In this episode, I am joined by Melissa Smith, who willingly shares her vulnerable testimony, to discuss and share what biblical wifehood and biblical submission means. We tackle what the world think's submission means/how skewed it has become and we combat it with God's Word. We talk about what it means to be a helpmate to our husbands. Melissa shares a REALLY cool thing she did for a year to help her mindset shift towards her husband (take a listen to find out!!!). I firmly believe this will encourage each one of us mamas, in love, to look at our marriage and check our hearts to see if we are honoring, respecting and submitting to our husbands according to His Word. Melissa is a HUGE champion of coming along side women who have been through abuse of any type in marriage and I strongly encourage you to reach out to Melissa if you have any questions, prayer requests or need of advice on what to do in difficult situations. We love you all and are praying for you!

Connect with Melissa:

Melissa Smith | Godly Wife & Biblical Submission Encouragement (@missiannsmith) | Instagram

Melissa Smith link in bio (canva.com)

Email: [email protected]

Connect with me:

𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞 || 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 (@katielruga) | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Mamas - I hope and pray this episode encourages you. God's grace is so indescribable. The definition of grace is : God's favor toward the unworthy or undeserving. In God's grace - He was willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly in spite of the fact that we don't deserve to be treated so well and dealt with so generously. Wow. God's grace changes us. God's pours out His grace when we mess up. As we receive and acknowledge God's grace we are more willing to pour out HIS grace on our kids. I pray pray pray this encourages you mamas as it did for me. I love you mamas! Reach out to me if you want to chat.

Parenting Book by Paul David Tripp:

Instagram

Alicia is a mama of four children and is very passionate about the Lord, encouraging mamas in the Lord, and teaching God's Word to her children. Alicia shares how the battles we face in this world is not against flesh and blood which is why it is so important that us mamas know the Word of God and that we are teaching it to our children for them to fight and be strong as well. We talk about seeking Him in our day to day lives and how important it is to be in the Word every day. Alicia shares practical wisdom and advice on HOW to teach God's Word to our children. She shares about how her children have applied God's Word in real life situations. Take a listen to see how it turned out (it brought me to tears)!! Mamas, we pray this encourages you to get in the Word daily and also have the burning passion to teach God's Word to your children and equip them with His Word. We love you and are praying for you!!

Connect with Alicia:

https://linktr.ee/inspirationalmomlife

https://www.instagram.com/inspirationalmomlife/

https://www.facebook.com/inspirationalmomlife

Connect with Me:

https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

https://www.facebook.com/katie.potter.169

[email protected]

This is one of the most richest conversations I have had. In this episode you will hear Kari and I chat about the Gospel. The bad news and good news. We discuss how the Gospel transforms. The Gospel impacts and changes us mamas and our children. We never outgrow the Gospel. Kari shares a very important piece of advice and encouragement for us mamas - focus on our children's hearts. We need to be living, believing, and reading the Gospel over and over. I KNOW that if you take a listen you will be spurred on to preach the Gospel to yourself and your children. Y'all it's so powerful. We love you mamas and are praying for you! If you haven't confessed Jesus as Your Lord and Savior or you have questions please reach out to Kari or I. We would love to chat with you and pray with you.

Connect with Kari:

https://www.instagram.com/kari.hafeli/

https://linktr.ee/karihafeli

Connect with Katie:

https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

[email protected]

In this episode you will hear 3 Common Power Tools that parents fall into when they are trying to "control" their children: Fear, Reward/Bribery, Guilt/Shame. I'm focusing the most on fear based parenting. WHAT I'M NOT SAYING: We should ignore the sin in our children. We shouldn't have a healthy fear of the Lord (reverence for who He is and His power). We shouldn't discipline our children. We shouldn't correct them. WHAT I AM SAYING: HOW are we dealing with sin in our children? Is our discipline, or our want for control, fueled by anger, fear, screaming/yelling, bribery/rewards, threats, shame or guilt? Are you physically, emotionally, or spiritually being too harsh with your children? HOW are you teaching them to obey, respect, honor God and you? I encourage you to teach them in the Word. I encourage you to use self control and surrender. I encourage you to step back and take a deep look at your parenting. WHY do you want them to obey? Because they physically fear you, because you have made them feel so guilty and full of shame, because you have bribed them with rewards? Because you want constant control over them and their hearts? I pray that all of us mamas desire our children to obey us and more importantly God because they LOVE us and TRUST us (both us and God).

Fathers, don't exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord - Ephesians 6:4.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Ephesians 6:9.

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:9-11

This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 2 John 1:6.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.

References: Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp. Thecourage.com. godlyparent.com. notconsumed.com The Word of God.

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.potter.169/

Email: [email protected]

Do you struggle to find joy in motherhood? My guest, Lily Freeman, shares her testimony and how she has come to find joy in motherhood. It is raw, beautiful and such an encouragement. She shares about her 4 boys, her 4 babies in heaven, her postpartum experience, and more. Lily has had to walk through some very difficult things and she shares real moments where the Lord met her in these dark times. Through all of these difficult times Lily has truly found joy in the suffering and in the Lord. She shares that TRUE joy is everlasting - not just a feeling but only found in Jesus. She shares TIPS on how to find joy in motherhood. She shares about her grandma who sang hymns while doing the dishes. It will bring you to tears and also encourage your soul. Her joy with her children spills out and you can just tell that this is a woman of God who has walked with Jesus through trials and tribulations and that she is truly thankful for her children and for the joy the Lord has given her. One of the verses she shares is Hebrews 12:2 - fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the JOY set before Him He endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. We love you mamas and pray this encourages you!!!

Connect with Lily:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrslilyfree/

Website: @mrslilyfree | Linktree

Connect with Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.potter.169

Email: [email protected]

In this episode, you will hear Katie Grimm, my guest, share about a trial her family went through specifically with her daughter Sophia. Sophia was diagnosed at 11 months with Leukemia. Katie shares the testimony of God's faithfulness through all of the hard times. She shares how she got to a point of surrender as well with Sophia knowing she belongs to God and she can trust Him. Take a listen to hear how Sophia is doing today. We pray this encourages mom's who have gone through very difficult trials with their children or are currently walking through cancer, disease or any other illness with their children. God is the God of all Comfort and I thank Katie for being willing to share her testimony to comfort others. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5). I pray you feel the Lord's nearness as well. The Lord is near the brokenhearted (The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18). Love you mamas and praying for you!

To get connected with Katie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livekleanwithkatie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.wilson.583

To connect with me:

https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

https://www.facebook.com/katie.potter.169/

[email protected]

In this episode, I talk about living surrendered lives in our life and surrendering to God's will over our children's lives. I share about postpartum experience and my twin girlies arrival. We could have lost Zoey in the NICU (which I did not share about) and that was also a time of surrender for us because we could do nothing to save her. We had to pray and trust God. Even through ALL of the trials that we have walked through God always works everything for good. I talk about how our children belong to Him. We can trust Him. He loves them and us. I pray this encourages, comforts, and if needed it puts a fire under you to treasure your children even more. I want to say I am so sorry to the mamas that have lost a child. I can't speak on that. I pray the God of Comfort overwhelms you with peace, comfort and love. I wanted to finish with a quote from Tim Keller, "If Jesus Christ is raised from the dead, it's going to be okay, you can wipe your tears, you don't stop crying, but you can wipe your tears because if Jesus Christ is raised from the dead, and He was, you are going to be okay." I love you mamas and I am praying for you. If you are walking through a trial right now and you would like prayer please reach out to me. If you have stories to share please tell me.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.potter.169/

Email: [email protected]

In this episode you will hear Jen and I discuss how easy it is to fall into the comparison trap and how to overcome comparison between us women in the power of the Holy Spirit. The enemy would rather of us sisters in Christ divided or tearing each other down. Even staying silent (or withholding our encouraging words) when we see another woman following the Lord is damaging. I share the verse Romans 12:15: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Jen shares Psalm 139 (when we are rooted in who we are we are far less likely to tear other women down). We can overcome this by hiding God's Word in our hearts and minds, keeping our eyes on Jesus, praying for one another, saying encouraging and edifying things to each other and more. Jen shares a lot of verses to encourage us and an AWESOME phrase that I LOVE to help overcome comparison (around the 21 minute marker). Shoot me a message on Instagram, FB, or email and tell me what you think it is. The final verse shared was Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We are all on TEAM JESUS doing His work for His glory. AMEN?!

Jen Kosuda's Links:

Blog/Website: www.theartofamessyhouse.com 

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/theartofamessyhouse

(Includes published books) 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofamessyhouse/

YouTube

https://youtube.com/@theartofamessyhouse 

Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-a-messy-house/id1677030475

Spotify Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/52ApyVUl51HMdsUjXgVFoR?si=y-1FlekWQXe1o7UjwW242g

My Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.potter.169/

Email: [email protected]

In this episode you will hear encouragement to obey what God has called YOU to do. Maybe it's homeschooling your kids, leading a Bible study, writing a book, starting a faith centered workout group - whatever it is - if He has called you to it, you better do it. Mamas, I say that lovingly because when we obey what God is asking us to do - it's beautiful and right. I talk about the passage in Ephesians 4 where Paul is talking about spiritual gifts (Christ gives spiritual gifts so that he may equip the church through all of the individuals as they exercise their gifts. According to this passage, when gifted individuals exercise their spiritual gifts, the church is built up to maturity in Christ Jesus). Romans 12 also talks about our gifts (We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully). God has given each one a spiritual gift and talents to use for HIS glory. How are you glorifying God with the gifts and talents He has given you? Have you stepped out in BOLDNESS in faith to obey something He has called you to do? It could be a road where many are encouraging you or it could be one where it seems no one cares. God cares. God sees. He is asking us to step out in faith and do what He has called us to do for HIM. Praying for you mamas, love you, and praying this encourages you to take the step or continue to take the steps in faith and boldness!

The link to the 4 part series of Jamie Winship on Identity (these are SO GOOD): https://subsplash.com/antiochbiblechurch/search?q=jamie%20winship

Please reach out to me! Let me know how YOU have obeyed God or let me know if I can pray for you as you prepare to take a big step of faith and obedience for God! I would love to chat.

Connect with me on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/katielruga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.potter.169/

Email: [email protected]