

The Intentional Parents Podcast
Intentional
In a world where distractions are endless and culture constantly pulls us in different directions, it’s more important than ever to remain intentional in your marriage and parenting. Brook and Elizabeth Mosser, alongside Phil and Diane Comer, invite you into a conversation about biblical formation — offering wisdom, encouragement, and practical tools for raising passionate Jesus followers. As an intergenerational team that is also family, we bridge the perspectives of different life stages, drawing from both decades-long experience and fresh insight on the topics of parenting and marriage. From vulnerable Q+R sessions to insightful guest interviews, we explore real-life stories of both steady formation and radical transformation — unpacking how God is shaping our lives and the lives of those around us. Join us each week as we pursue God’s design for life, marriage, and parenting — with intention.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 17, 2024 • 1h 15min
Parenting in the Digital Age
Today, we discuss all things digital. How does technology form us? How does technology influence our children? What is our responsibility? The primary thing technology does is change our minds, and God invites us into the renewal of our minds. If it feels hard not to be conformed to the culture around you, you are not alone. On the show today, Brook and Elizabeth share what a digital rule of life is and what their digital rule of life looks like in their home. We have some tools that we hope are helpful as you figure out what guardrails you and your family need. Digital Rule of Life PDF Book:Andy Crouch, The tech-wise family Book:Johann Hari, Stolen Focus Speaking events: Rise City Church January 26-28 Forest Home Family Camp June 23-29 Scriptures mentioned:Romans 12v1-2Proverbs 29v18 Follow us on Instagram:@intentional_parents @brook_mosser @Emosser @philmcomer @dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional MERCH:Gear for the journey Grab a copy of our book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!) Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: Blog The Intentional Film Series

Dec 20, 2023 • 1h 3min
Creating a Culture of Connection, Expectations, and the Phonetic Pace at Christmas
In today’s show, we have Diane, Elizabeth, and Sally Lemos Lpc sharing a conversation about Christmas and all the expectations and pressures that can come up. So often, we strive to do everything, but do we know why we are doing everything? Is it to perform for others or even to prove something to ourselves? It’s so easy to make Christmas about what we want instead of focusing on something far more important: how we make others around us feel. We hope this conversation feels like you are sitting with Sally, Diane, and Elizabeth as they dive into some great stories of missing the mark and how it led them to ask these three helpful yet challenging questions: 1. How do we not miss this Christmas? 2. Who or how do I want to be? 3. What kind of culture am I trying to create?Merry Christmas and Enjoy! Scriptures mentioned:1 John 3v19-202 Corinthians 10v13 Follow us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @Emosser @philmcomer @dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼https://intentional.flocknote.com MERCH: Gear for the journeyhttps://www.intentionalparents.org/store Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Passionate-Jesus-Followers-Intentional/dp/0310347777 Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series Sally’s Website / Instagramhttps://www.newbloomtherapy.com/abouthttps://www.instagram.com/sallylemos

Dec 13, 2023 • 57min
Parenting opposite personalities, repentance from anger, and having kids outside of marriage (Q+R)
Today, we continue answering your questions. Thank you for sending in such great ones! The first one we respond to is how to parent children who have the opposite personality as you; there is a challenge and a blessing that comes with that. Then, we discuss what repentance can look like after you have responded in anger to your kids. Listen in for some hope and helpful practices, even if you blew it. The last question for today is about how to have a conversation with your kids when someone is having a baby outside of marriage. We touch on so many common situations in parenting; there is something for every parent in this show today! Enjoy! Scripture mentioned:Psalm 127v3Proverbs 24v16James 5v16James 1v19Ephesians 4v15John 4 The episode on Anger with Sally Lemos(LPC): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intentional-parents-podcast/id1462206659? i=1000634877215 Follow us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @Emosser @philmcomer @dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼https://intentional.flocknote.com MERCH: Gear for the journeyhttps://www.intentionalparents.org/store Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Passionate-Jesus-Followers-Intentional/dp/0310347777 Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series

Dec 6, 2023 • 1h 10min
Overcapacity, navigating death, and fathering from a deficit (Q+R)
Phil+Diane and Brook+Elizabeth respond to a few great questions in today's show. First, they talk about what to do when you feel overwhelmed with the load God has given you. Do you constantly feel like you are living outside of your capacity with no margin? Secondly, they discuss how to navigate the subject of death with your kids. This can be a tough subject when your kids feel afraid and even harder when you, as a parent, have fears around death, too. Lastly, they respond to a question about fathers cultivating a vision for their family and what to do if you never had a good father to show you how to do that for your family. This episode has loads of hope to share! Enjoy! HOPE: Heaven, Oriented, Perspective, Everyday Verses Mentioned: Psalm 54:4Isaiah 40:31Phil 4:13James 2: 14-17 Matthew 26:38John 14:1-141 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Book recommendation: Randy Alcorn: Heaven and Heaven for Kids Follow us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @Emosser @philmcomer @dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼https://intentional.flocknote.com MERCH: Gear for the journeyhttps://www.intentionalparents.org/store Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Passionate-Jesus-Followers-Intentional/dp/0310347777 Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series

Nov 29, 2023 • 57min
Striving, Distractions, and Living from a Still Place (Interview with Katharine Hill)
It’s our pleasure to welcome back Katharine Hill on our podcast today. Katherine Hill is an Author, speaker, and director for Care for the Family. In our conversation today, we discuss challenges like busyness, distractions, striving, and the digital age. Katharine shares some brilliant thoughts on attentive stillness even when life is busy and the value of being interruptable. We dive deep into finding a slower pace with God despite facing many challenges that want to pull us away. Katharine also shares four helpful habits that she does in her own life to help bring her and her family closer to Jesus. Enjoy! 1) Calm2) Comfortable3) Concealed4) Care-free Katharine Hill:https://www.katharinehill.co.uk/ Katharine’s Book: Born Free: A call to be still, know God, and Flourish in a Hectic Worldhttps://www.amazon.com/Born-Free-Still-Flourish-Hectic/dp/1914553187/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZMREVYTI4I6J&keywords=born+free+by+katharine+hill&qid=1701198451&sprefix=born+free+by+katharine+hill%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1 Book recommendation: Domestic Monasteryhttps://www.amazon.com/Domestic-Monastery-Ronald-Rolheiser/dp/164060670X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=MBMWZ6NF70YO&keywords=domestic+monastery+by+ronald+rolheiser&qid=1701198500&sprefix=domestic+m%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1 Follow us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @Emosser @philmcomer @dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼https://intentional.flocknote.com MERCH: Gear for the journeyhttps://www.intentionalparents.org/store Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Passionate-Jesus-Followers-Intentional/dp/0310347777 Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series

Nov 15, 2023 • 1h 22min
Anger, rage, and what it is trying to tell you (with guest Sally Lemos, MS, LPC)
Anger is a part of the human experience and can be unpleasant, but our anger can be a gift when we listen to what it wants to communicate. The incredible Sally Lemos, MS, LPC, is on the podcast again today. Sally shares some helpful ways to learn to be aware of our anger before it turns into rage. We discuss storytellers, limits, how to slow down to go faster, and the unforced rhythms of grace. We give you four practical tools in today's show that will help you as you practice becoming a peaceful presence in your home. Enjoy! Practical tools:1. Notice what is happening in us2. Slow down to pay attention3. Make Repair4. Grounding Practice (Air, Earth, Light, and Water) Where to find Sally Lemos MS, LPC: https://www.newbloomtherapy.com/aboutSally’s Blog: https://www.newbloomtherapy.com/my-blog Verses mentioned:Matthew 11:28-30Philippians 4:8 Follow us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @Emosser @philmcomer @dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼https://intentional.flocknote.com MERCH: Gear for the journeyhttps://www.intentionalparents.org/store Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Passionate-Jesus-Followers-Intentional/dp/0310347777 Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series

Nov 8, 2023 • 1h 5min
What to do with fear, anxiety, and shame in our parenting?
Our culture is fascinated with fear, but as Christians, how is God calling us to walk with him amid our fears? Today, the whole crew is here, and we talk all about fear, how we naturally respond to fear, how shame comes into play, how we can moralize our fears, and most importantly, how we fear not. We cover 4 points today to help you in your spiritual formation journey that God wants to use to transform us into who we really are. This process takes time, so remember to give yourself loads of grace. Enjoy! 4 Things 1. Notice and Befriend fear 2. Invite 3. Speak truth over yourself 4. Choose trust Book: Resilient Child Discipleshiphttps://www.amazon.com/Resilient-Discipleship-Fearless-Future-Church/dp/1946680648 Book: The faith of our childrenhttps://www.amazon.com/Faith-Our-Children-Discipling-Generation/dp/1614841683/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VRAVEFTMM9J8&keywords=the+faith+of+our+children&qid=1698171150&s=books&sprefix=the+faith+of+our+children%2Cstripbooks%2C185&sr=1-1 Links:https://childdiscipleship.com/https://childdiscipleship.com/resilient-child-discipleship-training/ Follow us on Instagram:@intentional_parents@brook_mosser@Emosser@philmcomer@dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼 https://intentional.flocknote.com MERCH: Gear for the journeyhttps://www.intentionalparents.org/store Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://amzn.to/3ReOgc4 Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series

Oct 25, 2023 • 35min
A vision for your home, the daily mundane and the miraculous (Interview with Matt Markins)
Today, we have Matt Markins on the show. Matt is the president and CEO of Awana. Some of you may have grown up in Awana, and others have never heard of it; Awana is a child discipleship and formation program that focuses on helping parents thrive in the daily mundane formational process with their children. In this episode, we talk about the three pillars of discipleship, how to work these into our families, a vision for your home, a culture of transparency, how parenting is both mundane and miraculous, and how the church community can shape a child's faith journey, to name a few. Enjoy! Three Pillars of Discipleship 1)Be with Jesus2)Become like Jesus3)Do what Jesus did Book: Resilient Child Discipleshiphttps://www.amazon.com/Resilient-Discipleship-Fearless-Future-Church/dp/1946680648 Book: The faith of our childrenhttps://www.amazon.com/Faith-Our-Children-Discipling-Generation/dp/1614841683/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VRAVEFTMM9J8&keywords=the+faith+of+our+children&qid=1698171150&s=books&sprefix=the+faith+of+our+children%2Cstripbooks%2C185&sr=1-1 Links:https://childdiscipleship.com/https://childdiscipleship.com/resilient-child-discipleship-training/ Follow us on Instagram:@intentional_parents@brook_mosser@Emosser@philmcomer@dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼 https://intentional.flocknote.com Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://amzn.to/3ReOgc4Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series

Oct 18, 2023 • 1h 9min
Transparency, Fear of Failure and How the Church Can Respond to Trauma (Interview with Elizabeth Smith)
Today, We have Elizabeth Smith on the podcast. Elizabeth Smith is a professor at Moody Bible and an author. In this conversation, Brook and Elizabeth cover transparency with your kids, humility, and allowing shame to propel us to repair our relationships. Elizabeth shares the question she is researching in her doctorate: Is the Church a spiritually supportive community for children or families recovering from trauma? You will hear a few of her perspectives on crucial characteristics like empathy, fear of failure, and being faithful. Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram:@intentional_parents@brook_mosser@Emosser@philmcomer@dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼 https://intentional.flocknote.com Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://amzn.to/3ReOgc4 MERCH: Gear for the journeyhttps://www.intentionalparents.org/store Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series Links for Elizabeth Smith: Book:https://www.amazon.com/Never-Changes-Family-Always-Does/dp/1687790507/ref=sr_1_1? crid=PFV5AQPXVT1U&keywords=god+never+changes+but+my+family+always+does&qid=169 7586235&sprefix=god+never+changes+but+my+family+%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1Moody Bible: https://www.moody.edu/academics/faculty/smith-elizabeth/

Oct 11, 2023 • 1h 21min
Motherhood Q+R (With Diane Comer, Elizabeth Mosser, Sally Lemos, and Greta Eskridge)
Today, we have ALL the speakers from our recent Motherhood Retreat sitting down and responding to your questions! There were hundreds of questions to respond to, but some to highlight in this episode are "How do I connect with boys emotionally"? "How do I interact with my parents when my maturity has grown past them"? "When it comes to saying no, how do we gracefully decline without sounding dismissive or uncaring"? We discuss these questions and many more. Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram:@intentional_parents@brook_mosser@Emosser@philmcomer@dianewcomer FREE TEXT Message Daily Devotional 👇🏼 https://intentional.flocknote.com Grab a copy of our book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)https://amzn.to/3ReOgc4 Website: intentionalparents.org Join our Legacy Builders: https://www.intentionalparents.org/donate-index-impact Blog: https://www.intentionalparents./blog GET: The Intentional Film Serieshttps://www.intentionalparents.org/film-series