Pardon the Mess

With Courtney DeFeo
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Podcast:

Pardon the Mess

With Courtney DeFeo
Pardon the Mess with Courtney DeFeo
As parents, we know raising kids is the opposite of neat and tidy. Each day brings wins, losses and valuable lessons. Pardon the Mess is a place where we discuss parenting and faith in a biblical, approachable and relatable way. We may cry and laugh while we learn and grow together in our beautiful mess. Follow Pardon the Mess on Instagram and Facebook!
All Episodes:
Dec 5 • 35:37
How to BE YOU with Bob Goff

What an absolute delight! If I could have dinner with 5 people (dead or alive) - it would be Jesus, Princess Diana, my grandmother, Mother Teresa and Bob Goff. What about you? Are there people in the world that have shaped your mind and heart? Bobs first book, Love Does, had a significant impact on my faith and the way I parent my kids. So, you can imagine it was PURE JOY to have this conversation today.

He sprays wisdom, inspiration and joy like confetti - so you will not be short on takeaways for this one. I loved his encouragement for us to, GO BE YOU! He encourages us to reconnect and rediscover how God made us. When we do that, we have less comparison with other moms. And we can settle into who we are. And then, as parents, we get to help our kids settle into who they are.

One of my favorite parts is when he talks about his role as a dad and grandfather. He encourages us to ask What do they uniquely need that only I could give? Lets sit with that today and try not to overcomplicate it. What do our kids, friends and family need that only I could give?

- Courtney

Connect with Pardon The Mess:

Christian Parenting

Pardon The Mess 

Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Christian Parenting Christmas Gift Guide

Resources from todays show:

BobGoff.com

Catching Whimsy - Bobs new book

Love Does - Bobs first book

Daily Drills

In This House, We Will Giggle 

Wild Interest podcast

Pardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

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Dec 2 • 6:35
BONUS: Love God

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads (Deuteronomy 6:58)

To love God with all our hearts is to love God despite our emotions and our circumstances.

To love God with all our soul is to rest in him. It is to know our creator and to be in relationship with him, knowing that he is where we will find peace and eternal rest. 

To love God with all our mind is to know God, but also trust him with our life, our soul, and our story. It is to know that he is sovereign and knows what is best for us.

To love God with all our strength is to live our faith in everyday life. It is to serve him by using the gifts that he has given us, being the hands and feet of Jesus, and putting into practice all the things we know to be true about God.

We love God fully when we love him in these ways and it is that full love that overflows into the way we love others. So this week, lets pray that our kids will love God fully in every area of their lives.

Jesus, you love us completely, fully, and perfectly. May __________ love you with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. May their love overflow in a way that everyone around them notices there is something different about them. May they grow in their love for you every day and every year. Amen.

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Nov 28 • 42:16
What Matters Most: Generosity

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are having a beautiful day with your friends and family. I am so very thankful for each of you. I got to meet several of you in person at a recent retreat - and you were so kind to stop me and tell me the impact this podcast is having on your life. I care about each of you so much and it was so refreshing to meet you in person and hug you tight. 

Todays episode is just ME! I decided to pause from interviewing guests and start a series that we will sprinkle in over the next year or so. As I am launching my first child into the world, its fun to look back and think What mattered most? One of the things that has mattered most in our parenting journey is the topic of GENEROSITY. 

As Ron and I reflect, we do believe making that a priority in our home has genuinely impacted our girls faith - in big and small ways. We didnt always get it right - but we did make sure we spent very practical time giving to others. This is way more than giving money - its our time, talents and more.

Today, you will hear some super practical ideas too for the holiday season. You can find 100 free ideas over at Light Em Up. Enjoy this season with your family shining the light of God. Praying we each have eyes to see where God is moving and that we have the courage to step in and be a part of it this Christmas season.

Send me some stories after the fact!

Much love,

Courtney 

00:00

Thanksgiving Greetings and Gratitude

10:25

Living Generously: Personal Stories and Experiences

20:02

Creative Acts of Kindness and Community Engagement

25:52

Making Room for Generosity

33:20

Listening for God's Guidance

Connect with Pardon The Mess:

Christian Parenting

Pardon The Mess 

Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Christian Parenting Christmas Gift Guide

Resources from todays show:

Light Em Up - acts of kindness ideas

In This House, We Will Giggle - Courtneys first book

Pardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Nov 25 • 12:18
BONUS: Love: A Grateful Heart

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:1618)

We tend to tie gratitude to our situation. We feel grateful if life is good or we feel happy. We feel grateful when God answers our prayers the way we want. 

But Gods challenge to us is to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances! And even when we dont feel thankful for our circumstances, we can be thankful for this: God loves us enough to heal us (like he healed the lepers), God loves us enough to provide for us, protect us, and guide us. And most importantly God loves us enough to send his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and forgive us our sins. 

On our kids journey of faith, its important that they learn to love God by expressing their gratitude to him. This week, lets pray that our kids always have a grateful heart, even when its hard. Lets pray that they would recognize Gods blessing in their lives and actively praise him for them.

 

Jesus, thank you for showering us with blessings and for changing our lives by going to the cross! May ____________ always remember that you are good. May they bow before you in reverence and awe knowing that you are worthy of praise and may they acknowledge the way you work in their life, always remembering to have a posture of gratitude towards you. Amen.

Listen to the Gratitude playlist on Spotify

Get your printed copy of A Life of Faith: Prayer Journal

Pardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Nov 21 • 38:46
Authentic faith in the college years with Louie Giglio

This episode was incredibly special to me. I have long admired Pastor Louie Giglio and the work he has done through Passion Conferences and Passion City Church. I invited Amelia McBrayer, one of my favorite college kids, to join me in chatting about how to find authentic faith in the college years. This episode is packed with wisdom on how to help encourage our kids (and all of us) to not just know ABOUT God, but to really KNOW God.

Since 1997, Passion Conferences has gathered over one million collegiate-aged young people in events across the U.S. and around the world. It was so much fun to bring one of those students on the podcast with me today - to share what God has done through Passion and how her life has been impacted by Jesus.

My favorite part is when he talks about the ups and downs of faith. That we need to keep praying and believing for the faith of our kids - but never to shove it on them. He encouraged us to spend more time doing what we want our kids to do. He reminds us that our time as parents in Gods word and praying will have a massive impact on the lives of our kids. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • How to stop shoving faith on our kids
  • Power of praying and believing for your kids faith
  • How to practically put a touch point with God - easy ways to connect
  • Tips on how to grow in a community as a college young adult

Enjoy!

Courtney 

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

02:02

The Impact of Passion Conferences

06:03

Faith and College Life

10:51

Navigating Spiritual Challenges

15:04

The Power of Prayer and Authenticity

20:11

The Role of Devotionals

23:05

Maintaining Faith After Events

30:08

Prayer for the Next Generation

Connect with Pardon The Mess:

Christian Parenting

Pardon The Mess 

Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Resources from todays show:

Grace & Glory - Louies new devotional

LouieGiglio.com

Passion Conferences

Passion City Church

Christian Parenting store

Christian Parenting Christmas Gift Guide

Pardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
About the Host

Courtney DeFeo

Courtney DeFeo is the NEW host of Pardon the Mess! She is the author of In This House, We Will Giggle and Treasured and creator of ABC Scripture Cards and the kindness movement, Light ‘Em Up Acts. She loves to encourage parents and women through speaking, writing, and podcasting. She also serves on the board of For Girls Like You and Lighthouse Family Retreat. Her deepest desire is to encourage others and give generously in a way that draws people to God.

Her most honorable mention is her husband Ron and their two wildly fun girls (Ella, 16 and Larson, 14). Courtney is passionate about Jesus, coffee, Auburn football, Coca-Cola classic, her dog Mazie, spending time with friends and family, and finding deals at TJ Maxx. Although they have lived in Atlanta and Orlando, they currently reside in the DFW area. Courtney’s family loves to serve at Compass Church, travel together, and consume large amounts of table-side guacamole. Connect with Courtney on Instagram or visit CourtneyDeFeo.com.

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