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

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. Links: This Beautiful Book and Museum of the Bible Denison Ministries and Daily Article Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we continue to pray through the school year for our children, it’s almost unbelievable that it’s already December! Today we have a special guest joining us on the podcast, my husband Mike. Last week you may remember we prayed that our kids would live out of a place of gratefulness, which was apropos as we celebrated Thanksgiving. This week we are praying that they would have the Lord’s favor in their lives.   We have the Lord’s favor as his children; however, we also must live a life that he can bless and use for his greater kingdom purposes. Thankfully, we know that when we miss the mark, he’s quick to forgive and restore our relationship. Join us as we pray for our children to live a life that allows God’s favor on all they do.Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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!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 are discussing gratefulness and the importance of a good memory when it comes to knowing what God has done for us. We talk about places in the Bible where people gave thanks, even when their situations were less than optimal. God is the giver of all good things and therefore worthy of our praise. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s pray that our children exude gratefulness in the big and the small, the successes and the failures, and the trials and the triumphs. Pray that they grasp that all things come from him; therefore, we praise his mighty name.Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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! Links: Chrys Howard Book – Rockstar Grandparent Chrys Howard Website: chryshoward.com Korie Robertson Book – Strong+ Kind John Luke Robertson book – Young and Beardless Get your Advent devotional now! Listen now!Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s week 11 of our prayer journal, and we are praying this week for our kids to have hope. All around us, people are placing their hope in earthly things that cannot possibly deliver. Let’s pray that our children put their hope in the Lord, the only One who can strengthen, restore, and deliver on the great plans he has for us. Without hope, our kids will face anxiety, depression, and much more. Ask the Lord for a hope that carries them in their days of discouragement and that he will daily renew their strength. In his book Unshakable Hope, Max Lucado has a great reminder as we pray hope for our kids this week: We are building our lives on the promises of God! Because his Word is unbreakable, our hope is unshakable. We do not stand on the problems of life or the pain in life. We stand on the great and precious promises of God. Thank you for joining us as we pray hope over our kids this week!Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we honor our veterans this week and their great sacrifice for our country, we are thrilled to have Ginger Gilbert Ravella join us on Pardon the Mess. Ginger is a mother of five, stepmother of two, military wife, writer, and speaker. At thirty-six years old, she faced the sudden, tragic loss of her college-sweetheart husband and Air Force F-16 pilot in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her husband, Major Troy Gilbert, gave his life while saving over twenty Special Operation soldiers. As Ginger so beautifully puts it, “He was a hero every day, but that day he became an American hero.” Major Gilbert left behind five beautiful children under the age of nine and a wife who spent the following days wrestling with God in the midst of deep despair and depression. Ginger learned that Iraqi insurgents had taken her husband’s body, thereby repeatedly making their story a CNN headline as multiple attempts were made to recover his body. Her testimony is so powerful, reminding us that God is enough even in the darkest places and how he prepared her well in advance for the hard days that were to come. Ginger is now remarried to another Air Force pilot, Colonel Jim Ravella (Ret), who lost his wife to breast cancer. Ginger shares advice on blended families, grief, ministering to widows, and wrestling with God in the hard places of life. Ginger and Jim Ravella continue to tirelessly support and raise funds to help fallen and disabled veterans and their families. Their inspirational memoir, Hope Found, weaves together their real-life struggles, vulnerable faith, and unshakable patriotism. Links: Hope Found Connect with Ginger Get your Advent devotional now!Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we begin week 10 of praying our kids through the school year. This week, we are praying specifically for our kids to have discernment. I can think of no one better to join us this week than Janet Denison. Janet is the founder of Christian Parenting and someone who has shaped my parenting in so many ways. Janet chats with us about what discernment is and the difference between straight-up discernment and biblical discernment. She reminds us of the importance of modeling discernment with our kids and also teaching them to listen for the Holy Spirit in their lives. I don’t know about you, but when I started to think about praying for discernment for my kids, I wasn’t positive about what that would all entail. But don’t worry: Janet fills in the gaps for us today. Join me this week as we pray that our children know God’s voice and can discern his path for their lives. Pray also that they learn to discern biblical truth and are led to make choices that best exemplify their faith in Christ.Our Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What does the band For King and Country have in common with the Christian vocalist Rebecca St. James? They are all Helen Smallbone’s children, and she’s with us today on Pardon the Mess. Helen Smallbone and her husband moved from Australia to Nashville with their seven children, hoping for a new beginning after literally losing everything financially. Once they arrived in the US, their family was forced to start over in all respects, working together to put food on the table and rebuild their lives from the ground up. All of the Smallbone children are grown now, giving Helen a wonderful perspective on raising kids. I loved her thoughts on the importance of fixing bad attitudes in children and not just focusing on their behavior. She also had a great word on the priority of building lasting relationships with our kids, especially when it’s so tempting to focus on the temporary things that can easily fill our days. And her thoughts on taking a parental time-out to pray for the Lord’s guidance . . . well, that was definitely a word I needed to hear. Helen Smallbone is another fun interview from our Nashville series, and I can’t wait for you to hear her great parenting wisdom! Get your Advent devo today: https://raisedonors.com/christianparenting/advent-podcastOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we begin week 9 of praying our kids through the school year. This week we are praying specifically for our kids to understand the importance of time management. Our children’s days, like ours, are filled with so many demands for their time. If we teach them the importance of managing it now, it can have a huge impact on their adult lives. I have a sweet friend joining us on our podcast today, Summer Dale. She shares some great reminders of why it matters that we teach our kids time management skills so they can effectively accomplish God’s greater plans for their lives. Let’s pray that our kids manage school, activities, family, and time with the Lord in a way that best honors God and brings his perfect wisdom. The best life for our children is one spent prioritizing the things of God, not the things of this world. Join us this week in praying our kids manage their time well as they balance the demands of life with the higher purposes of 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