Praying the Psalms over our kids: The key to giving and taking advice

Sometimes, the worst advice comes from the most well-intentioned people in our lives. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely given and received lots of bad advice over the years.

 

Today we’re considering King David’s model for giving advice, which is simply pointing people to the Lord through our words and actions. In Psalm 31, David advises that in life’s very hardest places we are to love the Lord and put our hope and trust in him. Plain and simple.

 

Let’s pray this week that we learn to use discretion in whom we allow to speak into our own lives and the lives of our families. Let’s also pray that our kids only take advice from those who have prayed about it, searched Scripture, and ultimately point them back to Jesus. Talk less, pray more. Seems like the next right step.

 

Can’t wait to be with you this week!

 

 

P.S. We would be so grateful if you’d consider sharing Pardon the Mess with a friend. Encourage those you know and love to join us in praying each week by forwarding this email or sending a link to the show. Thank you!

Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

 


Aging Parents with Sarah Smith

Many of us are at the stage of caring for our aging parents. If you are not, it’s probably headed your way in the not too distant years. Undoubtedly it can be a hard topic, but loving our aging parents is a really important one we’re tackling today.

Sarah Smith joins us today to share her journey of caring for her mom who was diagnosed with early onset Alzhemiers. Sarah is honest about the challenges they have faced on this road, but also encourages us to draw closer to the Lord and trust him every step of the way.

Here’s a few of the topics we cover on today’s show:

  • Being realistic in expectations

  • Overcoming guilt when considering healthcare facilities

  • Supporting our friends who are caring for their parents

  • Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in patience and love

Don’t miss this important conversation with Sarah Smith.

 

Resources from today's show:

Broken Beauty

So God Made a Mother

The Dad Tired Q&A Mixtape


Praying the Psalms over our kids: The key to Defending Ourselves

Over and over again we’re called to live differently as followers of Jesus. The way we defend ourselves is one example of living counter culturally and exactly what we’re praying for this week. When we are wronged the world returns the favor with equal vengeance. But the reality is that real justice only comes from the Lord, and we’re called to wait on him who is faithful, upright, and just. (Deuteronomy 32:4).

 

Join me in praying this week for our families in all the places where we are tempted to defend ourselves. Let’s be reminded that the Lord is looking for opportunities to be gracious to us, and only in him will we find true rest and strength from the enemies we face.

 

Can’t wait to pray with you this week!

 

P.S. We would be so grateful if you’d consider sharing Pardon the Mess with a friend. Encourage those you know and love to join us in praying each week by forwarding this email or sending a link to the show. Thank you!

 

Pardon the Mess 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


Right Where You Belong with Heather MacFadyen

If there were a contest for great names of podcasts and books, Heather MacFadyen of “Don’t Mom Alone” just might win. Heather is my dear friend and is joining us today to talk about an incredibly important topic: Occupying your God-given space. She’s written an amazing new book on this topic, and we get to hear her heart behind it first-hand today.

This conversation is so practical when we’re wondering how to figure out where God has assigned us to work for him, and how to get past self-doubt and the dreaded imposter syndrome. (Been there, done that.)

I also LOVE her advice on hearing from God and discerning if our plans and dreams are from God or from ourselves. You guys, please go listen—because we can’t afford to spend even one more day questioning if we’re being faithful in the place God has entrusted us and our families.

 

Resources from today's show:

Right Where You Belong by Heather MacFayden

Adventures in Odyssey

Every Parent Wants To Know Christian Parenting Event

 


Praying the Psalms over our kids: The key to Trusting God

Imagine a world in which we decide today to trust God with everything we have and from this moment forward we live in His peace and confidence because of that decision. It’s truly hard to imagine, right?

Instead, I’ve found that trusting God is a lifelong process of reminding ourselves how God is good and why he’s trustworthy. It’s going back to biblical truth that he’s our strength and our shield (Psalm 28:7), our hope and our future (Jeremiah 29:11), and working all things for good (Romans 8:28).

I’m guessing our anxiety and stress levels would look a whole lot better if we could fully embrace these promises of scripture.

Today we’re praying for our kids to learn to trust God just as David does in Psalm 3. We’re praying they know that God is their sole sustainer whether they are facing an army of enemies or simply a future of uncertainties. Why? Because God is trust worthy. He really is.

Let’s pray over that today.

P.S. We would be so grateful if you’d consider sharing Pardon the Mess with a friend. Encourage those you know and love to join us in praying each week by forwarding this email or sending a link to the show. Thank you!

Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org


Don’t stand in God’s way for your kids with Katie Davis Majors

Who read Kisses from Katie all those years ago and was blown away by a teenage girl who left her affluent life in the US to move to Uganda? That was the beginning of an amazing journey for Katie Davis Majors, who was also busy fostering and adopting 13 kids by the time she was 23. Talk about refusing to play it safe in life!

Today Katie is with us, and we’re talking about her new book, Safe All Along. She shares how the Lord called her to Uganda all those years ago, and then just recently called her back to the U.S. (and the anxiety and pain of leaving her home in Uganda that has accompanied this move).

Please take my word for it—you do not want to miss today’s conversation. Katie’s encouragement to let our kids chase after God’s plans for their lives is amazing, including her dad’s story of hearing from God in the early days as she was preparing to leave for Uganda.

I’m so thankful for Katie’s faithfulness to the Lord and how it has encouraged me and my family. I know you will feel the same way!

Resources from today's show:

Safe All Along by Katie Davis Majors

Starved

Camp Winshape

Every Parent Wants To Know Christian Parenting Event


Praying the Psalms over our kids: The key to Numbering Our Days

I read a study recently that indicates our life expectancy is 79.3 years. When you’re young that number feels like an eternity as you consider the long road of life you have in front of you. And as you age, well, you realize how fleeting time really is and how important it is to make your days count.

This week we’re praying for our kids to live with urgency in their lives and number their days well. This happens when we realize that God is with us and for us so we have the freedom to live big, take risks, and make each day count.

Let’s ask the Lord to help our kids grasp the significance of every day—a day they were not promised—and use these days to follow the Lord, live by his Word, and pursue the things of eternity.

Can’t wait to pray with you!

P.S. We would be so grateful if you’d consider sharing Pardon the Mess with a friend. Encourage those you know and love to join us in praying each week by forwarding this email or sending a link to the show. Thank you!

Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org


Do that “thing” you’re called to with Rebecca George

What is that “thing” you know deep down you’re called to do?

What phone call are you supposed to make? What book does your heart want to write? What is the nagging feeling you’re pushing down even knowing God is calling you to step out a little further in faith?

Rebecca George is with us today to talk about this exact subject. We’re talking about doing the very things God created us to do and addressing our hang-ups that keep us from going full-force after it. It’s such an important topic, and I’m grateful Rebecca has some practical  advice for identifying your giftings and figuring out how they line up with God’s kingdom.

The world can be so hard right now, and those around us need hope. We can’t afford to shrink back and not do the things we’re empowered to do simply because we’re too busy, too afraid, or too insecure.

Don’t miss this great conversation, and start praying now that the Lord will tell you what “thing” he has for you to do. I’m praying over it for you!

Resources from today's show:

Do the Thing by Rebecca George

Starved

Camp Winshape

Every Parent Wants To Know Christian Parenting Event


Praying the Psalms over our kids: The key to having influence

If you’re anything like me, the word “influencer” tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth. In this day and age of social media born superstars, it’s easy to discount our influence and feel like we can’t change lives because we don’t have the right platform, title, or following.

But this week we’re taking a deep dive into this idea of influence and praying for our kids to realize that no matter who they are or how they spend their days, they have the opportunity to be a difference-maker for the kingdom.

In a world that thrives on self-promotion and living in excess, let’s lay down those things and pray for ways our families can raise up others. Luke reminds us that “to whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). Let’s use what we have well and point others to Jesus.

Can’t wait to pray with you!

P.S. We would be so grateful if you’d consider sharing Pardon the Mess with a friend. Encourage those you know and love to join us in praying each week by forwarding this email or sending a link to the show. Thank you!

Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org