christian moms

Our guest has faced so many obstacles...but her stories of overcoming show the power of relying on God's strength. Becky and Sarah talk with Lori Vober, a stroke survivor (at age twenty-nine). She is a walking miracle and we guarantee that her journey of faith and perseverance will encourage you. 

Find Lori's Book:
Choices: When You Are Faced with a Challenge, What Choice Will You Make?
Life rarely turns out exactly as you pictured it, and we all face challenges along the way. God always has a plan. But He leaves it up to you whether you follow His plan or not. Life is about choices.

I have chosen to depend on God's faithfulness through all our challenges.

• Everyone has doubts about their own abilities, but God has a plan for each of us. So believe in Him, and don't give up.
• Sometimes your attitude, drive, and enthusiasm can take you further than your talents or abilities. Attitude can make all the difference.
• Find your happiness in whom God says you are. Don't let someone else define your happiness.

Connect with Lori:
Website

We all know that there are extroverts and introverts. But how do we help our children who are more introverted? How do we help them feel affirmed in their design? Today we talk with Holley Gerth. Holley is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of many books. She is a counselor and life coach, with a masters of science degree in mental health. Holley is the host of More Thank Small Talk podcast and is the co-owner of The Potentialist Agency. She is also a mother and grandmother and we’re excited to talk with her today about helping our kids who are introverted by design.

Learn more about Holley.

Order Holley's Book:
The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You
In this transformative book, Holley Gerth dives into the brain science behind introversion to help you understand the psychological, relational, and spiritual aspects of being an introvert. She explores how introverts can make meaningful connections, experience quiet confidence, cultivate soul-filling solitude, exercise unexpected influence, and much more.

If you're an introvert, or if you love, lead, or share life with an introvert, you need this empowering, insightful book!

It seems so many need hope right now. That’s what we’re talking about today with Becky's good friend, Michelle Cox. She's authored a book "Hope That Endures" which is Michelle's gift to God...offering hope to everyone who reads it. The stories are special because they're true, relatable, and show God's faithfulness. By the end of this podcast, you'll feel like you have a new friend...and new encouragement.

Connect with Michelle on Facebook

Get Michelle's Book: Hope That Endures
In the powerful Hope That Endures Blue Faux Leather Devotional, Michelle Cox shares lessons and truths she has learned about God's faithfulness. These insights come from both her friends' difficulties and her own tragic experiences. She needed God's hope to bear numerous challenges: her father's suicide, a car wreck, her son's life-threatening illness, financial difficulties, and the loss of part of her hearing and eyesight. Michelle sometimes felt overwhelmed, barely able to take another breath. Yet, even as her world was shattered and rocked, she discovered that the Rock of Ages — Jesus — was all she needed. 

Boy...parenting can sure be "inconvenient" right? As a busy mom, you know that everything shifts when you become a parent. But let this conversation encourage you to embrace--and activate--the opportunities that come along with parenting your children. This conversation will help you think about the unique traits that God gave your kiddos. Our dear guest, Melissa Hannigan, shares the heart behind her book "Inconvenient Parenting: Activate Your Child's God-Given Traits." You're sure to glean some gems from her honesty and practical encouragement.

CONNECT WITH MELISSA

BUY MELISSA'S BOOK
Inconvenient Parenting: Activate Your Child's God-Given Traits 

Hope and help for shaping Christ-honoring future generations.

Families are like little churches. They are meant to be places of discipleship, worship, and rest—places where we can fine tune the gifts God’s given us so we can bless the world. They can be full of surprises and joy. But family life can also be heartbreaking and downright discouraging. Trained counselor and mother Melissa Hannigan knows how hard it is to cast and keep a vision of rich family life. How do we cultivate a family culture that’s vibrant and encouraging—a refuge amidst life’s storms?

Melissa is passionate about helping families build healthy, strong, God-honoring homes. In Inconvenient Parenting, she shares twelve qualities that are the key ingredients to that desired end:

Wisdom — Wonder — Vitality — Sensitivity — Flexibility ­­—Curiosity —

Creativity — Imagination — Inventiveness — Playfulness — Humor — Joy

Melissa shows us why, though inconvenient at times, it’s necessary to encourage and infuse these traits in our children and reveals how we can unknowingly discourage these qualities. Each chapter concludes with practical activities, book recommendations, and discussion questions to help parents immediately apply the principles discussed.

It's a topic that is hard to talk through...but even harder to walk through. But our guest shares her story so that others can cling to hope. On this episode, Becky and Sarah talk with Candy McVicar, the co-author of the book 'Holding On to Love After You've Lost a Baby.' Candy shares her personal story of losing her babies and how she started the Missing Grace Foundation to support families who have experienced similar losses. She discusses the importance of validation and support for grieving parents and offers advice on dealing with faith struggles. The conversation also touches on maintaining connection in marriage and ministering to other children in the family.

Get Candy's Book: Holding On To Love After You've Lost a Baby by Gary Chapman & Candy McVicar
Missing Grace Ministry Link
Candy McVicar's Website

Have you ever thought about how your personality impacts how you pray? So interesting! In this episode, Becky and Sarah discuss the topic of prayer with guest Janet McHenry. They explore the concept of praying personalities and how each person is wired differently when it comes to prayer. This is a NO judgement zone and meant to encourage you! Listen in and think about how your personality impacts how/where/when you pray.

• Connect with our guest, Janet McHenry
• Order Janet's book Praying Personalities: Finding Your Natural Prayer Style
• Take the Praying Personalities QUIZ

Such a sweet episode! Daughter-Mom team, Calyn and Blythe Daniel, join us to talk about friendships...specifically with tween girls. Tween relationships can be a little sticky--yikes--so listen in! Together they wrote a book "Let's Be Friends: A Tween Devotional on Finding and Keeping Friendships." We enjoy conversation around being brave to make new friends, standing up for ourselves in friendships, knowing one's worth, reaching out to new people, and being a light in friendships. They also discuss the qualities of good friends and the lessons learned from writing the book.

Order their devotional book here:
Let's Be Friends: A Tween Devotional on Finding and Keeping Friendships

Chapters

00:00
Introduction

01:14
The Impact of Loneliness on Kids

02:38
Introducing the Guest and the Book

03:25
Challenges for Tween Girls in Friendships

07:08
Standing Up for Who You Are in Friendships

09:05
Importance of Knowing Your Worth in Friendships

11:23
Challenges in Friendships and Identity

13:44
Reaching Out to New People

16:28
Involvement in Activities and Making Friends

18:46
Sharing Faith and Being a Light in Friendships

20:27
Qualities of Good Friends

22:10
Loyalty in Friendships

24:46
Advice for Shy and Introverted Girls

27:31
Supporting Daughters in Friendships

29:00
Lessons Learned from Writing the Book

31:42
Closing Prayer

Need some fresh ideas on how to best pray for your child? Listen in! Becky and Sarah talk with Sharon Jaynes about "Praying for Your Child from Head to Toe"--a book Sharon wrote that is a 30-day guide to "powerful and effective Scripture-based prayers." Sharon shares insights on praying for different areas of a child's life, starting with the mind and going down to the feet. She also encourages moms to pray for other children and reminds them that God is always at work, even when it seems like evil is winning. The episode concludes with a prayer for encouragement and a reminder to trust in God's love and provision.

Get Sharon's book.

Learn more about Sharon.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Welcome

00:26
The Importance of Prayer for Moms

01:18
Introduction of Guest and Book

03:20
The Power of Praying for Your Child

07:31
The Pattern of Prayer

10:49
Praying for the Mind and Neck

13:42
The Importance of Letting Go of Control

15:28
The Landmarks of the Lord's Prayer

19:28
Releasing Control to God

22:16
The Power of Prayer in Interception and Provision

25:28
Encouragement for Moms in Prayer

28:16
The Role of Struggle in Prayer

31:24
Praying for Other Children

32:02
Closing Prayer

33:12
Conclusion and Invitation

In this episode, we discuss some heavy topics that affected mom, Keri Spring, and her teenage son. We discuss the impact of bullying, loss of a child, and the importance of forgiveness and faith in her healing journey. Keri also shares how her family has testablished a scholarship fund in her son's memory. The conversation highlights the need for open discussions about mental health and the importance of supportive, connected friendships. Becky's new book "Tethered Trust" is dedicated to Keri. 

Give to Keri's scholarship fund:
Gregory D Spring Perseverance Scholarship Fund

Find out more about Keri Spring

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Text 988.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction

01:20
The Importance of Discussing Teenage Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide

03:10
Introducing Guest Carrie Spring

04:09
Involvement with Buffalo Bills and Sabres

05:37
Tragic Loss of Carrie's Son, Greg

07:41
Dealing with Tourette's and Bullying

10:22
Finding Faith and Forgiveness

12:47
Establishing the Gregory Deep Spring Perseverance Scholarship Fund

20:41
Addressing Bullying and Advocating for Change

28:36
The Importance of Supportive Friendships

31:49
How to Support Those Who Have Experienced Suicide

Gregory D Spring Perseverance Scholarship Fund

https://cattfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3442

Mom burnout. Weariness in parenting. Can you relate?

In this episode, we interview Julie Lavender, author of the book ''Strength for All Seasons." We discuss the challenges of motherhood and the importance of relying on God's strength. Julie shares her personal experiences of burnout and how she learned to lean on God in different seasons of motherhood. She also emphasizes the need for a support system and the power of prayer. The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing warning signs and asking for help when needed. Be encouraged to rely on God's strength in every season of life.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Julie Lavender is the award-winning author of several books, including 365 Days of Celebration and Praise and Creative Sleepovers for Kids!, and coauthor of Come and Behold Him. Her work has appeared in several anthologies and curricula, as well as many magazines, such as The Upper Room, Guideposts, Homeschooling Today, ParentLife, Clubhouse, Today's Christian Woman, and Focus on the Family. Julie has a master's degree in early childhood education, taught public school in three states, and delighted in homeschooling her four children in six states during her husband's Navy career. She writes faith-based articles for her local newspaper and is a regular contributor to several websites and blogs on parenting topics. Julie lives with her husband, David, in South Georgia, not far from the charming city of Savannah. Find her online here.

Today, we’re talking about her book, Strength for All Seasons: A Mom's Devotional of Powerful Verses and Prayers

Chapters

00:00
Introduction

01:23
Introducing Julie Lavender and her new book

04:01
Understanding Mom Burnout

08:06
Relying on God's Strength

12:05
Recognizing Warning Signs

15:08
Relying on God's Strength in Different Seasons of Motherhood

21:23
Relying on God's Strength in the Empty Nest Season

30:53
Conclusion

Sometimes life is so heavy that it seems hard to hold onto our faith. Have you been there? You're not alone. Our guest Michele Cushatt has been through THREE cancer episodes and the many complications that come with that--both physically and spiritually. She reminds us that having questions about what you believe is not a lack of faith.

About Our Guest: Michele Cushatt
With a unique blend of storytelling, Bible teaching, and humor, Michele Cushatt speaks inter- nationally to a wide variety of audiences on faith in the hard places. A three-time head-and-neck cancer survivor and foster-adopt parent, Michele is a (reluctant) expert on trauma, faith, and our deep human need for authentic connection. She and her husband, Troy, have six children and they live on 8 acres outside of Denver, Colorado. Find out more about Michele at www.MicheleCushatt.com.

About Michelle's Book . . .
A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart 

In this book, beloved author and Bible teacher Michele Cushatt presents a better way. By exploring powerful personal, historical, and biblical stories of people of extraordinary faith, she curates and shares ten practices to help you deepen your confidence and certainty in the God who can be trusted with your worry, questions, confusion, and grief. As a woman who has been through immeasurable suffering, she writes with both deep compassion and practical insight as she guides you to:

• Practice lament and process grief without guilt or shame
• Understand what keeps you from trusting God and how to navigate doubt with truth
• Learn simple ways to foster shalom and gratitude on a daily basis
• Develop a fresh, eternal perspective that delivers both peace for today and hope for tomorrow
• Savor daily "faith-builder" practices to strengthen your confidence in God's love and purposes for you, no matter what happens

Trusting in God can't happen without knowing that He is trustworthy. On today's episode, Becky unpacks several powerful names of God: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Let the truth about who God is refresh your perspective and confidence to trust God...even when life is wonky!

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Authentic, passionate, funny and Biblical all describe, Becky Harling. A best-selling author, Becky is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats and other events. She is a best-selling author and has written eleven books including, How To Listen So Your Kids Will Talk and the author of Psalms for the Anxious Heart. Becky is a certified coach with the John Maxwell Team and offers parent coaching.

Becky and her husband, Steve have traveled and ministered in over 60 countries around the world. She is the parent of four grown married kids and Mimi to 14 grandchildren!

You can connect with Becky at www.beckyharling.com and www.harlingleadership.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/beckyharlingministries, Twitter @beckyharling, or Instagram @BeckyHarling

GET HER BOOKS

Balance sounds good...but is it really possible to achieve as a busy mom? We talk with Lisa Grimes, a CEO with experience juggling all the balls of life as a working mom, wife, executive, and friend. She takes time to show us different kinds of "balls" that are in our lives and how we can keep balance...which means knowing the value of each ball and what can drop.

ABOUT OUR GUEST
Lisa T. Grimes is a business leader, coach and speaker. She has spent most of the last 30 years in healthcare and lifestyle start-ups where she has served as CEO of PurThread Technologies, InSite Clinical Trials and AcSentient. She loves to connect people and often does so through her work with non-profit organizations. She lives in Cary, NC with her husband and has two adult sons. Connect with Lisa. Order her book here.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Personal Experiences

03:15
Finding Balance as a Working Mom

06:05
The Impact of Adoption on Work-Life Balance

10:36
Juggling Different Roles and Priorities

16:24
Letting Go of Perfectionism

23:53
Overcoming Guilt and Shame

27:50
The Importance of Girlfriends

29:59
Perfectionism as a Roadblock in Parenting

32:22
Prayer and Encouragement for Moms

You make time for so many tasks as a mom. But we're here to remind you that finding time to have JOY in your life is critical. Our guest, Linda Evans Shepherd, shares her personal story of finding joy even when she found herself in several tornados--both physical and figurative. You'll want to hear how she finds joy!

ABOUT OUR GUEST
Linda Evans Shepherd is an award-winning author, a successful speaker, and a media personality. The president of Right to the Heart Ministries, she is the author of 37 books, including When You Don't Know What to Pray, Praying God's Promises, and Prayers for Every Need. She lives in Colorado. For more, visit www.sheppro.com.

CONNECT WITH LINDA
Facebook
Instagram

ABOUT HER BOOK
Make Time for Joy: Scripture-Powered Prayers to Brighten Your Day

Does your prayer time consist of an ever-lengthening list of requests for yourself and other people? Perhaps you spend a lot of time praying for the health of family or church members, guidance for a child or grandchild, or that God would intervene in global crises. But did you know that you can pray about more than just the things in life that seem to be going wrong? In fact, you can pray that God will transform your anxious and tired heart into a joyful one!

It's time to set aside the trials of life for a while and make joy a priority. Not sure how? Let this collection of Scripture-powered prayers from beloved author Linda Evans Shepherd be your guide. Packed with prayers of gratitude, praise, and hope, this inspiring collection will change your perspective, your life, and your heart as you press into pure, God-given joy.

The perfect gift for yourself or someone else, Make Time for Joy will help you transform sadness into gladness as you rest on the love, joy, and provision that comes from God.

From Today’s Episode:

Welcome! We’re in our Unconventional Gratitude Series and today’s topic is Mundane and Small.

Verse

Psalm 34:8

Question

God, what is something small in my life that's a huge gift from you?

Quick Links

• Free Download: Journaling Pages
• Spotify Playlist

Access the episode transcript here

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Connect with Jen

Website  |  Instagram  

How can you help your kids be filled with gratitude . . . and how can you make that fun? Gratitude is something God honors, and according to the research, it actually makes people more happy in their adult life. Who knew? Today Becky shares lots of ideas to make gratitude fun at any age--from toddlers to high schoolers. We even throw in a few tips for grandparents!

Mentioned:

• Thank You Bear book suggestion for toddlers
• Mission trip opportunities

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Authentic, passionate, funny and Biblical all describe, Becky Harling. A best-selling author, Becky is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats and other events. She is a best-selling author and has written eleven books including, How To Listen So Your Kids Will Talk and the author of Psalms for the Anxious Heart. Becky is a certified coach with the John Maxwell Team and offers parent coaching.

Becky and her husband, Steve have traveled and ministered in over 60 countries around the world. She is the parent of four grown married kids and Mimi to 14 grandchildren!

You can connect with Becky at www.beckyharling.com and www.harlingleadership.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/beckyharlingministries, Twitter @beckyharling, or Instagram @BeckyHarling

GET HER BOOK:
Becky shares tips for connecting with your children in How To Listen So Your Kids Will Talk. 

Motherhood is a journey filled with ups an downs…so how can we keep the journey fun? Join Becky and Sarah as they talk with Victoria Lydon about how she kept FUN in her family...despite single parenting, homeschooling, and living on a tight budget. She is the perfect example of making the best of your situation with God's help...and making sure that it includes fun!

ABOUT OUR GUEST
Victoria Lyon is a Christian Author, Certified Christian Life Coach, Host of the Choose 2 Think Inspirational Podcast, Entrepreneur, Director & Educator at Choose 2 Think Academy, Speaker & University Instructor with nearly 30 years of teaching & advising experience, Victoria's mission is to coach women how to live their best thought life in the four main areas of life:

• health
• wealth and purpose
• relationships
• faith

Over the years, she's  blogged, written Bible studies, taught Sunday School, led small women's groups, and authored two books. She currently writes devotionals for Guideposts Strength & Grace magazine and released her own 365-day devotional and the companion journal called Choose 2 Think: Find Peace, Joy, Hope, Health & Freedom Every Day.  She geeks out on neuroscience and your brain's neuroplasticity - a frequent topic on the Choose 2 Think podcast. Her passions are God, family, baking, playing pickleball with her husband Jim, and traveling.

There's a lot of talk about "Self Care" but we want to lean in on care for your soul. Join us as we talk with Edie Melson as she talks about how we can use creativity to connect with God.

Buy the Book: Soul Care When You're Weary
Description: Edie Melson helps you find Soul Care solutions using devotions and prayers and opportunities for creative expression. She has learned that sensory involvement deepens our relationship with the Father and gives rest to our weary souls. She will teach you to tap into your creativity. Reconnect with God using your tactile creativity.

About Our Guest
As an author, blogger, and speaker Edie Melson has encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. She’s penned numerous books, including While My Child is Away a book of prayers for when we’re apart. As a leading professional within the publishing industry, she travels to numerous conferences as a popular keynote, writing instructor and mentor. Her top-ranked blog for writers, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month, and she’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

 
Connect with Edie
Website
Instagram
Facebook

If you're a single mom...or you're the friend of a single mom, listen in for practical encouragement from a mom who knows that road. Our guest, PeggySue Wells, is the bestselling author or coauthor of nearly 30 books, including The Slave across the Street with Theresa L. Flores. A history buff and lover of tropical islands, she parasails, skydives, snorkels, scuba dives, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. Living and writing in Indiana, PeggySue helps people implement the life-giving rhythms of working hard and resting well to live better, together.

Connect with PeggySue...
Single Mom Circle
Website
Facebook
Instagram

About the book...
The 10 Best Decisions a Single Mom Can Make
No matter how you became a single mom, you share the same challenges and fears all single moms have. You may feel stretched to the limit. You may suspect your children need more than you're able to give. How are you going to do this on your own?

With humor, Scripture, and sage advice, Pam Farrel (child of a single mother) and PeggySue Wells (single parent of seven children) show you how to
· be decisive
· create a nurturing home
· be proactive
· date wisely
· pray for your child
· embrace your happily ever after
· and more

You are capable of parenting your children with courage, confidence, and clarity.

It takes so much wisdom to be a mom…even when your kids are adults. SO many decisions and interactions in motherhood require big time wisdom! Becky and Sarah talk about how to practically obtain wisdom in motherhood with our guest, Pam Farrel. Hint, hint...we're talking about wisdom in Proverbs.

ABOUT OUR GUEST
Pam Farrel and her husband, Bill, are the authors of 59 books including Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti (more than 350,000 copies sold) and Red-Hot Monogamy. In addition, Pam has written 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband and 7 Simple Skills for Every Woman: Success in Keeping It All Together. They are cofounders and codirectors of Love-Wise, an organization to help people connect love and wisdom and bring practical insights to their personal relationships. The Farrels live in California and enjoy spending time with their 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law and many energetic grandkids. www.Love-Wise.com

Order Book: Wisdom in Proverbs