In light of our previous episode, which is all about the necessity of forgiving our fathers for any ways that they weren't who we needed them to be, we thought it would be helpful to talk a little bit about what forgiveness is and what it isn't.

Join us on this episode as we bring some clarity to what forgiveness is and is not, in the interest of helping our listeners experience the freedom that comes through forgiving others.

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In this episode, Brian and Katie discuss six different father types, and talk about the importance of forgiving our fathers for any ways that they weren't who we needed them to be in the interest of experiencing healing, freedom, and restoring our view of God.

Everything in our lives has the potential to influence what we think about God and the quality of His character. Everybody faces their own set of circumstances in life, and the challenge for us is to develop an unwavering belief that God is good, even when life is not.

While our beliefs about God are formed throughout our lifetime, there's a subconscious tendency that people who believe in the existence of God have to project the quality of their earthly father's character onto God as their Heavenly Father.

It's important to bring this to light, because who you believe God to be will determine how you approach Him, and it may play a role in determining the quality of your parenting.

Join Brian and Katie as they begin to unpack the idea that you may be projecting the image of your father onto God, and why that could be problematic.

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Raising kids is tough. They have both a mind and a will of their own, and when they don't do exactly what we want, it's easy to react with anger. The temptation for parents is to assume that our anger gives us power in our relationship, which is a fallacy, because true power doesn't look like controlling others, but controlling ourselves.

Join Brian and Katie as they expose the lie that anger is power while bringing biblical truth into the conversation.

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If something you believe is untrue, would you want to know?

In our relationships with others, and most likely with our kids, there are a few lies that we can easily fall into the trap of believing. It may not happen on a conscious level, but our beliefs have a way of showing up in the way we behave.

So, if you have the fruit, you have the root.

Join Brian and Katie as they discuss the commonly believed lie that "it's our job to control our kids," why this isn't true, and how to live in the balance of freedom and boundaries.

P.S.

We mentioned our children's book, What Does God Say About Me? - Click Here to learn more about it!

The meaning of self-control is as profound as it is simple. With it we're able to choose how we'll think, feel, and act towards other people. Without it, other people will be able to choose how we'll think, feel, and act towards them.

This week Brian and Katie Hess unpack the power of self-control, and how it brings with it the ability to love the way God loves.

Have you ever wondered why God created both the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? In this episode, we explore the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, and take a biblical look at God’s design for relationship, freedom, and the human will—and how it all connects to the way we lead and love our kids.

You’ll learn:

• Why the existence of love requires the freedom to make a choice

• The deeper meaning behind the two trees in the Garden of Eden

• How God parents us through love, not force

• Why true obedience only grows in the soil of connection

Check out our children's book, What Does God Say About Me? Declarations for Kids, From A-Z

Words have power — not just emotionally, and spiritually, but neurologically. In this episode, we explore how the words we use impacts brain development, emotional connection, and relational safety. Whether you're a parent, spouse, educator, or friend, understanding the science of words can transform how you communicate and connect.

In this episode we covered:

• The forming of neural pathways

• How words affect our relational connection

• How to repair relational bonds when our words are damaging

• Why our day-to-day language matters more than we think

Click here to check out our children's book, What Does God Say About Me; Declarations for Kids, from A - Z

The shift that needs to happen in the life of every Christian is from worship of self to worship of God.

The values that the culture of the world is built upon are inwardly focused and selfish. By default, the world will teach you to be the lord of your own life and seek the fulfillment of your desires.

The values of God's Kingdom, on the other hand, are outwardly focused, seeking to love and serve others. Life in God's Kingdom will lead to the lordship of Jesus.

Join Brian and Katie as they continued the conversation on discipleship and why we need to be reoriented from the ways and values of the world toward those of Jesus and His Kingdom.

It's one thing to view Jesus as your Savior. It's another thing to view Him as your Lord. To accept Him as our Savior is to trust Him with what happens when we die. But to allow Him to be our Lord means trusting Him with what happens while we live.

Join Brian and Katie Hess as they continue the conversation on both the importance and general lack of discipleship to Jesus in many churches and homes today, and why we must be intentional in our pursuit of formation in Christ.