{"id":304686,"date":"2017-09-18T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/gods-loving-kindness\/"},"modified":"2017-09-18T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-09-18T15:00:00","slug":"gods-loving-kindness","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/gods-loving-kindness\/","title":{"rendered":"God&#8217;s Loving Kindness"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Author Lauren Chandler, wife of Pastor Matt Chandler, fondly shares how she and Matt met and married. Chandler tells how she struggled in the shadow of Matt&#8217;s obvious calling to preach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","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_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2017-09-18.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:26:40","filesize":"24.41M","filesize_raw":"25597571","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2867,2860,2831],"tags":[6306,6034,6307,6308],"podcast_series":[8235],"cwp_profile":[3528],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-304686","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-church-involvement","category-hardship-and-suffering","category-wives","tag-pastor-marriage","tag-pastors-wife","tag-pastoral-marriage","tag-umet-dreams","podcast_series-steadfast-love","cwp_profile-lauren-chandler","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","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\/304686\/gods-loving-kindness","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/304686\/gods-loving-kindness","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=\"rJnv1jZ9bZ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/gods-loving-kindness\/\">God&#8217;s Loving Kindness<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/gods-loving-kindness\/embed\/#?secret=rJnv1jZ9bZ\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;God&#8217;s Loving Kindness&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"rJnv1jZ9bZ\" 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\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Author Lauren Chandler, wife of Pastor Matt Chandler, fondly shares how she and Matt met and married. Chandler tells how she struggled in the shadow of Matt's obvious calling to preach.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2017-09-18.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Jesus talks about a broad road that leads to destruction and a narrow way that leads to God. Lauren Chandler remembers, as a teenager, being at the crossroads, looking at those paths and having to decide which one she was going to walk. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I had gone to a party at the end of my junior year of high school and made bad decisions and was found out. It totally broke my heart to confess that I\u2019d made bad decisions\u2014I had not honored the Lord. I remember my youth minister saying: \u201cNow, this is a defining moment. You could either\u2014just this could be snowball moment, where it just is going to get worse and worse and worse, <em>or<\/em> you can decide to do things differently.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Monday, September 18<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey. I'm Bob Lepine. Lauren Chandler joins us today to talk about a life that has been marked by God\u2019s kindness and God\u2019s providence. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tStay with us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us. Do you know what characteristic \/ what character quality of God is referred to most often in the Old Testament? What defining characteristic?\u2014more than anything else that is said about God\u2014do you know what\u2019s said about Him?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Loving kindness?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Did you, come in, knowing that; or did you just guess that?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I just guessed. First of all, I wanted to say: \u201cThe fear of God.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>But that\u2019s not really\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>That\u2019s a response. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>That\u2019s a response to God. Then, I thought, \u201cNow, how did the psalmist start?\u201d\u00a0 Then, I started replaying a few; and that was my next answer. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>His <em>hesed<\/em>\u2014His steadfast love or loving kindness. In fact, what is it?\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPsalm 136\u2014where every other line is: \u201cHis steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever\u201d?\u00a0 I think the Holy Spirit wanted God\u2019s people to understand: \u201cThis is true about our God.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It\u2019s true of what Lauren Chandler has written in her book called <em>Steadfast Love<\/em>. Lauren, welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Thanks for having me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>We\u2019ve had you on the <em>Stepping Up<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> video series for men. You and Matt were in that\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014and talked about how you went through a period of suffering. We\u2019re going to talk about that in a minute. Never had you on the broadcast, but it is fun to have you here. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I\u2019m glad to be here. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Lauren is the wife to Matt Chandler\u2014been married to him since 1999\u2014a mom to three. She loves writing, music, and leading worship at The Village Church in\u2014what\u2019s the exact city?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Flower Mound; right?!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>That\u2019s right!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob and Lauren: <\/strong>Flower Mound. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I was almost going to say, \u201cGrapevine,\u201d and thought, \u201cNo; that\u2019s not right.\u201d\u00a0 But she has written a book called <em>Steadfast Love<\/em>, and this is about Psalm 107. I want to take you back to when you and Matt first met. You guys dated in college. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>We backed it up a little bit before\u2014he was in college, and I was in high school. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Oh, yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur story\u2019s got a little scandal to it\u2014[Laughter]\u2014but enough for Christian radio. We\u2019re fine. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, you weren\u2019t even 18 years old when he started dating you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>No; I was 17. We met\u2014actually, it sounds terrible\u2014but my parents approved, and we did the best we could. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Okay; wait! We\u2019ve got to get to the juicy details. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Okay; you ready?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Were you kind of\u2014you heard him speak somewhere\u2014and it was like: \u201cOh, he\u2019s so cute. He\u2019s so smart, and he\u2019s so funny,\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ve just got to\u2026\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Well, now, wait, Bob. He was only 19 or 20 at that point. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>When you\u2019re 17, those guys can look cute and smart and funny; right?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>They can. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I\u2019m not sure he was that good when he was 19 or 20. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, that\u2019s a good point. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>He was actually 23. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh!\u00a0 Really?!\u00a0 [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>It just gets better. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Whoa!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>He was preaching at my youth camp\u2014he was a camp speaker. I made a profession of faith when I was nine years old \/ got baptized. I was in Sunday school. I was in youth group. I mean, I did everything\u2014\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>You followed the rules. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I followed the rules, because I wanted to be perfect. Then, that started wearing thin, where there wasn\u2019t as much relationship with the Lord. It was more: \u201cI want to do things right, and I want to please God by my good behavior,\u201d instead of <em>knowing<\/em> I\u2019m so loved and accepted by Him that I don\u2019t need to <em>earn<\/em> that. So, that started just wearing thin\u2014my obedience started to\u2014especially, the later I got in high school years. It looked a little bit more fun to kind of throw those things off and be one person at church\u2014singing in the choir \/ singing a special during the service\u2014and then to be another person on the soccer team \/ in the halls at my high school with my friends. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere was just a God-ordained moment, where I had gone to a party at the end of my junior year of high school and made bad decisions \/ was found out. It totally broke my heart to confess that I\u2019d made bad decisions\u2014\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014I had not honored the Lord. I remember my youth minister saying: \u201cNow, this is a defining moment. You could either\u2014just this could be snowball moment, where it just is going to get worse and worse and worse, <em>or<\/em> you can decide to do things differently.\u201d\u00a0 <br>\u00a0\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>That\u2019s great advice; isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes!\u00a0 I said: \u201cI want to love Jesus with whole life. That\u2019s what I want. I don\u2019t want this to get worse and worse.\u201d\u00a0 So, I just walked through some real repentance. I think I finally saw how much grace cost; you know?\u00a0 I think I just assumed: \u201cWell, I\u2019m good. So, God has grace for me.\u201d\u00a0 Then, I saw: \u201cOh, no; I\u2019m not good, and He still loves me.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat was about a month before I met Matt. I went into camp, thinking: \u201cLord, I know You have got something for me. This has been a <em>huge<\/em> month. I am anticipating something big from You and with You.\u201d I really didn\u2019t think it was going to be a guy\u2014I really <em>did not<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut when I stepped off that bus, I remember thinking: \u201cThis is a moment I need to remember. The Lord is about to do something.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd He did!\u00a0 The Lord used Matt\u2019s preaching. I\u2019d <em>never<\/em> seen a man preach like he had\u2014I\u2019d never seen a young man love Jesus like he did. He caught my eye\u2014but it was more his passion for Jesus. I remember feeling jealous\u2014it was like: \u201cI want to know Jesus like that. I want to have this relationship that he has with the Lord.\u201d\u00a0 I was attracted more to his passion for Jesus than I was to his good looks, but he had them\u2014he was a little skinnier then, but he was handsome. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, throughout that week, the Lord was doing things in my heart; but I mean, I thought he was cute \/ I was attracted to him. Then, at the end of the week, we kind of had our <em>Kum Ba Yah<\/em> moment around the fire. I looked across at Matt; and it was like I had just this little voice in my head saying, \u201cThat\u2019s your husband.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI was like: \u201cWhat?!\u201d\u00a0 [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Did you tell him at that moment?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>No; I did not tell him. No!\u00a0 That would have been creepy. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It was <em>Kum Ba Yah<\/em> moment. I thought you might have pulled it out. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>We should say there were 14 other girls at the camp who had that same voice in their\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Oh, yes!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014heads saying the same thing. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>So true. So true\u2014they did. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, how long before he asked you out?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>So, to paint a broader picture\u2014my dad and my younger brother were at camp also and got to know Matt too. My dad was a CPA at the time and had offered Matt, like: \u201cIf there is anything I can ever do to serve you and your ministry, would you let me know?\u201d\u00a0 They started the process of becoming 501(c)(3), and my dad was helping him do that. So, we kind of had a context for each other. At the end of the <em>Kum Ba Yah<\/em> night, Matt did come up to me and say, \u201cHey, I would love to stay in touch\u201d\u2014I am like, \u201cOkay,\u201d\u2014\u201cwith your family.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, I was like, \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh, now, wait a second. If we called him on the phone\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>He was above board. Let me just say this\u2014he didn\u2019t do anything inappropriate. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Of course; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>But he\u2014probably, a month or two into our dating relationship\u2014he said: \u201cThat last night at camp, I looked over at you; and I knew you would be my wife,\u201d and \u201cI called my little sister and told her, \u2018I think I\u2019ve met my wife.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>See, I told you\u2014you should have told him at that moment. [Laughter]\u00a0 He could have proposed\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>You knew. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014he could have proposed at the fire, right there. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Right then. [Laughter]\u00a0 Did he wrestle at all with the fact that he was 23 years, and he was looking across the fire at a 17-year-old girl?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Not in those moments. He knew it would be complicated; but I mean, this is Matt Chandler. He\u2019s like\u2014give him a hard situation; he\u2019s going to conquer it. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, my parents encouraged us dating\u2014loved him \/ just fully embraced him into our lives. And that\u2019s kind of how we started dating\u2014was my parents had invited him to stay at our home when he was driving through on the way to preach at another camp. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s kind of where we started to get to know each other and where the relationship started to blossom. My parents loved him\u2014we had their blessing. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, my youth minister didn\u2019t really like it too much; and there were people in his life, like: \u201cI just don\u2019t think this is a good idea. She\u2019s really young.\u201d\u00a0 Matt was like: \u201cNo; I mean, this is a woman I could, not right <em>now<\/em>, but see myself marrying in a few years. She has attributes that I want in a wife, and I can, at least, see an inkling of it. Maybe, it\u2019s just a seedling of a characteristic that will grow.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And so, he waited several years to ask you to marry him. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>He waited two years\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, you were 19?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>\u2014until I was 19. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>How did he ask you to marry him?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I ended up going to college where he was. My freshman year, I lived in the dorm the first semester. Then, I lived in an apartment with his sister and some other girls. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHome was five hours away from college. He had to ask to borrow my car to drive back to my parents\u2019 house to ask my dad for my hand in marriage, because his car was not reliable. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Ten-hour round trip?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Ten-hour round trip. But when we were dating, my senior year of high school, he would leave late on a Thursday night, get into Long View around 2 a.m., so we could hang out for like a day or two. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Wow. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Then, he would drive back. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, on this particular night, were you out on some fancy date?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Oh, yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Was it Valentine\u2019s Day?\u00a0 Was it some anniversary or something special?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>No, but I knew it was any moment that we were going to do something. He comes to my apartment door, and he\u2019s got some roses\u2014he gives me the roses. Then, he takes me to his car, and he hands me a pair of socks. I was like: \u201cWhat is he doing?\u00a0 Are we going bowling?\u2014\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014\u201croller skating?\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening.\u201d\u00a0 Then, we went to eat. Then, he gave me a candle. Then, we went back to his apartment. He had candles everywhere, music playing. He had a friend set all that up, and that\u2019s where he got down on one knee. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen, the last thing he gave me was <em>The Power of a Praying Wife<\/em>. I opened it up. There was this letter that said: \u201cAll of these things are a symbol. The roses are your beauty that first attracted me to you. The candle is the light of Christ I see shining in you. The socks are that I can\u2019t imagine a more perfect pair.\u201d\u00a0 Then: \u201cThe book\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh, that\u2019s a little corny. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I love it!\u00a0 And then, the book was: \u201c\u2026to help you pray for me as my wife.\u201d\u00a0 Then, he got down on one knee and proposed. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>You have a daughter who is 14; right?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, jump ahead three years. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I know. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I wish\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>We think about it <em>all<\/em> the time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014I wish people could see the grin on her face. She knows what the question is. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I knew <em>exactly<\/em> where you were going with that. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, what would you do?!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>If it were Matt\u2014I would be fine with that \/ I mean, someone like him, who\u2014he is spending his life for the gospel \/ for the glory of Christ. He, by no means, was mature. I mean, there was a lot of immaturity; but you could, at least, see that he\u2014because he loved the Lord so much and he was so serious about Him\u2014that he would love <em>me<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>But you did say, you both grew up\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>We did. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014<em>together<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes; he wasn\u2019t that much more mature than I was at 17. [Laughter] My baggage looked prettier, but we both had baggage. He might have had a little bit more than I did, because he was a little older\u2014kind of\u2014the older you get, the more baggage you can accumulate. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, you started out your marriage. When you said: \u201cI do,\u201d and \u201cI will,\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ll love, honor, and cherish you until death do us part\u2026\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes\u2014\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014if you were like Barbara and me, when we started out, you had <em>no<\/em> idea what that would entail. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou\u2019ve been through some deserts. In fact, that\u2019s what your book is about\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014the barren places that looked hopeless. What was the first one?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren:<\/strong> Yes. For me, personally, being married to someone like Matt\u2014whose calling is so apparent to everyone else\u2014I kind of felt like I was in the shadows. I didn\u2019t know: \u201cWhat\u2019s my calling?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOne of the places that I was really drawn to and looked was leading worship. I felt like: \u201cOkay; Matt\u2019s the preacher man. I\u2019m going to lead worship.\u201d\u00a0 I love music \/ I love singing\u2014I love leading worship. The Lord just would <em>not<\/em> let me get a lot of satisfaction there. So, I was kind of digging my own wells, so to speak, in the desert instead of letting the Lord lead me through the desert of kind of longing and some dissatisfaction to really get to the root of: \u201cWhy do you want to lead worship?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd the Lord finally just\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014literally, there was a room that I was sitting in that a friend of mine \/ the roommate before her had written: \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you,\u201d at the very top of the wall\u2014it was almost like a border. The Lord just really writing: \u201cMy grace is enough for you,\u201d\u2014like: \u201cAm I going to be enough for you?\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to be a worship leader. You don\u2019t need this special position, because you have that with Me. That\u2019s where you\u2019ve got to operate from.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>There are seasons in all of our lives. What you were comparing your own life to and the season you were in was with a husband who had a very prominent position in a local church, and nationwide, in being very influential. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You\u2014and I don\u2019t want to sound like motherhood, apple pie, et cetera\u2014but you were called to be his wife\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014his counterpart, but also a mom. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Comment on that, if you would. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>And that\u2019s when I had kind of this epiphany\u2014really, I think it was the Holy Spirit kind of whispering this to me. When our oldest was probably a year\u2014maybe 18 months\u2014and He said, \u201cLauren, a <em>lot<\/em> of women can sing and lead worship; but only one woman can be Audrey\u2019s mom.\u201d\u00a0 That was a moment for me, where: \u201cOkay; there\u2019s something else here. I am expending a lot of energy and thoughts toward what I don\u2019t have and I\u2019m not experiencing when I\u2019ve got this right in front of me.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Did you embrace that?\u2014I mean, when you sensed the Holy Spirit saying, \u201cThis is a unique calling.\u201d I know some moms, who would go: \u201cYes; but changing diapers\u2014the fulfillment is not the same as it is if you are doing direct discipleship ministry with somebody.\u201d\u00a0 Did you kind of chaff against the idea that: \u201cWait! This is what you\u2019ve got for me, Lord\u2014is the diaper-changing business?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes; yes. There was some of that. I would be lying if I didn\u2019t say that part of me was like, \u201cOh, but that\u2019s just not as glamourous!\u201d [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>But I will say\u2014in God\u2019s providence and His great care for me\u2014He put some women around me, who I\u2019d looked up to as worship leaders \/ as artists, who were going through the same thing I was going through, where the Lord was saying, \u201cHey, yes; I\u2019ve given you this gift to lead worship; but I\u2019ve also given you this gift of your children. They are right here in front of you.\u201d It was encouraging to hear these women that were my heroes. One woman, in particular, who was my hero, said: \u201cYou know what?\u00a0 The Lord is kind of drawing me back home to focus on that; and then, also, to <em>trust<\/em> the Lord with my desires and with my gifts,\u201d\u2014that, if I would focus on Audrey \/ on my home right now, that He knows how He made me. He knows what I <em>love<\/em>. He knows what He\u2019s called me to do. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe will fulfill it at the right time when it\u2019s the most fulfilling for me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Was your husband mature enough, shrewd enough, wise enough, at the time to recognize the angst in your soul and be able to come alongside and help; or was he kind of focused on what God was calling him to, and you were figuring it out on your own?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Because his calling is <em>so<\/em> clear, it was hard for him to empathize with my wrestle. He apologizes, <em>now<\/em>, for kind of how he handled it <em>then<\/em>. He had made a comment, where he just didn\u2019t\u2014he was unsure that maybe that was my calling. It was devastating; but I can imagine when you watch someone wrestle and struggle, you want to fix it for them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>You want them to just get through it\u2014get on the other side \/ help them\u2014and when they just seem to keep wallowing\u2014and, maybe, not wallowing out of self-pity but just <em>really struggling<\/em>\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014you get tired. You want to just be like: \u201cWell, maybe, that\u2019s just not the Lord,\u201d or\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, I\u2019ll give some advice to husbands here\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014but then, you give some advice to a wife who might be in a season like you were in, where she just goes: \u201cThis is not what I dreamed life would be. I don\u2019t <em>feel<\/em> God\u2019s <em>pleasure<\/em> in what I\u2019m doing, and I\u2019m just wrestling with that.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tTo the husbands, who have a wife who is there: \u201cDon\u2019t try to fix it!\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Stop doing what we often do\u2014which is rush in and say: \u201cWell, if you just do this,\u201d \u201cIf you wouldn\u2019t do that,\u201d\u2014but be like Job\u2019s friends were, at first. Go sit with her and say: \u201cThis has got to be hard for you. I can\u2019t imagine. I\u2019m here for you.\u201d\u00a0 Then, you shut up; right?\u00a0 You\u2019d agree that that\u2019s decent advice; right?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I do. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And I would say\u2014if Barbara were here, she would say, \u201cThere was a point in our marriage\u201d\u2014and I don\u2019t think it came as the <em>aha<\/em> \/ it didn\u2019t come as early as your <em>aha<\/em> did\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014where she finally had to say to me: \u201cYou know, I don\u2019t want three points in a poem. [Laughter] I\u2019m not interested in being fixed. I want to be understood.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes; absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I want you to enter into\u2014and in Psalm 107, which is the passage your book is built around, it talks about: \u201cThey cried to the Lord in their trouble,\u201d and He delivered them from their distress. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>What a wife is looking for is for a husband who asks questions and holds back on the answers. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Just listen to understand and, maybe, restate to your wife what she\u2019s expressing. So, back to Bob\u2019s second half of the question. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>To the wife who is in the angst, what would you say to her?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>To continue to cry out to the Lord in the midst of your distress. That\u2019s one of the phrases I love about that. That\u2019s kind of a refrain throughout the whole psalm\u2014is: \u201cAnd they cried out to the Lord in their distress,\u201d\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014that you don\u2019t have to pull it all together and to cry out to Him; but in your distress, cry out to the Lord. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBe patient with your husband. He is trying to help, usually. Usually, it might not come across as helpful; but most of the time, their heart is: \u201cI want to help, Babe. I want to fix this problem for you.\u201d\u00a0 And that\u2019s what husbands like to do\u2014they want to be the answer. They want to help <em>solve<\/em> things and carry on. You can just help him understand\u2014like your wife did\u2014where you say: \u201cBabe, I appreciate that you want to fix this for me; but really, I just need you to empathize. I need some compassion. I know the Lord and I are going to work this out; but right now, pray for me.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSome of the things that Matt did do is\u2014he has built in some latitude in his schedule so that, if there are things I do want to do, like\u2014so I started leading worship at a recovery ministry. He would make sure on Thursday nights that he would be home with the kids so I could go do that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think husbands being willing to kind of step in in some places so your wife can do some of the things that she\u2019s gifted and loves to do. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>That\u2019s how you nourish and cherish a wife; isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It is. And sometimes, it takes a wife having to explain to her husband\u2014like Barbara did to me: \u201cHere are the words you say, Sweetheart: \u2018I understand some of what you\u2019re feeling.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u201cThat sounds hard!\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u201cThat must be really tough for you.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I do think our relationship\u2014it wasn\u2019t a 180\u2014but it was an adjustment of sorts that enabled us to continue down the trail, now, at some 44\/45 years later in our relationship, where I wouldn\u2019t want to go back and trade for the early years. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes; oh my goodness. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes; I mean, it\u2019s a maturity of a relationship, where you do understand and you do feel like you have one another\u2019s backs. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And if you are looking for some help in terms of finding the solution if you\u2019re in that desert, and you can\u2019t find your way\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>See, you\u2019re trying to go to the solutions there. You\u2019re trying to <em>fix<\/em> it. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I am, because Lauren wrote about it\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Lauren: <\/strong>I did write about it. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014in her book, <em>Steadfast Love<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Okay; I guess that\u2019s fair. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Get a copy of it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>And we do have copies of Lauren\u2019s book in our <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Resource Center. You can go, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com to order; or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY. Again, the website for the book, <em>Steadfast Love<\/em>, is FamilyLifeToday.com; or call to order: 1-800-FL-TODAY. That\u2019s 1-800-358-6329\u20141-800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSpeaking of great books, Dennis has just finished a book called <em>Choosing a Life That Matters<\/em>\u2014seven non-negotiables that make a huge difference in a person\u2019s life. We are excited about this book. In fact, we\u2019re so excited about it that we\u2019d love to send you a copy. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re making it available to anyone who can help support the ministry of FamilyLife with a donation of any amount. You can go, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com or call 1-800-FL-TODAY to donate. We\u2019ll be happy to get a copy of Dennis\u2019s brand-new book out to you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>This is really a book that focuses in on the core issues that are foundational to everything about our lives. I was thinking, \u201cIt\u2019s not so much a marriage book or a parenting book; but if you want your marriage and your parenting to be what God intends for it to be, there are some foundational issues that need to be addressed first. And that\u2019s what this book talks about.\u201d Again, the title of the book is <em>Choosing a Life That Matters<\/em>. We\u2019ll send you a copy when you help support the work of this ministry\u2014help us reach more people with practical biblical help and hope for marriages and families. Donate at FamilyLifeToday.com; or call to donate at 1-800-358-6329\u20141-800-FL-TODAY. Or you can mail a donation to us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur mailing address is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, PO Box 7111, Little Rock, AR; our zip code is 72223.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, tomorrow, we\u2019re going to hear from Lauren Chandler about the events that took place on Thanksgiving a number of years ago\u2014events that would put Matt and Lauren\u2019s faith to the test. We\u2019ll hear about that test tomorrow. I hope you can tune in for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you back tomorrow for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas; A Cru<sup>\u00ae <\/sup>Ministry. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe 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 <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2017 FamilyLife. 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