LOVING LIFE AT HOME - Christian Marriage, Biblical Parenting, Creative Homemaking, Purposeful Living

This week, I’ve been cleaning out my inbox and answering some of the questions my blog readers, podcast listeners, and/or newsletter subscribers have sent in, and I've decided to tackle several of those topics on today's podcast episode. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Proverbs 29:17 - "Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.”  - James 1:5 - "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." RELATED LINKS: - EP 92: Benefits of Big Family Living - Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag - Pledge of Allegiance to the Bible - Pledge of Allegiance to the Creator - A Prayer for Police Officers - Praying for our Troops - Taming the Toy Box - Age Appropriate Chores for Children STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website    

Since September is National Good Neighbor Month, I thought this would be the perfect time to share some ways to be a good neighbor. Compiling this list of ideas was easy. Our family has been blessed with lots and lots of wonderful neighbors throughout the years, so it was a simple matter of remembering all the kind things they’ve done for us along the way. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Colossians 4:5-6  tells us to “Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” - Hebrews 13:2 - “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”  - Isaiah 58:10 - “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” - Proverbs 27:14 -“If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him.” - Romans 12:16, 18  - “Live in harmony with one another…. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.”  - Luke 1:58 - "Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.” - Romans 12:15 - “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” - Romans 12:12 - “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.” - Galatians 5:13 - “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8 - “God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.” - 1 Timothy 5:13 - “... going around from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not.” - Philippians 2:4 - “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” - Proverbs 27:10 - “Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.” - James 2:15-17 - “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” - Romans 12:10-11 - “Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” - Romans 10:14 - "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”  - Matthew 22:37-39 - "This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”" RELATED LINKS: - EP 78 –  How to Deal with Unneighborly Neighbors  - Free Resource Library  STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website  

We have an uber-competitive family who loves any kind of contest, physical or mental, especially when prizes are involved. We recently gathered to compete in a Family Shark Tank Challenge. And in Episode 95 of Loving Life at Home, I'm dishing up all the details as to how it went down. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - 1 Corinthians 9:24 - “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to win the prize.” - Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds...." RELATED LINKS: - Gospel Tracts for All Occasions (including contest winners) - Free Printable Trivia Tests (including movie quizzes) - Room Inspection Checklist - State Capital Matching Game - A Grand Investment (print pack with resources I created for our family's Bible memory challenge) STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website

Can parents truly raise kids who don't rebel? This discussion highlights the reality of human rebellion using biblical examples, while emphasizing the importance of love in the home. Jennifer offers insights on leading children to Christ rather than forcing faith and differentiating between commands and preferences. She suggests cultivating attractive family activities and gradually granting freedoms alongside responsibilities. Ultimately, the conversation encourages prayer and trusting God to guide children's hearts.

There is no coasting in marriage. You’re either growing closer together or drifting further apart. You must be intentional about investing in your marriage and nurturing your relationship to your spouse every chance you get. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Romans 12:10 - "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." - Ephesians 5:33 - "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." RELATED LINKS: - Our Anniversary Tradition - a few pics from the cars I've decorated over the years - 25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband - original blog post - 25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband  - book & audio book - 25 Ways to Show Love to Your Wife - blog post - 25 Ways to Show Love to Your Wife - book - 30 Day Respect Challenge - free email challenge for wives - 30 Day Love Challenge - free email challenge for husbands STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers    

The CDC announced last week that the US General Fertility Rate has recently hit an all-time low of only 1.6 children per woman of childbearing age. That makes me sad, because I know how much joy children bring to life. The more, the merrier! In fact, as parents of twelve, my husband and I have reaped a lot of blessings from having a large family we could have never anticipated beforehand -- and so have our kids. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Psalm 127:3-5 - "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward...." - 1 Peter 3:15 - “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” - Proverbs 14:4 - “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much increase comes by the strength of the ox.” - Proverbs 27:17 -  “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” - 3 John 1:4 - “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” RELATED LINKS: - 15 Unexpected Benefits of Big Family Living - Family Unfriendly by Timothy Carney - America Tonight - our interview with Al Jazeera - BBC documentary  - you can watch our short clip about halfway down this post - EP 42 - Traveling with Children - Kids Eat Free in Tyler, Texas  - Kids Eat Free in the USA  - Age Appropriate Chores for Children  - Teaching Kids to Do Chores Cheerfully - Who Knew Children's Chores Were So Controversial? - Bananagrams - a game I mentioned that my family enjoys playing - Proverbs for Parenting - topical arrangement of Proverbs (similar to what we used for storytime) STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers

A listener wrote me recently to say she's made more mistakes that she can count. She wanted advice as to how she could get back on track. "How do I change course when I've done everything wrong?" She had lots of other great questions, too, so in Episode 91, I'm tackling all of them. I hope you'll listen in and be blessed. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - James 1:5 - “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God...." - Deuteronomy 30:19 - “...So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” - Luke 11:24-26 -  “...and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.” - Proverbs 14:1 - “The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” - Matthew 12:36 - "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it...." - Ephesians 3:20 - "God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...." - John 10:10 - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy....” - Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind...." - Galatians 5:22 - "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness...." - Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right...." - Philippians 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving....” - Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you....” - Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about....” RELATED LINKS: - Love Your Husband/ Love Yourself (my marriage book) - EP 84: How Not to Diet (But Still Lose Weight) - Help! My Kids Won't Stop Fighting - Extend Your Reach (Ideas for Limiting Your Child's Screen Time) - 50 Great Chapter Books to Read Aloud to Your Family - 50 Picture Books Every Child Should Read - Encouraging Creativity in Young Children - Age-Appropriate Chores for Children - EP 28: Bible Memory Tips and Tricks - Verses to Read When Battling Big Emotions - Praying for Your Children from Head to Toe - Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe - 31 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Children - 31 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Husband - Praying Boldly for Yourself STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, lprintables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers

We don't have to wonder or make wild guesses about what Jesus would do -- the Bible tells us clearly how He lived when He was here on earth, the kind of things He prioritized, and what He expects of anyone who chooses to follow Him. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Philippians 2 - "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ..." - Mark 10:45 - “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life...." - Luke 9:23 - “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." - Luke 14:27 - "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." - Eph 4:26-5:1 - "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger...." - Prov 3 - "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments...." - Psalm 119:97-98 - "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day...." - Psalm 1 - "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...." RELATED LINKS: - EP 28: Bible Memory Tips - EP 85 - Memorize Proverb 3 with Me - Sing the Word Vol 1-2 - word-for-word KJV scripture songs by Fred and Sarah Cooper STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, lprintables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers  

I read a book last week called The Art of Making Memories. It was fascinating, though nothing like I expected. In this week's episode, I share what I learned and what I think of this work. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - John 16:21 - "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." - Deuteronomy 11:19 - "Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." - Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - John 10:10 - "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." RELATED LINKS:  - The Art of Making Memories by Meik Wiking - Episode 28 - Bible Memory Tips - Episode 85 - Memorize Proverbs 3 with Me - M Is for Mama - Abbie Halberstadt's birth stories - Glad Tidings - the first 25 years of Flanders Family Christmas Letters - Monthly Holidays & Quirky Celebrations - and free printables and other fun resources for enjoying them to the full STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, lprintables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers

Each and every one of us has been born with qualities that cannot be altered and into circumstances beyond our control. The question is, how will you approach the unchangeables in your life? Will you learn to accept and live with them (and maybe even appreciate them)? Or will you allow bitterness and resentment over those unchangeables fester in the depths of your heart? The choice you make will have a profound impact on the purpose and contentment you find in life. Show Notes VERSES CITED: 1 Peter 5:7 - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Psalm 68:5 - "Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy." Matthew 25:15 - "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." James 3:14-16 - "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing." Genesis 3:19 - "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” James 4:14 - "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Psalm 90:12 - "Teach us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” Psalm 139:13-16 - "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." RELATED LINKS: Serenity Prayer (attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr) Praying for Your Parents (my free printable prayer guide) The Long Winter (book by Laura Ingalls Wilder) "How Can I Accept Myself the Way God Made Me" (impactful teaching I first heard at an IBLP seminar) On Becoming Free Indeed (my review of Jinger Duggar's book ) STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, lprintables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers