MOM is Ministry

What happens when motherhood doesn’t go according to plan—and life asks you to carry more than you ever imagined?

In this episode of Mom Is Ministry, Mercedes sits down with Alison Meredith, a mother of seven whose family was forever changed when her husband nearly died shortly after the birth of their seventh child.

Suddenly navigating motherhood, her husband’s disabilities, and an entirely new future, Alison found herself stepping into responsibilities she never expected—including helping grow the business her husband had recently started, all while raising and prioritizing seven young children.

Alison shares what it looked like to trust God in the middle of uncertainty, receive help from others, juggle motherhood and work, learn through mistakes, and experience God’s provision through seasons she could never have planned for.

This conversation is an encouragement for the mom whose life looks different than she thought it would—the woman carrying unexpected responsibilities, wondering how she’ll manage it all, or trying to remain faithful in a season she never saw coming.

Because life may catch us by surprise, but God is never surprised.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Raising and prioritizing seven children
• Trusting God when life changes unexpectedly
• Motherhood during difficult and uncertain seasons
• Balancing family, work, and new responsibilities
• Learning to receive help and support from others
• Letting go of perfection in motherhood
• Recognizing God’s faithfulness in hindsight
• Finding grace for the season you’re actually in

If you’re in the middle of an unexpected chapter right now, I pray this conversation reminds you that you don’t have to know how the whole story will unfold to trust the One who does.

To learn more about Alison and purchase her book: 

https://www.alisonmeredith.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1959624903

In all honesty, the Pinterest-perfect family devotion time is not the standard. In this episode, I get honest about what family devotions actually look like in most homes — short, interrupted, and nowhere near a curated photo — and why that still counts. We talk about the pressure to make it look a certain way, and what Scripture actually says about passing faith on to your kids: woven through ordinary moments, not confined to one polished sit-down.

In this episode:

Naming the "Pinterest-perfect" myth around family devotions, and why it sets moms up to feel like they're failing

What it actually looks like when devotion time is short, messy, and still real

An anchor in Scripture: devotions woven into everyday moments, not a single formal event

Simple, low-prep ways to fit Scripture into a day you already have — in the car, at the table, at bedtime

Scripture referenced: Deuteronomy 6:6–7 — "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Also touched on: Proverbs 22:6)

Connect with Mom Is Ministry:

Instagram: @MOMisMinisty

Email list: https://linktr.ee/momisministry

This wraps up our first month back — thank you for listening, sharing, and being patient with me through this relaunch. If this episode encouraged you, a rating or review helps another mom find the show. 🤍

Mom guilt is loud. Grace is louder.

In this episode, I get honest about a visitor that shows up in basically every mom's house uninvited: guilt. We name the everyday things it likes to grab onto — losing patience, working outside the home, screen time, not enough one-on-one time, comparing yourself to other moms — and then get into the real teaching: the difference between conviction and condemnation, and how to tell which one you're actually hearing.

In this episode:
 – The common (and often unfair) triggers for mom guilt
 – Why guilt doesn't need a good reason to show up
 – The biblical difference between conviction (which leads somewhere) and condemnation (which just leaves you stuck)
 – A simple way to tell which one you're carrying, and how to release what isn't yours

Scripture referenced: Romans 8:1 — "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Connect with Mom Is Ministry:
 Instagram:@MOMisMinistry
 Email list: https://linktr.ee/momisministry

If this episode helped you put a name to what you're carrying, I hope you can set some of it down. A rating or review helps another mom find the show — thank you for listening.

Who are you when you're not "Mom"? 

This week, I ask the identity question point blank — and get honest about the ways motherhood can quietly become someone's entire identity, one dropped hobby and skipped coffee date at a time.

In this episode: – How identity quietly collapses into "just Mom" over time, and why that's not a moral failure – Why a hard season with your kids can turn into a crisis of self when motherhood is the whole identity – An anchor in Scripture: what it means to be a daughter of God first, before any role – One small, doable way to reconnect with the parts of you that aren't about mothering

Scripture referenced: Galatians 2:20 — "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." 

Connect with Mom Is Ministry: Instagram: @MOMisMinistry Email list: https://substack.com/@momisministry

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love it if you left a rating or review — it helps another mom find the show. Thanks for listening.

After a season away, Mom Is Ministry is back — but not in the way you might expect.

In this relaunch episode, I get honest about why the video side of the show became more discouraging than intentional, and why I made the decision to bring Mom Is Ministry back as an audio-only, weekly podcast instead. This is a conversation about simplifying without quitting, letting go of a "should" to make room for what's actually sustainable, and trusting that fewer moving parts doesn't mean a smaller calling.

In this episode: – Why the show paused, and what changed – The decision behind going podcast-only, every Sunday night – What's ahead this season: solo teaching episodes now, with guest interviews from other Christian moms starting in a few weeks – An encouragement for the mom listening who's carrying too much right now

Scripture referenced: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Connect with Mom Is Ministry: Instagram: @MOMisMinistry

Email list: substack.com/@momisministry

If this episode encouraged you, a rating or review helps another mom find the show — thank you for listening, and for walking through this new season with us.

Life doesn’t always unfold the way we plan—and motherhood, faith, and purpose often come with unexpected turns. In this episode of Mom Is Ministry, I sit down with Dr. Isha for a powerful and honest conversation about navigating life’s seasons and embracing change when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain.

We talk about how God uses every season—especially the unexpected ones—to grow us, refine us, and reposition us for what’s next. Dr. Isha shares wisdom on trusting God through transitions, releasing control, and finding peace when life looks different than you imagined.

If you’re in a season of waiting, shifting, or redefining who you are, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen in, be encouraged, and be reminded that no season is wasted in God’s hands.

Mom guilt is real. It sneaks in when we lose our patience, compare ourselves to other moms, or feel like we’re not doing “enough.” But here’s the good news: guilt is not from God. His Word says in Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

In this episode of Mom is Ministry, Mercedes opens up about the weight of mom guilt and how God invites us into His grace instead of shame. She shares how even in the chaos of motherhood, God’s grace shows up—sometimes with correction, sometimes with comfort, always with love.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why mom guilt is so common and what it really reveals about your heart.
• What scripture says about condemnation vs. grace.
• Personal stories of how the Holy Spirit steps in during parenting moments.
• Practical ways to release guilt and rest in God’s truth.
• Encouragement to stop striving for “perfect” and start leaning into “faithful.”

If you’ve been feeling the pressure of mom guilt, let this episode remind you: You are not called to be a perfect mom—you are called to be a faithful one. And God’s grace is more than enough.

As moms, it can feel like we’re on duty from the moment our eyes open until bedtime—and sometimes even in the middle of the night. The chaos of motherhood, business, housework, and everything in between can leave us feeling like there’s no room to breathe. But here’s the truth: rest is not a luxury, it’s a command and a gift from God.

In this episode of Mom is Ministry, Mercedes shares why honoring the Sabbath and creating rhythms of rest is an act of obedience and trust in God. She opens up about her own struggles with feeling like she’s “lacking,” and how she’s learning to take things one day at a time, remembering that with Christ, she lacks nothing.

You’ll hear practical ways to build rest into your daily life, encouragement to see motherhood itself as ministry, and a heartfelt prayer over you and your children.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Why the Sabbath is both a command and a gift.
• How rest is an act of worship, not weakness.
• Practical ways to create space for rest in motherhood.
• Why being “a mom IS ministry” in every moment of the day.

If you’ve been running on empty, this episode is your reminder: Mama, you are enough in Him—and rest is holy.

In this special Mom Talk episode of Mom is Ministry, I sit down with Shanell Jones to talk all things motherhood, ministry, and faith. Shanell shares openly about how her walk with God has shaped the way she parents, the way she shows up in her marriage, and how she continues to serve with joy in the middle of everyday life.

From navigating the ups and downs of mom life, to leaning on her faith in tough seasons, this conversation is full of wisdom, encouragement, and real talk that every mom can relate to.

✨ Join us for a powerful conversation that reminds us: when we put God at the center, it changes everything—our homes, our families, and even the way we mother.

Please be sure to follow Shanell and her journey and keep up with all of her upcoming projects: 

Instagram: @ShanellMcCoyJones and @RestoringMotherhoodVillage

As moms, we’re not just raising kids—we’re raising disciples. In this episode of Mom is Ministry, I’m sharing how we can intentionally point our children to Jesus and create a home where faith flourishes. From everyday conversations to prayer time, to recognizing and nurturing the spiritual gifts God has placed in them, you’ll hear practical ways to lead your children closer to Christ.

Whether your child is already showing signs of their calling, or you’re simply learning how to introduce faith in your home, this episode is full of encouragement, scripture, and wisdom for the journey.

✨ Listen in to be reminded: your greatest ministry may just be the little hearts you’re shaping for God’s kingdom.