What happens when we stop striving, quiet the noise, and simply learn to be with God?

In Part Two of the Seeds For Your Marriage podcast, Trisha and Thomas sit down with author and counselor Mark Cowper-Smith to explore contemplative prayer, stillness, and the transformational power of intimacy with God. Drawing from his book Up Close and Personal, Mark shares how true spiritual growth doesn’t happen through performance or behavior modification, but through allowing God to change us from the inside out.

Together, they discuss how a deeper relationship with God impacts every relationship in our lives, especially marriage. Through honest conversation, practical wisdom, and guided prayer exercises, this episode invites couples to slow down, release expectations, and experience the Father’s love in a more personal way.

Guest Bio:

Mark Cowper-Smith is an author, speaker, counselor, and ministry leader passionate about helping people move beyond performance-driven religion into an authentic relationship with God. Alongside his wife Shell, Mark has spent years teaching on contemplative prayer, intimacy with God, emotional healing, leadership, and spiritual transformation.

Together, Mark and Shell co-authored Up Close and Personal: Relational Prayer, Being with God, a practical and theological guide designed to help believers experience deeper connection with the Father through stillness and relational prayer. Mark is also the author of Is God Religious? If Not, Why Are We?, Reluctantly Supernatural in an Age of Reason, and The Boss is Dead.

Through counseling, teaching, and writing, Mark encourages believers to discover the freedom, healing, and transformation that come through simply being with God.

Resources:

- Up Close and Personal: Relational Prayer, Being with God by Mark & Shell Cowper-Smith

- Is God Religious? If Not, Why Are We? by Mark Cowper-Smith

- Reluctantly Supernatural in an Age of Reason by Mark Cowper-Smith

- The Boss is Dead by Mark Cowper-Smith

Connect with Seeds For Your Marriage:

Website: https://trishaandthomas.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrishaandThomas

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrishaAndThomas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishaandthomas

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trishaandthomas

What if one of the greatest gifts you could give your marriage is learning how to slow down and simply be with God?

In this episode of Seeds for Your Marriage, Trisha and Thomas sit down with Mark and Shell Cowper-Smith, authors of Up Close and Personal: Relational Prayer, Being with God, for a rich conversation on contemplative prayer, stillness, and the difference between knowing about God and truly experiencing His presence. Together, they explore how a life of constant motion, striving, and performance can leave both our souls and our marriages exhausted—and how God invites us into something deeper.

Mark shares his powerful story of moving from a works-based faith into a relational walk with God through the practice of stillness, while Shell opens up about burnout, pain, performance, and the healing she found in learning to be held by God rather than constantly trying to prove her worth. Along the way, this conversation reveals how abiding in God’s presence changes the way we pray, the way we listen, and the way we love our spouse.

If your marriage has felt rushed, burdened, reactive, or spiritually dry, this episode is a beautiful invitation to return to peace—not just to pray for peace, but to live and love from peace.

Guest Bio:

Mark and Shell Cowper-Smith are authors, teachers, and passionate guides in helping people move from performance-based spirituality into a deeper, more relational experience with God. Together, they co-authored Up Close and Personal: Relational Prayer, Being with God, a devotional workbook designed to help believers grow in stillness, prayer, and intimacy with the Lord. Through their own stories of burnout, healing, grace, and transformation, Mark and Shell encourage others to discover the peace and freedom that come from abiding in God’s presence.

Resources:

• Up Close and Personal: Relational Prayer, Being with God by Mark and Shell Cowper-Smith
• The devotional/workbook and prayer material created by Mark and Shell
• Reference to Sister Nora and her teaching on stillness and being with God
• Biblical reference to Jesus asking His disciples to watch and pray with Him for one hour
• The idea of the “five P’s of prayer” from their workbook
• Reference to Psalm 46:10 theme: “Be still and know that I am God”
• Discussion of praying from peace, not for peace

Connect with Seeds For Your Marriage:

Website: https://trishaandthomas.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrishaandThomas

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrishaAndThomas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishaandthomas

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trishaandthomas

What if parenting doesn’t end at 18, but actually transforms?

In this episode, Trisha sits down with author, speaker, and certified master life coach Felicia Murrell to explore what it looks like to parent adult children with love, wisdom, and trust.

So many parents feel unprepared for this stage, when control is no longer an option, and the relationship must shift. Felicia shares how she and her husband learned to move from a “power over” dynamic to a “power with” relationship, one rooted in love, choice, and connection.

Together, they unpack the importance of inner healing, boundaries, and learning to trust God with your children’s journey, even when it’s hard. You’ll hear practical ways to stay connected, navigate mental health challenges, and create a relationship your children choose to be part of.

Guest Bio:

Felicia Murrell is a certified master life coach, speaker, and author passionate about helping people experience deeper emotional and spiritual wholeness. With over 20 years of ministry and leadership experience, she brings a unique blend of faith, inner healing, and practical wisdom to her work.

Felicia is the author of Truth Encounters and And: The Restorative Power of Love in an Either-Or World, where she invites readers into a transformative journey of identity, love, and restoration. Known for her compassionate presence and insightful perspective, she helps individuals and families move toward healthier, more connected relationships rooted in God’s love.

Resources:

Felicia Murrell’s website: https://feliciamurrell.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellofelicia_murrell/

• Publishing Website Shop The Word: https://www.shoptheword.com/
• Truth Encounters – by Felicia Murrell: https://a.co/d/0f3Z8xkq
• And: The Restorative Power of Love in an Either-Or World – by Felicia Murrell: https://a.co/d/0e6Gmub1
• Love and Logic (Dr. Charles Fay & Foster Cline): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/season-3-episode-69-using-love-and-logic-with-our/id1560380199?i=1000646610208
• Loving Our Kids on Purpose – Danny Silk: https://a.co/d/08b00vbO

Connect with Seeds For Your Marriage:

Website: https://trishaandthomas.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrishaandThomas

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrishaAndThomas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishaandthomas

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trishaandthomas

What if your marriage could grow stronger, no matter the season you’re in?

After nearly 30 years of marriage, Trisha and Thomas know that healthy relationships don’t happen by accident. They’re built with intention, rooted in faith, and strengthened over time.

On Seeds For Your Marriage, you’ll find biblical wisdom and practical strategies to help you communicate more clearly, connect more deeply, and grow together through every stage of life. Whether you’re facing challenges or simply want to invest in a thriving relationship, this podcast is here to encourage and equip you.

Because when you build your marriage God’s way… it changes everything.

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔔 Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

🌱 Visit Tricia and Thomas for more tools and resources to strengthen your marriage.

Connect with Seeds For Your Marriage:

Website: https://trishaandthomas.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrishaandThomas

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrishaAndThomas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishaandthomas

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trishaandthomas

Message us. We'd Love To Hear From You.

Need a mindset reset to push past fear, reframe failure, and persist through uncertainty?

What if the challenges you're facing—layoffs, life pivots, burnout—aren’t setbacks, but setups for your next breakthrough?

In this episode of SkillSharp The Podcast, media executive and relationship strategist Thomas Walker reveals how to rewire your thinking, rediscover your purpose, and build the unstoppable mindset needed to thrive—no matter what life throws your way.

You’ll learn:

• How to spot and overcome the mindset blocks holding you back
• Why purpose—not just passion—is key to lasting success
• The role of resilience in career, relationships, and uncertainty
• How to realign your life, income, and identity with your values

Whether you’re bouncing back or breaking through, this episode delivers clear, actionable tools to get unstuck—and become truly unstoppable.

We are Trisha and Thomas Walker, licensed ministers, relationship coaches, & prayer counselors where we teach couples how to deepen their relationship with each other and with God. This is the Seeds For Your Marriage podcast where we share biblical wisdom and practical advice on building a strong, healthy, and fulfilling marriage rooted in faith. These marriage stories are to inspire you and give you a deeper understanding of God's design for marriage and steps to having a Christ-centered and thriving family.

For more visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/podcast/ Learn about Trisha and Thomas Walker and their ministry, LGLP Ministries, Inc, visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/

Message us. We'd Love To Hear From You.

Emotional and Spiritual Health in Marriage: A Journey of Love and Growth

Guest: Henry Calcagno In this episode of Seeds for Your Marriage, host Trisha Walker and special guest Henry Calcagno discuss the importance of emotional and spiritual health in parenting and marriage. They touch on how children learn from witnessing their parents grow through challenges together, the power of gratefulness, the significance of being authentic with teenagers, and the journey of grief after losing a loved one. Henry shares his personal experiences of supporting his wife Teresa through cancer and finding new love with Casey, emphasizing the importance of self-control and building a foundation on Christ. They also highlight the need for community support and learning from others' experiences to strengthen relationships.

We are Trisha and Thomas Walker, licensed ministers, relationship coaches, & prayer counselors where we teach couples how to deepen their relationship with each other and with God. This is the Seeds For Your Marriage podcast where we share biblical wisdom and practical advice on building a strong, healthy, and fulfilling marriage rooted in faith. These marriage stories are to inspire you and give you a deeper understanding of God's design for marriage and steps to having a Christ-centered and thriving family.

For more visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/podcast/ Learn about Trisha and Thomas Walker and their ministry, LGLP Ministries, Inc, visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/

Message us. We'd Love To Hear From You.

Cultivating Trust and Wholeness in Marriage Guest: Sheree Shannon In this episode of Seeds For Your Marriage, host Trisha Walker interviews Sheree Shannon to discuss the importance of trust, developing a relationship with God while cultivating wholeness. Sheree shares her journey of writing, her passion for helping women, and her insights on how thoughts and emotions impact our lives and marriages. They explore the concept of intentional living, the benefits of journaling, recognizing our emotions, and reprogramming our minds. Sheree also talks about her personal marriage journey, her various books, and provides practical tips on achieving mental and emotional health.

To learn more about Sheree Shannon, go here: shereeshannon.com

We are Trisha and Thomas Walker, licensed ministers, relationship coaches, & prayer counselors where we teach couples how to deepen their relationship with each other and with God. This is the Seeds For Your Marriage podcast where we share biblical wisdom and practical advice on building a strong, healthy, and fulfilling marriage rooted in faith. These marriage stories are to inspire you and give you a deeper understanding of God's design for marriage and steps to having a Christ-centered and thriving family.

For more visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/podcast/ Learn about Trisha and Thomas Walker and their ministry, LGLP Ministries, Inc, visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/

Message us. We'd Love To Hear From You.

Healing From Triggers and Transformative Listening Guests: Rebecca & Dan Misek Welcome to Seeds for Your Marriage with hosts Trisha and Thomas Walker. In this insightful episode, they are joined by Rebecca and Dan Misek as they delve into the topic of emotional triggers and their impact on relationships. Rebecca, a prophetic strategist and founder of Arrows Edge Coaching, and Dan, a worship leader and chemist, share their personal experiences and expert advice on handling triggers, fostering empathy, and mastering transformative listening. The discussion highlights how recognizing and addressing triggers can lead to healing and stronger, more connected relationships. They also touch on the significance of Holy Spirit guidance in conversations and Rebecca's coaching business aimed at helping Christians become unshakable and impactful in their lives. Don't miss out on these valuable tips and tools for thriving in your marriage.

To learn more about Rebecca Misek and Arrow’s Edge Coaching, go here:

https://www.getarrowsedge.com/

We are Trisha and Thomas Walker, licensed ministers, relationship coaches, & prayer counselors where we teach couples how to deepen their relationship with each other and with God. This is the Seeds For Your Marriage podcast where we share biblical wisdom and practical advice on building a strong, healthy, and fulfilling marriage rooted in faith. These marriage stories are to inspire you and give you a deeper understanding of God's design for marriage and steps to having a Christ-centered and thriving family.

For more visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/podcast/ Learn about Trisha and Thomas Walker and their ministry, LGLP Ministries, Inc, visit: https://trishaandthomas.com/