Check Your Vertical: Recent Episodes
Scott & Mandie Verlinger
Are you searching for a place to come together at a time when things seem to be falling apart? Welcome to Check Your Vertical - a real, raw, and relatable testimony guided by Scott and Mandie Verlinger, a married couple that has been through the fires of life, and has survived the gauntlet of the world's temptations and challenges. Statistically they should be divorced according to the world's view, but by God's grace they are not. Join in to discover how they have overcome the hardships of marriage and faced seemingly impossible challenges in hot topic areas like intimacy, income and in laws - all by living vertically! Come along on this weekly Date Night to laugh, cry and learn about how they endured through their trials to "dance together" and not apart. Rejoice in what it looks like to live vertically, and apply the same types of principles and tools for your hard seasons. This is a journey that offers real life hope and redemption, a space to truly honor God in all things you do in a judge free zone, because trust us...we have the receipts!
CYV IS BACK!! Thank ya Jesus! We can't believe that it has been 6 months since we sat behind these mics. So then, where have we been? Tune in to this weeks episode to hear the real and raw story behind our unecpeted pause and how through it all, God has been faithful. As always, thank you for loving and supporting us on our journey.
These aren't our favorite episodes to share, as you can probably tell in our voice, but they are necessary to speak about. We know so many of you are suffering or have suffered. Many of you have been affected by grief and trauma that continuously shows up in your life in very sneaky and painful ways. As we walk through our suffering, we want to validate the real, deep pain is causes while always pointing you back towards Jesus, since He is where our hope is.
In this episode we continue our discussion on the importance of breaking generational communication and focusing on building a new foundation for generations to come. Tune in to hear ways that we are being intentional to allow the Lord to create a NEW way in us, regardless of where we have come from.
Last epsisode we discussed marriages being formed by feelings. If you haven't listened to that episode then I would encourage you to listen to that first before this one. It's important not to allow our feelings to dictate our behaviour, especially in marriages. Even more so, it's important to understand where these feelings derive from, particularly in communication. Typically, we do not naturally grow in our communication. What was shown to us growing up is what we will do when we're adults. Recognizing this is vital to growth not only your marriage but in all relationships of value. Tune in to hear us discuss what this looked like for ourselves & our marriage, plus 4 steps to begin intentionality for yourself.
We live in a culture that tells us our feelings are facts. Or, to live in YOUR truth or MY truth. This is not only untrue but also unbiblical. The heart is deceitful above all else and should not be forming our actions. Many marriages are struggling because of this very thing. Learning to manage our feelings while leaning into God's truth can rescue any marriage. Tune in to this weeks episoide as we discuss how we've worked through our feeling-formed marriage.
Join us on this week's episode as we recap Scott's mission trip to the DR with our good friend Jim Bossler. Scott and Jim had the honor of serving the people of DR together alongside a team from our local church, Riverwood Chapel. We're excited to have Jim on with us as he shares his insight into this specific trip along with his passion, love and joy for serving others across our borders. We hope this episode shines light on missions along with lighting a spark in you to serve in a way that challenges all of our comfort in a new way.
If you are local and are interested in missions with Riverwood Chapel, then please visit their website for more information: Riverwood Chapel
This was a whirlwind of an episode that takes us through detours and back roads. But all these roads eventually lead us to one place, faith in the one who directs our path and knows are destination. We only need to trust the journey.
Happy New Year and welcome to a new season of CYV! We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with friends and family. We are excited to be back and want to get your hearts and mind set up well for the new year to come. We often talk about trusting God with all things in our life. Which as you know, this can be extremely difficult at times. In any relationship, trust is vital for growth. But, to trust someone, you must first know them. This includes knowing God, your creator, on a level that is different than any other relationship. So, how do you do that? Tune into this week's episode to hear how we our knowing God more so that we can continue to grow into an unwavering, faith-filled relationship with him.
For many, the holiday season is a joyous time filled with excitement and magic. But for some, this season can bring feelings of anxiety and stress due to unhealed relationships with family memebers that we love. We've invited Lisa Anderson, host of the Boundless Podcast, on to discuss how to have healthy holiday boundaries for your marriage and beyond.
You can connect with Lisa at Boundless.org
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Wait.Fight club? In our marriage?? And there are rules for this?? YES! And guess where you can find them - In God's word! Tune in this week to hear the 4 rules in fight club in marriage and how you can produce LIFE when entering into a disagreement with your spouse.
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Do you see your spouse as a gift? Are you more focused on the things that annoy you about them or the positive attributes you love about them? This holiday season, fix your focus and set your eyes on the one whom all good gifts come from and see how having an attitude of gratitude for our spouse can save your marriage.
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On this episode we will hear a powerful testimony by Brandon and Tonia. Their marriage was deeply impacted by a porn addiction and it took an ultimatum along with some serious accountability to help them restore thier vows. Tune in and hear thier story of redemption and restoration through Gods grace and Covenant Eyes.
30 days free with Promos Code: CYV Covenant Eyes
Restored Vows: A Porn Recovery Series for Couples : Restored Vows
Ok, so this episode is really a recap about our recent marriage retreat with The ISI Life. The title is to entice you to stay through to the end!
We were humbled and honored to be speakers at the ISI marriage retreat this past weekend. There were so many takeaways that we just couldn't wait to share with you. If you aren't chasing your wife, then what are you actaually doing?? Tune in to hear us share how this weekend was and how our marriage will grow even more from it!
We are also excited to share our new Facebook community with you as well. The CYV mission is to unite marriages around the gospel to provide hope and restpration to those in need. If you are looking for a place to connect with other couples, be encouraged and seek Jesus then this might be the place for you. This is a new launch and we would love for you to join us from the ground up!
Link to our group: CYV Community Group
Information on ISI: The ISI Life
On this episode, we have a fun opportunity to sit down and chat with a CLE hometown hero, Travis Hafner and his wonderful wife Amy. Travis and Amy have a powerful testimony about coming to Christ during their marriage. Together, they had to learn how to navigate their new faith while facing various life obtacles. As you may know, no two people come to Chrsit the same way at the same time. This can be especially true when it comes to marriage. Tune in to hear how they spurred on each others faith while growing individually in Christ.
Along with being a wife, a momma to 3 boys and a speaker, Amy is also the co-creator of a daily devotional called S.O.A.R.
Now thru Dec. 7th 2022 you will receive 10% off her site by using code: VERTICAL. Link: https://soarjournal.org/
If the title doesn't tell ya, then let me preface this by saying: This isn't an episode that I would listen to with littles in the car.
We are fresh off a marriage conference with world renound Julie Slatterly and Authentic Intimacy. If you aren't familiar with Julie then buckle up! She is a powerhouse speaker and teacher in the field of God, sex and your marriage. Which also happens to be the title of her new book...one that you should absolutley purchase. Tune in for a chat with us as we dive into the conversation about sex, intimacy and God's design for it in your marriage.
It's been 2 years since Scott shared the truth with Mandie about his affair. Tune in this week to hear us discuss how we are doing now and what has helped us get to this point. As always we hope you are encouraged through our testimony and above all, seek Christ first.
In this episode Mandie had the oppurtunity to interview Scott! Yes, he is the co-host of this show BUT he is also a man on a mission! Scott's passion is helping men rise up and overcome what the world's view of them is by bodly stepping into the way God created them to be. Tune in to hear these 5 characteristics of a biblical man discussed & how they have evolved over the years in Scott and our marriage.
Have you ever heard the phrase that 'pain draws you near to God"? If you have been listening to our testimony over the last year than you know that our marriage and life has faced many trials and has endured much pain. I would imagine most of you listening have also experienced trials similar to this in your life as well. Those dark seasons can feel very lonely, cold and similiar to walking through darkness. If this darkness in our life brings us so much pain and discomfort, why then would we or anyone for that matter be thankful for it? Isaiah 50: 10-11 lets us know that even in our darkest dasys, our faith in Christ is the only light we need. Do not light your own torch! Tune in and journey with us as we explore being thankful for the darkness.
We here at CYV are honored to welcome author, speaker and friend, Jerrad Lopes to our show! His ministry came at just the right time for Scott at a local men's conferance and the rest is history. Normally when we have a guest on we love to dive into them and the work the Lord has led them to lead, but this convo took a turn and we are here for it! Tune in to hear some gospel truth as two testimonies collide. This is an episode you don't want to miss.
You can connect with Jerrad at www.dadtired.com
Benediction: I am not what I do I am not what I have I am not what people say about me I am the beloved of God, It's who I am! No one can take it from me I don't have to worry I don't have to hurry I can trust my friend Jesus and share his love with the world.
Have you ever known someone to be married 29 times? Well, Evan and Susan have! Growing up, Evan & Susan had observed only 3 choices when it came to marriage - married & miserable, divorced and desperate, or single & cynical. Together, they choose happily ever after, every day. Tune in to hear their wild and fun testimony and how they've been able to keep their marriage thriving since their FIRST 'I do'
Links:
EvanLovesSusan.com MarriageofGreatness.com
Here is the link for their book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Happily-Ever-After-Evan-Money/dp/B09H944YY6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=122BCRJ5O66D4&keywords=Happily+Ever+After+Evan+%26+Susan+Money&qid=1661798065&sprefix=happily+ever+after+evan+%26+susan+money%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-1
When it comes to having a healthy marriage, let alone being redeemed rescued, and restored, you absolutely need two to tango! We never want to mislead you into thinking one of us did enough to save our marriage. The reason we were able to have a redemption story, is because we BOTH surrendered our lives to the Lord, laid down our weapons, and met at the cross. It was our individual work of ourselves that led to the healing of our marriage. It will always take two willing people to heal what has been broken. This is our story.
For the majority of our marriage, finances have been a deep struggle for us. They are one of the main reasons that divorce seemed imminent. But God. Through this exhausting journey, we have learned a few things that we hope will encourage you through managing finances in your marriage and even finding gratefulness while living in a season of no.
Turning 40 has had us looking at life a bit differently these days. This last year has taken us to a place that has challenged our persepctive on life in so many ways. What we have learned more than anything is that the best antidote to hardships is gratefulness. We hope the tools provided in this episode will help you walk through any challenge life throws at you and do it all with a grateful heart.
In this episode, we are honored to share the mic with our friend Aisha Taylor. She is a powerhouse for the Lord, sharing her wisdom through experience that empowers single moms to stratagize and financially prepare for their next level so they can reclaim their time and live in true freedom. This episode is filled with God's truth, love and redemption in even the most fear filled moments of life. You don't want to miss this girl who is on fire for the Lord!
Order your copy of, “Navigating the ‘Impossible’: A Survival Guide for Single Moms from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Motherhood”
navigatingtheimpossiblebook.com
YouTube: fnphenomenal.com/youtube
Instagram: instagram.com/fnphenomenal
Phenomenal Moms Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/phenomenalmom/
2 Corinthians 10:5 talks about taking every thought captive to make them obedient to Christ. This means that we have to challenge the thought pattern of this world and our mind to what God's word said. But, how do we do that? Tune in to hear how Mandie uses this 3 step process to stay in control of her thoughts, weigh them against God's word and then begin to speak truth into the lies we believe.
John 8:32 says "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" There is freedom in bringing the truth to light and pain when its kept in the dark. Hear how the truth set both Scott and Mandie free and how you can break the chains and experience freedom in your own life!
This week, Scott and Mandie continue the conversation from last episode. (45) In that show, Mandie shared her testimony prior to dating Scott. This week, they take us into how God's deep love shown to through the forgiveness of her sins allowed her to show that same love towards Scott. Tune in to hear some more real, raw and relatable testimony that will surely speak to your heart.
The question has been asked now so many times as to how Mandie was able to begin the process of forgiveness towards Scott after his affair. The answer to that can be found in Mandie testimony and how she was rescued, redeemed, and restored before they started dating. Those who have been forgiven of much, forgive much. Tune in to hear Mandie's vulnerable & humble story of how the Lord rescued her from her Egypt.
It's been a while since we offered an update on our lives. Tune in this week to hear the good, the great and the challenges we're still facing. We thank you for your constant support and encouragement through this season and hope that in all things, Jesus is glorified.
This week, we are joined by our very good friend and now author Traci Morrow, as we celebrate the launch of her new book! As always, we will share some real, raw and relatable marriage talk and how this book can be a guide to help your one-of-a-kind messy marriage.
pick up Traci's new book here:
Real-life Marriage: Navigating Your Beautiful, Messy, One-of-a-kind Love Story https://www.amazon.com/dp/1612545491/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_M9DZ6D44N65ZS37D6Y5Z
It's a hodge podge podcast filled with; Mother's day, book launch, fasting and more! Scott and Mandie talk about their life, challenges and faithfulness in it all. As always, real, raw and relateable marriage talk to help you through your beautiful mess.
In this episode, Scott and Mandie discover that they both have patterns in their grief journey. Recognizing these patterns has been a bit triggering and caused additional frustrations and anger at times. This has brought them to a place of having really hard conversations that will hopefully bring healing to the unhealed wounds in their marriage. Join in on their discussion and see how choosing grace in their grief is helping heal their wounded hearts.
Tune in to hear a fun convo with author, speaker and radio host Doug Fitzgerald. Doug's leadership is on the cutting edge of growth and development, focused on achieving big goals and priorities, continually growing a vision to help and serve others and creating tools to achieve success that actually work!
You can connect with Doug at Oneshotonelife.com
Show Notes: In this episode, Scott and Mandie discuss that it's okay not to be okay. Sometimes, we truly have to get to the end of ourselves before we allow the Lord to heal our hearts. Real, raw and vulnerable, that is Check Your Vertical.
"my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Early on in our marriage, we were informed that marriage wasn't for the sole purpose of our own happiness. Huh?! Can you say that again? To say we were shocked would definitely be an understatement. I mean, doesn't the world tell you to chase happiness? Especially in marriage? That, if you're not happy then it's time to go? Or if you aren't happy in your marriage then you chose the wrong person? This is so counter cultural that we just might ruffle some feathers. Tune in to hear how pursuing holiness over happiness saved their marriage.
Scott and Mandie are very excited to welcome Michelle Myers onto the show! Michelle co-leads a ministry for working women called She Works His Way with her best friend, Somer Phoebus. She loves reminding women of the gospel-centered purpose for their work - both at home and in their careers. Tune in to hear Michelle's powerful message for woman in the workplace seen through the lens of Christ. You can find more information about their online network, live events and full ministry at: sheworksHisway.com Their book, She Works His Way: A Practical Guide to Do What Matters Most in a Get Things Done World puts the heart of their ministry in book form is available on Amazon and or their site https://www.amazon.com/dp/0764237691/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_BHK6Y0APVR3M9848DT3Z
In this episode, Scott and Mandie welcome author Ashley Wichlenski on the show to talk about her beautiful testimony and mission. As we know, the Lord can make beauty from ashes and Ashley's story is just that. She will share how the Lord rescued her from a very dark place, brought her into His light and then sent her heart out on a mission of sharing God's truth with young girls across the world! You do not want to miss this episode because He truly is the keeper of our hearts. For more information on Ashley's mission or how to help get these books into the hands of young girls around the world, head to; www.thekeeperofmyheart.com
Proverbs 4:23 says "For above all else, guard your heart, as everything you do flows from it." Just as we need to have a lens of Christ so that we can try to view life as God does, we also need to have a heart of Christ to allow our actions to align with what God desires of us. Our motives do matter and without having Christ as the filter of our heart than we can miss the life the Lord has laid before us.
Tune in to hear Scott and Mandie discuss how we can still do the "right" things but still have the wrong motive of the heart.
It is a sad truth that most marriages do not survive after the loss of a child. The main reason being that each spouse grieves differently than the other. It's that simple, yet so true and painful. Scott and Mandie discuss in this episode how their grief looks different on each other and how they are being intentional towards their own healing while being patient towards each others grief. Yet again, eyes on Christ, through the storm.
Scott and Mandie are honored to welcome author and speaker Amy Seiffert on their show! Join in on this fun convo and hear how grace has not only played a major roll in their marriages but how it has quite literally saved it. You can follow Amy Seiffert on Instagram. You can find her mini devotions on YouVersion Bible App Purchase her books on Amazon: Grace Looks Amazing on You: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496440617/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_Q5S9EPW3SH1HWAJST5EX Chin Up: Wearing Grace, Strength, and Dignity When Motherhood Unravels Our Souls https://www.amazon.com/dp/1976398096/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_7TAQEA1WPQCH5P9Z0H6D
here is this quote from our son's speech meet poem that says "too much of anything often leaves one with a feeling of regret". For years, Scott & Mandie have said to each other that their greatest gifts can also be our greatest weaknesses. This has shown up many times in their marriage. God has gifted us with our own personalities, gifts and natural traits that are all uniqueand wonderful. But, any of these gifts used too much can become a negative experience in your life and marriage. So how do we find the balance were all in need of? We look to the one who was perfectly balanced in all things his whole life; this of course is our savior Jesus Christ. Hear how Scott & Mandie recognize their gifts and how too much of them caused problems in their marriage.
So something crazy happened. We posted our 1st few videos on tiktok and one of them blew up! Apparently, people get all shook up when they hear you've remained married after a betrayal. Who knew?! The majority of the responses were so encouraging, but as usual, there were some who had strong opinions. So we decided to address those opinions on here instead of responding to them individually. Join us as we discuss some of these comments together in hopes that our hearts can be heard and there be an even greater understanding of what God can do in our most challenging seasons.
Scott's journey has truly been a beautiful testimony of how Jesus can redem us and Gods love can renew a man's heart. In October of 2020, Scott blew up his life by finally coming clean with his affair. He knew he needed to change everything in his life and that started with his relationship with the Lord. Scott needed deep counsel and accountability which put him on his face in the office of Tom Chamberlin. God clearly put Tom into Scotts path to help him navigate the road ahead. Scott and Tom have worked diligently together every week for the last 15 months and through their work together, Scott has overcome many obstacles of his life. Tune in to hear Scotts humble journey through counsel and how it brought him to being the man he is today. We pray Scott's story helps other men seek counsel for their life as well and begun their journey of redemption as well.
Scott and Mandie are honored to sit down with Pastor Andrew F. Carter and hear his testimony of how the Lord redeemed his life. Andrew had lost everything by living for this world and even ended up in the one place he vowed never to be in. Andrew's testimony brings hope to those who have struggled through many difficult trials like foster care, divorce and even prison and shows how the Lord redeems from the hardest of hearts. Scott also got a chance to circle back around to the topic of porn and its damaging effects on men in the church while also providing actionable steps to begin this darkness into light. You can follow Andrew F. Carter across all social media platforms: IG: https://instagram.com/andrewfcarter?utm_medium=copy_link Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdhYJyST/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/AndrewFCarterMinistries
Porn is destructive to your marriage and your life, plain and simple. It was never a part of God's design yet so many Christian men and woman are enslaved by this sin and cannot break the chains that bind them. Know that if you struggle in this area, you are not alone. There is healing and hope for you and your marriage. Hear Scott's real and raw testimony about how the Lord plucked him from depths of darkness and brought him into the redeeming light.
Most men don't know what it means to be the spiritual leader of their home, mainly because it was not modeled for them growing up. Woman tend to be weary of a man as their "leader" because they think it gives their husband control & power over them. So what does it really mean for men to be the leader God has called them to be? Let's say this, it looks more like having humility with a servant heart and NOT having control & or dominating his wife and kids. Hear Scott's journey into stepping up as the spiritual leader and what that looks like being lived out in their home.
Scripture for this episode: 1 Peter 5:2-3 1 Timothy 3:2-7 1 Corinthians 8:9 Here are the steps & links to do the Bible in a year plan! Step 1 - Download the YouVersion Bible App https://j794q.app.goo.gl/t5eLgqpefmYiWHLK9 Step 2 - Locate the Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble under "Plans" https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/17553 Step 3 - Locate the Bible Recap Podcast with Tara-Leigh Cobble wherever you listen to Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/2lWv2RlsyMSMzerbAb1uOx?si=b7_o9VgLTk-AIcCaRkPYYA&utm_source=copy-link Step 4 - In the bible App, start on Day 1 of the Bible Recap. You can read the chapters straight from your Bible, or the app; Or you can listen to the chapters read to you through the app. *Step 5 - After reading today's devotion, go to the Bible Recap Podcast and listen to that days episode. Louie Giglios Children's Devontionals - https://amzn.to/3tddIF4 https://amzn.to/3HV5NAq https://amzn.to/3zPGehh
We are honored to ring in the New Year with our besties JR & Angela! We will laugh, joke & drink some bubbly all the while diving into topics that challenge married couples today. Hope you join us for the fun!
The holidays are here and with the joy of the season can also come pain for a lot if people. Scott and Mandie know this all too well. Its easy to focus on the hard and painful moments when life seems to be unraveling. But, our God never stops working and though we face trials of many kinds, God is still doing miracles! Hear how Scott and Mandie continue to seek out God and his mighty deeds even in the face of life's battles.
Please listen with caution In this episode, Scott and Mandie walk you through the series of events that led to losing their boy Vinny and almost losing Mandie. Please know that this episode may trigger someone who has walked through a traumatic experience themselves, so please prepare your heart before listening. They share this in the hopes that you see Jesus through it all but if you feel this may hurt you more than help you then please come back to this episode when your heart is ready to hear it. Through this all, they're hope is that you know that even if life doesn't turn out the way we plan, God is still good. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
Scott and Mandie are back in studio to discuss the last couple weeks of their life. Sadly, they lost their baby boy at just 22 weeks and almost lost Mandie's life as well. This week, the unraveling of it all begins. Scott and Mandie invite you on their journey as they discuss the traumas they experiemced all the while refelcting on the goodness of Christ. Though this has been extremely difficult to navigate, they know that the Lord has placed them here for such a time as this and will continue to be obedient in their walk, even through their suffering.
Scott & Mandie are back in studio after some very emotional and traumatic experiences. Instead of jumping into all the details of what they've been through, they decided to bring 3 of their children in to have a fun discussion and laugh, a lot! Please enjoy this lighthearted episode where we meet Louie, Franco & Gia and hope that they bring a smile to you through whatever season you may be in. Kids really do say the silliest things! Especially in front of a mic! Enjoy!
As Scott and Mandie prioritize a family emergency, guest host Traci Morrow joins Check Your Vertical, breaking down the value of preparing for hardships, trials and crisis. Spoiler alert: it’s consistent time in God’s Word.
When we desire for Jesus to be the source of our peace and joy despite outside circumstances as we’ve seen Scott and Mandie do, we’ll make time in His Word a priority. Traci shares how easy it is in a busy marriage and family to let time in the Word get pushed aside, but shares how when hardship comes, it’s too late to prepare. Instead, she challenges us be intentional to lean in to KNOW God’s word so when trial and troubles come, we have a deep well of understanding of who God is yesterday, today and tomorrow tucked in our hearts.
Be encouraged by a wife and mom who didn’t always get it right and what she learned by being unprepared. And please remember to keep the Verlinger family in our prayers as their faith muscle is strengthened in trial.
Mandie and Scott talk often about being prepared for what life will throw at you because you never know when tragedy will strike. We need to constantly be near to the Lord even in the seemingly good or easier times. So that when these trials come, we are armed in the Spirit of God's word and able to stand firm against any and all schemes by the enemy. This podcast is all about constantly looking to God in all things. No matter what we're facing, to always go there first before anywhere else. We preach this throughout every episode along with being as real, raw & relatable as possible. Now we have entered into a season of turmoil where we don't quite know the ending or the journey ahead and are inviting you along with us as we battle for the life of our unborn child. Though we do not know what's going to happen minute by minute, what we do know is that we trust in a God who not only knows but has already paved the way - we now simply must trust and obey. He has prepared us for this very moment in time and we will stand on our solid ground that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and praise Him throughout every moment ahead. This is our ongoing, true testimony of life.
Forgiveness can be the hardest thing to give away. Not only by saying the words "I forgive you" but also living out true forgiveness to someone who has hurt you. It's hard!!! Many times we think that forgiveness is giving the other person a pass for the pain they've caused you. In reality it releases YOU from the prison of bitterness, resentment and anger that not forgiving someone holds you in. In this episode, Scott and Mandie discuss the process of forgiveness and how it played out in their marriage. But first we celebrate them in becoming first time grandparents as they welcome to the world little Miss Alina Skye.
How does one begin to heal after a betrayel? For Scott and Mandie, it all began at the cross. In this episode you will hear how they each navigated their pain post D-day 2. Once again, you will hear anger, fear, confusion, uncertainty. But through it all you will hear Jesus. And what about forgiveness? Where does Mandie currently stand? Tune in to find the real, raw truth about their ongoing healing.
This show is the second part to episode 16, please make sure to listen to IN THE PIT before listening to EYES ON CHRIST. In this episode you will hear Mandie's truth of the affair. She will share the dark anguish that comes from the discovery of such betrayal. Mandie describes, how like a gun shot wound, she lay helpless and hopeless in her grief as she knew her marriage was over. But God...Hear how the Lord's still small voice became the loudest voice amongst all the chaos surrounding her. In her deepest & darkest moments, the Lord picked up the shattered pieces of her heart only to put then back together, stronger & better than ever before. This is her testimony. To the betrayed wife, I know your pain and you are not alone. No matter the outcome, there is hope and healing waiting for you in the arms of Jesus. I pray you seek him first, above all else and rest with an unimaginable peace that only exists in his presence.
This is our testimony - the real & raw truths about the depths of despair that our marriage went to. More than that, it is the beginning of God's story of redemption and restoration of a marriage so broken that only he could revive it. In this episode you will hear Scott's truth in the most vulnerable way possible. We pray your hearts hear God's word through Scott's story and know that God is a good good Father, even when your stuck in the pit. Tune in next episode as Mandie shares her story in Part 2 of Our Testimony.
In this episode we discuss John 15: 1-4 where Jesus describes us, the believers as branches attached to the vine, Jesus. This verse ties in everything that Check Your Vertical is about and reminds us that we need to remain attached to the vine throughout all things in life, including our marriage. This verse however does say that even though we are still attached to Christ, that doesn't mean we won't experience "pruning" and or have pain in life. Knowing Christ and walking with him does not exclude us from trials but that when we DO experience this "pruning" while remaining attached to the vine then we can produce the fruit of the spirit needed to experience Christ in a deeper level. We feel that this verse ties in everything we have shared thus far throughout our marriage trials and redemption but also sets the stage for what is about to come for us and our podcast. In the upcoming weeks, we will be diving deeper into our testimony and sharing how through immense pain the Lord has only grown us in our journey because of checking our vertical. We hope you join us on the journey to come.
Have you ever heard the quote: "What Triggers you also reveals what you need to heal"? Do you tend to respond to things that offend you with a quick knee-jerk reaction? Are you easily triggered by other people's actions especially your spouses? Even if what the other person has said or done is wrong it is our responsibility to manage our own reactions to them. As we all know, you can't change anyone but you can only change yourself. What triggers you will reveal in you the areas that need healed the most and it is our job to work through those issues - not the other persons. In a marriage this is so very important as we can easily lose sight of our communication by only responding to the offense and not the problem at hand. Which can then lead to a larger issue that never seems to get resolved. Hear how Scott and Mandie recognize their own triggers and how they have worked together to overcome them and have better communication together. The two books referenced in this episode are: Bait of Satan by John Bevere https://amzn.to/3BdP5JE Love and Respect by Dr. Eggerichs https://amzn.to/3owIXbH
What is our Identity and where does it come from? As believers we say that our identity comes from our creator but do we really believe that? Or even live our lives as if that was true? In today's society it is so easy to wear someone else's Identity and allow that to define who we are. Even more so, we tend to identify ourselves by our career, family, financial status, how we are as parents and many other ways that society tells us are important. When we identify ourselves through these worldly categories then it's easy to lose sight of who God says we are and who he calls us to be. Truly, we can miss the opportunity to serve his kingdom by identifying ourselves per the world's standards and not those of our creator. And we all do it. In this episode you will hear how identity has shaped both Scott and Mandie throughout their lives and how they've worked through their daily struggles to shed themselves of this world and truly step into seeing themselves as who God says they are.
In this episode, Scott and Mandie give a 30,000 ft view of their lives as parents. From a single mom to a "ready-made family", to parenting a teen through trauma all while starting over with their own littles, these two imperfect parents share their journey. Together they have experienced many highs and many lows when it comes to this area. Hear how they both came from an unhealthy upbringing and together had to discover parenting from a whole new biblical perspective. Scott and Mandie are not experts in this area by any means, but have experienced many of humbling times that have taught them hard lessons in parenting and only desire to provide hope along with resources to anyone who may walk through these tough seasons.
Rest is both a gift and a command from the Lord. But when used incorrectly this area can become a stronghold on an individual and a marriage. In this episode Scott and Mandie discuss how they each struggle with rest from two very different perspectives. For Scott, work was king with no rest and for Mandie rest (slothfulness) was king. Hear how they both discuss where these strongholds come from and how they each have overcome the lies they believe about themselves specifically in this area. More importantly they discuss how this rest or lack there of strongly affected their marriage and now how they view the gift of rest to help each other receive this command well and apply it to their life and marriage.
Tune in to hear Scott and Mandie's big news! We hope you are as excited as we are and come along with us on our new adventure!
Tim Keller states that the biblical purpose of marriage is to help our spouse become their future glory self through self-sacrificial love. But to be able to give self-sacrificial love, we need to receive it first. Understanding what Jesus has done for us, and living a life of faith through grace allows us to give a kind of love that can only be understood through Christ. We both learned this love through a difficult step in our journey- personal accountability. At some point we all have to take a good look at our lives and ask ourselves "what part do I play in this." Living in truth frees us from the bondage of shame and guilt that ultimately holds us back from knowing such love. And it's the hardest thing to do yet the most rewarding decision you will ever make. This is our testimony. Our marriage has been filled with self sacrificial love - first for Mandie, then for Scott. We have both helped each other grow into our future glory self by taking accountability for our lives first, then fixing our gaze on Christ and always checking our vertical.
On this episode, we are very honored to welcome our friend and counselor, Leigh-Ann, as our guest! Leigh-Ann has been on our journey with is for 9 years now and has walked through every difficult season with us. She has guided us well through some extremely daunting situations and we wanted to share her wisdom and heart with all of you! We will discuss what our marriage looked like from her perspective and how she navigated through healing in our marriage. She will also discuss and explain WHY counseling is so important in both a clinical and spiritual aspect. Guys, she is so good! We are so thankful for her time, talents and most importantly her heart to serve Jesus! We really hope you not only enjoy this episode but truly see the value of choosing wise counsel to guide you through your life. Proverbs 11: 14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. You can contact Leigh-Ann and schedule an appointment with her or her team at: Www.freetobeministries.org
Suffering is something we will all experience at some point in our life and can reek havoc on your marriage. No one is exempt from it regardless of who you are. These times can be painful, difficult and extremely hard to navigate. So how then could we possibly suffer well? What Scott and I have learned over many years of painful seasons is that suffering alongside God helps heal the soul from the depths of pain that come from trials and troubles. Hear how we address suffering, what the Bible says about it and how we as a couple overcame some challenging times in our marriage. We hope you are encouraged even through a very difficult season of your life and leave with tools to help your marriage and yourself suffer well.
Do you know your love language? Or understand the way you best feel loved? More importantly, does your spouse know that language? Communication is the key to a long lasting relationship! And knowing HOW you and your spouse communicate helps interpret what the other person is REALLY saying! Scott and Mandie took two of the most important tests a couple should take for their marriage to thrive. Join them as they go over their results and play out what it looks like to communicate through some issues while trying to understanding and put into action each other's love language.
Link to The 5 Love languages test by Gary Chapman: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language 5 Love Languages BOOK https://amzn.to/3Ak7t2E Personality Plus; book: https://amzn.to/3lB2dn7
Scott and Mandie welcome their friend & very first guest to their show - Traci Morrow! You may know Traci from most of Tony Hortons X line workout programs as she is one of the founding coaches of the fitness phenomenon Beachbody. Most recently, Traci serves on a global scale with the John Maxwell Enterprises for community and country transformation. Next up for Traci is becoming a published author of her new book on the importance of communication. This is where Scott & Mandie combine with Traci with a passion to not only share our own personal stories but also give helpful tools on how to communicate well with your spouse. You don't want to miss this show! We are so grateful for Traci's friendship, wisdom, time and passion for marriages. We hope you enjoy her teachings as much as we do! Book recommendations: Personality Plus https://amzn.to/2Vx401N 5 Love Languages https://amzn.to/3AhjLbU More information on Traci Morrow & how to pre-order her new book https://linktr.ee/tracimorrow
Have you experienced challenges in your marriage? We know we sure have! Just know that you are not alone and you too may have questions when it comes to your marriage. In this episode we tackle some of these questions that were sent in by you, our listeners. Scott and Mandie are not counselors or preachers but everyday people who have experience in the messy things of marriage. They're desire is to create a safe space to talk about hard things and respond with some wisdom thats been learned through their difficult seasons and provide hope. If you have a question, please feel free to send an email to: checkyourvertical@gmail.com Or contact us on Instagram: Check Your Vertical Book suggestion: Love & Respect by Dr. Emmerson Eggeriches https://amzn.to/3fEL7kn
Let's chat about gaining in-laws. Is the relationship what you expected or dreamt of it being?
This part of our marriage was a disaster. In-laws can bring so much joy but for us it brought a very destructive element that almost made us a statistic of divorce. Who would have thought this plagues so many marriages, not us!
Ephesians 5:31 talks about how a man shall leave his mother and father and hold fast to his wife. Why do you think God made this instruction? Because if you don't heed this warning, destruction can prevail. Once you say I DO then it's ON YOU to leave your parents and cling to your spouse. Understanding this scripture pivoted our marriage.
Hear our story in how we confronted this issue and finally became a united front.
Have you ever looked at your marriage and wondered - How did we get here? Welp we did! Divorce was quickly becoming our reality. What we discovered is that what you bring into your marriage really does matter. Luke 6 46-49 teaches us to check your Foundation in Christ. How solid is it really? Tune in to hear how Scott and Mandie's marriage revealed a broken foundation, which started long before they even met. Link to Bait of Satan: https://amzn.to/3AhSRRd
So, what is Check Your Vertical anyways? Well let us ask you this - Where is God when your marriage sucks? Do you even check in with Him, let alone at all? Well hear how your hosts went front horizontal living to putting God first in all things. Meet Scott and Mandie, and hear how Check Your Vertical was created...and literally saved their marriage!