I'm a lot of things as a mom that I never thought I would be. A mom in a minivan is one of them. A messy minivan is another level! As I was uploading this episode, my daughter looked at the title and said, "Oh Mommy! You ARE the mom in the messy minivan! No offense!" Leave to kids to speak the truth!

Are you like me and do you ever look at other moms on social media or in your friend group and feel like you aren’t doing enough because you aren’t doing all

Do you get caught in this trap too?  I know I can’t be the only one!  I often find myself beating myself up because I’m not like Suzie who camps with her kids, does crafts all day, and has a themed snack tray waiting after school every day.  

Today we are going to talk about how to turn this mindset around and step into our giftings as moms. The good news is that you weren’t meant to be like all the other moms.  You were meant to be exactly who you are!!

KEY VERSE

1 Corinthians 12;4-11

There are different kinds of spiritual

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the

If you need prayer, please email me at [email protected].  I would be honored to pray for you as you

Do you have 5 minutes? Bend an ear and take a listen...Have you ever been in a season where your home doesn’t feel peaceful?  Maybe your kids are constantly fighting.  Maybe the winter weather has everyone a little more snappy than usual. Maybe your spouse is stressed at work, and things just feel harder at home. 

Whatever it is, GOD KNOWS and cares about what’s going on in your heart and home.

So how do we work through seasons or days when peace has been or is rocky?  Today I’m going to share with you how I have been working through this tricky season in my home recently. You aren’t alone in the struggle.

 Key Verses:

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

John 14:27-Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

If you need prayer, please email me at [email protected].  I would be honored to pray for you. 

Come out, come out wherever you are! Are you a hider?  Do you tend to hide when you are

We are called to live differently.  Today in 5 minute moments for moms, I am

KEY VERSES:

Hebrews 4:16  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,

Colossians 3:3 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly

If you need prayer, please reach out to me at [email protected]

The truth is...we all speak to ourselves in a way we would never speak to a treasured friend. Have you seen the movie Mean Girls?  It was one of my favorite movies in a different season in life!! 

 Today I am going to get really real with you about my inner mean girl, what she says to me, and how I am learning (note: I say LEARNING) to battle her well.  Jesus came and made us IN HIS IMAGE.  It's important we fight this battle so that we can teach our children to do the same.  It's time to start TALKING to ourselves the way God intended us to.  He made us to LOVE who we were created to be, but too often, we speak to ourselves in a way that would grieve the heart of our Creator. 

Come take a journey with me as I share some very real thoughts I battle and how you can fight yours!

KEY VERSES:

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

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.

Isaiah 26:3-4, NLT You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

For prayer, please email [email protected].  I would be honored to pray with you and for you. 

You are loved...start talking to yourself like it! 

Sometimes it is really hard to trust God.  Especially when you keep praying for things that seem like they would be an easy YES for God! Maybe you've lost a child, suffered miscarriage, lost a spouse or a job, and you just struggle with having faith that God is good or even listening during the hard times.  Maybe He feels like He's not listening and He's gone radio silent.

In this episode, I am going to share with you a situation that changed my whole perspective on why God sometimes may be silent or not answer our prayers.  I felt like in this hard situation, I got a glimpse into heaven and an eternal perspective when hard things come my way.  In this case, God saved my child's life by not answering my prayers and allowing me to go through a hard situation. 

We can trust that God is good.  He loves us, our children, and our spouses more than we do.  He is in control and can be trusted even when we don't understand.  His rejection just may be for your protection and His glory and good.  

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

If you are dealing with a hard situation and need prayer to trust God just need someone to pray for you, please email me at thegracefilledlifepodcast.com.  My prayer team and I would love to pray with you and for you. 

Have you ever woken up just feeling sad, mad, or frustrated?  Maybe a situation happened IN your day, and you just can't get out of the funk.  Today in 5 Minute Moments for Moms, I share with you a few simple tools that I use to turn my day around.  

As someone who has struggled with depression at different moments or seasons (hello winter!) in my life, sometimes life feels heavy and hard the days feel long.  Here is a simple way to turn around your day. 

TURN your environment around. Choose praise instead of despair. 

For prayer or encouragement, please email me at [email protected]. 

Psalm 119:25, 28, 31-32

 My soul clings to the dust;

-

My soul melts away for sorrow;

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I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;

Psalm 147:1

Praise the LORD!

We've all been there.  You know those moments where you hope no one randomly was about to ring your doorbell.  Those moments we aren't proud of as parents because we acted out of our sinfulness more than out of God's grace.  I've had many moments in my parenting where I realized that I shouldn't have said "that" or used "that" tone....and usually a lot of guilt follows.  

However, what I have learned is that the REPAIR is often more important that what ever was said.  The way we repair with our kids when we have blown it (or they have blown it) is a powerful way for them to understand the love of God for when they mess up too. 

In this episode, I am going to share with you how we have made saying "I'm sorry" a normal thing. I also will share my process for helping my children repent with each other too.  

There's always grace for when we mess up, and our children don't need our perfection.  They need a perfect Savior, and our mess ups are an opportuity to point them to the one who will never fail them. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 8:11 “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Our Process:

Listen to the nudge (that’s the Holy Spirit)

Ask for specific forgiveness

Teach eye contact

Go and sin no more

For prayer, please email me at [email protected].  You are loved. 

In these short episodes that I am calling 5 Minute Moments for Moms, I hope that you can find encouragement and hope in the middle of mamahood.  Today's episode speaks to those who feel weary (and I know we all have!), and I share a very real story of how I work through the weary days that I experience as a mom.  If I'm being honest, I feel weary more days than not in some seasons of life, but there is good news and grace in the midst of those days.

I hope you leave feeling encouraged and know you are not alone!  For prayer or to connect with Margo, please email [email protected]. 

Key Verses:

Nehemiah 8:10

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?

Isaiah 40:31 ESV

"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

Galatians 6:9

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Story time...and it's a messy one...no really...things got messy!  Come join me today for a story...of my most epic mom fail to date.  Ironically, it happened a year ago to the day of when this episode was published! 

One of my biggest goals in starting this podcast was to let mamas and women know that we are NOT alone in our mess ups!! Perfection is unrealistic, and we will make mistakes...and grace awaits us through it all and on the other side of whatever we fell short in. 

Come join me today for a good laugh and leave feeling less alone and probably better about yourself as a mom.  HA! 

Enjoy!!

Would you take a moment and send an epic mom fail to me at [email protected]? I'd love to share your story so that other mamas can know we are not alone in the reality of this beautifully messy journey of motherhood!  

Ugh, life sure does know how to interrupt when we have a good thing going, right?!  It seems that just when we get a good rhythm of spending time with God, the baby gets sick or we get sick or we travel or..."you insert your life craziness here".  I had someone recently say to me, "how do you stay consistent in your time with God?'  

Well, let me tell you that there is good news....good habits die hard...and I've created a habit of my time with God that keeps me coming back consistently.  Am I always perfect? Um....no....come join me in the podcast today as I share about how my last week has absolutely wrecked my consistent quiet time!!  BUT I've built a habit and leaned into grace so that no matter what life throws my way, I find my way back!! 

Today I will share with you all my practical tips and tricks for creating a consistent and meaningful quiet time with God! Let's lean in together! 

If you need prayer, please email me at [email protected] and I would love to pray for you!! 

Galatians 4:6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

1 Corinthians 6:12

Romans 12:2