Pardon the Mess with Courtney DeFeo - Christian Motherhood, Biblical Parenting, Raising Christian Kids
Courtney DeFeo and Christian Parenting
As parents, we know raising kids is the opposite of neat and tidy. Each day brings wins, losses and valuable lessons. Pardon the Mess is a place where we discus...
“Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’” (Matthew 4:19 NLT)When Jesus tells his future disciples that he will make them fishers of men, I don’t think he was envisioning them sitting in a boat waiting for bites. To be a successful fisherman, you have to go where the fish are hungry and cast your net (or your line). Jesus planned to use his disciples to draw people to him. He needed them to go to where the people were hungry for hope and share his message! We can do this today and so can our kids. As believers, we need to meet people where they are. There are times when we will witness to others and see great success immediately. Other times we will witness for a very long time and see very little fruit. There may be people that we pray for for a long time before we see God move in their lives (maybe that’s even our kids)! But God’s calling is to continue to cast our nets and share his good news, even if we don’t catch anything.So this week, let’s pray that our kids will take an active part in sharing the hope of Jesus, casting their nets far and wide to draw people closer to their Savior.Jesus, you call us to be fishers of men. I pray that _______________ would see the people around them and meet them where they are to share your good news. May they never be ashamed of the gospel, but be ready to share it far and wide. Amen.Get your printed copy of A Life of Faith: Prayer JournalPardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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11:41
Is it possible to disconnect? with Carlos Whittaker
It’s not everyday you get to interview someone that disconnected in an extreme way. Carlos Whittaker wanted to really test his attachment to his phone and learn from the power disconnecting. So he went to live in an Amish community, in a monastery, and then did life at home without a device. His lessons are so powerful about how to reconnect with the ones we love most.When we recorded this episode, Carlos had just recently lost his father and was about to speak at his funeral. Many people have grown to love him on Carlos’ instagram account, and I have been so moved by the way Carlos cared for him through his final days. You won’t want to miss the parenting lesson he shares about his amazing father.I’d love to challenge us today. Let’s practically think through our daily lives and how we can disconnect regularly so that we connect more intentionally with each child. Carlos offers several practical ideas on how to do that - even if your job requires you to be online.In this episode, we discuss:How connection matters with our kidsHow to disconnect from devices and whyHow to connect with teens and their interestsEnjoy!Courtney Chapters(00:00) Navigating Parenting Challenges(02:54) Caring for Aging Parents(05:58) A Life-Changing Call(08:58) The Journey to Reconnection(11:55) Transformative Family Time(15:00) Balancing Work and Life(17:46) Detoxing from Digital Dependency(20:09) Balancing Online Sharing and Family Life(22:37) Curiosity as a Path to Empathy(26:45) Connecting with Teens through Shared InterestsConnect with Pardon The Mess:Christian ParentingPardon The Mess Courtney DeFeoGet your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of FaithResources from today’s show:Connect with CarlosCarlos’ Podcast - Human SchoolCarlos’ latest book - ReconnectedA Million Tiny Moments Dead Sea SquirrelsChristian Parenting Easter bundlePardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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32:19
BONUS: Follow: Cast their Anxiety on Him
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7)The Greek word for anxiety means “cut up into pieces.” So when we feel anxious we feel cut up or divided, and if you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, it can really feel like that! But Jesus wants us to bring him our cut-up pieces because his peace can make us whole. In fact, the Greek word for peace means “wholeness.” So this verse literally says God wants us to bring our divided hearts to him so he can make them whole. So many of our kids struggle with anxiety and so many of us do as well. None of us want to see our kids hurt as they fight this battle. Anxiety and worry are challenging roads, but we can encourage our kids that we follow the God who made the whole universe. He cares for them, hears them, and wants to ease their burdens.This week, let’s pray that they cast their fears and anxiety onto the Lord so that they can feel his rest because his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). Lord, I pray that ________________ brings their divided heart to you. I pray against the anxiety that is so prevalent today. Whatever it is that ___________ feels cut up about, may they present their requests to you, and may your wholeness guard their heart and mind. Please give them the peace that passes all understanding. Amen.Get your printed copy of A Life of Faith: Prayer JournalPardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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10:14
Friendship struggles and raising girls with Grace Valentine
Grace Valentine is BACK! You all absolutely loved the first episode and you will love this one even more. Grace is a firecracker for Jesus. That’s what a grandma would say - but it’s so true. She comes in with such energy and truth that will just fire you up.She is a speaker, author and podcast host and is impacting thousands of young women around the world. On today’s episode we talk about all things FRIENDS. Friendships are just hard, not just for young girls for us as women. Grace has bible-based true encouragement for how to make and maintain friends.JOURNAL alert! You will need to take notes for this one. She just casually tosses out profound statements at the speed of lightning. So, buckle in.My favorite part is when she compared homecoming to the Met Gala. I still laugh out loud when I think about it. She quickly pivots from that joke to the sting of rejection. She also asks amazing questions: will that rejection taint your view or make you wiser and kinder? Or will it make you bitter? In this episode, we chat about: Understanding shallow vs deep friendshipsHow to humble yourself in conflictChallenges of making and keeping friendsEnjoy!Courtney DeFeo (02:58) Navigating College and Post-Grad Life(05:53) Friendship Journeys and Challenges(09:00) The Complexity of Friendships(12:00) Understanding Shallow vs. Deep Friendships(15:02) Finding Your Community and Dance Floor(16:29) Navigating Loneliness and Friendship(20:45) Conflict Resolution in Friendships(28:08) The Importance of Authentic ConnectionsConnect with Pardon The Mess:Christian ParentingPardon The Mess Courtney DeFeoGet your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of FaithResources from today’s show:Connect with Grace ValentineThe Better Friend - Grace’s new bookA Million Tiny MomentsSky Ranch CampsPardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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36:53
BONUS: Follow: Their Future Family
Depending on how old your kids are, the idea of praying for their future spouse and family may feel like a stretch. But even if your child is currently toddling around your house playing with blocks and eating cheerios, it’s never too early to start praying for their future family.Maybe it’s easier to imagine if your kids are older, but at some point in the future, your child will more than likely go and create their own family to lead. As believing parents, we all desire our kids to lead their future families in the way of the Lord.If marriage is God’s will for your child, someday your child’s spouse will be the most important person in their life. He or she will know them the absolute best and be their partner in faith and life. Together they will, God-willing, raise beautiful children who know, love, follow, and share Jesus. We can pray that our child will find a spouse who loves Jesus, family, the church, and be a supportive partner through the ups and downs of life. We can pray that any future grandkids will grow to love Jesus and continue on a legacy of faith. In the grand scheme of life, we only have our kids in our homes for a little while. As their parents, we have an amazing opportunity to pray for their future family starting now!This week, let’s pray that our kids will continue to pass along a legacy of faith in their future families and homes.Jesus, you know our past and you know our future. Today, I pray for ____'s future. If your plan for them is singleness, I pray that you will surround them with a wonderful community of friends and family and that you will always be their rock, fortress, and best friend. If your plan for them is marriage, I pray that they will find a spouse who loves you with all their heart and has a desire to raise up children who love and follow you. Thank you for the gift of family and the ability to watch my children grow into the adults you created them to be. Amen.Get your printed copy of A Life of Faith: Prayer JournalPardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
About Pardon the Mess with Courtney DeFeo - Christian Motherhood, Biblical Parenting, Raising Christian Kids
As parents, we know raising kids is the opposite of neat and tidy. Each day brings wins, losses and valuable lessons. Pardon the Mess is a place where we discuss parenting and faith in a biblical, approachable and relatable way. We may cry and laugh while we learn and grow together in our beautiful mess. Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
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