The Warrior Mama Podcast

Welcome back to the kitchen table. Bethany, drawing from her own experiences raising daughters, knows how challenging the teenage years can be for both moms and their daughters. The transition from middle school to high school often brings a whirlwind of emotions, from excitement to apprehension. Understanding these dynamics, Sandra Stanley and her daughter, Allie, have created a resource to help mothers and daughters strengthen their connection, communication, and faith.

In today’s episode, Bethany sits down with Sandra and Allie to delve into their new book, Meet Me in the Middle. This book offers an approach by alternating chapters between Sandra and Allie, creating a dialogue that speaks directly to both moms and their teenage daughters. This format aims to facilitate meaningful conversations and address potential issues before they escalate, all from a faith-centered perspective.

Meet Me in the Middle explores themes of identity and the gospel, encouraging readers to build a strong personal and spiritual foundation. Sandra and Allie’s book is designed to foster deep connections and mutual understanding between mothers and daughters by engaging in conversations rooted in their shared faith.

Sandra and Allie’s heartfelt and practical advice can guide you through the complexities of the teenage years, offering valuable insights for building a supportive and open relationship. This book is a must-read for any mom or daughter navigating this pivotal stage of life.

Purchase Meet Me in the Middle

Connect with Sandra: https://www.instagram.com/sandrawstanley/

Connect with Allie: https://www.instagram.com/alliekaycooney/ Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Welcome back to the kitchen table. Many moms carry a deep hope that if they raise their children in faith, those children will naturally follow God as they grow older. But when a child begins to reject that faith, it can lead to heartbreak and confusion. 

In these moments, many turn to Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."It’s easy to cling to this verse as a promise, believing that if we do everything right, our children will never stray from the Holy Spirit.

But Proverbs 22:6 is not a guarantee—it’s wisdom. It teaches us the importance of instilling faith and values in our children, but it doesn’t assure us that they will always choose to stay on that path. This scripture has given Bethany direction and wisdom during times of uncertainty. It reminded her that her role is to train and guide her children with love and faithfulness. 

When we walk in wisdom, there is often fruit, but we must remember that each child is on their own journey. 

Training up a child in the way they should go is about laying a foundation. While we may not see the results we hope for immediately, we can trust that the wisdom we impart and the example we set will remain with them. 

Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Purchase the Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Welcome back to the kitchen table. As parents, it’s easy to fall into the routine of correction—pointing out what’s wrong and what needs to change. 

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 reminds us to come alongside our children with the heart of a loving parent, speaking the unique language of each child. It’s about seeing them as individuals, not just correcting their behavior, but offering the support they need in those moments.

Are we offering support and understanding, or are we merely passing judgment? Are we encouraging them to grow in their strengths and guiding them with a gentle hand, or are we focused on their shortcomings?

Take a moment today to ask God for guidance. Am I coming alongside my child in a way that honors their individuality? Am I speaking their language, offering not just correction, but also comfort and encouragement? Let this be the lens through which we view our role as parents, striving to reflect God’s love in every interaction.

Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Purchase the Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Welcome back to the kitchen table. Correcting our children is never easy, and it can be especially challenging to keep these moments centered on the gospel.

It’s easy to let frustration take over, but 1 Thessalonians 2:7 reminds us, "We were gentle among you." Spiritually, our children are still growing, we are called to be mindful of how we speak to them during times of discipline, ensuring our words are filled with grace and gentleness.

Being gentle doesn’t mean avoiding discipline, but it does mean being mindful of how we deliver it. Share your own struggles with your children. Admit your impatience, and acknowledge your imperfections. Let them see that you, too, are a sinner in need of grace.

 Share with them how Jesus is working on your heart, even in moments of correction. When our children see that we, too, are being transformed by the gospel, they’re more likely to understand the importance of these conversations

Welcome back to the kitchen table. As parents, we deeply desire for our children to follow Christ—not because it’s our family tradition, but because they genuinely understand their need for Him. 

In 1 Corinthians 2:5, Paul reminds us that our faith should rest "not on human wisdom, but on God’s power." This is the foundation we want to lay for our children.

We pray for our children to know God personally, to experience his love and power in their lives, and to develop a faith that grows independently of us. Our role as mothers is to lead them to Christ and then step aside, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts, so their faith rests on his power alone.

Welcome back to the kitchen table. This week, Bethany invites listeners into an important conversation: How do we have Jesus-centered conversations with our children effectively? And how do these conversations impact their understanding of who God is and how He sees them?

The truth is, the only way to make Jesus come alive in your children is if He is alive in you. Our kids don’t just need to hear about Jesus—they need to see Him in us. This means our conversations must be rooted in our connection with the Holy Spirit, allowing His wisdom to guide us in how we speak and relate to our children.

The first step is to recognize that our conversations about Jesus need to start with our own connection to him. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 reminds us that it’s not our own wisdom or strength that will make a difference, but the power of the Holy Spirit working through us.

When we connect with the Holy Spirit, we invite his wisdom and love into our conversations, allowing Jesus to come alive in us—and by extension, in our children. 

By making Jesus the center of our conversations and letting the Holy Spirit guide our words, we not only teach our children about God but also show them what it looks like to live in his love.

Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Purchase the Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Welcome back to the kitchen table. In the final part of 1 Thessalonians 5:14, we are urged to "be patient with them all." This verse reminds us that each of our children require different approaches. We go through various seasons with them, each one bringing its own challenges.

Being patient is sourced in the Holy Spirit. It’s not about deciding to be patient in a difficult moment but about being connected to the one who can grow patience within us.

When we choose to let him work in us, especially in those moments where patience is hardest, we find that God provides what we cannot produce on our own. Through him, we learn to extend patience to each of our children, no matter the season.

Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Purchase the Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Download Bethany’s 5 Day Bible Study

Welcome back to the kitchen table. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, we’re instructed to "help the weak," a calling that takes on special meaning in the context of motherhood.

As mothers, we are not tasked with making our children strong in their faith. That strength comes from God alone. Our role isn’t to demand or push them beyond what they’re ready for. Instead, we are called to come alongside them, to support them in their spiritual weakness, and to gently guide them.

Our privilege is to walk with them, to pray for them, and to model the love and patience that comes from our own relationship with Christ. And we’re not alone in this journey, the Holy Spirit is within us, equipping us with the wisdom and grace we need to fulfill this calling.

Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Purchase the Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Download Bethany’s 5 Day Bible Study

Welcome back to the kitchen table. Join Bethany as she continues to unpack 1 Thessalonians 5:14. We are called to "encourage the faint-hearted." As mothers, this verse serves as a reminder of the significant role we play in our children’s lives.

Our calling is to come alongside them, to relate closely, and to provide the encouragement they need when they are discouraged, fearful, or uncertain.

Motherhood is more than just nurturing; it’s about embracing our children’s fears and doubts and coming alongside them with unwavering support. It’s about being that steady presence that reassures and uplifts. 

We are called to pivot their hearts towards God.

Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Purchase the Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Download Bethany’s 5 Day Bible Study

Welcome back to the kitchen table. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, we are commanded to admonish the idle, to caution those who are unruly. As a mother, this can feel like a never-ending task—correcting, guiding, and redirecting. 

It’s easy to become discouraged, feeling as if all we do is point out where our children fall short. But this verse reminds us that our role isn’t to arrange every piece of their lives; that’s God’s work.

Jesus delights in arranging what is disordered in our lives. So when we find ourselves correcting our children, let’s do it not with irritation, but with a gentle heart, trusting that God is the one who will ultimately bring order to their lives

Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimsey

Purchase the Warrior Mama’s Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Download Bethany’s 5 Day Bible Study