Pardon the Mess with Courtney DeFeo - Christian Motherhood, Biblical Parenting, Raising Christian Kids

Lisa Whittle is joining us today and she’s an amazing speaker, podcaster, and author. We’re talking about the chasm between our head knowledge and our heart knowledge and how only God fills that gap. He knows our every worry, anxiety, and daily routine. Why does this matter? Because he loves us and so desperately wants to use us for His glory.    Lisa also cautions us to watch out for things that mimic the real experience of God, and very practically gives us pointers on figuring out the difference in dreams versus goals for our lives.    Heck, we even talk about our tendency to want to “payback” those who hurt us . . . and who doesn’t need a good word on that.   So glad you’re with us today.    Resources from today's show:  Lisa Whittle’s Book  Adventures in Odyssey   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.orgPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Life gives us lots of good days while also throwing in some bad ones along the way too. As adults we know life is hard on this side of heaven, and knowing where to turn in our hardest moments is critically important.    This week we’re praying for our kids to know what David knew in Psalm 13—trusting God means trusting Him even on the hard days.      As parents our knee-jerk reaction is to try and eliminate the source of our kids’ pain. But so often that same hard place is the greatest opportunity for them to know that Jesus is their only hope. Join me in praying this week that our kids turn to God instead of drugs, self-harm, or anything short of God’s best when they are facing hard times.  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! Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I recently attended the IF: Gathering and had the privilege of worshiping through music with the amazing Christy Nockels. I’ve always been a huge fan of her music, but in recent days I’m an even bigger fan of her heart for the Lord.   Today is super fun because we get a glimpse into the creative process behind her latest album, This is the Hour. She talks about coming to a place of complete exhaustion and how the Lord spoke rest into her life. We even have a super honest discussion about yelling at God when it feels as if life has become too much.    I can’t wait for you to hear this amazing conversation because I know you’re going to love Christy as much as I do!   Resources from today's show:  Christy Nockels new album Christy Nockels podcast  Adventures in Odyssey Classical ConversationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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

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

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.orgPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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

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.orgPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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

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.orgPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy