The Christian Parenting Podcast - Motherhood, Teaching kids about Jesus, Intentional parenting, Raising Christian kids

• When Christmas doesn’t go as planned with Sheila Walsh

  The lights are twinkling, the carols are playing, and everything should feel magical... but sometimes, it just doesn’t. Whether your kids are navigating big feelings of disappointment or you're trying to balance joy and weariness in your own heart, this conversation is for you.This week I’m joined by author and speaker Sheila Walsh, and we’re talking about what really matters this Christmas: God’s love, Emmanuel with us, and how to guide our children through holiday letdowns with grace, presence, and prayer.Here are just a few things we talked about: How to help kids walk through disappointment (even when they don’t get the part they wanted in the play) Why our prayers for our children matter more than any gift we could ever wrap Simple ways to re-center your home on Jesus in a culture that’s always asking for moreHow unmet expectations can be invitations to discover God's love more deeplySheila’s brand-new picture book, The Little Drummer Girl, tells a beautiful story about a child who doesn’t get what she wants… and instead finds the joy of giving to Jesus. It’s such a special book to read together this season. You can find the link in the show notes!Sheila Walsh is a best-selling author, Bible teacher, speaker, and co-host of TBN’s Praise. She has written over 50 books for women and children, including It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, Holding On When You Want to Let Go, and The Storm Inside. Her new book, The Little Drummer Girl, is a heartwarming Christmas story for kids about faith, giving, and the love of Jesus.So whether you’re on your third cup of cocoa or hiding wrapping paper in the closet, I hope this episode wraps around you like a warm blanket and reminds you: Jesus is with us. That’s what matters most.(00:00) Embracing the Christmas Spirit(02:52) Sheila Walsh: A Journey of Faith and Family(05:59) The Heart of Christmas: Lessons from Isabella(08:59) Navigating Disappointments: Teaching Kids Resilience(12:06) The Power of Prayer in Parenting(15:05) Finding Joy in Community and Service(18:13) Understanding God's Love and Forgiveness(20:47) The Impact of Prayer Across Generations(24:08) Celebrating God's Plan in Our Lives(26:54) The Gift of Christmas: Sharing God's LoveConnect with SheilaWebsiteFacebook InstagramBetter Together showResources MentionedThe Little Drummer Girl bookChristian Parenting resourcesChristian Parenting Christmas Gift GuidePrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Everyday Dose and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://everydaydose.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Parenting was never meant to be done alone with Elisa Morgan

  Let’s be honest, parenting can feel incredibly isolating at times. Whether you're in a full house or navigating solo moments between the chaos, it’s easy to feel like no one really sees what you're carrying. But here’s the good news: you were never meant to do this alone. This week’s conversation is a beautiful reminder of that truth.I had the joy of sitting down with Elisa Morgan. And let me tell you, her wisdom is like a warm hug and a pep talk wrapped in one. We talked all about community: the kind that meets us in our mess, challenges us with grace, and reminds us we’re not the only ones still figuring this out.Here’s what you’ll take away from our time together:Why showing up as you are is the key to finding meaningful friendshipsHow biblical community helps us grow spiritually and emotionallyWhat to do when you feel disconnected or unseenWays to nurture authentic relationships in every season of motherhoodElisa is a speaker, author, and podcaster with Our Daily Bread Ministries, and formerly served as president of MOPS International (now MomCo). She has a deep passion for encouraging women through honest stories of faith and motherhood. Elisa’s personal experience of brokenness and grace infuses her work with incredible hope and healing.I hope this episode helps you feel just a little more seen—and reminds you that you are never parenting alone.(00:00) Introduction to Community and Personal Stories(03:05) The Importance of Community in Parenting(06:06) Navigating Changing Friendships(09:12) The Role of Scripture in Community(11:52) Encouragement for Women to Reach Out(14:57) Building Relationships with Non-Christians(18:00) Final Thoughts on Parenting and CommunityConnect with ElisaInstagramGod Hears Her podcastBlogWebsiteResources MentionedGod Hears Her podcastMomCoChristian Parenting resourcesChristian Parenting Christmas Gift GuideFizzlebop Super Science Board BooksPrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Everyday Dose and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://everydaydose.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Finding faith in unanswered prayers with Kara Stout

  Hey friend,We all know the ache of unanswered prayer, the kind that keeps us up at 2 a.m., whispering desperate prayers into the dark. This week on the podcast, I sat down with Kara Stout, who knows that ache all too well. From infertility and adoption to financial stress and deep grief, Kara’s story is one of wrestling with disappointment, surrendering expectations, and still choosing to trust a good and faithful God.This conversation is for anyone who’s walked through the valley and wondered if God was still near. Kara gently reminds us: He is. Even when it hurts.Here are a few things we talk about:What it looks like to pray through grief instead of performing for GodHow to hold space for fear, faith, and surrender at the same timeThe simple but powerful gift of morning and evening prayer rhythmsWhy honesty with God invites deeper healingKara Stout is a writer, speaker, wife, and mom who has walked through more than her share of heartache, but she’s also found the beauty of God’s nearness in it all. Her new devotional, An Untroubled Heart, is a 30-day prayer guide to help you start and end your days grounded in God’s presence. She is passionate about helping women grow deeper roots of faith even in hard seasons.Let this episode remind you that unanswered prayer doesn’t mean unseen pain—and healing often begins in the honesty of the wait.With love,StephConnect with KaraKaraStout.comInstagramFacebookResources MentionedAn Untroubled Heart bookChristian Parenting resourcesChristian Parenting Christmas Gift GuidePrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Everyday Dose and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://everydaydose.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Holding on to hope while you wait with Alice Matagora

  This week’s conversation is tender, powerful, and one that so many carry quietly: the journey of waiting for a child. I’m joined by Alice Matagora and she shares her story of infertility with such grace and vulnerability, offering encouragement for anyone walking through a season of waiting or supporting someone who is.Whether you’ve walked this road yourself, are in the middle of it, or love someone who is, this episode is an invitation to sit with hope and trust that God is near, even in the waiting.Here are a few truths Alice helped shine a light on:- God's timing is never wasted, even when it feels like everything is on pause- It’s okay to feel unseen—God still sees and is working in your story- Waiting seasons can deepen our faith and strengthen our identity in Christ- How to support others walking through infertility with compassion and sensitivityAlice is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a wife, mom, and a missionary with the Navigators. She serves as the leader development initiative program director and is passionate about raising up disciple-makers in everyday life. Alice’s personal journey through infertility has shaped her deep belief in God’s faithfulness, even in unseen seasons.Wherever you are today, waiting, celebrating, or supporting someone on their journey, know that you’re not alone. God sees you.00:00 The Joys and Challenges of Parenting02:54 The Journey of Infertility05:53 Faith and Waiting09:01 The Impact of Infertility on Relationships12:01 Navigating Joy and Grief14:52 Supporting Friends Through Infertility17:59 The Miracle of Life21:12 Celebrating the Gift of ChildrenConnect with AliceAliceMatagora.comInstagramFacebookTikTokResources MentionedYou Are My Miracle bookChristian Parenting resourcesChristian Parenting Christmas Gift GuidePrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Everyday Dose and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://everydaydose.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Living in the tension of overwhelmed and grateful as a parent with Jillian Benfield

  Have you ever felt pulled between being deeply grateful and totally overwhelmed? You’re not alone, and today’s conversation will meet you right in that tension.I’m joined by author and TV journalist Jillian Benfield, who shares her powerful story of navigating unexpected challenges and discovering a deeper, more honest relationship with God along the way. We talk about avoiding toxic positivity, embracing life’s hard and holy moments, and learning to live in the “and.”Here are a few of my favorite takeaways:How the Psalms teach us to see life through the lens of order, disorder, and reorderWhat it means to raise emotionally aware kids using simple practices like “highs and lows”Why honesty with God is more powerful than forced positivityHow to start practicing daily rhythms of gratitude and lamentMeet Jillian Benfield:Jillian is a former TV journalist turned author and disability advocate. Her book, Overwhelmed & Grateful, invites readers to reframe unexpected seasons and find deeper purpose in the midst of pain. She writes and speaks with vulnerability, wisdom, and a deep heart for helping others see God’s goodness even when life doesn’t go as planned.With Love,Steph(03:02) Navigating Parenting Challenges(06:08) The Power of Vulnerability(08:56) Understanding Overwhelm and Gratitude(11:55) Practicing Honest Gratitude(14:55) Order, Disorder, and Reorder(18:02) Finding God in the Everyday(21:03) Creating a Daily Rhythm of Gratitude(24:03) Connecting with Jillian BenfieldConnect with JillianWebsiteFacebookInstagramResources MentionedOverwhelmed & Grateful bookBiggest Story Holy Bible for KidsWhat to Say and How to Say it to Your TeensChristian Parenting resourcesPrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Everyday Dose and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://everydaydose.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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