apartment units available throughout Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Morton and Washington, and with every price range covered, you will have plenty of options when you rent through Leman Property Management Company.   They have townhomes, duplexes, studios and garden style options located in many areas throughout Pekin. And make sure you check out their newest offering. The McKinley located in Pekin is a new construction addition to their platinum collection.   Featuring nine-foot ceilings, large spacious layouts, beautiful finishes such as quartz countertops and garages. You won't want to miss this outstanding new property. In Peoria, a historic downtown location and apartments adjacent to OSF Medical Center provide excellent choices.   Check out their brand-new luxury property in Peoria Heights overlooking the boutique shops and fine dining on Prospect. And in Morton, they offer a variety of apartment homes with garages, a hot downtown location and now a brand-new high-end complex near Idlewood Park. If you want to become part of their team, contact them about open office positions.   They're also hiring in their maintenance department. So, we invite you to find out why so many people have chosen to make a career with them. Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at Leasing@LemanProps.com.   You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com. Check them out and find your place to call home today.   So, at that moment when you've confessed, Matthew, the floodgates open for you and Joanna.   What did life look like for both of you next and even individually your journeys?   Matthew Raabsmith: (20:42 - 22:30) Yeah, it was separate. We did not separate, but we were really focused on our two different journeys because they were so different. For me, I had to figure out what had really gone on in my life and what was really happening.   Because, like I said, I had become such an expert at hiding from myself and others that I didn't really know how to live any other way. And so, I, you know, Joanna kind of handed me a list of everything this pastor had done. She was like, here you go.   Right. She kind of handed me that list and was like, good luck. And so, I dove in.   I went to a men's intensive. And I think that was probably one of the key places for me to tell my story for the first time. I really took a look at my life and had some people help me take a look and recognize the trauma that I had as a kid exposure that I had experienced and what that really meant to me and helped me understand what I was doing.   But also, kind of what I was doing to myself, how I was really kind of killing myself from the inside out and preventing myself from having the kind of relationship I wanted with God and other people. And so, that discovery was in really ways kind of invigorating for me. I felt like I was living for the first time.   I think I had started to kind of get out of this kind of burden, this fear of always being caught. I told Joanna kind of the history of everything that had happened in my life and our relationship. And so, I was feeling this kind of renewed sense of like energy and excitement of like, this is good.   I want this life. I want the life there that I'm not in constant kind of fear and in constant kind of connection to this thing I hate. And so, which is really different than what Joanna was experiencing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (22:30 - 25:07) Yeah. So, for me, it was very jarring in the beginning. Everything I thought was real came crashing down around me.   And that was especially jarring because I had left kind of the direction, the path that I was on. Right. We talked about our story earlier.   It included two months of dating, two months of engagement before we got married. And that also included me dropping out of law school, getting married and moving to California to pursue a ministry degree so we could work as pastors together or do something together. And so, in that moment, all of that came crashing down.   And I kind of was very lost, not just in our relationship, but in kind of what in the world am I even doing here? What am I going to do moving forward if he doesn't choose recovery? Right.   And so, just all of those question marks, all in that one moment of him answering that question affirmative. And so, so there was like that heaviness on one side and then on the other side was this relief of finally everything I've been experiencing makes sense. Right. Finally, I feel like I actually know what's going on. And because of that, there could maybe be a path forward for us as well. So, is this very, very weird dichotomy in that moment? And so, but I think I knew right away, like, I can't be vulnerable. I can't be intimate with him anymore. Right.   I have to step back in our relationship and wait and see what he chooses to do. Is he going to choose to do the work of recovery and get healthy and start to be honest and safe or not? And so, that's so we kind of did kind of there's some space for a very long period of time while we focused on our own individual recoveries.   And that, again, was a little bumpy for me. This is over a decade ago. And so, there is very little information about what partners experience.   We call it betrayal trauma, and that just wasn't a very common word at the time. And so, some of the resources I plugged into came from a more we would call it codependent, co-addict focus, which just really didn't fit. So, I struggled to find resources that felt like they fit for my journey.   But once I did, it all again, my own healing process started to make sense. And it was so like freeing and liberating to understand. Like, oh, OK, this is what I'm going through. This is why I feel this way.   This is what it looks like to heal and move forward. And so, kind of beginning that process was so important because then when Matthew was kind of in a healthy, safe place, I was as well, and we can start to step in towards each other on that kind of more couples' journey at that point.   Laura Dugger: (25:07 - 25:17) I love how you did that wisely, though, separate first, not rushing into couples at that time. Absolutely.   Matthew Raabsmith: (25:18 - 26:33) Appreciate you calling it wise. I think we were terrified. Yeah, we'll take God's help.   I think he was like, you guys just work on your own stuff for a while. And in some ways, like I said, it was we didn't know what we were doing. But I think we knew we wanted there to be a future between the two of us.   But we knew it had to be completely different in some ways than what we had before, which was scary because we liked what we had before. Like we had a really great marriage in many ways. Right.   There was this portion of it, this hidden portion that was really infecting and killing it all. But what we did have together, we didn't want to totally lose. It just was really hard to know, especially early on, what's going to come forward.   Like, who are we still going to be as we go forward? Are we still going to be a couple who does things together? Right. Who works together? Or is that all kind of going to have to be different? Is that the only way that we have kind of moving forward?   And so, that was that was probably the hardest part was having like this sense of like not wanting to lose us. We were like, if we lost that, that was going to be miserable. And I think a lot of our work was about how do we eventually reclaim this marriage that we want, that we love?   Laura Dugger: (26:34 - 27:04) Yes, because from what I'm sensing, you're friends with each other, you're on purpose or on mission with God. He did a course correction change, putting you on this path to help couples. But your desire to work together, it's like He still honored that in the ministry of reconciliation.   And I'm assuming abundantly blessed it beyond what you could ever dreamed up what we're doing now.   Joanna Raabsmith: (27:04 - 27:42) Right. It's been amazing to see what God has done, how he's used our story, which is so fitting because it was someone sharing their story that brought our healing. And I think because of that and it wasn't right away; it took some time to get to the place where we felt open to God using our story to bring healing to others. But we found as we stepped into that, that we have received such a blessing.   Right. And just being able to sit with other couples in that journey and see them go from that place of pain and confusion to this place of restoration and thriving. Like there is no better work that we could have imagined for ourselves.   Laura Dugger: (27:42 - 28:09) Love that. And really, you did have to pioneer a path. There weren't many resources at that time.   So, that's another reason I'm grateful you can share your story, because I hope it unlocks freedom for others. So, if we're turning more outward now and you're helping as you work with couples, how do you help them identify the difference between sexual struggles and sexual addiction?   Matthew Raabsmith: (28:10 - 30:15) Yeah, that's a great question. And I think that it really kind of exists on a spectrum. And so, everything kind of exists under what we call problematic sexual behavior or unwanted sexual behavior.   Whenever someone is acting in a way sexually that doesn't align with their values. And then the question is, is how often, how compulsive, right? How habituated, right?   How really embedded is that practice? Because the more and more embedded it is and the more and more that I continue to act on that, seeing the damage that it's doing, that's really what qualifies as the addiction. The addiction is when I know that this is causing harm and I and I feel that even though I want to stop it and I've tried to stop.   Right. I can't stop the 12 steps has a great line. They say addicts, you know, addicts have no problem stopping.   It's staying stopped. That's hard for an addict. Right.   And so, that's usually a sign that there's an addiction. And really what that means is that just means that I'm going to have to be even more kind of thorough and scrupulous in my willingness to change a lot. Because if I have built an addictive lifestyle, that means everything I do kind of functions to support that lifestyle.   Right. And so, my part of that was this hiding. I lied about everything.   I would lie about anything just to make sure that I was in control of the narrative. And so, for me, it was recognizing that if I was going to move forward free of my addiction, then it had to begin with honesty, with this kind of radical honesty and transparency and growing in that consistently, because that was the way that I manifested this addiction and kind of kept it going. And so, that's really what the addiction is about, is recognizing what are the kind of pieces in my life that are supporting this addiction to continue to exist?   And how is God going to dismantle those things? Right. And how am I going to be a part of that dismantling?   Laura Dugger: (30:16 - 30:33) That's well said. And also, I'm curious, are there any common life circumstances, whether that's nature or nurture, that are more likely to predispose someone to more likely have this struggle with sexual addiction?   Matthew Raabsmith: (30:34 - 32:30) I mean, there are, I think, you know, the things that we tend to look for are trauma and trauma comes in so many different forms. So, trauma is more it's rare that it's a single event. It's often more a kind of consistent occurrences.   As I mentioned, you know, I can't speak to kind of one event in my life that I say this was the traumatic moment in which everything changed. But it was more of the chaos. And so, I grew up in a family that could be really, really, really loving and incredibly encouraging and fun and silly and in a heartbeat switch into one that was verbally and physically just chaotic and terrifying.   And it was that chaos that kept me on edge. What it did was it created in me kind of a system of always wanting to be on high alert. And that would exhaust me.   That would kind of wear me out. And I would want to kind of numb that kind of feeling away. And so, I think those traumas, I do think early exposure.   Right. I mean, I was exposed early before my brain was ready to really understand what it was dealing with. And I think the third component that we often see is a low level or a kind of really a void of sexual education.   There was I'm sure I had a small talk with my dad at some point, but we were not talking about pornography. We weren't talking about bodies. We weren't talking about sex from a kind of healthy, good way.   I grew up in the church, and it was kind of don't do this until you're married and then you'll be fine. Right. That was the sexual education message.   And so, those things, right, trauma, exposure and lack of kind of education usually forms in someone a difficulty of knowing what they're doing, knowing that it's destroying them before it's really kind of gotten a deep hole.   Joanna Raabsmith: (32:30 - 33:20) I think like the brain. The brain aspect to when we talk about addiction, there are usually chemicals involved in addiction being formed, being created. And so, I think also co-occurring disorders, right, that emotional pain, also things like anxiety, depression, ADHD, where my brain really likes the dopamine it gets from sexual acting out. Right.   And you can actually need it to feel OK. That can also be a factor in kind of especially that addictive side of these behaviors. When my brain gets really attached to that dopamine release that it's getting because maybe I have some other things going on or I just have emotional pain.   I don't know what to deal with, how to handle it, how to regulate that in a healthy way.   Laura Dugger: (33:20 - 34:30) There's so many good points there. I'll just highlight one because there's a profound piece that you were talking about with early exposure to evil and the corruption of it is extremely harmful. And yet not being exposed to God's good design for sex and hopefully being coached by our parents, that is both of those play a part in the addiction. And so, I'm thinking even as we shift to think about parents, I know I've had parents come to me and just say, I don't want to talk about this with my kids.   I don't want to rob their innocence. And my approach is if God made it, this is good. We can talk to them.   You're not robbing their innocence when you're sharing the good age-appropriate parts of sex. And it's so great to be that first one to share with them. And I think it does the opposite of what we would expect.   We're afraid that that might make them hyper sexualized. But would you speak to that? Any encouragement for parents?   Matthew Raabsmith: (34:30 - 36:37) Yeah, it's tricky. I mean, even as parents, we've got kids and its still kind of navigating it. But I do think what it does is it lets someone learn the things they need to in the timeline they need to.   I think part of one of the things is that, you know, really good sexual education starts young. I mean, they start six and seven years old or even younger, just talking about our bodies. Right.   Because I think that's part of it. Really, this is about understanding the goodness of our bodies. This body was created by God, the maker of heaven and earth, and he called it good.   And so, I think part of a good sexual education begins with that. And then, what's really nice is once you've started the conversation, that means if your children are exposed or if they're presented with things that don't line up with what they've been hearing, they now feel safe to come and talk about that. Because that's really what this was about.   I didn't feel safe to talk about what I was exposed to, what people were doing. Right. And what people were encouraging me to engage in.   And so, you know, my parents would ask me how it's going. I would not tell them anything because it wasn't a conversation that they were having with me. And so, I didn't think it was a conversation I was going to have with them.   And so, that meant that as I found myself further and further away from my values, I felt like, who am I going to share this with? And so, part of having the conversation is it normalizes with our kids that this is OK to talk about, which is actually what adults need. I mean, part of our work with couples as adults, we have to get them talking about sex and body parts.   I mean, it's amazing to have 30, 40, and 50-year-olds in our offices and in our sessions. And they're so uncomfortable. Right.   They don't want to talk about sex. They don't want to talk about their bodies. They don't want to talk about what their bodies do.   Right. And we keep being like, this is God's good stuff. Right.   There is goodness here. But you have to begin by talking about it. Right.   Having these conversations.   Joanna Raabsmith: (36:38 - 37:54) I tell all the parents I work with, your kids are going to pick up a narrative about what sex is and what sexuality is, whether you want them to or not. And so, would you rather be the first person to step in and give them a healthy view, a healthy narrative to understand? Right.   And this is beyond kind of the nuts and bolts that everything our kids are learning. They're trying to find a deeper meaning. They don't think it's unconscious when they're young. Right. But they're taking it and they're going, what meaning does this have for me? How does this inform my self-worth, my view of my own value as a human in my body?   And how does it inform my experience of the world and my safety in the world? And am I empowered to make decisions? Am I connected?   Do I belong? Right. All of those questions are asking.   And so, as they're confronted with issues of sexuality, it's going to inform those things. And the world will not give them a healthy narrative about it. Right.   And so, being able as a parent to step in and give them that healthy meaning, that narrative, that understanding of their worth and their safety as they're piecing together kind of sexuality, again, at that age-appropriate level is so important.   Laura Dugger: (37:54 - 38:30) Guess what? We are no longer an audio only podcast. We now have video included as well.   If you want to view the conversation each week, make sure you watch our videos. We're on YouTube and you can access videos or find answers to any of your other questions about the podcast when you visit thesavvysauce.com. And I love that you're talking about this with couples you work with.   So, will you give us an overview of the intimacy pyramid that you actually wrote a book about and you teach to couples?   Joanna Raabsmith: (38:30 - 38:31) Absolutely.   Matthew Raabsmith: (38:31 - 39:15) Yeah. I mean, it was born out of our journey because, as you said, we wandered for a while and we felt a little bit like Israel, just kind of, you know, knowing that the Promised Land was out there, but never really feeling like we could find it. And when we started to piece together, I think the kind of relationship that we had dreamed of reclaiming, we really ask ourselves, how can we make this a more direct, a simpler process, not just for couples who went through what we went through, but really for any couple who's hungry for this, for the couple like us when we were first starting.   It really wants an amazing marriage. And so, we really focused on a kind of simplistic idea of what are the core kind of foundational levels of building really healthy intimacy.   Joanna Raabsmith: (39:16 - 40:10) Yeah. So, the intimacy pyramid, it's actually a triangle. There's a visual that goes along with it.   So, if you imagine the different levels of the triangle, very similar to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, starting at the bottom, you have to start with honesty. And so, we definitely experienced that reality in our own relationship. Right.   This is something we learned from Couples in Betrayal, but like Matthew said, we realized this is where every couple starts. Am I willing to be fully open, fully honest and transparent in this relationship? Am I being my authentic self?   Right. And after that level of honesty, that's when we start to build safety. And that has to do with our ability to communicate in really healthy, constructive ways.   Even when it's hard, even when we're disagreeing, even when we feel like yelling at each other. Are we able to show up with that belief that we both have the same goal? We're trying to build something together.   Matthew Raabsmith: (40:10 - 41:57) And with honesty and safety, that's where we get to work on trust as a couple. That's that next level. And trust is where we start to be more partners, where we're really starting to kind of lean in, work together, kind of be courageous and saying, “Hey, this isn't just my life anymore, right?”   This is our life together. And as that trust is established, this is what allows for the incredible work of vulnerability. And there's been all these studies about vulnerability over the last few years and how important it is.   What we recognize, though, is vulnerability on top of nothing is actually really risky and kind of even dangerous. It's vulnerability that's built on healthy trust where we step in and we do share some of those deeper pains in those wounds, those fears. We start to really heal some of those kind of early traumas that we experience.   It's in that vulnerability. That's what allows a couple to be truly intimate. And it's when they've worked through each of these levels, what we find is these couples, when they reach this kind of this intimacy level, they're passionate about who they are as a couple. They love kind of their relationship itself. They have a purpose to it. They have a sense that like our marriage, our relationship exists for a reason, but they're also really playful.   They're silly. They're really kind of comfortable in their own skin. And it's those five levels really working together that allows them to experience a relationship that gives life. I think one of the things we know is that when God creates, it gives life. And so, God created marriage not to burden us, right? Not to kind of, you know, not even just to get us through, you know, kind of surviving life, but actually to bring more life.   Right. And not just life within the relationship itself, but life outside of it.   Laura Dugger: (41:58 - 42:22) Oh, I love it. And you're also working with couples. I've heard you speak before about the working on offering your spouse the gift of self-awareness. And so, what could couples expect? How do you actually work with them to grow in self-awareness and recognize things like the emotional process they go through in marriage?   Joanna Raabsmith: (42:22 - 43:48) Absolutely. So, awareness. So, in our book, we obviously detail the intimacy period much more.   And that's Building True Intimacy is the name of the book. But each of those levels we just walked through have different components that go into that. And awareness is kind of like one of the most important components of that honesty foundation.   So, we have to start with awareness and we can't really build anything if there's a lack of self-awareness. And so, when we work with couples, one of the first places we start is we kind of look at the past. Are they aware of what they've been through, what those experiences are, and how those experiences have shaped them into the person that is now in the present, showing up with their spouse.   Right. And so, once I start to have that insight from my past, from those experiences, how they shape me, I can better understand my present. What are the things that I feel and why do I feel those things in particular?   Right. And then when I feel those things in a relationship, and these are typically those kind of heavier, more challenging, more painful emotions. How do I respond?   How am I showing up? Because the reality is that all of us cope with emotional pain the same way we cope with physical pain. We go into fight or flight.   That part of our brain gets triggered and we respond with these kind of destructive relational coping behaviors that then hurt my partner.   Matthew Raabsmith: (43:48 - 46:22) Yeah. Like, for example, I told you about that chaos I experienced as a kid. And so, those would always happen around conflicts.   My parents would disagree about something. There would be some type of argument about, you know, and it could be anything where we were going for dinner or what color the curtains were. Right.   But it would create this chaotic environment. So, as I got married, the thing that I didn't like the least was any type of conflict. Joanna and I would get in when I could sense us disagreeing and we are both passionate.   We have opinions and we believe things and we get into this kind of disagreement and argument. It would freak my system out. And I didn't realize that because I didn't really know my past.   I didn't know what was going on. I would just really do anything to shut it down. I get angry and I try to get loud, or I just walk away in the middle of a conversation.   As Joanna was talking, I would just leave the room and my acting out was just a further manifestation of that kind of leaving the relationship. And so, part of my healing journey was to learn about my story and recognize, oh, OK, I can see what's happening. And what's really interesting is it still happens in our life today.   I've been in recovery for 12 years. I still feel the same things. Now it's more like when my kids are getting involved.   Right. And there's energy in the room and people are online. And then I go, oh, yeah, there it is.   There's my system again. It's starting to feel unsafe. It's starting to feel alone. And I know what it wants to do. It wants to get angry, or it wants to just shut down and walk away. And what's incredible is that we've learned the ability to see where we're at but also speak directly to that.   And so, what I get to do for myself now is I get to go, “OK, I know I'm feeling unsafe and I know I'm feeling alone. And I know I want to get angry to solve it, but it won't do it. But here's the truth. The truth is that I'm safe in God's economy. I'm empowered. I have an incredible partner in my life. I've never been alone. I've always had someone there for me. And Joanna is the perfect example of that.”   And that totally changes my sense of really kind of where I am. And it changes how I show up. I tend to be much more calm.   I ask questions rather than make demands. And it's that ability to kind of see where we're at and shift. That's just been such a game changer for our family and just for our own relationship.   We still have to work on it. You know, it doesn't always look that pretty. Right.   But when we do, it's amazing how different it goes.   Laura Dugger: (46:24 - 46:44) And then I just think of the generational impacts that has when people are willing to do the work. And so, if there's a brave couple out there who wants to seek their own help and healing, can you share where they can go for help, including the Raabsmith team and all that you have to offer?   Matthew Raabsmith: (46:46 - 47:30) Yeah, you know, we would love them to connect with us because I think one of the things we recognize was having guides along the way. I mean, we had to figure a lot out ourselves, but we also had some really incredible guides, some mentors, some coaches, some therapists. And so, we always just say, hey, connect with us.   You can find us at raabsmithteam.com. We have a heart for couples who want restoration and reconciliation because that's what we're getting to live and experience. And what's cool is our whole team, they're couples who've been through this work, but who also have been professionally trained to help other couples to just continue to guide and to grow relationships so that they're thriving and they're kind of giving that life.   Joanna Raabsmith: (47:30 - 48:10) Absolutely. We also love to give out resources. And so, we have the kind of we call it the honest connection.   And so, again, if you're starting this journey or even this is for any couple who wants deeper connection, deeper intimacy, learning how to do that on a daily basis in small ways is so important. And so, we have a worksheet that couples can take and use. We're happy to provide that for them for free and kind of try this for 30 days and notice the changes that you experience in your relationship.   And so, that's a great starting point wherever you are in relationship to begin that journey of connection.   Matthew Raabsmith: (48:10 - 48:14) And you just go to raabsmithteam.com/free and that resource is all yours.   Laura Dugger: (48:15 - 48:26) Wonderful. Add links for that in the show notes for today's episode. And is this then for any couple worldwide, nationwide?   Can you work with people?   Matthew Raabsmith: (48:27 - 48:55) We have we've got couples across the world, which is really fun. It's been really neat just to see the way that God has used our work. One of the things when we first started this journey, we started getting couples calling us saying, “Hey, I don't have anybody in my area that specializes in this, that understands this journey. Can I work with you?” And so, we kind of felt a calling to say we want to make sure that we connect with people wherever they are. And so, absolutely.   If you can hear our voice, you can work with us.   Laura Dugger: (48:55 - 49:14) I love that. And just as a little bonus practical tip, you kind of mentioned being proactive to thriving in marriage. Is there any encouragement that you could share or a specific practical tip that anybody could start to incorporate if they want to take their marriage to that thriving level?   Matthew Raabsmith: (49:15 - 50:12) Yeah, I think just the ability to slow down. We have a  nine, seven and six-year-old. We own our own business, and we like life and life can get incredibly fast.   And I think what we have found is when, as I was mentioning, when I learned the ability just to slow down, even if I don't fully just know myself slowing down and checking in, just where am I at right now? Where's my heart? Right. Where do I want to be?   I think I realize that so often my values and my actions aren't aligned when I'm moving too quickly. I'm not being the person that I want to be. And we see that in so many couples. We meet so many couples and there are two really great people who have a hard time working together. They have a hard time kind of being a team.   And it's usually because they're working so fast. They don't realize they're kind of working against each other. So, slowing down, I think, is such a big thing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (50:12 - 51:18) Another piece that's, again, really easy to start right away. A lot of couples we work with, and I think probably even us when we start a relationship, was there were two individuals in a relationship, and it was kind of either me or you. And starting to understand there's this third thing between you, the relationship. There's a third almost entity that really needs care. It needs nurture. It needs you to focus on its needs from time to time.   And so, beginning to approach the day, even approach conversations with this question of like, what does our relationship need right now? And even as you're trying to make decisions, what is the way we can decide this in a way that's good for our relationship or what decision benefits our relationship rather than does it benefit you or me? Because when you get into that struggle, it can become a competition.   It can become transactional really quickly. So, starting to ask that question, starting to talk about the needs and caring for the relationship very intentionally can be a way to shift that.   Laura Dugger: (51:20 - 51:38) Thank you for sharing that. I think that leads into my last question, because you already know we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for both of you, Matthew and Joanna, what is your savvy sauce?   Matthew Raabsmith: (51:39 - 52:22) I kind of mentioned this, but I think it's the willingness to be honest. I was so willing to lie to myself and kind of really hide from other people. And I didn't even know that I was doing it.   But as I have learned to be more honest in really kind of healthy ways, right. You can dump, you can whine, you can complain, you can get angry. But truly being honest meant just looking at what I was feeling and trying to kind of figure that out and name that.   As I have learned that ability to be honest with myself and with others, it has just opened up a new world of possibilities. And it has shown me how many people care for me; how much God cares for me. So, I think that honesty is something I just want to practice more and more every day.   Joanna Raabsmith: (52:22 - 53:30) I think for me, just in my own journey and working with so many partners, that importance of being able to make empowered decisions in my life. Right. That I am really intentionally choosing the direction I'm going in life.   Realizing that instead of going into this more helpless, powerless victim stance is such a difference. And really the only thing that changes a lot of times is mindset. You don't have to overhaul your entire life.   Right. You have to add in like four hours of self-care and all of these things. But starting to shift that mindset into, wait, I have power in the decisions I make.   And one of the ways that's really important to do that is growing that self-awareness. I cannot make empowered decisions if I'm not aware of where I'm at emotionally, physically, spiritually. Right.   If I'm not aware of my needs on a regular basis. And so, slowing down to check those things in, sometimes even multiple times in the day if you're not used to that. So, you're more connected to yourself, to what you need, what you want.   So, you can start making those empowered decisions.   Laura Dugger: (53:32 - 54:00) I love that. It's just so enjoyable to host a very lively couple who's humble and you've done your work. And then you're willing to share all this overflow of goodness with all of us.   So, I think my prayer is that the Lord would richly bless you for this open-handed generosity of wisdom and your story and experience that you've shared with us and modeled for us today. So, thank you to both of you for being my guest.   Joanna Raabsmith: (54:00 - 54:03) Thank you so much. It's a joy being here.   Laura Dugger: (54:05 - 57:47) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Noah rants on his trip to Disney World. #comedy #satire #Disney #themousethatshallnotbenamed #noahsrant     Noah's Rant is a stand-alone episode of The Flip Side Podcast with Noah Filipiak. Subscribe to the podcast or this YouTube channel today.   Flip Side Notes: Join an upcoming Beyond the Battle online group at www.beyondthebattle.net   Support Flip Side sponsor Angry Brew by using promo code FLIP at angrybrew.com or fivelakes.com to pick up some Angry Brew or Chris' Blend coffee at 10% off.   Get a free month of Covenant Eyes at www.covenanteyes.com using promo code BEYOND   Get a free month of Accountable2You keyword accountability: a2u.app/beyond (do not use “www”)   Your recurring gifts make Noah's ministry & The Flip Side possible. Get some sweet swag by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/noahfilipiak – includes exclusive access to Noah's episode commentary, interaction, and email access. (Not tax-deductible)  Tax-deductible recurring gifts can be given at www.noahfilipiak.com/give.      Purchase Beyond the Battle and Needed Navigation by Noah Filipi

JOIN THE 7 DAY RESET - ▶️ www.therebuiltman.com/7dayreset   In this powerful episode of The Rebuilt Man Podcast, Coach Frank exposes the hard truth most men never hear:   Porn blockers don't free men — they keep them dependent.   Apps like Covenant Eyes, BlockerX, and Canopy don't fix the underlying issue, and for many men they actually make addiction worse. Instead of building self-leadership and discipline, blockers reinforce surveillance, loophole hunting, and emotional avoidance.   Frank breaks down the nine undeniable reasons why porn blockers fail long-term, and reveals the path to true freedom — one rooted in identity, purpose, and personal leadership rather than restriction.   If you've ever used a blocker and still relapsed… this episode will finally make it make sense.   Expect to Learn Why porn blockers attack symptoms instead of the root problem   How blockers create dependence instead of discipline   Why "forbidden fruit dopamine" makes porn even more tempting   How accountability becomes policing instead of growth   Why you can't outsource self-control and still expect to feel powerful   How loophole hunting becomes a dopamine addiction of its own   How blockers give the illusion of progress without transformation   Why discomfort and emotions always beat external restrictions   What actually makes porn become unnecessary   Key Takeaways Porn blockers create more dependence, not more freedom   Real change is driven by identity, self-leadership, and discipline   Freedom comes from mastering urges, not restricting access   You don't need a stronger blocker — you need a stronger you   Join the Brotherhood If you're ready to stop fighting alone and step into a container built for growth, support, and freedom:   ➡ Join The Rebuilt Man Skool Community — Free 7-Day Trial www.TheRebuiltMan.com/7dayreset   Inside you'll gain access to: Daily accountability Weekly coaching The 7-Day Reset The 12-Week "Reboot Your Life" Framework And a brotherhood of men who refuse to quit   – Follow Coach Frank: IG - https://www.instagram.com/coachfrankrich   YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CoachFrankRich   Website - https://www.rebuiltrecovery.com/homepage

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"It's critical for ministry leaders to understand their responsibility and opportunity to help people in their churches who are sexually struggling. That was a key theme in our rich conversation with Sam Black, Director of Recovery Education at Covenant Eyes. Sam explained that empathy plus action breaks porn's grip, and how churches can become truly safe communities for strugglers and spouses. We talked about practical tools, trauma-informed insights, and a clear path toward allyship, healing, and prevention.Some of the themes from our conversation included...• Early exposure + repetition + pain = a common pathway into pornography.• Allyship and accessibility work better than traditional accountability.• How mind-body-spirit healing helps interrupt the addiction cycle.• What constitutes safe people in safe places with a safe process.• How church leaders often unintentionally add harm to betrayed spouses.• Sex (or more sex) is not the solution to porn use.• How to find available, practical, ready-to-use tools for pastors and leaders.• How healing it is when leaders  admit mistakes & repair ruptures.#samblack #covenanteyes #thehealingchurch #pornographyaddiction #therapy #healing #addiction #trauma #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformationCovenant Eyes websiteFive Stones pastor kit (FREE from Covenant Eyes)The Healing Church book (Amazon) Support the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"People who struggle with unwanted sexual behavior including pornography use tend to have a really hard time finding help. Often they haven't had anywhere to go where they will actually receive help, rather than shaming or harsh criticism.SAM BLACK is the Director of Recovery Education at Covenant Eyes, a company providing helpful resources for people seeking freedom from porn. He is also the author of The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography, and How to Fix It.Sam believes churches need to be the safest places on earth for people to find help and change. But sadly this is far too rarely the case. Our communities that should provide healing too often react with harsh judgmentalism toward those who struggle. Sam's book seeks to equip leaders to better understand what's  going on under the presenting problem, and how they can offer true safety and help to those who need it.Episode 51 | Sam Black: Safe People, Safe Places, Safe Process will be available Tuesday, November 25th!#samblack #covenanteyes #thehealingchurch #pornographyaddiction #therapy #healing #addiction #trauma #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformationSupport the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

In this episode of the Covenant Eyes Podcast, Rob Stoddard sits down with Joe Beckler, Vice President of Development, Marketing, and Communication for CBMC (Christian Businessmen's Connection) — an organization celebrating 95 years of equipping men to live out their faith in the marketplace.Joe shares the remarkable story of CBMC's origins during the Great Depression and its ongoing mission to reach business leaders through life-on-life discipleship, mentorship, and spiritual community. He also discusses his personal CBMC journey and why the marketplace remains one of the largest mission fields today.You'll hear powerful insights on:✓ Why so many men feel isolated in today's digital, high-pressure culture✓ The deep challenges facing Christian business leaders✓ How destructive patterns often take root — and how to break free✓ The power of accountability teams & one-on-one discipleship✓ CBMC's transformative tool: Operation Timothy✓ What it looks like to walk in freedom, calling, and purpose✓ Why reaching the next generation of men is CBMC's top priority✓ How men (and churches) can get connected todayJoe also shares how digital pressures are shaping culture — and why intentional community and Christ-centered mentorship are more important than ever.

Granger reacts to a viral video about fighting temptation, focusing on the battle against pornography and why this struggle has to be treated with the seriousness of a war. He talks through the weight of sin, the reality that Christ absorbed God’s wrath on our behalf, and the practical steps believers can take to flee temptation. This includes accountability, tools like Covenant Eyes, removing access to triggering content, switching a phone to grayscale, and building spiritual layers of protection. The conversation highlights the importance of preparing for the fight before temptation shows up and learning to live as a Christian on offense rather than defense.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join host Rob Stoddard for an impactful discussion with Geremy Keeton, Senior Director of Counseling Services at Focus on the Family. With more than two decades of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, Geremy brings deep, compassionate insight into how families can heal, reconnect, and thrive in Christ.In this episode, you'll hear:✓ The most common ways hidden struggles impact marriages✓ Why trust is often the first casualty — and how to rebuild it✓ The myths couples believe that make healing harder✓ What a healthy, transformative accountability relationship really looks like✓ Practical, hopeful guidance for parents raising children in a digital world✓ The role of the church in fostering healing, support, and restoration✓ Key Focus on the Family resources for individuals, couples, and pastorsGeremy also shares wisdom from Focus on the Family's counseling team, who serve thousands each month through free ministry consultations.

I'm having Jeremy Stalnecker, CEO of Mighty Oaks, on the show to discuss the legacy that Mighty Oaks is leaving in lives all across America. Tune in to find out why this is the only program to permanently change the lives of veterans, first-responders, and their families.I personally attended a Might Oaks Legacy program.Mighty Oaks is a peer-to-peer Resiliency and Recovery Programs that serve as the catalyst to assist our Nation's Warriors dealing with challenges related to the struggles of daily military life, combat deployments and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTSd) offered at no cost to our Nation's Warriors, including travel at beautiful ranches across the US. Go here to find out more about Mighty Oaks:https://www.mightyoaksprograms.org/TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, get Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways foryou to support the ministry:

Join host Rob Stoddard for an insightful conversation with Alex Kocman, Director of Communications for ABWE, speaker, author, and church leader.In this episode, Alex shares his journey into missions, the heart behind his book Striving for the Faith, and why he believes many churches lose sight of the “why” behind their outreach efforts.You'll hear deep insights on:✓ What truly motivates mission work✓ How every believer can live with outward purpose✓ The growing challenges facing mission agencies✓ How spiritual formation and accountability strengthen long-term ministry✓ Wise pastoral encouragement for leading churches toward global engagementAlex also discusses cultural pressures that make spiritual integrity harder today — and how Christian communities can respond with clarity, hope, and accountability.

Noah interviews Dr. Brent Sandy on what the Bible was before it was ever written down, and how rediscovering this tradition brings Scripture to life today in dynamic ways.    Dr. D. Brent Sandy (PhD, Duke University) taught New Testament and Greek at Wheaton College and chaired the Department of Religious Studies at Grace College. He is coauthor (with John Walton) of The Lost World of Scripture: Ancient Literary Culture and Biblical Authority and author of Hear Ye the Word of the Lord: What We Miss if We Only Read the Bible.   You can reach Brent at bsandy@grace.edu   Dr. Brent Sandy's summary of his thinking about the importance of recapturing as much of the original orality of Scripture as possible. (Click to download a one-page pdf)   Flip Side Notes: Join an upcoming Beyond the Battle online group at www.beyondthebattle.net   Support Flip Side sponsor Angry Brew by using promo code FLIP at angrybrew.com or fivelakes.com to pick up some Angry Brew or Chris' Blend coffee at 10% off.   Get a free month of Covenant Eyes at www.covenanteyes.com using promo code BEYOND   Get a free month of Accountable2You keyword accountability: a2u.app/beyond (do not use “www”)   Your recurring gifts make Noah's ministry & The Flip Side possible. Get some sweet swag by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/noahfilipiak – includes exclusive access to Noah's episode commentary, interaction, and email access. (Not tax-deductible)  Tax-deductible recurring gifts can be given at www.noahfilipiak.com/give.      Purchase Beyond the Battle and Needed Navigation by Noah Filipiak.

When trust is broken, can a marriage truly be restored?In this powerful episode of the Covenant Eyes Podcast, host Karen Potter sits down with Jenny Solomon, author of Reclaim Your Marriage: Grace for Wives Who Have Been Hurt by Broken Trust, to share how faith, honesty, and grace brought new life to her marriage.Jenny opens up about walking through pain, rebuilding trust, and finding peace through Christ-centered healing. Together, Karen and Jenny talk about:✅ What emotional betrayal feels like for a spouse✅ How the church can lovingly support struggling couples✅ The role of lament and prayer in real recovery✅ Setting healthy boundaries while extending grace✅ Practical tools for growth, like the Victory App and Covenant Eyes accountabilityIf you or someone you love is walking through relational pain, this episode will offer biblical hope, wisdom, and encouragement for the journey toward restoration.

Carrie Prejean Boller returns — and this time, she's face to face with Perez Hilton, the Miss USA judge whose question about gay marriage sparked one of the most viral pageant moments ever. They revisit that controversy and dive into tough conversations on gay marriage, transgender surgeries, and men playing in women's sports. It's a raw, unfiltered dialogue between two people with very different views — and a surprising journey toward understanding, respect, and forgiveness. You won't want to miss this one. Join our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-EveryLife Women: https://www.everylife.com/lila Buy diapers and women's health products from an amazing company and use code LILA to get 10% off!-We Heart Nutrition: https://www.weheartnutrition.com/ Get high quality vitamin supplements for 20% off using the code LILA. -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!00:00:00 - Intro00:02:13 - Perez is "surprisingly conservative" 00:06:26 - Carrie speaks to Perez00:08:32 - Would Perez have changed anything?00:21:35 - Debating Same-Sex Marriage00:44:50 - How do you define ‘love'?00:47:34 - Perez's religious beliefs00:53:02 - What defines happiness?00:54:38 - Questions About Transgenderism01:02:09 - IVF01:05:04 - The Pope01:08:33 - Do men don't belong in women's sports?

Social media has turned mudslinging into a sport, and plenty of Christians are in the game. But is it really harmless fun to accuse, mock, or tear people down online?Dominican friar Fr. Gregory Pine joins us to expose the spiritual fallout of online outrage and remind us why discernment matters every time we hit “post.” He also unpacks how Gen Z vs. Millennials communicate and how we can reach both with a message that actually lands.It feels like the Wild West out there, but Fr. Pine offers some much-needed guardrails to help us make sure our online presence builds up instead of tears down.Share this episode and turn your keyboard into an instrument of grace instead of gossip!Check out the bonus episode on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lilaroseshowCheck out our sponsors:-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9  Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!-Presidio Healthcare: Healthcare and doctors who share your values. If you're in TEXAS visit: https://www.presidiocare.com/ If you're NOT in Texas, visit: https://www.prolifeproviders.com/-EveryLife Women: https://www.everylife.com/lila Buy diapers and women's health products from an amazing company and use code LILA to get 10% off!

Join Covenant Eyes podcast hosts Karen Potter and Theo McManigal for an inspiring conversation with Bobby and Jackie Angel — Catholic authors, speakers, and parents known for their work with Ascension Presents and Word on Fire.In this heartfelt episode, Bobby and Jackie share their powerful stories of faith, marriage, and ministry — from meeting through the Theology of the Body Institute to navigating life as Catholic parents of five in today's tech-driven world.

I'm having Pastor Sam Jones on the show to discuss the Islamic Massacre currently happening in Nigeria and how the Nigerian government is directly helping the massacre of Christians to happen. It's far worse than you think.Go to Equipping the Persecuted to find out more:https://equippingthepersecuted.org/Go to Truth Nigeria for the real news about Nigeria:https://truthnigeria.com/SUPPORT THE MINISTRY AND YOURSELVES:TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, get Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways for you to support the ministry:

Today we're discussing the election of Zohran Mamdani and its implications, as well as fascinating data about women vs men trends in voting, life, and values. We also discuss the New York Time's glamor shot of Nick Fuentes as they claim he is Charlie Kirk's 'successor'Check out our sponsors:-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!-Presidio Healthcare: Healthcare and doctors who share your values. If you're in TEXAS visit: https://www.presidiocare.com/ If you're NOT in Texas, visit: https://www.prolifeproviders.com/

Pastor Matt Chandler joins hosts Karen Potter and Rob Stoddard for an honest and hope-filled conversation about what it means to walk in freedom, even when you're battling the same sins again and again.Matt shares wisdom from over 30 years in ministry about confession, community, and cultivating deep affection for Jesus — the keys to lasting transformation.

Abbie Halberstadt, content creator and mother of ten, shares why on her very first date she told her now husband that birth control would never be an option. Drawing on commonsense and scripture, Abbie unpacks the heart behind the truth that God is in charge of our fertility, not us—and why this is a truth both Protestants and Catholics can agree on. She opens up about how living with radical faith has taught her humility and trust in God's plan, even when it includes two sets of twins! Tune in to be inspired to embrace the ultimate adventure of surrendering every part of your life to Him.Abbie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.is.for.mama/?hl=enAbbie's website: https://misformama.net/Join our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/Check out our amazing sponsors!-Good Ranchers: https://go.goodranchers.com/lila Tag Good Ranchers on Instagram with #BacktotheTable, for your chance to win a free Thanksgiving turkey! Code LILA for $40 off your first purchase-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!-Presidio Healthcare: Healthcare and doctors who share your values. If you're in TEXAS visit: https://www.presidiocare.com/ If you're NOT in Texas, visit: https://www.prolifeproviders.com/00:00:00 - Intro00:02:42 - Intentionality trumps passivity00:17:11 - Vasectomies and Being Open to Life:00:32:43 - There is a tradeoff to big families00:37:00 - Making mini parents?00:43:01 - Lila hasn't shared this yet on the podcast:00:46:45 - Fear of Motherhood01:00:08 - Unhappy Motherhood01:03:30 - Paying family to help

For decades, Dean Sikes has been sharing a radical message of hope: God loves you, has a plan for your life, and because you're breathing, you matter.The conversation dives deep into the urgent teen mental health crisis. Dean shares shocking statistics—including that 22% of high schoolers have considered suicide—and discusses his mission to eradicate hopelessness and prevent teenage suicide.Dean explains that a person who is "broken until healed becomes a broken adult". He shares insights from his new book, You Matter: Finding Hope and Meaning in Everyday Life, and how to:1. Find a firm foundation of self-worth and confidence.2. Break free from a spirit of hopelessness.3. Connect with God's love and purpose, no matter your past.This episode is a vital resource for parents, youth leaders, educators, and anyone who feels they are struggling or want to help a young person find their God-given value.Need Help? If you are having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US, or visit https://988lifeline.org.Links & Resources:Get Dean Sikes' Book: You Matter: Finding Hope and Meaning in Everyday Life:https://www.amazon.com/You-Matter-Finding-Meaning-Everyday/dp/1964508428Learn More about Covenant Eyes: https://cvnteyes.co/4gb6xmeTimestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Dean Sikes and the You Matter Ministry 01:44 - New Book: You Matter: Finding Hope and Meaning in Everyday Life 02:36 - Why You Matter: The Answer to the Billion-Dollar Question03:33 - The Connection Between Hopelessness and Suicide 04:29 - Troubling Teenage Suicide Statistics (22% have considered it)05:34 - Is the Book Just for Teens? Broken Teens become Broken Adults 06:26 - Talking With Students, Not To ThemSend us your feedback!Try Covenant Eyes for FREE today!Use Promo Code: FreePodcast © 2024 Covenant Eyes, All Rights Reserved

Jase, Al, and Zach open up with raw honesty about their first encounters with pornography, how early exposure warped their understanding of intimacy, and the damage it caused in their own lives and marriages. They share how confession, community, and God's grace became the foundation for lasting healing and freedom. The guys highlight how pornography's reach has become a modern scourge, but also how partners like Covenant Eyes are giving families real tools to fight back. There's hope for the next generation, who are beginning to see pornography for what it truly is: a counterfeit version of love that steals joy and connection, but can be overcome through faith, accountability, and truth. In this episode: Matthew 6, verses 22–23; Matthew 5, verses 27–30; Job 31, verse 1 (and verse 10); Genesis 39; James 5, verse 16; Ezekiel 36, verse 26; 1 Samuel 16, verse 7; Zechariah 9, verses 16–17 “Unashamed” Episode 1197 is sponsored by: http://frontline21.com — Embrace biblical masculinity. Download the Frontline21 field guide for men and 21-day devotional at no cost to you. Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00-07:35 It starts with believing a lie 07:36-16:35 Porn is a frontline battle for our society 16:38-22:10 The real statistics of pornography 22:11-27:13 Porn changes your brain chemistry 27:14-32:08 Having real-life sex is hard work 32:09-37:54 What does Jesus say about porn? 37:54-42:46 Sexual sin starts in the heart 42:47-47:56 What you can do to overcome porn addiction — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P*rn*graphy is destroying lives, families, and faith — but one Catholic priest isn't afraid to confront it head-on. In this powerful episode of The Covenant Eyes Podcast, Fr. Jonathan Meyer (Archdiocese of Indianapolis) joins Karen Potter and Theo McManigal to talk openly about the spiritual, emotional, and relational impact of p*rn*graphy—and the path to real freedom in Christ.

Modern culture often tells us to express every feeling freely, regardless of the consequences or how our emotions might affect others. In contrast, the Puritan mindset teaches that emotions are dangerous and should be suppressed or ignored while we simply push through life. As parents, which of these extremes should we encourage in our children?Dr. Suzanne Baars joins us to share insights drawn from a lifetime of mentorship under her father, Dr. Conrad Baars, a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp and the pioneer of Affirmation Therapy. This approach reimagines psychology through the moral framework of Saint Thomas Aquinas, emphasizing that our emotions are valuable signals of our inner state. Rather than being dismissed or indulged, emotions should be understood, respected, and expressed appropriately.Affirmation Therapy offers a balanced middle ground between emotional repression and unchecked expression. In this conversation, Dr. Baars explains how parents can affirm their children and guide them toward emotional maturity, helping them grow into healthy, happy, and secure adults. Her practical wisdom provides clear steps you can begin using today to foster emotional confidence in your little ones.Join our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/Check out our amazing sponsors!-Angel Studios: https://angel.com/lila Join the Guild to vote on future blockbuster films, access all of Angel's films and shows, and even get free tickets to upcoming releases. -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!-EveryLife: https://www.everylife.com Buy diapers from an amazing pro-life diaper company and use code LILA to get 10% off!00:00:00 - Intro00:02:27 - Sue's Background00:06:13 - Psyche, Soul, and Psychology00:10:20 - Her father's escape from Nazis00:24:23 - Affirming Feelings00:27:45 - Is harder = holier?00:35:07 - Repression v Expression00:41:13 - What's proper use of emotions?00:53:10 - Personal Management vs Professional Help00:58:19 - What does Lack of Affirmation look like?01:03:25 - How to deal with hypersensitivity?01:07:06 - What are principles for affirming children?01:20:56 - Being vs Doing with other people01:25:23 - The Affirming Life Should be for all of us01:29:22 - How to active your receptivity01:34:16 - Tips for mothers in particular

How do we reach the next generation with the Gospel in an increasingly digital, distracted world?In this inspiring episode of The Covenant Eyes Podcast, host Karen Potter sits down with Fred Pry, a leader from Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) — one of the largest and most effective global children's ministries — to talk about how they are reaching children with the love of Jesus Christ in over 200 countries.

I'm giving an urgent prophetic message from the Lord today. The American church is in dire straits. There's a lot of tearing down that needs to be done for the church to rise again. Even if you live in another country, watch this message to know how to pray for the American Church.TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, get Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways foryou to support the ministry:

Learn how to protect your kids online and introduce technology the right way.In this episode, Bill Brady, CEO of Troomi, joins the Covenant Eyes Podcast to discuss faith-based parenting in the digital age. Discover how Troomi phones keep children safe from pornography, predators, and social media — while empowering parents with visibility and control.Bill also shares how his Christian faith influences Troomi's mission, why the tech industry needs more accountability, and how parents can raise children with integrity in an AI-driven world.

On this episode: Aaron and Nate reveal that there is a mysterious donor who is matching your Samson Society donations up to $50,000.00!!!!! Also this episode, Aaron is an angry wanker, and gratitude is as real as $!itty stuff. This week, Nate and Aaron interview Noah Filipiak. Noah is an author, pastor, podcaster, and dad. Noah and the guys discuss conversations that need to happen. He guides us on how to talk to kids and teens about sex and why. There is a challenge for parents to parent. Navigating healing from the purity culture. The discussion and need for teen support groups. Other topics include hero!ne in the fruity pebbles, worshipful sex, Dishwalla, Inglorious Basterds, and more. Don't forget to rate and subscribe on your favorite podcast players.Links: Noah Filipiak Beyond the BattleBooks: Needed Navigation, by: Noah Filipiak Beyond the Battle, by: Noah Filipiak Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today's Young Kids, by: Kristen A. JensonNov 7-9, 2025 Santa Fe, NM Samson Summit Nov 7-9, 2025 The Wild & Sacred Journey, Womens Retreat If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to piratemonkpodcast@gmail.com.The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com. Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com.The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.   by Noah Filipiak About Author, Pastor Noah Filipiak Noah Filipiak is an author, pastor, and podcaster with a heart to apply the reality of the gospel to the grit of life.  He is the author of "Beyond the Battle: A man's guide to his identity in Christ in an over-sexualized world" (Zondervan) and leads online groups through the book. Noah and his wife Jennifer got married in 2004 and have 3 adorable daughters. He is on the Covenant Eyes blogging team and has several other articles published. He is a frequent guest speaker at colleges and churches.    https://www.noahfilipiak.com/     beyondthebattle.net Beyond Ministries Helping men find freedom from porn and sexual sin while finding their identity in the healing love of Jesus Christ. (375 kB) https://www.beyondthebattle.net/     by Noah Filipiak Needed Navigation - by Noah Filipiak Teens are being bombarded with porn and sex everywhere they turn. 93% of boys and 62% of girls first see porn before they turn 18. With smartphones everywhere, this is no surprise. What is a surprise is how little the church talks about porn and when they do, how unhelpful it often is. ~75 pages […] Est. reading time 2 minutes https://www.noahfilipiak.com/needed-navigation/     by Noah Filipiak Beyond the Battle - by Noah Filipiak Purchase on Amazon at a bulk discounted rate from Church Source Digging deeper than the surface-level tricks and tactics men are already familiar with, Beyond the Battle unpacks the heart of the gospel to show every man what he's been looking for all along. Join Noah in an online video small group through Beyond […] Est. reading time 1 minute  

In this inspiring episode of The Covenant Eyes Podcast, host Karen Potter sits down with Rachael Groll, founder of She Hears Ministries and host of The She Hears Podcast. Rachael shares her journey from being a pastor and missionary to building a thriving online discipleship ministry that has reached over 6 million downloads.They discuss:•  How to tell the difference between God's voice, our own emotions, and the enemy's lies•  The challenges women face today in hearing God amid the noise of technology and culture•  Overcoming shame, addiction, and struggles like pornography through biblical truth and accountability•  How moms can disciple their children and embrace their God-given ministry at home•  Rachael's books, She Hears and her upcoming Bible studies for women

At just 14 years old, he was hitchhiking and seeking encounters with men decades older—desperately hungry for male attention and searching for it in all the wrong places.In time, Joe's story took a redemptive turn. God brought healing, a loving marriage, and two sons into his life. For over 30 years now, he's devoted himself to ministering to men wrestling with the same struggles that once defined his past.A true OG in ministry within the LGBT space, Joe Dallas brings hard-earned wisdom on how to love those experiencing same-sex attraction, understand its deeper roots, and accompany them on the road toward lasting restoration. This episode is rich with insight and compassion; in a culture so wounded and confused, Joe's words are a balm.Joe's ministry: https://joedallas.com/NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://rosereport.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee with code LILA and get up to 25% off!-ProLife Providers: Discover doctors who share and respect your values at https://www.prolifeproviders.com/-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!

In this mini-episode Adam answers your most-asked question with their real setup: landline + watch for calls, curated contacts, filtered schoolwork, locked streaming profiles, and kids' Kindles set to read-only. He reminds us software can help, but the win is shaping hearts, building accountability, and choosing holiness together.Resources MentionedApple Watch (Family Setup & controls): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211768Apple Screen Time (family controls): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304Canopy (filter): https://canopy.us/Securly (school filtering): https://www.securly.com/Covenant Eyes (accountability): https://www.covenanteyes.com/Bark (monitoring): https://www.bark.us/Dude Perfect App: https://dudeperfect.com/app/Kindle parental controls: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201472070Movie “parent guide” lookups (Common Sense Media): https://www.commonsensemedia.org/Scripture — Psalm 101:3 (“I will not set…before my eyes”): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+101%3A3&version=ESV Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this homily, delivered on October 12, 2025, Dcn. Peter preaches on the need to protect our homes from explicit internet content and to make our homes safe havens for our kids to flourish in purity and holiness. Society is inundated with inappropriate and explicit internet content, which can enter our homes through our devices. Dcn. Peter lays out various practical suggestions to protect our kids from these evils. First, don't give kids a smartphone until they are in high school. Second, protect family devices with parental controls. Third, don't allow smartphones, tablets, computers, or any other devices in the bedroom. Fourth, have an open and honest conversation with kids about the problem when they have reached an appropriate age. Fifth, use resources such as Covenant Eyes to learn more ways to navigate this difficult issue. Lastly, talk with other parents and families to get support and further ideas about combating the issues. Dcn. Peter ends with a word of hope: Jesus wants abundant life for us and our kids, so we can turn to Him to help us live in freedom and protect our families.

In this powerful episode of The Covenant Eyes Podcast, hosts Karen Potter and Theo McManigal sit down with Dr. Eddie Capparucci, a licensed Christian therapist and creator of the Inner Child Model, to discuss how faith, emotional healing, and practical therapy work together to break the chains of p*rn*graphy addiction.Eddie shares his story of leaving corporate America to follow God's calling into counseling, explains how unresolved childhood pain shapes addictive behavior, and offers actionable tools for emotional regulation and recovery.You'll learn:•  Why understanding your “inner child” is key to healing from addiction.•  How faith and psychology can work together seamlessly.•  What to do after a relapse and how to regulate emotions.•  How tools like Covenant Eyes support long-term freedom and accountability.

In this powerful episode of The Covenant Eyes Podcast, host Karen Potter sits down with Canadian pastor and recovery advocate Vern Tompke, creator of the Finding Traction and Pastors on P*rn podcasts. Vern shares his deeply personal story of overcoming p*rn*graphy addiction while serving in ministry — and how God turned his healing into a mission to help others.Together, Karen and Vern discuss:•  The unique challenges pastors face when struggling with p*rn•  How shame and burnout can fuel addiction•  Why accountability and community are essential for recovery•  How technology — and tools like Covenant Eyes — create safer environments•  The importance of churches embracing brokenness to foster healingWhether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or someone seeking freedom from p*rn, this episode offers wisdom, hope, and practical tools for lasting transformation.Listen now to discover how faith, humility, and accountability can bring freedom and restoration.➡️ Learn more about Vern's ministry: https://BandOfBrothers.care➡️ Pastors, get your resources here: https://cvnteyes.co/4fTsi9j➡️ Get Accountability with Covenant Eyes: https://cvnteyes.co/4gb6xme

Join me for some very special guests, TEAM IRON WILL, who celebrate the perseverance of children with Down syndrome and their families. We will be discussing the intrinsic value of people with Down Syndrome and why we need to advocate for them.Go HERE to learn more and support families and children with Down Syndrome:https://www.teamironwill.org/TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, get Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways for you to support the ministry:

Could you imagine your parents giving you away? That's exactly what happened to Amy Main. As a young child, she was placed in the foster care system, shuffled from house to house, and endured abuse. She was turned down by the parents who adopted her sister, and even after being adopted herself, her parents eventually relinquished their rights.But that's not the end of the story. Amy joins us to share her powerful testimony of God's love penetrating the darkest of circumstances. She also exposes the deep problems within the foster care system yet reminds us that even when a child suffers through unimaginable hardship, life is still worthwhile and God's hope is present for every soul.You'll be inspired and challenged as Amy's story reminds us that we are all lost children like her and we have an adoptive Father who loves us, dignifies us, and calls us His own. Don't miss this episode.Amy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyymain/?hl=enNEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://rosereport.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee with code LILA and get up to 25% off!-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!-We Heart Nutrition: https://www.weheartnutrition.com/ Get high quality vitamin supplements for 20% off using the code LILA.

Today marks two years since Hamas committed the worst atrocities against the Jews since the Holocaust. There are lessons we should have learned about antisemitism since then that we haven't. I'm confronting how the church has failed Israel and the radical lessons learned we need to implement.How We Should View The Modern State of Israel | Ep 43:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrAoY1PCM90The Everlasting Love of God Toward Israel | Ep 25:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8TgryVewIMRestoring Your Voice | Has The Church Replaced Israel? | S4 Ep52:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4AWhYmuooYTRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, get Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways foryou to support the ministry:

Is the rise of Islam a threat to Western freedom? Former Muslim and content creator Ismail Youssef joins us for a bold, no-filter conversation tackling one of today's most urgent questions.Raised between Egypt and Canada, Ismail offers a rare insider's look at Islam's origins, core teachings, and the life of Prophet Muhammad and shares why he ultimately chose to leave the faith.He also weighs in on figures like Zohran Mamdani and opens up about his powerful journey to Christianity.Watch now for an eye-opening discussion that will challenge your beliefs and shed new light on the future of freedom in the West.NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://rosereport.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-ProLife Providers: Discover doctors who share and respect your values at https://www.prolifeproviders.com/-Good Ranchers: https://go.goodranchers.com/lila Purchase your American Meat Delivered subscription today and get a free add-on of beef, chicken, or salmon! Use code LILA for $40 off! -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!

My friend Brad Brandon, founder of Across Nigeria, is back on the show, and we're discussing the intense persecution of Christians in Nigeria and how America needs to wake-up to the reality of persecution and the threat of Islam.Go here to find out more about Across Nigeria:https://www.acrossnigeria.org/TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, get Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways foryou to support the ministry:

Julie Lopez's earliest memory is chilling: as a young child, her great-grandmother placed her inside a circle of fire, a ritual meant to consecrate children to demonic spirits. From that moment on, her life was marked by an unusual awareness of the spiritual realm. She encountered angels who intervened to save her life, apprenticed under a witch, and even bound herself to a high-ranking demon. Her childhood was anything but ordinary.The breaking point came when tragedy struck. The event was undeniably connected to the witchcraft practices she and her mother had once treated as part of everyday life.In this episode, Julie shares her testimony in raw detail. We also talk about the possibility that witchcraft contributed to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and how, just as with the death of Jesus, God can bring good fruit out of acts of great evil.This conversation will expose the reality of the spiritual battle unfolding in our nation and within our families. Now more than ever, we are called to put on the armor of God and stand firm against the forces of evil that are shaping our culture through false value systems and the growing influence of the occult.Julie's website: https://www.julie-lopez.com/NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://rosereport.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Angel Studios: https://angel.com/lila Join the Guild to vote on future blockbuster films, access all of Angel's films and shows, and even get free tickets to upcoming releases. -Good Ranchers: https://go.goodranchers.com/lila Purchase your American Meat Delivered subscription today and get a free add-on of beef, chicken, or salmon! Use code LILA for $40 off! -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!

Raised by an abusive stepfather and entrenched in gang life and theft, comedian Shayne Smith carried a heavy burden of trauma and pain. He eventually turned to magic and satanism as a desperate outlet to cope with deep childhood wounds. But the deeper he sank into depravity, the more he needed it to feel anything at all.Then, everything changed.In this raw and gripping episode, Shayne joins us to share his rollercoaster story. We also discuss the shocking and tragic killing of Charlie Kirk, and what it reveals about our cultural moment. Together, we explore how to bridge divides with those who don't believe in us and work toward a culture rooted in compassion, curiosity, and grace.Shayne's story will open your eyes to the hidden wounds others carry and challenge you to become a vessel of healing in a broken world. Shayne's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaydozer/NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://rosereport.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee with code LILA and get up to 25% off!-Hallow: https://www.hallow.com/lila Enter into prayer more deeply this season with the Hallow App, get 3 months free by using this link to sign up! -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!

Content creator and mother of eight, Alex Gooding, shares her extraordinary fertility journey, defying doctors who told her she'd never conceive. With 8 children earth side and a few in heaven, Alex has faced it all: unplanned pregnancy, infertility, carrying twins, miscarriage, NICU, IVF, terminal diagnosis, ectopic pregnancy, pressure to abort, and more. As Alex and her husband navigated both challenges and blessings, they learned more each step of the way about the sacredness of human life and God's plan for fertility. In this raw and honest conversation, Alex also reveals the shortcomings of modern obstetric care and the complex moral problems of IVF. Alex's story is a beacon of hope for mothers facing infertility and life-altering choices. If her journey resonates, please share this episode to support others who feel alone in their struggles.Alex's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growinggoodings/Our IVF Episode: https://youtu.be/s-Qnzn99xEUHave questions about ethical fertility treatments or emergency medical decisions regarding pregnancy? Learn Christian bioethics at NCBC: https://www.ncbcenter.org/NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://rosereport.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-ProLife Providers: Discover doctors who share and respect your values at https://www.prolifeproviders.com/-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee with code LILA and get up to 25% off!

Can dogs sense demons? How did a possessed person know an exorcist's childhood nickname? And what should you do when plagued by obsessive negative thoughts?In this episode, we sit down with Monsignor Rossetti—Chief Exorcist of the Archdiocese of Washington and a licensed psychologist—who brings rare insight into both the spiritual and psychological dimensions of these mysteries. This conversation will challenge the way you understand the spiritual realm, especially in light of God's omniscience and omnipotence compared to the limited, deceptive powers of the devil. You'll walk away with practical tools for spiritual warfare and a renewed confidence in the ultimate triumph of good over evil—an encouraging truth we too easily forget. Msgr Rossetti's website: https://www.catholicexorcism.org/NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://lilaroseshow.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Good Ranchers: https://go.goodranchers.com/lila Purchase your American Meat Delivered subscription today and get a free add-on of beef, chicken, or salmon! Use code LILA for $40 off! -Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee with code LILA and get up to 25% off!-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!

One night, Sarah Gabel Seifert fell asleep and had a dream that would change the course of her life. She found herself in a factory in a war-torn land, stumbling into a room filled with empty cribs and women on operating tables. When she awoke, she knew: God was calling her to a mission. Years later, that mission took an unexpected form when He placed on her heart the idea to found a pro-life diaper company. Today, Sarah and her husband are pioneers in a new marketplace where consumers intentionally choose products from companies that uphold, rather than oppose, their values.In this episode, you'll hear Sarah's powerful story of radical surrender, how to recognize the mission God is crafting uniquely for you, and how motherhood has deepened her inspiration and fueled her ability to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams.Sarah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgabel/?hl=enNEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://lilaroseshow.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-EveryLife: https://www.everylife.com Buy diapers from an amazing pro-life diaper company and use code LILA and get 10% off!-We Heart Nutrition: https://www.weheartnutrition.com/ Get high quality vitamin supplements for 20% off using the code LILA. -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!00:00:00 - Intro00:05:02 - Total Surrender: Sarah Before Jesus00:10:26 - How she met her husband (and business partner)00:20:52 - Women in Workplace00:26:15 - God spoke to me in a dream 00:35:13 - Getting into business world00:42:43 - Founding EveryLife00:49:17 - But HOW did you get this business started?00:54:36 - Hold Fast to the Mission01:02:59 - Biggest Mistake?01:09:16 - Biggest business breakthrough01:15:12 - How can moms become entrepreneurial?01:20:32 - Tips for finding mentors