The Christian Parenting Podcast - Motherhood, Teaching kids about Jesus, Intentional parenting, Raising Christian kids

Latest Episodes:

How to put Jesus first with Gretchen Saffles Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

If you’re anything like me, the busyness of life sometimes causes priorities to get mixed up, and I find myself not in the Word as much as I’d like to be. If you can relate, you’re going to love today’s guest. I’m sitting down with Gretchen Saffles, the founder of Well-Watered Women and author of Word Before World, a devotional that helps us keep Jesus at the center of our lives.

Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s episode:

Gretchen shares her journey of realizing the impact of starting her day on social media and how she made a deliberate shift to put Jesus first.
Encouragement to trust God’s plan and rely on him in our weaknesses.
Practical tips for evaluating your daily habits and making intentional changes to prioritize your time with God.

Gretchen Saffles is the founder of Well-Watered Women, a ministry dedicated to encouraging women to find their identity and purpose in Christ. She’s also the author of Word Before World, a devotional designed to help women prioritize their relationship with Jesus. Gretchen’s heart for guiding women back to the word shines through in her writing and in today’s conversation.

Join us for this grace-filled discussion that will inspire you to re-evaluate your habits and put Jesus first, right where he needs to be.

Timestamps

03:01 Prioritizing God's word: A key to spiritual growth

07:50 Parenting with imperfections: trusting in God's plan

13:06 Moving from reading God's word because we have to, to delighting in it

18:47 Overcoming challenges: creating a Bible reading plan

29:10 Community and accountability: encouragement in prioritizing time with God

32:05 Delighting in God's word: experiencing its transformative power

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Gretchen here

Or connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gretchensaffles/

Get Word Before World

Get your copy of A Life of Faith prayer journal!

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Supporting First-Time Voters with Conner Jones Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Hey Friends!

We’re continuing our meaningful conversations on navigating politics, and this week, we’re adding a fun twist!

Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s episode:

Conner Jones shares practical steps for supporting first-time voters, from understanding what the Bible says about critical issues to finding trustworthy news sources.
Tips on having open-minded and respectful conversations with teenagers about politics, encouraging them to form their own informed opinions.
How to approach social media cautiously and make the most of political podcasts and debates for informed decision-making.

Conner Jones is a colleague and friend who brings insightful perspectives to our discussions on politics and faith. Conner is the director of performance marketing at Denison Ministries, where he works on publishing all of our fantastic content throughout all of the different avenues Denison ministers to others. His experience guiding young voters and fostering civil conversations makes him a valuable voice in this episode. Conner's passion for encouraging informed and thoughtful participation in the political process shines through in our discussion.

Join us for this lively and informative discussion, and learn how you can support the first-time voters in your life while navigating the political season with grace and wisdom.

If you want more resources to guide you through this political season, don’t miss our Christian Parenting Politics Simplified digital guide. It’s packed with answers to many of the questions we, as parents, face during election season.

Don't miss our Politics Simplified digital download www.Christianparenting.org/store

With love,

Steph Thurling

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Faith and politics with Dr. Mark Turman Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

We’re continuing our timely conversations focused on politics, the election, and how to engage in civil discussions—topics at the top of our minds as we move through this election cycle. Today I am joined by Dr. Mark Turman, who is the Executive Director of Denison Ministries and Vice President of Denison Ministries.

Remember, if you're looking for more resources on navigating this season, don't miss our Politics Simplified digital download. It’s a free guide designed to help families approach this political season with wisdom and grace.

Here’s what Dr. Turman and I discuss in today’s episode:

The importance of character in political leaders and why it matters to us as believers.
Keeping faith and love at the center of our interactions, even in politically charged conversations.
Tips for discussing politics with loved ones and strangers online, emphasizing grace and kindness.
The importance of infusing our conversations with the fruit of the Spirit and approaching others respectfully.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. With a deep commitment to faith and leadership, Dr. Turman offers valuable insights into the intersection of character, politics, and our Christian beliefs.

This conversation is a powerful reminder for all of us to keep our faith and love front and center during this election season. I think you’ll find it both helpful and encouraging.

P.S Don't miss our Politics Simplified digital download

Timestamps

02:17 Denison Ministries and Christian Parenting

11:36 The Importance of Character in Politics

16:06 Engaging in Political Discussions with Grace and Kindness

29:19 Faith, Hope, and Love in the Midst of Politics

36:20 Seeking Reliable News Sources

39:44 Conclusion and Resources

Resources Mentioned

A Life of Faith Prayer Journal

Denison Forum

Denison Forum Podcast

AllSides

The Trinity Forum

Redeeming Babel

Christianity Today-The Bulletin

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Navigating tough conversations with grace with Lindsey Medenwaldt Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

With election season upon us, the next few weeks on the podcast will touch on politics and the election, especially on how to engage in tough conversations with those around us. This theme is at the heart of today's episode.

We have the incredibly wise and kind Lindsey Medenwaldt joining us. Lindsey is the Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics, and our conversation is both fun and insightful.

Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s episode:

We dive into Lindsey’s new book, Bridge Building Apologetics, and discuss what this concept means.
Humility and Respect in Conversations: It is important to approach discussions about faith and worldview with humility and respect.
How to create genuine connections and the impact of planting little seeds through everyday interactions.

Lindsey Medenwaldt is the Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics, an organization dedicated to equipping parents with tools to defend their faith. She is also the author of Bridge Building Apologetics, a book that fosters meaningful conversations about faith and worldview with kindness and respect.

Join us for a truly helpful conversation that will encourage you and better equip you to navigate challenging discussions with grace and wisdom.

Time stamps

00:00 Introduction and Family Dynamics

03:11 Educational and Career Choices

05:59 Bridge Building Apologetics

07:55 Modeling Humility and Respect

14:58 Maintaining Genuine Friendships

22:11 Genuine Connections: The Value of Missional Friendships

28:49 Planting Seeds: Sharing Faith in Everyday Interactions

Connect with Lindsey

Grab Lindsey’s book here

Mama Bear Apologetics

Lindsey’s Website

Or connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lmedenwaldt/

Resources Mentioned

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

The Christian Parenting Podcast is part of The Christian Parenting Podcast Network. As a donor funded ministry, we rely on generous supporters like you to keep this show going. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving a gift today. Join the Christian Parenting Legacy Builders community

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Creating havens of hospitality with Liz Bell Young Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Liz Bell Young and our conversation is just so delightful and refreshing!

Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s episode:

Liz talks about her book Let There be Havens and what it looks like to create welcoming spaces for others.

The importance of being gentle with ourselves and not feeling pressured to meet unrealistic hosting expectations.

Ways to help others feel seen, known, and loved, including her wonderful idea of a hospitality bag to involve kids in caring for others.

How to find joy and inspiration in meeting the needs of those around us.

Liz is a writer, experience designer, and the founder of Haven Creative Studio. She is a creative consultant for various companies, bringing her unique vision of creating beautiful, welcoming spaces. Liz is also a devoted wife and mom, and her passion for hospitality and creativity shines through in all she does. Her book, Let There be Havens, offers a gentle perspective on making hospitality accessible and meaningful.

Join us for this heartwarming conversation that will make you feel like you’ve just sat down with an old friend.

Timestamps

03:00 Liz's Family and Background

12:03 Creating Havens: The Gentle Art of Hospitality

21:03 Living Overseas and Changing Perspectives

29:01 The Book 'Let There Be Havens' and Practical Tips

35:09 Encouragement and Conclusion

Connect with Liz:

Grab Liz’s book here

Or connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lizbellyoung/

https://www.lizbellyoung.com/

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

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The "best of" Christian Parenting | Anxiety in parenting with Sissy Goff Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

We are doing something we haven’t done on the podcast yet: we are featuring a “best of” episode! I think about this interview with Sissy Goff regularly in my parenting and so it is worth playing again!

Sissy has been counseling kids for over 30 years. She has written multiple books about anxiety in kids and now she has a book about anxiety in parents. The Worry Free Parent is a resource I cannot recommend enough. You guys, parenting has always been hard, but Sissy will tell you parents have never been so stressed out and anxious.

So today we are talking about why parents are so stressed out, different ways our anxiety shows up in our parenting and how we can respond to that anxiety. We get real practical here, so listen for some ways you can help your kids grow more resilient, how you can calm yourself down, and some of the best ways to find a good counselor.

Don’t miss her amazing wisdom around the 14 minute mark! Her advice has been a game changer for me!

Connect with Sissy

Website:

https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/

The Worry Free Parent book

Instagram:

@sissygoff @raisingboysandgirls

Links mentioned:

American Association of Christian Counselors

Daystar Counseling

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith