Joy 620 Podcasts

Topics: Screens, Parenting, Sexual Abuse, Triggers, EMDR, End of Life, Aging Parents, Custody, Mother Issues

“Satan builds the strongholds in the secrets of our lives and reinforces them with silence…,” (Dr. Richard Dobbins)
Most of us know the mouth-watering aroma of fresh baked pretzels in the mall or in an airport. Their familiar scent wrap you in a hug of comfort.  They are pretty irresistible!
Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Ann's Pretzels journey towards success began years before she rolled the first pretzel when they experienced any parent's worst nightmare – the death of a child. Then came a dark secret. Their loss propelled Anne into years of darkness, depression, despair, and betrayal by someone she trusted. She shares the dark secret and the resulting trauma that haunted her for years. But out of all her pain - came purpose and the desire to persevere toward personal and professional success.  But more, she encourages those with deep secrets of their own  - to break their silence and reach a whole new level of freedom! In Psalm 32 King David said, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” Jenny has talked about this on Crossroads for many years - secrets keep us in darkness and bondage. You can find more about Anne's Podcast, books and speaking at annebeiler.com. What started as a single farmer's market stand grew into Auntie Anne's, the world's largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise!

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that people are enamored with power. The power of knowledge, of wealth, and the power displayed by military strength. But, the power of God, is a power above all.

The post Parable Of The Householder And His Heir – 1A first appeared on Pastor Jack Hibbs.

Most Christians understand that prayer is an important part of their spiritual life. But many don’t fully understand why. If God already knows everything, then what’s the point of praying? Dr. Robert Jeffress explains how prayer relates to experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit.

To support Pathway to Victory, go to ptv.org/donate.

In this episode of Family Life Blended, Ron Deal and Gayla Grace explore the myths surrounding stepfamilies and the myths that often cause harm to blended family dynamics. The conversation is framed around common misconceptions, historical folklore, and personal experiences with step-parenting. They begin by discussing how negative stereotypes have been perpetuated, particularly the myth that all stepmothers are wicked and all stepfathers abusive. This stereotype has roots in fairy tales, notably the Brother's Grimm stories, where stepmothers were often depicted as evil characters. The hosts note that while there is a small grain of truth to some of these stories (as abusive step-parents exist), they don’t represent the reality for most stepparents, who are often loving, hardworking, and deeply committed to their stepchildren. They stress that stepping into a parental role in a blended family requires time and patience, and stepparents should avoid rushing or forcing relationships to develop.

Another myth discussed is the idea that stepparents are instantly accepted and integrated into the family. While some young children may quickly bond with a stepparent, the process of blending families typically takes time and doesn’t happen overnight. The hosts explain that trying to assume an immediate parental role, especially in cases where stepchildren have strong loyalties to their biological parents, can be detrimental. They caution against the idea of erasing or replacing the biological parent in the child’s life.

Ron and Gala also delve into the myth that calling stepchildren "my children" will create a mutual, instant bond. While it’s important to express care and make the child feel included, they emphasize the need for communication and co-creation between stepparent and child about their relationship. They also tackle the belief that stepparents should love their stepchildren the same as their biological children. The reality is that the connection may not be as strong initially, but that doesn’t mean it can’t grow over time. The key is to be equitable in how stepparents treat both biological and stepchildren, with fairness being the priority.

Through these discussions, the episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for families navigating the complexities of blended family life. The hosts encourage listeners to embrace the process of building relationships gradually, be patient, and avoid the harmful myths that can cause unrealistic expectations.

Show Notes and Resources

• Purchase "The Mindful Marriage" on our website .
• Sign up for the Summit on Stepfamily Leadership Conference
• Learn more about the "Blended and Blessed" conference.
• Get resources for your blended family online.
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• See resources from our past podcasts.
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