There’s a simple action you can take that has profound theological and neurological significance in your household… smile. Jay shares the correlation between smiling and the blessing of God from Numbers 6. A core facet of God’s blessing upon his people was the shining face of God looking upon them. In a similar way, we bless the members of our household simply by looking at them and giving our smile.    In this episode Jay goes on a scriptural journey to explain the concept of the smile of God and then turns to the neurological benefits of training a child with our smile. If you want a simple way to build attachment, lower stress, and increase security in your home, look your family members in the face and smile!   Resources mentioned:  What’s in a Smile https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/ Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!  

Ep. 347: Smile

A weekly podcast designed to strengthen your marriage, parenting, and personal relationship with Jesus. Let&#39;s Parent on Purpose is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Kids & Family

Parenting

What do you do when you and your children experience intense personal loss, like the unexpected death of a loved one? Eliza Huie helps us walk through a series of questions that parents wrestle with as they try to process shock and grief while also helping their children deal with tragedy. 
 Listen as Eliza answers the following questions from Jay:How can parents shepherd their children through intense personal loss?How can they do this while also dealing with the loss themselves?What are normal feelings and emotions that go along with trauma.What might counseling to do help. How do you know if counseling is appropriate? How soon after the loss?
 
 In crisis we have (psychological needs):The Activation of the BodyThe Activation of the Mind and EmotionsThe Activation of the Soul
 
 What does a person in crisis need? (relational needs):What determines if a crisis situation results in long-term trauma?What are the essential characteristics of a helper in these situations?
 
 A plan for what’s ahead (situational needs):First few daysFirst 1-3 weeksFour weeks and beyond
 Powered by Christian Parenting 
 About Eliza Huie 
 Eliza Huie is the director of counseling at McLean Bible Church located invthe Washington D.C. metro area. She is the Dean of Biblical Counseling for Metro Baltimore Seminary in Maryland. She and her husband Ken have been married for almost 30 years and they have 3 grown children and a lovely daughter-in-law. 
 Resources mentioned: 
 Biblical Virtual Counseling Resource: 
 Anchored Hope Counseling – https://anchoredhope.co 
 
 Fieldstone Counseling – https://fieldstonecounseling.org 
 
 Christian Trauma Counseling – https://christiantraumacounseling.com 
 
 Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker 
 
 Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma13-4776.pdf 
 
 Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! 
 
 Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

Ep. 366: Grieving and Healing Through Intense Personal Loss with Eliza Huie

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. Download it here. 
 Research shows that the average adult makes over 35,000 decisions every day! We make a lot of choices, and many of our choices have a compounding effect as we repeat them day after day. Other choices are not as important but drain our energy. This week Jay shares insights on the power of pre-deciding in seven areas of your life that will have tremendous compound interest. Listen as Jay explains why you should: 
 1. Pre-decide when you are going to have your time with God each day. 
 2. Pre-decide when you are going to bed and when you are going to wake up as a normal habit.  
 3. Pre-Decide your default meals for breakfast and lunch.  
 4. Pre-decide your days and time to be a part of the church 
 5. Pre-decide your date nights 
 6. Pre-decide family dinner nights 
 7. Pre-decide to be proportionally generous 
 Powered by Christian Parenting 
 Resources mentioned: 
 The Greatest Choices of Strategic Leaders: https://go.roberts.edu/leadingedge/the-great-choices-of-strategic-leaders 
 Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! 
 Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

Ep. 365: The Power of Pre-Deciding

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. Download it here. 
 The parenting journey is filled with seasons of life, and each one has unique opportunities as well as real experiences of longing and loss. There is a real temptation to focus on what we are missing with the fantasy that life will be complete if we get “that next thing”. 
 I’m joined today by my friend Rita Diapoules, who shares her testimony of coming to Christ through a period of loss and longing. We talk about finding contentment and identity in Christ and not our careers. Rita also shares ways we can be specifically intentional in the mundane days of parenting, especially when we are tempted to feel that our career would offer more validation. Ultimately, our discussion is an encouragement to mirror the Apostle Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 
 Powered by Christian Parenting 
 Bio Rita Diapoules is the wife of Mark, mother of two beautiful girls, and Children’s Ministry Director at Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church. Before serving at Covenant Fellowship, Rita spent more than a decade as an elementary school teacher, earning Teacher of the Year at Palm City Elementary.  
 Resources mentioned: 
 Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! 
 Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

Ep. 365: Making the Most of this Season of Life with Rita Diapoules

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. Download it here.   What does it mean to walk in the Spirit and live in the Spirit? This week I am joined by Dr. Don Love for a walk through Galatians 5 and a discussion of the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer. We talk about how to discern the will of God in your life, ways that the Lord might be speaking to you, and the importance of the statement “God’s will is found in God’s Word.” You will learn the difference between the gifts of the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit and how this understanding can be transformational in your marriage and parenting. Finally, Don leads us in a time of prayer to seek the Lord’s guidance on each aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit in our own lives.   Powered by Christian Parenting   Bio Dr. Don Love is the director of Pray Through It and the host of the weekly podcast Unquenchable: Biblical Theology, Listening Prayer, and Christian Living. You can find out more and interact with Dr. Love at www.praythroughit.com   Resources mentioned:    Episode 341: Inner Healing Through Prayer with Dr. Don Love   www.praythroughit.com   Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!   Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/    

Ep. 364: The Fruit of the Spirit with Dr. Don Love

**Be sure to check out our new discussion guide to help you make the most out of this episode. >> https://bit.ly/3Hilh2R Character changes destiny, and character changes culture. Dr. Kathy Koch helps define the core character qualities we want to instill in our children to help them honor Christ, even when no one is looking. As we learn to parent for character instead of outward obedience, we begin to raise children who will change their culture. Listen today as Jay and Dr. Kathy discuss:   •   The definition of character, and the vital importance of training for gratitude, joy, and self-efficacy.   •   How to cast vision in your children to be culture changers instead of just rule followers.   •   The definition of joy and the dangers of comparison and unrealistic expectations.   •   The way technology teaches us to live entitled and the wisdom of limiting choices.   •   Why “choice” is one of the most powerful words a parent can use. Powered by Christian Parenting   Bio Dr. Kathy Koch is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids, Inc., and a child development specialist. She is also the author of seven bestselling parent-child enrichment books including her latest book, Parent Differently: Raise Kids with Biblical Character that Changes Culture.    Resources mentioned:  www.celebratekids.com   Parent Differently: Raise Kids with Biblical Character that Changes Culture   Screens and Teens   Start with the Heart   Eight Great Smarts   No More Perfect Kids   Resilient Kids   Five to Thrive   Facing the Dark Podcast   Dr. Kathy Says Podcast   Celebrate Kids Podcast   Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook!   Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive though the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/  

Ep. 347: Smile

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