Where Have You Come From and Where Are You Going?

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful CONNECTION
Marriage is hard. It holds great beauty and is also overwhelmingly messy at times. Melanie and Christy share some things that they have learned to be helpful in building and maintaining connection in marriage.

Find out more about MomLife Ministries at momlife.org. 

Think about starting a local MomLife group for the September 2024 - May 2025 MomLife season as an independent Table Mom (meet in your home, coffee shop, over lunch at work, in your church, etc.) or Church Partner! Details coming soon—registration for leaders opens in April!
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Discussion questions::

• How do you think marriage is a vulnerable practice in self denial?
• What are some hindrances to connection you need to lay down?
• Today’s beautiful Truth is Ephesians 5:31-32. How are these words encouraging [or challenging] to you?
• What is something fun you can do to pursue connection with your husband?
• Spend some time in prayer. Pray for the health of your marriage. Ask God to give you wisdom in ways to pursue connection with your unique spouse and current season of life.

…

Recommended resources:

• Connect Through Fun PDF (free download: ideas for activities and questions for connection with your spouse, friends, and/or kids)
• Check out our recommended resources on marriage at momlife.org/resources-by-topic.
• 5 Keys to Healing From Trauma: A Simple Guide to Process Pain and Get Your Life Back by Dr. Pepper Pratt (one of our favorite marriage therapists with theprattclinic.com).

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful CONNECTION
As we think of all of our relational connections, there’s both beauty and mess. A common messy connection for women can be with our in-laws. Because it’s a common question and struggle we hear from moms, we want to take an extra episode to share some specific encouragement about how to build connection in these special relationships. And a big part will be seeking Jesus for wisdom.

Two friends join Melanie and Christy: Sara from Colorado and Dorena from Nashville, Tennessee. Sara shares her perspective as a daughter-in-law, and Dorena shares her perspective as a mother-in-love.

Dorena Williamson is an author of kids books that are written with both the child(ren) and adults in mind! Check them out at dorenawilliamson.com/books/.
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Discussion questions for today's episode:

• What did you hear that was encouraging today?
• Today’s beautiful Truth is Romans 12:18. How are these words encouraging [or challenging] to you?
• Spend some time in prayer. Name the things that feel especially challenging in your relationship with your in-law(s). Ask the Lord to help you see your relationship through the lens of his lovingkindness and grace. Ask him to lead you in if/when to establish healthy boundaries and if/when to make an extra effort to reach out. Ask him to help you grieve unmet expectations and gain a new view and hope for what your relationship could be.

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful WISDOM
Melanie and Christy are joined with friend and special guest Jenn Powell. They have a candid conversation around the hot topic of how to seek the wisdom of Jesus in the hard decision about schooling your child(ren). We get it—it’s hard! It feels weighty and important, and as moms we want to make the very best choice possible. Our goal isn’t to give you an answer, but to offer some helpful encouragement as you process what might be right for you and your family. Note: we merely touch on the various school options, as well as the depth of emotion and challenge that exists in making a decision about school. 

We encourage you to have your own candid conversations with friends about school choices—How can you best learn from one another? How can you be supporters and cheerleaders for one another, even if your choices are different? How can we spur one another on in looking toward the perfect wisdom of Jesus as we grow in discernment?

And, If you are in the middle of considering a decision for your child(ren), here’s a couple of steps you can take: 

(1) Gather some wise voices around you and learn about what made them choose their specific path. What do they love about their choice? What’s a unique challenge they’ve experienced with their choice? How has the Lord guided them in their decision?

(2) Ask a small group of friends to pray with and for you as you seek wisdom. Think about inviting them to help you process these questions (based on the doors of discernment by Fr. Mike Schmidtz):

• Is [this school option] a good option? Aligns with God’s Word, family values, etc.?
• If it’s a good door, is [this school option] an open option? Is the option available to you locationally, financially, etc.? 
• If it’s good and open, is [this school option] a wise option? Take into account your/your child(ren)’s personal gifts, abilities, needs, and vulnerabilities.
• If it’s good, open, and wise, is [this school option] what I/we want? How might this choice benefit your child/family? What unique challenges might you need to be mindful of?

Special resource to help further your processing: The School Choice Workbook by Risen Motherhood. It will help you think biblically and prayerfully converse about school options.

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful WISDOM
Join us for this special Q & A episode! Melanie and Christy are joined with friend and special guest Jenn Powell. Jenn serves on the MomLife Ministries planning team as the Director of Fun and she works full-time as a physical therapist. Listen in as they respond to questions sent in by moms! Questions like: How do we battle entitlement in our kids? How do we prepare for the day our kids leave home? How do we respond when our kids start making similar mistakes that we did? …And more!

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Discussion questions for today's episode:

• What's a messy question you’re wrestling with right now?
• How are you specifically seeking the wisdom of Jesus through it? 
• How is Jesus shaping you in the midst of difficulty and/or questions?
• Who/what are the voices that are shaping what you do/how you live? How can you identify if they are wise or not?
• Today’s beautiful Truth is Hebrews 3:13-14. How are these words encouraging [or challenging] to you?
• Spend some time in prayer. Express how you need his help most today.

Recommended resources for today’s topic:

• Book—Give Them Wings: Preparing for the Time Your Teen Leaves Home, Carol Kuykendall & Krista Gilbert
• Book—The Parent Adventure: Preparing Your Children for a Lifetime with God, Rodney & Selma Wilson
• Book—Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World, Jennie Allen

Lent Resources—momlife.org/lent

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Hard things happen. It’s uncontrollable and oh so uncomfortable. So when they do, how do we respond? How do we get through?  Melanie & Christy help to define what perseverance is and how it’s possible. They also share tips for how to build perseverance in our kids.
Discussion questions:

What have you learned through the experience of hardship?

• Beautiful Truths: Romans 5:4-5 and Psalm 34:17-18. How are these words encouraging/challenging to you?
• How does learning to work through our own anxiety matter for our children?
• Every time the Bible tells us not to fear it gives us context for why we don’t need to: Luke 2:10, Luke 12:32, Matthew 10:31, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:1, Genesis 50:21 How is this truth encouraging? How might it also be messy to live out?
• Who can you reach out to if you’re currently walking through a hard season? We encourage you to reach out to them today!
• Spend time in prayer. Pray you would seek the wisdom of Jesus in the midst of difficulty. Pray the same for your children.

Resources:

Article-Strains of the Season: Winter Blues, Portia Collins

Devotional-Upon Waking, Jackie Hill Perry

Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad: The Perspective Shift That Could Completely Change the Way You Mother, Abbie Halberstadt

The Worry-Free Parent: Living in Confidence So Your Kids Can Too, Sissy Goff raisingboysandgirls.com

Building a Resilient Life: How Adversity Awakens Strength, Hope, and Meaning, Rebekah Lyons

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered, Lysa Terkeurst

The Hard Good: Showing Up for God to Work in You When You Want to Shut Down, Lisa Whittle

Books of Liturgies to walk you through difficult seasons/situations—Every Moment Holy Volumes I, II, and III

Journal—Rest: A Journal for Lament, Kristin Vanderlip

Lent Resources—momlife.org/lent

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful WISDOM
Christy welcomes  special guest Lauren Groves, a mom of two and lover of Jesus. She is thoughtful and kind, and always looks to point women toward the wisdom of the Lord. She is a licensed professional counselor that specializes in trauma and children; she has a heart for helping others walk in the freedom that Christ offers.

Listen in as they discuss seeking God’s wisdom when discerning what is good from what is God’s best.

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Discussion questions:

• What are your initial thoughts and feelings about “discernment”?
• What did you learn today about how to set apart in your mind what is real and good from what is scary?
• What might it look like for you to cultivate discernment in your child(ren)?
• What are ways in which you might need to redeem your time for what is best?
• Today’s beautiful Truth is Psalm 16:11. Read it in context of the whole passage: Psalm 16 (CSB). How are these words encouraging [or challenging] to you?
• Spend some time in prayer. Think about a decision you are facing and spend some time in prayer. Use the words of Psalm 16 to ask the Lord to impart wisdom and direction into your days.

Recommended resources:

• Book—Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments, Kara Durbin
• Book—All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment, Hannah Anderson
• Article—“What Discernment is Not,” Phylicia Masonheimer 

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful WISDOM
Christy talks about Hagar’s story in Genesis and she will guide you through a reflection to get ready for the new year.

We need your help to shape our February podcast episodes. We will be talking about How we seek Jesus in the midst of the mess?  Is there a mess you are facing that would like to hear us discuss… Email us at  info@momlife.org.

Reflection Questions from Podcast:

• Where have you come from?  
• What has been beautiful this past year? In your life,  in your marriage, in the lives of your kids,  in your  community?
• Where have you seen God’s beauty?
• What is something from this past year that you are proud of? Give the Lord glory for this and thank Him, gratitude is an important practice
• What do you wish had happened this last year that didn’t?
• What is something that you learned this past year or an area that you feel there was growth?
• Who or what encouraged you this past year?
• What is messy from this past year that I need to process with the Lord in order to move forward into a new year?
• Where are you going?  
• What is an area that you want to grow in in the coming year? 
• What is something coming up in your life this year that you need to invite the Lord’s wisdom into? 
• Where do you sense God asking you to simplify in order to realign your priorities?
• Is there a new rhythm or habit that you sense the Lord asking you to incorporate this year?

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Recommended resources for today’s topic:

• Article—Strains of the Season: Resolutions by Bethany Broderick
• Free Printout — 2024 Dream Guide from Jennie Allen

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful PURPOSE
Melanie and Christy are joined with special guest Starr Cliff. Starr is a speech and language pathologist with her local school system. She has been married for 25 years and has 3 children, ages from 18, 20, and 21. Starr loves people and loves walking with them through seasons of mess and/or beauty. Listen in as Melanie, Christy, and Starr discuss how their friendship has helped to shape their beautiful faith and purpose and how the good news of the gospel propels us to move through our everyday life with willingness and wonder.

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Discussion questions:

• What can you learn from Mary’s response to the angel announcing the coming of Jesus? 
• How have you experienced a season of waiting or anticipation? Based on what you heard today, how are you encouraged to wait in faith? 
• How do you see purpose in waiting? How do you see purpose in moving forward even if/when things look different than expected? Whether for the Christmas season, or life in general?
• Read today’s beautiful Truth passage, Hebrews 4:15-16. What does it mean to you that Jesus is able to identify with you because of his human experience?
• Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the gift of Jesus. Ask him to help you live each day with willingness and wonder.

Recommended resources:

• Article—Christmas is the Greatest Mystery by David Mathis
• Article—Two Truths and a Lie About Celebrating Advent by Emily Jensen
• Free Devo Download: Beautiful Mess Family Advent Devotional
• Advent Recommendations—momlife.org/Advent

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful PURPOSE
Melanie and Christy are joined with special guest Janey Pitts. Janey is an author and speaker with a vivacious spirit and calling to serve the Lord. She is passionate about inspiring others to become the person God has created them to be in their families, relationships, and overall lives. She has a Masters Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has served on church staff for student ministry and missions. Janey passionately shares profound biblical truths using her knowledge of first century Biblical culture as well as translating the original Greek and Hebrew languages and puts it all into modern day relevance. 

Listen in as Melanie, Christy, and Janey discuss the historical, cultural, and spiritual relevance of Jesus being born and how it impacts our Christmas celebrations. 

Find out more about Janey at janeypitts.com and @officialjaneypitts.

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Discussion questions:

• How are you feeling going into the Christmas season?
• What is one thing you could take off of your plate to create more margin for embracing rest and joy this season?
• What is one thing you might add/do differently in order to have an intentional celebration of Christ this season?
• What did you hear today that was especially interesting or encouraging?
• Read today’s beautiful Truth passage, Hebrews 1:3. How does this verse inspire your Christmas celebration?
• Take some to pray together. Thank God for sending his Son Jesus for the sake of our forgiveness and abundant life. Ask God to help you fix your mind’s attention and heart’s affection on him as you remember the reason for the season.

Advent is a season on the Christian church calendar that is marked with longing and anticipation; it reminds us that our true hope is found in Christ alone. During Advent, we spend the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas remembering the coming of baby Jesus, and we anticipate his coming again. Celebrating Advent helps us to slow down and celebrate with mindfulness and purpose. To help you celebrate Advent with your family, we are offering a FREE PRINTABLE: Beautiful Mess Family Advent Devotional. Check it out!

Recommended resources for today’s topic:

• Book: Deeply Defined: Understanding Who You Are In Christ by Janey Pitts 
• Article: Christmas is the Greatest Mystery by David Mathis
• Free Devo Download: Beautiful Mess Family Advent Devotional
• Check out more of our recommended resources for Advent at momlife.org/advent.

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Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons

Beautiful Mess: Seeking Jesus, Finding Beautiful PURPOSE
Melanie and Christy are joined with special guest Sara Turnquist. Sara is a writer who desires to speak into the spaces of women’s lives where they are struggling: with momming, with faith, and with life in general. Her presence is kind and full of warmth and grace. She always has a good story to tell and we just know you’ll be encouraged by her words today. Listen in as Melanie, Christy, and Sara discuss some common lies we believe and how to confront them with the Truth of what God says. 

Find out more about Sara at saraturnquist.com.

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Discussion questions for today's episode:

• What did you hear today that was especially interesting or encouraging?
• Are there any lies you’ve been believing about yourself that you need to share and get out of the dark?
• How might you need to release yourself from unhelpful comparison and “stay in your lane”?
• Read today’s beautiful Truth passage, Psalm 139. Use the following questions to discuss the passage: (a) What specific words or phrases stand out to you? (b) What does this passage tell you about the character of God? (c) How does the passage shape the way you view yourself as God’s creation? (d) What might you do in response to this knowledge?
• Pray for one another as you seek Jesus and find beautiful purpose. 

Recommended resources for today’s topic:

• Book: Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace  John Mark Comer
• Book: Stop Calling Me Beautiful: Finding Soul-Deep Strength in a Skin-Deep World  Phylicia Masonheimer
• Book: Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free From Spiritual Strongholds  Beth Moore

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Subscribe & please leave a review!
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Find out more: momlife.org
Editing: Angela Edwards
Music: "Another Successful Day" BoDleasons