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It's Thanksgiving week, so I'm counting my blessings, and my 12 children are right up there at the top of the list.
Another thing I'm grateful for? The fact my husband didn't cut my childbearing years short by getting a vasectomy, though he definitely considered it at one point.
Listen to this week's episode to hear why, and to learn what stopped him from going through with it.
Show Notes:VERSES CITED:- Colossians 1:16-17 - "...all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
- Hebrews 1:3 - "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word."
- Revelation 4:11 - “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 - "...there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all things came and through Whom we live."
RELATED LINKS:- More than Meets the Eye - this is the book by Richard Swenson that made such an impression on my husband (I don't think I gave the title in the podcast)
- Always Open: 5 Reasons I Love Having My Tubes Intact - my response to an article from the other side of the issue, written by a woman who was grateful to have hers tied
- Postponing Motherhood: At What Cost? - my review of Holly Grigg-Spall's Sweetening the Pill
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This week on Loving Life at Home, I'm tackling a question about early education for preschoolers: What can a mom of multiple toddlers do to make sure her little ones are getting what they need? Those were pressing thoughts on my mind, too, when I was a young mom, and in today's episode, I'm sharing the advice a wise mentor gave me at the time. It served me and my children well and will hopefully do the same for you and yours!
Show NotesRELATED LINKS:- Laying the Foundation for a LIfetime of Learning
- 50 Picture Books Every Child Should Read
- Cultivating Creativity in Young Children
- Raising Kids Who Love to Read
- Keeping Toddlers Occupied
- 50 Chapter Books to Read Aloud to Your Family
- Choosing Curricula Your Children Will Love
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Several years ago, I read a book entitled Marriage to a Difficult Man. I felt a little self-conscious toting it around with me at the time, lest anyone assume it was a how-to book rather than recognizing it for what it was: a biography of the famous 18th-century revivalist preacher Jonathan Edwards in relation to his very patient and supportive wife.
I have a similar concern in publishing this week's episode, in which I offer advice to a reader who is looking for help in dealing with what she calls a "Jekyll and Hyde" husband. While nearly 40 years of marriage has taught me a lot about living in peace with a partner who can sometimes be difficult (a description he could rightly apply to me, as well), I would never go so far as to compare my own husband's mood swings to the infamous Dr. Jekyll.
Nevertheless, I've endeavored to answer this reader's question with tips that have been helpful in my own marriage and with ideas I've drawn from observing the marriages of those around me. I hope you'll listen in and be encouraged.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:1 Peter 3:8 - "...be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."1 Corinthians 7:5 - "Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time...."Proverbs 13:12 - "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."1 Corinthians 13:15 - "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But...."Romans 3:23 - "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."Psalms 139:23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxious thoughts...."Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if...."James 1:2-3 - " Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that....” Proverbs 15:1 - "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Colossians 4:6 - "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that....” Philippians 1:6 - "...He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right...."RELATED LINKS:EP 34: The #1 Rule for Building a Happy MarriageEP 31: How to Love Your Husband WellEP 12: When You're Married to a Problem SolverEP 2: Dealing with Difficult In-LawsLove Your Husband/Love Yourself (my book)STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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Nearly everyone has to wrestle with negative or sinful or intrusive thoughts at one time or other, so in today's episode, we're talking strategies for overcoming bad thoughts and taking them captive to the obedience of Christ.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- 2 Cor. 10:5 - “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God….”
- Psalm 19:14 - “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight...”
- Romans 12:2 - “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind....”
- 1 Cor. 10:13 - “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind....”
- Eph 6:16-17 - "...taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows...."
- James 4:7-8 – “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.....”
- Matthew 6:13 – “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…”
- Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace him whosemind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
- Psalm 23:4 – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil....”
- Matt. 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
- Phil. 4:6-7 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving...."
- James 1:19-20 – “Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak andslow to anger; for the anger of man....”
- Matt. 12:34-35 – “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good....”
- Matt. 5:44 - “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you...."
- Gal. 5:24 – “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
- Matt. 5 27-28 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you....”
- 1 Cor. 6:18 – “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but....”
- 2 Tim. 2:22 – “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that....”
- Romans 13:14 - “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to...."
- Phil. 4:8 - "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely...."
- 1 Peter 5:5 - "Dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for God opposes the proud but ....”
- Prov. 16:18 - “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before fall.”
- 1 Cor. 4:7 – “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if...."
- Phil. 2:3-5 - “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another ...."
- Jer. 17:9 - “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
- 2 Cor. 12: 20 – “...there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.”
- 1 Tim. 5:13 – “Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers....”
- Prov. 21:23 - "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
- Eph. 4:31 - "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."
- Col. 3:8 - "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander...."
- 1 Peter 2:1 - "So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander."
- Eph. 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for...."
- James 3:14-17 – “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart...."
- 2 Cor. 10:12 - "... measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves...."
- Col. 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone....”
- Eph. 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
- Heb. 12:15 – “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to...."
- Matt. 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you....”
- Rom. 12:3 – “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober....”
- Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful...."
- Genesis 1:27 - “in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
- Psalm 8:5 - "You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor."
- 1 Cor. 6:19 - “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you...."
- 2 Cor. 5:15 - "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him...."
- Rom. 14:7 - “...none of us lives for himself and no man dies for himself.”
RELATED LINKS:- EP 28: Bible Memory Tips
- Taking Every Thought Captive Printable
- What God Hath Promised by Annie Johnson Flint
- Praying for Your Enemies
- Screwtape Letters
- EP 11: Forgiving Fully & Freely
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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Today is my mom's 87th birthday, and this episode is in her honor. I'm immeasurably blessed to have the mother God gave me, and have learned so much from her over the years. Today I'm sharing 8 crucial things my mom did right, so you can benefit from her good example, too.
Show Notes:VERSES CITED:- Proverbs 31:15 - “She rises while yet it is night....”
- Proverbs 31:17 - “She sets about her work vigorously....”
- Proverbs 31:25 - "She is clothed with strength and dignity...."
- Proverbs 31:26 - "She opens her mouth with skillful and godly wisdom...."
- Proverbs 31:27-31 - “She looks well to how things go in her household...."
- James 5:16 - “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
- Ephesians 5:22 - “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
- Ephesians 5:33 - “...and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”
- Colossians 3:8 - “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
- John 15:13 - “Greater love has no one than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends.”
- Philippians 2:3-4 - “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind...."
- 1 Peter 4:9 - “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.”
- Ecclesiastes 12:12 - “...excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”
- Proverbs 9:18 - “Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives."
- Proverbs 3:24 - “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”
- Hebrews 10:24-25 - “…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some....”
- 1 Peter 3:15 - "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to....”
- Romans 12:15 - "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
RELATED LINKS:- Free Printable Prayer Guides
- EP 1: How to Find a Good Mentor
- EP 38: Making the Most of Your Child's Learning Style
- Until the Streetlights Come On by Ginny Yurich
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. Does getting ready for the holidays feel burdensome or overwhelming to you? In Episode 63 of Loving Life at Home, we're discussing strategies to steer clear of stress, side-step the hustle-bustle, and enjoy a merry, meaningful, and blissfully peaceful advent season.
Show NotesRELATED VERSES:- Philippians 4:6 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
- Romans 14:5 - "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind."
- Proverbs 6:6-8 - "Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest."
LINKS MENTIONED:- Episode 2: tips for getting along with difficult or demanding family members
- 6 Steps to a Stress-Free Holiday Season - source material for this podcast
- Our Family Christmas Letters - all our past annual updates plus tips for creating your own
- Our Christmas Card Assembly Line - one of my families all-time favorite traditions
- Simple Bucket List - poll your family members on the top few things they don't want to miss
- 6 Fun Ways to Count Down to Christmas - including the Christmas books we traditionally read
- 50 Fun Things to Do With Your Family This Christmas - we just pick and choose from this list
- Rakuten - a fantastic FREE cashback program which has saved me a bundle over the years
- How to Install the Rakuten Browser Button - this will automatically alert you when cashback is available
- Shifting Christmas Focus - my full answer to the mom whose entitled kids were driving her crazy
- Large Family Gift-Giving - a more detailed answer to one mama's inquiry on this topic
- Super Stocking Stuffers - a list of some of the small gifts we've put in our kids' stockings over the years
- Smart Ideas for Turning Trash into Treasure - some of the recycled art projects our kids have enjoyed
- Elfster - gift exchange app
- Thinking of Others at Christmas - brainstorming ways to be a blessing to others at Christmas
- Taming the Toy Box - includes list of most worthwhile, lasting toys and how to keep them organized
- Age-Appropriate Chore Chart - a good starting place for incorporating your children's help
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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Despite the fact the world proclaims with one loud voice, “You are enough!” that has never been the way it has played out in my life. And do you know what? It’s liberating to admit that fact. Join me today as we discuss why we should reject that self-affirmation for the lie it is.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life...."
- Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
- Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:25 - "For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God...."
- James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives to all generously & without reproach...."
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become...."
- Ephesians 1:7-8 - "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with...."
- Romans 8:29 - "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...."
- James 1:4 - "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
- Revelation 5:12 - "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive... honor and glory and praise!”
- Ephesians 2:4-5 - "We were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is..."
- 2 Corinthians 3:5 - “Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from...."
- Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift...."
- Romans 9:16 - “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
- Philippians 2:13 - "... it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
- Philippians 1:6 – “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion....”
- Romans 6:13 - "...offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life...."
- 1 John 1 8-9 - "...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us ...."
RELATED LINKS:- I Am Not Enough (& Why It's Liberating to Admit It) - blog post I wrote in 2017
- Confession of an Unlikely Convert - book by Rosaria Butterfield (her personal testimony; published in 2014)
- The Gospel Comes with a House Key - another great book by Rosaria Butterfield (2018)
- Another Gospel? - must-read book by Alisa Childers (2020)
- Live Your Truth - another wonderful book by Alisa Childers (2022)
- M is for Mama – such an encouraging read from my friend Abbie Halberstadt (2022)
- Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad – an even better book by Abbie (2023)
- You Are Not Enough (& That's Okay) - book by Allie Beth Stuckey (2020)
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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We've all said or done things that we later regret, sometimes profoundly so. But where does regret come from, and how are we supposed to handle this tangle of negative emotions? That's our topic for this week's episode of Loving Life at Home
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Romans 8:28 - "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love...."
- Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will...."
- Proverbs 31:10-31 - "...She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it...."
- Proverbs 13:12 - "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."
- Hebrews 12:1-2 - "...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus...."
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 - "...each person should live as a believer in whatever situation...."
- Philippians 4:11-13 - "...I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am...."
- Romans 10:9 - “If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe...."
- Matthew 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
- James 1:2-3 - "Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials...."
- Job 1:21 - "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
- Job 2:10 - "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and not accept adversity?”
- Ephesians 4:31-32 - "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away...."
- Mark 4:19 - "but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires...."
- Ephesians 4:30 - "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed...."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19 - "Do not quench the Spirit."
- 1 Peter 2:1 - "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind."
- Romans 6:12-13 - "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof...."
- Philippians 4:6 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving...."
- 1 Peter 5:7 - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
- Isaiah 29:16 - "...Can the pot say to the potter, 'You know nothing'?"
- Galatians 5:13 - "But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."
- Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard...."
- Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
- 1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us....”
- Psalms 103:12 - "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
- Romans 8:1 - “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
- Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
- Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way....”
- 1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and...."
- Psalms 103:12 - "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."
- Philippians 3:9- "...not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ...."
- Romans 8:1 -“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ....”
- Luke 12:26 - “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? So, if you...."
- Matthew 6:25-30 - "Do notworry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or...."
- Joel 2:25 - "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten...."
- Genesis 50:20 - "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...."
RELATED LINKS:- Forgiving Others Fully and Freely - Podcast Episode 11
- On Miscarriage -- Help for Hurting Hearts - Podcast Episode 49
- What Men Intend for Evil - a poem I wrote during a difficult season
- My Books - you can find most of the books my husband and I have written here or here
- Family Matters - archives of the newspaper column I wrote for several years
- Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe - a free printable prayer guide
- Praying for Your Wife from Head to Toe - another free printable prayer guide
- 31 Scriptures to Pray over Your Husband - yet another free printable prayer guide
- 30-Day Respect Challenge - my free, month-long email series for married women
- 30-Day Love Challenge - my husband's free, month-long email series for married men
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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Grandparent's Day is coming up, so this week we're discussing how to cultivate a closer relationship between grandkids and grandparents, including things parents can do to facilitate the connection.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- James 5:16 - “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
- Philippians 4:6 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
- Proverbs 17:6 - "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."
RELATED RESOURCES:- Praying for Your Grandchildren - A Free Printable Prayer Guide
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To be or not to be a parent... that is the question. Given the dark times in which we live, how are Christian couples to view the prospect of having children? What considerations should they take into account as they try to decide when--or whether--to start a family.
I hope you'll listen in today as we examine many of the most common objections couples give regarding the prospect of having children.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- 1 Corinthians 12:14 - “…the body does not consist of one part, but of many.”
- Psalm 127:3-5 – “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is...."
- Psalm 128:3-4 – “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His way...."
- Genesis 1:28 – “God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply....'"
- Deuteronomy 7:13 – “He will love you and bless you and multiply you.…”
- John 8:31 - “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples.”
- 1 Cor. 10:31 - "... whatever you do, do all for the glory of God."
- 2 Cor. 5:7 - "For we live by faith, not by sight."
- 1 Peter 3:15-16 - "Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you...."
- Luke 10:27 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and..."
- Psalm 37:25, “...never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”
- Phil. 4:19 - “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ....”
- Galatians 5:22 - "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness...."
- Philippians 1:6 - "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until....”
- James 1:5 - “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all...."
- Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
- 1 Timothy 2:15 - "Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they....”
- Eph. 2:8-9 - “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not....”
- 1 Tim 5:13-14 -“... So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and ....”
- Matthew 5:13-15 - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor...."
- Jeremiah 29:4-6 - "...have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.”
- Exodus 1:11-12 - "...the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied...."
- Deuteronomy 11:19 - "speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk..."
- Luke 23:29 - “...people will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that....'”
- Matthew 24:6 - “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you...."
- Gen. 2:24-25 - "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and...."
- Malachi 2:15 - "Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit...."
- Matthew 19:14 - “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them...."
- Romans 8:28 - "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good...."
RELATED LINKS:- Ep 58: Best Wedding Gift You’ll Ever Get
- Ep 15: Is Having Babies a Waste of Time?
- Ep 8: Smart Reasons for Having Babies
- M is for Mama: Ep 61 - Is the Child-Free Movement Biblical
- US Fertility Rate Graph
- Do You Wanna Have a Baby? - an original music video :-)
- A Quiverful Report - our interview with Al Jazeera
- Miriam's Big American Adventure: Episode 3 - our interview with the BBC
- Demographic Winter - link to the sequel of the documentary we watched 15+ yrs ago)
- These Governments Pay Citizens to Have Babies
- When Strangers Count Our Kids & Ask Us If We're Done
- Love Your Husband/ Love Yourself - my book
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Tune into Episode 58 as we discuss the best wedding gift any couple will ever receive — a gift that God Himself designed and prepared especially for husbands and wives to enjoy and one that will benefit them in more ways than you might ever imagine!
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Genesis 2:21-25 - "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam...."
- Proverbs 18:22 - "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."
- Proverbs 31:2 - "She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.”
- 1 Corinthians 7: 3-5 - "The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife...."
- Proverbs 5:18-19 - "Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth...."
- John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy....”
- Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways...."
- Romans 11:33 - "O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!"
- Ephesians 5:21-33 – "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ...."
RELATED LINKS:- Love Your Husband/Love Yourself - my 1st book ("The talk your mom never had the nerve to have with you!")
- Why I Keep Saying Yes to Sex - a blog post I wrote on this topic several years ago
- Wives: 13 Subtle Signs Your Husband is in the Mood - the Babylon Bee Article I mentioned
- The Best Wedding Gift You'll Ever Receive - blog post/full transcript of this episode
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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This week on the Loving Life at Home Podcast, we’re talking all about children’s chores. I’ve been fielding a lot of questions on this topic lately, and I realize I haven’t shared much about how we handle chores at our house, so today is the day! I hope you'll listen in.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Proverbs 14:4 - "Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox."
- Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
- Philippians 2:14 - "Do everything without complaining or arguing..."
RELATED LINKS:- Episode 53 (Microsystems for Organizing Your Home)
- Bedroom Inspection Checklist (let kids know what you mean when you say "clean your room")
- Age Appropriate Chores for Children (free printable list available in multiple languages)
- Teaching Kids to Do Chores Cheerfully (several ideas that have helped our kids over the years)
- Why the Controversy over Children's Chores? (readers weigh in on both sides of the debate)
- Should We Pay our Kids for Doing Chores (and if so, how much?)
- Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies (only 3 ingredients--4 if you add chocolate chips)
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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My topic this week is something that is very basic but is also extremely important. The sooner you master it, the sooner you’ll start reaping the benefits in each and every relationship you have. It will improve your interactions with your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings, your coworkers, your neighbors, cashiers, waiters, customer service reps--the list goes on and on.
What is this vital life skill, you may wonder? It is learning how to give a genuine, heartfelt apology. Listen in for the details on things all good apologies have in common.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Matthew 5:23-25 - "...leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother..."
- Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
- Psalm 101:5 – “...the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.”
- Ezekiel 36:26 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you..."
- Proverbs 21:4 – “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.”
- James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
- Isaiah 57:15 – “... in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
- Psalm 34:18 – “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.”
- 1 Peter 5:5 - “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes..."
- Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider...”
- Luke 6:42 - "...first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from..."
- Luke 19:41 - "When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it..."
- Luke 13:34 -“...How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her young....”
- Luke 23:34 - “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
- Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
- Colossians 3:12-13 - “...whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you..."
- Matthew 18:21 - "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?”
- Luke 17:4 - “Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day... and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”
- Romans 6:6 - “What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!”
- Luke 19:6 - "Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy."
- Luke 19:8 - "...half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”
- James 5:16 - “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed....”
RELATED LINKS:- Episode 11: How to Forgive Fully and Freely
- Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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Parents frequently ask us for tips on successfully launching their young adult kids. While there are no guaranteed formulas, today I'm sharing some general tips to help smooth your child's passage to adulthood.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- 1 Corinthians 14:20 - "Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters...."
- 1 Corinthians 15:19 - "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."
- Proverbs 10:19 - "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise."
- James 1:19 - "... now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger."
- Colossians 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may...."
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 - “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
- Philippians 2:5 - "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...."
- Luke 17:1-3 - “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come...."
- Deuteronomy 11:18-22 - "Ye shall lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul...."
- Ephesians 2:4-5 - "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us...."
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 - "For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin...."
- Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves...."
- Philippians 1:6 - "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion...."
- Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
RELATED LINKS:- Age-Appropriate Children's Chores - free printable
- 31 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Children - another free printable
- The Empty Pot - children's picture book by Demi
- Five Solas of the Reformation - free calligraphy coloring page
- "He Who Began a Good Work in You" - Steve Green Song
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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A marriage is a lot like a garden. Both require a lot of tending. In Episode 54 of the Loving Life at Home Podcast, we'll explore six essentials that must be present if you want your marriage (or your garden) to thrive.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Psalm 139:23-24 - "“Search me, O God, and know my heart..."
- Hosea 10:12 - “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love..."
- Jeremiah 4:3 - “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns.”
- Galatians 6:7 - “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
- Matthew 7:16-18 - "“By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes..."
- John 4:14 - "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will...."
- John 7:37-38 - “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me...."
- Hebrews 12:15 - “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up...."
- James 1:21 - “...in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”
- John 15:4-17 - "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself...."
- Proverbs 17:22 - “A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
RELATED LINKS:- 31 Scriptures to Pray over Your Spouse
- St. Fransis of Assisi’s prayer
- Love Your Husband/ Love Yourself
- 25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband
- 25 Ways to Show Love to Your Wife
- Terra Cotta Ollas for gardening
- My Backyard Mural
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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This week, I'm tackling a question from one of my most faithful listeners of all time (who also happens to be my daughter-in-law): Rebekah Joy. She asked me to cover some of the microsystems for managing our home that my husband and I put in place to keep everything running smoothly.
Once she explained the kind of microsystems she was talking about (including several her husband/our son implemented in their home with great success) I began compiling a list and realized there are probably too many to cover in one podcast. So this week, we'll discuss micro-systems that are aimed at maintaining order in the home, then I'll eventually do a podcast on various micro-systems we've put in place for maintaining relationships:nurturing our marriage, raising our children, celebrating holidays, homeschooling, forging friendships, etc.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Titus 2:3-5 - "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
RELATED POSTS:- Tips for Organizing Your Garage
- Taming the Toy Box
- Tips for Keeping Kids' Rooms Clean
- Free Bedroom Inspection Checklist
- How to Organize Your Kitchen for Efficiency
- Sit Down & Eat: Fun Ideas for Making Mealtimes Memorable
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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I received a message from a listener this week who was concerned about her husband's health. His diet needs work, he does't get enough sleep or enough exercise, and lately he's been experiencing chest pain. She wondered if I could give her some ideas for motivating him to make better decisions.
On this episode of Loving Life at Home, I'm sharing the four tips I gave her for dealing with the situation. I hope you will find them helpful, as well.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6
- “Which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?” Matthew 6:27
-“To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall deliver children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.’” - Genesis 3:16
- “If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” - Genesis 4:7
RELATED SOURCES:- Head-to-Toe Prayer Guide
- 31 Verses to Pray over Your Husband
- How Not to Die by Michael Greger, MD
- How Not to Age by Michael Greger, MD
- Get Up & Go by Jennifer Flanders
- Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenko
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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So much of life is spent in limbo. Waiting for a baby, a ride, or a test result. Waiting for a paycheck, a court date, or summer vacation. We wait… and wait… and wait some more. Is there a way we can do it to the glory of God? How can we wait in a way that honors Him?
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)
- "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
- “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” (Mark 13:33)
- “We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
- "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
- "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
- "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
- "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
- “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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The marriage lessons we learn by example are often the most memorable.
Some of the examples we see teach us what works, what leads to a successful, happy marriage, what we may want to emulate in our own.
But sometimes the examples we see serve as cautionary tales. They show us what doesn’t work, what kinds of attitudes and behaviors will submarine your marriage and undermine its happiness or longevity.
Either way, the lessons are instructive. They can lead us in a direction we want to go or warn us to steer clear of potentially dangerous potholes along the way.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Philippians 2:3-4 - “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
RELATED LINKS:- Secrets to Marital Success: 30 Lessons in 30 Years of Marriage
- Episode 34: The #1 Rule for Building a Happy Marriage
- The A-to-Z Guide to Building a Better Marriage
- 7 Ways to Ruin Your Marriage
- Free Printable Medicine Tracker (for caregivers like my father-in-law)
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
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Since I sometimes hear from women asking for advice on dealing with miscarriages, I wanted to share my thoughts and experience with this topic in hopes of encouraging others who may be suffering from the same kind of grief and loss. Listen in as we discuss recovery, rainbow babies, responding to insensitive remarks, and more.
Show NotesVERSES CITED:- Psalm 30:5 - “Weeping may last through the night, but a shout of Joy comes in the morning.”
- Romans 12:15 - "...Mourn with those who mourn."
- Psalm 139:13-16 - "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my ..."
RELATED LINKS:- Mailbag: Dealing with Miscarriage
STAY CONNECTED:- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!)
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
- Visa fler
