Freedom Families

Returning guest, Abbie Halberstadt, sits down with E.J. to talk about all things Biblical motherhood. Abbie's first book, M is for Mama, laid the foundation for the book that has been on her heart and soul for many years. That book, Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad, is what every mama needs as they desire to see their children not as burdens (culture) but as blessings from the Lord. Is it easy to mother well? No. But, is it worth the effort? 1000x yes!! And, the best part is, we can do it together! Watch this 1-minute intro video for the book - it's SO GOOD

Pre-order HINTSTAB now!
Hard≠Bad
“Why me, Lord?”

Amid the toddler tantrums, the mealtime melees, and the backseat blowups, have you found yourself asking God that same question? Maybe even screaming it into a couch pillow? You’re not alone.

Your most trying moments as a parent can quickly spiral into discouragement, hopelessness, and sometimes even resentment toward God or your family—partly because our culture has conditioned us to believe that anything this hard can’t possibly be good for us.

Abbie Halberstadt, author of the bestselling M is for Mama, shares scriptural wisdom and lessons learned from her own challenges as a mama of ten to help shift your perspective on the hardships of parenting and of life, in general.

When you begin to see struggles as a necessary part of God’s plan for your spiritual growth, you can discover supernatural peace and purpose, even when you’re down in the deepest trenches of parenthood.

It's time to get healthy - for the whole family! If you want to feel encouraged, empowered and equipped to start leading your family from a place of good health, you're in for a real *treat* today! Chris and Justine talk with E.J. about so many important things that apply to all families.

Here are just a handful of topics they touch:
-Having four boys (both of their families do)
-What to say when strangers say, "You've really got your hands full!" & "Are you going to keep trying for a girl??"
-Family rhythms with so many littles
-How many hours of sleep we should get and why that's where all good health starts
-Some tech habits you need to adopt but probably have never heard before
-How to start exercising when you feel exhausted and have no time
-How Justine went from using the microwave almost every day (a few years ago) to not ever using it now (and how E.J.'s family is learning how to be microwave-free!)

Mission-Fit Dads (missionfitdads.com)

Sign up for Chris's newsletter: Mission Briefing Newsletter — Mission-Fit Dads (missionfitdads.com)

This week on the podcast, E.J. talks with Jon Noyes from Stand to Reason. They have a conversation about many of the issues that youth and families are facing in today's culture. They discuss how we should be approaching hard topics with our kids (and other kids in our lives), what we should do if we don't know the answer and what kind of things we should be bringing up to our kids even before they ask - and how! This is absolutely an episode you don't want to miss! 

Jonathan Noyes (str.org)

To the Point with Jon Noyes - YouTube

Elizabeth Urbanowicz is back on with us to talk about what Foundation Worldview has been up to over the past year and a half. Elizabeth and E.J. talk about FW's newest curriculum for your youngest children, Elizabeth's new podcast, FW webinars and raising kids who thoughtfully engage with the world around them instead of simply consuming everything they see and hear. 

Check out all the amazing tools, resources and curricula Foundation Worldview has to offer families - Christian Curriculums For Homeschool, Church & Christian Schools (foundationworldview.com)

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Listen in to hear Freedom Families' top episodes, cities and countries from 2022!! 

So what do you do with all that Halloween candy anyway? Listen in as Maree and E.J. talk about another issue that seems ubiquitous: junk food. Notably, they discuss how a weekly, cyclical rhythm -- extending from and anticipating toward the Sabbath -- is the key.

How can we be intentional about junk food? If you don't have a plan, it's easy to get caught up in all the sweets and treats. Someone brings donuts to work Monday morning, you brought cake leftover from church to go with your lunch and then there are cookies at Trail Life that night. All of a sudden, you're having 3 desserts a day! And your body can feel it; you're tired, impatient and craving more junk. We do not need to live in bondage to junk food. There is freedom in Christ! We want to take good care of our bodies in order to work hard, play hard, love and serve others and to go on adventures. To live in the freedom that Christ gives to us, we have to use the Spirit's gifts of self-control, discernment and faithfulness. We want to do this as a family and train our children in good habits and rhythms that will last generations! 

Our bodies are instruments of righteousness. - Matthew Henry's Commentary on Paul's letter to the church in Corinth
Your body is not your own. You have been bought with a price. -Paul's Letter



November Family Memory Verses: Ephesians 2:8-9

In Paul's letter to Galatians, he reminds the believers that "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free." What was true for believers then is true for believers now: Christ's perfect sacrifice has freed us from the bondage of the law and of our disobedience of the law. However, part of the law's purpose was and is to show us our shortcomings. The law makes clear our sinfulness. We cannot live up to the standard the law demands. So God, incarnate, did for us. Now we are called to live in the freedom the Gospel provides! Yet, so many believers are living in bondage - whether by actively choosing or by apathetically being pulled by the waves. For our first Let's Talk episodes, Maree and E.J. talk about one of the things many people are living chained to: screen time. Adults, moms & dads, toddles, teenagers - it is the norm! 

The average adult watches 140 hours of TV per month. That's about 4.5 hours/day.  If we are working 8 hours a day, in the car for 1.5 hours a day, watching 4.5 hours of TV and sleeping for 8 hours (and we're not even considering time staring at your little pocket screen!)  -- how much time is left for what really matters? And what kind of habits are we forming for our kids? As believers, we need to be intentional about our choices and steward our time well.  Let's talk: Screen Time. 

Here is the last book in our Deepening Faith Books for Kids series! Thank you all so much for following along, playing these for your kids and talking about the important truths in these books!!

We hope you enjoy this special read-aloud series. You can put it on a speaker for your kids to listen to. You can buy one for home, or buy a bundle for the kids of your small group or church!

Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer - Lifeway

Here is the second-to-last (and E.J.'s personal favorite) book in our Deepening Faith Books for Kids series! 

We hope you enjoy this special read-aloud series. You can put it on a speaker for your kids to listen to. You can buy one for home, or buy a bundle for the kids of your small group or church!

The God Contest - Lifeway