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What if all the grades, trophies, and accolades your kids chase aren’t enough to make them feel secure? On the final day of the heart-centered parenting series, Start with the Heart author Dr. Kathy Koch shows parents how to root identity in God, affirm kids’ unique gifts, and nurture purpose-driven competence. Through practical examples—dice games, car rides, and coffee-making five-year-olds—you’ll discover how to connect deeply, raise kids who thrive, and feel like you finally “get” what parenting really demands.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about Kathy Koch and her book "Start with the Heart" at celebratekids.com
• Set sail on the Love Like You Mean It Marriage Cruise! Now through 3/31/26, use promo code CruiseMadness27 and enjoy exclusive savings on your stateroom.

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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Just when you think you have everything planned perfectly...something happens to change everything. It’s a good reminder that none of us know what the future holds. There’s a bigger plan unfolding...God’s plan.

Do you want to influence others for Christ and lead others in a Christlike way?

From the Series: Contagious Christianity

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Every summer we used to take a large delegation to a great youth conference in Ocean City, New Jersey. One of our veteran staff was in charge of that delegation, and it was a big responsibility at the shore. When my son was old enough to go to that conference, he commented on Greg's leadership. He said, "You know, Greg's really serious." Well my wife and I kind of laughed. We said, "Oh, you should hear some of the crazy things he's done down at Ocean City." And then my son said, "Not any more. He's in charge now." Well, my son was making a pretty valid observation. As your authority increases, so does your responsibility. Followers, I guess, can goof off, but leadership; oh, that's serious business.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Leadership Lifestyle."

Now, our word for today from the Word of God is about leaders, and you might be one whether you realize it or not. Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority." Now, I've always thought "Hey, wouldn't it be great to be one of those leaders? You get to be obeyed and submitted to." Yeah, wait until you hear the rest of the verse. "...they keep watch over you as men who must give an account." Whoa.

That means that if you have anyone looking to you, you will one day have the privilege and the opportunity to explain to God what you did with those people. Man! "God, here's how I influenced those people and why they ended up as they did."

Well see, God's looking for people that He can trust with a promotion. He's looking for teachers and leaders, and musicians, and shepherds for His Kingdom. And maybe He's trusted you with some influence: a class, or a study group, a church, maybe a musical ministry, a position of authority in God's work. Well, then, be careful how you live. You can do so much good, and you can do so much harm.

In a letter that James Dobson wrote years ago he told about an incident that occurred when he went to a Christian book seller's convention and for the first time he saw all of his materials displayed and his picture all over the place. And he said, "I heard as it were almost an audible voice saying, 'Jim, look around you. I have chosen for reasons that you don't understand to make you visible and influential with My people. And in that sense, I am preparing to make the work of My Kingdom vulnerable to you. That's why I'm telling you to be careful; think before you act; hold a tighter reign on your tongue and on your thought life than ever before. When your natural impulse is to become angry or vindictive, resist the temptation as much as possible, and keep your life free of willful and deliberate sin. You will soon be in a position to hurt my people. See that it doesn't happen.'" Whew! Man!

Now, you're not a Dobson, or some spiritual star perhaps, but maybe God's lifted you to a place where others are looking at you or to you. And it's exciting, but it's a heavy responsibility, one for which you must give account the Bible says. Exercise care in what you say, what you joke about. Be careful what you watch. Stop with the negative comments, the critical comments before anybody can hear them, those displays of anger. Not for you; not now.

God has called you to some measure of leadership and the responsible lifestyle that goes with that. I think that's an awfully powerful incentive to be all you were meant to be in Christ. It's a good thing; a good reason to live up to what Jesus wants for all of His kids. But He has put trust in your hands. He's put His reputation in your hands. He has made His Kingdom vulnerable to you. You are in a position to hurt some of God's people. See that it doesn't happen.

Read: 1 John 3:1-3

Elsa was eager to find Maggie at school. “Remember how much fun it was to pretend we were princesses?” she asked her friend. “Well, guess what? My dad says I really am one! I’m a child of God, so I’m a child of the King because God is King of everything!”

“I’ve never heard that before,” Maggie said doubtfully.

“It’s what the Bible says,” Elsa replied. “Anyone who trusts in Jesus is a child of God. You can be His child too! Don’t you want to be?” Maggie just shrugged.

After school the girls went over to Maggie’s house, but Elsa didn’t stay very long. “I’m not playing with Maggie anymore!” she said as she burst into the kitchen. “We pretended to be princesses again, and she kept all the prettiest dresses for herself. She wouldn’t let me wear any of them. Then when I got off my throne for just a second, she took it!”

Mom frowned. “Are you sure you weren’t trying to get all the best things for yourself?”

“But I was her guest—and I really am a child of the King, and she’s not,” Elsa replied. “I told Maggie that, but she wouldn’t even give me back my throne.” Elsa scowled. “But I showed her!”

Mom raised her eyebrows. “What did you do?”

“I threw her stuff at her and told her she looked ugly in those dresses anyway, and then I ran home.”

“Elsa,” Mom said quietly, “do you think you acted like a princess today? The Bible says that when we trust Jesus to save us from our sin and become God’s children, He makes us new people. The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts so we can live pure lives that show others we belong to the King. Do you think your actions today were pure? Do you think your attitude showed Maggie what Jesus was like and made her want to become God’s child?”

“I guess not,” Elsa admitted. “Can I go back and apologize?”

“Sure,” said Mom. “That will help Maggie see what it’s like to be a real princess—a daughter of the King of kings!”

–Victoria Johnson

How about you? Do you act the way a prince or princess—a child of God—should act? Do you show others who Jesus is by treating them with love and kindness? If you belong to the King of kings, your life should show it. The Holy Spirit is making you more and more like Jesus each day. Show His love to others so they can see who He is and want to become His children too.

Today's Key Verse: All who have this hope in [Jesus] purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:3 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Live a pure life

The right relationships help you find encouragement during challenging times.

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“Oh no!” That was my response upon opening a beehive and discovering the colony had suddenly died. It had been a thriving hive with lots of honey. I’d carefully maintained it throughout a mild winter and anticipated an early harvest. But a cold snap in the warm weather led to collapse.

I checked with local experts. “Many beekeepers lost hives this time,” they reassured me. Mild winters present challenges for bees, even healthy hives. Bees fan their wings to maintain warmth in the hive in winter, but when weather warms briefly, they exhaust themselves seeking even more food. If temperatures drop quickly, they don’t have strength to keep warm. Their “distraction” leads to destruction.

Even good things can become dangers when they turn us from what matters most. Moses cautioned God’s people about this after they left Egypt and before they entered the land God was about to give them—a land with “houses filled with all kinds of good things” that they “did not provide” (Deuteronomy 6:11). “When you eat and are satisfied,” Moses warned, “be careful that you do not forget the Lord” (vv. 11–12).

Remembering God in our blessings helps us because He is the source of “every good and perfect gift ” (James 1:17). When we humbly respond to His goodness by loving Him with heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), we find in Him the best blessing of all.

Homes hold families, history, and meaning— and for many people, a lifetime of love. Most U.S. homes were never designed for aging bodies, yet many older adults are living in homes that no longer fit— and feeling stuck there. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Harlan Accola discuss an option that can help seniors move into safer homes without new monthly payments. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live— biblical wisdom for your financial decisions—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.

To learn more about Rob West, click here.

To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

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Segment 1

• Todd Friel steps into the heated divide between pro-lifers and abolitionists, asking why two groups who both want abortion abolished are so adversarial.

• The controversy in Tennessee legislation raises a provocative question: if abortion is murder, should women who obtain abortions be prosecuted?

• A deeper biblical discussion emerges about justice, culpability, and knowledge.

Segment 2

• A challenging syllogism from abolitionists forces the debate: if abortion intentionally takes innocent life, must every participant face murder charges?

• Todd explores difficult factors often ignored in the abolitionist vs. incrementalist debate.

• The conversation pushes listeners to wrestle with difficult questions of moral clarity and justice.

Segment 3

• Todd proposes a unqiue “peace plan” to unite pro-lifers and abolitionists without convictions.

• Make abortion illegal first—then launch a nationwide education campaign so no one can claim ignorance.

• Once everyone clearly understands abortion is taking a human life, should criminal accountability extend to every participant?

Segment 4

• A rising Texas political candidate claims the Bible says nothing about abortion, while quoting Scripture to justify progressive policies.

• Todd exposes the irony: the media condemns “Christian nationalism”—except when progressive politicians use the Bible.

• The candidate made startling theological claims – leaving many wondering if he’s using biblical language in a contextually appropriate way.

___

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