Let's Parent on Purpose: Christian Marriage, Parenting, and Discipleship

Latest Episodes:

Base Hits and Home Runs May 27, 2018

Show notes

Home runs are few and far between in parenting. But MASSIVE change can take place if you just keep making contact. This week’s podcast gives you tips on how to make best use of the natural times of contact in your home: Morning routine, drive times, meal times, and bedtime.

LPOP 70 Setting Small Goals for the Summer May 20, 2018

Show notes

People vastly overestimate what they can do in the short-term, but vastly underestimate what can be accomplished over the long-term. This week’s podcast gives tips and ideas on how to set small goals with your kids this summer that can redeem some of that free time and start them on long-term pathways to accomplish big things.

Set SMART Goals!
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

Here’s a link that goes into smart goals in detail.

LPOP 68 Developing Systems and Structure With Your Kids May 06, 2018

Show notes

Your systems are perfectly suited to give you the life that you now have. Your children’s routines are perfectly suited to give you the current level of chaos or order that you’re currently experiencing. All of us have routines with our children. Some of those routines weren’t designed, they just happened. And most of the ones that just happen put the extra burden on mom and dad. On this week’s Let’s Parent on Purpose Podcast I talk with my good friend Sheila Hoadley, who is one of the most organized people I know. Sheila shares some of her challenges and victories in helping her three boys develop habits and systems that have made her home life much easier.

LPOP 67 Don't lie to your kids about Jesus May 01, 2018

Show notes

What happens when we tell our children that Jesus will fix all of their problems? How do we damage their faith by not preparing them for adversity? This week we talk about the danger of presenting the gospel as a tool for life enhancement rather than salvation from our sin.

LPOP 66 A Devotional for Parents: Little by Little Apr 22, 2018

Show notes

We want God to transform all of the frustrating things in our family and lives in an instant. But Scripture shows that God is in the habit of driving out enemies from the Promised Land little by little.

Image result for Are my kids on Track — **LPOP 64 How to Help High Drama Kids** Apr 09, 2018
Show notes

Some kids are miraculous makers of mountains out of molehills. It can be incredibly frustrating as a parent. In my podcast this week I share how to create some emotional resiliency using a tool called a Drama-meter.

I learned about the Drama Meter from a book I highly recommend by Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan called Are My Kids on Track. You should definitely pick up a copy.

Listen to the podcast and let me know how the Drama Meter works for your family! And if you like the concept, you’ll love the rest of Are My Kids On Track as well!

LPOP 63 An Easter Devotional For Parents Mar 31, 2018

Show notes

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29 ESV

As a dad who has never seen, but still believes, here’s how I feel blessed and hopeful as a parent:

Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the validation of everything Jesus said and did:

It means that His teachings aren’t just sound advice, they are commands with a supernatural power behind them.
It means that wen Jesus says I can call God my Father, it’s true. He’s not just some distant authority figure, He’s my Daddy.
It means I’m truly forgiven of my sins. I don’t have to live a life of penance making up for past mistakes (including parenting mistakes). I can focus on walking in grace and humility, trying to do what’s right today instead of wallowing in the guilt of my failures from yesterday. I’ve trusted Jesus to save my soul, and I’m trusting Him to give me the grace for what He’s commanded me to do as a parent.

2. Easter is a reminder that life comes from death, that light comes after the darkness, and that God is actively at work even when nothing makes sense.

It means that even my worst parenting days are redeemable, and that what I (or others) meant for evil, God will turn for good.
It means that my children’s disabilities, shortcomings, and failures are just details in a greater story that God is writing. He is forming their character as well as mine, and He is making All Things New!
It means that my son getting cancer or my wife dying is not the last word. My hope is not in a particular outcome, it’s in a Person. And that Person conquered death and the grave and promised to do the same for me and all of those that love HIm.

3. Easter is a conviction that I am not the center of the universe, and neither are my children.

I don’t have to have it all figured out, because I’m not in charge of this planet. I’m not God and I don’t get to dictate everything in my life or my children’s life. That’s really freeing.
My kids get to mess up as well, because my pride and identity should not be wrapped up in them looking impressive. I am created in the image of God and am a brother of the King Most High. Who cares whether my kid qualifies me for an honor roll bumper sticker?
Since I’m not the center of the universe, or even the dictator in my own house, I get to REST like it depends on God. Because it does.

These are among the 5,000 things I’m thankful for this Easter. What about you? How does Easter give you hope as a parent?

LPOP 62 Parenting Special Needs Kids Mar 25, 2018

Show notes

This might be more confessional than instructional, but here are my thoughts as the parent of two different special needs kids.

I was asked to do a podcast giving advice to parents of special needs kids, that went something beyond “cut yourself some slack”. After spending 20 minutes talking about my own experiences, maybe I can can offer double the wisdom:

You are not alone.

Cut yourself some slack.

If you’re a special needs parent, or friends with someone who is, I pray this podcast offers some kind of encouragement, even if it’s “at least I’m not as bad as THAT guy!”