Each year around Christmas, we like to do a special episode where we not only celebrate the holiday, but also look back on the last year and all that God has been teaching us. The days and months can often speed by us, and that’s why it’s so nice to take a moment to pause and reflect.

We are reviewing the entire year before moving into 2026, including why Mark has been on the podcast more (and why he’ll be returning more next year!), what it was like to start the year off with our Life 2.0 Foundation work in Africa, and more.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What we’ve learned in 2025
• The role that waiting plays in the context of Christmas
• Some exciting things that are coming in the new year
• And more!

From our family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/merry-christmas-278

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

We love Christmas! It’s our (and especially Mark’s) favorite time of year. Besides the decorations, presents, cheer, and time with family, Christmas marks a very special event. It’s when God sent His son to earth, which was the greatest expression of His love for us.

In our own personal story of redeeming our marriage together, one of the biggest lessons we learned was what love really looks like. It’s not that we were unloving in the 1.0 version of us; it’s just that we didn’t understand how to love each other and receive love well.

All of us can benefit from maturing our understanding of love. Instead of falling into the trap of giving and receiving love that’s transactional, we need to practice the kind of love that Jesus showed us.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The characteristics of real love
• How Jesus displayed love for us
• Ways we can express sacrificial love for one another
• And more!

We hope this conversation helps you understand the true love that Jesus exemplified when He laid down His life for us!

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/love-like-jesus-277

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Are you feeling restless today? Dissatisfied? Sometimes, when we’re feeling these unpleasant emotions, we can struggle to identify their source.

What you might not realize is that many of those feelings can come from the false beliefs we hold about the world, ourselves, and those around us. Many of us are believing lies that rob us of contentment and cripple our intimacy with God.

For Mark and I, becoming “lie detectors” in our own lives has been a big part of our healing process—both as individuals and as a married couple. That’s why I’m so glad my guest for this conversation is a champion of truth, and he’s here to help us lean away from lies and toward what’s real.

Gary Thomas says that the key to the truly abundant new life God promises starts with unlearning falsehoods we may not even realize we believe. Gary is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry seeks to bring people closer to Christ and to others.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• God’s true purpose for marriage
• Some of the lies that rob us of joy
• The key to having a deep relationship with God and others
• And more!

It was a pleasure to have Gary on the show, as his writing has had such a deep impact on our lives and marriage.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/gary-thomas-276

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...