Christian Parent, Crazy World

Latest Episodes:

How To Learn More Scripture in 2024 Than You Ever Have Before! (w/ Zac Fitzsimmons) - Ep. 84 Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

King David said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

As Believers, we know that we are supposed to hide God’s Word in our hearts, but most of have a really heard time retaining Scripture. We know that a verse is somewhere in a certain book of the Bible, and we sort of know what it says—but we can’t quote it, or even find it without an aid.

What if there were some simple techniques that helped Scripture to stick in your memory and reside in your heart?

There are.

In this special New Year’s episode of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD, Catherine shares her tried and true method for memorizing Scripture. Her secret is the power of song. And she welcomes Zac Fitzsimmons, an insanely talented singer/songwriter to share his music with the CP/CW audience.

Zac is devoted to creating powerful, anointed songs from word-for-word passages of Scripture. He sings Psalm 1 and Psalm 8 live in this episode, and Catherine sings harmony. Catherine also shares the proven method she uses for committing Scripture to memory with her kids through song and sign language.

And Catherine issues a challenge to memorize one verse a week this year using a Scripture song—just one verse a week. Even if you fall short of 52 verses in 2024, you will have memorized quite a few and you will have soaked in God’s Word intently and intentionally, and that meditation will bear a lot of fruit in your life and in your family.

So join Catherine’s challenge to learn more Scripture in 2024 than you ever have before!

You can email Catherine to offer feedback and tell her about your Bible memory plan for the new year at catherine@catherinesegars.com.

Zac Fitzsimmons Bio: Zac is a Christian singer/songwriter from Minnesota, USA. He has led various congregations in musical worship for over twenty years and is most known for his ongoing endeavor of writing music and melodies to the Psalms word for word from the English Standard Version of the Bible. These songs are being discovered by people worldwide as valuable tools for soaking in the scriptures in a new way and aiding in scripture memorization. You can find links to the audio, lyric videos and chord charts at www.psalmsongswordforword.com

You can also find Zac on YouTube and Instagram.

To receive downloads of Zac & Catherine’s live perform of Psalm 8, Zac’s performance of Psalm 1, and all of Catherine’s Scripture songs, and pro tips for memorizing the Bible, subscribe at Catherine’s website: https://catherinesegars.com/resources

EPISODE RESOURCES:

See Catherine’s complimentary article on Crosswalk: “Learn More Scripture This Year with This #1 Proven Method”

SCRIPTURE SONG ARTISTS:

The Bigsby Show (for the books of the Bible and the 12 Disciples)

SIGN LANGUAGE RESOURCES:

Hands Speak, Signs Savvy, ASL Dictionary

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Family Traditions That Keep Christ at the Center of Christmas (w/ Bethany Kimsey) - Ep. 83 Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Keeping Christ at the center of Christmas is a huge challenge. Busy parents are constantly pushed and pulled a hundred different directions, especially at the holidays. Our event calendar in December can look like a flow-chart from an international airport with constant departures and arrivals. It is easy to forget Christ in the hustle and bustle of baking, shopping, wrapping, and party-hopping.

How do we keep our families focused on Christ during the hectic holiday season?

Bethany Kimsey, host of the Warrior Mama Podcast, joins Catherine again to discuss how to keep our hearts and our families concentrated on Christ during the Christmas season. These two moms have over 40 years of parenting experience, and in this episode, they share their favorite Christ-centered family traditions. These traditions are:

*Don’t compare yourself to other families.

*Study the names of Jesus.

*Celebrate Advent.

*Watch Christ-centered entertainment.

*Create a Jesse Tree.

*Assign Scripture passages to each family member for Christmas.

*Educate your kids and give to a Christ-centered mission.

*Celebrate Jolaboklaflod (an evening of book-giving) with Christ-centered books.

Employing some of these wonderful family traditions will help counteract the busyness, the commercialism and materialism, and the overall stress of Christmas.

Bethany’s bio: As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms.

Bethany recently authored A Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal to help mothers pray intentionally over their children and anchor in gospel truths. This can be purchased at www.Bethanykimsey.co.

She would love to connect at her website bethanykimsey.com or her Warrior Mama podcast https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com found on your favorite podcast platform. You can connect with Bethany on Instagram or Facebook as well.

Get Catherine's original Scripture songs by subscribing HERE.

OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED:

EPISODE 83: What Huge Lie Does Culture Teach Our Kids at Christmas? (w/ Bethany Kimsey)

EPISODE 81: How Can Celebrating Advent Enrich Your Christmas Season (w/ Laurie Christine)

EPISODE 51: 5 Family-Centered Films for Christmas

Advent Devotional Guide with information on the Jesse Tree (by Laurie Christine)

5 Heartwarming Films You Should Watch This Christmas (article by Catherine Segars)

World Vision’s Gift Catalog

Jolaboklaflod – Icelandic Christmas tradition of giving books.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What Huge Lie Does Culture Teach Our Kids at Christmas? w/ Bethany Kimsey - Ep. 82 Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

“He sees you when you’re sleeping.

He knows when you’re awake.

He knows when you’ve been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake.”

Our culture tells us that Jolly ole St. Nicholas is keeping a list, and he’s checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice. So the gifts under our tree at Christmas are a direct result of how good or bad we’ve been throughout the year.

Is that how our faith works?

Did God give the great gift of Christ to the world because we were good? Because we deserved Him?

No.

The Christian faith tells us that a very good God sent the gift of his Son to a broken humanity, to a hopeless people who have fallen short of His glory. We don’t deserve the gift of Jesus, but God gave this gift because of His overwhelming love for us.

Likewise, the gifts under our tree for our kids must not be attached to their behavior. Unlike Santa Clause, our gifts must not have strings attached. They should be a result of our love, not a manipulative ploy to garner a good performance from our kids.

Joining Catherine as a co-host for this vital conversation about what our culture gets wrong about Christmas is Bethany Kimsey, a mother of 8 and host of The Warrior Mama Podcast, a show that is devoted to applying the Gospel to the daily details of parenting our children. Together, Bethany and Catherine tackle one of the greatest cultural lies about Christmas—the lie that your Christmas gifts are attached to your goodness.

Bethany's bio: As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms. As a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, she wants to see a generation of moms who can connect their motherhood to the love of Jesus in real and practical ways so that they can be confident.

Bethany recently authored A Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal to help mothers pray intentionally over their children and anchor in gospel truths. This can be purchased at www.Bethanykimsey.co.

EPISODE LINKS:

Bethany’s website: https://bethanykimsey.com/

The Warrior Mama Podcast

Collaborated episode: The Hope of Christmas and Ways to Walk It Well w/ Catherine Segars

PODCASTS & RESOURCES REFERENCED:

Episode 4: Is Christianity Just a Religion of Do’s and Don’ts

The St. Nicholas Center

Song facts about “Santa Claus is Coming To Town”

Matthew 22:37

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Can Your Kids Be Whoever They Want to Be in Life? - Ep. 81 Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

There is a powerful and pervasive cultural myth being piped into our kids these days, and you are a bad parent if you don’t buy into it. The myth says that our kids can be whoever they want to be in life.

Is this idea BIBLICAL?

Is it TRUE or even REALISTIC?

In this solo episode, Catherine tackles this topic head on to establish what is Biblical and what is cultural when it comes to the dreams that our children pursue in life.

The idea that you can be whoever you want to be is the central theme in countless books, movies, and television shows. If you can dream it, you can be it. So the pressure is on for parents to support our child’s dream no matter what it is. After all, one of the most popular verses in the Bible tells us that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

We often fail to note that this verse is cherry-picked out of a section where Paul talks about his countless struggles, sharing how he has learned contentment with little or with much, in hunger or well fed. This verse is often used to promote the pursuit of a glorious dream yielding material success. It is seldom used to console someone whose dream has been crushed. And yet Paul said that in Christ, we can be content in both of those realities.

Can our kid be whoever they want to be in life?

No.

Nor do we want them to be.

But our kids can be who God created them to be in life. And who God has created them to be is the most exciting and fulfilling dream that our kids can pursue. God’s plan is what we should all be aiming for in life. As parents, we should let our kids see us aim for that mark, and hopefully they will learn to do the same.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

World Magazine

“The Hill: Sports film inspires but falls into familiar prosperity Gospel trap” by Collin Garbarino

The Hill (2023)

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:11-13

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How Can Celebrating Advent Enrich Your Family's Christmas? (w/ Laurie Christine) - Ep. 80 Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Keeping Christ at the center of the Christmas season is always a challenge. The hectic pace of life intensifies during December, and often our focus shifts to the never-ending list of responsibilities and chores to complete before the big day.

Strategically celebrating Advent is a wonderful way to keep Christ central in all the commotion of gatherings, parties, concerts, baking, and buying. Utilizing Advent calendars, candles, and books help us to focus on the magnitude of what Christ accomplished in coming to earth while pointing us toward his return.

Catherine’s guest in this episode, Laurie Christine, has accumulated a wealth of devotional resources that will help enrich your Christmas season by celebrating Advent. Catherine and Laurie start by digging into the history of Advent, and then they highlight the great gift of celebrating God’s hope, peace, joy, and love in line with each candle lit. Laurie also offers devotional and book recommendations for all ages to participate in the wonderful celebration of Advent.

Laurie Christine’s Bio: Laurie Christine is an author, podcast host, Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her on the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ. In addition to hosting a podcast, Laurie writes devotions and Bible stories for families. Her passion is to raise strong, courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God, and to help families like yours do the same! Her new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, just released on Amazon in November.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Laurie Christine's website: https://lauriechristine.com/

Laurie Christine's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.christine.author/?hl=en

Laurie Christine has created a wonderful resource for CPCW listeners that contains all of the devotionals and books covered in this episode which can be accessed here:

https://lauriechristine.com/podcast-interview-resources/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How To Biblically Parent a Child Who Identifies as LGBTQ (w/ Melinda Patrick) - Ep. 79 Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Biblically parenting a child who struggles in their sexuality requires resting on a bedrock foundation of truth while always operating in a spirit of love, humility, and surrender to Christ. We must never deny God’s truth, but a child struggling in this area must first be completely secure in their parents’ unconditional love. Focusing on the relationship is paramount. That relationship is secured by practicing unconditional love, the same love that God gives to us.

What can parents do to build a strong relationship with a child struggling in their sexuality? Incorporate this guidance:

*Commend your child’s courage for sharing their struggle with you.

*Express your unconditional love for your child. Say, “There is nothing you can think, say, or do that will change my love for you. I love you unconditionally, and so does God.”

*Pray fervently. Use the Word of God to pray over your child daily. (Find Scriptures to pray over you child HERE.)

*Listen. Listen. And when you’re done listening to your child.… listen some more.

*Humbly hold fast to Biblical truth on sexuality.

*Speak truth when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Don’t turn every conversation into a sermon. Instead, rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your communication.

*Walk in HUMILITY. The LGBTQ community has adopted PRIDE as their virtue, so we must walk in the opposite spirit.

*Model a surrendered life for your child.

*Model repentance for your child. You won’t parent your child perfectly, so when you mess up, tell them you are wrong and ask for forgiveness.

*Forgive yourself for your parenting mistakes and allow God to redeem them.

Catherine’s guest in this episode has been ministering to parents of children in the LGBTQ community for many years because she is one. Melinda Patrick is a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union. Melinda shares the successes and failures of this parenting journey, and her advice will bless, encourage, and convict us all.

Melinda Patrick’s bio: Melinda is the Director of Parent Support for His Wonderful Works and is host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth and The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting. Melinda has parented a same-sex attracted child for twelve years and is passionate about helping moms and dads build strong relationships with their children while not compromising truth.

RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:

Melinda Patrick’s Website

Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org

Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page

The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth

Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com

Debbie Causey’s Website & Speaker bio

Renovus website

Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey

The Unconditional Conference

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Matthew 11:28-30

John 8:31

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Should a Christian Identify as Gay or Trans? (w/ Melinda Patrick) - Ep. 78 Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

A Christian can struggle with any number of attractions or temptations, including same sex desire and gender confusion. But should a Christian consider that struggle to be part of their identity? Should who we are attracted to or how we feel about our bodies be central to our being? Is our sexuality an immutable characteristic like our race or ethnicity? In other words, should we should claim our sexuality as part of our essence?

And if we do, what are the ramifications of this conclusion theologically and practically?

Christopher Yuan, author of Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, lived for many years as a gay man. He addresses the issue of our Christian identity very clearly saying:

“If I were to identify as a gay Christian, I would be trying to resuscitate my dead man. We should never put our identity in our sin nature or in our flesh. Sin is never meant to be sanctified. It is meant to be mortified.”

Who we are attracted to is part of our experience as human beings here on earth. So is how we feel about our bodies. So are our significant roles—husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, friend. So is what we do—teacher, doctor, business owner, plumber … fill in the blank. So is what we are afflicted with: depression, anxiety, disease, addiction, abuse. Those are all, sadly, a part of our fallen human experience.

But that is not who we are.

As Christians, we must identify ourselves as sons and daughters of the most-high God. That is our identity. We must lay every other label down and brand ourselves with Christ. Then and only then can we walk in freedom.

Joining Catherine again to discuss the central topic of identity in the Christian life is Melinda Patrick, host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth. As a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union, Melinda considers identity to be a central component to every Believer’s spiritual journey. To overcome any temptation or obstacle, we must have our identity firmly rooted in Christ.

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

EPISODE 76: An LGBTQ Mom Responds to Andy Stanley

RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:

Melinda Patrick’s Website

Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org

Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page

The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth

The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting

His Wonderful Works: Hope Healing and Freedom

The Freedom March

Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com

PODCASTS. ARTICLES, WEBSITES REFERENCED:

EPISODE 69: What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child?

ARTICLE: “What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child?” by Catherine Segars

“Sewing Heresy/Mainline Slide: The Push to Accept Homosexuality Gutted Traditional Protestantism. Evangelical churches Are Headed down the Same Road,” by Mary Jackson (World Magazine)

“How to Confidently Minister to Friends Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction and Gender Confusion” Alisa Childers Podcast w/ Christopher Yuan

“The Number of LGBTQ Identifying Adults is Soaring” (Axios/data from Gallup)

Andy Stanley’s Message: “I Love My Church”

Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey

The Unconditional Conference

Debbie Causey’s Website

SCRIPTURES:

Psalm 24:3

Jeremiah 29:11

1 Corinthians 13:6

Proverbs 11:2

John 6:68-69

Psalm 40:1-3

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

An LGBTQ Mom Responds to Andy Stanley (w/ Melinda Patrick) - Ep. 77 Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

Statistics show that one in five Gen Z children are identifying somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum. One in five. Parents must realize that all of our children are dealing with this issue, because even if our kids aren't personally struggling in their sexuality, their friends are. This issue affects every parent and every child.

The church needs to have a loving and truthful approach for families facing this issue.

One of the largest and most influential churches in the United States, North Point Community Church, pastored by one of the most influential ministers in the world, Andy Stanley, just went on the record telling us about his church’s approach. Stanley’s message, along with the Unconditional Conference for parents of LGBTQ identifying children held at North Point, signify a substantial departure from where the evangelical church has stood on this issue.

Does Stanley have the right approach? Is it Biblical? Should we be concerned?

Catherine’s guest in this episode has been ministering to parents of children in the LGBTQ community for many years because she is one. As a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union, Melinda Patrick is precisely the kind of parent that the Unconditional Conference was trying to reach. But she has deep concerns about this conference and Stanley’s teaching.

Together, Catherine and Melinda break down the troubling aspects of this conference and the message that Andy Stanley presented to his church.

Melinda's Bio: Melinda Patrick is the Director of Parent Support for His Wonderful Works and is host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth and The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting. Melinda has parented a same-sex attracted child for twelve years and is passionate about helping moms and dads build strong relationships with their children while not compromising truth.

RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:

Melinda Patrick’s Website

Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org

Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page

The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth

The Even While Podcast: Living Well in the Midst of Waiting

His Wonderful Works: Hope Healing and Freedom

Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com

“The Number of LGBTQ Identifying Adults is Soaring” (Axios/data from Gallup)

“The Train is Leaving the Station” by Albert Mohler Jr.

Andy Stanley’s Response: “I Love My Church”

Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey

The Unconditional Conference

Debbie Causey’s Website

The Freedom March

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

John 3:16-21

Matthew 10:34-36

John 18:37

John 14:15

John 15:14

John 15:1

John 8:30-31

Matthew 18:7

Matthew 7:21-23

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Romans 6:23

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What Vital Question Do Many Parents Never Ask God? - Ep. 76 Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

There is a question that many Christian parents never ask God. Catherine and her husband didn’t ask God this question for the first two decades of their marriage, despite attending church weekly, tithing, going so small groups, and having daily devotionals. That question is:

WHAT DOES GOD WANT MY FAMILY TO LOOK LIKE?

We often seek God about where we should work, live, and go to church, what school our kids should attend, and how to raise our children—but many parents never ask God how many kids they should have, adopt, or foster.

Why is that?

In this episode, Catherine explores this topic and then allows listeners to be a fly on the wall of her post-interview conversation with Kirsten Vossler, a mother of nine (soon to be ten). They discuss how the church has been subtly influenced by the world’s perspective on parenting and children.

If Jesus is to truly be Lord of our lives, that means He must be Lord of our families. That doesn’t mean we have to crank out as many babies as possible in our child-bearing years, but it does mean we should seek God’s plan over our personal preference.

Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast.

Kirsten’s Website

Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood

RESOURCES & PODCASTS REFERENCED:

“Should God Have a Say in the Size of Your Family” by Catherine Segars

EPISODE 70: “When God Doesn’t Answer Our Prayers the Way We Hoped He Would” (w/ Andy Howard)

EPISODE 71: “How Does God Bring Beauty Out of the Broken Places in Our Lives?” (w/ Andy Howard)

Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast EPISODE 120 – Dispelling 5 Cultural Myths about Motherhood (w/ Catherine Segars)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What Is Really Happening When We Blow It with Our Kids? (w/ Kirsten Vossler) Ep. 75 Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

When it comes to blowing up at our kids, it’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when. It happens to the best of us. But often the inciting incident isn’t the real issue because the thing that sets us off isn’t the root of the problem. We’ve got to dig up the root if we want to get rid of the bitter fruit.

In this episode, Catherine continues her encouraging and incredibly practical conversation with Kirsten Vossler, a mother of 9 and host of the The Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast. Together, these mamas dig deep to find out what is really going on when that one last nerve is raw and exposed and we just can’t seem to keep it together. They also discuss how to exercise restraint and not indulge that fleshly desire to yell at our kids. The key is leaning into the Holy Spirit.

Using the 7 steps that Kirsten outlined in Episode 74, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and control our tongues, and getting to the root of what is really bothering will help us to mature as parents and believers. And as we commit to these steps, we will blow it a lot less with our kids.

Kirsten’s Website

Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood

OTHER PODCASTS/EPISODES REFERENCED:

EPISODE 74 – 7 Steps to Reset When You’ve Blown It with Your Kids (w/ Kirsten Vossler)

Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast EPISODE 120 – Dispelling 5 Cultural Myths about Motherhood (w/ Catherine Segars)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.