Stay ConnectedThe Delighted Motherhood Podcast is devoted to applying biblical principles to everyday motherhood as we delight ourselves in the Lord and in the calling that He has given to us.
Kira is a homeschool mom to five young children, wife to James, a placemaker, neighbor, friend, Bible teacher, and SBTS grad. But more than anything else, she’s a Christian who is loved by her Savior and it is her conviction that we can, and should, enjoy our children to the glory of God.
Copyright: © 2023 Delighted Motherhood
One of the most well-known stories in the Old Testament–God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac–is also one of the most infamous.
My husband says that this passage haunts him. During law school, his classmates would reference Genesis 22:1-19 as evidence of the destability of God. How could a good God possibly command something so vile? Atheist Richard Dawkins calls it a “disgraceful story.”
But when we look at this story in light of God’s plan to save his people through the death of his son, I think we will find that it isn’t a “disgraceful story” at all. Instead, it is a grace-filled one.
Genesis 22:1-19 is about fully trusting in the character, promises, and power of God even when we don’t understand what He is doing. It’s an account of faith and obedience, even when it requires belief in the miraculous.
We know fitness matters --but exactly do we make it happen when we have so much else going on?
For me it is helpful to remain consistent, look for ways to be creative, and weave both a plan and people into my fitness goals.
In this portion of the episode I'll walk through what fitness looks like for me and my kids and share some best practices that I hope will give you some ideas for ways to consistently and creatively pursue fitness too.
Although the physical benefits of running, and exercise generally, are huge, the mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits are even more compelling.
In this segment of the episode we will walk through some of the science behind why working out makes us feel good and consider how God has made us to be moving creatures.
“God made us to move and to do so vigorously. And He wired our brains to leverage vigorous movement, reward it, and reinforce it. Exercise makes happier humans, and God made humans to be happy—in Him—with bodily movement being an assistant, rather than an adversary, to Christ-exalting joy.” (Mathis, A Little Theology of Exercise)
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According to the CDC:
"Physical activity can help you think, learn, problem-solve, and enjoy an emotional balance. It can improve memory and reduce anxiety or depression.Regular physical activity can also reduce your risk of cognitive decline, including dementia. One study found that cognitive decline is almost twice as common among adults who are inactive compared to those who are active. Regular physical activity can help you sleep and feel better, reduce the risk of some common cancers, and add years to your life."
Motherhood requires a mountain of energy, perseverance, and sacrifice. When you’re caring for your kids’ little bodies, it’s hard to squeeze in time to look after your own. But so often, when we neglect caring for ourselves, we end up running on fumes, our exhaustion and irritability spilling over onto the very people we love the most.
Listen in to Stacy Reaoch is a pastor's wife, mother of four, and author of Beautiful Freedom share encouragements for working out without overdoing it.
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Here are links to Stacy's book and several helpful articles:
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Freedom-Appearance-Christian-exercise/dp/1784989738
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/train-body-eternity/
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/exercise-for-more-of-god
https://www.risenmotherhood.com/articles/how-much-should-a-christian-mom-prioritize-exercise
Why are traditions important? Where do we see a basis for traditions in the Bible? How can celebrating holidays like the 4th of July inspire us to greater ideals? How can traditions help form our identity as a family?
Listen in to a sweet conversation with James Nelson about the power of traditions in our lives and the way it has shaped us as a couple.
Happy 4th of July!!
Contemporary motherhood narratives are all over the place. On the one hand, it is assumed that moms can’t shower, do a serious Bible study, or go on a run and that it’s normal to want to “escape” from our kids.
On the other hand, the expectation to do it all can feel overwhelming.The internal pendulum of motherhood swings from striving to complaining and back again –sometimes in the course of an hour. How do we escape this cycle and reorient our parenting around Christ our Redeemer?
According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics only 4.1 percent of Americans attended or hosted social gatherings on a given weekend or holiday in 2023.
On the one hand, the decline of parties may not seem like such a big deal. The majority of Americans feel too busy (60 percent of the general population and 74 percent of parents) –so why not just eliminate the party stress?
But when we continually choose our cozy jammies over “putting ourselves out there” we suffer. God created us to thrive in communities. It isn’t good for us to be alone –as research demonstrates.
Social gatherings –which include more than one on one interactions – are key elements of human thriving and connection. Genesis to Revelation, God describes human flourishing as happening within a context of regular communal gatherings, celebrations, and parties.
In this podcast we will explore why parties should be saved.
See this previous podcast for a further discussion of HOW to throw parties:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-countercultural-throw-parties-regularly/id1655567906?i=1000700903181
A quick addition to the conversation with Katheryn Butler.
If you were to ask your child what gives him or her value, what would they say? The message that our kids hear from culture is that our accomplishments define our worth.
Although this philosophy isn’t new, thanks to information technology kids suffer mounting pressure to base their identity on their successes. “Students today are saturated with messages about performance in their classrooms, with their peers, teachers, colleges, social media, and the larger culture,” comments Jennifer Breheny Wallace, the author of Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It. “They are hearing messages day in and day out that they have to strive; they have to do better; and that they’re only as good as their next accomplishment.”
Many Christian parents hear this and are saddened, but are there ways that we may be feeding into this same narrative without realizing it?
What is our drive to succeed based in?
Is it always a bad thing? Don’t we want our kids to succeed and to work hard? How do we balance between healthy expectations and crushing ones?
Tune in for a thoughtful conversation with Kathryn Butler (MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons), trauma surgeon turned writer and homeschooling mom, about what is at the root of our drive for our kids to have their names on the wall.
For many of us summertime is a blissful welcome. Schedules are relaxed, sports are mostly over, and there’s a lot more free time. But sometimes that lack of structure can feel really daunting! “What exactly am I supposed to do with these wild little humans?”
Listen in for encouragement from Meredith Hammer, mom of eight, to soak up this slow season of summer through thoughtful schedules, low-pressure adventures, and intentional family time.
This episode covers:
I think you’ll come away encouraged to play in the sun, read good books, sleep well, roast marshmallows, catch crabs, have good conversations with friends and grow in our wonder of God.
Note: I really love Meredith! She had a big impact on my early mothering journey!! <3
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Meredith Hammer is a follower of Jesus who finds great joy in the calling He has placed on her life as the mother of eight children—four boys and four girls—ranging in age from 13 to 7-month-old twins. Meredith was born and raised in coastal Virginia and North Carolina, but since marrying Stephen almost fifteen years ago, she has made her home in seven states and two countries. After learning much about living a transient life with a lot of little ones for the first decade of their marriage, she is now enjoying raising their family in Stephen's hometown of Dallas, Texas. Meredith loves to encourage other moms in finding the rhythms that help them to thrive in the calling of motherhood.
Here is a link to the Scripture cards she mentioned:
https://www.kidscripture.com/shop
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