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

Latest Episodes:

Navigating Biblical and Worldly Views with Kids: A Conversation with Josh Mulvihill Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

We are back with Week 3 of our discipleship series; how are you feeling? What are you learning, and what is encouraging you?

Today, I'm honored to have Josh Mulvihill with us. As the Executive Director of Church and Family Ministry at Renewanation and a father himself, Josh brings a wealth of experience in guiding families towards a deeper understanding of a biblical worldview.

In this episode, we tackle some crucial questions that many parents grapple with:

What exactly is a biblical worldview?
When is the right time to start having these conversations with our children?
And how do we differentiate and discuss biblical worldviews versus worldly views, especially with the challenging topics prevalent in today’s world?

Josh will break down these questions, offering his insights and practical advice. Together we’ll explore the importance of shaping a biblical worldview from a young age and how this foundation can significantly impact our children's lives. Josh shares valuable resources, including Bible stories and methods for engaging in respectful dialogue, helping us to confidently share our beliefs with our children.

In a time when our kids are exposed to many perspectives, understanding how to navigate these discussions is more important than ever. Josh's expertise in this area is genuinely enlightening, providing us with the tools to guide our children effectively.

Don't miss the valuable resources Josh shares towards the end of our conversation. These resources are tailored to support you in fostering a biblical worldview in your home.

Also, remember to check out our 'Discipleship Made Easy' guide, available now at cpgive.org. This guide is an excellent resource for parents striving to deepen their family's faith and understanding of the Bible.

P.S. Be sure to subscribe to the Christian Parenting Podcast and leave a review if you find our series helpful. Your feedback helps us reach more parents seeking guidance in their faith and parenting journey. Let's continue to support each other in raising godly children in an ever-changing world.

Connect With Josh

Website:

https://gospelshapedfamily.com/

https://www.renewanation.org/

Grab the CP Discipleship guide cpgive.org

Life is Messy God is Good by Cynthia Yanof

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

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How to explain the Holy Spirit to kids with Christie Thomas Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Are you ready for week 2 of our exciting series on discipling kids?! Today, we're diving into a topic that I find both fascinating and challenging: explaining the Holy Spirit to our children. It’s abstract, a bit tough to grasp, and that's exactly why I want us to understand it better. I believe that with a clearer understanding, we can talk to our kids about the Holy Spirit in a way that's easier and less intimidating for all of us!

Joining me today is the incredible Christie Thomas, author of Fruit Full. Christie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion. She has spent years teaching kids about Jesus, and now she's here to help us do the same. She’s not only a gifted author but also a devoted wife and mom. Currently homeschooling her three sons, Christie's passion for children’s ministry shines through in everything she does.

Today we'll explore who the Holy Spirit is and, just as importantly, who he is not. We'll address some common misconceptions and discuss how we can explain his role and the fruit of the Spirit to our kids. I know it sounds like a lot, but trust me, this conversation is enlightening and incredibly helpful.

One of my favorite parts of today's talk is when we dive into how we often teach our kids about the fruit of the Spirit in relation to behavior and morals. Christie points out a crucial aspect – we might be missing the mark if we stop there. This discussion is practical, helpful, and I truly believe it will be beneficial for both you and your children.

So, don’t let the complexity of today’s topic keep you from tuning in. Join us, learn, and be encouraged by our friend Christie Thomas. And if you're looking to deepen your journey in discipleship, don’t forget to check out Christie's book, Fruit Full, it is a great devotional

Remember to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if you find this episode valuable. Your support helps us reach more parents like you, looking for guidance and encouragement in their parenting journey. Stay tuned for more enriching discussions in our series. Thanks for listening, and let's grow together in faith and parenting!

Connect With Christie:

https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/
@littleshootsdeeproots

Resources mentioned:

Get your copy of Fruit Full

Grab the CP Discipleship guide

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Discipling our kids doesn’t have to be intimidating with Sarah Holmstrom Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Today, we are starting a brand new series on The Christian Parenting Podcast. Over the next few weeks, we're diving into an incredibly important topic: discipling your kids to know, love, and follow Jesus. This series will be a deep dive into prayer, the Holy Spirit, and teaching our kids to love Jesus. We are even tackling the hard truth that we can do “all the right things” and our older children could choose a different path. We're covering it all!

To kick off this series, I'm thrilled to sit down with my dear friend, Sarah Holmstrom. Many of you might know us from our ministry, Raising Prayerful Kids, and our book of the same name. Sarah and I have journeyed together in ministry for many years, and her insights have been a blessing to me and so many others.

In today's episode, Sarah and I are diving into the complexities of discipling our children, especially considering how different each child can be. It's a challenge that every parent faces. We answer the questions:

How do we tailor our approach to fit each child’s unique needs and personalities?
What does daily discipleship look like, for me and for my family?
Does praying for our children really make a difference?

We'll explore these topics and share personal experiences and practical advice.

Sarah's wisdom is something I cherish, and I know you will, too. This conversation is not just informative but also incredibly reassuring. It reminds us that in the midst of our efforts and uncertainties, God's grace is sufficient.

So, whether you're a parent trying to navigate these waters for the first time or you've been at this for a while, this episode is for you. Join us as we embark on this journey, discussing how to disciple our kids in the way that best suits each of them and exploring the power and impact of discipleship in our children's lives.

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if you find this series helpful. Your feedback means the world to us and helps other parents find this resource. Stay tuned for more episodes that will empower and inspire you in your parenting journey. Let's learn and grow together in raising kids who love Jesus. See you in the episode!

Connect with Sarah

Website:

www.raisingprayerfulkids.com

Social media:

@sarahmholmstrom

@raisingprayerfulkids

Links mentioned:

Raising Prayerful Kids book

Grab the CP Discipleship guide

https://raisedonors.com/christianparenting/digital-discipleship-guide

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Life Is Messy, God is Good and Everything in Between w/ Cynthia Yanof Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Calling, anointing and ministering without a major platform?

How can I teach my kids to serve right where they are?

How do I talk to my kids about their God size callings?

How do I believe forward for myself, and my kids?

Today we get to sit down with an old Christian Parenting friend Cynthia Yanof! Cynthia is the podcast host of "MESSmerized" and the author of the book, "Life is Messy, God is Good," releasing this February.

In this episode, Cynthia and I dive deep into the heart of parenting, sharing wisdom and heartfelt stories that every parent can relate to. Whether you're navigating toddler tantrums, teenage angst, or just the daily ups and downs of raising a family, this conversation is packed with practical advice and soul-stirring encouragement.

Cynthia brings her signature blend of humor and insight, offering text message-able notes that you'll want to send to all your friends. These golden nuggets of wisdom remind us of what truly matters in the midst of life's chaos. From discussing the challenges of maintaining personal faith to managing family dynamics, Cynthia's experiences and advice are both relatable and uplifting.

P.S. Make sure to subscribe and leave a review if you found this episode meaningful. Your support helps us reach more parents with encouragement and wisdom for the journey ahead. Until next time, keep cherishing those little moments and big milestones in the wonderful adventure of parenting!

Connect with Cynthia

@cynthiayanof

cynthiayanof.com

Links mentioned:

MESSmerized podcast

Pre-Order Cynthia’s book

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The busy-ness of parenting with Dina Deleasa-Gonsar Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

I’m sure many of you are in the same season of parenting that I am in—busy. Every season of parenting is busy in its own way! It’s just amazing how it changes and changes so fast, yet remains busy.

My guest today, Dina Deleasa-Gonsar totally gets it and is here to talk about it!

Dina is the creator, writer, speaker, and television personality behind the popular food blog DishItGirl.com. Dina is known for sharing her family traditions and modern twists on recipes along with an inside look at her real-life as a mom and wife.

Today Dina and I talk about the overwhelm of parenting, managing activities and setting boundaries, and how social media adds to the pressure of doing it all and doing it perfectly. Dina reminds us that re-prioritizing so you don’t burn out from the busy is good, but sometimes you have to take inventory of what you and your family is doing.

I love what she shares about making sure we prioritize faith, church and Jesus just like we prioritize activities. Because God is faithful in the busy and when our kids grow up and the activities end, Jesus will stay.

Listen to the end because Dina gives us some tips for meal planning and shares her favorite ideas for those busy weeknights!

Recipe links if we want to put those in the email

https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/butternut-squash-lasagna

https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/bolognese-inspired-baked-ziti

https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/apple-cider-chicken-sandwich

Connect with Dina

Social Media:

@dishitgirldina

Website:

https://www.dishitgirl.com/

Links mentioned:

https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/butternut-squash-lasagna

https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/bolognese-inspired-baked-ziti

https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/apple-cider-chicken-sandwich

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How to talk to your kids about pornography Greta Eskridge Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

What age should we start talking to our kids about pornography?

How do we explain it to them?

How should the conversation change as my kids grow?

These are some of the questions that every parent has when parenting in 2023. They’re not fun questions and they can make us feel really uncomfortable. But my friend, Greta Eskridge is here today to answer those questions and more!

This is Greta’s second time on the podcast and I am so glad to have her back! This episode was fun because we were able to record in person in my studio!

Greta and I cover all the difficult, but important things about parenting in the age of pornography. We talk about how Greta became a leading voice in empowering parents to talk to their kids about pornography, why pornography is a problem in homes, but also in the church, how the pornography industry is working to make porn accessible to kids, and how we can fight against that.

We get really practical in this episode as Greta gives us scripts for how we can talk about this topic age by age (from young kids to high schoolers) and how to talk to our kids if and when they are exposed to pornography. We also talk about how to help our kids enter the world of technology safely

This is a really important episode that you do not want to miss!

Connect with Greta

Instagram

@maandpamodern

Website

www.Gretaeskridge.com

Links Mentioned

Covenant eyes

Protect Young Eyes

Bark

How to set up parental control on your iphone

Year end giving

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The big questions our boys ask with Katy Boatman Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

What if I mess my kids up?

What if I fail at my job?

What if I’m actually doing it all wrong?

These are some of the “what if” questions that I wrestle with. I think we all have big “what if” questions, they’re all just a little different depending on our experiences, wiring, and situations.

Our kids have questions like this too and my guest today, Katy Boatman, is here to walk us through that. Katy is a writer and marketer, but her favorite role is being an aunt to Shelby, Blake, and Ellie. Katy has spent fifteen years mentoring girls through student ministry, and she is passionate about helping them understand who God is and reminding them they are not alone.

Katy’s devotional, You Can Trust, addresses many of the questions boys have from what if my team loses? to what if God changes his mind about me? And the answers always point back to God’s enduring faithfulness.

Today Katy and I are talking about preteen boys and the “what if” questions they wrestle with, the need kids have for stability and truth as they grow up and ask questions, how girls and boys learn about and respond to God differently, and the need for devotionals and other resources for preteen boys.

I hope this is helpful for both boy moms and girl moms, too! Girl moms, check out Katy’s devotional just for preteen girls!

Connect with Katy:

Instagram

@katyboat

Website

https://www.katyboatman.com/

Links mentioned

https://www.katyboatman.com/you-can-trust

https://www.katyboatman.com/youcanrest

Year end giving

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Staying true to your calling with Colton Dixon Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Today I am joined by Colton Dixon. Colton is an American Idol finalist and Christian singer/songwriter. His music has won numerous awards and he has had the opportunity to perform in some incredible places. Most importantly, Colton is a husband and the dad of two three year old girl twins.

Colton has so much to share about how his faith has influenced his parenting and his music, how we are here to serve, not be served, why we need to steward our time and abilities well, and he reminds us that our identity is not how others see us, but our identity is in Christ. He also shares what he was like as a kid and encourages parents who are raising creative and passionate kids: hint, is has less to do with parenting right and more to do with the time you spend.

I love at the very beginning when he gives Biblical encouragement for all the parents who sometimes have to travel for work. God sees you and is full of grace!

We also talk about Christmas traditions at the end, so listen all the way through!

Connect with Colton:

Website:

ColtonDixon.com

Social media:

@coltondixonmusic

Year end giving

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Helping siblings forgive one another with Courtney DeFeo Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

If your house is anything like mine, you are all too familiar with rushed and fake apologies. Siblings get in a fight and one apologized to the other under their breath while rolling their eye at the same time. Can you relate?

Today I am joined by my friend, Courtney DeFeo, and she is helping us emphasize forgiveness in our houses. Courtney and her husband, Ron, decided forgiveness was going to be one of their core family values so today she is sharing how to prioritize and model forgiveness in our homes.

Courtney and I also touch on the challenge of raising our oldest kids (because we don’t know what we are doing), the difference between conviction and shame, and how you have to decide what is helpful in your parenting vs. what is harmful and making you feel shame.

I love how she encourages us to quit comparing ourselves to other moms—God made us all unique to parent our own unique kids and we can rest in that.

Courtney is the host of Pardon the Mess, an author, a speaker, a mom of two teenage daughters, wife to Ron, and a proud dog mom. I have the joy of calling her friend and you will too after this episode. Make sure to listen until the end because I ask her some rapid fire questions and you will love what she says!

Connect with Courtney

Social Media:

@courtneydefeo

@pardonthemesspodcast

Website:

https://courtneydefeo.com/

www.christianparenting.org

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Nurturing creativity in your kids with Andrew Peterson Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Jesus will change your life when you let him into it and my guest today, Andrew Peterson, is the perfect example of that. Once Andrew decided to follow Jesus, he led him down a path of sharing his gospel with everyone in creative ways. As a singer, song writer, and author, Andrew has had the privilege of pointing generations of people to Jesus through his work.

Today we talk about his heart behind writing The Wingfeather Saga, his passion for creativity, how he encouraged creativity in his home, and he offers encouragement for how to parent a child who doesn’t quite fit inside the box.

You will love how Andrew leans into grace for all things, especially parenting! He reminds us that we will have regrets because we aren’t perfect. But with time, we get the privilege of watching how God redeems our mistakes and turns them into something beautiful!

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