A Mom's Mission Field

How do you raise gutsy kids? It starts with you, momma. On today’s podcast we talk about sharing our authentic selves—our struggles, our prayers, and our triumphs—so our kids can see God move in our lives. When our kids see us taking risks and watch God come through, they will be encouraged to be brave for God too.

Do you know Jesus? No really. Do you know that you know that you know Jesus? Who is He to you? Who is God to you? Can you honestly say you love Him? In today’s episode we go beyond the textbook Sunday School answers to look at how to evaluate your relationship with Christ. This is fundamental, my friends. Nothing else on earth or beyond matters more than loving Jesus.

What does that mean? Where do you start? What do you do about your doubts? If you are ready to move past surface-level Christianity, I can’t wait to introduce you to Rebecca Pierce. Rebecca is a wife, a mom, and a podcaster who loves teaching women the basics of walking with Jesus.

Do you believe in miracles? As a follower of Jesus I believe in miracles. I know they exist. I know God still performs miracles. But I’ve never actually seen one. I don’t know why that is, to be honest, but I know that’s not the way we’re supposed to live. I know we Christians are supposed to see God work in miraculous ways all the time, but we are content to live average lives devoid of any power. I want to change that. That’s why I’m so glad to have Vanessa Clark on today’s show. Vanessa has an amazing story of watching a miracle unfold in her own home when God healed her infant son of blindness. If you struggle with your faith in God’s power or God’s goodness or God’s concern for our problems, I hope you’ll be encouraged today. I don’t have all the answers to who God heals and who He doesn’t or the whys behind all of that, but I do know God is good and God loves you more than you can ever imagine.

Would you consider your life ordinary? I think many of us would, but can you say you are rocking it anyway? That’s what today’s guest is here to help with. Lea Ann want you to know the impact we moms have in our ordinary lives, how to overcome when we feel like a failure, the significant influence we have in our intimate relationships, and the ways our past pain enables us to reach out in compassion. In this interview, we also talk about adoption, grace, and the difference between boredom and a burden. Let’s embrace our ordinary and change the world for Jesus!

Ladies, do you ever feel weary, overwhelmed, unqualified, and just plain fresh out of amazing? Can I tell you you’re not alone. Not even close. I feel like today’s guest really opened the door for all of us moms to realize we aren’t the only ones who feel that way.

Stacey Thacker is the author of an upcoming book called “Fresh Out of Amazing” and she’s here to share the moment that brought her flat to the feet of Jesus in the middle of her laundry pile and how her obedience not only helped her find her significance and strength in Jesus, but she has been able to encourage thousands of women through her words.

Mama, do you have big dreams and small children? Are you feeling like those two things can’t coexist? Sometimes we feel God calling us to do something—a ministry, a new job, a mission trip, whatever—but we think we need to wait for our kids to get bigger before we get started. If that sounds familiar, boy do I have a guest for you.

Tricia Goyer knows what it’s like to raise a family alongside a flourishing career and ministry. In this interview she gives us practical tips on how she makes it happen, but she also alleviates the mom guilt. One of my favorite points she makes is that we tell our kids to grow up and fulfill their dreams, but then we never do. Our kids need to see us following God now, not waiting until we’re empty nesters.

Today I’m thrilled to be talking to Tara Livesay, a wife, mom, midwife, and full-time missionary in Haiti. On this podcast my goal is to encourage you to say yes to God, whatever that might look like, and see where it leads. When I first found Tara online I assumed she and her husband had always been missionaries, or had training, or whatever, but as you’ll see, none of that is true. Their story began by saying yes. And it wasn’t even a big yes. It was saying yes to explore the possibility of doing something for God, and He honored that and wove together this amazing life for them.

I hope as you listen to Tara, you are inspired to say yes to the next step God is putting in front of you. It might not make a lick of sense, but it doesn’t have to. I can’t wait to hear what your next yes is!

Does a Christian life equal a life without grief? If you’ve been a Christian for more than a week I’m sure you know the answer to that, but why are we surprised when hardships come? Jesus promised we would face trials, so it’s not a matter of if, but when. Jesus also promised to give us peace that passes all understanding. So how are we supposed to react to hardships?  What can we do to find hope and joy in the midst of our trials?

Today I’m talking to Lindsey Andrews. She’s a wife, mom, writer, lawyer, and the sister of a man who took his own life after a long struggle with depression. We talk about mental illness and suicide, and the shocking trend of younger and younger children sharing their deep hurts on social media. We also talk about what we parents can do to hopefully make sure our own children feel safe enough to come to us with their struggles before they get out of hand.

Today’s episode is one that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. The subject of abortion is near and dear to my heart. I haven’t personally had an abortion, but throughout our adoption process I’ve come face to face with desperation, despair, and life situations that I previously had no concept of. Then I start to wonder, what if? What if I had been in a similar situation—what choices would I have made?

I think the more I know Jesus and long to be more like Him, the more I truly try to understand people and what their lives look like. What leads to these decisions? What causes people to behave certain ways or believe certain things? How can we as Christians help our brothers and sisters break through Satan’s lies and find hope and healing in Jesus? When I met Amber, I knew I had to have her on the show. Her story embodies all the things I was just talking about. She speaks with such clarity and grace that I want everyone to hear her. I’m praying that whatever you are dealing with, this episode will point you toward healing in those deepest broken places.