lexi: Seems aggressive, David. Seems aggressive.
Tess: whenever we read it, ooh David
lexi: TV Stop Not the Pharisee. I'm gonna start calling people that.
Tess: Again, like I'm with you guys like
lexi: You're a Pharisee. Don't come at me.
Tess: Welcome back to Sisters in Session, where therapy meets sister talk and nothing's off limits. We're two sisters who overthink everything, laugh too loud, and try to make sense of life's chaos one session at a time.
lexi: From relationships and self-care to the messy middle of growing up, it's part heart to heart, part comedy hour, and all real talk with zero chill. So settle in.
Tess: So grab your coffee.
lexi: What is happening? Grab your coffee or drink of choice and settle in. It's time for your weekly dose of sisterhood and self-reflection.
Tess: We're just like all over the map.
lexi: No, it's like no it's not good. It's not good.
Tess: Like again, no matter how much I try to prepare and be ready, I'm always rushing to sit down and do this.
lexi: I was waiting on you this time.
Tess: I know. Cute cup.
lexi: I was just like here in the stud thank you. Here in the studio. Bef
Tess: I know.
lexi: Before we go anywhere today, we do need to do a little shout out to someone who watches these all the time. And she says she laughs all the time. Hello, Mimi.
Tess: Hi Mimi. Honestly, we love her.
lexi: We do. She's the best.
Tess: Well, whenever we were on our unannounced break, she was like she messaged me, she's like, Are you and Lexi still like doing the podcast? And I was like, Yeah. I just had like other things going on. So she's been waiting.
lexi: Yes. She just told me yesterday she watched last week's. She's like, I just crack up every time. Yeah, because we're hilarious, but
Tess: We are. Yeah. I was gonna say something else. my nails are not done. Please don't make that face at me.
lexi: They're just like little
Tess: I
lexi: nubs.
Tess: I know. Well, they it was time for them to come off
lexi: Uh-huh.
Tess: and then it's like kind of I'm trying to wait till a little closer to we're going to the beach and so like I don't want to be like my timing's off. And so I thought if My timing like my nail timing, not the c podcast timing. You
lexi: Dude.
Tess: look confused and so I was trying to like sort through that.
lexi: No, I looked confused because you weren't speaking. That's why I looked confused. I wasn't sure if we were stroking out in this episode. Okay. Perfect.
Tess: No, I am. I am. My timing's off. And if I would have had time, I would have maybe still done them today, but I didn't have time this morning, so maybe later. Still rocking the red chrome.
lexi: These are press ons. I just got like a some kind of special glue and I've had not had a problem. I did lose this one, but I do remember that I didn't put like a lot of glue on it like I did the other ones. And but the rest of them, I honestly think they're gonna be a little difficult to take off.
Tess: Ooh.
lexi: Love that for my nail beds.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: but I ordered some new ones for the beach. It's like a butter yellow, and then they have like 3D flowers on and some pink, and I'm just like, you know what? Cause I really haven't had like a ton of time to like do them myself. And so I think it's just gonna be easier for this week, especially. Cause I'm gonna be prepping.
Tess: Yeah. Yeah.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: Anyways, so yes, we're going to the beach. Short work week. Happy Friday. 'cause, you know, Labor Day. Wha you went to Mimi's for Labor Day.
lexi: Yes, we cleaned out the basement and then went to Mimi's yes.
Tess: okay. Nice. We went to the beach.
lexi: Very different taste.
Tess: Very different days.
lexi: Yeah, I my allergies are actually a little bit messed up today from that yesterday. All the dust.
Tess: Yeah. Mm-hmm. I could see that.
lexi: How's the beach?
Tess: my word, great.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: So great. It was such a nice day to be down there. Water was wet.
lexi: Was it busy?
Tess: Not too bad. I mean like ish because like everybody's off work but like a lot of people like aren't like it's we're we're kinda out of peak season.
lexi: Out they're not visiting for Labor Day really.
Tess: Yeah. you know it was so nice. the water was calm and clear and warm and like just like the nice like waves. Like they're like white capped, they're like floating over. nice breeze. It's gorgeous. Great day to be at the beach.
lexi: But that
Tess: Yeah. I am excited for next week 'cause to just sit every day on the beach. 'Cause like
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: I I know people laugh. People being you and I. Whenever I say that like I need a vacation, but like I just need a vacation. Like I need to not need to be doing like we did go to Utah in February and it was great. It was such a good time, but like we were on a schedule. We were like hiking. and like
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: travelling and in the car and so it was very like it wasn't like a sit and do nothing vacation which are sometimes nice but like now I'm just like I didn't just sit and do nothing.
lexi: And one thing about us on vacation, we don't have a schedule. We never have we never have a schedule. Mainly because my my mom is not the best at keeping. She's not gonna see this. She's not good at keeping schedule. She's not good at keeping an itinerary. Home girl is literally late for everything. So light. And my dad is pretty good at it. Like if he has to be somewhere at a certain time, he likes to be there at that time. Michael and I were at Mimi's yesterday before they worked.
Tess: Surprised.
lexi: but yeah, so we don't really have a plan.
Tess: Or just go off of vibes. Anyways, I
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: did get some nice sun yesterday, but something about something about my lighting is not showing that. But I did.
lexi: I know you showed me. I was like,
Tess: anyways, any updates from last week's episode for you?
lexi: Don't even remember. What was there to
Tess: I know.
lexi: update?
Tess: Nothing not nothing necessarily. Yeah, no, I'm bus I wasn't I wasn't fishing for anything.
lexi: Perfect. If you hear something in the background, that is my washing machine. I just heard it and I was like, We're real. We have to do
Tess: It probably won't pick it up. Yes.
lexi: laundry.
Tess: We have to do laundry. We don't have a maid service.
lexi: No. Well, some of us don't.
Tess: No, I don't right now. I haven't picked anybody up since we came back. I know. I've just been doing it myself.
lexi: Eu.
Tess: Imagine me but because of all of the house stuff, like honestly, like I have a hole
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: in like four of my rooms in the walls. And like as Lamar's working on things, there could be ma it's just we're just not in a season where we
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: can do like where that makes sense right now.
lexi: Dad is gonna be the speaking of Lamar, Dad's gonna be the only male other than Sawyer and crew on this trip.
Tess: And I feel bad.
lexi: I don't. He needs it. He needs a little estrogen.
Tess: Does he? I feel like he's around estrogen all the time. Okay.
lexi: No, he needs it. I'm anxious to see how it goes because he is so unbelievably outnumbered.
Tess: Yeah. And even the people with him like what are they gonna do?
lexi: Right.
Tess: So update on the house. We did get the pipes insulated.
lexi: Good.
Tess: So Lamar is going to try to underneath the house do the drains. So they drain outside. hoping that all works or does
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: what it needs to do. It's gonna be a little hard to tell. Because it's still hot and humid here, so it's going to be really hard to tell like if it's really helping with the moisture under the house until it cools off. Because, you know, once there's moisture, it's kind of there like it's just moisture until it dries out. But it's
lexi: Yeah. Yeah.
Tess: hard to dry out whenever it's just hot, humid air
lexi: Right.
Tess: in the air. But I thought it was huh?
lexi: Right I said right.
Tess: Yeah. Well, I thought it was I just thought this was really interesting because not interesting. Okay. Let me say this as part of the update. We, as you all know, Airbnb'd our house for the summer, lived in the camper, but we really love this house. And the goal with this house was to always Airbnb it full time. And I'm not gonna get into like the big goal dream, but like this is all working towards something. Like I would dare I say not ministry work, but or like but like kind of. Like the big goal. so we're not trying to, you know, s I don't care if people have Airbnbs just for extra income. Like obviously like that could be a part of it, but like that that's not the big goal.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: I'm not gonna get into the big goal for now. So anyways, all of that to say, this was very discouraging to have to like 'cause
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: we felt like we were like everything was lining up and like we really felt like we were doing the right things, all the things, and so this was discouraging to have to
lexi: Right.
Tess: put the money and the time into this. Cause we were like like Mm, not that again, not that we believe that like doing good things in somehow
lexi: Keep bad things from happening.
Tess: yes. Yes. however, back whenever before we left, we were kinda like, man, we just like really love this house and you know, maybe we should just live here and then buy another property. to Airbnb full time for a while and like that kind of thing. And n not that that would have been bad. However, Lamar just shared this with me. And so I'm gonna share it with you all. But because of how much we love the house before we left, while we were gone, he had been praying that like there would be some sort of sign of like what we should do as far as like stay in this house, other house, whatever. And he asked me if I had ever heard of like the eagle like a mama eagle putting thorns in her nest. And I was like, No. And he was like, Whenever a mother eagle whenever it's time for the babies to leave, like it's time for them to go be on their own, if they don't act like they're ready to go, she will actually put thorns in the nest so that whenever they try to come back, like it's uncomfortable. And I was like, and he was like, I kind of feel like That's what this is. Like some thorns in the nest. This is just a property. The goal was to use this as a property. And so that
lexi: Mm-hmm.
Tess: we're gonna get this taken care of, but then we're going to do what we need to do to have this place Airbnb full time.
lexi: Yeah. And you know, I don't wanna say that I was right this entire time. Because there was a sp specific day that you guys were up here and I was like what do I think? 'Cause I feel like you had said, well like what what do you think? Or like what do you like I could have just been giving my opinion. That's not out of the norm for me.
Tess: Ha ha
lexi: But I was like, I think you guys should go with like this other like not stay, not buy another property yet, go with this and then do this full time. So like I don't wanna say if you'd have listened to me and just like took it like the pipe thing wouldn't have happened, but I do think it's a little funny on the timing.
Tess: Yeah. Well, and that was kinda like my thought. Like, I loved that analogy. And I think he's right because there were a lot of things whenever we came back that like I was just like, this is not it doesn't feel the same as when we left. however, I was like, Well maybe the thorns couldn't have been as sharp, you know? Maybe they could have been cheaper and not as in depth. But I also
lexi: Right.
Tess: know myself, anyways, I don't want to speak for Lamar, but like I can rationalize a lot of things. And so anyways, I thought that was like so great. So and well because in this I I had said several times, I'm like, well maybe we just fix it up and then just sell it. Like just sell the house and just be done. I was so frustrated. but he more or less said he's like I don't think that like That's not r like to him that's not an option at this point. It's just we do what we need to do to get it taken care of, do what we need to do to be able to Airbnb it full time and keep pressing on, so
lexi: Onward and upward.
Tess: Yes.
lexi: We love that.
Tess: Yeah. So
lexi: Hun.
Tess: That's my update. Doesn't necessarily make it easier. It does make it
lexi: But it it gives you peace of mind.
Tess: Yeah, it kinda like re well honestly it kinda knocks me back in my place to be honest. Like
lexi: Won't he do it?
Tess: Yeah, like you just need to like chill out. The goal is still the goal. The plan is still the plan.
lexi: You're like, I need a for sale sign now.
Tess: Yes. Just do what we need to do to hide any mold and moisture till it sells and get out.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: But so still trusting the plan. Lamar brought me back down to Earth, but honestly he might have needed that a little bit too. 'cause yeah, it's just been like it's just been hard and annoying. and there's just a lot of like from his end as far as like what to do to correct it and fix it and make sure everything is right, like there's a lot of things that he just I mean, he doesn't work in the HVAC and
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: like it's not his world. And
lexi: Mm.
Tess: so he has a lot more frustrations than what even I have because I get the luxury of not having to like try to figure out how to fix it.
lexi: One thing Lamar though, he's a researcher and he'll do his research. But yeah, I mean he's not exactly in that field. Do I think that he couldn't do something in that field? No. I'm not saying that. But that's not that's not his that's not his bread and butter, if you will.
Tess: No. No. So anyways, that's where we're at. Refocused. Re Whatever. Just doing what we need to do to fix it. And we're gonna go from there.
lexi: Love that.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Don't love the journey it takes to get there, but love that. Right.
Tess: Painful. Like in like emotionally, a little bit spiritually, because like I said, I was like, what this was not sp this was not part of the plan.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: and I wouldn't even say that this was a plan. Sometimes people do plans and they're like guilty. This is I'm not talking about or down to anybody, but it's like, I'm gonna take this step. And hope that you come meet me and like, do you know I mean like kinda like I'm gonna start working that way and hopefully you come like join in.
lexi: That's me with my car right now, I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm not gonna lie. For those of you who don't know, I've been pretty vocal about it on how I feel about this. but I have to take although Michael said I can take the Duramax if I want. We'll see. I have to drive my car that I'm trying to sell all those miles. I don't mind driving to the beach, by the way. Let me finish that. I don't mind driving. It's not that. It's just I'm gonna have my stuff. And Tori and the kids is stuff in the trunk. One thing about my car, it's like my trunk is not like small, but it's not like huge. Like you're not fitting an overabundance of stuff. And then dad wants us to bring his golf clubs.
Tess: Mm.
lexi: And then mom wants us to bring her beach chairs. Mind you, when they said about taking the bikes, they said, I said, I'm not taking your stuff. Like just being whatever. And
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: dad was like, I don't need you to take my stuff. I have saddlebags. Well, well, well. Now I have to take the golf clubs and two chairs and whatever else a canned chicken. I have to take canned chicken.
Tess: That's for me.
lexi: That's for her. Yeah. So like and I don't want
Tess: Plus any other I haven't actually set my official list yet, but canned chicken for sure. But that won't be going back with you. Jamie?
lexi: Right. But anyway. So and I don't want there's nothing I hated more as a kid than being crowded in on a road trip.
Tess: Mm-hmm.
lexi: So I don't want Tories kids to be in the back trying to move around golf clubs and whatever else. I hate that. I hate that. I don't know if something in here is messed up, probably, but like I hate that. So I'm like really praying for Praying for a miracle at my car
Tess: Do not?
lexi: somehow sells.
Tess: And you buy a new one within the next four days. Okay. Do you know that Joanna
lexi: Yes. Buying it won't be the problem. Can't hide money. No, I'm just kidding. Buying it won't be the problem. It'll
Tess: Right.
lexi: it's it right now I'm just waiting for it to sell. I could trade it in, yes, but I will lose a lot of value on it. But yeah, I just don't know.
Tess: Yeah. Well I mean if if push comes to shove, just something to think about, Joanna would probably let you take her suburban.
lexi: Yeah, but then I feel weird.
Tess: I I get that. It would be nice if you guys could take Tory Suburban.
lexi: Right, but that's a death trap. And there's no AC, so I literally would die.
Tess: Yeah. Anyways, no, I totally get that. But like this house thing was not us doing that. Being like, hey, we have this really great idea, jump on board. Like
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: everything about this has been like cautiously trusting that we're following where he's leading. So anyways, that was just why I had said that like this wasn't like a I'm gonna kinda step and like come on. Like this is very much like everything about I mean, this has been in place since before we even left PA. Constantly like a work in progress, but or like a dream goal. Anyways. Anyways, so yeah. Mm.
lexi: There's my Walmart delivery driver. He's gonna look at me through the window.
Tess: And think, wow, she couldn't come pick up her stuff.
lexi: no, I here's the thing. I'm not doing that because I I haven't gone to trade my car in and I haven't gone, you know, whatever. But like it really would at this point for me be a miracle if somehow it would sell because I hate to put all those miles on it.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Like that's not that's not just like daily driver miles. That's like miles, miles. I don't know.
Tess: Yeah, and you kinda hate to take the truck too, because if you run into rain, then all of your stuff he has a cap.
lexi: Yeah, well, he has a ton of cover, yeah. Either way. The truck would be fine, but it's just
Tess: Yeah, I don't I don't blame you for not really wanting to like road trip in the truck.
lexi: Yeah. Don't get me wrong, I love the truck, but like
Tess: Yeah. Hmm.
lexi: So if someone wants something materialistic to bring
Tess: With absolutely no spiritual value.
lexi: Mama needs a new car. That's terrible. There are people that are dying?
Tess: Yeah. Hey, listen, this is our reality.
lexi: I think I might need a reality check, but anyway.
Tess: Anyways. So kind of on that note, but like not on that note, something we're gonna be trying out here going forward to make that face. Yeah, I told you.
lexi: yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Tess: is like incorporating some sort of like I don't I struggle with the word Bible study because I'm not a Bible teacher, obviously. And it's more or less just like things that I'm thinking of or whatever, sh even struggling with, and then just bringing the Bible into it, but like Obviously I already do that, but like on the podcast, so it's not really like a new direction because we've always kind of like referenced God in the Bible, obviously, just because it's just a part of our life, but taking time to like look into the Bible in regards to like specific like life circumstances, scenarios, situations. But having said that I feel like right off the rip. Right out the gate. Let me be clear. Lexi, are we perfect?
lexi: Yes.
Tess: Okay. Then never mind, we're done.
lexi: Never mind, that's it. No, we're not perfect. Contrary to popular belief, we know, we know,
Tess: Right.
lexi: we we make it look good.
Tess: Yes. However, we're not. So don't even come in here with like that kind of attitude because I swear if you start thinking that we're perfect or or that we think we're perfect, you would be incorrect. So don't think like perfect and polished. Think more like raw, messy and real.
lexi: Rama scene real.
Tess: Because That's like where we're at. And honestly, like even as this like starts to I don't even know what this looks like going forward. I had a pretty clear idea of like where I wanted it to go for today. But like going forward, up in the air.
lexi: We don't know.
Tess: so and honestly, there's a chance that like as we depending on what the topic is, like things could be left open ended. Because I I don't know. You might know more than me, but like we might not have like the answers to anything that we like bring up, but I also think that like a lot of the questions or confusions or like things that we like think or struggle with, I would like to think that other people do too. And so that's kind of more the the think of it as more of like that's why I don't want to say Bible study, because I'm I'm not here to like teach anything. I'm just here to share my thoughts and then get your opinions. You being the people.
lexi: Yeah. We could call it
Tess: and
lexi: a a Bible gab.
Tess: Yeah, like y yes, something like that. so this has been something I also don't want anybody to think that like I'm just like coming into this just like on a whim because believe it or not I have bought this for a very long time because I was just like disqualifying myself obviously because that's like
lexi: We do.
Tess: right obviously but just like within the last couple weeks or month or so like There have been so many signs and like it has been on my mind all the time. Like I can know it was either do something about it or just like suffer. So 'Cause it was like it was like always there. And I was just like, I got tired of just like trying to come up with reasons not to do it. So thankfully Lexi was gracious enough to just like come along with me because she just this is a shared space, so it's not something that I would just like, hey, this is what we're doing. so she graciously is following along in the direction. and A yeah, I have notes. Like that's what I keep doing over here on my iPad. Like scrolling in my
lexi: I don't like doubt that.
Tess: Yeah. 'Cause I was like, you know
lexi: She's very type A.
Tess: Well, and that and I like the last thing I wanna do is get on here and just like ramble but like not say anything. especially whenever it comes like something like this, which I tend to do and so it's not like written out word for word, but I do have like a something I should have sent it to you so that
lexi: I'm here, I'm listening.
Tess: Yeah. but anyways, another reason that I put it off for so long is because whenever you tend to do things like this, one, people judge you like you're perfect or like you know, you kinda like get like a microscope on you. and I'm just not really about that. So like don't even like just don't
lexi: Don't even make it like that.
Tess: No, 'cause I will let you down. Like I
lexi: Right.
Tess: I will get something wrong, lots of things wrong. Like so don't I don't know. And like obviously like we are not To any sort of level where like I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyways, sometimes whenever you like openly try to discuss these things, all of a sudden people are like looking at you like super closely and looking for anything that you're doing wrong. And just like, that's kind of like nerve wracking because like I'm not gonna get everything. Yeah. Yeah, because we just said we're not
lexi: Just don't do that here, okay? Because we're not perfect. We don't know everything. These are just this is our space that you we've welcomed you into, and that's fine. But don't assume that we know everything and don't assume that we're perfect. Don't come for me. I swear. Do not.
Tess: No, because I actually would really love for it to kind of be like not that way. Like more on
lexi: Right.
Tess: like the messy, we're allowed to have questions, we're allowed to struggle with things, we're allowed to like get things wrong sometimes. Like, should we be sh trying to do better? And well, yeah, of course, but like we are not like I would rather it be that kind of space where like I can have my opinion, you can have yours, they can have theirs. Like we can all come together because like here's what I'm seeing right now and it's just like really annoying me is like these Instagram pages of like Christians and yes, if you're not watching, I put it in air quotes. Not that I'm I'm not doubting their salvation, I just am confused by what they're doing, and it's like their entire page is basically stitching other Christian creators and like saying everything that's wrong about what they're saying. Have you seen that? Maybe not really.
lexi: No, but I'm conf what? Like no I like I get the idea I know what you're saying. I'm just confused as to where they found the audacity.
Tess: Their whole their whole page. Like it's their literal like thing is like they take okay, just for example like I I don't even know. I so I can't even like and not that I would necessarily so I can't even call out the person who did it, but like it was like months ago, like Ali Yoast had shared a a reel talking about how like Christians are allowed to have fun or like In fact we should be people who are joyful and like look how they're having fun. Like and like we should be that way. Anyways, I forget what all she said. It doesn't matter. But like this person who then I went to their page and it's like all they do, like stitched it and basically said like This is not the case. This should not be blah blah blah blah blah. And like just very much like her whole page is just stitching other creators, like Christian people and being like, That's wrong. That's and it's like it's just
lexi: See, and when when you do things like that and when you go into it with that kind of attitude, my first thought, I haven't even seen this girl, I have no idea who Tessa is talking about. I don't Well, then mm.
Tess: Couldn't tell you who was either. I just know.
lexi: but like my first thought to that is, okay, so you're perfect.
Tess: Right.
lexi: And that's why it's important that we prefaced, we know we're not, we just have some questions.
Tess: Yeah, because it very much comes across like very judgy, very holier than thou, very like I can't believe they think that, I can't believe they would do that. just like I don't know. It's just I don't like it. I don't like it. And I mean I guess I could kind of If you like every like you did like one video one time, like you really felt like you were like publicly weird and also I don't know. Just I don't know.
lexi: And also ew.
Tess: Yeah. So I just don't get the point. Like I just don't get the point. however, I'm pretty sure that we're all a little bit guilty of that. Like obviously maybe not guilty of like going online and being like, they're so wrong, but like just like thinking about how good we are compared to how bad some other people are. And like today I was going to I wanted to look at like Psalms twenty six because I feel like this is a really good example of it. because David was in this psalm basically doing the exact same thing was being like, Look at all those people and then look at me. And
lexi: Seems aggressive, David.
Tess: whenever we read it, ooh David
lexi: TV Stop
Tess: and I just think that we need to be careful whenever we judge or yeah, judge 'cause that's kind of what you're doing.
lexi: Here's the thing. Why are we doing the things that we're doing?
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Are we doing it for the listen? I was getting ready to pull my hair up, but I do need to say this. Because again, we're not perfect. I love a show. I
Tess: Ha ha.
lexi: love to make a show. I love to make a scene. But like why are we doing like not usually I'm not making a scene for like whatever. But like right.
Tess: For no reason.
lexi: Like there's always a reason.
Tess: Ha.
lexi: But but like why are we doing it though? Like if you give twenty dollars to someone on the street, are you doing it so that you're hoping someone's recording? Are you hoping like you know what I'm saying? Because that's
Tess: Yeah. Yeah.
lexi: the thing. I see a lot of influencers like doing these things and I'm just like I could appreciate it because either way that person is getting what they're
Tess: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
lexi: giving. But like you know
Tess: And like I can s yeah, like and again, 'cause like we don't know their intent.
lexi: Right.
Tess: I could genuinely like see a video like that and be like, my word, like feel inspired to like give twenty dollars to somebody. Do you know what I mean?
lexi: yeah.
Tess: But also like there's something to be said for like just doing things
lexi: Because
Tess: for God's glory, not for man's.
lexi: And not to get recognized.
Tess: Yeah, like I was actually just reading, I forget where, but Jesus was basically saying, like, whenever you're fasting, don't I forget what their culture it's in the Bible. It says like don't don't basically just don't make it known. I forget what it was. It like don't comb your hair, don't pull your hair up or s and something else, but like b I don't know what it was exactly there 'cause I I forget.
lexi: That's even targeted, because I just pulled it.
Tess: And I forget. Or was it was this basically like You're fasting for like like between you and God. Like it's not so everybody
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: knows I'm fasting. Like
lexi: I've been like, okay, you know what? Matter of fact, I'm gonna tell Dad that. I'm gonna tell him that in the Bible it says not to do that because he just like he'll come home and
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: he'll be like he'll be like, I'm starving. I haven't eaten since since yesterday. I've just been fasting. I'm like, okay.
Tess: We get it, Dad. You're losing weight.
lexi: We get it and it falls right off of you because you're a guy, okay.
Tess: Yeah, yeah. So I just so yeah. I just think that whenever even if somebody is sinning and we are obviously allowed to judge that sin based off of like right wrong, but
lexi: Mm-hmm.
Tess: and I don't even mean like excusing or defending it, but whenever you're so like I would never or I can't believe like You don't know and again, not defending or excusing, but like an explanation, like you don't know what the circumstances were surrounding or like what led to that. Again, not saying it's okay, not saying that like but like there's usually more than just I decide to shoot this guy. Like sh do dime sometimes there is that.
lexi: Listen, you can't be saying I would never.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: That's like someone without kids saying, my kids would never.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Michael said that again the other day. I remember on the podcast I said that he said that once. He said it again the other day. I said, Michael, stop it. Stop saying that.
Tess: He's just asking for it.
lexi: He is. He yeah, he is. He wants a daughter just like Ruthie. I said, you might as well sedate me. Because
Tess: D yeah.
lexi: that's what I'm gonna need. But anyway,
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: I feel like that's the equivalent is saying like I would never and then like saying my kids would never, you know.
Tess: Mm. Yeah. Yeah. And like it's kind of giving like Pharisee of that time. It is.
lexi: Not the Pharisee. I'm gonna start calling people that.
Tess: Again, like I'm with you guys like
lexi: You're a Pharisee. Don't come at me.
Tess: Like I am guilty of sometimes doing this. So like I'm not calling anybody out, but like just like the Sermon on the Mount, we've been going through this at church. It's in Matthew 5, if you want to read it, but Jesus was literally taking the law that they all thought that they were really upholding and taking it one level further and being like, You're not as good as what you think you are.
lexi: And see I love when he has moments like that. I'm just like
Tess: Yes.
lexi: mm
Tess: So like these people on social media can tear other Christians down under the guise of calling them higher or exposing false prophets. These are words that they're using. These are not my words.
lexi: Stop, they actually said that.
Tess: Yeah, some of them. It's very weird. It's a whole thing. It makes me very upset. Like it's over really okay, so anyways. But at some point we need to stop being like Pharisees on our little high horses, thinking that we have it all together and condemning or judging people, and we should just leave that to God. Do you know what I mean? Like I'm one of those people who
lexi: no no and period.
Tess: Yes. And people who like fully believe that like even if Even if their intent is wrong. God could still like Jimmy like even if their intent is wrong, if they're still talking about Jesus or like God or like good things, like he's able to use that. Like who am I to be like you're not qualified?
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: No
lexi: Imagine having that much confidence in your walk.
Tess: But that's me. And Yeah, that that's me. Cause I c I just could never. But like what's really frustrating, again, actually the whole thing's frustrating. But like they're literally dividing the enti 'cause like we're all on the same team. Like for the most part. Genuinely we are. But like they're literally dividing the body of Christ over things that are not even like biblically black and white.
lexi: Hey, you gotta watch out for those wolves in sheep clothing.
Tess: False prophets.
lexi: Hmm. Gotta you gotta. You gotta.
Tess: Like just to go back to the other example, like With Alios. Like she never once said Christians can have fun, so go out and party and get drunk and you know, but like in fact she would not say that. She was just like, We should have a joy, we can have fun, we can do fun things. Like life doesn't have to be that serious. Like And this girl had like a big problem with it. And I'm just like, ick. But then of course you have people like people follow her. And they're like, Yes, I
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: thought the same thing. I thought and I'm just like, stop it. Like, you guys could be on the same team.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: But now you have people in your comments being like, Yeah, whatever. Anyways Shall we read Psalm twenty-six?
lexi: No please do.
Tess: This is the Psalm of David, so I didn't just like call him out for no reason. It specifically says that. They're not all from him, but this one is.
lexi: David, don't take it personally.
Tess: Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity. I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. This verse makes you laugh. Verse two. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross examine me. Test my motives and my heart. Okay, I know it's only effective.
lexi: David! David, no, you're giving pick me. Did David, stop. I'm crudy.
Tess: I just feel like we should always talk about David because then we can just be like, oof, David
lexi: Ew David
Tess: But like, my goodness. I would never pray this prayer. I shouldn't say never.
lexi: Right. No, but I feel like that's one
Tess: Put me on trial?
lexi: thing. Yeah. Like I feel like that's one thing I'm confident enough to say I would never pray because please don't. Trust. I have myself
Tess: Cross exam, yeah.
lexi: on trial enough.
Tess: Yeah, which I can appreciate the fact that he even says like test my motives and my heart. So like he wants it like not just his actions. I can appreciate that. very risky to ask God
lexi: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Tess: for like that kind of thing. it's
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: like asking God for like patience or grace because like okay, he'll test you then. Like be prepared.
lexi: Yeah. Get ready.
Tess: Yeah, it's like that song, I put the lyrics here, but I don't know if you've ever heard, but it's called it's called Fruit Takes Time. And like the first verse it comes out the gate, it's like, I asked the Lord for patience. He threw me in the waiting, told him to make me righteous, and I almost became a bitter man. Ask him to he this one hurts me. Ask him to heal his church and he put my face to a mirror.
lexi: Humbling experience that song, isn't it?
Tess: It's a really good song, but like so anyways, bold. David's again, I'm not trying to judge ha the attitude in which he wrote this. It's giving a little bit like Declare me innocent, for I have acted with integrity, without wavering. Put me on trial. Test my motives.
lexi: Yeah. He's like No, please put me on trial.
Tess: Yes. Anyways, continue on. Verse three. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. by the way, this is the NLT version, just FYI. I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in the wicked. I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O Lord, singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders. So like I do think that like He's probably I don't think he's bragging, but it's giving a little like
lexi: This is everything I do. Yeah.
Tess: It's giving a little I would never. I love your sanctuary, Lord, we're on verse eight, the place where your glorious presence dwells. Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners, don't condemn me along with murderers. Their hands are dirty with evil schemes, and they constantly take bribes. But I am not like that. I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy. Now I stand on solid ground and I will publicly praise the Lord. Again. I think for the most part he's like I think he's coming from a good place. But like verse eleven, but I am not like that. I live with integrity, so redeem me and show me mercy. And like bolding boldly proclaiming something, even though he's going to end up doing the very things That he condemns in verses nine and ten. Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners. Don't condemn me along with murderers. Their hands are dirty with evil schemes and they constantly take bribes. Like
lexi: David, let's not forget Uriah, okay?
Tess: I have that in my notes.
lexi: Yeah, link. Let's go down.
Tess: Yes. so like obviously we believe that the Bible was divinely inspired by God. And so like he wanted this in here, but like if I was David, at the end of my life, I'd be like, hey listen. Remember that time?
lexi: Hey real quick.
Tess: Remember that time? I was like, I would never could we just
lexi: Any any chance we could scrap that.
Tess: Either that or also scrap the other part.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: So like that's why I'm kinda like ooh like it's very hard for me to be know for some of things that I've done like It's really hard to proclaim proclaim anything super boldly. Because do
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: you know what I mean? Like if you've done things that you're like, I would never do that. I can't believe I
lexi: Uh-huh.
Tess: ever did that. I would never. Like, if you have, then it's like, okay, well, do I want to? Am I glad? No. But like, I did. So like
lexi: Yeah. Where do we go from here?
Tess: Yeah. so like not justifying anything, but like also we obviously don't think that David was a bad person. He did some bad things. But like a lot of times we just associate that with people today. I mean not not David. Nobody thinks David's a bad person.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: We're gonna look at why he is, but like today people do bad thing that's not nearly as bad as some of the things David did and we're like bad person. It's like with title that we give them. Again, guilty. I do it too. I'm just saying like maybe we shouldn't.
lexi: Yeah. Collectively as a group, let's not.
Tess: Yes. So just for like sake of time, I'm not going to read the entire I should have marked this, not me like having to fumble through. It's if you guys want to read it, you it's gonna be second Samuel eleven and twelve. No, yes. It's actually mainly just eleven. Trying to decide because I would really love to read it because there's so many times that we could be like, ooh, David. Yeah, I'm just gonna read it. I'll try to read fast. Not too fast though, because if people put me on two times speed, they're gonna be like, what is she saying? Okay. In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. That did you wanna read this?
lexi: No, it's okay, you go ahead.
Tess: Okay. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabba. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem, which was very weird, by the way. It was very weird for kings not to go out. Just FYI. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told she is Bathsheba, the daughter of Abraham. Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Then David sent messages. Mess I can't read, maybe you should read. Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message saying, I'm pregnant. To the point.
lexi: Hey girl. Hey buddy.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: child support? Question support?
Tess: Then David, verse six, sent word to Joab, Send me Uriah the Hittite. So Joab sent him to David. When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. Then he told Uriah, Go on home and relax. David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. But Uriah didn't go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, What's the matter? Why didn't you go home last night after being away for so long? Verse eleven Uriah replied, The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master's men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing. Okay, first of all, Uriah's a saint. Like, if you're gonna have somebody in your army, that's who you want. Well, stay here today, David told him, and tomorrow you may return to the army. So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. Then David invited Say it lux.
lexi: You, David.
Tess: Yeah. Verse thirteen, if you're reading along, then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he still couldn't get Uriah home to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. The letter instructed Joab, station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest, then pull back so that he will be killed. So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy's strongest men were fighting. And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers. Again, pausing because David, you gave him the letter you sent him with his own death letter. Wild. Then Joab sent
lexi: Find out who your friends are.
Tess: Yes. Then Joab sent a battle report to David. he told his messenger, Report all of the news to the bat of the battle to the king, but he might get angry and ask why did the troops get so close to the city? Didn't they know where they would be shooting from? The walls. Wasn't Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thabez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall? Then tell him Uriah the Hittite was killed too. I think that's like unrelated. Like maybe Joe was like not doing his best, but hey, battle wasn't great, but also Uriah was killed, so be happy.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: So the messenger went to Jerusalem where twenty two, and gave a complete report to David. The enemy came out against us in the open fields, he said, and as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king's men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite. And this is exactly why Joab told him to tell it this way. Do you wanna know? I'm gonna tell you David's response. So and I love I love the NLT version for this because like I just know that the King James version or like some other ones wouldn't have it in such plain language that you could really sense like The g agastness of it. I don't even know if that's a word, but like, okay, so including Uriah the Hittite, verse 25. Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged, David said. The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow. Fight harder the next time and conquer the city. No big deal. Do better. It's fine. When Uriah's wife
lexi: That's pretty snaky.
Tess: what?
lexi: That's pretty snaky.
Tess: yeah, yeah Ew
lexi: David
Tess: David When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son, but the Lord was displeased with what David had done. Anyways, talk about I would never. Lest we remember where's my thingy? First Psalm twenty-six. Put me on trial. Cross examine me. Murderers could never be me. Their hands are dirty. I'm not like that. Verse literally 2611. I am not like that. I live with integrity. Not one ounce of integrity in that story we just read. You weren't even out to war with your soldiers like you're supposed to be. You literally Took another man's wife, like David, this was such a small amount of time. Literally, like, I mean, that was a chapter, and sometimes chapters in the Bible literally, like the end of Exodus to the beginning of the end of Genesis to the beginning of Exodus, I think there's like four hundred years that pass in that period. So like it's not always the most accurate span of time. However, this was not that long.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: in that amount of time, he committed murder, probably some form of rape, because like I'm sure Bath Shiba did not want to like do that.
lexi: Mm-hmm.
Tess: And adultery in like less than a month. And After he wrote, I did double check. There are a couple different reviews, but like for the majority, a lot of people think that he wrote Psalm twenty six before this happened. and that's my whole point of all of this is to say like that's why we should be so careful with the I would never's, I could never, how could they? Because sometimes we get into life situations and like obviously like God can be with us and like help like But I'm just saying, like, I think we should be careful to think that like I would never. Do you think David woke up that morning and thought within that day, like he not only did some really like actual terrible things, but like just disgusting like the letter? Like you couldn't have found some other way to get word out there besides for like that is so low to send
lexi: What if Uriah would have let it read it?
Tess: Yeah Like so many th and again, like ick, like you're the king, like everybody has to come to you, but like Bathsheba, sh I think we talked about this before, so I'm not gonna get into it, but like if anybody comes at me and says that she shouldn't have been bathing on the roof, that you don't understand culture at all. So and don't you dare. There's even people who go so far as far as to say like she was trying to entice David, like shut up Respectfully, shut up.
lexi: He's a pig.
Tess: Yeah. Yeah. If I've ever needed proof that d David was a real warm blooded male, this is it. And
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: gross he used his power and gross he like 'cause like she can't say no. She cannot like she says no to the king, you die.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: Like maybe not David, like I would like to think that maybe if she said no, he
lexi: I've defn I've definitely heard She was on the roof. She was she was baiting on the roof. She was trying to get him like give me a break. Give me a literal break. No, he was a man in power with a god complex and decided to act on his Emotions, feelings.
Tess: Whims.
lexi: Yeah, ew.
Tess: So like back to the and so this is wrapping this all together, tying this up with a pretty little bow. Literally back to the Sermon on the Mount, the Pharisees and David in Psalm twenty six were very like, I don't do that. I would never, whenever Jesus is like, You know the law, you know you're not supposed to murder. You know that like a lot of like his little things actually start with like you've been told, meaning the law, but here's this, like takes it one step for like a lot of them actually start that way. So like, yes, you know that you're not supposed to murder, you know that you're not supposed to commit adultery, you know that you're not supposed to lie, and the Pharisees are all like, Yeah, we've kept all of these laws. We're so good. But like Jesus takes it one step further, and this is where I'm bringing it down to like us, whenever we are so like holier than thou I would never for those three I've really kind of been hitting on like the adultery, murder and lying lying, just because they've played a part in what we read today, but he talked about other things too. But he literally would say, Yeah, you know that, but also if you hate somebody, that's the same as murdering them. If you lust after a woman, that's the same as committing adultery. If you twist things or say things in a way to deceive somebody, that's the same as lying. And so then all of a sudden the people who are like, yes, I've kept all these laws. I'm so good. And Jesus is like, No, you're not. Like, no, you're
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: not. And so I think that that's why even this whole thing with like people like tearing other Christians down on social media, it's just like it's giving like you think you're better than them, but like you have no idea. Like And obviously, like there are more like emotional and literal consequences with, you know, the outward big quote sins. Like, yeah, if you murder somebody, you're gonna go to jail. Like there are different consequences because like you could hate somebody, but like nobody ever knows. but like regardless, they all have the same eternal consequences, so
lexi: So let's not act.
Tess: Yeah. So like I guess like if you've said like I would never or yeah. Are you sure like maybe you haven't already? But the good news is God is a God of redemption and David did. for lack of put it, he j he felt really bad about what he did. a lot of mourning happened. speaking of consequences, like i God they their their baby that was conceived in that whole scenario died. because God was like you the it was like a punishment. but as I was saying God is a God of redemption. They did get pregnant again and had Solomon. And Solomon was the wisest man to to ever live. And in the that's the line through which Jesus came. So we love that. We love a redemption story. We love whenever God purposely uses really crappy situations to show his forgiveness and redemption and grace and mercy and all of those really great things. but yeah, so just like remember that your life hasn't been lived, like tying back in what you said about kids, like you don't have kids. You haven't raised kids. So be ge very careful whenever you say, My kids will never or I would never as a parent because you just don't know.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: Anyways. I think it's always really helpful to like remember that like these giants from the Bible that we put up and like a lot of things about his life deserve to be put on a pedestal. But like But like also he definitely was not without his problems, sins, issues.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: And I just think that's a good thing to remember. I never know how to end these things.
lexi: Same. So we will well we'll record early because we'll be on vacation and it's many times that we say, we'll do it together. It never happened. So we'll record and it'll come out the week that we're on vacation. So like don't blow us up or anything.
Tess: We will be MIA out of office.
lexi: Yeah office. But yeah. So you'll hear us chat next week.
Tess: Yeah, next Friday. We'll see you back.
lexi: Bye.
Tess: whenever we read it, ooh David
lexi: TV Stop Not the Pharisee. I'm gonna start calling people that.
Tess: Again, like I'm with you guys like
lexi: You're a Pharisee. Don't come at me.
Tess: Welcome back to Sisters in Session, where therapy meets sister talk and nothing's off limits. We're two sisters who overthink everything, laugh too loud, and try to make sense of life's chaos one session at a time.
lexi: From relationships and self-care to the messy middle of growing up, it's part heart to heart, part comedy hour, and all real talk with zero chill. So settle in.
Tess: So grab your coffee.
lexi: What is happening? Grab your coffee or drink of choice and settle in. It's time for your weekly dose of sisterhood and self-reflection.
Tess: We're just like all over the map.
lexi: No, it's like no it's not good. It's not good.
Tess: Like again, no matter how much I try to prepare and be ready, I'm always rushing to sit down and do this.
lexi: I was waiting on you this time.
Tess: I know. Cute cup.
lexi: I was just like here in the stud thank you. Here in the studio. Bef
Tess: I know.
lexi: Before we go anywhere today, we do need to do a little shout out to someone who watches these all the time. And she says she laughs all the time. Hello, Mimi.
Tess: Hi Mimi. Honestly, we love her.
lexi: We do. She's the best.
Tess: Well, whenever we were on our unannounced break, she was like she messaged me, she's like, Are you and Lexi still like doing the podcast? And I was like, Yeah. I just had like other things going on. So she's been waiting.
lexi: Yes. She just told me yesterday she watched last week's. She's like, I just crack up every time. Yeah, because we're hilarious, but
Tess: We are. Yeah. I was gonna say something else. my nails are not done. Please don't make that face at me.
lexi: They're just like little
Tess: I
lexi: nubs.
Tess: I know. Well, they it was time for them to come off
lexi: Uh-huh.
Tess: and then it's like kind of I'm trying to wait till a little closer to we're going to the beach and so like I don't want to be like my timing's off. And so I thought if My timing like my nail timing, not the c podcast timing. You
lexi: Dude.
Tess: look confused and so I was trying to like sort through that.
lexi: No, I looked confused because you weren't speaking. That's why I looked confused. I wasn't sure if we were stroking out in this episode. Okay. Perfect.
Tess: No, I am. I am. My timing's off. And if I would have had time, I would have maybe still done them today, but I didn't have time this morning, so maybe later. Still rocking the red chrome.
lexi: These are press ons. I just got like a some kind of special glue and I've had not had a problem. I did lose this one, but I do remember that I didn't put like a lot of glue on it like I did the other ones. And but the rest of them, I honestly think they're gonna be a little difficult to take off.
Tess: Ooh.
lexi: Love that for my nail beds.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: but I ordered some new ones for the beach. It's like a butter yellow, and then they have like 3D flowers on and some pink, and I'm just like, you know what? Cause I really haven't had like a ton of time to like do them myself. And so I think it's just gonna be easier for this week, especially. Cause I'm gonna be prepping.
Tess: Yeah. Yeah.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: Anyways, so yes, we're going to the beach. Short work week. Happy Friday. 'cause, you know, Labor Day. Wha you went to Mimi's for Labor Day.
lexi: Yes, we cleaned out the basement and then went to Mimi's yes.
Tess: okay. Nice. We went to the beach.
lexi: Very different taste.
Tess: Very different days.
lexi: Yeah, I my allergies are actually a little bit messed up today from that yesterday. All the dust.
Tess: Yeah. Mm-hmm. I could see that.
lexi: How's the beach?
Tess: my word, great.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: So great. It was such a nice day to be down there. Water was wet.
lexi: Was it busy?
Tess: Not too bad. I mean like ish because like everybody's off work but like a lot of people like aren't like it's we're we're kinda out of peak season.
lexi: Out they're not visiting for Labor Day really.
Tess: Yeah. you know it was so nice. the water was calm and clear and warm and like just like the nice like waves. Like they're like white capped, they're like floating over. nice breeze. It's gorgeous. Great day to be at the beach.
lexi: But that
Tess: Yeah. I am excited for next week 'cause to just sit every day on the beach. 'Cause like
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: I I know people laugh. People being you and I. Whenever I say that like I need a vacation, but like I just need a vacation. Like I need to not need to be doing like we did go to Utah in February and it was great. It was such a good time, but like we were on a schedule. We were like hiking. and like
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: travelling and in the car and so it was very like it wasn't like a sit and do nothing vacation which are sometimes nice but like now I'm just like I didn't just sit and do nothing.
lexi: And one thing about us on vacation, we don't have a schedule. We never have we never have a schedule. Mainly because my my mom is not the best at keeping. She's not gonna see this. She's not good at keeping schedule. She's not good at keeping an itinerary. Home girl is literally late for everything. So light. And my dad is pretty good at it. Like if he has to be somewhere at a certain time, he likes to be there at that time. Michael and I were at Mimi's yesterday before they worked.
Tess: Surprised.
lexi: but yeah, so we don't really have a plan.
Tess: Or just go off of vibes. Anyways, I
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: did get some nice sun yesterday, but something about something about my lighting is not showing that. But I did.
lexi: I know you showed me. I was like,
Tess: anyways, any updates from last week's episode for you?
lexi: Don't even remember. What was there to
Tess: I know.
lexi: update?
Tess: Nothing not nothing necessarily. Yeah, no, I'm bus I wasn't I wasn't fishing for anything.
lexi: Perfect. If you hear something in the background, that is my washing machine. I just heard it and I was like, We're real. We have to do
Tess: It probably won't pick it up. Yes.
lexi: laundry.
Tess: We have to do laundry. We don't have a maid service.
lexi: No. Well, some of us don't.
Tess: No, I don't right now. I haven't picked anybody up since we came back. I know. I've just been doing it myself.
lexi: Eu.
Tess: Imagine me but because of all of the house stuff, like honestly, like I have a hole
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: in like four of my rooms in the walls. And like as Lamar's working on things, there could be ma it's just we're just not in a season where we
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: can do like where that makes sense right now.
lexi: Dad is gonna be the speaking of Lamar, Dad's gonna be the only male other than Sawyer and crew on this trip.
Tess: And I feel bad.
lexi: I don't. He needs it. He needs a little estrogen.
Tess: Does he? I feel like he's around estrogen all the time. Okay.
lexi: No, he needs it. I'm anxious to see how it goes because he is so unbelievably outnumbered.
Tess: Yeah. And even the people with him like what are they gonna do?
lexi: Right.
Tess: So update on the house. We did get the pipes insulated.
lexi: Good.
Tess: So Lamar is going to try to underneath the house do the drains. So they drain outside. hoping that all works or does
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: what it needs to do. It's gonna be a little hard to tell. Because it's still hot and humid here, so it's going to be really hard to tell like if it's really helping with the moisture under the house until it cools off. Because, you know, once there's moisture, it's kind of there like it's just moisture until it dries out. But it's
lexi: Yeah. Yeah.
Tess: hard to dry out whenever it's just hot, humid air
lexi: Right.
Tess: in the air. But I thought it was huh?
lexi: Right I said right.
Tess: Yeah. Well, I thought it was I just thought this was really interesting because not interesting. Okay. Let me say this as part of the update. We, as you all know, Airbnb'd our house for the summer, lived in the camper, but we really love this house. And the goal with this house was to always Airbnb it full time. And I'm not gonna get into like the big goal dream, but like this is all working towards something. Like I would dare I say not ministry work, but or like but like kind of. Like the big goal. so we're not trying to, you know, s I don't care if people have Airbnbs just for extra income. Like obviously like that could be a part of it, but like that that's not the big goal.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: I'm not gonna get into the big goal for now. So anyways, all of that to say, this was very discouraging to have to like 'cause
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: we felt like we were like everything was lining up and like we really felt like we were doing the right things, all the things, and so this was discouraging to have to
lexi: Right.
Tess: put the money and the time into this. Cause we were like like Mm, not that again, not that we believe that like doing good things in somehow
lexi: Keep bad things from happening.
Tess: yes. Yes. however, back whenever before we left, we were kinda like, man, we just like really love this house and you know, maybe we should just live here and then buy another property. to Airbnb full time for a while and like that kind of thing. And n not that that would have been bad. However, Lamar just shared this with me. And so I'm gonna share it with you all. But because of how much we love the house before we left, while we were gone, he had been praying that like there would be some sort of sign of like what we should do as far as like stay in this house, other house, whatever. And he asked me if I had ever heard of like the eagle like a mama eagle putting thorns in her nest. And I was like, No. And he was like, Whenever a mother eagle whenever it's time for the babies to leave, like it's time for them to go be on their own, if they don't act like they're ready to go, she will actually put thorns in the nest so that whenever they try to come back, like it's uncomfortable. And I was like, and he was like, I kind of feel like That's what this is. Like some thorns in the nest. This is just a property. The goal was to use this as a property. And so that
lexi: Mm-hmm.
Tess: we're gonna get this taken care of, but then we're going to do what we need to do to have this place Airbnb full time.
lexi: Yeah. And you know, I don't wanna say that I was right this entire time. Because there was a sp specific day that you guys were up here and I was like what do I think? 'Cause I feel like you had said, well like what what do you think? Or like what do you like I could have just been giving my opinion. That's not out of the norm for me.
Tess: Ha ha
lexi: But I was like, I think you guys should go with like this other like not stay, not buy another property yet, go with this and then do this full time. So like I don't wanna say if you'd have listened to me and just like took it like the pipe thing wouldn't have happened, but I do think it's a little funny on the timing.
Tess: Yeah. Well, and that was kinda like my thought. Like, I loved that analogy. And I think he's right because there were a lot of things whenever we came back that like I was just like, this is not it doesn't feel the same as when we left. however, I was like, Well maybe the thorns couldn't have been as sharp, you know? Maybe they could have been cheaper and not as in depth. But I also
lexi: Right.
Tess: know myself, anyways, I don't want to speak for Lamar, but like I can rationalize a lot of things. And so anyways, I thought that was like so great. So and well because in this I I had said several times, I'm like, well maybe we just fix it up and then just sell it. Like just sell the house and just be done. I was so frustrated. but he more or less said he's like I don't think that like That's not r like to him that's not an option at this point. It's just we do what we need to do to get it taken care of, do what we need to do to be able to Airbnb it full time and keep pressing on, so
lexi: Onward and upward.
Tess: Yes.
lexi: We love that.
Tess: Yeah. So
lexi: Hun.
Tess: That's my update. Doesn't necessarily make it easier. It does make it
lexi: But it it gives you peace of mind.
Tess: Yeah, it kinda like re well honestly it kinda knocks me back in my place to be honest. Like
lexi: Won't he do it?
Tess: Yeah, like you just need to like chill out. The goal is still the goal. The plan is still the plan.
lexi: You're like, I need a for sale sign now.
Tess: Yes. Just do what we need to do to hide any mold and moisture till it sells and get out.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: But so still trusting the plan. Lamar brought me back down to Earth, but honestly he might have needed that a little bit too. 'cause yeah, it's just been like it's just been hard and annoying. and there's just a lot of like from his end as far as like what to do to correct it and fix it and make sure everything is right, like there's a lot of things that he just I mean, he doesn't work in the HVAC and
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: like it's not his world. And
lexi: Mm.
Tess: so he has a lot more frustrations than what even I have because I get the luxury of not having to like try to figure out how to fix it.
lexi: One thing Lamar though, he's a researcher and he'll do his research. But yeah, I mean he's not exactly in that field. Do I think that he couldn't do something in that field? No. I'm not saying that. But that's not that's not his that's not his bread and butter, if you will.
Tess: No. No. So anyways, that's where we're at. Refocused. Re Whatever. Just doing what we need to do to fix it. And we're gonna go from there.
lexi: Love that.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Don't love the journey it takes to get there, but love that. Right.
Tess: Painful. Like in like emotionally, a little bit spiritually, because like I said, I was like, what this was not sp this was not part of the plan.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: and I wouldn't even say that this was a plan. Sometimes people do plans and they're like guilty. This is I'm not talking about or down to anybody, but it's like, I'm gonna take this step. And hope that you come meet me and like, do you know I mean like kinda like I'm gonna start working that way and hopefully you come like join in.
lexi: That's me with my car right now, I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm not gonna lie. For those of you who don't know, I've been pretty vocal about it on how I feel about this. but I have to take although Michael said I can take the Duramax if I want. We'll see. I have to drive my car that I'm trying to sell all those miles. I don't mind driving to the beach, by the way. Let me finish that. I don't mind driving. It's not that. It's just I'm gonna have my stuff. And Tori and the kids is stuff in the trunk. One thing about my car, it's like my trunk is not like small, but it's not like huge. Like you're not fitting an overabundance of stuff. And then dad wants us to bring his golf clubs.
Tess: Mm.
lexi: And then mom wants us to bring her beach chairs. Mind you, when they said about taking the bikes, they said, I said, I'm not taking your stuff. Like just being whatever. And
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: dad was like, I don't need you to take my stuff. I have saddlebags. Well, well, well. Now I have to take the golf clubs and two chairs and whatever else a canned chicken. I have to take canned chicken.
Tess: That's for me.
lexi: That's for her. Yeah. So like and I don't want
Tess: Plus any other I haven't actually set my official list yet, but canned chicken for sure. But that won't be going back with you. Jamie?
lexi: Right. But anyway. So and I don't want there's nothing I hated more as a kid than being crowded in on a road trip.
Tess: Mm-hmm.
lexi: So I don't want Tories kids to be in the back trying to move around golf clubs and whatever else. I hate that. I hate that. I don't know if something in here is messed up, probably, but like I hate that. So I'm like really praying for Praying for a miracle at my car
Tess: Do not?
lexi: somehow sells.
Tess: And you buy a new one within the next four days. Okay. Do you know that Joanna
lexi: Yes. Buying it won't be the problem. Can't hide money. No, I'm just kidding. Buying it won't be the problem. It'll
Tess: Right.
lexi: it's it right now I'm just waiting for it to sell. I could trade it in, yes, but I will lose a lot of value on it. But yeah, I just don't know.
Tess: Yeah. Well I mean if if push comes to shove, just something to think about, Joanna would probably let you take her suburban.
lexi: Yeah, but then I feel weird.
Tess: I I get that. It would be nice if you guys could take Tory Suburban.
lexi: Right, but that's a death trap. And there's no AC, so I literally would die.
Tess: Yeah. Anyways, no, I totally get that. But like this house thing was not us doing that. Being like, hey, we have this really great idea, jump on board. Like
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: everything about this has been like cautiously trusting that we're following where he's leading. So anyways, that was just why I had said that like this wasn't like a I'm gonna kinda step and like come on. Like this is very much like everything about I mean, this has been in place since before we even left PA. Constantly like a work in progress, but or like a dream goal. Anyways. Anyways, so yeah. Mm.
lexi: There's my Walmart delivery driver. He's gonna look at me through the window.
Tess: And think, wow, she couldn't come pick up her stuff.
lexi: no, I here's the thing. I'm not doing that because I I haven't gone to trade my car in and I haven't gone, you know, whatever. But like it really would at this point for me be a miracle if somehow it would sell because I hate to put all those miles on it.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Like that's not that's not just like daily driver miles. That's like miles, miles. I don't know.
Tess: Yeah, and you kinda hate to take the truck too, because if you run into rain, then all of your stuff he has a cap.
lexi: Yeah, well, he has a ton of cover, yeah. Either way. The truck would be fine, but it's just
Tess: Yeah, I don't I don't blame you for not really wanting to like road trip in the truck.
lexi: Yeah. Don't get me wrong, I love the truck, but like
Tess: Yeah. Hmm.
lexi: So if someone wants something materialistic to bring
Tess: With absolutely no spiritual value.
lexi: Mama needs a new car. That's terrible. There are people that are dying?
Tess: Yeah. Hey, listen, this is our reality.
lexi: I think I might need a reality check, but anyway.
Tess: Anyways. So kind of on that note, but like not on that note, something we're gonna be trying out here going forward to make that face. Yeah, I told you.
lexi: yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Tess: is like incorporating some sort of like I don't I struggle with the word Bible study because I'm not a Bible teacher, obviously. And it's more or less just like things that I'm thinking of or whatever, sh even struggling with, and then just bringing the Bible into it, but like Obviously I already do that, but like on the podcast, so it's not really like a new direction because we've always kind of like referenced God in the Bible, obviously, just because it's just a part of our life, but taking time to like look into the Bible in regards to like specific like life circumstances, scenarios, situations. But having said that I feel like right off the rip. Right out the gate. Let me be clear. Lexi, are we perfect?
lexi: Yes.
Tess: Okay. Then never mind, we're done.
lexi: Never mind, that's it. No, we're not perfect. Contrary to popular belief, we know, we know,
Tess: Right.
lexi: we we make it look good.
Tess: Yes. However, we're not. So don't even come in here with like that kind of attitude because I swear if you start thinking that we're perfect or or that we think we're perfect, you would be incorrect. So don't think like perfect and polished. Think more like raw, messy and real.
lexi: Rama scene real.
Tess: Because That's like where we're at. And honestly, like even as this like starts to I don't even know what this looks like going forward. I had a pretty clear idea of like where I wanted it to go for today. But like going forward, up in the air.
lexi: We don't know.
Tess: so and honestly, there's a chance that like as we depending on what the topic is, like things could be left open ended. Because I I don't know. You might know more than me, but like we might not have like the answers to anything that we like bring up, but I also think that like a lot of the questions or confusions or like things that we like think or struggle with, I would like to think that other people do too. And so that's kind of more the the think of it as more of like that's why I don't want to say Bible study, because I'm I'm not here to like teach anything. I'm just here to share my thoughts and then get your opinions. You being the people.
lexi: Yeah. We could call it
Tess: and
lexi: a a Bible gab.
Tess: Yeah, like y yes, something like that. so this has been something I also don't want anybody to think that like I'm just like coming into this just like on a whim because believe it or not I have bought this for a very long time because I was just like disqualifying myself obviously because that's like
lexi: We do.
Tess: right obviously but just like within the last couple weeks or month or so like There have been so many signs and like it has been on my mind all the time. Like I can know it was either do something about it or just like suffer. So 'Cause it was like it was like always there. And I was just like, I got tired of just like trying to come up with reasons not to do it. So thankfully Lexi was gracious enough to just like come along with me because she just this is a shared space, so it's not something that I would just like, hey, this is what we're doing. so she graciously is following along in the direction. and A yeah, I have notes. Like that's what I keep doing over here on my iPad. Like scrolling in my
lexi: I don't like doubt that.
Tess: Yeah. 'Cause I was like, you know
lexi: She's very type A.
Tess: Well, and that and I like the last thing I wanna do is get on here and just like ramble but like not say anything. especially whenever it comes like something like this, which I tend to do and so it's not like written out word for word, but I do have like a something I should have sent it to you so that
lexi: I'm here, I'm listening.
Tess: Yeah. but anyways, another reason that I put it off for so long is because whenever you tend to do things like this, one, people judge you like you're perfect or like you know, you kinda like get like a microscope on you. and I'm just not really about that. So like don't even like just don't
lexi: Don't even make it like that.
Tess: No, 'cause I will let you down. Like I
lexi: Right.
Tess: I will get something wrong, lots of things wrong. Like so don't I don't know. And like obviously like we are not To any sort of level where like I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyways, sometimes whenever you like openly try to discuss these things, all of a sudden people are like looking at you like super closely and looking for anything that you're doing wrong. And just like, that's kind of like nerve wracking because like I'm not gonna get everything. Yeah. Yeah, because we just said we're not
lexi: Just don't do that here, okay? Because we're not perfect. We don't know everything. These are just this is our space that you we've welcomed you into, and that's fine. But don't assume that we know everything and don't assume that we're perfect. Don't come for me. I swear. Do not.
Tess: No, because I actually would really love for it to kind of be like not that way. Like more on
lexi: Right.
Tess: like the messy, we're allowed to have questions, we're allowed to struggle with things, we're allowed to like get things wrong sometimes. Like, should we be sh trying to do better? And well, yeah, of course, but like we are not like I would rather it be that kind of space where like I can have my opinion, you can have yours, they can have theirs. Like we can all come together because like here's what I'm seeing right now and it's just like really annoying me is like these Instagram pages of like Christians and yes, if you're not watching, I put it in air quotes. Not that I'm I'm not doubting their salvation, I just am confused by what they're doing, and it's like their entire page is basically stitching other Christian creators and like saying everything that's wrong about what they're saying. Have you seen that? Maybe not really.
lexi: No, but I'm conf what? Like no I like I get the idea I know what you're saying. I'm just confused as to where they found the audacity.
Tess: Their whole their whole page. Like it's their literal like thing is like they take okay, just for example like I I don't even know. I so I can't even like and not that I would necessarily so I can't even call out the person who did it, but like it was like months ago, like Ali Yoast had shared a a reel talking about how like Christians are allowed to have fun or like In fact we should be people who are joyful and like look how they're having fun. Like and like we should be that way. Anyways, I forget what all she said. It doesn't matter. But like this person who then I went to their page and it's like all they do, like stitched it and basically said like This is not the case. This should not be blah blah blah blah blah. And like just very much like her whole page is just stitching other creators, like Christian people and being like, That's wrong. That's and it's like it's just
lexi: See, and when when you do things like that and when you go into it with that kind of attitude, my first thought, I haven't even seen this girl, I have no idea who Tessa is talking about. I don't Well, then mm.
Tess: Couldn't tell you who was either. I just know.
lexi: but like my first thought to that is, okay, so you're perfect.
Tess: Right.
lexi: And that's why it's important that we prefaced, we know we're not, we just have some questions.
Tess: Yeah, because it very much comes across like very judgy, very holier than thou, very like I can't believe they think that, I can't believe they would do that. just like I don't know. It's just I don't like it. I don't like it. And I mean I guess I could kind of If you like every like you did like one video one time, like you really felt like you were like publicly weird and also I don't know. Just I don't know.
lexi: And also ew.
Tess: Yeah. So I just don't get the point. Like I just don't get the point. however, I'm pretty sure that we're all a little bit guilty of that. Like obviously maybe not guilty of like going online and being like, they're so wrong, but like just like thinking about how good we are compared to how bad some other people are. And like today I was going to I wanted to look at like Psalms twenty six because I feel like this is a really good example of it. because David was in this psalm basically doing the exact same thing was being like, Look at all those people and then look at me. And
lexi: Seems aggressive, David.
Tess: whenever we read it, ooh David
lexi: TV Stop
Tess: and I just think that we need to be careful whenever we judge or yeah, judge 'cause that's kind of what you're doing.
lexi: Here's the thing. Why are we doing the things that we're doing?
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Are we doing it for the listen? I was getting ready to pull my hair up, but I do need to say this. Because again, we're not perfect. I love a show. I
Tess: Ha ha.
lexi: love to make a show. I love to make a scene. But like why are we doing like not usually I'm not making a scene for like whatever. But like right.
Tess: For no reason.
lexi: Like there's always a reason.
Tess: Ha.
lexi: But but like why are we doing it though? Like if you give twenty dollars to someone on the street, are you doing it so that you're hoping someone's recording? Are you hoping like you know what I'm saying? Because that's
Tess: Yeah. Yeah.
lexi: the thing. I see a lot of influencers like doing these things and I'm just like I could appreciate it because either way that person is getting what they're
Tess: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
lexi: giving. But like you know
Tess: And like I can s yeah, like and again, 'cause like we don't know their intent.
lexi: Right.
Tess: I could genuinely like see a video like that and be like, my word, like feel inspired to like give twenty dollars to somebody. Do you know what I mean?
lexi: yeah.
Tess: But also like there's something to be said for like just doing things
lexi: Because
Tess: for God's glory, not for man's.
lexi: And not to get recognized.
Tess: Yeah, like I was actually just reading, I forget where, but Jesus was basically saying, like, whenever you're fasting, don't I forget what their culture it's in the Bible. It says like don't don't basically just don't make it known. I forget what it was. It like don't comb your hair, don't pull your hair up or s and something else, but like b I don't know what it was exactly there 'cause I I forget.
lexi: That's even targeted, because I just pulled it.
Tess: And I forget. Or was it was this basically like You're fasting for like like between you and God. Like it's not so everybody
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: knows I'm fasting. Like
lexi: I've been like, okay, you know what? Matter of fact, I'm gonna tell Dad that. I'm gonna tell him that in the Bible it says not to do that because he just like he'll come home and
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: he'll be like he'll be like, I'm starving. I haven't eaten since since yesterday. I've just been fasting. I'm like, okay.
Tess: We get it, Dad. You're losing weight.
lexi: We get it and it falls right off of you because you're a guy, okay.
Tess: Yeah, yeah. So I just so yeah. I just think that whenever even if somebody is sinning and we are obviously allowed to judge that sin based off of like right wrong, but
lexi: Mm-hmm.
Tess: and I don't even mean like excusing or defending it, but whenever you're so like I would never or I can't believe like You don't know and again, not defending or excusing, but like an explanation, like you don't know what the circumstances were surrounding or like what led to that. Again, not saying it's okay, not saying that like but like there's usually more than just I decide to shoot this guy. Like sh do dime sometimes there is that.
lexi: Listen, you can't be saying I would never.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: That's like someone without kids saying, my kids would never.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: Michael said that again the other day. I remember on the podcast I said that he said that once. He said it again the other day. I said, Michael, stop it. Stop saying that.
Tess: He's just asking for it.
lexi: He is. He yeah, he is. He wants a daughter just like Ruthie. I said, you might as well sedate me. Because
Tess: D yeah.
lexi: that's what I'm gonna need. But anyway,
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: I feel like that's the equivalent is saying like I would never and then like saying my kids would never, you know.
Tess: Mm. Yeah. Yeah. And like it's kind of giving like Pharisee of that time. It is.
lexi: Not the Pharisee. I'm gonna start calling people that.
Tess: Again, like I'm with you guys like
lexi: You're a Pharisee. Don't come at me.
Tess: Like I am guilty of sometimes doing this. So like I'm not calling anybody out, but like just like the Sermon on the Mount, we've been going through this at church. It's in Matthew 5, if you want to read it, but Jesus was literally taking the law that they all thought that they were really upholding and taking it one level further and being like, You're not as good as what you think you are.
lexi: And see I love when he has moments like that. I'm just like
Tess: Yes.
lexi: mm
Tess: So like these people on social media can tear other Christians down under the guise of calling them higher or exposing false prophets. These are words that they're using. These are not my words.
lexi: Stop, they actually said that.
Tess: Yeah, some of them. It's very weird. It's a whole thing. It makes me very upset. Like it's over really okay, so anyways. But at some point we need to stop being like Pharisees on our little high horses, thinking that we have it all together and condemning or judging people, and we should just leave that to God. Do you know what I mean? Like I'm one of those people who
lexi: no no and period.
Tess: Yes. And people who like fully believe that like even if Even if their intent is wrong. God could still like Jimmy like even if their intent is wrong, if they're still talking about Jesus or like God or like good things, like he's able to use that. Like who am I to be like you're not qualified?
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: No
lexi: Imagine having that much confidence in your walk.
Tess: But that's me. And Yeah, that that's me. Cause I c I just could never. But like what's really frustrating, again, actually the whole thing's frustrating. But like they're literally dividing the enti 'cause like we're all on the same team. Like for the most part. Genuinely we are. But like they're literally dividing the body of Christ over things that are not even like biblically black and white.
lexi: Hey, you gotta watch out for those wolves in sheep clothing.
Tess: False prophets.
lexi: Hmm. Gotta you gotta. You gotta.
Tess: Like just to go back to the other example, like With Alios. Like she never once said Christians can have fun, so go out and party and get drunk and you know, but like in fact she would not say that. She was just like, We should have a joy, we can have fun, we can do fun things. Like life doesn't have to be that serious. Like And this girl had like a big problem with it. And I'm just like, ick. But then of course you have people like people follow her. And they're like, Yes, I
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: thought the same thing. I thought and I'm just like, stop it. Like, you guys could be on the same team.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: But now you have people in your comments being like, Yeah, whatever. Anyways Shall we read Psalm twenty-six?
lexi: No please do.
Tess: This is the Psalm of David, so I didn't just like call him out for no reason. It specifically says that. They're not all from him, but this one is.
lexi: David, don't take it personally.
Tess: Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity. I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. This verse makes you laugh. Verse two. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross examine me. Test my motives and my heart. Okay, I know it's only effective.
lexi: David! David, no, you're giving pick me. Did David, stop. I'm crudy.
Tess: I just feel like we should always talk about David because then we can just be like, oof, David
lexi: Ew David
Tess: But like, my goodness. I would never pray this prayer. I shouldn't say never.
lexi: Right. No, but I feel like that's one
Tess: Put me on trial?
lexi: thing. Yeah. Like I feel like that's one thing I'm confident enough to say I would never pray because please don't. Trust. I have myself
Tess: Cross exam, yeah.
lexi: on trial enough.
Tess: Yeah, which I can appreciate the fact that he even says like test my motives and my heart. So like he wants it like not just his actions. I can appreciate that. very risky to ask God
lexi: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Tess: for like that kind of thing. it's
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: like asking God for like patience or grace because like okay, he'll test you then. Like be prepared.
lexi: Yeah. Get ready.
Tess: Yeah, it's like that song, I put the lyrics here, but I don't know if you've ever heard, but it's called it's called Fruit Takes Time. And like the first verse it comes out the gate, it's like, I asked the Lord for patience. He threw me in the waiting, told him to make me righteous, and I almost became a bitter man. Ask him to he this one hurts me. Ask him to heal his church and he put my face to a mirror.
lexi: Humbling experience that song, isn't it?
Tess: It's a really good song, but like so anyways, bold. David's again, I'm not trying to judge ha the attitude in which he wrote this. It's giving a little bit like Declare me innocent, for I have acted with integrity, without wavering. Put me on trial. Test my motives.
lexi: Yeah. He's like No, please put me on trial.
Tess: Yes. Anyways, continue on. Verse three. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. by the way, this is the NLT version, just FYI. I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in the wicked. I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O Lord, singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders. So like I do think that like He's probably I don't think he's bragging, but it's giving a little like
lexi: This is everything I do. Yeah.
Tess: It's giving a little I would never. I love your sanctuary, Lord, we're on verse eight, the place where your glorious presence dwells. Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners, don't condemn me along with murderers. Their hands are dirty with evil schemes, and they constantly take bribes. But I am not like that. I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy. Now I stand on solid ground and I will publicly praise the Lord. Again. I think for the most part he's like I think he's coming from a good place. But like verse eleven, but I am not like that. I live with integrity, so redeem me and show me mercy. And like bolding boldly proclaiming something, even though he's going to end up doing the very things That he condemns in verses nine and ten. Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners. Don't condemn me along with murderers. Their hands are dirty with evil schemes and they constantly take bribes. Like
lexi: David, let's not forget Uriah, okay?
Tess: I have that in my notes.
lexi: Yeah, link. Let's go down.
Tess: Yes. so like obviously we believe that the Bible was divinely inspired by God. And so like he wanted this in here, but like if I was David, at the end of my life, I'd be like, hey listen. Remember that time?
lexi: Hey real quick.
Tess: Remember that time? I was like, I would never could we just
lexi: Any any chance we could scrap that.
Tess: Either that or also scrap the other part.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: So like that's why I'm kinda like ooh like it's very hard for me to be know for some of things that I've done like It's really hard to proclaim proclaim anything super boldly. Because do
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: you know what I mean? Like if you've done things that you're like, I would never do that. I can't believe I
lexi: Uh-huh.
Tess: ever did that. I would never. Like, if you have, then it's like, okay, well, do I want to? Am I glad? No. But like, I did. So like
lexi: Yeah. Where do we go from here?
Tess: Yeah. so like not justifying anything, but like also we obviously don't think that David was a bad person. He did some bad things. But like a lot of times we just associate that with people today. I mean not not David. Nobody thinks David's a bad person.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: We're gonna look at why he is, but like today people do bad thing that's not nearly as bad as some of the things David did and we're like bad person. It's like with title that we give them. Again, guilty. I do it too. I'm just saying like maybe we shouldn't.
lexi: Yeah. Collectively as a group, let's not.
Tess: Yes. So just for like sake of time, I'm not going to read the entire I should have marked this, not me like having to fumble through. It's if you guys want to read it, you it's gonna be second Samuel eleven and twelve. No, yes. It's actually mainly just eleven. Trying to decide because I would really love to read it because there's so many times that we could be like, ooh, David. Yeah, I'm just gonna read it. I'll try to read fast. Not too fast though, because if people put me on two times speed, they're gonna be like, what is she saying? Okay. In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. That did you wanna read this?
lexi: No, it's okay, you go ahead.
Tess: Okay. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabba. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem, which was very weird, by the way. It was very weird for kings not to go out. Just FYI. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told she is Bathsheba, the daughter of Abraham. Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Then David sent messages. Mess I can't read, maybe you should read. Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message saying, I'm pregnant. To the point.
lexi: Hey girl. Hey buddy.
Tess: Yeah.
lexi: child support? Question support?
Tess: Then David, verse six, sent word to Joab, Send me Uriah the Hittite. So Joab sent him to David. When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. Then he told Uriah, Go on home and relax. David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. But Uriah didn't go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, What's the matter? Why didn't you go home last night after being away for so long? Verse eleven Uriah replied, The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master's men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing. Okay, first of all, Uriah's a saint. Like, if you're gonna have somebody in your army, that's who you want. Well, stay here today, David told him, and tomorrow you may return to the army. So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. Then David invited Say it lux.
lexi: You, David.
Tess: Yeah. Verse thirteen, if you're reading along, then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he still couldn't get Uriah home to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. The letter instructed Joab, station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest, then pull back so that he will be killed. So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy's strongest men were fighting. And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers. Again, pausing because David, you gave him the letter you sent him with his own death letter. Wild. Then Joab sent
lexi: Find out who your friends are.
Tess: Yes. Then Joab sent a battle report to David. he told his messenger, Report all of the news to the bat of the battle to the king, but he might get angry and ask why did the troops get so close to the city? Didn't they know where they would be shooting from? The walls. Wasn't Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thabez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall? Then tell him Uriah the Hittite was killed too. I think that's like unrelated. Like maybe Joe was like not doing his best, but hey, battle wasn't great, but also Uriah was killed, so be happy.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: So the messenger went to Jerusalem where twenty two, and gave a complete report to David. The enemy came out against us in the open fields, he said, and as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king's men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite. And this is exactly why Joab told him to tell it this way. Do you wanna know? I'm gonna tell you David's response. So and I love I love the NLT version for this because like I just know that the King James version or like some other ones wouldn't have it in such plain language that you could really sense like The g agastness of it. I don't even know if that's a word, but like, okay, so including Uriah the Hittite, verse 25. Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged, David said. The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow. Fight harder the next time and conquer the city. No big deal. Do better. It's fine. When Uriah's wife
lexi: That's pretty snaky.
Tess: what?
lexi: That's pretty snaky.
Tess: yeah, yeah Ew
lexi: David
Tess: David When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son, but the Lord was displeased with what David had done. Anyways, talk about I would never. Lest we remember where's my thingy? First Psalm twenty-six. Put me on trial. Cross examine me. Murderers could never be me. Their hands are dirty. I'm not like that. Verse literally 2611. I am not like that. I live with integrity. Not one ounce of integrity in that story we just read. You weren't even out to war with your soldiers like you're supposed to be. You literally Took another man's wife, like David, this was such a small amount of time. Literally, like, I mean, that was a chapter, and sometimes chapters in the Bible literally, like the end of Exodus to the beginning of the end of Genesis to the beginning of Exodus, I think there's like four hundred years that pass in that period. So like it's not always the most accurate span of time. However, this was not that long.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: in that amount of time, he committed murder, probably some form of rape, because like I'm sure Bath Shiba did not want to like do that.
lexi: Mm-hmm.
Tess: And adultery in like less than a month. And After he wrote, I did double check. There are a couple different reviews, but like for the majority, a lot of people think that he wrote Psalm twenty six before this happened. and that's my whole point of all of this is to say like that's why we should be so careful with the I would never's, I could never, how could they? Because sometimes we get into life situations and like obviously like God can be with us and like help like But I'm just saying, like, I think we should be careful to think that like I would never. Do you think David woke up that morning and thought within that day, like he not only did some really like actual terrible things, but like just disgusting like the letter? Like you couldn't have found some other way to get word out there besides for like that is so low to send
lexi: What if Uriah would have let it read it?
Tess: Yeah Like so many th and again, like ick, like you're the king, like everybody has to come to you, but like Bathsheba, sh I think we talked about this before, so I'm not gonna get into it, but like if anybody comes at me and says that she shouldn't have been bathing on the roof, that you don't understand culture at all. So and don't you dare. There's even people who go so far as far as to say like she was trying to entice David, like shut up Respectfully, shut up.
lexi: He's a pig.
Tess: Yeah. Yeah. If I've ever needed proof that d David was a real warm blooded male, this is it. And
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: gross he used his power and gross he like 'cause like she can't say no. She cannot like she says no to the king, you die.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: Like maybe not David, like I would like to think that maybe if she said no, he
lexi: I've defn I've definitely heard She was on the roof. She was she was baiting on the roof. She was trying to get him like give me a break. Give me a literal break. No, he was a man in power with a god complex and decided to act on his Emotions, feelings.
Tess: Whims.
lexi: Yeah, ew.
Tess: So like back to the and so this is wrapping this all together, tying this up with a pretty little bow. Literally back to the Sermon on the Mount, the Pharisees and David in Psalm twenty six were very like, I don't do that. I would never, whenever Jesus is like, You know the law, you know you're not supposed to murder. You know that like a lot of like his little things actually start with like you've been told, meaning the law, but here's this, like takes it one step for like a lot of them actually start that way. So like, yes, you know that you're not supposed to murder, you know that you're not supposed to commit adultery, you know that you're not supposed to lie, and the Pharisees are all like, Yeah, we've kept all of these laws. We're so good. But like Jesus takes it one step further, and this is where I'm bringing it down to like us, whenever we are so like holier than thou I would never for those three I've really kind of been hitting on like the adultery, murder and lying lying, just because they've played a part in what we read today, but he talked about other things too. But he literally would say, Yeah, you know that, but also if you hate somebody, that's the same as murdering them. If you lust after a woman, that's the same as committing adultery. If you twist things or say things in a way to deceive somebody, that's the same as lying. And so then all of a sudden the people who are like, yes, I've kept all these laws. I'm so good. And Jesus is like, No, you're not. Like, no, you're
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: not. And so I think that that's why even this whole thing with like people like tearing other Christians down on social media, it's just like it's giving like you think you're better than them, but like you have no idea. Like And obviously, like there are more like emotional and literal consequences with, you know, the outward big quote sins. Like, yeah, if you murder somebody, you're gonna go to jail. Like there are different consequences because like you could hate somebody, but like nobody ever knows. but like regardless, they all have the same eternal consequences, so
lexi: So let's not act.
Tess: Yeah. So like I guess like if you've said like I would never or yeah. Are you sure like maybe you haven't already? But the good news is God is a God of redemption and David did. for lack of put it, he j he felt really bad about what he did. a lot of mourning happened. speaking of consequences, like i God they their their baby that was conceived in that whole scenario died. because God was like you the it was like a punishment. but as I was saying God is a God of redemption. They did get pregnant again and had Solomon. And Solomon was the wisest man to to ever live. And in the that's the line through which Jesus came. So we love that. We love a redemption story. We love whenever God purposely uses really crappy situations to show his forgiveness and redemption and grace and mercy and all of those really great things. but yeah, so just like remember that your life hasn't been lived, like tying back in what you said about kids, like you don't have kids. You haven't raised kids. So be ge very careful whenever you say, My kids will never or I would never as a parent because you just don't know.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: Anyways. I think it's always really helpful to like remember that like these giants from the Bible that we put up and like a lot of things about his life deserve to be put on a pedestal. But like But like also he definitely was not without his problems, sins, issues.
lexi: Yeah.
Tess: And I just think that's a good thing to remember. I never know how to end these things.
lexi: Same. So we will well we'll record early because we'll be on vacation and it's many times that we say, we'll do it together. It never happened. So we'll record and it'll come out the week that we're on vacation. So like don't blow us up or anything.
Tess: We will be MIA out of office.
lexi: Yeah office. But yeah. So you'll hear us chat next week.
Tess: Yeah, next Friday. We'll see you back.
lexi: Bye.
