Over A Cup

One of the biggest fears of many soon-to-be parents is that they might have a special needs child. Cherry was the same before God blessed her with Zachary, her son on the autism spectrum.

Through her God Story, Cherry not only encourages parents with special needs children to lean into God’s plan for their child’s life, but she encourages all of us to embrace who God made our children to be. 

In this episode learn how to: 

• See the good in hard circumstances
• Be our kid’s champion
• Let go of our expectations for our children
• Trust God with our kids and their future

Resources:

• Cherry’s Prayer Journal 
• One Year Bible Expressions
• Prayer Journal Giveaway

Connect with Cherry: 

Cherry Fargo is a certified Life Coach and the founder of Being Remade. She has a heart to help women discover the freedom, identity & purpose they were born for. She currently lives in the Tulsa, OK, area with her husband of 25 years and the youngest 2 of their 4 children.

• Blog: https://thebeingremadelife.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingReMade/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingremade/

“I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.” 2 Tim. 1:5

“Where can a mother go to resign?” Have you ever felt this way? Like one more load of laundry, dishwasher load, or argument between siblings will be the end of you. 

Me too, friend! Those are the days when I need to remember to focus my eyes on Jesus and remember what he says about this all important job. It can be hard to find hope and meaning in the middle of our messes, but it is there! In our homes, we have the ability to influence generations and it isn’t a responsibility to be taken lightly. This is the most important job you’ll ever do! 

In this episode learn what the Bible says about mothers and how a mother’s influence, example, and words matter so very much to our children! 

Resources:

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
• Nothing Less by Jana Magruder 
• Interview with Jana Magruder “Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith”
• Praying for Boys by Brooke McGlothlin 
• Abide: 40 Ways to Focus on Jesus Daily by Tara L. Cole
• OverACup Patreon Community

Please Note: The audio in this episode is distorted in places on my side. Augh! But the conversation was so good and Esther's story so encouraging, I didn't want you to miss out! So here it is, as Esther says, sometimes we just need to "wash over it with grace." I hope you still enjoy it! 

Ever feel like you’re about to have a nervous breakdown? Everyone who’s lived through the last year, I see you raising your hands. (*wink)

In this month’s God Story, Esther Goetz shares how 15 years ago she actually did have a nervous breakdown in the middle of being a mom and an “Estergizer Bunny,” as her kids lovingly called her. During that time, God revealed his plan for Esther in the form of butterflies that reminder her to slow down and accept the metamorphosis He was doing in her.

In this episode learn how:

• God can show up despite our weaknesses
• He transforms us in the waiting
• He gives us grace in the trenches

Resources

• The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
• The Next Right Thing Podcast
• Breath by Priscilla Shirer 
• The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Focus on the Family Audio Edition) 
• Adventures in Odyssey audiobooks 
• The Bible for Normal People podcast
• North Point Church 
• Andy Stanley 

Connect with Esther: 

Esther is a wife to Allen Goetz and they have been married for over 28 years and currently live in New Jersey.  She is a mom to four grown children (ages 20-28).  She was born a missionary kid in war-torn Ethiopia but has become a very average, American, Christian wife and mom who has a fierce passion for marriage and family. She has been driven to my knees in prayer and to raise her hands in praise.   It’s been an absolutely beautiful, hard, sacred, messy, complicated, and wonderful journey!  She longs to breathe hope and healing (sprinkled with some humor) to the heart and home of every woman! 

www.estherjoygoetz.com

Facebook:  @thedollymamanj

Twitter:  @thedollymama

Instagram:  @dollymamanj

Do you feel guilty because you can’t always get up at 6 am for 30 minutes with God? Do you struggle to connect with God in the “right” way? 

I’ve got a secret. There is no right way. 

There are many ways to connect with and abide in God throughout our day. Depending on our lifestyle and season of life, we might need to change our expectations. And that’s okay! 

In this episode learn to:

• Release the quiet time guilt
• Be present with God
• Focus on God during different seasons
• Abide with God right where you are

Resources

• Dwell App
• Abide App
• YouVersion App
• Ebook: 6 Ways to Focus on Jesus Daily
• NIV Dramatized Bible

Connect with Tara: 

Instagram Tara L. Cole 

Facebook - Tara L. Cole Writer

OverACup Community Facebook Group

This month Laura shares the story of her modern-day miracle when she survived a terminal diagnosis by the power of God.

After coming face-to-face with death, Laura shares how her relationship with God shifted from knowing God was there to now spending time with Him throughout her day. She also explains the importance and power of community and praying for each other. 

Resources:

• Dwell App
• Dangerous Prayers Craig Groeschel 
• Bible Study Hub (Bible Hub App)
• Rhythms of Renewal Rebecca Lyons 
• Pray the Word Journal
• Foundations by Ruth Chou-Simons 
• https://forthisiprayed.home.blog/blog-feed/

Laura Kreitler is a stay-at-home mom to three kids, two boys and a girl, upper elementary age, in the Gulf Coast region of Florida. She has been a foster and adoptive parent who volunteered with crisis pregnancy centers and online Bible studies.

We often hear Satan’s lies telling us we’re not enough, not doing “it” right, not…. Fill-in-the-blank. One of the best ways to fight those lies is to use God’s truth. Jesus even gives us this example in Luke 4 in the wilderness when he faces Satan. 

Memorizing God’s Word might seem tedious or something better for kids in Sunday School, but it can be a powerful tool to fight the lies, discover sin, and help us grow to be like Jesus.

In this episode learn: 

• Why memorizing scripture is important
• How to be consistent 
• How to invite our families 
• How to prepare for success 

Resources:

• Million Praying Moms
• OverACup Facebook Group
• Psalm 139 Memory Verse Resources (FREE)
• Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
• SHARPEN Your Sword Workshop 

Connect with Tara: 

Instagram Tara L. Cole 

Facebook - Tara L. Cole Writer

OverACup Community Facebook Group

Sometimes we go through times of brokenness due to sickness and death. When we go through those seasons of loss, Sara reminds us that we can grieve differently. We have hope because of Jesus! 

Here she helps us learn how to champion hope and gives practical ways to live out that hope! I just loved talking to her and hearing her intentional, practical, loving approach to remembering our loved ones in special ways.

In this episode learn how: 

• To be a hope champion
• To remember and celebrate loved ones
• To identify and process grief 
• To connect with God during times of grief 
• To help our children through times of grief

Resources

• Sacred Pathways for Kids
• PodcastHer
• Hope Writers
• Made for Hope: Discovering Unexpected Gifts in Brokeness
• Made for Hope Bible Study
• Jesus Storybook Bible
• Jess Tree Ornaments 
• Bible Trivia Cards  

Follow Sara on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SaraRWardAuthor/

 Instagram @sararward, Twitter @sararward, https://sararward.com

To find out about Sara’s new Bible study and to get free Bible study resources, go to SaraRWard.com.

To listen to her podcast, Made For Hope, to your favorite podcast app or here to learn more: https://sararward.com/made-for-hope-podcast/

Do you sit down to a family Bible study and your kids roll their eyes? Do they wiggle and run around when you try to read devotional? 

We know that getting our kids into God’s presence is essential to helping them develop a lifetime of faith, but we worry when they resist and struggle. God doesn’t want us to be anxious. He gives us hope! 

In this episode learn how to: 

• Ask God for his help
• Focus on Jesus ourselves
• Invite our Kids into Jesus’ presence

Resources

• NIV Dramatized Bible 
• Canva Graphic software
• OverACup Facebook Community
• Psalm 139 Memory Verse Starter Pack

Connect with Tara: 

Instagram Tara L. Cole 

Facebook - Tara L. Cole Writer

OverACup Community Facebook Group

Do you struggle to find time with God in the middle of your crazy, busy life? Are you running on fumes and wondering if there is hope for a deep relationship with God? 

There is! Join Christie Thomas and me as we discuss how to deepen your relationship with God even during the business of life. 

In this episode:

• Learn creative ways to read the Bible
• Discover how prayer can be a lifesaver 
• Get permission to be flexible 

Resources

• Live Teaching with Christie and Tara: Thursday, Jan. 28th @ 7pm CST 
• Pray as You Go App
• Dwell App 
• YouVersion App
• Cultural Background Study Bible 
• One Year Chronological Bible 
• Dramatized NIV Bible 

Connect with Christie Thomas:

Christie Thomas lives in Alberta, Canada and is mom to 3 amazing boys. She is the author of Quinn’s Promise Rock and Quinn Says Goodbye, and loves to help Christian moms nurture deep faith roots in their kids through her online work at littleshootsdeeproots.com. Her favorite thing to do with her boys is read good stories and do wacky science experiments.

Start Little Guide 

https://www.littleshootsdeeproots.com

https://www.facebook.com/ChristieThomasLittleShoots

https://www.instagram.com/littleshootsdeeproots/

https://www.pinterest.ca/cthomaswriter/

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions or goals to spend time with God? Have you tried it before and struggled to be consistent and show up? 

Me too! In the ever-changing seasons of life, it can be hard to find what works in my time with Jesus and be consistent in it. This week’s episode is all about helping us make a plan and show up for our quiet time with Jesus. Join me! 

In this episode, learn how to:

1. Find your why
2. Where to start 
3. Make it tiny
4. When to do it
5. Prep your space
6. Celebrate your success! 

Resources

• Psalm 139 Bookmark Reading Plan
• First 5 App
• YouVersion App
• Abide: 40 Ways to Focus on Jesus Daily
• OverACup Facebook group
• Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg

Connect with Tara: 

Instagram Tara L. Cole 

Facebook - Tara L. Cole Writer

OverACup Community Facebook Group