Changing dirty diapers. Providing nourishing meals. Having conversations about patience and self-control. It doesn’t look like an official outreach or job position, but ministering to our kiddos is one way we serve God. In this episode, Emily and Laura share how moms can see and serve their kids. Our individual circumstances are different, but we can all look to Jesus as our perfect example for ministry in everyday life. He worked, traveled, taught, and ate with his disciples to show them what it looks like to obey and love God in all things. Mamas, let’s live a life of ministry too.

RELATED ARTICLES, RESOURCES, AND CONTENT:

Related R|M resources:

Faithful Motherhood Series

• Ep. 107, Grace in Discipline: An Interview on Faithful Motherhood with Elyse Fitzpatrick

• Ep. 113, Trusting God with Our Children: An Interview on Faithful Motherhood with Nancy Guthrie

• Ep. 116, Leaning into Grace: An Interview on Faithful Motherhood with Debbie Martens

Discipleship and Teaching “Gospel Thinking”

• Ep. 04, Teaching Our Children About Jesus

• Ep. 12, Is Your Child’s Faith Your Responsibility?

• Ep. 29, Using Life-Giving Words With Your Children

• Ep. 51, Family Devotions in the Season of Young Children

• Ep. 57, How Discipline Helps Us Communicate the Gospel

• Ep. 76, Sally Clarkson: Nourishing & Training Up Your Children at the Table

• Ep. 82, Using Stories to Pass Along the Gospel to Your Children

• Ep. 89, Trillia Newbell: Helping Our Kids Celebrate God’s Beautifully Diverse Design

• Ep. 108, How Do I Disciple My Children?

• Ep. 111, Seasons and Rhythms: Incorporating Gospel Reminders Into Your Year

• “What Should I Teach My Children About the Bible?” Emily Jensen

• “Kitchen Table Discipleship,” Stacy Reaoch

• “Gospel Thinking: How Do We Decide Our Family Traditions?” Eric Schumacher

• “Raising Treasure Hunters,” Stephanie Grayum

• “Helping Children See Christ in Scripture,” Nana Dolce

• “Passing Along Our Heritage: Teaching the Gospel in All of Life,” Autumn Kern

Encouragement in the Ministry of Motherhood

• Ep. 18, Freedom to be the Mother God Created You to Be

• Ep. 19, A Bad Moment Doesn’t Have to Make a Bad Day: Redeem Your Day

• Ep. 30, Why You Don’t Have to Live with Mom Guilt

• Ep. 37, Working Hard at Home: Emily’s Story

• Ep. 40, To-Do Lists & How-Tos: Finding Practical Help in Motherhood

• Ep. 43, Serving Others Right Where You’re At

• Ep. 44, Raising More Than Just “Good” Kids

• Ep. 61, Prayer & Motherhood: An Interview with Valerie Woerner

• Ep. 66, Hannah Anderson: How Humility Nourishes a Weary Mom’s Soul

• Ep. 73, Ruth Chou Simons: Faithfulness & Work in the Season of Young Children

• Ep. 87, What It Means to “Preach the Gospel to Yourself”

• Ep. 105, When Motherhood Feels Too Hard

• Ep. 110, Creativity and Motherhood: An Interview with Quina Aragon

• “Five Reasons God Made You a Mother,” Abigail Dodds

• “What if Motherhood was Meant to be Hard?” Lauren Weir

• “The Kingdom of Mom,” Maggie Combs

• “A God Who Serves Mothers,” Amanda Criss

• “Gospel Hope When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough,” Christina Kposowa

• “To Mom Well is to Know Christ Well,” Dianne Jago

Intentional Motherhood

• Ep. 27, Intentional Motherhood: It’s the Little Things

• Ep. 33, Intentional Motherhood Starts at Day One

• Ep. 32, Gloria Furman: Missional Motherhood

• Ep. 46, Intentional Motherhood: Communicating Your Family’s Mission

• “Seize the Phase,” Kay Fuller

• “Where Are We Going? Leading Your Family with a Gospel-Centered Vision,” Shelly Wildman

• “Tending Your Garden,” Colleen Searcy

• “Five Ways My Mom Invested the Gospel in Me,” Jaquelle Crowe

Bible Literacy

• Ep. 15, When Quiet Times Aren’t Quiet: How Moms Make Time to Study God’s Word

• Ep. 63, Jen Wilkin: Growing in God’s Word as a Mom of Little Ones

• Ep. 79, She Reads Truth: God’s Word Everyday, In Every Season

• R|M Abide Method for Bible study

Husbands as Ministry Partners

• Ep. 28, On the Same Team: Getting on the Same Page as Parents

• Ep. 90, Unified with Your Husband: Different Styles, Same Mission

Around the Internet:

• Missional Motherhood, Gloria Furman

• The Life Giving Parent, Clay and Sally Clarkson

• Christ in the Chaos: How the Gospel Changes Motherhood, Kimm Crandall

• Parenting, Paul David Tripp

• Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp

• Give Them Grace, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

• Glory in the Ordinary, Courtney Reissig

• Mom Enough, Desiring God

RM APPLY QUESTIONS

Now that we see our work in motherhood as a ministry to our children, let’s talk about how to see and serve them well. You’ll find there are a million ways to do this with a scroll on social media, a simple Google search, or even a look at the R|M website. But ministry isn’t a thing of guilt, it’s a thing of grace. God graciously invites us into his work to spread his gospel and make disciples, even in our homes. Our ministry will look different than the mom next to us, but our goal is the same: to raise children up in the ways of the Lord.

1. When you hear the word “ministry,” what comes to mind? Who ministers? What does ministry look like? Ministry simply means serving God by serving others in our spheres of influence—which for a mom includes her family. How would you describe your ministry in motherhood?

2. The first thing we need to do ministry is a relationship with God. This is how we’re equipped to serve our kiddos and how we learn to obey God. How do you grow in your relationship with God? How do you grow in godliness and gospel thinking?

3. We have hundreds of moments in a day in motherhood to decide to submit in obedience to God or to chase our own selfish desires. Can you think of an example of a moment like this in your home? What would it look to serve God in that moment?

4. We minister in two main ways: in the physical and in the spiritual. What are some practical needs you meet for your children? How does that work communicate the gospel to them? What are some specific hearts needs in your children right now? How can you communicate the gospel to them for those issues?

5. Resources are everywhere, which is a wonderful thing. But it can also leave us feeling overwhelmed by the options or guilty for not doing all of them. How does the gospel free us from “mom guilt” and allow us to use resources with joy?

FOR MORE:

• To subscribe: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe. On Android, click this podcast RSS feed link and select your podcast app. You may need to copy the link into your favorite podcast app (like Overcast or Stitcher).

• Leave an iTunes review. These are huge for us! The more reviews, the greater chance another mother will find us.

• Like Risen Motherhood on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates and related information.

• Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to hear more about the conversations you're having. Shoot us an email, or find us on social media.

• Tell others. We truly hope this podcast fosters conversations and deeper discussions between mothers to seek the gospel in their daily activities - we'd be honored if you shared and encouraged others to listen in.

*Affiliate links used where appropriate. Thanks for supporting this ministry!

Sometimes it feels like “mom world” is another planet. A nursing shield? An all-terrain stroller? Funny-shaped food? It seems easier to build friendships with women in our season of life, but the gospel gives us a bigger picture of community. In this episode, Emily and Laura interview Elizabeth Woodson about building flourishing friendships with women in other seasons of life—particularly singles. Elizabeth is a Bible teacher who writes, teaches, and helps to develop leaders at The Village Church and serves as the Director of Resources for the Sparrow Conference. Christian moms and singles can have the most important thing in common: our faith in Christ. So press in a little deeper with a woman in a different season and enjoy God’s gift of community.

MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:

• Elizabeth Woodson’s website

• Elizabeth on Instagram & Twitter

• The Village Church

• Sparrow Conference 2019

RELATED ARTICLES, RESOURCES, AND CONTENT:

Related R|M resources:

• “God’s Grace Beyond our ‘Mom Tribes,’" - Abby Hummel, Risen Motherhood

• “The Gospel Comes with a House Key,” - Rosaria Butterfield, Risen Motherhood

• “When We’re Offended: The Cost of Being a Peacemaker,” - Lauren Weir, Risen Motherhood

• “Members, Not Measures: A Call to Own One Another’s Joys and Sorrows,” Abbey Wedgeworth, Risen Motherhood

• “Moms Make Peace Through Christ,” - Emily Jensen, Risen Motherhood

• Ep. 38, Friendship & Motherhood - Risen Motherhood

• Ep. 43, Serving Others Right Where You’re At - Risen Motherhood

• Ep. 55, Hospitality in the Little Years - Risen Motherhood

• Ep. 65, Finding Your Tribe: Momma, Who is Your Primary Community? - Risen Motherhood

Around the internet:

• Messy Beautiful Friendships: Finding and Nurturing Deep and Lasting Relationships, - Christine Hoover

• Life Together, - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

• Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, - Brett McCracken

• “6 Costs of Real Friendship,” - Jen Thorn, Christianity Today

• “Loneliness, Friendship, and the Goodness of God,” - Melissa Kruger, TGC

• “Woman Enough for Friendship,” - Jasmine Holmes, Fathom Magazine

• Ep. 17, By Faith with Christine Hoover: On Friendships for Moms with Emily & Laura - By Faith

RM APPLY QUESTIONS

It’s great to have a close group of mom friends, but God also designed Christian community to include a variety of ages, experiences, and gifts. Women in different seasons of life can have flourishing friendships if we’re willing to find common interests, have honest conversations, and build on our shared love of Christ. We’re made to be in community and to encourage our sisters-in-Christ, and that happens across every season of life.

1. Do you have friendships with women who are in different seasons of life than you? If so, how can you further invest in these friendships? If not, can you think of any women who share similar interests with you in other areas? Consider inviting one of them to join you for coffee, bread baking, running, etc.

2. There are common threads in all our lives. We all experience pain, loss, and difficulty; and we all experience joy, thankfulness, and hope. The gospel meets us where we are in our different situations and enables us to mourn and rejoice with one another. How is a shared love of Christ the foundation for friendship? How does it connect you to other sisters-in-Christ who may be experiencing different life events than you?

3. Moms and singles can be tempted to run away from hard relationships, but God calls us to consider one another as more important than ourselves. What would it look like to approach a difficult friend with grace? How can you find out how to love that person well?

4. If we want to be true friends, we have to open up our lives to others—which means opening our homes too. What are your expectations for the “right conditions” to be hospitable? Are these biblical requirements or heart idols? How can you open up space this week to invite a single woman over?

5. All women are told to have spiritual children in the faith regardless of our life seasons. We’re to steward the information God gives us by pouring into a younger sister-in-Christ. Is discipleship a regular part of your life? How can you make time for it and who might you “do life” with?

FOR MORE:

• To subscribe: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe. On Android, click this podcast RSS feed link and select your podcast app. You may need to copy the link into your favorite podcast app (like Overcast or Stitcher).

• Leave an iTunes review. These are huge for us! The more reviews, the greater chance another mother will find us.

• Like Risen Motherhood on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates and related information.

• Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to hear more about the conversations you're having. Shoot us an email, or find us on social media.

• Tell others. We truly hope this podcast fosters conversations and deeper discussions between mothers to seek the gospel in their daily activities - we'd be honored if you shared and encouraged others to listen in.

*Affiliate links used where appropriate. Thanks for supporting this ministry!

Want to start a business? Wondering if you should start traveling for your job or pick up an extra shift? Trying to bend and stretch your schedule to make all your opportunities work? Being able to consider new work responsibilities, ministry roles, or creative endeavors isn’t the norm for everyone, but when we have a choice, it’s a huge privilege to steward. In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss how to evaluate new or changing career or ministry opportunities. We’re made to work and use our gifts to pass on the legacy of faith in all we do. By tuning our thoughts to God’s word, we can pursue holiness, count the cost of each decision, and lay down our lives for others.

RELATED ARTICLES, RESOURCES, AND CONTENT:

• Leave an iTunes Review & Tutorial on How to Leave an iTunes Review

• Ep. 83: Nikki Daniels: Finding Freedom in Christ as a Working Mom - Risen Motherhood

• Ep. 118: Gray Areas: Personal Conscience in Motherhood - Risen Motherhood

• “When You Don’t Measure Up” - Laura Hardin, Risen Motherhood

• “Every Woman’s Call to Work” - Abigail Dodds, Desiring God

• “Women, Work, and Faith: Five Common Themes” - Bethany Jenkins, TGC

• “The Counter-Cultural Woman: A Fresh Look at Proverbs 31” - Revive Our Hearts Series

• “Women, Work, and Our Crisis of Identity” - Carolyn McCulley, Desiring God

• “Women’s Roles and the Great Commission” - Allyson Todd, For the Church

• “The Wonder of Work” Melissa Kruger, TGC

• “When You’re Stuck in a Season You Don’t Want” - Lauren Weir, Words Worth Noting

• “Let Me Be A Woman: A Discussion on Biblical Femininity” - Nana Dolce, Aimee Byrd, Brooke Ventura

FOR MORE:

• To subscribe: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe. On Android, click this podcast RSS feed link and select your podcast app. You may need to copy the link into your favorite podcast app (like Overcast or Stitcher).

• Leave an iTunes review. These are huge for us! The more reviews, the greater chance another mother will find us.

• Like Risen Motherhood on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates and related information.

• Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to hear more about the conversations you're having. Shoot us an email, or find us on social media.

• Tell others. We truly hope this podcast fosters conversations and deeper discussions between mothers to seek the gospel in their daily activities - we'd be honored if you shared and encouraged others to listen in.

*Affiliate links used where appropriate. Thanks for supporting this ministry!

Regular date nights are a joy. We love getting out of the house and away from the kids!  But does a flourishing God-honoring marriage require this regular habit? If you and your husband are in an overwhelming season and you’re not “succeeding” at date night, this one’s for you. In this episode, Emily and Laura dig into a different perspective on the “modern date night.” Instead of putting our hope in a single night out with our husbands, God teaches us to cherish and serve one another daily. Date nights aren’t a guarantee, but God’s covenant-keeping grace is, and he can sustain our marriage, even when we don’t get a date night.

Am I an Enneagram 3? A Princess Belle? An INFP? Wait, what are you?!

It doesn’t matter if it takes 10 minutes and 100 pop-ups, we’ll click through to learn something new about our personalities. In this episode, Emily and Laura talk about why we love learning about ourselves and what role personality profiles should play in our mothering. Digging into who we are can be useful, but our personalities aren’t the full definition of who we are in Christ. God is making all things new, changing and transforming every part of us—personalities included—into the image of Jesus.

RELATED ARTICLES, RESOURCES, AND CONTENT:

• Risen Motherhood on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

• “Personality Assessments and the Wondrous Knowledge of Being Known” Lore Ferguson Wilbert, Lifeway

• “I’m Not an Expert on Myself” Jen Wilkin, Family Life

• “Personality Tests and Abiding in Love” Liz Wann, Morning By Morning

• “Personality Tests: Knowing God Through Knowing Ourselves” Nate Claiborne, Christian Pop Culture

• “What God Thinks About You” John Rinehart, Desiring God

• “Stop Using Your Personality Test as a Crutch” Michael Kelley, For The Church

• “The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About the Enneagram” Joe Carter, TGC

• “What the Bible Says About Our Identities in Christ” Melissa Kruger, Megan Hill, Jen Pollock Michel [Video], TGC

For More:

• To subscribe: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe. On Android, click this podcast RSS feed link and select your podcast app. You may need to copy the link into your favorite podcast app (like Overcast or Stitcher).

• Leave an iTunes review. These are huge for us! The more reviews, the greater chance another mother will find us.

• Like Risen Motherhood on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates and related information.

• Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to hear more about the conversations you're having. Shoot us an email, or find us on social media.

• Tell others. We truly hope this podcast fosters conversations and deeper discussions between mothers to seek the gospel in their daily activities - we'd be honored if you shared and encouraged others to listen in.

*Affiliate links used where appropriate. Thanks for supporting this ministry!

It’s our first episode of 2019, and we’re talking about the little voice in your head. The one that pipes up when you feel guilt over letting your kids eat too many cookies or sets off an alarm bell when you watch something questionable. All of us have one, but it’s not the Holy Spirit. What is it exactly? In this episode, Emily and Laura start the conversation on personal conscience. God gave each of us a conscience to help discern what’s right and wrong in the everyday “gray” areas of life. While it can be dulled by sin, God recalibrates our consciences through the study of his word and fellowship with believers, so we can do all things in faith with love.