January 31, 2024 • 19 mins
Everyday it’s easy to get pulled away and distracted from the things that God has given us to focus on, to get pulled out of the lane He wants us to stay in. It’s something that every marriage has to fight against and be aware of in order to keep the right things in view and to not lose sight of the finish line. What does God have for you and how can you avoid stumbling, slowing down, and ultimately dropping out of the race that we are all called to run as followers of Jesus? It’s a race and a finish line God wants us all to cross and win!!
Join hosts Travis and Dawn Rosinger as they uncover four key steps to making sure the lines in your lane and life are clearly defined so that your marriage and life will benefit from running the race marked out before us all. You will be challenged and encouraged!! Be sure to check this episode out!!
Travis and Dawn Rosinger are the Loving The Fight Marriage Podcast Hosts and Authors of the books, Verbalosity - 7 Steps to a Verbally Generous and More Fulfilling Marriage and their newest book, Gripping - What Matters Most | A Life and Relationships That Hold on to You
For more information about Travis and Dawn Rosinger go to Loving The Fight
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Travis Rosinger (00:09):
Hey everyone, we couldn't wait.
We couldn't stay silent.
We just had to jump back on tospend more time with you guys.
Well, with that, we want tothank you for tuning in and
welcome to the Loving the FightMarriage Podcast.
My name is Travis and I'm herewith my wife and my co-host, Don
.
Dawn Rosinger (00:28):
Hey everyone.
It's so fun to be with youtoday.
If this is your first timejoining us, or maybe this is
your 100th time, welcome toeveryone.
This is a highlight of our week.
Travis Rosinger (00:38):
It really is, and it's such a great
opportunity to just stop and sayokay, god, what do you want to
teach all of us?
Yeah, you're listening and wewant to share some things that
God's put on our heart.
But Don you and I, weabsolutely want to grow and
learn through this podcast andthrough life.
Jesus is always teaching us.
(00:59):
We, just as followers of Him,have to be listening.
Dawn Rosinger (01:02):
We are.
We are, we're constant students, right Like we're in school
continually.
There's lessons every singleday that we can learn If we just
open up our eyes.
Now we have options.
We can either learn from themor they just happen again and
again and again, or hopefullywe're getting better.
Travis Rosinger (01:16):
I know.
Hopefully, yeah, because beingstuck in the same exact thing
over and over again, that's notgood.
We're hoping that God isworking in your life, as you're
listening, working in our lives.
Well, it's been a really goodweek, ups and downs, but some of
the ups were that we had achance to connect with a new set
(01:37):
of friends, a couple that weknow, that we've actually known
them for, I think almost liketwo years, but we just have
never had a chance to just sitdown and get to know them better
.
And it's funny.
We went to a new restaurant andwe sat down, ate some food
together and three hours went by.
Dawn Rosinger (01:54):
Yeah, we were there for three hours.
We asked them their stories andthey asked us ours and it was a
great night.
But it was fun to actually heartheir stories.
People that you are kind of,you know, you know them a little
bit, and then you actually takethe time, you're intentional,
to go and say, hey, do you wantto go meet us for supper?
And you meet them and heartheir stories.
It's such a cool thing, likewhat an honor to hear someone's
(02:16):
stories.
But then you're like wow, likethat's cool, like God did that
in your life, and you justadmire them and so it's just a
fun, great night.
Something that I know we haveto be intentional about growing
relationships and there's somany people in the world with so
many cool stories.
Travis Rosinger (02:30):
Oh man, it's like a treasure, it's like a
treasure chest that you dig, dig, dig and then you suddenly
discover it and that's whatrelationships are like.
And you're like, wow, I neverknew this about you.
Thank you for sharing your life, your story.
And it was cool.
It was a restaurant where itwas just a walk up window you
order, you sit down.
There was no waiter or waitress, so in a way, it was like
really uninterrupted time wherewe weren't kind of feeling the
(02:53):
pressure that we had to leave orfeeling like we had to answer
questions of like more water orthis or that, and it was just so
special to get to know them andthey are exceptional people.
Well, I also am a little bitexcited and this isn't me
sharing this because I'm liketrying to brag but I recently
just got a I think it was a weekago got a brand new iPad.
Dawn Rosinger (03:14):
I haven't had one in years and I got one.
Travis Rosinger (03:17):
And the biggest reason is I'm addicted to
Swedish.
I've said this on this podcastbefore, but I'm using this iPad
to study Swedish every day andthen listen to podcasts and read
Swedish newspapers and I'm justgrowing and I'm loving it.
It's really about growing inlife and getting better, and
this is one way that I'm doingthat.
Dawn Rosinger (03:35):
It's funny because we, you know, dual
lingual was part of yourChristmas present.
Travis Rosinger (03:40):
So you wanted to continue Swedish.
Dawn Rosinger (03:42):
Well, I got my Christmas present this week as
well, and it just came.
Just a few moments ago upstairs, I opened up a box that came.
Someone came to our door andour ring doorbell went off and I
opened it up and it was exactlywhat I wanted.
I just told you about a monthlate.
Like what?
Travis Rosinger (03:58):
I wanted for Christmas.
Dawn Rosinger (04:01):
But I'm so excited.
It is a black vest that'sheated, like how many coils are
in there?
There's like tons of coils.
Travis Rosinger (04:08):
Tons of them.
Dawn Rosinger (04:09):
If you guys something you probably don't
know about me I'm just cold allthe time.
I just feel like I want toblanket.
And there was a coworker ofmine who had this heated vest
and I saw it and I was like, ohmy word, that's something I
would want, but I would neverwant to buy myself.
Travis Rosinger (04:22):
So it'd be a great gift.
Dawn Rosinger (04:23):
So I had her send me the link.
I sent it to you and Sharon.
If you ordered it and it cameand I, you know I put it on.
I love the vest, but right nowthe batteries are charging and
I'm so excited as soon as thispodcast is over soon as we're
done, I'm going to go up thereand plug in my vest and wear it.
Travis Rosinger (04:40):
And oh, just the simple things of life.
It's going to be great, yeah,and it was on sale.
Dawn Rosinger (04:44):
We're having a warmer winter, so I think it was
on sale because it hasn't beenas cold.
So what the?
That is like the perfect gift,travis.
Travis Rosinger (04:52):
I think it is.
Thank you for your help andsorry it was a month and a half
late, but we've talked aboutyour, your watch that I bought
you.
Dawn Rosinger (04:59):
That you opened up like nine months late.
So, we're right on time.
Right, you got your Swedish andI got my heated vest, like we
had really good weeks.
Travis Rosinger (05:08):
Yeah, well and it's, it's been a great week,
but we're also looking forwardto get away as a couple, go on a
romantic week of, of just avacation, but unplugging from
the world and dialing into eachother, and that's just right
around the corner.
We're going to be leaving inabout three weeks to go to
Southern Florida, and typicallywe go there, of course, because
we want to heat up this time ofyear.
(05:28):
But you know, in in Minnesotait's usually minus 30 degrees
right now in January, but it'sweird, tomorrow they're saying
it could be 52, and sure.
Dawn Rosinger (05:38):
They said it's going to break a ton of records.
Wow, like you guys, there is nosnow in our yard.
None, not even like one drop.
It's just crazy.
It's the end of January, likenormally.
We have feet and feet and feetof snow.
Yeah, it's shocking.
Travis Rosinger (05:51):
It's historical winter.
Most people are not used toever having this happen, or they
they really can't remember thishappening Like, wow, we are
getting a little bit of Floridared up here and Minnesota gets
some Southern heat.
Dawn Rosinger (06:05):
I think God's blessing us from a horrible
winter last year he's justsaying hey, you made it through.
Like last year, I'm going togive you an easy winter, so
that's what he's doing, butanyways, well, you guys, last
week I was asked to go out forcoffee by someone who's quite a
bit younger than me and theyjust wanted to just talk about
life and ministry and, you know,just ask, you know, how they
could possibly become the bestself, how could you become the
(06:28):
best her possible?
And so I had a few days to kindof think this over a little bit
and I began to just kind ofthink through my philosophy of
life, like what do I believe,how, how can we live the best
life ever?
And and where do we even get,you know, those thoughts from?
And I quickly got this picturein my mind of a track team.
I kind of look at life,ministry, marriage or each role
(06:50):
that I am like a track team thatis running a race and we're all
running the race together, butwe all have our own different.
We know we run with others, butwe have our own race to
complete and, most importantly,our own lane that we have to
stay in.
And oftentimes we can get introuble when we either focus too
much on other people's lanes orrace or leave our own lane.
(07:13):
So I feel like my philosophy inlife a little bit is just run
the race in the lane that Godhas for you.
Travis Rosinger (07:19):
Yeah, I've heard you say that.
What feels like hundreds oftimes, Don, and I love your
intentionality and intensity forlife and running your own race
and staying in that lane.
I think that's really, reallyimportant.
Dawn Rosinger (07:33):
I know you and I are actually running a race, but
we're running together side byside, probably, but we still
have our own lanes.
Like I have a lane that I'm in.
At the end of my life, I'mgonna stand before God.
It's gonna be me and God.
It's not gonna be me, you andGod.
So I have my own lane, you haveyour own lane.
When you're married, you'rerunning it together side by side
, hopefully holding hands andenjoying life, but it's still.
(07:54):
We have our own lane.
Travis Rosinger (07:56):
Yeah, and I think it's really important to
recognize that.
Sometimes, though, people, eventhough they have their own lane
, their own race to runindividually, they get
distracted or maybe they getconfused in life or even as a
couple.
You're running your racetogether and sometimes that
couple just hits a wall andbecause of friction or because
(08:16):
of a lack of clarity about theirlife together or their future
together, then they end uphaving issues and there's not a
lot of progress in theirmarriage or in their life.
Dawn Rosinger (08:26):
As I was thinking through kind of this philosophy
of life that I really feel likeI've carried with me for quite
a few years, the verses came tomy mind exactly where Hebrews 12
, one through three, and I justwanna read them to you and let
you know.
This is kind of where I got someof my goals, my keys for just
living life.
But Hebrews 12 says thistherefore, since we are
(08:48):
surrounded by such a great cloudof witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and thesin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverancethe race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, thepioneer and perfecter of faith,
for the joy set before him.
He endured the cross, scornedin its shame, and sat down at
the right hand of the throne ofGod.
(09:08):
Consider him who endured suchopposition from sinners, so that
you will not grow weary andlose heart.
I love these verses becausethey give us four things that we
need to do to cross that finishline and be the best version of
ourselves possible.
It kind of gives us a formulato win also, not just in life,
(09:29):
in our own race, but in marriageas well.
I feel like man.
It just goes hand in hand.
Travis Rosinger (09:33):
Yeah, and it helps us to stay in our lane.
I mean, what this is describingis a lane, and I don't know why
, but every time I read this,every time I hear you read this
on this passage, it's like Ijust got out of a hot shower and
I'm perfectly clean.
I'm like whoa, that is so goodwhat we just read.
I needed to hear that.
(09:55):
But again, it's putting upparameters and it's helping us
to understand how to live, howto act, where to run and how to
get there.
Dawn Rosinger (10:03):
And I think it's just encouraging me because it's
reminding me that God hassomething for me in my own race,
that I can run.
But it gives us kind of aformula.
So we're gonna just dig throughthese few verses and let's pull
out those four things.
What is this verse saying?
And again, kind of a philosophyof life, a philosophy of
marriage, something that's good,that we could live by and
(10:24):
honestly succeed and make it tothe finish line.
Travis Rosinger (10:27):
So, to be clear , the four things that we're
talking about here is throw off.
Run with perseverance, fix oureyes on Jesus and consider.
And as we think about throw off, I think one of the things we
need to ask ourselves is whatneeds to be thrown off, like,
what is in our life, what isweighing us down and really what
(10:47):
is weighing our marriages down?
And as I thought about that, Iimmediately think of past guilt.
There are so many people inmarriages and whether it's the
marriage itself or theindividual in the marriage that
you're thinking about your pastand you're like, oh, why did we
do that together?
Why did I do that as a person?
And the reality is you can'tchange your past and so part of
(11:09):
getting rid of that is justacknowledging okay, god's
willing to forgive me and I needto let go, and just dumping
that, getting rid of that weight.
But it could be a current habitthat needs to be broken Maybe
it's overeating or drinking or anegative attitude and just
being honest and addressing it.
And the reality is we can't getrid of things until we call
(11:30):
them out.
And then again we're just like,okay, this has got to go, or
maybe it's carrying a grudgeagainst your spouse or walking
in unforgiveness, justconstantly keeping our record of
wrongs when the Bible sayswe're not supposed to do that.
And that could be like gettingrid of that weight or even
wasting time or lazinessno-transcript.
(11:51):
What is that for you, what isthat for your marriage?
That you need to stop and justreally analyze, like this
passage is saying, and throw itoff, get rid of it.
Dawn Rosinger (11:59):
It's funny because if we think of a race
and like running around a track,when you run and you have ankle
weights on, honestly what doesit do?
It just slows you down.
If you're carrying a backpackwith 20 pounds in it or like all
these books, you're gonna beslow.
It's honestly just slowing youdown.
You're not.
You might make it to the finishline, but you're gonna be
unbelievably tired.
You're gonna be worn out.
(12:20):
You're gonna wanna give upalong the way.
So why not just get rid of it?
Let go of that backpack, let goof those weights that are
around your ankle.
The next one is this run withperseverance.
So what is perseverance?
That's kind of a word thatmaybe you know not be heard
quite as often, but perseveranceis not giving up.
It's a persistence and atenacity, the effort required to
do something and keep doing ittill the end, even if it's hard.
(12:45):
That's according toVocabularycom, but I love that
you're keeping.
You're doing it till the end.
Even if it's hard, you'rerunning.
You're not giving up.
So what do you need to run withperseverance?
Honestly, you need to just stopand go.
Okay, are my buckets filled up?
If I'm gonna run this race tothe end, I gotta make sure that
I'm filling myself up andfilling my buckets up, and
(13:06):
there's a lot of things that ourbuckets need to be filled up,
full so we don't quit, we don'twalk away, and the first one is
just spending time with peoplewho win at life, with Jesus and
with relationship.
So making sure that we're justspending that time, first and
foremost, with Jesus, with otherpeople that are filling us up,
and with relationships that arehealthy.
How do we make sure that ourbucket is full?
(13:28):
Honestly, sometimes juststopping and slowing down and
letting your body, mind and soulrest.
Sometimes you just need rest sothat you can give out, so that
you can continue in the race.
Travis Rosinger (13:40):
Yeah, I think any runner.
In between races they gottacatch their breath, they gotta
relax and just say, okay, I'mgonna get some rest so that I
can run hard at the next race.
Dawn Rosinger (13:51):
It's really just making sure you never let
yourself get over depleted.
Fill your bucket back up whenmaybe it's half empty, instead
of waiting until you'recompletely on E and we do that
with our gas tank.
Sometimes we get all the waydown there but don't let that
happen in life.
I mean, it's different whenit's a car, but when you feel
like your body is justcompletely on E, man, you've
(14:12):
gone too far.
You need to make sure thatyou're replenishing yourself.
Travis Rosinger (14:15):
Well, the race of life, the race of marriage,
this perseverance and all ofthis, I mean it's a marathon,
right?
And I think one of my favoriteparts of this passage is this
next part, and that is to fixyour eyes on Jesus and your race
.
I mean, after all, he is thefinish line, he is the goal.
So we, as runners we talkedabout this a little bit earlier,
(14:37):
but we don't wanna getdistracted by other runners or
other things in life.
We don't wanna compareourselves to others or other
marriages.
We need to focus on our ownmarriage.
We need to focus on makingourselves better so that we're a
better spouse in our marriage,but also what can make our
marriage better?
And Jesus is a great startingplace, so there's no win in
(15:01):
comparison.
I mean, if you think about it,when we focus on others, what
are we doing?
We're actually taking our eyesoff of Jesus and man.
If there is any kind of greatadvice for marriage or for us as
individuals, it's just to lookat Jesus.
Turn your eyes on Jesus andmake sure he is the prize, the
(15:22):
goal, the finish line in yourlife, and so maybe determine
what is your gaze really lockedon right now?
Get honest with yourself.
Are you pouring more energy andtime and your passion into your
career?
Or is it money, or is itpleasure, or is it Jesus?
Because the cool thing aboutJesus is he will always satisfy,
(15:44):
he will never let you down andnever disappoint.
Dawn Rosinger (15:48):
The last thing, according to these verses, to
become the best you, to makesure that you stay in your lane
and finish the race right is.
This is great.
Consider, consider what Jesusdid Carefully assess how Jesus
handled trials in this life.
Consider what he endured.
So the trials in life don'ttake you out of the race and
make you give up and walk away.
(16:10):
You know what Jesus didn't giveup.
He's the ultimate example.
He didn't walk away when it gottoo hard.
He didn't get too tired or fedup with how people treated him
and just throw up his hands inthe air and say you know, that's
it, you know I'm done, I'mwalking away.
He finished the race that wasset out before him.
Even Jesus had a race.
He had a lane that he had torun and he successfully made it
(16:33):
to that finished line.
And just look what he did byhim finishing race, his race.
Look what it did for us.
Travis Rosinger (16:39):
Yeah, it's so cool too, because his race
involved, you know, being led bythe spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil.
His race involved, you know,constant ridicule and just being
put down by the Pharisees, bythe Sadducees I'm reading the
book of John right now and theywere constantly plotting to kill
him.
And then, ultimately, he'stelling his disciples, his
(17:02):
followers hey, my lane, my race,is going to take me to
Jerusalem and they are going tocrucify me.
And even one of his closestfriends, peter, jumps in front
of him and it becomes anobstacle in his lane and his
race and he's like get behind me, satan.
And he's going to the cross,he's going to die for the sins
of the world.
And, wow, that is powerful forour marriages, that is powerful
(17:25):
for us as individuals, and wedon't want to forget these
important pieces of truth.
Dawn Rosinger (17:30):
I think it's just so important.
Probably the purpose of thisparticular podcast episode is
just to remember that we allhave a race that God has given
us.
We're all running, staying yourlane honestly, keep your eyes
focused on God and finish,endure, stay till the end and
make sure that you're winning atlife, winning at marriage,
(17:52):
winning the race that God hasset before us.
Travis Rosinger (17:55):
Yeah, so we want to leave you with this
picture.
Don you and I, we ended upseeing in the news twice.
There was an 89 year old ladyand a 90 year old lady, and this
was just in the last week.
The 90 year old lady set somenew I think it was like a world
record and she was runningaround a literal track like an
(18:15):
Olympic stadium.
She looked amazing and I lookedat her.
I was like how the heck is thiswoman running that fast at 90
years of age, running in herlane and then, like a couple
days later, I saw a picture of alady that was 89, and not only
was she running, she was jumpinghurdles Crazy.
Dawn Rosinger (18:32):
Her legs were just so defined like oh, my word
, but such a great picture thatGod has given us each a race.
Those ladies, obviously theyhave persevered, they have fixed
their eyes on something.
They see the finish line andthey're going to make it to the
end.
Travis Rosinger (18:48):
It's paid off.
They're running like no oneelse, and that's the exact thing
that we want for you guys, foryour marriage.
We want you to run like no oneelse, with Jesus being the
ultimate goal.
Well, hey, we want to thank youfor listening to this episode
of the loving the fight marriagepodcast.
Dawn Rosinger (19:06):
Remember, guys, you can do it.
You got this.
Keep loving the fight.
We'll see you next time.
Hey everyone, we couldn't wait.
We couldn't stay silent.
We just had to jump back on tospend more time with you guys.
Well, with that, we want tothank you for tuning in and
welcome to the Loving the FightMarriage Podcast.
My name is Travis and I'm herewith my wife and my co-host, Don
.
Dawn Rosinger (00:28):
Hey everyone.
It's so fun to be with youtoday.
If this is your first timejoining us, or maybe this is
your 100th time, welcome toeveryone.
This is a highlight of our week.
Travis Rosinger (00:38):
It really is, and it's such a great
opportunity to just stop and sayokay, god, what do you want to
teach all of us?
Yeah, you're listening and wewant to share some things that
God's put on our heart.
But Don you and I, weabsolutely want to grow and
learn through this podcast andthrough life.
Jesus is always teaching us.
(00:59):
We, just as followers of Him,have to be listening.
Dawn Rosinger (01:02):
We are.
We are, we're constant students, right Like we're in school
continually.
There's lessons every singleday that we can learn If we just
open up our eyes.
Now we have options.
We can either learn from themor they just happen again and
again and again, or hopefullywe're getting better.
Travis Rosinger (01:16):
I know.
Hopefully, yeah, because beingstuck in the same exact thing
over and over again, that's notgood.
We're hoping that God isworking in your life, as you're
listening, working in our lives.
Well, it's been a really goodweek, ups and downs, but some of
the ups were that we had achance to connect with a new set
(01:37):
of friends, a couple that weknow, that we've actually known
them for, I think almost liketwo years, but we just have
never had a chance to just sitdown and get to know them better
.
And it's funny.
We went to a new restaurant andwe sat down, ate some food
together and three hours went by.
Dawn Rosinger (01:54):
Yeah, we were there for three hours.
We asked them their stories andthey asked us ours and it was a
great night.
But it was fun to actually heartheir stories.
People that you are kind of,you know, you know them a little
bit, and then you actually takethe time, you're intentional,
to go and say, hey, do you wantto go meet us for supper?
And you meet them and heartheir stories.
It's such a cool thing, likewhat an honor to hear someone's
(02:16):
stories.
But then you're like wow, likethat's cool, like God did that
in your life, and you justadmire them and so it's just a
fun, great night.
Something that I know we haveto be intentional about growing
relationships and there's somany people in the world with so
many cool stories.
Travis Rosinger (02:30):
Oh man, it's like a treasure, it's like a
treasure chest that you dig, dig, dig and then you suddenly
discover it and that's whatrelationships are like.
And you're like, wow, I neverknew this about you.
Thank you for sharing your life, your story.
And it was cool.
It was a restaurant where itwas just a walk up window you
order, you sit down.
There was no waiter or waitress, so in a way, it was like
really uninterrupted time wherewe weren't kind of feeling the
(02:53):
pressure that we had to leave orfeeling like we had to answer
questions of like more water orthis or that, and it was just so
special to get to know them andthey are exceptional people.
Well, I also am a little bitexcited and this isn't me
sharing this because I'm liketrying to brag but I recently
just got a I think it was a weekago got a brand new iPad.
Dawn Rosinger (03:14):
I haven't had one in years and I got one.
Travis Rosinger (03:17):
And the biggest reason is I'm addicted to
Swedish.
I've said this on this podcastbefore, but I'm using this iPad
to study Swedish every day andthen listen to podcasts and read
Swedish newspapers and I'm justgrowing and I'm loving it.
It's really about growing inlife and getting better, and
this is one way that I'm doingthat.
Dawn Rosinger (03:35):
It's funny because we, you know, dual
lingual was part of yourChristmas present.
Travis Rosinger (03:40):
So you wanted to continue Swedish.
Dawn Rosinger (03:42):
Well, I got my Christmas present this week as
well, and it just came.
Just a few moments ago upstairs, I opened up a box that came.
Someone came to our door andour ring doorbell went off and I
opened it up and it was exactlywhat I wanted.
I just told you about a monthlate.
Like what?
Travis Rosinger (03:58):
I wanted for Christmas.
Dawn Rosinger (04:01):
But I'm so excited.
It is a black vest that'sheated, like how many coils are
in there?
There's like tons of coils.
Travis Rosinger (04:08):
Tons of them.
Dawn Rosinger (04:09):
If you guys something you probably don't
know about me I'm just cold allthe time.
I just feel like I want toblanket.
And there was a coworker ofmine who had this heated vest
and I saw it and I was like, ohmy word, that's something I
would want, but I would neverwant to buy myself.
Travis Rosinger (04:22):
So it'd be a great gift.
Dawn Rosinger (04:23):
So I had her send me the link.
I sent it to you and Sharon.
If you ordered it and it cameand I, you know I put it on.
I love the vest, but right nowthe batteries are charging and
I'm so excited as soon as thispodcast is over soon as we're
done, I'm going to go up thereand plug in my vest and wear it.
Travis Rosinger (04:40):
And oh, just the simple things of life.
It's going to be great, yeah,and it was on sale.
Dawn Rosinger (04:44):
We're having a warmer winter, so I think it was
on sale because it hasn't beenas cold.
So what the?
That is like the perfect gift,travis.
Travis Rosinger (04:52):
I think it is.
Thank you for your help andsorry it was a month and a half
late, but we've talked aboutyour, your watch that I bought
you.
Dawn Rosinger (04:59):
That you opened up like nine months late.
So, we're right on time.
Right, you got your Swedish andI got my heated vest, like we
had really good weeks.
Travis Rosinger (05:08):
Yeah, well and it's, it's been a great week,
but we're also looking forwardto get away as a couple, go on a
romantic week of, of just avacation, but unplugging from
the world and dialing into eachother, and that's just right
around the corner.
We're going to be leaving inabout three weeks to go to
Southern Florida, and typicallywe go there, of course, because
we want to heat up this time ofyear.
(05:28):
But you know, in in Minnesotait's usually minus 30 degrees
right now in January, but it'sweird, tomorrow they're saying
it could be 52, and sure.
Dawn Rosinger (05:38):
They said it's going to break a ton of records.
Wow, like you guys, there is nosnow in our yard.
None, not even like one drop.
It's just crazy.
It's the end of January, likenormally.
We have feet and feet and feetof snow.
Yeah, it's shocking.
Travis Rosinger (05:51):
It's historical winter.
Most people are not used toever having this happen, or they
they really can't remember thishappening Like, wow, we are
getting a little bit of Floridared up here and Minnesota gets
some Southern heat.
Dawn Rosinger (06:05):
I think God's blessing us from a horrible
winter last year he's justsaying hey, you made it through.
Like last year, I'm going togive you an easy winter, so
that's what he's doing, butanyways, well, you guys, last
week I was asked to go out forcoffee by someone who's quite a
bit younger than me and theyjust wanted to just talk about
life and ministry and, you know,just ask, you know, how they
could possibly become the bestself, how could you become the
(06:28):
best her possible?
And so I had a few days to kindof think this over a little bit
and I began to just kind ofthink through my philosophy of
life, like what do I believe,how, how can we live the best
life ever?
And and where do we even get,you know, those thoughts from?
And I quickly got this picturein my mind of a track team.
I kind of look at life,ministry, marriage or each role
(06:50):
that I am like a track team thatis running a race and we're all
running the race together, butwe all have our own different.
We know we run with others, butwe have our own race to
complete and, most importantly,our own lane that we have to
stay in.
And oftentimes we can get introuble when we either focus too
much on other people's lanes orrace or leave our own lane.
(07:13):
So I feel like my philosophy inlife a little bit is just run
the race in the lane that Godhas for you.
Travis Rosinger (07:19):
Yeah, I've heard you say that.
What feels like hundreds oftimes, Don, and I love your
intentionality and intensity forlife and running your own race
and staying in that lane.
I think that's really, reallyimportant.
Dawn Rosinger (07:33):
I know you and I are actually running a race, but
we're running together side byside, probably, but we still
have our own lanes.
Like I have a lane that I'm in.
At the end of my life, I'mgonna stand before God.
It's gonna be me and God.
It's not gonna be me, you andGod.
So I have my own lane, you haveyour own lane.
When you're married, you'rerunning it together side by side
, hopefully holding hands andenjoying life, but it's still.
(07:54):
We have our own lane.
Travis Rosinger (07:56):
Yeah, and I think it's really important to
recognize that.
Sometimes, though, people, eventhough they have their own lane
, their own race to runindividually, they get
distracted or maybe they getconfused in life or even as a
couple.
You're running your racetogether and sometimes that
couple just hits a wall andbecause of friction or because
(08:16):
of a lack of clarity about theirlife together or their future
together, then they end uphaving issues and there's not a
lot of progress in theirmarriage or in their life.
Dawn Rosinger (08:26):
As I was thinking through kind of this philosophy
of life that I really feel likeI've carried with me for quite
a few years, the verses came tomy mind exactly where Hebrews 12
, one through three, and I justwanna read them to you and let
you know.
This is kind of where I got someof my goals, my keys for just
living life.
But Hebrews 12 says thistherefore, since we are
(08:48):
surrounded by such a great cloudof witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and thesin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverancethe race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, thepioneer and perfecter of faith,
for the joy set before him.
He endured the cross, scornedin its shame, and sat down at
the right hand of the throne ofGod.
(09:08):
Consider him who endured suchopposition from sinners, so that
you will not grow weary andlose heart.
I love these verses becausethey give us four things that we
need to do to cross that finishline and be the best version of
ourselves possible.
It kind of gives us a formulato win also, not just in life,
(09:29):
in our own race, but in marriageas well.
I feel like man.
It just goes hand in hand.
Travis Rosinger (09:33):
Yeah, and it helps us to stay in our lane.
I mean, what this is describingis a lane, and I don't know why
, but every time I read this,every time I hear you read this
on this passage, it's like Ijust got out of a hot shower and
I'm perfectly clean.
I'm like whoa, that is so goodwhat we just read.
I needed to hear that.
(09:55):
But again, it's putting upparameters and it's helping us
to understand how to live, howto act, where to run and how to
get there.
Dawn Rosinger (10:03):
And I think it's just encouraging me because it's
reminding me that God hassomething for me in my own race,
that I can run.
But it gives us kind of aformula.
So we're gonna just dig throughthese few verses and let's pull
out those four things.
What is this verse saying?
And again, kind of a philosophyof life, a philosophy of
marriage, something that's good,that we could live by and
(10:24):
honestly succeed and make it tothe finish line.
Travis Rosinger (10:27):
So, to be clear , the four things that we're
talking about here is throw off.
Run with perseverance, fix oureyes on Jesus and consider.
And as we think about throw off, I think one of the things we
need to ask ourselves is whatneeds to be thrown off, like,
what is in our life, what isweighing us down and really what
(10:47):
is weighing our marriages down?
And as I thought about that, Iimmediately think of past guilt.
There are so many people inmarriages and whether it's the
marriage itself or theindividual in the marriage that
you're thinking about your pastand you're like, oh, why did we
do that together?
Why did I do that as a person?
And the reality is you can'tchange your past and so part of
(11:09):
getting rid of that is justacknowledging okay, god's
willing to forgive me and I needto let go, and just dumping
that, getting rid of that weight.
But it could be a current habitthat needs to be broken Maybe
it's overeating or drinking or anegative attitude and just
being honest and addressing it.
And the reality is we can't getrid of things until we call
(11:30):
them out.
And then again we're just like,okay, this has got to go, or
maybe it's carrying a grudgeagainst your spouse or walking
in unforgiveness, justconstantly keeping our record of
wrongs when the Bible sayswe're not supposed to do that.
And that could be like gettingrid of that weight or even
wasting time or lazinessno-transcript.
(11:51):
What is that for you, what isthat for your marriage?
That you need to stop and justreally analyze, like this
passage is saying, and throw itoff, get rid of it.
Dawn Rosinger (11:59):
It's funny because if we think of a race
and like running around a track,when you run and you have ankle
weights on, honestly what doesit do?
It just slows you down.
If you're carrying a backpackwith 20 pounds in it or like all
these books, you're gonna beslow.
It's honestly just slowing youdown.
You're not.
You might make it to the finishline, but you're gonna be
unbelievably tired.
You're gonna be worn out.
(12:20):
You're gonna wanna give upalong the way.
So why not just get rid of it?
Let go of that backpack, let goof those weights that are
around your ankle.
The next one is this run withperseverance.
So what is perseverance?
That's kind of a word thatmaybe you know not be heard
quite as often, but perseveranceis not giving up.
It's a persistence and atenacity, the effort required to
do something and keep doing ittill the end, even if it's hard.
(12:45):
That's according toVocabularycom, but I love that
you're keeping.
You're doing it till the end.
Even if it's hard, you'rerunning.
You're not giving up.
So what do you need to run withperseverance?
Honestly, you need to just stopand go.
Okay, are my buckets filled up?
If I'm gonna run this race tothe end, I gotta make sure that
I'm filling myself up andfilling my buckets up, and
(13:06):
there's a lot of things that ourbuckets need to be filled up,
full so we don't quit, we don'twalk away, and the first one is
just spending time with peoplewho win at life, with Jesus and
with relationship.
So making sure that we're justspending that time, first and
foremost, with Jesus, with otherpeople that are filling us up,
and with relationships that arehealthy.
How do we make sure that ourbucket is full?
(13:28):
Honestly, sometimes juststopping and slowing down and
letting your body, mind and soulrest.
Sometimes you just need rest sothat you can give out, so that
you can continue in the race.
Travis Rosinger (13:40):
Yeah, I think any runner.
In between races they gottacatch their breath, they gotta
relax and just say, okay, I'mgonna get some rest so that I
can run hard at the next race.
Dawn Rosinger (13:51):
It's really just making sure you never let
yourself get over depleted.
Fill your bucket back up whenmaybe it's half empty, instead
of waiting until you'recompletely on E and we do that
with our gas tank.
Sometimes we get all the waydown there but don't let that
happen in life.
I mean, it's different whenit's a car, but when you feel
like your body is justcompletely on E, man, you've
(14:12):
gone too far.
You need to make sure thatyou're replenishing yourself.
Travis Rosinger (14:15):
Well, the race of life, the race of marriage,
this perseverance and all ofthis, I mean it's a marathon,
right?
And I think one of my favoriteparts of this passage is this
next part, and that is to fixyour eyes on Jesus and your race
.
I mean, after all, he is thefinish line, he is the goal.
So we, as runners we talkedabout this a little bit earlier,
(14:37):
but we don't wanna getdistracted by other runners or
other things in life.
We don't wanna compareourselves to others or other
marriages.
We need to focus on our ownmarriage.
We need to focus on makingourselves better so that we're a
better spouse in our marriage,but also what can make our
marriage better?
And Jesus is a great startingplace, so there's no win in
(15:01):
comparison.
I mean, if you think about it,when we focus on others, what
are we doing?
We're actually taking our eyesoff of Jesus and man.
If there is any kind of greatadvice for marriage or for us as
individuals, it's just to lookat Jesus.
Turn your eyes on Jesus andmake sure he is the prize, the
(15:22):
goal, the finish line in yourlife, and so maybe determine
what is your gaze really lockedon right now?
Get honest with yourself.
Are you pouring more energy andtime and your passion into your
career?
Or is it money, or is itpleasure, or is it Jesus?
Because the cool thing aboutJesus is he will always satisfy,
(15:44):
he will never let you down andnever disappoint.
Dawn Rosinger (15:48):
The last thing, according to these verses, to
become the best you, to makesure that you stay in your lane
and finish the race right is.
This is great.
Consider, consider what Jesusdid Carefully assess how Jesus
handled trials in this life.
Consider what he endured.
So the trials in life don'ttake you out of the race and
make you give up and walk away.
(16:10):
You know what Jesus didn't giveup.
He's the ultimate example.
He didn't walk away when it gottoo hard.
He didn't get too tired or fedup with how people treated him
and just throw up his hands inthe air and say you know, that's
it, you know I'm done, I'mwalking away.
He finished the race that wasset out before him.
Even Jesus had a race.
He had a lane that he had torun and he successfully made it
(16:33):
to that finished line.
And just look what he did byhim finishing race, his race.
Look what it did for us.
Travis Rosinger (16:39):
Yeah, it's so cool too, because his race
involved, you know, being led bythe spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil.
His race involved, you know,constant ridicule and just being
put down by the Pharisees, bythe Sadducees I'm reading the
book of John right now and theywere constantly plotting to kill
him.
And then, ultimately, he'stelling his disciples, his
(17:02):
followers hey, my lane, my race,is going to take me to
Jerusalem and they are going tocrucify me.
And even one of his closestfriends, peter, jumps in front
of him and it becomes anobstacle in his lane and his
race and he's like get behind me, satan.
And he's going to the cross,he's going to die for the sins
of the world.
And, wow, that is powerful forour marriages, that is powerful
(17:25):
for us as individuals, and wedon't want to forget these
important pieces of truth.
Dawn Rosinger (17:30):
I think it's just so important.
Probably the purpose of thisparticular podcast episode is
just to remember that we allhave a race that God has given
us.
We're all running, staying yourlane honestly, keep your eyes
focused on God and finish,endure, stay till the end and
make sure that you're winning atlife, winning at marriage,
(17:52):
winning the race that God hasset before us.
Travis Rosinger (17:55):
Yeah, so we want to leave you with this
picture.
Don you and I, we ended upseeing in the news twice.
There was an 89 year old ladyand a 90 year old lady, and this
was just in the last week.
The 90 year old lady set somenew I think it was like a world
record and she was runningaround a literal track like an
(18:15):
Olympic stadium.
She looked amazing and I lookedat her.
I was like how the heck is thiswoman running that fast at 90
years of age, running in herlane and then, like a couple
days later, I saw a picture of alady that was 89, and not only
was she running, she was jumpinghurdles Crazy.
Dawn Rosinger (18:32):
Her legs were just so defined like oh, my word
, but such a great picture thatGod has given us each a race.
Those ladies, obviously theyhave persevered, they have fixed
their eyes on something.
They see the finish line andthey're going to make it to the
end.
Travis Rosinger (18:48):
It's paid off.
They're running like no oneelse, and that's the exact thing
that we want for you guys, foryour marriage.
We want you to run like no oneelse, with Jesus being the
ultimate goal.
Well, hey, we want to thank youfor listening to this episode
of the loving the fight marriagepodcast.
Dawn Rosinger (19:06):
Remember, guys, you can do it.
You got this.
Keep loving the fight.
We'll see you next time.
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