{"id":292838,"date":"2024-09-02T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T08:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/family-lifes-david-and-meg-robbins-marriage-as-a-team\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T16:43:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T20:43:40","slug":"family-lifes-david-and-meg-robbins-marriage-as-a-team","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/family-lifes-david-and-meg-robbins-marriage-as-a-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Life&#8217;s David and Meg Robbins: Marriage As a Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are those leading the marriage ministry of FamilyLife the real deal? Get a closer look at the marriage of FamilyLife President David Robbins, and his wife Meg, as they discuss the ups and downs of learning how to work as a team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get a closer look at the marriage of FamilyLife President David Robbins, and his wife Meg, as they discuss the ups and downs of learning how to work as a team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47000,"featured_media":280865,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/e946d12a-77ae-4cb2-b14f-b1db00fb315f\/audio.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:25:11","filesize":"23.09M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"2024-09-02 08:00:00","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2809,2082],"tags":[2999],"podcast_series":[],"cwp_profile":[3576],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-292838","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commitment","category-communication","tag-familylife","cwp_profile-david-and-meg-robbins","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/06\/image-scaled.jpg?w=1024","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/292838\/family-lifes-david-and-meg-robbins-marriage-as-a-team","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/292838\/family-lifes-david-and-meg-robbins-marriage-as-a-team","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"p7gnlIGPIt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/family-lifes-david-and-meg-robbins-marriage-as-a-team\/\">Family Life&#8217;s David and Meg Robbins: Marriage As a Team<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/family-lifes-david-and-meg-robbins-marriage-as-a-team\/embed\/#?secret=p7gnlIGPIt\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Family Life&#8217;s David and Meg Robbins: Marriage As a Team&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"p7gnlIGPIt\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/06\/image-scaled.jpg",1024,1024,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Margaret","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/margaret-coylefamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Get a closer look at the marriage of FamilyLife President David Robbins, and his wife Meg, as they discuss the ups and downs of learning how to work as a team.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"<ul>\n<li>Don't miss out on our biggest sale of the season! <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/weekend-to-remember\/\">Weekend to Remember registrations are half price until September 16th<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find resources from this podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/radio-resources\/\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/past-radio-resources\/\">See resources from our past podcasts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find more content and resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/\">FamilyLife Podcast Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2024-09-02.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>FamilyLife Today\u00ae National Radio Version (time edited) Transcript<\/p>\n<p>References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>Marriage as a Team<\/p>\n<p>Guests:David and Meg Robbins<\/p>\n<p>From the series:Teammates in Marriage (Day 1 of 2)<\/p>\n<p>Air date:September 2, 2024<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I think some of my favorite moments are speaking at the Weekend to Remember\u00ae marriage getaway and watching couples come up\u2014and this happens many times\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014right in front of us.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014and rip up their divorce papers.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: They walk in on Friday night, not even liking each other, sitting on opposite ends of the ballroom, and then God starts to move. He takes hard hearts from Friday night through Saturday, and by Sunday, it's hard to explain: God does a miracle and resurrects a dead marriage, and they walk out, maybe for the first time in a long time, with hope.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014and a plan of how to make this thing work. Isn't it incredible how many years we spend in school, or in training for a vocation? How many years or hours or minutes have you spent learning how to make your marriage great?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You can come to the Weekend to Remember and spend the weekend getting tools and hope and a plan to change your marriage and make it what God wants it to be, and even change your legacy.<\/p>\n<p>I'm telling you right now, you can sign up and get half off, if you sign up right now. FamilyLifeToday.com. Sign up for a Weekend to Remember anywhere in the country that you want to go, and I'm telling you, it will change you, and it'll change your legacy.<\/p>\n<p>David: I just remember going, \u201cLord, I don't know what all these gifts that I've leaned on\u201d\u2014and ultimately, I was leaning on the Lord with them, but I was getting a lot of my own dopamine hits out of it, of satisfaction; of who I am and my leadership. God was taking them all away, and He was teaching me, in those years we were overseas, of the gift I have in Meg, and the gift I have of being able to be a team, and really getting at some of my pride and my own self-reliance in order to become a team, because I was in the way a little bit of us becoming a team for Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: Welcome to FamilyLife Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I'm Shelby Abbott, and your hosts are Dave and Ann Wilson. You can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: This is FamilyLife Today!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Alright, so 33 years as the Detroit Lion\u2019s chaplain: you know what that meant?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: A lot of losses. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, and a lot of head coaches.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Oh!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: How many do you think I went through? Different head coaches?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Eleven.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Good guess!<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I think it was 12.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: It\u2019s because I\u2019ve heard you say it. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes. Well, I mean, a couple of them made two weeks or three weeks, [Laughter] but most of them are several years. But here is why I\u2019m bringing it up: because every time I met a new coach, I wanted to impress him; you know, like, \u201cYou\u2019re going to keep me as your chaplain.\u201d I wasn\u2019t hired by the team, but the head coach could still decide: \u201cDo I want this guy or not?\u201d So, every time I wanted to impress the head coach, guess what I wanted to do? You don\u2019t even know this.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I don\u2019t know what you are going to say.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I\u2019m like, \u201cHe\u2019s got to meet my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Aww, that\u2019s nice!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I\u2019m not kidding. You know this. You didn\u2019t know this?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: No.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It was strategic on my part, because I\u2019m like, \u201cEverybody has told me\u2014so much so that it sort of got annoying: \u2018You\u2019re so much better with your wife. [Laughter] You\u2019re good\u2014but your wife and you\u2014you\u2019re so much better.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That\u2019s really sweet.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I knew if my head coach could meet my wife, he\u2019d like me. And remember Rod Marinelli?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: No. I mean I remember Rod, but\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014of course, you remember Rod.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes, but I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re going to say.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I hope Rod\u2019s not listening right now, [Laughter] because my wife just said, \u201cI don\u2019t even remember.\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Ann: No. I remember his wife Barb, too.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, she was great. But I remember the first lunch we had together; after we were walking through the building e turns to me, and he goes, \u201cMan, your wife is dynamite\u2014you two together\u2014wow, I\u2019m looking forward to what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Did you tell me this?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I\u2019m telling you now.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: This is so nice, now that you\u2019re telling me on the air.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, the reason I\u2019m bringing that up is we\u2019re sitting with a couple, right here in front of us in our studio, that I think is the same way.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes; me, too.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: David and Meg Robbins. You two\u2014well, first of all, let me say, \u201cWelcome to FamilyLife Today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Thanks!<\/p>\n<p>David: It\u2019s good to be here with you guys in the studio.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: When we met you a couple years ago, that was one of the thoughts I had\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Me, too!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It\u2019s like, \u201cYou guys are so dynamic.\u201d I mean, David, first of all, you\u2019re amazing, unbelievable. Meg, you\u2019re amazing.<\/p>\n<p>David: But I am better with her, there\u2019s no doubt; there\u2019s no doubt.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, I mean, it was like one of these things\u2014and you know some couples aren\u2019t that way\u2014but you guys; that\u2019s why I thought of that. You are dynamite together.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Even just a few days ago, watching you speak on stage, you were just\u2014there\u2019s charisma.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: You\u2019ve been married how many years?<\/p>\n<p>David: Two decades. I mean, in thinking about being a team, we go back to that transformation [that] really happened in the trenches, when we weren\u2019t on the stage, when we weren\u2019t leading really anything hardly at all of significance. We were overseas in Italy. Man, some real transformation happened, being kind of in the wilderness for me, and me realizing how amazing Meg is and some gifts that she has.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And you\u2019ve got four kids at home. Tell us a little bit about your family.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Okay, so I came into Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi, as a freshman, and David was actually my orientation leader.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Oh!<\/p>\n<p>Meg: That\u2019s how we met initially. Actually, the genius move that he made was that, when I walked up, and he was calling roll\u2014because he\u2019s two years older than me, so he\u2019s leading our group\u2014he says, \u201cMeg,\u201d which if you don\u2019t know this about me, my first legal name is actually Mildred. He says, \u201cMeg,\u201d and I just stand there, knowing that the roll doesn\u2019t say, \u201cMeg.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David: So, I jump in, and I go, \u201cIs there a Meg?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u201cDoes anybody go by Meg?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I was like, \u201cWell, I go by Meg; but I\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s not what your paper says.\u201d He said, \u201cWell, I didn\u2019t think you\u2019d go by Mildred.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David: How risky and horrible was that?<\/p>\n<p>Meg: What was he thinking?<\/p>\n<p>David: Because Mildred\u2019s a great name.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: And I love my name, Mildred. So, anyway, it was funny. He had\u2014my initials were M.E.G., and he saw my full name and thought, \u201cThis girl probably goes by her initials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That is a bold move, David.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Wow!<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Isn\u2019t that crazy?<\/p>\n<p>David: I was saying things out loud in the moment. It was not on purpose! But it was a first impression. Whether good or bad, it was a first impression.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Yes, it definitely caught my attention. But when we came back to school in the fall, we were involved with Cru\u00ae (Campus Crusade at the time); Cru was starting co-ed Bible studies. A girl invited me to her Bible study. She said, \u201cThe guy that I\u2019m leading with\u2014you may know him\u2014his name is D-Rob.\u201d I was like, \u201cOh, that was my orientation leader.\u201d So, we were in the same Bible study for a semester.<\/p>\n<p>David: So, I got to see this freshman\u2019s heart. I mean, she came into college\u2014I needed two years! Thank goodness I was two years older than her. [Laughter] I rode the fence in lots of ways, but Jesus kind of got a hold of my heart. That summer [that] I was leading her orientation group, I went, right after that, over to Romania on a Cru summer mission. I mean, God just met me on how big of a God He is to all the nations.<\/p>\n<p>I came back on fire, leading this small group, and then, I got to see this freshman every week. Her heart just opened up; her love for Jesus. I just said, \u201cWho is this freshman?!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Okay, but it is important to note that he came back so on fire. Well, I didn\u2019t know him really before. I actually wrote in my journal\u2014<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014let\u2019s just say, \u201cThanks to the Lord.\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014I didn\u2019t know him pre-Jesus, but I wrote in my journal that I wanted to marry somebody just like David Robbins.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Come on!<\/p>\n<p>Meg: But I had no\u2014he was a junior. He was kind of a big man on campus and was so passionate and on fire for the Lord, and it was so obvious. So, I journaled that. I was loving getting to know him, but never dreamed that it would be an option\u2014that he would be interested in me!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Why didn\u2019t you write: \u201cI want to marry David Robbins?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Because I didn\u2019t figure that\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\u201csomebody like\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014it would ever be an option. I was a little freshman.<\/p>\n<p>David: Meanwhile, I\u2019m like, \u201cThis is exactly the type of person I\u2019d want to date and see if I\u2019d want to marry. I mean, she has everything!\u201d I\u2019m telling my small group coleader: \u201cHey, Beth, I really got to start being careful, like redeeming my flirtation and my propensity to flirt. I\u2019m really trying to follow the Lord in how I pursue somebody. So, I think we need to start leaving Meg out of our Bible studies and social activities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: What?! What?! Come on!<\/p>\n<p>Meg: True story.<\/p>\n<p>David: I\u2019m overzealous; it just was overreaching.<\/p>\n<p>Meg, meanwhile, starts sharing\u2014come October or so: \u201cHey, I\u2019m loving being in a sorority, and meeting and having an impact to people who don\u2019t know Jesus, but I really need Christian friends.\u201d And I\u2019m going, \u201cWe can\u2019t invite her to our social stuff,\u201d\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014isn\u2019t that funny?<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014\"because I don\u2019t trust myself!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Meg, I\u2019m so sorry for you!<\/p>\n<p>Meg: I know, right?<\/p>\n<p>David: I know. It\u2019s on me.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: I mean, it paid off in the long run.\u00a0Later, when we were dating, something came up about that, and I was like, \u201cWait, what?\u201d I was like, \u201cI knew you all were doing all that stuff, and I was wondering what was going on.\u201d Because I would see my friends\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014yes.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014and they\u2019d be like, \u201cAren\u2019t you coming? Everybody is coming from our small group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David: I\u2019m so sorry.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And you\u2019re saying, \u201cNo, I wasn\u2019t invited.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meg: I was like, \u201cI didn\u2019t even know about this event.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David: I\u2019ve apologized, and the Lord has forgiven, but [Laughter] what\u2019s true is, the day that Bible study ended in December\u2014that next day, I called and asked her to our formal\/Christmas formal.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Oh.<\/p>\n<p>David: We went; we had a great time. She danced.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Everybody\u2019s question when\u2014leading up to, \u201cOh, who are you going to this formal with?\u201d and I would say, \u201cD-Rob.\u201d And they would say, \u201cOh! I hope you like to dance.\u201d I probably had 15 people say, \u201cOh! I hope you like to dance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David: [Laughter] Anyway. But then, after that formal, we went out to lunch and just kind of laid it out. I had seen what I wanted to see. We went really slow, because we started dating when she was a freshman.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Did you come on staff right out of college?<\/p>\n<p>David: We did. I remember December 31st, 1998, being in a hotel ballroom at a conference that Cru was putting on. I was praying that month, \u201cLord, I love advertising. I want to go to New York and live that, and there is gifting there, but I feel this pull to serve You, full time, for a season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I remember, I was going through 1 Corinthians, and was on\u00a0December 30th\u2014I was taking the month to pray about it. I was really asking the Lord: \u201cWould You show my by the end of this month?\u201d \u2014which, you know, I would have kept following Him, if not, and trusting Him, but that\u2019s what I was really trusting Him for. It was 1 Corinthians 8 on orderly worship on December 30th, [Laughter] and I\u2019m like, \u201cOh, come on! Lord, I need for you to show up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then it was 1 Corinthians 9 on December 31st, and \u201cWoe to me if I do not preach the gospel.\u201d I remember journaling, \u201cWoe to me\u2026if what?\u201d\u2014and then writing some things. In verse 19, \u201cAlthough I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a bondservant to win as many as possible to the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>David: In that moment, it was Jesus; the Spirit kind of met me in a sweet way: \u201cIf you\u2019re free, David, to go do whatever profession and occupation you want to do, choose to be my bondservant. No matter what you do, everyone is a sent one, no matter what vocation they choose.\u201d But I heard, kind of, the Spirit just whispering to me, \u201cHow about you serve Me full-time for a season?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, I jumped in. Two years later, Meg jumps in. Together, we started lifting our eyes to: \u201cWhat would it look like to go to the world?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Yes, and honestly, for me, when we were dating and really serious, we knew we would be getting engaged pretty soon. He was joining staff, and I was kind of praying, \u201cLord, I know that I love ministry. I love being a part of this. I love what Cru is doing, so it\u2019s an easy \u2018Yes,\u2019\u201d\u2014but I also wanted to know\u2014\u201cI would love to know, Lord, do You have this for me, too? Is this what You are calling me to?\u201d So, I prayed for that and asked for that.<\/p>\n<p>Actually, when he was at staff training, I went on an overseas mission trip to Italy with Cru. During that time, at the very end, we were kind of debriefing, about to come back home. The Lord just used something that happened in Rome, and the verse in 2 Corinthians 5 that says, \u201cChrist\u2019s love compels us that those who live no longer live for themselves but for Christ who died for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I just had this sense of urgency and taking that to the Lord of: \u201cOkay, God. Yes, I am passionate about this. You\u2019ve given me a love for this and a passion for this.\u2019\u201d I think that has been so crucial for us through the years; that God individually called us both, but also together. It\u2019s just kind of written on our lives: just living for Him and wanting to say, \u201cYes,\u201d to whatever He is calling us to at different stages in our lives.<\/p>\n<p>But when we first got married, we went overseas. Actually, after we were at the University of Mississippi\u2014they placed him back there, which was super nice while I finished school\u2014then we went overseas to Italy. That was our partnership at Ole Miss, at the University of Pisa.<\/p>\n<p>David: I do remember, though, right before we went, our first touch point with FamilyLife was actually, right before we went overseas, on our one-year anniversary. We went to a Weekend to Remember. It was an important one, because\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014yes.<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014it layered some things in our lives, where we were obviously committed to the Lord\u2014God was moving in our lives; we had a great first year\u2014but I was amazed, spending that afternoon at the Weekend to Remember, writing this love letter out through promptings of some things that had been covered that morning, going, \u201cThere are some layers of\u2026\u201d\u2014they weren\u2019t secrets in my life, but they were insecurities in my life, things I wasn\u2019t disclosing to her.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t that I was trying to hide them. It was just that God was really, in that weekend, showing me: \u201cIf you want deeper intimacy, keep disclosing, keep going there. You have this bride\u201d\u2014that we were meant to be more one and draw closer together\u2014\u201ceven in your insecurities.\u201d It was such a critical moment for us.<\/p>\n<p>I remember sharing that love letter with you, and you just affirming me in some deep important ways. [I thought], \u201cWhy am I holding on? Why am I not disclosing this to her? She loves me and will show grace to me.\u201d It really deepened us in some important ways before we went overseas.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I can remember, when we went to the Weekend to Remember conference two weeks before we got married, and the love letter is a significant part of that conference; isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I remember thinking\u2014I shared some things with Dave, too, of insecurities that I had never shared. It just exposes the fear, the insecurities. I think that\u2019s exactly where God wants us to go: to be totally exposed, totally known and seen.<\/p>\n<p>David: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: You\u2019re scared, like, \u201cWill I still be loved?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David: And there is something about getting away for a weekend,\u2014Ann: \u2014yes.<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014and being guided through it, that makes it really safe, you know?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Right.<\/p>\n<p>David: It\u2019s not scary, because there is that safety of being guided in that process.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You know, it sounds like you\u2019re setting up a Weekend to Remember promo\u2014[Laughter]\u2014because\u2014<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014not intentionally; this is just our story, man! [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Meg: It\u2019s a true story!<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And it is ours, too!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I don\u2019t know if our listeners know, [but] this week, in fact, if you want to sign up for a Weekend to Remember, it\u2019s half off. If you are anything like me, half off is like, \u201cI\u2019m jumping on that deal right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The conference\u2014it\u2019s interesting\u2014it\u2019s similar to what you went to and what we went to in 1980. What was your year?<\/p>\n<p>David: Ours was 2001.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, but it\u2019s a whole new conference.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Updated, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It\u2019s, amazingly, the same content presented in a fresh, new way. I would just say to a listener right now, \u201cIf you\u2019re listening to this, and you\u2019re thinking, \u2018We should go,\u2019\u201d\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u201cYou should go.\u201d I\u2019m just going to repeat: \u201cYou guys, you should go!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\u201cyou have to go.\u201d Even if you are apprehensive, just go Friday night, and I bet you you\u2019re going to stay the weekend. Go to FamilyLifeToday.com; you can sign up right there. You can go to any city you want. There is probably one right near you; but pick one and go.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: So, I would say\u2014just as you said, David\u2014there is something about getting away. Like those love letters\u2014you\u2019re not going to write the love letter [at home]; you could at home, but you are busy: the demands of life are pulling at you; kids. This is a time where you can really see each other, focus, hear God\u2019s biblical viewpoint for marriage: \u201cWhy did He want us--or what was God\u2019s idea behind marriage?\u201d We really hope you\u2019ll go.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Yes; I think one thing that was so, so significant for us, years ago\u2014and we still see so true today about the Weekend to Remember\u2014is the questions and the intentionality that it frames up for you.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re right; you could sit at home and try to write a love letter; but what brought those things out were just the content, for sure, but even more so, just questions that it was asking us to think through that we realized\u2014both of us realized: \u201cWow, there are things deep in my heart that you don\u2019t know about me yet, and that I need to take a step into more intimacy with that.\u201d David: We\u2019ve been to four nowm as participants. In those four, in different seasons of life, even though the content may be similar, the seasons of life we are in are not.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>David: So, God just unearths, and His Spirit moves uniquely in each one of our lives in such unique ways, and it is pretty powerful.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: How many couples come up to us every time we do a Weekend to Remember and go, \u201cHey, you changed the conference\u201d? [Laughter] Like: \u201cNo, we didn\u2019t; you\u2019re in a different place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: So true.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: They hear it totally differently, and that\u2019s why you go back.<\/p>\n<p>But even now, it is a different conference.<\/p>\n<p>David: It really is refreshed, and it\u2019s cool; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You need to come back.<\/p>\n<p>Talk about what that has been like, as a couple, leading a major ministry, not just yourself\u2014you have the title, \u201cPresident\u201d\u2014but you really are a team. Talk about that.<\/p>\n<p>David: For us, it really does start right where we left off, back in Italy. When we went there, Meg\u2014I was so attracted to who she was in her relationship with the Lord, and the way she served\u2014she really was a powerhouse for influencing others around her; but I had my own things I was trying to prove.<\/p>\n<p>So, we went to Italy, and everything that I had built up around me, to prove myself as a leader or as a man\u2014those were knocked away. I loved diving deep with men, and I had this whole chain of discipleship. I loved the depth of discipling men in their interior world.<\/p>\n<p>You know what? In Italy, there really weren\u2019t that many believers to disciple. To add a little complexity to that, I didn\u2019t know the language, and I was really bad at the language. I learned very quickly [that] I was the worst on my team at the language. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Yet Meg, we discovered, really had this gift of being able to share her faith in such a natural way. I was always busying myself or distracting other parts of the conversation with other people in the room while she was jumping into these conversations in this very secular place like Italy. She would just naturally get into spiritual conversations, and within three months, she was having spiritual conversations in Italian. She was the best\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014that might be a stretch, but\u2014[Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>David: Well, close. I mean, she was the best on our team at language, or one of the best.<\/p>\n<p>I just remember going, \u201cLord, I don\u2019t know what all these gifts that I\u2019ve leaned on,\u201d\u2014and ultimately, I was leaning on the Lord with them, but I was getting a lot of my own dopamine hits out of it, of satisfaction of who I am in my leadership. God was taking them all away. He was teaching me, in those years we were overseas, the gift I have in Meg, and the gift I have of being able to be a team, and really getting at some of my pride and my own self-reliance in order to become a team; because I was in the way a little bit of us becoming a team for Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: I think, probably, we went into that season\u2014and coming out of college, and out of David being on staff and me still being a student\u2014I was kind of like the cute, little sidekick for him. I think he probably would admit\u2014<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014yes.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014and you\u2019ve said it before; that\u2019s probably how you saw me.<\/p>\n<p>David: I think I am the one who originated that phrase.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: You did; you did.<\/p>\n<p>David: I grieve that I viewed you as a bonus sidekick to this mission I\u2019m on; you know?<\/p>\n<p>Meg: I think, for me, too, though, I probably had some insecurities and felt like he was the one with the role of leader in ministry and things like that. But, when we were in Italy, we really did\u2014I mean, we needed each other; we had different giftings that complemented each other. I mean, I might be able to speak the Italian; and he might be able to rally the fun, and keep the energy in the room up, or whatever.<\/p>\n<p>David: But let\u2019s also admit\u2014our date nights only in Italian were miserable. [Laughter] That was one of the\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014that did not work out.<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014assignments from the language school.\u00a0[Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You had to talk in Italian on your date night?<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Well, we tried for a few minutes.<\/p>\n<p>David: Which lasted all of, \u201cAlright, let me just hear your commentary in monologue,\u201d because, I mean, I was just so bad at it.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Well, you were used to being good at things that you were trying that were new; and you hadn\u2019t had language since 9th grade Spanish.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Look how she is building you up.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: See?<\/p>\n<p>David: It was bad, y\u2019all.<\/p>\n<p>Meg: Yes. Anyway\u2014but that year was so formative for us just to really\u2014for me\u2014believe more in who God has made me to be, and how He brought us together.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: What you talked about and modeled as a team is inspiring; because I think a lot of us men\u2014and I can\u2019t talk for the women; the women here will have to say if this is true or not for women, or wives, and moms; but for us, as guys\u2014I think there is a lot of insecurity in us that we don\u2019t realize is in there. You even hinted at it in yourself, David. I know it\u2019s been in me, and probably still is, where I want to be the man.<\/p>\n<p>My wife can be viewed, even by her own husband\u2014I know Ann has felt this, like, \u201cShe\u2019s my sidekick. I\u2019m the man. You support me. You make me look good. Stand beside me. Do whatever you need to do so that I win.\u201d Rather than: \u201cYou are my equal partner. I value you.\u201d Do you know what I\u2019m saying? Have you ever felt that?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I\u2019m not sure\u2014no, I don\u2019t think I have, because you haven\u2019t shown that. You\u2019ve always given me a place and a voice, and I feel like you are encouraging me to be heard.\u00a0But what I was thinking, Dave, too, is some men can be intimidated; because I can be pretty strong. I\u2019ve talked to women that feel like their husband has pulled back so far, because he feels like he doesn\u2019t have what it takes to offer anything, even spiritually, especially.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; and I would just say that\u2019s definitely true. I would say to the men listening: \u201cBring out the best in your wife. She is an incredible, gifted woman that God has blessed you with as your partner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A question I often ask is: \u201cIs Ann fully herself because I am her husband?\u201d\u2014that I am bringing that out; or \u201cAm I sort of holding that back, or even pushing her away, so that I get the light rather than [saying], \u2018Man, oh man! God has given us amazing ability, as a team, to thrive together\u2014whether it\u2019s in a Bible study, on stage, you name it. \u201cRight here, is her voice being heard?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I would challenge the men to say: \u201cIs your wife\u2019s voice being heard by you and by those you are ministering to?\u201d Here is how you can find out: ask her\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Meg: \u2014yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014because she will tell you, probably, if it is true.<\/p>\n<p>When I\u2019ve asked you, she\u2019s\u2014I mean, when I heard your story right now, I thought, \u201cMan, you are not where you are today without Meg,\u201d and Meg is\u2014<\/p>\n<p>David: \u2014absolutely.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It\u2019s the beauty of God bringing us together\u2014two are better than one. It\u2019s the same for us. It\u2019s been an incredible journey. I\u2019m hoping that, especially, men hear this and say, \u201cI need to do better, bringing out the best in my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: What a challenge from Dave Wilson. How am I doing at that? Do I champion my wife\u2019s voice? Do you, with your wife, if you\u2019re a husband listening? Well, take some time and ask the Lord that sincere question and be willing to allow God to change you if that\u2019s not happening in your marriage.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Shelby Abbott, and you\u2019ve been listening to Dave and Ann Wilson with David and Meg Robbins on FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>You know, in many ways, what we\u2019ve been talking about today builds stronger marriages. When you\u2019re thinking about your marriage as a team, as opposed to just individuals, you\u2019re building a stronger marriage. And building that marriage that\u2019s grounded in the Lord takes intentional effort. Investing in your marriage is something that requires intentionality.<\/p>\n<p>So, I want to encourage you to join us at a Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaway. At Weekend to Remember, we provide the tools and environment for couples to grow closer to each other and to God. From now until September 16th, you can take advantage of the half-price sale and register for two at the price of one. You just click on the banner at FamilyLifeToday.com and you can start investing in your relationship today. Again, you can head over to FamilyLifeToday.com and click on the Weekend to Remember banner to get more information.<\/p>\n<p>Now, tomorrow. Do you and your spouse want to be better together? I dare to say that almost everybody would say \u201cyes\u201d to that. Well, Cru President, David Robbins, and his wife, Meg, are going to share a surprise source for strength in your marriage. That's coming up tomorrow. We hope you'll join us.<\/p>\n<p>On behalf of Dave and Ann Wilson, I\u2019m Shelby Abbott. We will see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLife Today is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife\u00ae, a Cru\u00ae Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.<\/p>\n<p>We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?<\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2024 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p>www.FamilyLife<\/p>\n","theme_header_position":"Sticky","post_header_is_sticky":"default","is_header_overlay":"0"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/292838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47000"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=292838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=292838"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=292838"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=292838"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=292838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}