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

How can we hope to have children who are steady, kind, and resilient in an increasingly hostile culture? It starts with what mom and dad model at home. On this episode Jay is joined by Pastor Ken Castor for a discussion on modeling healthy identity, communication, and kindness in our homes to prepare our children for the challenges of a word that wants to label Christian morality as hate.As you listen you’ll be encouraged to notice the way you handle feedback and criticism in your home. You’ll learn the importance of missionary loving your neighbors, especially if you disagree with them. Finally you’ll be reminded to keep your hope rooted in Christ rather than giving in to the anger, angst, and volatility of our society in this upcoming election season. In each of these circumstances, Ken brings us back to scripture as our foundation and guidebook.Powered by Christian ParentingBio: Dr. Ken Castor is the Next-Gen Pastor of Wooddale Church (Eden Prairie MN) and author of Grow Down: How to Build a Jesus-Centered Faith and the editor of the Make a Difference Youth Bible (NLT). You can interact with him at www.kencastor.comResources mentioned:www.kencastor.comhttps://makeadifferencebible.com/Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

Summer break is a great time to catch our breath and decompress. If we are intentional, the break is also an amazing opportunity to inspire our children with awe and wonder at their Creator God. Jay is joined this episode by Rita Diapoules, the director of Children’s Ministry at Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church. Rita helps walk us though little intentional activities we can do throughout the summer to deepen our children’s appreciation for their Creator. In this episode Jay and Rita talk about intentional use of the mornings, reading and devotion times, and using a simple prayer calendar to guide children in noticing different aspects of creation and their Creator. They also talk about using vacations and service times to grow together as a family in the Lord.**Be sure to check out the prayer calendar and activities guide created by Rita that accompanies this podcast.Powered by Christian ParentingBioRita Diapoules is the wife of Mark and mother of two young children. After spending fifteen years as a public school teacher (and Palm City Elementary Teacher of the Year) Rita now co-leads the children’s ministry at Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church while raising and teaching her daughters.Resources mentioned:Download the Summer Prayer Calendar here: https://bit.ly/45bIaAhJoin my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. [Go to Discussion Guide]What do you think about when you think about God? Is He distant, uncaring, weak or unjust? Or is He good, near, powerful, just, and loving? Every person has a story they tell themselves about God, and we continually feed this story. Today Jay shares how we have a choice in what we choose to feed in our story about God. He then shares how those choices tend to have control over us in ways that we don’t expect. The story you tell yourself about God will affect how you handle temptation, trials, and tragedies. Will sin become a coping mechanism or an evil to avoid? It all depends on the story you are feeding yourself about God.This principle also holds true in the story we tell ourselves about other people. You can make or break relationships based on the internal story you create and then seek to prove through your interactions. If you are stuck in a bad story, listen and hear how Jay shares two powerful antidotes that can change your story. Powered by Christian ParentingResources mentioned:Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

What do you do when you and your children experience intense personal loss, like the unexpected death of a loved one? Eliza Huie helps us walk through a series of questions that parents wrestle with as they try to process shock and grief while also helping their children deal with tragedy.Listen as Eliza answers the following questions from Jay:How can parents shepherd their children through intense personal loss?How can they do this while also dealing with the loss themselves?What are normal feelings and emotions that go along with trauma.What might counseling to do help. How do you know if counseling is appropriate? How soon after the loss?In crisis we have (psychological needs):The Activation of the BodyThe Activation of the Mind and EmotionsThe Activation of the SoulWhat does a person in crisis need? (relational needs):What determines if a crisis situation results in long-term trauma?What are the essential characteristics of a helper in these situations?A plan for what’s ahead (situational needs):First few daysFirst 1-3 weeksFour weeks and beyondPowered by Christian ParentingAbout Eliza HuieEliza Huie is the director of counseling at McLean Bible Church located invthe Washington D.C. metro area. She is the Dean of Biblical Counseling for Metro Baltimore Seminary in Maryland. She and her husband Ken have been married for almost 30 years and they have 3 grown children and a lovely daughter-in-law.Resources mentioned:Biblical Virtual Counseling Resource:Anchored Hope Counseling – https://anchoredhope.coFieldstone Counseling – https://fieldstonecounseling.orgChristian Trauma Counseling – https://christiantraumacounseling.comBreath as Prayer by Jennifer TuckerTips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma13-4776.pdfJoin my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. Download it here.Research shows that the average adult makes over 35,000 decisions every day! We make a lot of choices, and many of our choices have a compounding effect as we repeat them day after day. Other choices are not as important but drain our energy. This week Jay shares insights on the power of pre-deciding in seven areas of your life that will have tremendous compound interest. Listen as Jay explains why you should:1. Pre-decide when you are going to have your time with God each day.2. Pre-decide when you are going to bed and when you are going to wake up as a normal habit. 3. Pre-Decide your default meals for breakfast and lunch. 4. Pre-decide your days and time to be a part of the church5. Pre-decide your date nights6. Pre-decide family dinner nights7. Pre-decide to be proportionally generousPowered by Christian ParentingResources mentioned:The Greatest Choices of Strategic Leaders: https://go.roberts.edu/leadingedge/the-great-choices-of-strategic-leadersJoin my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. Download it here. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit and live in the Spirit? This week I am joined by Dr. Don Love for a walk through Galatians 5 and a discussion of the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer. We talk about how to discern the will of God in your life, ways that the Lord might be speaking to you, and the importance of the statement “God’s will is found in God’s Word.” You will learn the difference between the gifts of the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit and how this understanding can be transformational in your marriage and parenting. Finally, Don leads us in a time of prayer to seek the Lord’s guidance on each aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit in our own lives. Powered by Christian Parenting BioDr. Don Love is the director of Pray Through It and the host of the weekly podcast Unquenchable: Biblical Theology, Listening Prayer, and Christian Living. You can find out more and interact with Dr. Love at www.praythroughit.com Resources mentioned:  Episode 341: Inner Healing Through Prayer with Dr. Don Love www.praythroughit.com Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/  

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. >> https://bit.ly/3Hilh2R Character changes destiny, and character changes culture. Dr. Kathy Koch helps define the core character qualities we want to instill in our children to help them honor Christ, even when no one is looking. As we learn to parent for character instead of outward obedience, we begin to raise children who will change their culture. Listen today as Jay and Dr. Kathy discuss: •   The definition of character, and the vital importance of training for gratitude, joy, and self-efficacy. •   How to cast vision in your children to be culture changers instead of just rule followers. •   The definition of joy and the dangers of comparison and unrealistic expectations. •   The way technology teaches us to live entitled and the wisdom of limiting choices. •   Why “choice” is one of the most powerful words a parent can use. Powered by Christian Parenting   Bio Dr. Kathy Koch is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids, Inc., and a child development specialist. She is also the author of seven bestselling parent-child enrichment books including her latest book, Parent Differently: Raise Kids with Biblical Character that Changes Culture.    Resources mentioned:  www.celebratekids.com  Parent Differently: Raise Kids with Biblical Character that Changes Culture  Screens and Teens  Start with the Heart  Eight Great Smarts  No More Perfect Kids  Resilient Kids  Five to Thrive  Facing the Dark Podcast  Dr. Kathy Says Podcast  Celebrate Kids Podcast   Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!   Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/  

Today Jay revisits his very favorite interviews from 2023. He also celebrates the fruitful year for The 127 Project, including production of Let’s Parent on Purpose and Stories of Hope with Dr. Samuel Thomas, the building and remodeling of three Hope Homes in India, and supporting a pioneering church planter in Nepal.   Be sure to check out the full interviews from Jay’s favorite episodes: Episode 319 Family Identity Through Teams with Jeremy Pryor Episode 340 Parenting Through the Stupid Years with Jim Ramos Episode 345 Moving Beyond Anxiety in your Parenting with Sissy Goff Episode 341 Inner Healing Through Prayer with Dr. Don Love Episode 344 The Sex Talk with Nick Liberto Episode 358 The Five Traits of a Healthy Family with Dr. Gary Chapman   Powered by Christian Parenting   Resources mentioned: Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! Support Let’s Parent on Purpose and The 127 Project: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

The beginning of a new year is a great time to think through resolutions, habits, and goals. Today Jay takes you far beyond setting resolutions that will likely fail by February. He walks through his process for starting with determining your specific goals for five aspects of your life: Spiritual, Family, Professional, Financial, and Physical. Once you have determined “who you want to be”, Jay walks you through how to set multi-year goals and then determine the steps for this coming year.  Many of our plans will fall short. We will constantly encounter new opportunities, calamities, and circumstances that will change our ability to achieve specific goals. But if we have a solid vision for who we want to be over the course of our life, God tends to do far more in and through us than we would ever imagine! Powered by Christian Parenting   Resources mentioned:   Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/  

Jay walks us through Ephesians 5 and 6 to point out a key truth: the greatest section of the Bible on family and interpersonal relationships is right next to the greatest section of the Bible on spiritual warfare. Today we look at the reality of spiritual warfare in our homes, and how we are called to remember that our family members are not the enemy, they are the prize. Jay discuses the armor of God in terms of being “in Christ”. Finally, he gives pointers for families who find themselves in a difficult time of anger or arguing with one another. Remember, you have an enemy, but it’s not your family member! Powered by Christian Parenting   Resources mentioned: www.cpgive.org Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/