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On today’s episode, I am chatting with Adam Griffin, lead pastor of Eastside Community Church in Dallas, Texas, about how we can effectively and practically disciple our children. Adam has recently co-authored the book, "Family Discipleship," with Matt Chandler. Discipleship can be an intimidating. After all, we can be so aware of our own sin and struggles and feel inept and inadequate to lead our children. How beautifully the gospel reminds us the ability to disciple is not sourced in ourselves, but rather Christ! As we grow in our walk with Jesus, we are offered opportunities to invite our children to journey alongside. What is discipleship and why is it so important? How do we, as parents, begin or even know how to do this? We are talking about practical ways we can disciple and walk into gospel conversation with our children by seizing opportunities in the normal rhythms of our day. Adam is also helping us de-mystify what discipleship is, and how, even unknowingly, we are already discipling our kids on a daily basis in how we treat our spouse, interact with our children and friends and just living life. “Pastors Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin have made it their mission to help you develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centered discipleship focused in three key areas: time, moments, and milestones. Filled with suggestions, sample plans, and Scripture references, this book begins with the end in mind―equipping you to create a unique plan for your family as you raise your children in the love and fear of the Lord.” (Crossway)

How can we intentionally root ourselves upon the Lord in such a way that when the unexpected comes and rocks us, we are able to remain firm in our faith? How can we practically keep the gospel in front of us on the days where everything seems to weigh heavy and we feel overwhelmed? We are talking about how the Lord tenderly meets us and reminds us of his presence through his word, prayer and the lives of others. How can we partner with others in a way that allows them a safe place to open up and share while also gently offers the hope of the gospel? On today’s episode, I am chatting with Melanie Matthews, a wife and mother of three, as we continue on in our series on gospel-centered parenting. We’re talking about how we can apply the gospel when life looks different than we envisioned. I imagine many of us can relate to this for many different reasons.

Bill and Pam Mutz, parents of 12 and grandparents of 27, join me as we pick back up on our conversation on parenting and grandparenting in light of the gospel. They are sharing about how they are learning the balance of being engaged grandparents while also yielding to their children. They also are discussing the importance of family fun, our legacy and how can we live our days in light of this focus. They emphasize the importance of letting our children fail while they are in the home and extending grace to both ourselves and our children on our journey as parents. They encourage us to live “open handed” in regards to what the Lord would have for us in our days and the deep impact of modeling a life changed by the gospel to both our family and the watching world. What is the Lord’s design and purpose in grandparenting? What should we strive for in terms of our lasting legacy - both in our family and community? Scripture advocates the importance of “dying to self”…how does this impact our marriages, parenting and grandparenting? What have you discovered over the years that keeps you connected and thriving in your marriage? These are some of the questions we will target in this episode along with their transparency of things they wish they did differently, what the Lord is currently teaching them and how they are choosing each day to come before the Lord and ask “What is it that you would have me to do today?”

How can we balance work, activities outside the home and service to others while also being tuned into the hearts of our kids? How does the Lord use his word to guide us in our role as parents? As our children began to marry, is there a process in learning to let them go….how do we navigate through this or better yet, how does the Lord lead us? Bill and Pam Mutz join me on today’s episode as we dive into life, marriage and raising children with a focus on becoming “difference makers” for the sake of the gospel. This conversation is packed with rich gospel truth, encouragement, practical ways to bring the gospel into our homes and parenting, lots of laughter and even tears as we witness how the Lord can and does work in our hearts. They also have a specific word for those walking through infertility and the mom out there who feels overwhelmed. Bill and Pam are parents of 12 and grandparents of 27. Bill currently serves in the role as mayor of Lakeland, Florida and Pam ministers to her family, community and others through Bible study, mentoring and many other roles.

Today's episode is focusing on the empty nest years and how God can work and use this season of our lives for continued eternal impact. How does the Lord prepare us prior to “officially” entering these years? How can we know what he would have for us? What about the concerns we hear voiced such as becoming "reacquainted with our spouse" or feeling like we have lost our “purpose” with our children gone? For those of us with kids still in the home, how can we set up safeguards in these areas of understandable concern? How might this season allow us to embrace the call of mentorship found in Titus 2 and 2 Timothy 2? I am chatting with parents, Steve and Julie Lane, who are embracing God's call and purpose in their empty nest years. They are transparently sharing about some parenting "re-dos," what God is teaching them, the excitement of pouring into the lives of others and how the Lord is blessing this season of their life.

On today’s episode, we are talking about some common perceptions of the teen years but what this season can be looking through the lens of the gospel. How we can walk alongside and shepherd our children’s hearts in these years? How can we help them navigate this transition into adulthood? If more is “caught than taught,” how can we live out an “authentic faith”, an overflow of who Jesus is to us, in front of them? What about those of us who feel we are too far into these years and have lost too much ground…is there any hope?

It can be easy to set our eyes “outside the home” in terms of “doing important things” but how can we be mindful of our primary mission field being first within the walls of our home? How can we practically lean into walking in the Spirit versus the flesh as we parent-what influences the direction we choose? How does Scripture help us navigate through the times when we mess up and feel like a complete failure? What are some “end goals” of parenting and how might this shape how we fill and walk out our days? I am chatting with Chris and Sabrina Miller, parents of six, as we talk through these questions and more on today's episode. I hope this conversation feels more like sitting around the table with good friends as we share about what the Lord is teaching and opening our eyes to, as we walk this journey of parenting together.

How we can recognize opportunities to present and keep the gospel in front of our children…where do we start in even knowing how to do this? We are also talking about hard days: how do we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, to not only parent but to do it with His joy and ability. How can we take the truths of scripture and fully stand upon God’s promises of not leaving us and finishing the work he has begun in us? I am chatting with parents, Corben and Keribeth Atkins, on how scripture speaks to this and what it can look like to practically walk in this: in the good and messy days of life. There is much laughter, transparency and most of all gospel-hope and truth woven throughout this episode.

Why do we pray? How can we learn to grow and become passionate in our prayer life? How can we practically carve out time in our busy and full days to pursue God through prayer? How might the Lord be using our hard times to draw us to himself? I am sitting down with two prayer warriors, Billie Sue Raboin and Alicia McMurray to talk about prayer and how we can learn of God's leading for our lives through this avenue. They are also sharing from their own lives and specific examples of how God has dramatically intervened through their prayers.

On today’s episode of as we press, I am sitting down with John Avant, President of Life Action Ministries, and his wife, Donna, to talk about knowing God’s will. At times, discerning God's will for our lives at times can seem intimidating, but perhaps it isn’t meant to be. How can we learn how to hear from God and his recognize his leading? Where do we start? How can we practically apply the Bible to our day to day lives and future? What would it look like to live out the call of the Great Commission in the midst of a pandemic, national unrest and protests? We are talking through these questions and more as we continue in our series on “reflections: our life.” This series is designed to help us reflect on this past year and God’s leading to help navigate where he might be directing us in 2021. The Avant’s are also sharing from their own experiences on how God has called them to deeper faith and trust. Their “yes” to God’s leadings has led them to experience his faithfulness like never before. They also share specific encouragement for pastors and their wives as they talk about this being “one of the hardest times to be in ministry.”

On today's episode we are beginning a series, "reflections: looking back to better look ahead" as we begin to prepare for 2021. I am sitting down to chat with Melody Shannon on exuding joy and Christ in our day to day, where true joy is found, dangers of comparison and how to practically rehearse truth to ourselves. Melody has taught art for 21 years at Providence Academy and is now in her 5th year at Kingsport Christian Academy.

In this episode, John and Alicia recall God's redemption and restoration of dormant hopes and dreams as they talk about what life looks like now. They passionately share a word to younger couples (John specifically addresses the men) from their own life's journey. Alicia passionately reminds us of the power and unity that overflows as couples join together to pray and what is truly at stake. We close the conversation talking about the hard but necessary road of learning forgiveness and what God is currently teaching them.

What about when we are weary in the “wilderness” experiences life can bring? Is the Lord really at work in these seasons that can seem dry and barren? How do we keep on going? What about when the enemy’s attacks seem relentless; would it be easier to just back away from the “front lines” of following Jesus in abandonment? Would we really miss out on that much? On today’s episode of as we press, I am sitting down with John and Alicia McMurray as we talk through these different questions in regards to life and relationships. John and Alicia share of the Lord’s great work of preparation in both of their lives, how they navigated through their “wilderness seasons”, God’s strategic placement of friends and family in their lives and how God redeemed and restored in a way that caught them both by surprise.

How can we walk life in a way that glorifies and honors God when our world and we, ourselves, become "undone"? How do we ground ourselves upon His word, in preparation for whatever might come our way? On today's episode, I am sitting down with Jamin Rathbun and discussing these questions and more as we talk through relationships, specifically the area of divorce. Jamin brings much gospel-centered wisdom coupled with deep transparency as he shares from his own life and what God continues to teach him. Jamin speaks about negative emotions and how to prevent bitterness and anger from rising up and taking us captive. How can we walk in the truth that no matter what our past, it does not rule out God's desire to use us for His kingdom work? How can we walk closely with those around us encountering seasons of hurt and change? Please join us on today's episode of as we press as we talk through these topics and more. I believe you will leave greatly encouraged and built up from the truth of God's word and evidence of His working.

On today's episode we are talking with Traci Begley about marriage from the wife's perspective. Traci shares from her 32 years of marriage as we talk about navigating through differences, digging into scripture for God's design of marriage and how to handle conflict in front of our children.

If someone asked, "How is your marriage," how would you answer? Transparency in our marriages can be a great avenue that Jesus can use for growing, transforming and even ministering to others. Please join us as we discuss balancing transparency and pursuing Christ in our marriages.

What do you find yourself waiting on right now? What does it means to wait well, in a way that glorifies God? What would that look like in our day to day? How do we prevent the object of our “wait” from becoming more important than it should? Please join us in our first episode in our series on relationships as we talk through singleness and learn together how to wait well.

Do you ever find yourself burdened from “performing” or carrying the heavy weight of legalism? How can we rest in the truth that His Spirit will give us what we need when we need it? What is grace? How does God show us grace? How can we as believers walk in this? How do we keep from sliding back into “working for God” in our own strength? In this episode, Janet Anglin tackles these tough questions that can rise up in our relationship with Jesus. She has some very practical advice on how she comes to Jesus, confessing her need or lack, and relies upon the Holy Spirit to redirect.

How do we not lose hope in our loss? How does the Lord practically enable us to keep going? What does Scripture say about how to navigate through loss?   In today’s episode, Theresa Mills gently guides us through these questions and more. We are also discussing how to help our children navigate through hard roads in life and how to effectively battle spiritual warfare.

A conversation on trusting God in the midst of deep loss and hurt.