SPARK: Igniting Faith, Family, and Revival
Spark is a faith-filled podcast igniting revival in families, communities, and hearts around the world. Hosted by Maria Termotto-Horwitz, each episode blends powerful testimonies, prophetic teaching, biblical wisdom, and real-life stories of God’s transforming power.
From breaking generational curses to walking in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Maria equips you to live boldly for Christ, lead your family into deeper faith, and impact the world with the Gospel. You’ll hear inspiring personal stories, guest interviews, and prayers for healing, deliverance, and activation.
Whether you’re a new believer, a seasoned follower of Jesus, or somewhere in between, Spark will encourage you to live on fire for God — every day, in every area of life. Revival starts here.
SPARK: Igniting Faith, Family, and Revival
She Didn't Die by Suicide-The Truth About My Mother's Story
"This episode is dedicated to my mother, whose light was never meant to be extinguished. May her story remind us all to speak life, give love freely, and never withhold encouragement.”
The devastating truth about my mother's passing pains me to this day—she didn't die by suicide, but rather because her light was systematically extinguished through neglect and the intentional withholding of love. Despite her superhuman efforts—raising children, managing a business, caring for extended family, even laying bricks for our home—she longed for simple acknowledgment that never came. Her story reveals the profound biblical truth that "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).
Scripture doesn't present encouragement as optional but commands it. Jesus himself consistently affirmed others, from the woman with the issue of blood to his disciples. Biblical figures like Hannah, Leah, and Mary demonstrate how timely encouragement transformed despair into hope. This isn't just ancient wisdom—modern research confirms it. Marriage studies show each negative interaction requires approximately five positive interactions to restore balance. Children internalize and often fulfill the words spoken over them. Employees rarely quit companies but rather managers who fail to recognize their contributions.
When love and affirmation are withheld, the silent message is devastating: "you don't matter," "you're not enough," "you're replaceable." These unspoken wounds can be as damaging as verbal cruelty. If you've been crushed by silence or rejection, know that God declares your true worth: you are "fearfully and wonderfully made," loved with "an everlasting love," and "chosen." Today, consider whose light depends on your words. Speak life to your spouse, children, colleagues, friends—even strangers. The encouragement you offer might be sustaining someone's very existence without you knowing it. Who in your world needs to hear they're valued today?
A special thank you to the Best Home Ever Team for sponsoring Spark, allowing us to keep supporting Amanda Termotto’s Right From The Heart Foundation — from caring for orphanages in Uganda and India to funding outreach here at home. Get connected through a Spark Palm City networking event, Blessed Life Ever home church, Mustard Seed Collective Bible study, Calvary Fitness workout, or Like Arrows homeschool co-op. To learn more or get involved, text or call Maria at (561) 779-9452.
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This is SPARK—where faith meets action. Keep the fire burning, share this with someone who needs it, and remember: the time is now, and you are part of God’s Kingdom story.
Welcome back to the podcast, friends. Today I want to talk about something deeply personal, something that not only shaped my family's history but also serves as a wake-up call for all of us. It's the truth about the power of encouragement, the damage of withholding love, and the reality that life and death truly are in the power of the tongue. Before my mother passed, she was juggling more than most could ever imagine. She was raising her children, cooking, cleaning, caring for her great aunt, managing the business and even laying bricks to help build our new home. She was doing it all and she was doing it faithfully. But despite caring so much, she longed for something so simple acknowledgement, a hug words like you're doing a great job, honey, just a reminder that her sacrifice was seen and valued. But instead she was often met with silence or, worse, with intentional withholding of love. Rather than being told she was irreplaceable, she was made to feel replaceable. Instead of life being spoken over her, her light was slowly stomped out. And here's the truth. She didn't die because of suicide. She died because her light was extinguished by neglect, discouragement and the absence of love.
Speaker 1:The Bible says in Proverbs 18.21,. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit. That means our words can build or break, heal or harm, lift or crush. Encouragement is not optional, it's biblical. 1 Thessalonians 5.11 commands us therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. Even Jesus constantly affirmed people. He told a daughter, with the issue of blood, daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. He spoke to his disciples Well done, good and faithful servant. He lifted people with his words because he knew encouragement can change the trajectory of a life.
Speaker 1:Let's look at some biblical examples. Hannah in 1 Samuel 1-2,. She was mocked and ridiculed by Penaniah, but when the priest Eli finally encouraged her, telling her go in peace and may the God of Israel grant your request, that word lifted her countenance. She went from weeping in despair to walking in hope. Leah in Genesis 29-30,. Leah was unloved by her husband Jacob, who openly favored her sister Rachel. Imagine the crushing weight of rejection she carried. And yet the Lord himself stepped in, opening her womb and blessing her children, reminding us that even when humans fail to affirm us, god himself will. Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Luke 1, when she received the angel's word about carrying the Messiah, she could have been overwhelmed, but God sent her Elizabeth, who exclaimed blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her. That encouragement fueled Mary's courage to embrace her calling Over and over. Scripture reveals encouragement strengthens, while rejection destroys. Now let's step into the real world.
Speaker 1:Marriage Studies show that for every negative interaction in marriage, it takes about five positive interactions to balance it out. Couples who withhold praise, affection or affirmation are far more likely to experience separation or divorce. Something as simple as I love you or I'm proud of you keeps hearts connected. Parenting Children thrive when they hear encouragement. A child who grows up hearing Children thrive when they hear encouragement. A child who grows up hearing you're lazy or you'll never amount to anything often lives that out. But when a parent says I see how hard you're trying or you're gifted, that child grows with confidence. The words we speak become the seeds of their future Workplace.
Speaker 1:Think about burnout in the workplace. Employees don't usually quit companies. They quit managers who never recognize their efforts. A paycheck can keep somebody's body in the office, but only encouragement can keep their heart in the mission Culture. Look at celebrities or influencers who seem to have everything yet end their lives in despair. Often it's not money or fame they lacked. It was genuine encouragement, love and affirmation.
Speaker 1:The danger of withholding love. When love is withheld, it is just as damaging as spoken cruelty. A lack of encouragement communicates you don't matter, you're not enough, you're replaceable. But God says the opposite. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, psalm 139, 14. I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31, 3. Even the hairs on your head are all numbered, luke 12.7.
Speaker 1:Our call as believers is to echo God's heart with our words, identity and restoration. And maybe right now someone listening has been crushed by silence, rejection or cruel words. Let me tell you God has the final word over your life. If you've been told you're not enough, god says my grace is sufficient for you. If you've been told you're unlovable, god says I have loved you with an everlasting love. If you've been told you're replaceable, god says you are chosen a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.
Speaker 1:1 Peter 2.9. What the enemy tried to silence, god is raising up again. What words tore down, his word can restore down, his word can restore. So today I challenge you. Who needs your words? Who in your life is carrying an invisible load, longing to hear you're doing a great job. Tell your spouse you appreciate them. Tell your children you're proud of them. Tell your co-workers they're valuable. Encourage a friend, even speak life into a stranger. You may never know whose light depends on the words you speak.
Speaker 1:Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us of the weight of our words. Forgive us for the times we've been silent when we should have spoken life. Forgive us for withholding encouragement when it was needed most. Lord, help us to see those around us with your eyes. Give us the boldness to speak, love to affirm, to acknowledge and to bless. Let our words be rivers of living water, not weapons that wound. And for anyone listening who feels unseen, unappreciated or replaceable, Lord, whisper to their hearts now that they are chosen, irreplaceable and deeply loved by you. Let them feel your embrace. Restore the places that human words have torn down and raise them up in your truth. In Jesus' name, yeshua HaMashiach, we pray Amen.
