The Heidi St. John Podcast

This month at MomStrong International, we’ve been talking about what it means to embrace God’s priorities. One of those priorities is rest. If you struggle to rest, chances are you are also struggling to be content. Listen in and learn why embracing this biblical principle matters more than you may realize. You are loved!

Recently, a viral ad sparked frustration when it took aim at “toxic masculinity.” Today, I’ll address a few questions from listeners about God’s view of male and female and why I believe we need more, not less masculine men in our culture. Ultimately, our struggle is not with our gender. It’s a struggle with sin, and neither sex is immune the the struggle. God has created us differently. Let’s celebrate what He has created!

Have you ever struggled to understand the “how” and “why” of discipling your children? Join me today as I talk with my friend, author Leslie Nunnery, about the HOPE that springs from a life devoted to following Jesus. Parents who know Christ have His promises to guide them—and when we pass His truths to our children, God promises to do the rest. Leslie Nunnery, a homeschool mom of 4, is the co-founder of Teach Them Diligently along with her husband David. God has given her a strong burden to minister to Christian families to help support, encourage and equip them to disciple their children, protect their marriages, and serve God in the ways He has planned for them. As parents, we’ve been given a powerful promise with clear instructions. God tells us in Deuteronomy to “teach our children diligently.” This passage—as well as many others—gives us great insight into how to train our children and how to enjoy the promised blessing that always accompanies the mandates we are given. So, why are we as Christian parents still uncertain? Why do we live in fear? Why are we losing our children in record numbers? And what can we do about it? Teach Them Diligently: Raising Children of Promise is a solution-focused, easy-to-read guide that is parent-centric and sets out to make the point that Christian discipleship—as commanded in the Great Commission—starts in the home. Where will I see you this year? 

Ecclesiastes 4:6 says that rest is a better option than labor, yet Galatians 6:9 tells us not to lose heart and grow weary–not to stop working. What’s happening here? We know the Word does not contradict itself, so there must be something important in both passages. When do we labor and when is labor unimportant? God commands us to labor with our hands. Labor is good, yet work for the sake of accolades or profit is a waste. Labor and sacrifice for the Gospel is both modeled and blessed by God. Jesus modeled labor and rest beautifully for us. This week, we’ll come to understand how God’s priority of salvation directs both our labor and our rest. Moms, if we’re honest, some of us struggle to find value in having a clean living space for our family. So.much.work. Some of us struggle to see the value in training our kids in the area of chores because it’s often harder to teach them how to clean a toilet (You know, with soap.) than to just clean the thing yourself. It’s more work to train a child to do a chore the right way, and follow through with their work, then it is to just do it yourself while they play happily in the other room, or sleep until noon. When we give in to that, we raise a generation of children who do not know the value or the deep satisfaction of working hard. But then again, we’re modeling balance (or at least we’re supposed to be). Listen in today as I touch on this month’s Bible Study at MomStrong International.

Mom? How do babies get made?” This question often strikes fear into the hearts of parents, but it’s a great opportunity to build on a biblical view of sexuality and talk about why God’s design for male and female is so important. Listen in and be encouraged! Mentioned In Podcast * The Delusion by Laura Gallier * How and When to Tell Your Kids about Sex: A Lifelong Approach to Shaping Your Child’s Sexual Character by Stan and Brenna Jones   * Before I Was Born (God’s Design for Sex) by Carolyn Nystrom   * The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Romance by Heidi St. John * Heidi St. John Store * Come out and join me at the Answers for Women conference – Sacred: Embracing God’s Design for Sexuality Scripture Mentioned * Romans 2:1-16 More like this from The Busy Mom * Talking to Your Kids About Sex * God designed sex as a really good thing, and the world has perverted it.  It’s really important that we talk to our kids about God’s design for sex, so they learn from us rather than the world.  Someone will teach them!  In this podcast, I’m talking through several practical tips for how to talk to your kids about sex. I promise, you can survive it. * Sex, Lies, and Motherhood * A child’s first lessons about their bodies—everything from their appearance to what God says about human sexuality—come from their parents.  The messages we give them early in life have a deep, long-lasting impact on how they will see themselves as adults.  God has spoken life over each one of us when He created us, male and female, in His image. It’s powerful when we speak this as truth into the lives of our children.So where do we start? How do we pass on a godly perspective of sexuality and beauty to our kids? As in every other area of life, we start at the starting place: the Bible. We dare not trust human wisdom where these tender topics are concerned.  Listen in to this podcast and you’ll find encouragement for parents who are shepherding children in today’s changing culture.

Opportunities. We all have them. Sell Tupperware. Start a ministry at church. Take a new part-time job. Take on a new hobby.  Of course, none of these things are inherently wrong… in fact they look good! But even good things can rob us of the best things that God has for us. Listen in today as we talk about the importance of prioritizing your obligations over your opportunities, and the freedom that comes with it.  This is week two of the January Bible study at MSI. Join us at MomStrong International.    Mentioned in Podcast * MomStrong International * Scripture Writing Challenge * Heidi St John Conference in Abilene, Tx Scriptures Mentioned * Psalm 57:7 * 2 Timothy 1:9-10 * Isaiah 55:1 * Romans 5:8 * John 4:5-43 * Micah 6:8 * 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 More like this from The Busy Mom * Embracing God’s Priorities: Find Balance and Breathe Week 1 of 4 * Friends, lean in and listen: If there is one prayer only that runs through your mind, may it be, “Lord, grant me wisdom.” “Father, I need wisdom as I parent through this situation.” “Lord, what is my answer to be to this child right now?” “Holy Father, what is wisdom here?” “Jesus, YOU are wisdom. Give me more of You today.” * Managing Your Priorities * Our priorities are what drive us, and they matter. What do your decisions show are your priorities?

Today I will be answering several questions from listeners, including what to do when our prayers seem to go unanswered, homeschooling special needs children, and whether or not a young child is capable of accepting God’s gift of salvation. All things that matter to the Lord!   Mentioned In Podcast * Should You Homeschool Your Special Needs Child? * Becoming MomStrong * Prayers for the Battlefield * The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight * The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Romance * Scripture Writing Booklet  Scriptures * Galatians 2:20 * Colossians 2:6-7 * Hebrews 4:14-16 * 1 Peter 5:6-7 * Philippians 4:6 * James 5:16 * James 5:17-18 * Nehemiah 4:9 * Acts 12:5 * Acts 12:12 More Like this From The Busy Mom  * Finding Reasons to Celebrate Your Special Needs Child  * In spite of circumstances that sometimes seem too difficult to handle, God can and will give you reasons to celebrate along the way. * The Power of Prayer * We have access to the Lord of heaven’s armies through a simple practice we call prayer.  Our habit of boldness in prayer should be the marker of a strong believer.  We’re finding ourselves in an increasingly secularized culture, and we’re criticized by those who have rejected the authority of the gospel. Yet we are not powerless! We have the power of the Holy Spirit and access to Him through the simplicity of prayer. Let’s talk about why we should approach the throne with confidence! * Biblical Discernment * We’ve been given an opportunity to be ambassadors for Christ and to represent Him to a world that’s watching. Hope and change are never found apart from Jesus, and no one can make America great again apart from Christ. We are seeking the redemptive power of the cross, whether or not we know it.

It’s that time of year… the time when we battle burnout. After all, the holidays are behind us and we’ve still got… well, months of school left. Listen today as I unpack some great wisdom on organization and scheduling from my book, “The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight.” Even if you’re not homeschooling, these timeless time management skills will bless and encourage you! Mentioned in Podcast  * Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight, by Heidi St. John * Sign up for my FREE Essential Oils class that will be from January 15th through the 21st Scripture Mentioned * James 1:5-6

Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! The struggles we face to get it “all” done boil down to one simple question: What’s important to you? But who defines “important?” For the Christian, the answer is found in the Word of God. Mentioned in Podcast * Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight, by Heidi St. John * All The Pretty Things, by Dr. Edie Wadsworth  * Sign up for my FREE Essential Oils class that will be from January 15th through the 21st Scriptures * Matthew 6:33 * Philippians 1:6 * Isaiah 41:10

Our priorities are what drive us, and they matter. What do your decisions show are your priorities?