It’s time to talk and join the conversation with Episode 3: “C”- Communication. Overcoming communication challenges in love relationships is possible! It took us 30 years to hold effective conversations, and we’re still working on it!

In this Love Letter episode, we explore ways you can develop your unique “Rules of Engagement” plan for effective communication between you and your loved ones. Could communication gaps and barriers in your relationship be the culprits of strife and discontentment? Or are you being slightly vulnerable and avoiding opening up with others? Tune in to discover the answers and more right now!

Chapters:

• 0:00 - Welcome to Love Letters with Jason & Ros
• 1:14 - Our Story: “The 30-Year Communication Gap!”
• 4:42 - Navigating— Factors Having the Greatest Impact on How We Communicate
• 8:55 - Top 7 Challenges in Communication
• 21:00 - Overcoming Communication Challenges
• 22:08 - Establish Your “Rules of Engagement,” Have Pillow Talk
• 29:00 - Bible Truths
• 30:05 - Communication Power Takeaways
• 37:05 - Love Letter Challenge & Closing Prayer

Additional Content & Notes:

Communication "Rules of Engagement"
Establish a list based on your unique relationship, decide and agree on conversation styles, and determine how you’ll entreat one another in conversation.

Our 12 Rules Include:

1. Stay truthful and transparent.
2. Maintain eye contact.
3. Apply active and respectful listening- listen twice as much as speaking.
4. Incorporate “Having the floor” for an equal period of time.
5. Make your “why stance” or points clear during disagreements.
6. Focus on gaining understanding, growing closer, and reaching a resolution.
7. Know and strive to understand your partner’s communication style and journey without judgement.
8. Drop pride and righteous attitudes, gaining should be the by-product of communication, not WINNING or LOSING.
9. Incorporate breaks when conversations become heated; agree to “pin” them for a short period and return to them later.
10. Set agreeable times to hold hard conversations, and be willing to talk things through.
11. Create a “safe space” for communication with gentle answers and engaged body language to avoid dominance in the conversation.
12. Be willing to compromise when disagreeing- let God’s word be the final authority.

Top 7 Communication Challenges:

1. Sometimes we don’t know what will and will not hurt.
2. We use communication, or lack thereof, as a weapon
3. Put up barriers and avoid having “real talk” or “hard conversations.”
4. Turns into a “battle of wills” and you want to be “right” or “win” in the conversation
5. Trauma
6. Shutting down and internalizing issues/concerns to deal with issues alone.
7. The “Unholy Trinity” of Communication: Fear, Guilt, Pride/Ego

Bile Truths:

• James 1: 19 - “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”
• Proverbs 15: 1 - “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Live Out Your Love Letter Challenge:

1. Share something with your spouse or loved one that you’ve never shared before.

Everything in one place: https://linktr.ee/loveletterswithjasonandros

Live out your Love Letter. 💌

Are you curious about getting to know someone God’s way, or what it means to “study” your spouse? Join the conversation as we discuss, “D”— Dating with Purpose & Discernment!

This episode is chock-full of creative content, based on our 31 years of marriage and 6 years of dating/courting, curated to help you WIN when it comes to dating, courting, and taking that next big step in getting to know someone beyond the initial physical attraction!

Chapters:

• 0:00 Welcome to Love Letters with Jason & Ros
• 1:37 Our Story: “6 Years of Dating— How We Got It All WRONG!”
• 9:20 What’s the Difference Between DATING & COURTING?
• 11:36 Know and Understand Your “INTENT”
• 13:22 The “A.C.T.s” of Dating and Courting
• 17:20 Facing the Challenges of Dating w/Discernment
• 27:12 Be Sober: Recognize “RED FLAGS!”
• 30:43 Overcoming & Winning The Dating Game
• 32:26 Biblical Truth: Philippians 2: 3-5
• 35:11 Dating Power Takeaways & Love Letter Challenge
• 43:52 Closing Prayer

Additional Content & Notes:

1. ACT of Dating— Getting to know someone initially to see if they’re worth pursuing more.
   1. Alignment
   2. Connectivity
   3. Togetherness
2. ACT of Courting— For the purpose of exclusivity, engagement, and eventual marriage.
   1. Amiability
   2. Character Compatibility
   3. Transparency

Top 7 “Red Flags” of Dating Every Adult, Teen, and Parent Should Know!

1. Only Seeks Personal Gain: Sex, Money, Affiliation/Association, Intellect
2. Displays Abusive Behaviors- Starts verbally, moves to rough physical handling
3. Manipulative, Possessive, Highly Critical
4. Extremely Self-centered and Inconsiderate of Others
5. Lacks Integrity, Reliability, and Stability
6. Exhibits Irresponsible and Reckless Behaviors— Use of illicit drugs, etc.
7. Their Personal Values Greatly Differ

If you ever feel unsafe or are experiencing any type of unwanted behavior, please contact one of the following resources.

• National Sexual Assault Hotline: https://rainn.org/
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/

Biblical Truth:

• Philippians 2: 3-5 - “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”

Live Out Your Love Letter Challenge:

• Establish your CORE VALUES when it comes to dating and entering into a love relationship God’s way.
• Know your intent, set internal boundaries, and be sober-minded about your decisions.

Everything in one place: https://linktr.ee/loveletterswithjasonandros

Live out your Love Letter. 💌

Welcome to Love Letters with Jason & Ros! We’ve kicked off our podcast with Episode 1: “A”— Attraction | The First Relationship Spark! Join in on the hot conversation as we discuss what attraction really is, how it starts, and how attraction can change over time.

Why Love Letters with Jason & Ros is for you—
Whether you’re single, dating, engaged, married, or parenting, this podcast is here to help you navigate, overcome challenges, and strengthen your love relationships!

Chapters:

• 0:00 Welcome to Love Letters with Jason & Ros
• 3:12 "How I Met Him" / "How I Met Her"
• 9:30 How Most Relationships Start- Physical Attraction
• 11:14 The Importance of Being Yourself
• 12:17 Growing Attraction Establishes Connections
• 13:00 Attraction Challenges & Overcoming Them
• 17:22 Biblical Truth: 1 Samuel 16:7b
• 20:38 Seeing the Heart- Inner Beauty
• 23:23 Key Power Takeaways on Attraction
• 28:18 Closing Prayer

Additional Content & Notes:

• 1 Samuel 16:7b “…For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• Single & Dating? You’re initially attracted to someone and want to take the next steps:
  • Take time to get to know what’s in their heart.
  • Gradually reveal deeper details about yourself when you feel safe, allowing them to get to know you.
  • Remember the Do's and Don'ts of attraction!!
• Engaged & Married? Keep the communication lines wide OPEN about attraction and the flames of attraction burning!
  • Share the things that most attract you about the other- (Inside and Outside)
  • Stay connected to the “new” things that attract you- people change, develop, and grow in character over time!

Personal Reflections:

• Are you appropriately handling attractions in your life?
• Are you embracing what’s in your heart that makes you attractive?
• Take time to pray, asking God for wisdom on how to live a life with healthy attractions.

Live Out Your Love Letter Challenge:

• Share one thing that attracts you to your significant other—outside of their physical appearance and physical attributes.

Everything in one place: https://linktr.ee/loveletterswithjasonandros

Live out your Love Letter. 💌