The times of waiting in my life have hands down been the places where I’ve learned the most about God. Knowing this, I’m excited to be praying this week for our kids to learn to wait well. Waiting patiently on God is a hard thing to grasp when you live in an Amazon-style, instant gratification kind of world.   Psalm 40 is our key Psalm this week and David suggests that when we are waiting on God to act, we are to wait actively and expectantly. Instead of sitting around in despair and hoping for the best, we’re to be crying out in urgency for God’s deliverance.    So often, the key to waiting in the most difficult places we face means simply remembering God’s faithfulness in the past, turning only to him for deliverance, and finding a posture of dependence and trust.    Join me in praying for our kids as we consider what it means to wait well on God. Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For the first time ever we have Lauren Chandler on Pardon the Mess!   Lauren is a worship leader, author, mom of three, and wife of Pastor Matt Chandler. I love this conversation because it’s all about Thanksgiving traditions, favorite recipes, and enjoying family this time of year. 🦃 🦃    She has an amazing heart for praising the Lord and gives us practical ways to foster a lifestyle of praise and Thanksgiving (even when life gets complicated). She also shares about her husband’s brain tumor revealed years ago on Thanksgiving day, and how that still impacts her today.    Take a few minutes to join us in preparing your heart and home for Thanksgiving!    Resources from today's show:  The Parent’s Guides to Social Media by Axis Praise Him! Launch with Jamie Ivey & Lisa WhittleOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David had an affair, murdered a man, and spent almost a year ignoring his wrongdoing before finally confessing his sin. Psalm 51 reveals his heart after such a significant moral failure, and his words are beautiful as he asks God to cleanse, restore, and continue to use him. Our kids will sin too. This week we are praying they recognize it and repent, just as David did all those years ago. God cares so much about our right-ness with him that he sent Jesus to bridge the chasm between our sin and God. He’s the sacrifice that allows us right standing before God, even when we’re so prone to sin.  Join me this week in praying that our kids will have accountability in their lives (a Nathan) that will point out their sin. Let’s also pray they never feel defined by the places where they get it wrong, but instead know that Jesus is ready to give them a clean heart and full restoration—if they will simply ask.Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Nothing makes you question the boundaries in your relationships like the holidays. Am I right?  Lysa TerKeurst is with us today to talk about relationships and the boundaries we often fail to put in place. The result?  Chaos in some of our more challenging relationships. Like most of us, I haven’t thought a lot about boundaries and definitely not from a biblical perspective. But thankfully Lysa has so much wisdom in this area, talking us through the practicalities of setting healthy parameters and why that’s so necessary.  If you struggle with guilt, people-pleasing, and fear in your hardest relationships, this show is 100% for you!    Resources from today's show:  Good Boundaries and Goodbyes Lysa TerKeurst Risen Motherhood Deluxe The Songs Tell the StoryOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I think the twenty-third psalm just may be my favorite psalm of all. I used to think of it as just a funeral type psalm, or one for hard times—but now I realize how many nuggets are packed in there as we pray this over our kids.  I’m reminded that God is the provider for all things, and he’s oftentimes providing things we don’t even know we need. There are also verses giving us encouragement for the hard times and reminders of our ultimate hope—eternity with Jesus. Just as sheep learn to follow their shepherd by knowing his voice, we’re praying this week that our kids do the same. I have a feeling you’re going to love Psalm 23 in a whole new way.   Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A Penn State study indicates that 91% of what we worry about never happens.    I don’t know about you, but this statistic holds true in my own life having worried about countless things that (thankfully) never actually transpired.   Louie Giglio is no stranger to fear and anxiety and comes today with a great word on how to deal with the inevitable worries we all face. He debunks the idea that we are “born worriers” with no control, and identifies the four lies that typically feed our anxiety.     Don’t miss the end of this episode where Louie talks about reconciling our suffering with God’s goodness. It’s so, so good!   Resources from today's show:  Winning the War on Worry Otter B Thankful Risen Motherhood Deluxe Teen Study Bible Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A discussion on being still seems especially relevant this time of year as we’re gearing up for the holidays while enjoying all the fun things of fall. Psalm 46 reminds us that being still allows us to better know Jesus. The Hebrew for “be still” means “to be weak, or let go, or to release.”    Who couldn’t use some of that this week?    We’re praying specifically that in a world that praises hard work and high achievement, our kids can be still and find peace from the grind of striving, performing, and controlling. After all, God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and we will know him best when we loosen the reins and allow him to cover our deficits.   If Jesus used the words “be still” in Mark 4 to calm a storm and all creation instantly obeyed the very sound of his voice—I’m guessing we’d be wise to do the same. Let’s pray together for our kids today! Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jonathan Pitts is back and he’s no stranger to Pardon the Mess. He’s an author, speaker, podcaster, and father to four daughters. Jonathan lost his wife, Wynter, suddenly to a heart condition in 2018—and he’s been learning how to wait on God in the hardest places ever since.    Today Jonathan shares his journey of walking through grief and disappointments with God. Spoiler alert: He’s also recently remarried an amazing woman, Peta, and is candid about the challenges of blended families and showing grace when it’s the last thing you want to do.    But I definitely don’t want you to miss Jonathan’s word on “moving on,” and the guilt oftentimes associated with good times that follow the hard. Jonathan always reminds me that struggling well is possible when we’re seeking Jesus along the way.    Resources from today's show:  Jonathan Pitts Otter B ThankfulOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

So often we think of persecution as something that only happens in the places where faith in Jesus can cost you your life. But persecution is actually something all of us will experience if we’re seeking Jesus and trying to live godly lives (2 Timothy 3:12).    Today we’re praying for our kids to live big enough in their convictions to experience persecution, while also leaning on God to get them through it. Whether it’s in the middle of hard and dysfunctional relationships, in lost job opportunities, or even in places of being overlooked or disqualified while pursuing the Lord—God promises peace and hope for the persecuted.    Let’s pray together for all the dark and difficult moments our kids will face, asking God to remind them that “no weapon fashioned against us shall succeed (Isaiah 54:17).”Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we’ve got Max Lucado with us—and yes I go fan-girl and it’s super weird.   But if you can get past that, Pastor Max has an amazing word on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and why it matters. Here are some of the topics we cover: Why is the Holy Spirit so foreign to us? What kind of power does the Holy Spirit have? How does the work of the Holy Spirit look practically in our lives? What are we missing out on if we don’t take time to explore the Holy Spirit? And to top it all off, he reflects on being a rebellious teen (I know, right?) and gives some solid advice for when our parenting road gets tough.    There’s so much I could say, but let’s just leave it at this—it’s MAX LUCADO today and you just can’t miss it.   Resources from today's show:  Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit The Telos BibleOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy