
M Is for Mama Podcast
On the M is for Mama Podcast, you’ll hear encouragement for all things motherhood, practical helps and systems to help you thrive in your home from day to day, funny, relatable kid-stories, examinations of what the Bible has to say about cultural issues, and so much more!
Latest episodes

Mar 13, 2024 • 38min
Ep. 58: Rhythms and Margins and Vision—Oh My! (A Chat with Lyndsey Mimnagh)
This conversation will be such an encouragement to any mama (or woman!) with a dream in her heart but no idea how to steward it well for the glory of God.
In this episode, Lyndsey Mimnagh from Treehouse Schoolhouse chats with me about everything from personality traits (how much do they matter?) to working backwards from your end goal to make it a reality (it works!) to DIY house-building (we’ve both been there) to homeschooling (same) and much more!
I know you will be encouraged by her stories of the Lord’s faithfulness to prepare her for the “next right thing” and her honesty about the imperfect process along the way!
Guest Info:
Lyndsey Mimnagh
Instagram: @treehouse_schoolhouse
Site and Shop: treehouseschoolhouse.com
15% off any purchase in her shop with the code MISFORMAMA15(15% off their total order. One use per customer. Cannot be combined with other promos.)Expires on 9/13/24
Sponsor Info:
Site: https://www.voetbergmusicacademy.com/
Code: misformama
Bible References:
Philippians 4:13
Psalm 1:3
Esther 4:14
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Mar 6, 2024 • 46min
Ep. 57: Raising Boys to Men (A Chat with Durenda Wilson)
“Masculinity” might be one of the most hot-button words in our current culture. And one of the most misunderstood.
Thankfully, my friend, Durenda Wilson, mama to eight, including five young men, is sharing her wisdom and experience with to help us understand the truth about raising boys. With humor, compassion, and practical action steps, she explains how important it is to parent our sons with intentionality and care for the unique ways that God has made them.
Check out her new book, Raising Boys to Men, and don’t forget to take advantage of exclusive pre-order offers today!
Guest Info:
The Durenda Wilson Podcast
https://www.durendawilson.com/
Bible References:
Deuteronomy 6:6-8
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Summit Ministries Sign-Up Discount
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Feb 28, 2024 • 37min
Ep. 56: Freedom In Christ (Making Decisions for Our Families Without Fear of Man)
Have you ever found yourself nervous to announce a pregnancy, discuss parenting philosophies with a friend, or discuss school choices when your mother-in-law?
Why? Because you’re afraid of what they’ll say!
If so, you are far from alone. It’s so hard not to let other people’s opinions on the choices we make for our families affect our confidence in them.
And yet, when it comes to issues that aren’t specifically addressed by Scripture, we have so much freedom in Christ to pray, seek wise counsel, confer with our spouses, and “do the next right thing” as unto the Lord—even if it’s not a conclusion our neighbor/cousin/mom/sister/friend would have reached.
Be encouraged that the Lord gives wisdom and peace to His people as they diligently seek Him.
Bible References:
John 15:13
Colossians 3:17
1 Peter 2:23
Romans 12:5
Galatians 5:1
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Post About Announcing Pregnancy Without Shame
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Feb 21, 2024 • 52min
Ep. 55: The Gift of a Special Needs Child (A Chat with My Bestie, Lindsay)
I regularly get asked if any of my children have a diagnosis with which we must grapple.
While the answer is no, I do have firsthand knowledge of both the struggles and the joys of having a child with special needs through my friendship with Lindsay Long, my closest friend, business partner, and the illustrator of both M Is for Mama and Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad, and her daughter, Evie.
In this episode, we talk about the grief that comes along with realizing that your child may never achieve some of the same milestones as other children with fewer limitations.
We discuss the biblical principle of true contentment and the “joy set before us” in the privilege of pouring ourselves out for our children, regardless of disability.
And we declare God’s goodness in hardship, even while acknowledging that we don’t always like the circumstances in which He has placed us.
I have no doubt that Lindsay’s insights and experiences will be a blessing and an encouragement to all who listen—but especially to those who walk the sometimes lonely road of special needs parenting.
Proverbs 27:17
Psalm 139
John 12:24-26
Matthew 5:39
Romans 12:15-17
Philippians 4:11-12
John 3:30
Philippians 4:13
1 Corinthians 3:11
Isaiah 25:8
Romans 8:28
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Feb 14, 2024 • 47min
Ep. 54: Bad Days Don’t Make Bad Moms (Encouragement from Heidi St. John)
Heidi St. John—homeschool mom to eight, grandmother, author, and speaker—joins me on this episode to chat all things motherhood: finding our giftings, using them for the Lord + our families, and, yes, being willing to accept help.
Because motherhood (as with most things) is best done in community!
Join us for a lively conversation about how “bad days don’t make moms”—in fact, they often give us an oppportunity to repent and model asking forgiveness to our kids. You’ll be encouraged to keep showing up and serving God even when you fail. What a gift!
Women’s Bible Study w Heidi St. John
bravebooks.com
Podcast: Off the Bench (Apple Podcasts) - (Spotify) - (YouTube)
The Mouse and the Sea - (Brave Books) - (Amazon)
Bible References:
Matthew 12:30-31
Matthew 25:40-45
Colossians 3:23
Exodus 14
James 1:6
Titus 2
Proverbs 27:17
1 John 4:4
Romans 8:1
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Tales of the Kingdom Link
Milk and Honey Jewelry
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Feb 7, 2024 • 36min
Ep. 53: The Taylor Effect (Training Our Affections toward Christ when the World is Loud)
It would almost take living as a full-on Luddite to not know something about Taylor Swift. The sheer volume of interest, speculation, online posts, and photographs of just one person exemplifies our culture’s propensity to “obsess” over celebrities.
One thing that sets “T Swift” apart is a dogged loyalty to/approval of/fascination with her: music, life choices, and person as a whole.
And this includes many Christians who include themselves in the ranks of enthusiastic “Swifties.”
In this episode, we examine what it looks like, from a biblical perspective, to be devoted first and foremost to Jesus rather than *any* pop culture icon, no matter how much nostalgia and warm fuzzy feelings arise when we think about listening to their music/watching their movies/living vicariously through their publicly broadcasted lives.
This is not a bash on Taylor Swift but rather a call to every Christian to honestly examine to whom our affections are most devoted and by whom we are most influenced—Jesus and His holy Word…or the world.
Here is the link to Summit Ministries, don't miss out on the $200 off tuition with the code MAMA24!
Romans 1:25
Matthew 6:21
Romans 12:2
Psalm 119:105
Romans 3:23
Romans 3:10-12
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Tales of the Kingdom Link
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Jan 31, 2024 • 50min
Ep. 53: A Conversation About Deconstruction with Alisa Childers
When you hear the word “deconstruction,” what comes to mind? An honest examination of biblical truth? An automatic rejection of it? Something in between?
In this episode, my friend, Alisa Childers—author, respected apologist, and, herself, a survivor of the deconstruction movement—does a great job of speaking to the need for defining our terms.
After all, if nobody knows exactly what the term “deconstruction” means, it’s going to be impossible to bring it before the light of Scripture and examine it truthfully.
Alisa and I also discuss why it’s important to understand this movement as moms who are charged with teaching our children God’s Word and encouraging them to seek truth over cultural trends.
Be encouraged that clarity in this area is not only possible but crucial to combatting the cultural lies that tell us we know better than God.
Guest Info:
Alisa Childers:
Instagram
Facebook
Youtube
Podcast
Bible References:
Ephesians 4:14
Exodus 12
Ephesians 5:26
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Romans 11:34-36
Proverbs 12:16
Proverbs 6:24
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Milk and Honey Jewelry
Better Than Anything Cake
Foundation Worldview Curriculum
Alisa Childers' Books: The Deconstruction of Christianity - Another Gospel - Live Your Truth and Other Lies
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Jan 24, 2024 • 56min
Ep. 52: A Christian’s Response to Church (Part 2 - Church Hurt + Good Church Stories)
One of the more common buzz phrases I’m encountering on the Internet is the term “church hurt.”
The problem, as with many popular phrases, is the true meaning of “church hurt” is hard to nail down, meaning anything from true abuse of power and spiritual neglect to a rightful accountability check of sin.
Not only that, but since we are called to look not only to our own needs but also to the needs of others (Phil. 2:4), the intensely personal narrative surrounding church hurt often becomes more about the person who experienced (real or perceived) injury than it is about the God who heals every sorrow and is so near the brokenhearted.
To further complicate issues, many in the church hurt movement seem determined to lump the entire entity of “church” in with what they deem a broken system, rotten to its core.
And so, we must examine all of these claims in the light of Scripture. Is all church hurt equal? Should every claim be taken at face value? Is there still such a thing as a healthy church?
We address all of these questions (and more) in light of Scripture in today’s episode.
Bible References:
Micah 6:8
Psalm 1:1
Philippians 2:3-8
Matthew 18
Matthew 18:21-22
Hebrews 10:23-25
Philippians 4:13
Romans 12:15
2 Corinthians 5:17
Romans 6:23
John 14:15
Jeremiah 17:9
Luke 6:45
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Milk and Honey Jewelry
Better Than Anything Cake
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Jan 17, 2024 • 25min
Ep. 51: Halberstadt Birthday Traditions
One of my favorite things as a mom is figuring out traditions that our whole family will cherish for years.
Our birthday traditions have evolved since we had our first almost 18 years ago until we have them down to, if not a science, a day of predictably fun (but also customizable) customs that everybody loves.
If you’re looking for inspiration for creating traditions of your own, looking to switch things up a bit, or just needing encouragement that the effort to establish lasting traditions that will knit your family’s hearts closer together is worth it, then this episode is for you!
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Milk and Honey Jewelry
Better Than Anything Cake
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook

Jan 3, 2024 • 45min
Ep. 50: A Christian’s Response to Church (Part 1–Don’t Be a Scoffer)
When it comes to the topic of “things Christians do” or “organized church,” it’s a bit of a free-for-all. You don’t have to be kind. You don’t have to be truthful. And you don’t have to take into consideration how making Christians/the church the butt of all your jokes affects the way the outside world looking in thinks about either/both (especially on social media).
Except we do. Scripture makes it very clear that 1. The Christian church is the bride of Christ (and that’s a big deal) and 2. We will be held accountable for “every careless word” we speak—Matt. 12:36 (and that’s a huge deal!).
Throw in Psalm 1, which urges us to avoid mockery and scoffing, and you’ve got a pretty compelling argument for treating this topic with the careful and honest handling it deserves. Does “the church” have problems? Yes. Will Christians fail us and do wrong things? Also, yes.
But that’s not where the story ends, and I want to approach this series with the goal of bringing our attitudes and thoughts about church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ—just like we do (or should do) everything else.
Bible References:
Genesis 1:26-28
John 1:1
Psalm 1
Ephesians 4:15
1 Corinthians 9:22
Ephesians 4:2
Hebrews 10:25
James 3:10
Philippians 4:8
Links:
M Is for Mama
Penny Reward System
Leave a Review for the M is for Mama Show
Paint & Prose
Pre-Order Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad
M Is For Mama Chore Guide
M Is For Mama Meal Plan Sign-Up
Milk and Honey Jewelry
Find Abbie at:
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook