Let's Parent on Purpose: Christian Marriage, Parenting, and Discipleship

Nontraditional families are the new traditional family. In the United States, most of Europe, and many other countries, blended families outnumber “traditional” ones. The challenges of a blended family are magnitudes higher than what most couples anticipate. My guest Ron L. Deal is one of the Christian world’s foremost experts on blended families. He shares many of the unexpected challenges a blended family will face, as well as practical tools to help your family thrive and honor God.   Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is president of Smart Stepfamilies, directs the blended family ministry at FamilyLife, and is the author of more than a dozen books and resources, including the bestselling The Smart Stepfamily and Building Love Together in Blended Families (with Dr. Gary Chapman). Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular conference speaker, and host of the podcast FamilyLife Blended with Ron Deal. He and his wife, Nan, have been married since 1986 and have three boys. Learn more at rondeal.org and familylife.com/blended.   Resources Mentioned: Website: https://www.rondeal.org and https://www.familylife.com/ blended Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familylifeblended/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonLDeal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familylifeblended/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FamilyLifeBlended  Ron’s New Book: Preparing to Blend: The Couple’s Guide to Becoming a Smart Stepfamily - https://amzn.to/3yrA7NO 

Seven years after his initial diagnosis for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,my son Elijah has relapsed. In this episode I share the details of how we found out, an explanation of leukemia and treatment, as well as the potential road ahead for our family. I also share the very real emotions we are struggling through, how God had spiritually prepared me through scripture, and how our family is seeking to help Elijah see this crisis as an open door for the work of Jesus. In hearing our story, by God’s grace you will see how God also wants you to look for the open door for Jesus in the midst of your crisis. Losing a Child isn’t the Last Word with Diana Grounds: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-parent-on-purpose-with-jay-holland/id1190973394?i=1000502221159 Finding a Mission in the Midst of Chemotherapy with Elijah Holland: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/235-finding-a-mission-in-the-midst-of/id1190973394?i=1000529205324 Elijah’s No Longer Orphans Chemo Challenge: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTI0MTIzSponsor

Behavior should make us curious. As we seek to discern the motive behind our children’s behavior, we can more effectively match the behavior to a consequence that will guide them towards healthy decisions. I’m joined by my church’s Children’s Ministry Director, Caroline Todd, as we discuss four different functions behind our kid’s behavior. Caroline discusses sensory seeking behavior, escape behavior, attention-seeking behavior, and tangible behavior. As we get better at identifying the motive behind our kids’ actions, we can make better plans for redirecting, correcting, or reinforcing negative and positive behavior. These skills will help you with your own children, in a classroom setting, and might even give you insight on how to better love your spouse!   Caroline Todd is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church. She is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Special Education. Before serving at Covenant, Caroline worked as an Applied Behavior Therapist for Special Needs Children. Caroline is married to her high school sweetheart, Nathan Todd.   Resources Mentioned: LPOP 46 Behavior Should Make Us Curious with Bradley McCallister - https://www.letsparentonpurpose.com/2017/11/27/lpop-46-behavior-shouldmake-us-curious/ www.covenantfellowship.com 

As I begin a new series called “Hard Conversations”, Pastor Matt Price and I discuss Paul’s instructions for husbands, wives, children, slaves, and masters. We compare the Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5 texts, and set the stage for the Roman family and slave culture that permitted the New Testament world. Matt and I talk about how these text call every believer to first view their world through the lease of the gospel and not their power dynamic. We also speak to recent and historical abuses of this text. Pauls words were not meant to be a weapon used against another individual, but a call to live with meaning and dignity, remembering that we will all give an account to God for the way we loved one another.   Matt Price is the senior pastor of Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church in Stuart, Florida, where he has served for 25 years. Matt and his wife Jenny have been married for 30 years and have five biological and adoptive children. They have fostered a local church environment centered on the gospel, service, and transparency.   Resources Mentioned: Love and Respect - https://amzn.to/3kbpsl5

In the final devotion in our Heart-Check Series, we look at the challenge of proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart, for out if flow the wellsprings of life”. Jay talks about why it is so important to guard our hearts. He encourages us to notice four areas that might derail our hearts: apathy, bitterness, community, doubt. Finally, Jay gives encouragement on how to go from the defensive to the offensive in protecting our hearts. This is a devotion that speaks to parents, children, spouses, and singles.

The book of Proverbs gives amazing guidance for nearly every area of life. Each chapter is filled with incredible principles to guide us. Sometimes, though, things don’t work out exactly like the proverb states. In these situations, it’s important to remember that value of the other Biblical Wisdom Literature - Job and Ecclesiastes.   Resources Mentioned: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/job/ 

In Philippians 2, we are called to do all things without grumbling or complaining. This is a verse we often throw at our children, but first and foremost should apply to our own lives. In this episode of Jay’s “Heart Check” devotional series, he talks about the power of shifting our perspective from “I have to” to “I get to”. 

Inspired by watching the documentary The One Percent, Jay shares some paradigm shifting spiritual principles on how to think about true family wealth. Today we will unpack these three core principles: 1. The primary assets of each family are the individual members of that family. 2. The wealth of any family consists of its combined human, spiritual, and intellectual capital. 3. The financial capital of any family should be used to grow its human, spiritual, and intellectual capital.   Resources Mentioned: The One Percent Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=IK35cxb3rkA Family Wealth: Keeping it in the Family: https://amzn.to/3w953Bq Your Family As A Team by Jeremy Pryor: https:// www.letsparentonpurpose.com/2021/06/13/your-family-as-a-team-with-jeremypryor/ 

In every point of our lives, there will always be at least One Thing that we think is standing in the way of true happiness or contentment. But if we are honest with ourselves, as soon as that One Thing is resolved, we find another One Thing standing in the way. In this installment of the Heart Check devotional series, Jay turns to 2 Corinthians 12 to find guidance for how to live with peace and joy in the midst of a never ending life of One Things. Episode 135 You Are Not in Control https:// www.letsparentonpurpose.com/2019/08/18/you-are-not-in-control/ 

Far too often our lives are not ruled by what is true, but what we pay the most attention to. In the first of Jay’s new devotional series called Heart Check, he shares how God calls us to set our mind on the things of Christ, trusting our affections to follow. We have to let go of the things that bring death, and instead fan the flames of the truths that give life to our souls and families.   Donate to support Christian Parenting CPgive.org