How Happiness Happens with Max Lucado
Well, there’s really not much to say other than this is a dream.
If you’re anything like me, Max Lucado’s books have been instrumental in shaping your faith over the years. The fact that I had the chance to sit down and talk with him on our podcast?
Well, there are almost no words.
Max Lucado is the Teaching Minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He’s widely regarded as America’s best-selling inspirational author.
Pastor Max shares a few thoughts about his new book on happiness and why it matters to God and others that we live happy lives. He encourages us to practice forgiveness and relays a story in his life that impacted his view of forgiving others.
He brought up a parenting point I had never considered before: although there aren’t many “parenting” passages in the Bible, we learn all we need to know by considering how Jesus responded to parents who brought their children to him. Simply put, Jesus was always faithful and quick to respond to parents in need.
What a great reminder for us to pray for our kids and to bring them to Jesus.
Pastor Max believes that encouragement is essential for happiness—and, believe you me, he was a huge encouragement today on our podcast.
I can’t wait for you to hear from one of my heroes of our faith!
Finding Joy in the Holiday Chaos with Kay Wyma
A show of hands for anyone who might need a few deep breaths as we’re headed into the final lap before the big day?
Christmas often brings out our very best—generosity, focus on Jesus, time with friends and family. Christmas also may bring out our worst—exhaustion, materialism, sadness. You’re not alone if you’re feeling stressed, tired, overwhelmed, sad, excited, grateful, and everything in between.
Kay Wyma, author, blogger, and mother of five shares practical ways to experience true Christmas joy. She encourages us to hydrate for the holidays by practicing kindness, relishing the regular, and stopping to simply look up (literally).
Kay is my dear friend, and I am so grateful to have her join us again on Pardon the Mess. I was so refreshed by her words that a few times I forgot we were recording. She takes the Christmas carol “Joy to the World” and breaks it down beautifully, reminding us that you experience joy by trusting the One in whom you have faith.
I didn’t just enjoy hearing from Kay today – I needed to hear it. I have a feeling you will feel the same way. She’s got a word for all of us as we run errands and make last minute preparations for Christmas. And don’t miss the very end where she gives us a few thoughts on entitlement and how to overcome it with our kids this time of year.
Why the Bible matters with Steve Green and Jim Denison
Today we have twice the fun with two different interviews on Pardon the Mess.
Jim Denison, founder of Denison Ministries, joins me for the first few minutes to discuss the issues our kids will face biblically in today’s culture. He suggests ways to explain the relevancy of the Bible to our children while reminding us that we are equipped to raise kids today because the Lord picked us for the here and now. It’s so much wisdom packed into fifteen minutes that you will want to hear it twice.
But that’s not all . . . . (I would be amazing on an infomercial).
Jim Denison then joins me in a second podcast with Steve Green, President of Hobby Lobby and founder of The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Steve talks about the themes woven through the Bible’s various stories and why the Bible has such impact and relevance still today. His family has maintained biblical values at all costs with their business, and it’s a great privilege to visit with Steve about his faith, family, and passion for the Bible.
Setbacks experienced as you pursue a career with Amy Parker
As we wrap up our Nashville series, we are excited to give you a word from Amy Parker. Amy has written and co-written more than sixty books for children, teens, and adults, with 1.8 million copies sold. She has collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son.
Amy shares with us how her calling to write books came about, and the setbacks she experienced as she pursued her career as an author. She has a good word for anyone who feels led to write a book and gives practical steps in doing so.
Amy and her husband have two sons, and she talks honestly about what has been hard in parenting and the places where she has had to let the Lord take the wheel (literally) along the way.
My favorite part of the interview was at the very end when Amy read a portion of one of her devotionals. It was really sweet, and you won’t want to miss it. For anyone thinking about writing a book, this is a great word from someone who is a pro!
Faith, Family, and Happy Happy Happy with Duck Dynasty
Pardon the Mess brings you our special Thanksgiving episode straight from Willie and Korie Robertson’s home in West Monroe, Louisiana. In case you’re wondering, yes, I was a touch starstruck when Willie walked by to go hunting (he gone), and yes, I hummed “Sharp Dressed Man” walking up their sidewalk.
We had the great pleasure of chatting with three generations of this sweet family: Chrys Howard (Korie’s Mom), Korie Robertson, and John Luke Robertson (Korie and Willie’s son). They let us in on some of the traditions in their family and how faith has been central to all they do.
Korie talked about the two character attributes she and Willie worked to instill in their kids and what it looked like parenting their crew during the craziness of Duck Dynasty.
John Luke shared the most important thing his parents did that impacted his faith and what he hopes to carry on with his own wife and their new baby boy, who was born a few days after our interview.
And Chrys—bless it, she’s about the coolest grandmother one could ever hope for. She’s fun, practical, and gives great advice on keeping your family close and staying relevant to your grandkids.
The Lord gave this family a huge platform for sharing their faith and family values. Today’s podcast will give you a peek behind the curtain of what makes their faith so deeply rooted. You’ll leave encouraged to pass the torch well when it comes to family values and your love for Jesus.
That’s a fact, Jack!
Money Saving Mom with Crystal Paine
Today we have the pleasure of talking to Crystal Paine, one of the most beloved voices speaking into our finances and how we steward the resources God has given our families.
Crystal Paine is a wife of three (with number four on the way), a businesswoman, a New York Times bestselling author, and the founder of MoneySavingMom.com. She averages close to two million readers per month, challenging women to manage their time and resources wisely while living on purpose for the Lord.
Crystal talks very practically on ways to save money by sticking to a budget, meal planning, and figuring out the “why” behind our spending. She not only gives us practical ways to save money, but she also has ideas on how to make money.
One of my favorite parts of the interview has nothing to do with money. Rather, I appreciated her encouraging words on saying yes to the things God calls us to, even when it’s scary. And, as a part of that, she shares how she has learned to say yes to hosting and opening up her home to others.
You will love the practicality of this podcast and Crystal’s sweet heart for helping families with their finances.
https://moneysavingmom.com/
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A Podcast Every Mom and Teen Needs to Hear with Sadie Robertson
This. Is. The. One.
This is the podcast to listen to with your teens/tweens. This is the podcast to share with your friends. This is the podcast to listen to twice because you might have missed a nugget.
I love that wisdom comes in so many different varieties. And today it comes through Sadie Robertson. My daughter, Kate, joined me in Nashville to ask Sadie questions about following Jesus during the teen years, when it’s hard to know your identity and easy to be influenced by the wrong things.
Sadie shares with us the importance of knowing your three—those three friends who are most likely to bring you back to Jesus. She also tells us about a decision she faced at a party that led her to literally sit with Jesus. It’s all kinds of impactful.
As a mom, I loved hearing Sadie talk about what her parents did that most impacted her faith and how her mom always “met her with Jesus.” It will make you stop and think about the advice you give your kids and the way you approach the problems they bring you.
Sadie Robertson is an author, blogger, speaker, and daughter to Willie and Korie Robertson of Duck Dynasty. She was the runner-up on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Season 19 and currently speaks as a part of her Live Original Tour. She has more than 5 million followers on her various social platforms and boldly speaks to her love for Jesus and her family.
Finding God’s Life for My Will with Mike Donehey
You know that one time you went to Nashville for a podcast and Mike Donehey from Tenth Avenue North sang one of your favorite songs live in the studio?
Me neither—until our podcast today!
Mike Donehey is the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the award-winning Christian rock band, Tenth Avenue North. He has four daughters and a lovely wife, and he just released a new book, Finding God’s Life for My Will.
Mike shares with us how a near-death car accident in high school kept him from playing the sports he loved, leading him to pick up a guitar for the first time and falling in love with music. He shares his struggle with being on stage, some of the parenting shenanigans with his girls, and he even has a hot sports opinion or two. It’s awesome.
But whatever you do, DO NOT miss the end of the podcast where he sings a little number for us. It’s pretty much the essence of why one would want to pick up and move to Nashville and join a band. But I digress.
Enjoy!
Book: Finding God's Life For My Will
Career, family, and raising a child with autism with Jaci Velasquez
We had the great privilege of taking Pardon the Mess on the road to Nashville recently. We can’t wait for you to hear from all of the great guests who joined us live to talk about parenting, their walk with the Lord, and all the good and hard places of raising kids.
To kick off our Nashville series, we start with none other than the multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, seven-Dove-Award-winning artist Jaci Velasquez.
Jaci released her first album at the age of sixteen and found sudden fame. She became the first and fastest-selling solo artist in Christian music history to reach gold status with a debut album.
But despite all the successes in her life, she’s also walked some hard roads in her career and personal life that she shares with us today. She’s married to Nic, and they’re raising two sons, Zealand and Soren. Jaci speaks candidly about the joys and hardships of raising her son Zealand, who has autism. She also has a great word for all of us about the joy in watching God rescript our lives.
Book: When God Rescripts Your Life