When we experience deep sorrow, many of us long for heaven more than ever. The desire for a joy-filled eternity with God is a good one, wired in us by our Creator. But have you ever wondered what makes heaven such a source of hope for believers today? In this episode, Emily and Laura sit down with author and Bible teacher Courtney Doctor to look at what Scripture says about heaven. Throughout the Grief series, we’ve heard stories of suffering and pain, but the thread of hope woven throughout them all is the promise that one day God will wipe away every tear for those who are found in Christ (Rev. 21:4). As Christian moms, when we ponder what his Word has to say about heaven, we can better run our race here on earth. Never-ending joy truly awaits those in Christ.  This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here.  Find the free download (Risen Motherhood x Every Moment Holy: Liturgies for Grieving Moms), discussion questions, links, and related resources from our Grief series here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Grief 09: The Hope of Heaven—An Interview with Courtney Doctor

A podcast for moms. Join us as we explore how the ancient scriptures apply to modern motherhood and provide the framework for finding answers to your specific questions.  As part of the greater Risen Motherhood ministry, in-depth, topical mini-series are released periodically.

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We’ve spent the past nine weeks talking about all of the ways we can pursue God’s design for us as women, but here’s what it really boils down to: mom, do you know how loved, how cherished, how valued you are by your Creator? Do you believe you’re made for more than eating PB&J; leftovers at the sink and skipping a shower for days on end? (Ask us how we know!) In this final episode of the Whole mini-series, Emily and Laura remind us that we have dignity and value—not because we claim it for ourselves, but because we bear the very image of God. Even in the busyness of motherhood, we can live as women who are loved by God, redeemed in Christ, and have an important mission in his kingdom. What would it look like to honor his fullness of love for you today?  This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here.  Find the free download (Whole: Reflection and Prayer Journal), discussion questions, links, and related resources from our Whole series here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Whole 10: When You Give Grace to Everyone But Yourself

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to the Christian life: forgiveness. It’s hard, right?! But as we see with every command God gives us, the act of forgiveness is for our own good and flourishing. Many of us have seen how unforgiveness doesn’t stay contained; it seeps out until it permeates a lot of areas of our lives, including motherhood. That’s why Emily and Laura spend this show taking a hard look at forgiveness: what it is, what it isn’t, and why it matters. In this world, we will have trouble—but our Redeemer has overcome it all. In him, we find the power and freedom to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. *Note: We know this is a broad topic and understand we couldn’t possibly cover all of the intricacies and experiences at play for you personally. Our hope for this show is to provide you with a few thought-starters and Scripture references to understand forgiveness, but if needed we encourage you to reach out to a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor to speak into your personal situation and circumstances as you work through forgiveness in your own relationships.  This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here.  Find the free download (Whole: Reflection and Prayer Journal), discussion questions, links, and related resources from our Whole series here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Whole 09: Let Go of the Beachball + What Forgiveness Is (And Isn't)

Mom, when’s the last time you had FUN? For so many good reasons, our tendency as moms can be to stay behind the scenes and keep the trains running on time. We know this is a big responsibility, and we go all-in on taking it seriously. But what if we let our hair down a bit, and experienced the joy of a motherhood rooted in Christ? In this show, Emily and Laura remind us that as whole women of God, we can experience joy, laughter, thrills, and fun—knowing that in Christ, we’re not as fragile as we may feel. When we set our fears down and remind ourselves that God—not mom—is our family’s refuge, strength, and protector, the goodness that awaits on the other side may just take us (and our kiddos) by surprise.  This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here.  Find the free download (Whole: Reflection and Prayer Journal), discussion questions, links, and related resources from our Whole series here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Whole 08: Moms Just Wanna Have Fun—On Being Brave

We know that meaningful friendships require time and investment… so what do we do as moms when we have so little of these things to spare?! Or what if we have a great mom-to-mom friendship, but our kids struggle to get along or our lives are starting to look totally different from one another? In this episode, Emily and Laura go DEEP on the joy and hardship of maintaining solid friendships throughout various seasons of motherhood. From how to handle it when a friendship falters to what to consider as you’re pursuing God-glorifying relationships, this show is a can’t-miss if you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head at how to love others well despite your limited capacity. God designed us for flourishing, sanctifying friendships, so let’s be willing to think about this area of our lives intentionally and honor him as we do.  This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here.  Find the free download (Whole: Reflection and Prayer Journal), discussion questions, links, and related resources from our Whole series here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Whole 07: Understanding the Seasons of Friendship & Help for When Friends Hurt You

It doesn’t take long for our heads to start spinning when we think about how creative God is: a sea of textures and colors, a sunset bursting in shades of light, a cool night sky speckled with stars… we could go on and on. As image-bearers, we too are wired with an ability to create—even if it feels we lack the time, talent, or desire to do so. In this episode, Emily and Laura look at the many ways creativity can come to life in motherhood, as well as a few practical ways we can make space to create, even if you don’t necessarily think of yourself as “creative.” Let us set our minds on what is true, pure, and lovely (Phil. 4:8)—and revel in the work of our Creator with every step.  This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here.  Find the free download (Whole: Reflection and Prayer Journal), discussion questions, links, and related resources from our Whole series here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Grief 09: The Hope of Heaven—An Interview with Courtney Doctor

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