Moms Take Ten: Recent Episodes
Lyssa Stoyko
A place for Christian Moms to refuel and refocus in the midst of your busy days. Join us as we talk about Jesus, motherhood, foster care and adoption.
Lyssa is a wife, a foster and adoptive mom of three, a Bible teacher and a Connected Families certified parent coach. Since leading her moms group at church, she has a desire to see moms in community, discovering who God has made them to be. Learn more at lyssastoyko.com. Follow me on Instagram @lyssastoyko
In this final episode of the season, Moms Take Ten closes out the Parenting Practical series by stepping into the complex and often overwhelming topic of childhood aggression. Host Lyssa Stoyko is joined by Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Julie Maas for an honest, hope-filled conversation that many moms quietly need.
Together, they move beyond surface-level behaviors to explore what's really happening beneath the outbursts—reminding moms that aggression is often a signal of deeper needs like fear, frustration, overstimulation, or disconnection. With practical wisdom and gospel-centered encouragement, they help parents shift from simply reacting to behavior toward responding with curiosity, empathy, and self-awareness.
Julie shares tangible tools for those heated moments—how to regulate your own responses, prioritize safety when needed, and lean into connection through calm presence, empathy, and even playfulness. The conversation also highlights the importance of repair: what it looks like to reconnect after things escalate, model humility, and guide children toward growth without shame.
Most importantly, this episode reminds moms that even in the hardest parenting moments, God is at work—not only in their children, but in their own hearts. With grace and truth, Lyssa and Julie paint a picture of parenting that values relationship over perfection and sees every meltdown as an opportunity for deeper connection.
If you've ever felt isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure how to handle aggression in your home, this conversation offers both practical help and lasting hope.
Guest Bio: Hi! My name is Julie Maas. After saying "Yes" to Jesus to move to Belize as a missionary in 2008-2018, our family was never the same. Since we have become parents, we've grown in having biological, foster and adopted children and experience with traumas, abuse, ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, self harm, and how to best serve our family with sensory needs and intense behaviors. Because I have learned, failed, and read so much over the years, the Lord has taught me abundantly. I want to serve other families with encouragement, grace-filled truth, practical suggestions, equipping and a listening ear in crisis. I am an RN, American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) Board Certified Nurse Coach, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. Connect with Julie here.
Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!
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In this final episode of Moms of the Bible for this season, Lyssa is joined by a very special guest—her mom, Judy—as they reflect on the quiet yet powerful legacy of faith seen in the lives of Timothy's mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois. Though only briefly mentioned in Scripture, these women are remembered for something deeply significant: their genuine faith in God, passed down from one generation to the next.
Together, Lyssa and Judy explore what it looks like to cultivate that same kind of faith in our own homes. Through stories, Scripture, and personal reflection, Judy shares how God's Word shaped her parenting—from prioritizing church and Scripture memory to creating a home where conversations about the Lord were a natural part of everyday life. She also offers encouragement for moms in the thick of raising children, reminding us that God is faithful to continue the work He has begun in us and our families.
This episode is a beautiful reminder that faith doesn't have to be flashy to be impactful. As we walk with God and invite Him into the ordinary rhythms of our homes, we are planting seeds that, by His grace, can bear fruit for generations to come.
Verses Referenced (all from NLT):
- 2 Timothy 1:15
- Acts 16:1
- Proverbs 3:5-6
- Psalm 62:6&8
- Lamentations 3:21-23
- Isaiah 26:3
- Deuteronomy 6:5-7
- Joshua 24:15b
- Proverbs 22:6
- Philippians 1:6
- Colossians 3:16-17
- Ephesians 3:20-21
Judy Loosa is wife to Alex, mom to four and grandma to ten. She loves Jesus and has served him over the years in a variety of ways from playing the piano at church, to leading small groups, and now welcoming other widows into her home for monthly encouragement. Her quiet faith has been a beautiful testimony to many, both in her family and beyond the walls of her home.
Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!
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Images from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
In our final episode of this season's Parenting in Scripture series, Lyssa reflects on the heart behind the series—looking beyond traditional "parenting passages" and instead allowing all of Scripture to shape the way we think about and engage in motherhood. Each verse, encountered through quiet time, sermons, and everyday moments, serves as a reminder that God's Word is unchanging, yet always speaking fresh truth into our lives.
In this episode, Lyssa shares a personal moment from a recent Sunday at church, where a passage from Romans 12 met her in the middle of a difficult parenting morning. Rather than teaching through the text, she invites listeners to experience it alongside her—by simply receiving it. As Romans 12:9–21 is read, this episode creates space for moms to slow down, reflect, and listen for what the Lord may be speaking to their own hearts.
Whether you are able to pause in stillness or are tuning in on the go, this episode offers a gentle invitation to breathe, be present, and consider what God is inviting you to hold onto today.
Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!
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In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by Kayla Moffitt of @makingthemoffits for an honest and deeply encouraging conversation about foster care, adoption, and the realities of parenting children from hard places. Kayla shares her family's unexpected journey from planning for two foster children to welcoming five siblings into their home—and how God expanded their capacity along the way.
Together, they talk about the tension of "uncomfortable, not unsafe," navigating relationships with biological families, and the importance of naming our discomfort so it doesn't quietly shape our parenting. Kayla also speaks candidly about the challenges of trauma-informed parenting, the impact it has on a family, and the necessity of finding support and community.
Whether you're in the foster/adoptive space or simply walking through a hard season of motherhood, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that inviting others in may be one of the most powerful steps you can take.
Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!
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In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by fellow Connected Families certified parent coach Merrie Beth Eubanks for an honest and hope-filled conversation about parenting children with special needs. Drawing from her own family's journey, Merrie Beth shares how traditional parenting approaches often fall short—and how shifting expectations, embracing accommodations, and slowing down can open the door to deeper connection and growth.
Together, they explore the Connected Families Framework, offering practical encouragement for reframing meltdowns, breaking down skills into manageable steps, and approaching both coaching and correction with grace. You'll be reminded that while this path can be stretching and humbling, it is also rich with purpose—shaping not only our children, but our hearts, our families, and our dependence on God.
Whether you're navigating a diagnosis, supporting a neurodiverse child, or simply longing for fresh perspective in your parenting, this conversation will help you breathe, reset, and remember: you're not alone, and God is at work in every step.
Merrie Beth Eubanks is a wife and mother of four children ages 21 to 8, and lives just outside of Chattanooga, TN. Her journey as both a parent and educator has deeply shaped her passion for supporting families and helping children thrive. She is a certified Connected Families Parent Coach, and loves walking alongside parents as they build strong, connected relationships with their children.
She holds a master's degree in education and serves as the Director of Curriculum, Individualized Learning, and Family Support for a new school opening this year. This school is designed to provide individualized instruction for students who need extra support, meeting them where they are academically, socially, and emotionally.
Merrie Beth is passionate about helping families feel encouraged, equipped, and not alone in their parenting journey, and she is grateful to be part of conversations that bring hope and practical tools to everyday life.
Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!
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In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by her friend Erin for another conversation in the Moms in the Bible series, focusing on Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Together, they reflect on Elizabeth's quiet but powerful faith—her trust in God's timing, her joyful acceptance of her calling, and the way she wholeheartedly encouraged Mary without comparison or jealousy.
Through honest conversation and a few laughs, Lyssa and Erin explore what it looks like to find joy in the role God has given you—even when it looks different than you expected—and how Elizabeth's story reminds us of the importance of community, empathy, and supporting one another in motherhood. This episode is an encouragement to embrace your own story with gratitude, look for God's goodness in every season, and be the kind of friend who speaks life and truth into others.
Elizabeth's story can be found in Luke 1. Listen to the other episodes on Elizabeth: Elizabeth's Testimony and Elizabeth part 2.
Erin Muehlfeld is a wife and mom of three, a deep thinker and an avid board gamer. She serves at her local church, helping women find connection as they pursue Christ together.
Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Do you ever wake up already overwhelmed by the day ahead? In this episode, Lyssa shares how a simple shift—starting her mornings with "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it"—began to change her mindset and her parenting.
By anchoring herself in Psalm 118, she discovered that rejoicing isn't about feelings—it's a daily choice rooted in God's truth and faithful love.
If you're in a hard season, this episode will encourage you to reset your heart, speak truth over your day, and remember: you don't walk through it alone.
Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!
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Watching doors close on our dreams can break our hearts and cause us to question God's good plan for us. Years later, after watching doors close in her own life, my guest Audrey Frost sees how God used that to guide her to new doors and new dreams, including caring for children through Safe Families for Children. She has experienced the wonder of love for children not her own and the sustaining power of God through the hard of showing them that love.
Audrey Frost is a wife and mom of two daughters, ages 19 and 16, who loves God, baking and opening her home to children through Safe Families. https://safe-families.org/
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Did you know that sometimes behaviors we see as wrong, or out of control, or mean, are actually anxiety in disguise? This is something that we are learning in my house and it has changed the way I think about those behaviors and my responses. Julia Crickenberger joins me today to talk about what anxiety is, what is can look like, and ways we can respond. She offers a grace-filled way of caring for our children, and for ourselves, when anxiety shows up.
Julia is a Christian Counselor trained through the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF) and parent coach trained through Connected Families. She specialises in helping adults with anxiety and OCD, and helping parents with sensitive and intense kids. She counsels and coaches people from all over via telahealth through https://cedarcovecare.org. She also meets with people locally in Myrtle Beach, SC through https://www.theoakscounselinggroup.com."
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Mary had the incredible privilege of birthing and raising the Son of God. And she also had the incredible pain that came with that, watching her son suffer and even die. As mamas, we all want to protect our children and shield them from suffering, but what if in doing so, we are shielding them from blessings and purposes that the Lord has for them? Stephanie Geisler joins me today to discuss how Mary's example has challenged her in this area of mothering. She shares how our desire for our children to follow God means allowing them to suffer for his sake and holding onto trust that God will use it for his good purpose.
Stephanie Geisler serves as the women's director at Harvest Bible Chapel. She has a degree in psychology and worship leadership, with a master's in counseling. Prior to coming to Harvest, She has served in several different areas, including student ministry, worship ministry, and private practice counseling before God led her to women's ministry. Her heart is for the local church and women worshipping God in spirit and truth. For fun, she enjoys traveling, singing, and being with friends. She is married to Larry Geisler, not related to Norm, and welcomed her baby Ryan in August.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
We talk a lot on Moms Take Ten about identifying our toxic beliefs, as Connected Families calls them, and replacing them with grace-filled truths. But that takes work, doesn't it? How can we bring those truths into our every day moments more and more so they become deeply rooted in us? One suggestion that Connected Families gives is to share those truths with our children. That sounds good, but I've found it isn't the easiest thing for me to do. Listen in as I share three hang-ups I have identified for while that is challenging and some biblical perspective on how we can overcome those hang-ups.
Scripture Referenced:
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Psalms 66:16
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7
- 1 Thessalonians 2:8
For simple conversations starters for spiritual conversations with kids, check out this instagram post.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Do you remember the moment you first felt the tug towards foster care? My guest today, Emma Benedict, remembers sitting at church as her pastor, a foster dad himself, shared of the need. From her initial thought of, "I think I can do something" to saying yes to fostering a little boy, Emma is discovering the good that God has for her as she follows his leading. And not just for her, but for her whole family as well.
Emma Benedict is a ministry wife, homeschooling mom of 3, lover of Jesus, lifter of heavy things, and fizzy drink enthusiast.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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What does the phrase "sibling conflict" raise up in you? Maybe frustration, exhaustion, annoyance, overwhelm? In this episode, fellow parent coach Skylar Turek helps us go below the surface to identify some of the thoughts driving our responses to our children when they fight and she points to some benefits of conflict you might not have considered before. If you are feeling weary from trying to work through issues between your kids, may this episode encourage your heart!
Skylar Turek is a Connected Families certified parent coach with 10+ years of experience in social work and ministry settings. She specializes in children's mental health and trauma prevention and shares from her personal journey as a mom of three, using the Connected Families framework to guide families toward lasting transformation. You can learn more at truthandgracecoaching.com
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com
Her story is told in only ten verses but they are powerful ones. In this episode, Sarah Janes shares how Jochebed's strategic faith and intentional parenting have encouraged her own heart as she raises her five kiddos.
Sarah Janes is a pastor's wife, mama of 5, follower of Jesus, and a delight to talk with! You can connect with her on Instagram @inbluejanes
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Have you ever found yourself yelling, "Stop yelling at each other!" or responding to your child's snarky comment with some snarkiness of your own? I know that I have. Sometimes I stand there wondering who is more the child, them or me! Paul's words to the Jewish believers in Romans 2 really challenged me in this--to beware of the trap of judgement, but also to remember that we are all in need of Jesus. Our kids as well as ourselves. And because of that shared need, we can respond to and even correct our children with humility and grace.
Verses Referenced:
- Romans 2:17-24
- Romans 3:22-24
- Colossians 3:12
- Matthew 7:3
- Romans 5:6-8
- Romans 8:32
- Romans 4:7-8
Episode Recommendation: Parenting Practicals--Our God Image with Tara Prevo
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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It's an amazing thing to be able to look back over years of waiting and grief and struggle and say that it was all leading somewhere good. My guest, Molly Duble, testifies to that in today's episode as she shares her journey to adopting her two girls. There's still pain. There's still struggle. But given the choice, she'd go back and say yes all over again.
This episode is part of Moms Take Ten's Foster and Adoption Series that comes out the first Monday of each month. If this episode encouraged you, check out some of the other conversations in this series. They are so good!
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, I want to turn our attention to his lineage. Matthew lists generation upon generation that Jesus descended from in his first chapter. Among all the fathers and sons, for family lines followed the men, we find five women mentioned. Each of their stories is unique and each played a role in bringing the events of this holiday to pass. Join me as we learn about Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary. In these women's stories we see hints of the redemption that was and still is to come. Merry Christmas!
Episode recommendations:
- Elizabeth's Testimony
- Mary's Magnificat
Scripture Referenced:
- Genesis 3:14-15
- Matthew 1
- Genesis 38
- Joshua 2 and 6
- The Book of Ruth
- 2 Samuel 11-12
- Luke 1-2
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Want to say hello?
Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com
Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
A calm house. A clean kitchen. Time to ourselves. Obedient children. There are many place and people and situations that we are tempted to take shelter in. Psalm 91:1-2 reminds us that God is our trustworthy shelter, the only one that we can truly find refuge in. Even when things around us are falling apart, or our kiddo is melting down, we can take shelter in him and find the peace and the strength that we need to carry on.
Scripture referenced:
- Psalm 91:1-2
Books referenced:
- Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Want to say hello?
Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com
The journey to foster care and/or adoption looks different for each one of us. But for the moms on this podcast we all can point to a time when God said "this is what I want you to do." For Kate Rietema, it was about seventeen years ago as she listened to stories from foster parents and felt her heart stirred to say yes. Now, reflecting back on that time, Kate shares her own stories of loving and caring for children not her own and how God met her through them.
Kate Rietema is the author of three children's books including When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful and All the Babies: A First Book About Adoption. She is the bio and adoptive mother of five girls and has been a mom to many others through foster care. Throughout her life, Kate has experienced God's deep kindness, and she loves to share her stories with others. Kate works as a nurse, volunteers at her county jail, and lives at the campground she and her husband operate in West Michigan. You can learn more about Kate at www.katerietema.com.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Happy Thanksgiving Mamas! Given the season, I wanted to re-share an episode from two years ago with Katie Wetsell about gratitude. More than feeling grateful or writing something down in your journal, which is good to do, gratitude is meant to be shared. As parents, when we model gratitude to our children and express ours to them, we invite them to experience the benefits and enjoyment that a grateful heart brings.
Katie Wetsell is a Connected Families certified parent coach. You can find her at parentwithhope.org and on Instagram @parentwithhopecoach
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Who are the women who helped shape your faith? Whose faith are you helping shape today? Those are the questions that today's mom from Scripture guides us to ask. My guest, Evie Wesner, draws our attention to a single verse in the Scripture that speaks to a legacy of faith that one mama, one grandma, left behind. Her name was Lois and she is known for how she passed down her faith to her daughter Eunice and her grandson Timothy. Listen in as Evie shares how Lois' testimony has spoken to her and motivated her in her own parenting.
Evie Wesner is wife to Steve and mama to two young adult sons. She grew up as a missionary kid in Brazil and now lives with her family in Indiana.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Want to say hello?
Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com
Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Have you ever found yourself comparing your capacity for something with your friend's and found yours lacking? I have. And it has led me to questioning what was wrong with me and why I couldn't measure up. God, in his kindness, met me recently during one of those times and spoke a different word over me. He wants to speak that word over you as well. I pray you will be encouraged through this episode.
Scripture referenced:
- Matthew 25:14-30
- 1 Corinthians 12
- Ephesians 2:10
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Fostering kiddos can bring us to the end of ourselves, of our limited human capacity. But today's guest, Ashley Carter, reminds us that isn't a bad thing. Because it is there that we recognize the true rescuer, Jesus Christ, and the work he is accomplishing in the children we are caring for, but also in our own hearts. He gives us the ability to continue, filling us up so that we can pour out to the little ones in our homes, and whomever else he calls us to love.
Ashley Carter is a bio, foster and adoptive mama of six kiddos, wife to John, and a songwriter, hiker, bicycle rider, Jesus sharer, and adventurer. Listen one of her songs, I Will Carry You, on Amazon or Spotify.
We talk to our kids a lot, don't we? We are giving instructions, correcting them, laughing with them, connecting with them. Some conversations are hard and some are pure joy. Have you ever thought about incorporating blessings into those conversations? In this episode of Parenting Practicals, Christy Grey teaches us about just that. Walking us through six Scripture passages, she shows us how speak the words of the Bible over our children in a way that lets them know God is for them and he is with them. She even put those six categories into a ready to print pdf for you to reference throughout the day. Download it here.
Christy Grey is a certified Connected Families parent coach, offering coaching and parenting classes in the Louisville area. You can learn more about her on the Connected Families website or through her facebook group.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Want to say hello?
Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com
How do the stories of the moms in the Bible speak to you? What has God taught you through them?
That is what this season's Moms in the Bible series is all about. I am inviting other mamas to come and share their answers to those questions. This month, my sister Kim Taylor talks about how Rachel and Leah's lives of comparison and rivalry speak a cautionary word to us. Their lives were impacted significantly by the actions of their father and the way that they responded then impacted their own children. Joy is a quality found wanting in their story, and the same can often be said about us, can't it? But it doesn't have to be that way. Intentionally recounting to ourselves who God is and what he has done shifts our attitude away from comparison to one of gratitude. It is there that joy can be found in abundance even in the mundane tasks of motherhood.
Hear more about Rachel and Leah from our Moms in the Bible series:
- Part 1
- Part 2
This isn't the first time Kim has joined us on Moms Take Ten. Check out her other episodes!
- Intentional Parenting, ep. 30
- Beauty in the Ordinary, ep. 55
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Want to say hello?
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Have you ever prayed a prayer asking God to do something in you or use you in some way but were wholly unprepared for his answer? When my guest, Kristi Strossner, prayed asking God to take her deeper with him, she didn't anticipate that he would lead her to open her home and her heart to a little girl. Saying yes was not easy nor has the journey since been, but Kristi has seen the Lord continue to answer her prayers and draw her ever closer to himself.
Kristi Strossner is married to Dave, and has four daughters, three biologically and one through kinship guardianship.
Are you a kinship, foster, Safe Families or adoptive parent looking for community? I highly recommend Replanted Ministry. They have support groups all around the country and host conferences as well.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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It is hard to wait. It is hard to wait for our coffee in the Starbucks line. It is hard to wait for the test results. And it is really hard to wait to see change happen in our parenting or in our children after we have put in so much time, energy and effort. Laura Zach joins me today to talk about her season of waiting and to encourage us in ours. Rather than growing discouraged, we can grow in acceptance and surrender to God and his plan as we walk closely with him.
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength," from Isaiah 30:15
Laura Zach is a fellow Connected Families certified parent coach and the Women’s Ministry Director at Kenmore Alliance Church, a pastor’s wife, and mother of three young adults.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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We have a new season of Moms in the Bible starting and we are doing something a little different. Each week, I will be joined by a fellow mama to talk about how they related to or were taught by one of the moms in the Bible. Today, Kim Tews joins me to talk how God used the story of Hagar to remind her that she too is seen and she too is cared for even when life takes an unexpected and hard turn.
You can read Hagar's story in Genesis 16 and 21. Other Scripture referenced was Isaiah 54:5.
Listen to the previous Moms Take Ten episodes on Hagar: Part 1 was episode 8 and Part 2 was episode 84.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
When the unknowns of hosting a sweet little boy stirred up old anxieties, God met me in Psalm 46 with a timely reminder: He is our refuge and ever-present help. In this episode of our Parenting in Scripture series, we talk about what it means to stop fighting for control, be still, and trust Him in the hard moments of parenting and life.
Want to join one of the upcoming moms groups?! I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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We are back for a new season of Moms Take Ten, kicking off with an episode of our Foster Care and Adoption Series. Sierra Belton, who I had the pleasure of meeting through the Replanted Ministry, joins me today. From pursuing cross-cultural ministry overseas to becoming adoptive parents to three teenagers, Sierra shares how God has shaped the family she has today and what he is teaching her about resting in him.
To learn more about the book series by Pete Scazzero that Sierra mentioned, head to his website, https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/aboutpete/
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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We all want our children to be overcomers, ones who get back up when life knocks them down, and who learn from the challenges they face. In short, we want them to be resilient. Dr. Nicole Wilke joins us today to talk about what resilience is, what the Scriptures say about it, and how we can cultivate resilience in our children. Her words bring hope no matter what your children have or are facing. As Dr. Wilke and Amanda Howard write in their book Overcoming, "Adversity is not the end of the story." Our God has something to say about it.
Nicole Wilke, Ph.D., is a researcher, missionary, author, and marriage and family therapist dedicated to improving care for vulnerable children and families globally. She currently serves as Director of the Christian Alliance for Orphans’ Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families, bridging research and practice to improve care for vulnerable children and families around the globe. Her passion for this work stems from her family’s experience with adoption and fostering. Having lived on four continents, Nicole currently resides with her family in Peru, where they work to improve the system for children in alternative care. Learn more about the books Overcoming and Caleb Koala's Comeback Ride, also by Dr. Wilke.
Follow Dr. Nicole Wilke on Instagram
Learn more about the Christian Alliance for Orphans
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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As we have studied the moms in the Bible the past couple of years, have you seen yourself in them? Have you related to their pain, their struggles, their personalities, their stories? They are not so very different from you and I. And what God said to them, he also wants to say to us. You are loved by him. He delights to be in relationship with you. He is working in you and through you for his good purpose.
Verses Referenced:
- Genesis 2:18-22
- Romans 3:23
- Ephesians 2:10
- Acts 16:1
- 2 Timothy 1:5
- 2 Timothy 3:15
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
We've talked on Moms Take Ten a lot about our hope of Heaven and the complete restoration that will come on that day. It is a beautiful future that we get to look forward to! But we are living here and now. What good is there here? Quite a lot actually when we begin to look for it, even in the hard, the messy, the ugly. May you find encouragement through this episode and the scriptures below for your now.
Verses Referenced (all were CSB unless otherwise noted):
- Psalm 30:5
- Philippians 1:6 CSB and The Voice
- Genesis 1:31
- Ephesians 2:10
- Psalm 27:13-14
- Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
As I said in the episode, there are a lot of things that I do in my parent coaching that help myself, help other parents, see the good that God is doing in the here and now. We work on replacing our toxic beliefs with God’s grace-filled truths. We practice naming and calling out the gifts in our children that He placed in them. We look for the opportunities he is giving us to love them in their misbehavior and to guide them to reconciliation. We celebrate the big and little moments of good a lot! If this is an area that you want to grow in and you’d like some support, I’d love to chat with you! Use the links below to connect with me!
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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My guest today waited three years to adopt—and then welcomed three kids in three years through domestic adoption. In this episode, Emily shares her story and her growing understanding of the both/and of adoption. God has used that to deepen her relationships with her children's birth family as well as to serve foster and adoptive families through her church. Her encouragement is that we would not walk the foster or adoption journey alone. Lean into God, he sees and understands! Lean into others, and find encouragement and strength to keep going.
Emily Cook is on staff with Southeast Christian Church in Kentucky. To learn more about their foster and adoption ministry, visit https://www.southeastchristian.org/foster-and-adoption. To connect with Emily, email her at ecook@secc.org.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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We want our children to forgive others, but do we forgive our children? Our guest today, Katie Johnson, shares how God convicted her of a lack of forgiveness towards her own children. I can relate to that, can you? From her journey, we learn the impact unforgiveness can have on our relationships with our children and the beauty that comes when we do forgive. More than that, we are reminded of the incredible offer of forgiveness that the Lord extends to us in our own imperfect parenting.
Katie Johnson is a Connected Families certified parent coach. Head to their website to connect with her.
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Have you ever found yourself "back" to a situation you thought you had moved on from? Or facing a sin you thought you had defeated? It can be so discouraging, even doubt-inducing when that happens. We can feel as though we are back to square one. That all that we had done up to that point had been for nothing. But I don't think that's what God would say about it.
Verses Referenced:
- John 11:1-44
- Matthew 27:45-54
- John 20-21
- Luke 24:13-35
When I feel overwhelmed, or helpless, or tired, or straight up selfish, my parenting starts to struggle. I start to use my authority in a way that seeks to control and to manage. The apostle Paul sets a different example for us as he tells the Corinthian church that the authority that God gave him is for building them up. That is how we are to use our authority as parents as well. To build up our children.
Verses Referenced:
- John 13:3
- 2 Corinthians 10:8 and 13:10
- Titus 1:7-8
- Colossians 3:12
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Ephesians 4:29
Some Parenting Practicals episodes to get you started:
- Our God-Image with Tara Prevo
- Addressing Our Anger with Laurie Shaffer
- The ABCs of Affirmation with Jess Brandon
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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In today's episode of our Foster Care and Adoption series, Holly Ruge shares how the Lord brought her and her husband through their struggle of infertility to opening their home through foster care. It seemed like God took so long to answer but now he has filled their hearts and home with three sweet boys.
If you are in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, check out Ruth Project and the ways they support foster and adoptive families. From monthly meals to kids clothing to moms night out and fun farm events, they love and care for our families so well! https://ruthproject.com/
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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The gospel matters. We know that. We believe in it and we want our kids to also. But sometimes we struggle to know how to parent from those beliefs. How does the gospel help us navigate our children's whining, or our toddler's tantrums, or our teenager's angst? Jess Brandon, a Connected Families certified parent coach, shares how the gospel has come to inform her parenting and walks us through how to apply it to our own. This episode is part two of our conversation where we look at redemption and new creation. Last month, we looked at aspects of creation and the fall. Jess provides reflection questions for each section so be sure to have pen and paper handy!
Jess Brandon is a Connected Families certified parent coach. You can learn more about her on the Connected Families website. Listen to Jess and Lyssa talk about the CF tool, ABC's of Affirmation.
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Sometimes there's an episode that feels like it is just for me, and this is one of those. Things have been challenging in my home lately and sometimes I've wanted to give up or despair. Sometimes hope is hard to hold onto. The Canaanite Woman says, "press on. don't give up. keep fighting for yourself and your child. And do it at the feet of Jesus." She persisted, even when it seemed that her only hope was turning her away. She humbled herself boldly, and witnessed a miracle in her life and heart. Have things been hard lately? May this episode encourage you to keep going.
Verses referenced:
- Matthew 15:21-28
- Mark 7:24-30
- John 16:33
- Isaiah 41:10
- Philippians 4:6-7
- Galatians 6:9
- Philippians 3:13-14
Episodes referenced:
- Parenting Practicals--Our God Image with Tara Prevo
- Moms in the Bible--Two Grieving Mamas
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
As Mamas, we all find ourselves in need of wisdom, which the Lord so generously and unreproachfully bestos on us when we ask. That's what James 1:5 promises us. So, if that is how the Lord responds to our requests, then perhaps we should respond to our children's requests for wisdom in the same way. That thought has been convicting me lately.
Scriptures referenced:
- James 1, with focus on verse 5.
- James 3:13
I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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We've talked before in our Foster and Adoption series about grief--the many places it can come from and the many shapes it can take. My guest, Emily Lawson, has spent the past few years on her own grief journey following the loss of her dad. Hard as it was, she sees how the grief she experienced has enabled her to better empathize with her children in their own struggles. And she also sees how the Lord has been with her in it, giving her what she needs to do what he has called her to.
Emily is the author of the book titled Cracks In My Cup: Biblical Reflections on Motherhood and Loss, which I encourage you to check out. You can connect with her on Instagram @emilyannelawson
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Want to say hello?
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The gospel matters. We know that. We believe in it and we want our kids to also. But sometimes we struggle to know how to parent from those beliefs. How does the gospel help us navigate our children's whining, or our toddler's tantrums, or our teenager's angst? Jess Brandon, a Connected Families certified parent coach, shares how the gospel has come to inform her parenting and walks us through how to apply it to our own. This episode will look at aspects of creation and the fall, and next month we will look at redemption and new creation. She provides reflection questions for each section so be sure to have pen and paper handy!
Jess Brandon is a Connected Families certified parent coach. You can learn more about her on the Connected Families website. Listen to Jess and Lyssa talk about the CF tool, ABC's of Affirmation.
Join me for an upcoming moms parenting group! There are two starting in March.
Learn more about the Sensitive and Intense Kids group here.
Learn more about the Discipline that Connects group here.
I hope to see you there!
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Want to say hello?
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Elizabeth, like many of the moms that we have studied in our series, bore the shame of infertility even though her and her husband were both righteous before the Lord. And it got me wondering how she dealt with that throughout her life. Did she question if her infertility really was something that she caused? Did she want to prove herself to other people? And what do we do now when we wrestle with similar questions?
Join me for an upcoming moms parenting group! There are two starting in March.
Learn more about the Sensitive and Intense Kids group here.
Learn more about the Discipline that Connects group here.
I hope to see you there!
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Want to say hello?
Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com
Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
The love that we are called to as moms is not easy. I was reminded of this as I spent most of the past month sick and yet still had three kiddos to care for. The temptation to whine and complain and get frustrated was real! In the middle of it, the Lord drew me to the example he set before us of his servant love. And he showed me that not only am I called to that towards my kids, but that is how he treats me. As we are pouring of ourselves onto our children, Christ is pouring of himself unto us.
Scriptures Referenced:
John 13:1-17
John 8:2-11
Episodes referenced:
Episode 99, Love Day--From the Mouth of Littles
Episode 51, Valentine's Day Special with Jonathan Stoyko
Additional References:
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
Pray the Word podcast by David Platt, "Jesus Came to Save the World" episode
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Foster care and adoption are full of grief, and that grief can come at unexpected times. As I saw with fellow foster and adoptive mamas, I was reminded that its ok to acknowledge and even share those feelings. And that when we do, we create space for others to share their own harder feelings. So that's what this episode is. Me sharing a little of the hard of my journey, and also pointing us to the hope that we have in Christ.
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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In part two of our conversation on anger, Laurie and I discuss God's heart for us. He is not put off by our emotions. Instead, he invites us to bring them before him and allow him to guide us through them. Our episodes on the Moms in the Bible like, Hagar, Naomi and Hannah can attest to that. And in the moments where we feel the anger rising, we can give ourselves the freedom to take some space and regulate ourselves with him before responding directly to the situation in front of us.
Listen to part one here.
Get in touch with Laurie at https://connectedfamilies.org/listings/laurie-shaffer/
Learn more about Connected Families at https://connectedfamilies.org/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Have you had moments in your parenting journey where you are caught off guard by your own anger? I know I have, and so has my guest today. Laurie Shaffer, a fellow Connected Families certified parent coach, joins me for a conversation about facing our anger, seeking God in it, and what we can do to navigate those moments. There is so much to cover here that we made it a two-part conversation so be sure to listen next week as well!
Get in touch with Laurie at https://connectedfamilies.org/listings/laurie-shaffer/
Learn more about Connected Families at https://connectedfamilies.org/
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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In today's episode, we look at the second part of two stories--The Widow Zarephath found in 1 Kings 17 and The Shunammite Woman found in 2 Kings 4. Both mamas had seen blessing in their lives and both suddenly found themselves facing the death of their only son. Their grief raised questions like "Why did this happen?!" We all have asked that question when hard things, painful things happen in our lives. As we study the women's stories in the context of the Scriptures we are reminded of God's presence with us in the hard even as he makes a way forward for us. And we are encouraged that God is bigger than any situation that we face. Nothing is too far gone or too hard for him to work in. Instead of giving up and losing heart, he calls us to come boldly before his throne.
Listen to part 1 of their stories:
- The Widow Zarephath
- The Shunammite Woman
Scripture referenced:
- 1 Kings 17:8-24
- 2 Kings 4:8-37
- Hebrew 4:15-16
- John 11:1-44
- Romans 8:26
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Images from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Mary's experience of Christmas was very different from ours. Yet hers impacts ours so deeply. Not just on the 25th but everyday of our lives. Her son was Immanuel. He was God with her and now he is God with us. In the bustle of the holidays and the busyness of our lives, let us remember what Immanuel means for us today. Merry Christmas!
Song: He Has Come For Us (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) performed by Meredith Andrews
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!
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After Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would be having a son, she headed out to see her cousin. Elizabeth, the angel had said, was miraculously pregnant in her old age. It was this pregnancy that the angel pointed to to encourage Mary to believe. In this episode, we look at how Mary's time with Elizabeth impacted her and brought about the beautiful prayer song that we now refer to as The Magnificat.
This episode was originally aired in December 2022. Be encouraged as you listen to it again!
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be such a blessing to them and to me! Thank you for your time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
For the rest of December, we are going to look at the stories of two mamas very closely related to Christmas--Elizabeth and Mary. Somehow, as we have gone through the Moms in the Bible series, we have never done an episode on Elizabeth! She is one of my favorites. Her life is a testimony of God's goodness, faithfulness and power to Mary, and to us today.
Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be such a blessing to me and to them. Thank you for taking the time!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Adoption is joy and grief, loss and gain. Every member of the adoption triad experiences it differently, and even experiences it differently in different seasons of their life. My guests today, Lisa C. Qualls and Jodi Jackson Tucker, can attest to this. Lisa is a birth, adoptive, and former foster mom. Jodi is an adoptive mom. In their own lives, and in their ministry to other adoptive parents, they are journeying the complexity that adoption is. And through it all, they have found the goodness of God and the healing he brings. Join us as Lisa and Jodi share what's on their heart for you mamas listening.
Get to know Lisa and Jodi more!
For Lisa, visit lisacqualls.com and on instagram @lisacqualls
For Jodi, visit https://secondmothers.org/ and on instagram @secondmothers or @jodijacksontucker
Buy their book, Healing for Every Heart in Adoption, on Amazon!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Did you know that discipline can be playful? That doesn't mean we aren't taking it seriously or we are letting our children "get away" with their misbehavior. Amanda Erickson, of Flourishing Homes and Families, says that playfulness actually engages our children in the way they learn best which makes our discipline more effective. Rather than entering into a power struggle, we can build connection and guide them towards different behavior in the moment and for the future. Amanda shares forms of playfulness that have worked well for her and discusses what to do when this seems too hard to do. This is a conversation you don't want to miss!
Learn more about Amanda and David and their new book, The Flourishing Family, at their website or follow them on instagram @flourishinghomesandfamilies
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Have you ever faced a need that seemed so great and you wondered how it would ever be met? What did you do? Where did you turn? For two women in Scripture, they sought the help of a prophet of God. In both situations, it was through their faith-filled actions that the answer came. Be encouraged by their stories to not fear what God calls you to but to join him in the work he wants to do in and through you.
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Have you ever hurt others out of your own hurt? Or harmed those who were supposed to protect? I think all of us who are honest about our parenting, or life in general, would say yes to both of those questions. We've yelled, spoken harshly, shamed, criticized, missed an opportunity to comfort or help through a struggle... In this episode, I share how the Lord gently spoke those questions to me when I was tempted to judge another for their actions. All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The amazing thing is that when we do hurt or harm our children in those ways, we can repent before the Lord and them, and work to bring reconciliation in our relationship.
References:
Lamentations commentary by Samuel Saldivar. Read at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/lamentations/
Connected Families and Jim Jackson, one of the founders. Learn more at https://connectedfamilies.org/
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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I recently had the pleasure of attending the Replanted Conference. It was a wonderful few days spent in community with other foster/adoptive/kinship/host families and under great teaching! The theme this year was "Worth It," leaving us to decide what punctuation to use. Where are you at in your foster and adoption journey? Would you say "Worth it!" or "Worth it." or "Worth it?" or "Worth it X"? Today's episode explores that theme and some of the teaching that speakers Jason Johnson and Jamie Finn shared. Wherever you are, know that God sees you, he hears you, and he makes it all worth it.
Learn more about:
- Replanted Ministry
- Jason Johnson
- Jamie Finn
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In your moments of stress, who is God to you? Have you stopped to think about that before? Most of us could answer from the Scriptures who God is--kind, just, loving--but in our moments of stress, we might be seeing him in a completely different way without even realizing it! In this episode my guest Tara Prevo explains the difference between God-concept (what we know about him) and God-image (how we view/experience him). As we align our God-image with who God truly is and how he desires we see him, our relationship with him grows, and those moments of stress, especially with our children, become spaces of grace and peace.
Tara and her husband David are parents to five kiddos and are Connected Families certified parent coaches. You can learn more about them here on the Connected Families website.
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Do you ever struggle with trusting a babysitter, daycare provider or coach with your child? I do! When I think about how young I was when I started babysitting, I'm amazed that anyone trusted me! Hannah is a mom in the Bible who knew what it meant to place her child in someone else's hands. And what is amazing is how she rejoiced when she did it. Not because of the physical hands receiving her child, but because of the good, powerful hands of the Lord who she entrusted. Hannah's faith invites us to a heart posture of faith and release of our children to the Lord, knowing that his ways are higher and better.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
I don't know about you, but my heart has been heavy with the struggles of parenting--both my own and those of ones dear to me. There are so many challenges, so many questions and uncertainties. Proverbs 3:5-6 says that when we trust in the Lord he will make our paths straight. So why are things so hard? In this episode, we will take a look at what straight paths mean and how adjusting our expectations will help us not only trust the Lord more but find joy in the process.
Verses referenced:
- Proverbs 3:5-6
- John 16:33
- Proverbs 4:26
- Psalm 16:11
- Isaiah 43:1-2
- Isaiah 40:28
- Romans 11:33
- Romans 8:28
- Psalm 23
- Ephesians 1
Books referenced:
- GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths through Seasons of the Heart by Ruth Chou Simons
- Filled: 60 Devotions for the Foster Parent's Heart by Jamie Finn
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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The journey to adoption, and even in adoption, has not been easy for our guest today. Luisa Wendt knows the pain of loss and the confusion of dreams unment. Yet through it all, Luisa declares God to be faithful and testifies to his good work in her life. She encourages all of us to hold onto hope that God is at work and his plan is so much better than we could imagine.
Luisa and her husband Jarrett are certified parent coaches with Connected Families. Through their practice, Built On Rock, they offer one-on-one coaching, group coaching, workshops and more to help families hold on to that hope. Learn more here.
To learn more about Connected Families and their parenting resources, visit https://connectedfamilies.org/
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Do you know who God says you are? Do you believe what he says? Our beliefs around our identity impact how we live and how we parent. My guest, Pam Thompson, walks us through an exercise of releasing the wrong views of our identity that we've been holding onto and reclaiming who God says we are.
Pam is a Connected Families certified parent coach. You can learn more about her coaching and upcoming small groups here. She has two Discipline that Connects groups beginning in October that I encourage your to check out!
I also have a virtual group just for moms beginning October 2 through the Discipline that Connects course from Connected Families. Learn more and join me!
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Naomi knew suffering. She had endured famine, moved to a different nation, lost her husband and sons, and found herself widowed in a foreign land. And still she professed faith in the Lord of the Israelites. Ruth had a front row seat to faith in the midst of hard through Naomi's testimony. It wasn't a picture perfect life that moved her to believe in the Lord. It was the raw honesty of Naomi and her continued belief that moved Ruth to faith of her own. Their stories remind us that God wants to use us as we are to be a light to the world. Afterall, his power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).
Are you wanting to grow in your parenting? Are you wondering how to connect more with your children? Or how to manage your own reactions to your kids behavior? Or what in the world to do with their behavior?! I want to invite you to join me for an 8 week virtual small group of moms beginning October 2. Learn more and register here!
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Have you ever despaired at your own sinfulness? Especially when it impacts your children, your family? I know I have. One night I found myself furious with the Lord for not changing me fast enough, not working in me well enough. We were intended for different, for better, for more! Romans 8:18 speaks to what is to come and 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 gives hope for the right now. I hope this episode encourages you today!
Verses referenced:
- Romans 8:18, 23
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Catherine Lindloff, a Family Coach with Safe Families for Children, joins me in this conversation. Her story shows how the Lord can use our homes to further his kingdom and share his love. Through her years of hosting and working in this space, Catherine has learned what a privilege it is to be used by the Lord in his work, and the relief that it is to release the control and the responsibility to him for the outcome of it all.
To learn more about Safe Families for Children, visit https://safe-families.org/
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Moms Take Ten is back for another year! Summer break was wonderful but I am excited to be back with you Mamas talking about Jesus, motherhood, foster care and adoption. This episode is an invitation to join a grace-filled community. To say no to the drive for perfection, the comparison and judgement, and the shame, and to embrace the work of God in all of our lives. Will you join us?
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Tara Edelschick and Kathy Tuan-MacLean, authors of the new Bible study by Intervarsity Press called Moms at the Well, join me for a conversation on the moms of the Bible. If you have been around Moms Take Ten for a while, you know that we love talking about these women! Tara and Kathy remind us why moms matter and how we can learn from the women found in scripture. They also highlight two of the women found in their book, Herodias and Hagar, and share some of what we can learn from their stories.
If you are interesterd in their book for yourself or as a group, head to IVP or Amazon to order a copy! You can use IVPGROUP25, which includes 25% on 1-4 copies, 40% on 5+ copies from ivpress.com. This includes free USPS shipping! You can also visit https://www.welcomejesuswelcome.com/ for more information and their playlist.
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Susan TeBos is an adoptive mama and author of the book "We've Been There: True Stories, Surprising Insights, and Aha Moments for Adopted Teens." She encourages us that even in the hard and we don't see it, God is working. There is so much that he wants to do in and through us in our family. Parenting children from hard places and who have experienced trauma is not easy but there is good to be found there. Susan reminds us that even when our kids are pushing us away, especially in the teen years, they need us to draw closer and be their ally.
Check out Susan's book on Amazon.
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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May is National Foster Care Month. We heard last week from Annika about her experience in the foster care system. This week, we will hear from Judy Maldonado who is a host parent with Safe Families for Children. This organization comes alongside families in crisis or lacking community resources, providing safe spaces for their children and support for the families so their futures are stronger and healthier. This support prevents foster care placement and promotes permanency. Learn more about Safe Families for Children here.
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Did you know that May is National Foster Care Month? At Moms Take Ten, we seek to raise awareness of foster care and adoption every month. In this month's episode, I was honored to be joined by Annika Marek-Barta. She is a young woman who grew up in an abusive home and entered foster care in her teens. Having aged out of the system, she was adopted in her twenties by a family from her church. Through her relationship with the Lord and the love of friends and family, Annika brings a message of hope to those who have been impacted by foster care. I know you will be blessed by this conversation.
You can follow her on instagram @annikamarekbarta
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I don't know about you, but it seems like sibling conflict has greatly increased since spring break. From minor annoyances to full fledged hurts, it can be hard to know how to navigate the conversation. Katie Wetsell, a fellow Connected Families certified parent coach, joins me today to talk about the Connected Families' peace process: Calm, Understand, Solve, and Celebrate. These steps guide us as parents in how we respond to our kids, and eventually guide them to handle these conflicts on their own.
Learn about Katie and her parent coaching.
Take the Connect Families Sibling Conflict course.
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Following on the heels of my conversation with Erin in last week's episode, the life of Samson's mom reminds us that God, not us, is responsible for our children's salvation and walk with him. She did what she was supposed to do. She followed the commands he gave her. Things should have worked out, right? And yet, she had to watch as he made choice after choice that she didn't understand. That wouldn't be easy for any mother. It would be easy for us to get discouraged in that situation. Our hope doesn't lie in what we see but in who we believe. Listen to how God worked through Samson's life to bring about his good purpose.
Her story can be found in Judges 13-16.
To learn more about her, listen to this episode from the Moms in the Bible series.
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Listen in on a conversation between myself and my friend Erin Muehlfeld regarding our children's salvation. Recently I saw some content on Instagram that emphasized the importance of our children's salvation, which as believers in Christ that is absolutely something we care deeply about, but it was discussed as something that parents could make happen. Statements like, "If my kids get into Harvard but don't love Jesus then I have failed" popped up on my Instagram feed in reels and posts. Erin and I discuss how those statements made us feel and also what we see in Scripture.
If you want to make Christ more of a priority in your home and your conversations with your kids but aren't sure how to do that, here are a few episodes from the Moms Take Ten series God In Our Daily Interactions that might help:
- Playing the Bible
- Talking About the Bible
- Seeing God Around Us
- Serving Those Around Us
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I was challenged by Proverbs 3:27-28 to consider how often I withhold good from my children through the no's that I say. I feel like I have been in a rut lately, and when I get tired or insecure or stressed, I say no a lot more frequently. I'm not actually thinking about my child, or what is good for them in that moment. I'm more often thinking of myself, or not really even thinking at all. The Scriptures call us to be more like God and one of the ways we can do that is by giving and showing good to those around us when we can. His heart bent towards us is incredibly generous. Let's grow in generosity in our parenting as well.
Verses referenced
- Proverbs 3:27-28
- Matthew 7:7-12
- Psalm 84:11
- James 1:17
Podcast referenced: Empowered to Connect
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Speaking from the perspective of one who grew up in kinship care, is a birthmom in an open adoption, and is also a kinship adoptive mom, Raquel McCloud brings so much to this conversation. Her life has not been easy, and there continue to be challenges to navigate. While she acknowledges the grief in that, she also highlights the hope and healing as well. As she puts it, "You can endure hard things and still come out of the other side thriving." Listen and be encouraged in your own journey, and as you support others in theirs.
Connect with Raquel via Instagram ,grab one of her books on Amazon, or head to her website to learn more speaking opportunities.
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Resharing episode 57, "Kneeling with Jesus in the Garden" in preparation for Good Friday.
Motherhood is hard. It can bring us to our knees asking God for a different way, an easier way. Jesus was familiar with that request as he himself pleaded with God for a different way in the Garden of Gethsemane. Both our struggle and Jesus' find their roots in a different garden, the Garden of Eden.
References: "The Pain in Childbearing" by Tim Challies, https://www.challies.com/articles/pain-in-childbearing/
Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman
Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
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Have you found yourself struggling after a new foster placement or your adoption was finalized? The adjustment just feels harder than it should and your mental health seems to be struggling? My friend, Natalie Stage, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, joins me for this episode to talk about post placement mental health. It is a real thing. It happens to many of us. And there is hope and help when we experience it.
Book Recommendations:
- Foster the Family by Jamie Finn
- Reclaim Compassion by Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum
To learn more about Natalie, visit https://nataliestage.com/
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We are diving into the Moms of the Bible series a week early this month with a look at Rahab. She's often thought of as the woman who saved the spies, not as a mom. But she was both. Her act of loyal love towards the spies not only helped the Israelite people enter the promised land, but paved the way for her descendants to enter into the loyal love of God through his son Jesus Christ.
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Kayla North, of One Big Happy Home, shares with us some of her journey with foster care and adoption. Through it all, she has seen God working in her own life and heart, calling out lies and declaring his truth. She encourages all of us moms to be willing and open to let him do the same in us.
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Are you a bonus mom? Then this episode is for you. Brittney Phillips, a Christian blended families coach, wants to encourage you and let you know that you are not alone! If you feel you are or things are difficult and you want support, or just to hear from someone in a similar situation, connected with Brittney via her website or on Instagram and Tiktok @itsmebrittneyp
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Moms Take Ten is celebrating 100 episodes! Thank you for being a part of this community! Would you help us celebrate? Rate or review the show, share it with a friend, and join me on instagram @lyssastoyko. Looking forward to what the next 100 episodes brings us.
This episode of Moms in the Bible looks again at Jochebed, the mother of Moses. Jesus, motherhood, and adoption are all present in her story. Be encouraged in our your mothering as you learn from her.
Scriptures referenced:
- Exodus 1-2
- Genesis 50:20
- Galatians 3:29
- Hebrews 12:1
- Isaiah 41:10
- Psalm 23
- Philippians 4:6-7
- Matthew 28:29
- Romans 8:32
- John 14:16-17
- Acts 1:8
- Mark 13:11
- Proverbs 31:25
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The kids join us as we tackle the questions:
1.What is love? 2. How do we know that mama loves us? 3. How do we know that God loves us?
Their words bring insight and also simplicity to this conversation. And their voices are just the best.
Scripture referenced: Ephesians 3:16-21
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Jillana Goble, foster and adoptive parent and advocate, joins me today to share a bit of her story. You can learn more about Jillana, and also check out the book I mentioned, at her website https://jillana-goble.com/
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Phylicia Masonheimer, of Every Woman a Theologian, joins me for a conversation about Sabbath. What is it? Where does it come from? How do we do it? Can we do it as a mom? Phylicia gives such good biblical and historical context as well as practical ideas for any woman or family. May this conversation free you to enjoy the Lord and those around you on your own Sabbath days.
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Leah and Rachel, wives of Jacob, both struggled to place God on the throne of their hearts. Leah desired her husband's love above all. Rachel desperately wanted to have children. Both of their pursuits consumed them and wreaked havoc on their homelife. There is a better way!
Their story can be found in Genesis 29-31.
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Many of us have heard that God's kindness leads us to repentance, but have you read the whole verse before? The first part speaks of God's kindness, and also his tolerance and patience. Kindness can lead to repentance, but God knows that sometimes that takes time. The same is true with our children. If we are kind only so we can see immediate results, we will quickly become frustrated and lose our kindess altogether. God calls us to be kind always, meaning we must be patient as well.
Verses referenced:
Romans 1&2, with focus on 2:4
Galatians 5:22-23
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Fellow foster and adoptive mama, Jamie Clifton, joins me today. Listen in as she shares her journey to adoption, what she is learning about parenting, and about being willing to let her village help.
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An ordinary day, an unexpected visitor, a decision to be made. Both Rebekah and Mary experienced those things, hundreds of years apart. Their choices teach all of us how to respond when God calls us.
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The Scriptures have been teaching us the antedote to anxiety for hundreds of years--trust in the Lord.
Verses referenced:
- Isaiah 26:3-4
- 1 Peter 5:6-7
- Philippians 4:4-9
- Genesis 18:14 and Luke 1:37
- Isaiah 41:10 and Matthew 28:20
- 1 Peter 1:3
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Listen in as Brandy Levya shares her experience as a transracial adoptee in a predominately white area. From avoiding adoption conversations to now sharing about her journey with others, Brandy points to the work of God in her life and heart. She offers a valuable perspective to those seeking to support children in the foster and adoption worlds. We are so honored to have Brandy join us for this episode!
Learn more about Brandy at leycolettering.com.
Learn more about Replanted at replantedministry.org.
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Our conversation with Katie Wetsell takes us into the research on gratitude. Going beyond gratitude journals, Katie shares how gratitude is meant to be shared. As parents, when we model gratitude to our children and express ours to them, we invite them to experience the benefits and enjoyment that a grateful heart brings.
Katie Wetsell is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. You can find her at parentwithhope.org and on instagram @parentwithhopecoach
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Sarah's life seems characterized by doubt and control. But that is not how the Lord describes her. Through her life we are encouraged that our own mistakes do not define. Our identity comes from the Lord. We are who HE says we are.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Do you ever find yourself acting a little crazy, a bit irrational, not in your right mind? David did. Rather than trusting the Lord, he became a madman to escape danger. Sometimes we too let our circumstances dictate our behavior. The psalm that David wrote after this escapade was a reminder to him, and to all of us, that God is in fact trustworthy and good.
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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I am so excited to begin a new season of foster and adoption conversations with this interview of my friend Jess Leach. From how the Lord drew her into foster care to how he sustained her in it, Jess's testimony draws us into God's word and and the life of Jesus in a way that applies to all of us no matter where we are at. This is such a great conversation!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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My friend Nidia joins me today to share about her sweet boy, Isaiah. Testing during pregnancy revealed that Isaiah had down sydrome. Nidia shares her love for her child, the beauty in how he was made, and the faith she has in the God who made him.
Follow their story on Instagram @casadeisaiah
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Delighting in my kids is something I have been lacking in lately. Maybe you can relate. Sometimes it feels as though all the delight is gone and I have to fight to get it back. Emily Thomas, of Struggle Well School, joins me in this episode to discuss how we can intentionally choose to delight in our children.
This conversation was prompted by this reel that Emily posted on Instagram.
You can learn more about Emily on Instagram @strugglewellschool or on her website, https://strugglewellschool.com/
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Hagar was a mom who experienced despair. She had a moment where she came to the end of herself and felt she could no longer care for her child. God knew otherwise. Be encouraged by this part of Hagar's story, and the words of the psalmist in Psalm 56, that the Lord hears us and helps us be the moms he has called us to be.
Her story is in Genesis 16 and 21.
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Have you ever found yourself frustrated having to repeat yourself to your children? I know I have. Today's passage is for you. Philippians 3:1 offers a perspective shift that will help you move from frustration to rejoicing in those moments.
A fellow foster mama said to me recently, “Who knew that saying no to placements would be one of the harder and most emotional things we have to do as foster parents.” She said this as I shared with her some of the decisions I had faced over the summer. Hard and emotional is absolutely right. This episode is the story of this summer and where we are now.
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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How can we praise our children well? Is saying "Good job!" enough or is there more we can do to encourage them? Jess Brandon, Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, joins me today for a conversation on a tool called "The ABCs of Affirmation." This tool gives guidance on how to praise our children in the good moments and the hard.
Resources:
- Jess Brandon's website
- Connected Families article on the ABCs of Affirmation
- Connected Families podcast on the ABCs of Affirmation
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Heading into another year of our Moms in the Bible series, we are going back to the beginning with Eve. In the previous episode of Eve, we looked at the lure the serpent used to trick her into eating of the tree. This episode focuses on her creation. Why was woman created? What is our purpose? Have a listen to learn more!
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
After some announcements, this episode dives into a new emphasis on Moms Take Ten, looking at verses throughout scripture that can guide or encourage us in our parenting. Today, we study Ephesians 1, and the incredible promise of spiritual blessings to those who believe in Jesus.
Interested in parent coaching or to learn more about me, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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In this final episode of our miniseries on the Connected Families framework, we discuss correction. The message is: Child, you are responsible for your actions. Correction is something that all parents have questions about and struggle with knowing what to do. The goal of this episode is to give a biblical perspective for how to engage our children, drawing on the previous three messages, and ways to give consequences that focus on building wisdom and restoring relationship.
Resources:
- Discipline that Connects course--the moderated version opens in September!
- Parent Coaching with Lyssa--also opening in September!
- Consequences That Actually Work ebook from Connected Families
- "Coaching Your Kids To Make It Right" episode from the Connected Families podcast
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We've spent the first two weeks of this miniseries looking inside ourselves and our children to better understand and respond to situations. These next two sessions will look at practical ways to coach and correct our children. Our children are called by God and capable of so much. We get to come alongside them and coach them in the giftings that he has given them. What a privilege!
Resources:
- Article by Connected Families on gifts gone awry
- Podcast by Connected Families on gifts gone awry
- Flourishing Homes and Families visual schedule
- Parent Coaching by Lyssa
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Continuing to work through the Connected Families framework, we come to the second message: "Child, you are loved no matter what." How can we as parents intentionally convey to our children the unconditional love of God, and of us, even in their misbehavior?
To learn more:
Read Connected Families' blog post "15 Reasons for Love-No-Matter-What."
Listen to Connected Families' podcast episode "Communicating Love in the Midst of Misbehavior."
Follow me on instagram @lyssastoyko where I share my own experiences with parenting through the framework.
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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You have heard me mention the organization Connected Families a number of times on Moms Take Ten, so I thought it was time for a proper introduction to their framework. Each episode of this miniseries will focus on one of Connected Families core messages. Today, we look at the foundational message of "Child, you are safe with me."
You can learn more about Connected Families by heading to their website or instagram account, or by following my instagram account.
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The final episode to our miniseries, God In Our Daily Interactions, we are discussing teaching our children and involving our children in serving others.
Resources Referenced:
God's Big Story podcast
Devoted: Great Men and Their Godly Moms by Tim Challies
Today we are discussing how to help our children see God where they are at. We want to help grow their awareness of him and delight at seeing him.
Resources Referenced:
Moms Take Ten Episode--The Gospel in Parenting with Lynne Jackson
Creating spaces throughout our day to talk about God and his word to our children.
Resources Referenced:
Family Worship by Donald Whitney
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones
Tales that Tell the Truth by The Good Book Company
Will, God's Mighty Warrior by Sheila Walsh
The Courageous Series by Voice of the Martyrs
The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls by Mike Thomas
Instagram accounts: @goodbookmom and @fillyourhousewithbooks
The Trailblazers Series
Heroes of the Faith Series
Adventures in Odyssey
The Lamplighter Kids podcast
Card sets from The Daily Grace Co
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A new miniseries--God In Our Daily Interactions.
This episode talks about how to help our children learn the Bible through play.
Resources Referenced:
Playfully Faithful Parenting
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This is the final episode of the For Fathers series. As I prepared, interviewed, edit and posted the episodes in this series, I was aware of the difficult reality that not every home or every child has a godly father . Some homes have no father at all. Others have a father present who, rather than upholding godly values, actively seeks to tear down the good that is or could be present. To speak to that father gap and to the moms living in those homes is a daunting goal.
This episode speaks to those mamas who are pursuing God for their families without the support or the presence of the father. You were not forgotten in this series. You were thought of, prayed for, and loved. I hope something in this podcast episode will speak to your heart, and remind you of God's heart for you.
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I hope you all had a wonderful Fathers Day!
This episode continues our series, For Fathers, with a conversation with my brother, Michael Loosa. He brings such a good word about fathers in light of our Heavenly Father and the freedom that comes from acknowledging your shortcomings in order to embrace his assistance. Michael also encourages fathers in their relationships with their wives and how to step into that well.
Verses referenced:
Isaiah 43:6-7
I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—"
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God
Books referenced:
Family Worship by Donald Whitney
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
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My brother-in-law joins me in this episode to share how he views his role as father, and the ways that he seeks to guide and love his children. He talks about speaking into their character more than performance, showing his love through the way he spends his time, being aware of his internal struggles as he disciplines, and inviting our children into all spheres of our lives.
Book referenced: Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker
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Part 2 of our For Fathers series features my husband Jonathan and his dad George as they discuss why spending time with their kids is so important.
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Kicking off a five-week series about and for fathers! This episode talks about the how this series came about and shares about my own father. Through this series, I hope we as moms will be encouraged to support our husbands in their parenting. I also hope that fathers will listen in and be strengthened in your role.
If you'd like to learn more about my dad or purchase a copy of the children's book about him, visit https://lyssastoyko.com/the-book/
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Lynne Jackson, co-founder of Connected Families, joins me for an encouraging and practical conversation on the gospel in our parenting. When I was a young mom, I struggled to see how the gospel could speak to my parenting in any real practical sense. I was so wrong! Over the years, I have come to see how beautiful and transformative the gospel is for our salvation and also our daily lives. Connected Families has been instrumental in bringing the scriptures to life in my parenting. I hope you will find this episode to be a great help as you strive to parent biblically.
Want to know more about Connected Families??? I highly recommend checking out their website or tuning into their podcast. You will be blessed through their content.
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This month’s episode on Moms in the Bible focuses on the Syrophoenician woman. Her story is found in Matthew 15 and Mark 7. I love this story! She models for us faith, persistence, humility and confidence.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Inspired by an episode from The Daily Grace Podcast, this Mother's Day episode will discuss how our work as homemakers (women who invest in our homes) reflects God's own heart. We will look at places in Scripture where God is making a home for his people. We will discuss the beautiful truth that God himself is our home. We will find encouragement in the reminder that he sees our work and he joins us in it. Happy Mother's Day!
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Ashley McMahan joined Moms Take Ten today to bring a different perspective to our podcast--that of the daughter of a foster family. Listen in as she shares how her family became involved in foster care and how that has been a blessing in her life. Ashley and her family started the organization Ruth Project, located in the greater Elgin area of Illinois, that provides tangible and spiritual support for foster and adoptive families. Be sure to check out their website!
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All of the other moms that we have studied so far had redeeming qualities about them. Not Herodias. Her story is different from all the others in that she did not acknowledge or believe in God and her life showed it. Hers is a cautionary tale that we would be wise to heed.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
It is so hard when our child is dysregulated or misbehaving. One of my kiddo seems to live in a near constant state of dysregulation. In this episode, I share how the framework from Connected Families, through the gracious work of the Spirit, has been helping me reorient my thinking about my responses to him. I hope that this episode will encourage you in your efforts to respond with grace to your own children.
Verses referenced:
- James 1:2-3
- Romans 8:38-39
- Colossians 3:12-13
Books referenced:
- Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood by Melissa Kruger
- Mom Set Free by Jeannie Cunnion
- Discipline that Connects with your Child's Heart by Jim and Lynne Jackson
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The grief that I have been experiencing from the sudden end of a placement has moved me to compassion for the bio families. Will you join me in this space for a moment? Put yourself in the shoes of a mama who has just lost her children to the foster system, or a mama who is willingly yet sorrowfully placing her child through adoption. Let that move you to compassion and love for this member of the triad that so often is judged and condemned, or worse, forgotten.
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A look at the crucifixion and resurrection through the eyes of Mary, Jesus' mother.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Motherhood is hard and can bring us to our knees asking God for a different way, an easier. Jesus was familiar with this request as he pleaded with God in the Garden of Gethsemane. Both our struggle and Jesus' find their roots in a different garden, the Garden of Eden.
References: "The Pain in Childbearing" by Tim Challies, https://www.challies.com/articles/pain-in-childbearing/
Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman
Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
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A word of encouragement for moms from Psalm 139. God has hemmed us into the present and into his presence. Let us find our rest, our strength and our daily grace right where he has us.
Verses mentioned:
Psalm 139:1-6
Psalm 118:24
Matthew 6:25-34
James 4:13-15
Matthew 6:11
Hebrews 4: 15-16
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 43:1-2
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My sister, Kimberly Taylor, takes the mic today to share encouragement for our ordinary, mundane, routine moments of motherhood. As she says, "Be encouraged, Mama. Your work is purposeful. Whatever work you have in front of you today, look beyond the physical and temporal and see into eternity- that this simple, menial task “might sit upstream the changing of a heart” and “the changing of a heart might sit upstream the changing of the world.”
The prayer that she reads is "A Liturgy for Changing Diapers" from Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey.
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It is our one-year anniversary!!! Thank you for listening to Moms Take Ten and for supporting this podcast. If this podcast has been a blessing to you, will you take a minute to rate and review it? That will help more mamas find encouragement through this podcast. Thank you!
I am taking a break from our usual foster and adoption interviews to share something that I have been thinking about. Every time a placement ends, Jonathan and I wrestle with the decision to host again or not. It is a struggle between complacency and contentment, and that is a struggle that all of us can relate to.
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I have a sensitive and intense kiddo. One who has pushed me to learning and growing in ways I didn't realize I would as a parent. As I have looked for support to help me parent him well, I found Connected Families. Lydia Rex, my parent coach from Connected Families and one of the teachers of the new course, Sensitive and Intense Kids, joins me today to discuss the challenges and the hope of raising our kids.
If you are interested in joining me for this course, you can head here to register! Use the code 15SK to get 15% off. There is a cohort beginning March 6, 2023, but the videos are always availabe for viewing.
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The Shunammite Woman's story is found in 2 Kings 4 and 8. Her story teaches us the value of hospitality. The word can make us cringe or feel guilty as we look at our messy house, busy schedules, or rambunctious children. Hospitality doesn't have to be a big, elaborate, pinterest worthy event. Listen in to learn more about what hospitality, biblical hospitality, is like, and how we are all called to be hospitable to those around us.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
I had so much fun making this episode because I was joined by my husband, Jonathan Stoyko. Coming from a posture of honoring our marriage and our spouse, Jonathan and I discuss ways that we invest in our marriage. Of all the friendships that we can and should be pouring into, this one is the most important. Take sometime this week to have a listen and then to invest in your marriage as well.
Happy Valentine's Day! You are loved :-)
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I hear from so many mamas, especially those in the foster and adoption world, that they need other mamas to come alongside them for friendship, support and encouragement. The forming and cultivating of those friendships takes work, and oftentimes we mamas let other things get in the way. The reality is, we need each other. So let's talk about ways we can prioritize our friendships to grow our village.
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Laura Hernandez is a bio and adoptive mama of ten kiddos. Three of her children joined her family through the foster care system and all three have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Laura shares some of her journey through adoption and diagnoses, and the daily commitment she makes to love and care for her kiddos. Laura has a heart to come alongside mamas who are also facing FASD diagnoses, as well as to help mamas create and implement systems to make daily life more manageable. You can connect with her a mamasystems.net or on instagram @mamasystems.
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Bathsheba's story is a difficult one for me. It is full of pain and injustice. Out of the suffering, God blessed Bathsheba with a son that would love and serve the Lord, respected his mother, and who was part of the lineage of Christ. While not our ultimate source of joy or hope, God often uses our children to encourage us. They are our life's work, after all.
Bathsheba's story is found in 2 Samuel 11-12 and 1 Kings 1-2.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Do you ever feel like a switch gets flipped in your body that turns something off? That’s how I have felt the past few months. I want to share with you where I am at and some truths from God's word that I find encouraging.
If I sound a little funny in this episode, it is because I just had gum surgery. I tried to plan ahead but it just didn't happen! Oh well. This is life :-)
Verses referenced:
John 15:4-5
John 14:6
Matthew 11:28-30
Philippians 4:6
Romans 8:37
John 16:33
Matthew 28:18-20
Song referenced: God Makes Messy Things by Slugs and Bugs
A stirring as a child that grew into a desire as a college student and became a reality as an adult. Join Kim Johnson and I as she shares her story of adopting and what she has been learning through that experience.
With Christmas in less than a week, it is only fitting that this month's Moms in the Bible episode focuses on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her life was changed in an instant, yet she handled it with such grace. Beginning with humble acceptance, the Lord brought her to a place of rejoicing at what he had invited her into. Allow her story to move you to a place of rejoicing at what God has invited you into as well.
Watch the Instagram live on Elizabeth here.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
In this episode, Chef Kibby, of Cooking is Connecting, shares how inviting children into our kitchens can help meet the hunger they have for connection. It is not easy to allow our children to help us cook. I can attest to that! Chef Kibby highlights the mental shift we can make as parents that prioritizes the connection with our children.
Want to learn more about Chef Kibby? Find him on Instagram @chefkibby or on his website cookingisconnecting.com.
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Joining me for today's episode on foster care and adoption is Amy Goodman, the wife of Heritage Church's Pastor Skylar. She is a bio mom and an adoptive mom through domestic infant adoption. Her journey was one of learning to trust in God's faithfulness and to be faithful herself to do the just the next right thing. As her and her husband were faithful to do the next thing, they began to see how God had been weaving a tapestry throughout their whole lives that prepared them for their adoptive daugher. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
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We often think of play as a child's thing. Parents who don't particularly enjoy building with legos, playing with dolls, or putting on costumes can find the idea of play to be tedious. Joy Wendling, host of the podcast Playfully Faithful Parenting, challenges that definition of play. Listen in as she discusses what play really is, the different ways we are wired to play, and how we can make our house a more playful place.
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Hannah's story is a familiar story to us, especially for those of us who have wrestled with fertlity. Yet, while her story is similar to previous moms that we have studied there is one key difference--her relationship with God. Hannah learned to bring the Lord her anguish and despair and lean in to his sovereignty. Her story invites all of us to do the same.
Her story can be found in 1 Samuel 1-2.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Music is a fun, powerful way to connect with our children! Tricia Little, a music therapist, talks with us about the ways music builds connection with our children as well as how we can utilize music throughout our day. Whether you enjoy singing or not, there are tips in here for you!
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I am so excited for this new miniseries that starts on Monday. It is a 3-part series focused on connecting with our children. We will talk about connecting through music, through play and through cooking. Our children crave connection with us, and it is connection that helps them grow, develop, learn, and hear us when we teach and correct. This series is full of practical ways that we can connect with our children in the everyday moments of life.
Hosting with Safe Families for Children was prompted by her own experience with struggle and single parenting. In this episode, AnnaMaria shares a little of her personal experience and what she has learned in her time volunteering with and now working for Safe Families.
Interested in learning more about Safe Families? Visit https://safe-families.org/ You can also listen to episode 28, Foster Care and Adoption with Meghan Price to hear her experience with the organization.
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I had the privilege of attending the Replanted Conference for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The theme of the conference was “And”. It seemed confusing at first and then became so powerful as the speakers unpacked its significance.
Our lives are filled with, lived in, the “and”. Some of those we like. Sometimes though, our “ands” feel oppositional, as though they should not go together, yet in our lives they do. Grief AND joy. Hurt AND healing. Regret AND hope. We struggle to acknowledge both in our lives. It can be confusing. It can cause tension. Yet, both must be acknowledged to truly live.
References:
Replanted Conference at https://replantedconference.org/
Jamie Finn at http://www.fosterthefamilyblog.com/
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The episodes this month have touched on various forms of loss, and with loss comes grief. Kiah Enriquez, a licensed clinical social worker, joins us in today's episode to dialogue about loss and grief---what grief is, what prompts grief, and what we can do when we find ourselves experiencing it.
Some Grief Resources from Kiah:
Grief Share is a Christian/Biblical-based grief support offered through many churches nationwide: https://www.griefshare.org/ Pregnancy and Postpartum loss support groups: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum/ Resolve has infertility support groups as well: https://resolve.org/get-help/find-a-support-group/ Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care is non-profit offers free grief support services in Illinois: https://lightways.org/griefsupport/
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One of only two books in the Bible dedicated entirely to the story of a woman, the book of Ruth is short and powerful. It is a beauty from ashes story, beginning with such sorrow and ending with much joy. At the heart of it is a relationship between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law. In their relationship, we see the power of God at work in our pain. He does not leave us to bear it alone but journeys with us in the heartache. He gives us space to grieve, to question, to cry, and he heals our hearts bringing us to times of dancing.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Prayer from https://www.econdolence.com/learning-center/religion-and-culture/psalms/
I wanted to follow up our episode on Monday, I Am Not Ashamed Of My Child, with a conversation about Occupational Therapy. As I explored that option for my son, I came to discover that there is a lot of confusion about what occupational therapy is and who it is for. Joining me for this episode is my friend Laura Gonzalez who is an occupational therapist. She brings her expertise to this conversation and helps us better understand what OT is and who is might be for.
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Our son's first year of school was a little rough. Just three weeks into it, and already we were getting talked to by his teachers about his behavior. While appreciative of their insight, my insecurities flared up and caused trouble in our home. God graciously intervened and taught me how to stop feeling ashamed of my child and to start advocating for him. Looking for the beauty that God has placed in our children helps us fight off the worry and fear when they are struggling.
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Grab a tissue for this foster care and adoption episode. Natalie Stage, a good friend of mine, so graciously joined me to share her hard but beautiful story of adoption. Both of us were in tears multiple times as we re-walked her journey and remembered God's goodness even in the hard.
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Has there ever been a time when your child was struggling and you made things worse with your impatience? I have definitely had many of those times. It is like we drag them into this crazy cycle that leaves us both exhausted and exasperated. By God's grace, we can get out of that cycle!
Verses Referenced:
Psalm 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
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The mother of one of the most famous men in the Bible. Found in Judges 13-15, Mother's story calls us to have faith, simple faith, in the Lord. Listen in to this episode of Moms in the Bible to learn how we can grow in simple faith.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Is your parenting thoughtful and purposeful, or is it reactive or passive? I can definitely find myself in the reactive cycle but I desire to be an intentional parent. In this conversation with my sister, Kim Taylor, we will talk about what it means to be an intentional parent and ways we can grow in intentionality.
To learn more about Connected Families visit https://connectedfamilies.org/
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I witnessed a car accident last week and that experience has stuck with me. There are a couple thoughts from it that I want to share with you. Thanks for listening!
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Meghan Price joins me today for a conversation about hosting through Safe Families for Children. That organization provides an alternative to foster care that supports families through short-term placements. Listen in as Meghan shares about the continued relationship that her family has been able to build with one of the children that she hosted years ago, and the ways God has grown her family through that experience.
Interested in learning more about Safe Families? Visit their website at https://safe-families.org/
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School is upon us once again! Whether you are sending your kiddos to public or private school or embarking upon another year of homeschooling, this is a time of transition for many families. Or maybe some other event has caused your family routines to be thrown off a bit. We all go through times when we need to recalibrate and figure out what we want our days to look like.
Joining me for this episode is Rachael Link, a mom of four and a homeschool mom, and a dear friend. She has some great suggestions for how to establish structure that help both us and our kids enjoy our days more.
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This episode wraps up our Summer with Encanto series. What does it mean that you are "more than just your gift"? That "the miracle is you, not some gift, just you"? Our identity is more than our looks, our likes, our personality and our skills. Our identity is rooted in the work and person of Jesus Christ. Let's take some time together to look more closely at what that means.
Verses Referenced:
Mama, you bear God’s image:
So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Mama, you are known by God:
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:1-5
So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Genesis 16:13
Mama, you are loved fully by God:
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Mama, he died because he loves you
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10
Mama, you are forgiven and redeemed
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
…as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103: 12
Mama, you are his child
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…1 John 3:1
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:14-17
Mama, you are safe with him
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7
Mama, you are empowered and equipped by him
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:3
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
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My favorite of the all the mothers in this series, Jochebed's story is short but powerful. It is full of faith, strength, courage, and hope. Her life and actions set in motion the rescue of God’s people from Egypt and the creation of the nation of Israel. I wish more was included in the Bible about this amazing mother or that I could have tucked into a corner of her home to watch and listen and learn from this woman of faith. My prayer is that you will be inspired by her too.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
The question “What else can I do?” takes our children on a journey of discovery, of failure and success, of experimentation, of creativity and imagination, of mind work and heart work. What a wonderful question to teach our children!
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Is your family like the Family Madrigal, where certain topics are simply off limits? Or are you actively working to create a culture of openness and dialogue that gives your children space to process and formulate a biblical worldview? Today we chat about ways that we can create that culture of saftey in our homes and how to engage our children in the tough conversations.
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Join me as we look at probably my least favorite of all the Moms in the Bible stories....Leah and Rachel. It is so full of jealousy and discord that it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. God wants so much more and better for us than what Leah and Rachel settled for!!! David speaks to that in Psalm 16, so lets study that to grab hold of what God is offering to us today.
The story of Leah and Rachel can be found in Genesis 29:1-35:20.
Verses mentioned:
Proverbs 14:30--A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
James 3:16--For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Zephaniah 3:17--The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Psalm 16--
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
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Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Like Luisa in Disney's Encanto, we can struggle under the pressures and expectations of our lives. We join with her in asking, "But wait, if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations, would that free some room up for joy or relaxation or simple pleasure?" And the Lord says a resounding, "YES!"
Verses mentioned:
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 3:5 "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,"
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 22: 36-39 “'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. nd the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"
The story of Jesus sleeping on the boat is found in Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35-41.
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Meredith joins me today as we hear a little of how her family became the Stiles 7 and ways that friends and family can support foster and adoptive families in their journeys. We can all do something to love and care for these kiddos and their families.
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It is hard to wait for a miracle, for God to answer our prayers! Our hearts and minds are often a sea of chaos and confusion, yet God calls us to be still before him. The song "Waiting on a Miracle" from Disney's Encanto speaks of this struggle, but God's word speaks peace to our struggle. Pour it out to God, he is listening.
Verses mentioned:
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth!"
2 Peter 3:8-9 "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.“
Mark 4:39 "And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
Philippians 4:7 "
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
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In this month's edition of Moms in the Bible, we are going to meet Rebekah, Sarah's daughter-in-law. My favorite part of Rebekah's story is found in the middle of a rather disappointing decision by her husband Isaac. In that brief section of the Bible, we see a couple who is in love and is taking advantage of a moment alone together. Rebekah and Isaac's relationship encourages all of us to look for ways to fan the flames of intimacy in our own marriages. Have fun with it!
Rebekah's story can be found in Genesis 24:1-67; 25:19-28:9
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Artwork by John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Welcome to our first episode of our summer Encanto series! The Family Madrigal is a fun song where Mirabel introduces us to the members of her family as she avoids talking about herself. Sound familiar? As mamas, we are often guilty of the same thing. Sometimes we lose ourselves in our families and sometimes we hide behind our families. In both cases, both our families and ourselves miss out.
Song clip of Family Madrigal from Disney's Encanto
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There is a fun series coming this summer based on the songs of Disney's Encanto! I hope you will join me!
Joining me today is a dear friend and fellow foster mama, Alicia Rushton. Listen in as she shares what she has learned on her foster journey.
Verse Referenced:
It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. Matthew 10:25a
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Joining us today for a conversation on our emotional and mental wellbeing is Marija Lamas. Motherhood is hard and our emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Too often we forget to tune in and think about how we are doing. We will discuss areas of struggle for moms and avenues for help. Our time is short but we want to at least begin the conversation!
Marija is a friend of mine, former colleague, licensed clinical social worker, and owner and therapist of Selah Professional Counselors.
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We all need moments throughout our day where we pause and breathe, turning our eyes to Christ and off the craziness around us. Here's a new way I've been reminding myself to take those moments. What helps you?
Verses referenced:
Pause and seek strength--
1 Chronicles 16:11 "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Pause and give your burdens to Christ--
Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you, he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Pause and give thanks--
Psalm 118:29 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."
Pause and rest--
Psalm 116:7 "Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you."
Matthew 11:28-30 "'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'"
Book referenced:
7 Traits of Effective Parenting by Daniel Huerta
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The stories of Hagar and Sarah are greatly intertwined. Last month, we heard Hagar's side of things. This month, we look at Sarah. Her life was filled with wandering and waiting. Waiting can be so hard! The kind of waiting that God calls us to is active and trustfilled. How are you handling your wait?
Read Sarah's story in Genesis 16:1-6;17; 18:1-15; 20; 21:1-21
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Artwork by John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
My journey to motherhood was different than I anticipated, and difficult. Maybe you can relate? Along the way, I had to learn to say, "That's her story, this is mine." I had to learn to choose to allow God to write my story however he wanted, without hurting myself through comparison with other moms' journeys. God is so faithful. I'm honored to share what he has done in my life with you.
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Mother's Day is coming on Sunday. Whether you are excited for the day or hurting from it, I want to invite us to pause and praise God for who he is in all of this. May your hearts be refreshed by this episode. Happy Mother's Day Mama.
Read with permission by the Daily Grace Co: Chapter 2, Doxology from Hymns for a Mother's Heart by Jana White. Visit the Daily Grace Co website to see the book.
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Joining us today is my sister-in-law Brittany Loosa for a conversation on perseverance in motherhood. Drawing on her experience as a teacher in a difficult urban school and as mama of three kiddos, Brittany shares how God has been teaching her to persevere when life gets hard.
Verse referenced: 2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
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In this month's edition of Moms in the Bible, we meet Hagar. An Egyptian slave in the household of Abraham and Sarah, Hagar's life was not her own. And it did not go how she expected it to go. Through all the ups and downs, Hagar met God and realized that he is the God who Sees. Not just for her, but for you as well. God sees you Mama.
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Artwork by John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Holy Week started yesterday and we have an opportunity to lift high the name of Christ in our homes this week. Here are several ways you can engage your family in preparation for Good Friday and Easter.
Scavenger Hunt from Focus on the Family:
a rock (the tomb)
two sticks (the cross)
something black (sin)
something red (blood)
something white (clean heart)
something green (growing in Christ)
Books Mentioned:
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
The Donkey Who Carried A King by R.C. Sproul
The Garde, the Curtain, and the Cross by Carl Laferton
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Have you ever heard someone say, "I could never do foster care because I would get too attached?" Maybe you have said it yourself. Join Lyssa as she chats about the need for attachment in foster care (and parenting in general) and also the challenge with that.
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Evaluating our parental authority in a desire to more fully reflect God to our children.
References:
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp
Five Ways God's Anger Is Not Like Ours by Colin Smith, https://unlockingthebible.org/2020/08/five-ways-gods-anger-not-like-ours/
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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The start of our monthly series, Moms in the Bible, beginning just as the Bible does with Eve. Her quest for wisdom took her down a hard and painful path. Where does your quest take you?
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Artwork by John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.
Learning to be intentional in including our children in the daily tasks of the house. This feels so hard sometimes! Much easier to do things myself but I want to raise helpful kids. How about you?
Book mentioned:
Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
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Our first episode! While we are often a mess in our parenting (and in life), God is good and gracious. He called us to this role and He is with us in it.
Bible Verses:
Ephesians 2: 4-10
Titus 2:4-5, 11-13
quote from John James
And now, to sum up all, consider–
A mother's charge—an immortal creature.
A mother's duty—to train him up for God, heaven and eternity.
A mother's dignity—to educate the family of the Almighty Creator of the universe.
A mother's difficulty—to raise a fallen sinful creature to holiness and virtue.
A mother's encouragement—the promise of Divine grace to assist her in her momentous duties.
A mother's relief—to bear the burden of her cares to God in prayer.
A mother's hope—to meet her child in glory everlasting, and spend eternal ages of delight with him before the throne of God and the Lamb.
The full essay can be found here: https://www.gracegems.org/20/female_piety12.htm
Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/
Want to say hello? Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com
Moms Take Ten is coming soon! A place for Christian moms to refuel and refocus in the midst of your busy day. Learn more about our topics and host here. See you soon!
Want to say hello?
Email Lyssa at momstaketen@gmail.com