The Mom Next Door: Stories of Faith

Joy's exposure to p*rn in fifth grade and a traumatic college experience created a burden and contributed to trapping her in a cycle of shame. But through God's grace, Joy discovered a path to freedom and healing.

Today, Joy opens up about overcoming shame and destructive habits, addressing the lack of conversation around women's struggles with pornography within church communities. Her insights, drawn from surveying over 1,000 Christian women, reveal how understanding God's design for sexuality and fostering intimacy with Him and a supportive community can lead to profound transformation.

Find her on Instagram @JoySkarka.

The book, "Her Freedom Journey" is available on Amazon (affiliate link)

Also mentioned in this episode:

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures by Kristen Jensen

God, Sex and Your Marriage by Dr. Juli Slattery

Authentic Intimacy (ministry)

Birds_Bees on Instagram

Java With Juli podcast

Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Facebook

Other podcasts on this topic:

#187 Overcoming Shame with Teresa Whiting

#184 Faith in Crisis: Confronting a Partner's Pornography Addiction with Jody Allen

#156 Resilient, Renewed, Remade with Ruth Hovsepian

Through heartfelt anecdotes and personal stories, Jennifer Henn reveals how a serious health crisis became an unexpected catalyst for her children’s independence, and the grace-filled lessons learned through mistakes along the way. Jennifer will also share about her homeschool home, driven by love and desire to provide a more personalized education.

If you are parenting teens or considering the long-term character training and education of your younger children, we think this episode will give you much food for thought.

To connect with Jennifer, head over to her website

JenniferHenn.com

To learn more about home education, check out Jennifer's book (affiliate link) Take the Mystery Out of Homeschooling.

#launchingwell #raisingadults #parentingteens #homeschoolhighschool #homeschoolbasics #charactertraining #lifelessons

This week, Maureen Miller shares her journey from feeling like an outsider to accepting God's healing and purpose for her life. Once facing the hardship of infertility, Maureen shares how prayer and trust led her on a divine path to embrace adoption. Her story of grace and strength unfolds through powerful experiences, like the transformative vision that directed her to freedom and learning to align her desires with God's will. Maureen's story beautifully portrays the blessing of community and friendship, the strength in solitude, and the unwavering support of Jesus through life's trials.

You can read more about Maureen on her website PenningPansies.com or on Facebook @Maureen Miller

She is also in the Tending Fields Mom's Group on FB.

Check out the books that Maureen and Pam have contributed to:

Life in the Estrogen Free Zone

Renewed Christmas Blessings

Her new book honoring adoption will be coming out in the spring of 2025 be looking for Gideon's Book.

A resource that was mentioned today: Bravelove.org

A few podcasts you may enjoy....

#200 Practical Prayer for Busy Moms- Janet McHenry

#185 Spiritual Intentionality - Sarah Frazer

#181 Instant Parenthood - Kristi Bridges

#174 Finding Strength in Motherhood - Betty Predmore

#163 Living With Purpose - Kim Cusimano

#118 Unconditional Love for Women in Crisis- Suzanne Burns

#111 Fostering a Legacy of Love - Dusti Stark

#96 Mothering From the Overflow - Jesse Faris

#faithjourney #prayerlife #adoptionstory #communitysupport #spiritualgrowth #womensfriendship #trustingGod #healinginChrist #honoringbirthmothers

Laine Lawson Craft is a mother who intimately understands the trials of parenting prodigal children. Laine shares her journey through heartache and hope, marked by her experiences with her sons who faced destructive choices, and offers a message of encouragement to parents facing similar struggles. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, maintaining unconditional love, and the power of persistent prayer.

Connect with Laine on IG @LaineLawsonCraft and at her website @LaineLawsonCraft.com

Make sure you subscribe to her podcast Warfare Parenting

The Parent's Battle Plan can be purchased on Amazon (affiliate link)

Join Pam and the community of friends on Facebook at Tending Fields Mom's Group.

Some other episodes on this topic:

#71 Hurting Moms, Mending Hearts Cathy Taylor

#83 Prodigal Parenting with Amy Oberg

#104 Spiritual Warfare, Be Prepared with Ruth Wagnell

#115 Living Far Above with Denise Warnick

#130 Parenting Adult Children with Teresa Janzen

#169 Mending Generational Wounds with Blythe Daniel

#prodigalparenting #christianparenting #boundariesandprayer #unconditionallove #godhasredeemed #newlifeinchrist

In this heartfelt episode of "The Mom Next Door: Stories of Faith," we sit down with Lynne Leppard from New Zealand. Lynne, an adoptee, shares her personal journey of discovering her roots and the impact it had on her life. Growing up with questions about her identity, Lynne sought to connect with her birth family, navigating the complexities of sealed records and family histories. Her story is one of faith, family, and finding a place to belong.

Connect with her on Facebook at Lynne Leppard Author

or on Instagram @ Road_to_Belonging

Her full story, Road to Belonging is available through my Amazon affiliate link or from Torn Curtain Publishing.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Vision Writer's Conference

The Power of Writing it Down by Allison Fallon (affiliate link)

No matter what time zone you are in, you can chat with Pam, Lynne and our mom friends over on Facebook at Tending Fields Mom's Group.

You can also connect with Pam on IG @TendingFields

#kiwifarmer #NZauthor #newzealandauthor #adoptionstory #adoptee #belonging #attachment #security #knownbygod

As a passionate advocate for faith integration into family life, Beth Meverden recounts how God led her from her own college years to discovering her purpose in guiding young believers. With valuable insights, she unveils strategies to combat the alarming trend of teens drifting from faith post-high school, urging parents to be the primary spiritual mentors.

You will find many resources available to you at

BethMeverden.com including the free Discipleship Map

and the Testimony Interview to enjoy with your community.

Find Beth on YouTube at Beth Meverden

Train Your Child website and on Facebook at Beth Meverden

Check out Church(ing)Kids on Amazon (affiliate link)

As always, you can find Pam on IG @ TendingFields and we would love for you to join us in the Facebook community, Tending Fields Mom's Group.

#humbleparenting #churchingkids #spiritualtraining #trainupachild #christianparenting #christianmom #deuteronomysix

From the magical escapism of childhood fantasies to Christian-inspired storytelling, Ruth opens up about how her faith journey intertwined with her passion for writing and art. Once distanced from her faith during college, she recounts her reconnection inspired by figures like RC Sproul, influencing her renowned "Dragon Forest" series. With tales of self-discovery and bravery, Ruth's narratives invite readers to explore themes of redemption and moral complexity, casting dragons in new, thoughtful lights.

Connect with Ruth at Artbyruth.com

On IG @author_ra_douthitt FB @Author Ruth Douthitt

Make sure to check out her podcasts:

A Writer's Day and Broken Vessels Mended by God

Some of her books (Affiliate links)

Seek Him- Prayer Journal

Dragon Forest Trilogy

The White Wolf

The Road to Home

Another mention in this episode:

Wolf Soldier by James Hannibal

Highlighting another podcast for mama's in the next season of life: Finding Purpose In the Empty Nest

Join Pam's Facebook Community at Tending Fields Mom's Group

#dragonsforkids #dragontales #fantasynovels #christianfiction #goodvsevil #visualart #booksforkids

Laurie Devernoe reveals the layers of her faith journey, from navigating motherhood with triplet girls and a son, to confronting the depths of her anxiety, Laurie recounts how compartmentalizing her relationship with God initially kept Him out of her worries. But as the burdens of life mounted, she realized the power of inviting Him into every aspect of her life.

Relating her experience to the parable of the prodigal son, Laurie uncovers the profound truth that faith is not transactional but a grace-led journey of daily renewal.

Join Laurie as she reflects on how cultivating faith within her family has transformed her spiritual path, emphasizing grace as daily manna. Discover Laurie's powerful message on embracing God's unconditional love and guidance amidst life's chaos, offering solace and empowerment for every listener.

Find her at LaurieDevernoe.com and on Facebook @CoffeeHouseParenting and over on Instagram@CoffeeHouseParenting

Be sure to get her book Seeing Through the Darkness

(Affiliate link)

Also check out the kids media we mentioned... oldies but goodies!

Miss Patty Cake

Bibleman

Donut Man

Veggie Tales

Another related episode with very practical insight to raising followers of Christ: Interview with LeeAnn Mancini

Join Pam's community on Facebook at Tending Fields Mom's Group

#graceeveryday #anxiet#faithjourney yandfaith #familydevotions #jesusdate #spiritualgrowth #parentingwithfaith #faithoverfear #faithisactive #listentoscripture #graceforyou

In today's episode, our host Pam Fields is joined by Liz Tolsma, a mother of three adopted children, including one, who has physical and intellectual disabilities. Together, they delve into the profound challenges and blessings of raising a child with special needs, discussing the nuances of teaching faith, finding church support, and integrating into communities. Liz shares the strength and reliance on faith that have guided her family's journey, revealing their unique life path and the joy it brings despite its challenges.

She touches on the emotional aspects of adoption, the integral support from family and friends, and the distinct value each individual brings to the world, echoing themes of compassion, hope, and resilience.

Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or a member of a faith community, join us as we explore heartfelt stories, reflect on life's unexpected lessons, and challenge societal perceptions of worth. Let these stories inspire, encourage, and deepen your own faith journey.

Find Liz at LizTolsma.com on IG@AuthorLizTolsma or on Facebook @LizTolsma Her podcast is called,

Christian Historical Fiction Talk

Here's the (affiliate) link to one of her books,

What I Left For You

Make sure to connect with Pam and friends on Facebook at Tending Fields Mom's Group or, on IG@TendingFields

#foreverchild #noemptynest #faithjourney #specialneeds #communitysupport #adoptionstory #churchinclusion #historicalfiction #hopeandfaith

Joan reflects on life's trials that have strengthened her reliance on God. Her story embodies faith amidst adversity, beginning with her early dreams and evolving through life's hardest moments, including a painful divorce and the journey to rediscover her identity in Christ.

Today, Joan uses her experience to advocate for biblical values and protect our children through her writing and public speaking. In this episode, she discusses her upcoming children's book series, "Cornerstone Concepts for Kids," and shares how faith sustained her through darkness. Joan encourages mothers and grandmothers to find strength in God and shine as a light.

Joan's website JoanCBenson.com

Instagram @JoanCBenson

Facebook @JoanC Benson

Check out Joan's books: (Amazon affiliate links)

Using these affiliate links helps keep this podcast going.

His Gift

Cornerstone Series:

God's ABC's

Let's Be One

Wonder of Life

Who Am I?

You can connect with Pam on Instagram @TendingFields

and on Facebook in the Tending Fields Mom's Group

#FaithJourney #ProLifeAdvocate #AdoptionStories #BiblicalParenting #UnexpectedBlessings #TrustInGod #ChristianBooks #growinfaith