Episode 21: Mark and Jackie Morrison, A Love Rooted In God

Jacob Paul: Welcome to the Truth in Love podcast with your host, Kimberly Faith. The Truth in Love podcast seeks to present God’s timeless truth through the lens of his remarkable love.

Kimberly Faith: Welcome back to the Truth in Love podcast. I am here today with two of my favorite people, and I say that all the time. Jackie and Mark Morrison. Welcome.

Mark Morrison: Thank you.

Kimberly Faith: We’ve known each other for how many years?

Mark Morrison: Over 10.

Kimberly Faith: Over 10. Yeah. We served together in youth group at Westside Baptist, and now you all are the interim pastor and pastorette. I’m just kidding. And, just doing great things at Westside. And so I wanted to invite you here today because, Jackie, I know you’re nervous. You can just say I’m nervous. 

Jackie Morrison: Yes. I’m nervous.

Kimberly Faith:  I promise you we’re just going to have a good time. Okay? 

Jackie Morrison: Yeah.

Kimberly Faith:  Because you all are one of the few couples that I know that, are I hate to say equally yoked, but when I say that, what I mean is you’re both on fire for the Lord. And, you know, you see a lot of couples. This was actually my daughter Grace’s idea.

Not having you on the show, but this whole thought. You see a lot of couples where maybe the wife is on fire and the husband’s kind of just hanging back, or the husband’s on fire and the wife’s kind of down in left field, but it’s rare to see people who are both on fire for Christ. You all are one of the couples that I know that are that way, and we just want to know your secrets. Is that a fair question? 

Jackie Morrison: Yeah.

Kimberly Faith: So, first of all, let’s back up. How long have you all been married?

Mark Morrison: Been married 28 years. Got married really quickly. Met her in college, and we got married very quickly, while I was still in college. And, been loving it ever since.

Kimberly Faith: And how did you know I mean, you said you met and how much time passed from the time you met and how you got married?

Mark Morrison: We met in 94, the fall of 94 and got married the spring of 96.

Kimberly Faith: Okay. 

Mark Morrison:  So not very long

Kimberly Faith:  That’s a couple, almost 2 years.

Mark Morrison: About a year to 2.

Kimberly Faith: Yeah. And what was it that attracted you all to each other, Jackie?

Jackie Morrison: Well, I was actually not raised in church and I was not saved when we met. So, when I met Mark at college, I knew he was different from anybody else I had dated. I could just tell that right off the bat.

Mark Morrison: She didn’t know how different though.

Jackie Morrison: He was just genuine and completely different. So, when he was actually interested in me, I was kind of shocked. We started dating right away. He claims he knew right away

Mark Morrison: Right away.

Jackie Morrison: That I was the one

Mark Morrison: I told my roommate, Chris, over and over. Every time I was like, I like that girl.

Jackie Morrison: So, though, talk about being equally yoked. We were definitely not equally yoked when we started out. We were very unequally yoked. 

Kimberly Faith: Because you weren’t saved.

Jackie Morrison:  Because I was not saved.

So, through just a period of time and talking with my roommate, I actually had to confess to him after we’d only been dating 2 weeks that I was not a virgin and I had not been pure. And that was the hardest thing that I’ve ever done in my life was to actually admit this to him. And after I cried and explained all that to him, he just basically looked at me and said well that’s your past and let’s move forward. So that’s what we did.

Kimberly Faith:  So you really had a picture of what Jesus was like from Mark even before you met Jesus? 

Jackie Morrison: Exactly. And that’s funny that you say that because I actually had that in prayer time, like, God showing me that. 

Kimberly Faith:  Yeah. And it’s funny because we call this the Truth In Love podcast because you see the truth when you see love much easier than if you just see the truth by itself. The truth by itself is pretty harsh but when it rides on the wings of love like what you saw in Mark’s, like well you know, that  when Jesus forgives us for our sins when we accept him as our Lord and Savior. He’s like yeah that’s the past. And you know we know Satan calls us by our sins but Jesus calls us by our name. Right?

Mark Morrison: That’s right.

Kimberly Faith: And so when did you get saved then?

Jackie Morrison: That spring , so College of the Ozarks is a Christian College, and so I had to write a paper about my beliefs, and I was in total panic mode. I had set a new testament class. I learned a lot just being in class, but I still hadn’t committed to anything. I didn’t even really understand the whole process of it. And so I’m talking to him. And I’m talking to him. He sat down with me and we were in the library going over things, and he just shared the plan of salvation with me. And I was like, Yeah, that’s what I want.

Kimberly Faith: Wow. So he led you to Christ.

Jackie Morrison: He led me to Christ.

Kimberly Faith: Oh my gosh. That’s a better love story than just about anything going for her.

Mark Morrison: I went to the library like twice, the whole time I was in college. That was one of those times.

Kimberly Faith: So then you were saved and then you all were married how soon after that? 

Jackie Morrison: About a year.

Mark Morrison: About a year later. Yep.

Kimberly Faith: Okay. Well, and so, Mark, what attracted you to Jackie?

Mark Morrison: Well, she’s really pretty, of course. That’s the first thing. I don’t know. It was I just feel like when God’s got your soulmate there in front of you, you just have to know it. And I just knew it immediately. It probably took her a little longer to figure it out, but I knew immediately that, yep, she was the one. If she’ll have me, she’s the one. 

Kimberly Faith:  Did you believe that the Lord was going to save her? I mean, did you know she wasn’t saved?

Mark Morrison: Not at the very start, you know, because I was naive, of course, and, you know, going to a Christian college, everyone there’s a Christian. No. They’re not. You know? I mean, that’s not the way it is. But, you know, through our talking, after our relationship started developing, then yeah. And she started asking more questions, and then it got to her breaking point, you know, which was a great day for me because I got to be a part of it.

Kimberly Faith: Right. When did you find out you were called to ministry?

Mark Morrison: Well, I struggled with that for a while because I was, you know, I went to college. I was going into forensic science, went to work for an agency that was down by where I’m from in Arkansas, and did a lot of different things there, you know, bouncing all over the place throughout the agency, throughout the police department there.

Kimberly Faith: So you were a policeman?

Mark Morrison: I was a policeman for 6 years down there. Officer for 6 years and a little bit of this, a little bit of that, everything there. But God opened up doors for me as a layperson at the church. I’ve been in church literally since the Sunday after I was born. 

Kimberly Faith: What a great heritage! 

Mark Morrison: Yeah. I never take that for granted because there are so many that do not have, including Jackie, that do not have that. That they were not there every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, every Wednesday night, soaking it in and letting that set the foundation. A lot of people don’t have that. So I know I’m very blessed because of that, and God also opened up many opportunities to lead as a layperson there.

Kimberly Faith: So I want to ask you about that because one of the things that we talk about a lot on this podcast is the mission field of laypeople.

Mark Morrison: Right: 

Kimberly Faith: You know? 

Mark Morrison: Oh, huge.

Kimberly Faith: Right now your ministry is full time.

Mark Morrison: Right.

Kimberly Faith: Right? So like in my law practice, it’s my greatest mission field. I mean, I get to lead more to Christ in my office than anywhere else. What did that look like for you as a layperson? And I guess you were a policeman.

Mark Morrison: Yes.

Kimberly Faith: And then you,  but you were able to serve as a layperson. How did that translate into the profession that you’re in?

Mark Morrison: It really it well, it bled over into my profession because, you know, in police work, there may be some rough around the edges characters there. They noticed really soon that or really quickly rather that I was not the same.

Kimberly Faith: Right.

Mark Morrison:  I would catch them, you know, when a four letter word would start coming out and say, oh, I’m sorry. You know? And then you could see that I wasn’t even, you know, shoving it down their throats or anything, but you could see God working just in letting that bleed over into my secular job.

Kimberly Faith: Right. You know, that kind of reminds me of the verse in 1st Corinthians, Chapter 10 that whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. And when you’re living for the glory of God, know, the fruit of the spirit is very evident. Love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, meekness. And it really provides an attractive platform for the truth.

And that’s what you’re kind of describing is that people knew without you even saying the name of Jesus, they knew that you were different. They knew that they wanted what you had. That’s what I experienced in my office. A lot of times I won’t even have a clue whether the person knows Christ or not. But they’ll say, how come you’re so peaceful? You know? And you get to share Jesus with me.

Mark Morrison: I remember the chief down there, you know, and I was a lowly patrolman at that point, and we had, like, 70 officers there. So I wasn’t really anything. But the chief came and invited me to take part in his bible study. He was a Christian man.

Kimberly Faith: Oh, wow.

Mark Morrison: But he knew that I was a Christian, came and invited me because he wanted me to come He told me this. He said, oh, I want you to influence these other guys, these other sergeants and captains and stuff that are attending the bible study. I want you to influence them. So that made me feel good that he just recognized that there was something different there and thought it was good enough that God could use it in something he was doing.

Kimberly Faith: It’s contagious. 

Mark Morrison: Yeah. 

Kimberly Faith: You know? And kind of like you were attracted to what Mark had. And Jackie, I’m sure that you’ve got stories about this as well, but it’s so powerful. The glory of God is so powerful. I mean think about Moses when he came down off the mountain.

Mark Morrison: That’s right.

Kimberly Faith: And they couldn’t even look at him. They’re like, no. Put a veil on you. 

Mark Morrison: Yeah.  My face will never be glowing.

Kimberly Faith: Well, you know, it’s funny you say that because, I was talking to a client earlier today who had taken his foster child to the church for the first time. And he said she came out of there and her face was glowing. And I truly believe what Jesus said about how, you know, each child has an angel who’s beholding the face of the father. And I think the reason that he told us to be like little children is because we need to glow that way.  And obviously you do, because I mean, I remember working in the youth group with y’all and you just had this, it was not even charisma, because charisma connotes some sort. 

Mark Morrison: Yeah.

Kimberly Faith: Charisma is different, but it’s a spiritual charisma. It’s like an attraction because of who doesn’t want the fruit of the spirit, right? Who doesn’t want those things? And I mean the bible says against such there is no law, right? Nobody’s going to say don’t love me, you know, walk through the night. But you know, and so what, sorry. I got a little off the topic there, but what is it then so you guys have been in ministry for how long now?

Mark Morrison: We came here April Fools’ Day of 2009. That was our first full time ministry day. 

Kimberly Faith: Nice. 

Mark Morrison: Always joked that the church knew what they were doing by getting me on April fools day. So they should have known what they were getting into.

Kimberly Faith: You said you’re Westside in Waynesville, Missouri?

Mark Morrison: Yes. That this has been the only place I’ve served full time ministry. 

Kimberly Faith: Okay. 

Mark Morrison: Everything else was, being the lay minister or lay servant.

Kimberly Faith: Sure. So how did that transition from a lay person minister to a full time ministry? How was that in regard to your relationship? How did that strengthen it? Was it harder?

Mark Morrison: The only way that worked was she was completely on board from the start knowing we’d be taking a huge pay cut, knowing we’d be picking up and moving to some place that we’d only driven through on I-44. But whenever we decided, and I say we because it was definitely we, when we decided full time ministry was where God was calling me, I just got on the Southern Baptist webpage, looked up openings right then for youth pastor, because I knew I was called to be a youth pastor. And we saw Waynesville. That’s, well, we put in, I think, two resumes.

One was in Waynesville, and one was like the Ozarks. And Waynesville was the first one to put in, and they called us really quickly after that. And I remember after they called and talked to me, I looked at Jackie and said, this is going to happen. I just had this feeling like this was going to happen, and she was like, okay. It’s going to happen.

And never never once hesitated or looked back. And if she would have hesitated or had problems with it. You know, it could have been a whole different path, but she supported so much. And that’s why.

Jackie Morrison: I think that’s a good one. Like, he’s the pastor, but I support him, and I was willing to do anything, like, jump in in the ministry with him. So, like, if he had to do youth stuff, obviously, I’m going to be right there with him doing it with him.

Kimberly Faith:  So that’s so unique. I’m sorry. That’s so unique because I think that a lot of non christians had this idea that we are this patriarchal misogynist kind of genre that all Christians you know, women are not important. They’re just these, you know, they don’t get to be pastors because the Bible says all these things and God is misogynist, right? I’ve heard that and I’m sure you have too. But the way you’re describing I was going to jump in wherever he was going.

How did you get to that point that it was not because you had to, it’s because you wanted to?

Jackie Morrison: I guess that’s just what got it right on my heart. I don’t know. It’s from the get go. That’s just kind of the way I look at it. That youth pastor that we had worked underneath just as youth leaders in Arkansas, they worked really well as a team. And so they kind of modeled that for us. So just knowing, and then our pastor in Arkansas too, like, he was very much it’s you guys are going to this. He’s the one being called as the pastor, but you are right there alongside him and you have to support him. And basically, when we came here, like, Westside’s a busy church sometimes, so if I wanted to see him and be a part of what he was doing, I went with him.

Kimberly Faith: I kind of sensed when, just observing you all when I worked with you that there was a cohesiveness in your relationship that wasn’t based on your expectations for each other, but more that you were getting what you needed from God. And you’ve got to do it together. 

Jackie Morrison: Yeah. 

Mark Morrison: And he gave her a whole different skill set than me. And without her skill set, I would not have been successful. You know? I mean, there’s no way that I could have succeeded in anything without what she brought to the table in the ministry. And I’m fully aware of that, and I’m still aware of that. You know? That I will not be successful today. If by successful, I mean successful for God’s kingdom, of course. Not anything personal successful. That’s out the window.

Kimberly Faith: Right.  Well, our but, like, you know, what so many people, what is success? Really what is success? It’s not making I mean spiritual success. It’s not how much money you need to make, not the houses you own. It’s what you’re doing for God’s glory.

It’s what’s eternal and what’s cool to me about the whole scheme of God, if you recall the scheme that’s not the right word, is that anyone whose heart is completely yielded to Christ can have the same amount of eternal success as somebody who is a millionaire or somebody who is a great football player or whatever. Because we have equal opportunity because all we’re required to do is surrender.

Mark Morrison: That’s right.

Kimberly Faith: Does that make sense?

Mark Morrison:  Definitely. 

Kimberly Faith: Anyway, I see that in you guys and I’ve, and since, you know, even though we didn’t hang out a lot together, the thing that I saw was a very cohesive relationship. And I just, you know, again, I wanted you to come on the show and have you tell us all your secrets about what does that look like? And I need to share some of them with you, but what’s the number one thing, Jackie? What’s the number one thing? Put you on the spot. What do you think is like, if you were to say the thing that motivates me the most to be on Mark’s team is what? Or to be on team Morrison? 

Jackie Morrison: I think for me, like, he’s very trustworthy. So I know, like, if he’s leading us somewhere, then he’s trusting that God is leading him to that place. So, like, just the fact I can trust where he’s at with his relationship with God and know, like, okay. This is what we’re supposed to do.

Kimberly Faith: Do you realize how special that is? I mean, just think about it.

Jackie Morrison: No. I probably take it for granted.

Kimberly Faith: That is so special that you have a person that you can trust their relationship with God. And isn’t that what we all want is for our children to say, I want to come to mom or dad first because I could trust their relationship with God. That’s beautiful. You’re brilliant. Really great way to articulate. 

You know, I mean, that’s gosh. I mean, how many people listening to this right now would like to say I want a person even if it’s some spouse, even as a parent or, you know, even a friend, I trust the relationship with God. And I think what I think of when you say that is I want to be that person for as many people as I can. You know? Talk about a challenge. It’s like, wow. We’re supposed to trust the Lord with all of our heart and not under our own understanding. Right? And when we do that, we become trustworthy.  That’s so beautiful. 

Jackie Morrison: That was his mom, she was an amazing woman and  he told you like she had died in a car wreck, but that was her verse. That was her life verse. Let’s trust the Lord with all your heart. And I  see that with him and his siblings both, but especially with him, like, just  I don’t know. That gives me comfort.

Kimberly Faith: Yeah. And it’s and it’s such a contagious thing when we see that you can trust the Lord. It’s kind of I don’t know. When I talk to young kids and mentor young kids, one of the things that I ask them is like this kid I had in my office earlier. He used to be a soccer player, plays for Waynesville and he’s trying to understand this concept of God.

Right? I’m like trying to explain it to him. And I said, well, let me ask, who’s your favorite soccer player? And so he told me, I said, what if he said I’m going to mentor you? He said, oh, that would be the bomb.

And I said, but think about this. God who created everything, he runs the whole universe, he will guide you. He’s promised he’ll never leave you, never forsake you. He kind of looked at me like, oh I don’t know anybody like that. I thought oh how sad, but we can be that.

We can be that person who models that like Marcus modeled that for you and we can model that for our children and oh thank you for sharing that. That’s just, that’s wonderful Jackie and you thought you’re going to be nervous. Mark, what about you? 

Mark Morrison: Okay. Give me the question one more time. Sorry.

Kimberly Faith: That’s okay. So the main thing that makes you want to be part of this team, I call it team Morrison. That’s kind of silly. But really, I mean, you guys, you know, this is February. This is the love month. Right? And I don’t think that, you know, when I celebrate February, I think about the people that I love, right? And so it’s not just, this isn’t just about marriage. This is about friendship. This is about trust. This is about people that are your inner circle, your inner ring. So what is it that you attribute,  just talking about Jackie, I guess?

Mark Morrison: Well, I mean, I do believe that God ordained marriage. You know, he established marriage, and then there was a purpose behind it because he knew we were not going to  be complete, without our spouse. And just seeing how Jackie completes me. Because she and I do bonehead things all the time, and she tries to keep me under control. And she’s the one I can always go to after a sermon and say, what’d you think about that?

Or before the sermon and say, what do you think if I do this? And I know she’s going to be honest with me. Even if it’s not the answer I want to hear, I know she’s going to  be honest with me and and always, you know, be that support that holds me up. And  I can’t imagine doing any of this without her. I mean, just plain and simple.

It just doesn’t even compute at all. I know God’s going to provide for my every need. He’s going to provide, not my every want, but my every need. He’s always going to provide that. So I have peace and assurance there, but I know that Jackie is a big part of that provision.

He provided Jackie, and he provided her. He knew that she’s the exact person that I needed, not just to be a pastor’s wife, but to be my spouse and to be the person that I have to do the rest of my life with because I would not want to do it any other way. So it’s just,  I know I have that and this will always be. It’s always going to be there, and I just don’t have any doubts.

Kimberly Faith: You know, the thing that I have observed just about couples like you all is that when Jesus is the center, you always have a foundation that doesn’t change. So it’s not like you’re changing the rules in midstream. Either you have a disagreement and it may be a holy disagreement like I think we should do this or I think we should do that and you can always go back to the truth because it doesn’t change. And when your love is based in truth and love is hard, you know. Love is, I mean at the most basic level love is selflessness, right?

And at the kind of love God commands us. If you look at 1st Corinthians 13 you know that definition means you’re out and the other person’s in and the only way we can love each other that way is if we’re loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind, right?

Jackie Morrison:  Definitely.

Kimberly Faith:  So what you’re describing Mark is a, it’s not a need as much as just a desire to be unified because there’s just this incredible bond that God has made.

Mark Morrison: I hear you. Yep.

Kimberly Faith: Yeah.

Mark Morrison: When I say I have to be with her, it’s because I have to be with her. I mean, I don’t have another option. It’s not that I have to be with her. I have to be with her. You know?

And she gives me the, you know, she’s very patient with me. I will say that. Very patient. And I’m patient with her too. Sometimes it takes a couple of days before she realizes I’m right. But, no. She’s very patient with me with a lot of things.

Kimberly Faith: Well, you know, I love the humor.

Mark Morrison: Yeah. It’s warped team humor but it’s humorous.

Kimberly Faith: Well, so and we were talking before, we went on and and on air with the wrong term but started recording about some of the tough times you guys have been through, with the death of both of your mothers. And Jackie, your mother last year and Mark your mother when you were

Mark Morrison: A police officer. 

Kimberly Faith:  Yeah. When you were a police officer. And how is it that your relationship with God really walked you through both those experiences?

Mark Morrison: Just knowing well, we knew for sure that both of our moms were Christians. We know for sure where they’re at right now and that  did not take away the pain or the heartache of any of it. 

Kimberly Faith: Right. 

Mark Morrison. But just the,  and I say just as walking through life, just knowing the end result, knowing what is to come just brings that peace that only God can give us. I mean, no one else can give us that peace.  I hate to think this way, but, you know, sometimes I look back at terrible things that happened in my life. And I wonder if that wasn’t God trying to give me a wake up call and trying to get me on the path he wanted me to do. He knew my mom was safe in him. And I’m not saying he caused it, but he used that accident to push me on towards ministry. He used it. And I know he did.

Kimberly Faith: That realization, I think, is hard for us. It is  a reminder on the connection between affliction and God’s love and how we’re supposed to process that. You know?  When of course you know, in my office I talk to a lot of people who are going through a lot of bad stuff and you know I always get asked the great question that Epaphroditus asked, you know, how could a good God create evil? And, you know, I  always respond that God doesn’t create moral evil because, I mean, the evil that’s here is because we, there’s lots of answers to that, without getting too philosophical. You know, how could you ever know love if you didn’t have a choice?

You know, those kinds of things and thus there is evil. But the kinds of things you’re talking about, Mark, you know, these hard things that have happened that have driven you to the mission that God has for your life. I completely relate to that. I mean, I would have,  there’s so many things I’m doing today that I would never have done had I not gone through, not just my own bonehead stuff as you call it. But also just things that happened to me that I didn’t cause. You know, just a result of general sin. But when our focus is, we give glory to God in all things. You know, Paul said, he said that whether he’s, you know, in any kind of affliction he’s learned to be content. He’s learned to not just be okay, but to say I can do all things through Christ and I can because God is the God of all comfort. It’s on him. You mentioned something and before we started recording, that you know the best thing about the Christian life is that we know the end.

Mark Morrison: We know the result. We know the end result. That’s it. To a true Christian, that always has to bring peace.  To someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior, to have that relationship. Long for the day that they get to be with him, then this is just a small little fraction of time that we’re here. And it’s all points towards God. And the regrets we have is looking back on the the times where we didn’t do 

Kimberly Faith: Didn’t  do that.

Mark Morrison: Did not take an opportunity that God put right in front of us. And we all know that. We all see so many of those, if we look backwards, and that hurts because we know you can’t get that back. But that should just prod us on to being okay with whatever the world throws at us because we know God can use that to bring someone to Christ.

Kimberly Faith: Yeah. And, you know, you talk about these missed opportunities. I don’t know about y’all but a lot of times I will ask the Lord please give me that opportunity again. And he does.

Mark Morrison: Yes.

Kimberly Faith: And so talking about affliction and like how you dealt with the death of your mothers, Do you think it made, aside from the fact that you know where they are, but just in the, Mark you mentioned enduring the grief, the pain, just the emptiness that that spot where they were right that you can’t get back. How is it that you all were able to shoulder each other’s burdens through that process with Jesus Christ as a center?

Mark Morrison: I would say it to me, it was that I knew I did not have to do this alone. I did not. I knew that she hurt just as bad as I did about my mom, and I hurt just as bad as she did about her mom. So just having that person to lean on and make things so much better, and I can’t imagine trying to do it by yourself.

Kimberly Faith: Yeah. 

Mark Morrison: Now, of course, we’re never by ourselves, so we have god. But God puts people with us

Kimberly Faith: Right.

Mark Morrison: To help shoulder that burden. And, you know, that’s the definition of a church is we’re there for each other. And we’re a family, most of the time a dysfunctional family. But we’re a family as a church and we have to be willing to to hurt when the other person’s hurting. 

Kimberly Faith: Yeah. 

Mark Morrison: Even if it didn’t affect us, we still have to be willing to hurt with them.

Kimberly Faith: Empathy is an amazing gift, isn’t it? And what a great gift for you all to have known and loved each other’s mothers to the degree that you were able to bear each other’s sorrow, carry each other’s burdens. It kind of reminds me of you know, like a small army unit where you’re tight, you’ve trained together and you’ve been together through warfare and then one of your comrades falls and you’re all equally grieving. That it is really, remarkable and beautiful that you have been able to experience that because I, and I just think from a teaching standpoint, that motivates me to pray. I’m not an empathetic person. I’m just going to tell you, I have to pray for empathy.

I’m so bad and my mom says you got, you know what? You just get stuff done. I’ll be your empathy because my mom cries like that, you know. But what you’re describing has been, I mean, I can see that it’s been an important part of your healing and not that we ever recovered from death. I don’t think we’ve been meant to,  but the healing, you’ve got scars. Sure. But you’re still able to do,  I mean, I look at your service right now. God frees you. He frees you for that, and you’ve supported each other through that. And that’s so beautiful.

Mark Morrison: Man, our church family supported us very heavily down in Arkansas when my mom passed, and up here when Jackie’s mom passed. I mean, that’s been also very, very important because God put, from the minute we walked through the doors up here at Westside, God put people in our path that you know, once again, I say, Jackie is the reason that I’m able to do what I do, but God also surrounded us with some very awesome people that have filled roles, filled family roles for us, that they may not be blood relatives, but they’re relatives. You know, filled family roles, mentor roles, you name it. But just if you allow God to surround you with people, he will surround you with people. If you want to be closed off, then you’re going to struggle. But the minute you allow that, he will just bring on exactly what you need, and we’ve seen that the whole time

Kimberly Faith: Right.

Mark Morrison: Which makes me not worry about things because I know it’s going to be okay.

Kimberly Faith: Right. Yeah. And the church is so undervalued today. So undervalued. I was going for the drive through the bank, and there’s a girl I’ve been kind of trying to give her my tract and we talk and everything.

It was Saturday morning and I said, where do you go to church? And she goes, well, I just kind of, you know, I don’t really go. Me and God. I said, oh. I said, you’re, you know, just missing out because you’ve got to have people. You’ve got to have a community and you know what you’re describing is this is your inner ring, these are people who are going to cover down and you guys have experienced a lot of that.

Jackie Morrison: Yeah definitely. I can remember when COVID, and church shut down for a while, like, the first time that we got to come back and meet together as a family again with our church family in church service, I cried because it was like I miss this. You don’t realize how much you miss your brothers and sisters until they’re not there. 

Kimberly Faith: That spiritual connection runs through the blood connection, doesn’t it? 

Jackie Morrison: Definitely. 

Kimberly Faith: Yeah. It really does. And, you know,  I think that as church you know I kind of feel like I’m a church supporter.

I support, that’s kind of my job. I kind of go in and do discipleship wherever it’s needed  and just teaching peripherally, and the Lord may change that tomorrow. I think he’s going to actually change that,  but that’s okay. But I just so much admire and want to encourage people to, especially if you’re in a marriage and you have a spouse that maybe is,  kind of you know, just a pew warmer and one that’s on fire, you know,  if I were to go back and do it again, the thing that I would do differently is I would pray without ceasing. My new year’s resolution is to pray without ceasing.

It’s pray without ceasing. It’s been amazing. You talked about your 21 days of prayer. Oh my gosh. I just like, I feel like it’s open full throttle. But I would also understand that I need to get my love from God. And when you get your love from God and everything you need from God then it’s remarkable how much it changes the dynamic with the people that are closest to you. You know, we talk about our kids doing bonehead things. Right? We have all kinds of people that we love that aren’t serving the Lord.

The most powerful gift that we have is the ability to show them who Jesus is. Not preach at them as much, but show them who Jesus really is. Not the fake Jesus.  Not the Jesus that the God of all, you know, the God that the world has made out to be, but the real Jesus. And I think that’s what you guys have done in your marriage. You’ve shown each other what the real Jesus looks like. Starting with Mark. And now Jackie I’m sure you have plenty of, I’m sure Mark could testify.

Well, so just to wrap it up, we’ve kind of talked about this a little bit, but if there was one thing that you would you would want people to know that is the most, the best part about being a Christian and and having Jesus as your Lord and savior, what would you say that is, Jackie?

Jackie Morrison: For me, it was joy that no matter what you’re going through, like, there’s joy because there’s hope in knowing, like, you might be going through struggles right now, but God’s got you and you’re going to overcome it. And even if he brings you home, like, you’re in his presence. So  there’s joy there, knowing that he’s got everything in his hands, and it’s all

Kimberly Faith: It’s a win win.

Jackie Morrison: It’s yeah. It’s all going to be okay.

Kimberly Faith: And has that been your experience walking with God?

Jackie Morrison: Definitely. I think and not being raised in a Christian home, so being able to, like, just, like, experience that as an adult has been different. Going to youth camp as an adult leader and, like, being able to be a part of things that I missed out on, basically. It was a blessing for me, to be, you know, in my thirties and get to go to youth camp, but in a different role. But being able to serve alongside and just, like, there’s something about when you’re serving God, it’s just it’s fun.

Kimberly Faith:  You know, the word joy means satisfaction.

Jackie Morrison: Yeah.

Kimberly Faith:  Deep satisfaction. 

Jackie Morrison: You might be exhausted at night but you’re going to sleep good. 

Kimberly Faith: Right. Kind of like having a baby. Right? Oh, my gosh. Did I just go through 48 hours of labor? Give me that child. Mark, what’s the one thing you would want people to know about the best part of being a Christian?

Mark Morrison: Just the peace that comes with that and and no matter what happens today, it’s going to be okay. No matter what happens tomorrow, it’s going to be okay Because we know the final chapter. We’ve got it. God gave it to us. We know exactly our future.

As a Christian, we know our future. I’d hate to live in this world and not know not have that peace.That would be a nightmare to not know what tomorrow brings, not know why I’m here. You know? God’s given us all a purpose, and it’s all the same purpose. And that’s to further his kingdom and to serve him and to glorify him and to worship him. And nothing brings the joy like Jackie’s talking about other than doing just that. And but, yeah, that peace, The peace that when everyone else is breaking down and going nuts, and they’re looking at you like, why are you calm and peaceful? I was like, that’s only God. That’s the only reason. And then people gravitate to that because they decide that they probably need that too.

Kimberly Faith: Yeah. And it’s such a, you know, that’s such a, what you’re talking about, the peace from knowing that no matter what, you’re going to meet Jesus someday. It’s such a great contrast to so many religions that teach you have to work your way to heaven. And when you know if you understand the bible you understand our desperate need for God because we’re incapable. We’re dead spiritually.

A dead person can’t do anything for themselves. And having that assurance, a blessed assurance that no matter what, it like you said Jackie,  if we get the trial,  great, if we go to meet our father, even better. Right? And, that mindset, that attitude, you know, to have that individually is wonderful, but to have that in a marriage has got to be just incredible. And so thank you all so much. Thank you for joining us today. And, I just know God has just got more great years and great blessings ahead for you guys.

Mark Morrison: I have no doubt.

Jacob Paul: You’ve been listening to the Truth in Love podcast with your host, Kimberly Faith. To discover more answers to the big questions in life, visit us at gofaithstrong.com.