Renewing Motherhood

Cherishing the Advent season with our children starts with us. Sometimes mothering in this season can cause stress that steals our joy and shrinks our faith. But it doesn't have to! When so many of life's moments offer pain and disappointment, how can we reclaim our lost hope? Taking time to fuel our faith in the Word of God strengths our faith when we feel weak. Here's some encouragement on discovering hope for our weary hearts in the Advent season.

Advent is time of contemplation, hope, and peace as we anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth. While the world "hustles and bustles," we don't have to. We can not only celebrate the season, but cherish it. Here are a few reasons why we should cherish the season and a few tips on how do that in our homes.

Are you feeling the mounting pressure of the holiday season? Before the Christmas celebrations, there were Advent preparations. Advent is a wonderful time for slowing down, preparing our hearts, and leaning into Hope. Christmas doesn't have to be chaotic. Listen in here and be encouraged on preparing for Advent.

Cultivating a thankful heart is essential and powerful for our Christian walk. By practicing thankfulness, we reveal the light of Christ and point others toward Him. But this is not always easy, especially when we're walking through suffering. But if we remain steadfast in seeking Him in the midst of our suffering, we will see His abundant blessings and everlasting joy. Listen in here as Danielle and Amber talk about their experiences with lamenting, and share ways to seek after God and find joy in seasons of lament.

Motherhood can be very lonely; especially in the little years of raising children and during the holiday seasons when we're dealing with grief or an overwhelmed soul filled with chaos. During these seasons we can find hope and joy in our own souls when we freely give what little time and energy we have and send out Gospel light in dark places. It renews our own souls, reshapes our habits in our homes, and ignites responses to hope in mighty ways. Listen in here as Danielle talks with Becky Keife (author of The Simple Difference) about the importance of demonstrating kindness in your home and community. Leaning in and learning ways to show kindness is another way to find renewal in motherhood. Resources Mentioned The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes A Big Impact

Nothing can prepare us for the death of a loved one. Sometimes, it even comes without any warning at all. Our culture tells us that time heals all wounds and we just need to pick ourselves up, shake off the dust and move on. But it's not that simple. Listen in here as Danielle chats with Edie Melson, author of "Soul Care When You're Grieving," about how to walk through the grieving process and draw closer to God in the midst of suffering.

Motherhood is a battlefield. Yes, indeed it is tough to keep the faith and hold fast when you're facing "endless" days that test every fiber of your patience and will. So how do we equip ourselves to fight the battles we face every day within the walls of our home and dark places of our hearts? Listen in here as Danielle shares the truths of Scripture that will equip us for all the battles of motherhood.

In motherhood, we often feel so lonely in this hard work. If we're not being encouraged or we don't have another wise, encouraging mom walking alongside of us, it is lonely. Because of that, we feel shame, depression, lack of peace, loss of hope, and little desire for joy. So how to press on in faithfulness in the work we as mothers are called to do when we are so incredibly lonely? What does it look like to remain faithful? Listen in here and be encouraged as Danielle shares how we can cultivate the most important relationship first and above all.

Friends, while we can't always grasp onto what God is currently working in our waiting seasons, we can claim and grasp onto His promises and records of His past faithfulness! His faithfulness in the past brings hope in our present. Our faithfulness in minor moments increases our strength for major events. Listen in here as Danielle shares her heart and Scriptural encouragement on waiting with faithfulness. Episode mentions: 31 Prayers for Renewing Motherhood

In this unique episode, we're wrapping up all the exciting topic of Season 1 and teasing new topics for the upcoming Season 2 of the Renewing Motherhood Podcast! Plus, we're unpacking one of Danielle's favorite passages of Scripture and chatting about God's faithfulness in all seasons. Listen in here and be encouraged in your season of motherhood. Resources mentioned in this episode: God of Deliverance Bible Study Book by Jen Wilkin

In our present time, it's often difficult to overlook our struggles, our pain, or our circumstances. Pain and suffering can cast dark shadows over the things we know to be truth, good, and beautiful in our lives. But we have a HOPE that endures all things. Listen in as Danielle chats with guest Brandy McDonald on persevering through the all seasons and how we have leave this legacy to our children.

Friends, hurrying is not a mandate in our lives. Yes, there are situations that may call for some urgency, but we are NOT meant to live life fast-paced. Living this way robs us peace and joy in our Christian walk and our motherhood. Hurrying sifts out the best our character and so it's essential that we seek to squash it out and replace it with the cultivating peace - essentially, we need to an “unhurried presence." Listen in here as Danielle chats with Amy Anderson (Unhurried Presence) on this topic and share practical ways to cultivate a slow life. Resources mentioned in the episode: Humility by Andrew Murray The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a' Kempis If by Amy Carmichael Unhurried Presence.com

Happy Mothers' Day! Mothers' Day means different things and marks different events in the lives of all mothers. Each mother, regardless of how long she was a mother should know and feel love today. Listen in as Danielle shares encourages words for moms as well as three prayers to guide you along in any stage of motherhood.

What if we had more restful days that brought peace and joy? That sounds lovely, doesn't it?. Whether we're taking care of children or juggling large projects at work, ours days are full! In certain seasons of life this can leave us feeling more restless than restful. Listen in as Danielle shares part of her overwhelmed experiences in motherhood and 3 major remedies for reclaiming a restful soul.

The way we deal with our full schedules and routines can also affect us. A busy day or week is bound to happen - that's life. But, over time, depression surrounds our souls and we become so overwhelmed we don't know what to do. We feel rudderless as we coast through life, trying to get through the day. Are you feeling stressed or anxious? Do you find yourself having less patience for your children? If so, listen in here are as Danielle shares 3 signs that you need a "break" (and why it's so essential).

Are you struggling with calmness in your days? I know that I often do. There are days when I barely have time to breathe! Chaos and weariness can easily claim our motherhood confidence. In fact, they can less feeling less than "worthy" of our calling. Listen in here as we chat about embracing our weaknesses through Christ's strength, and reclaim our motherhood confidence.

As mothers, we've all felt like "bad" moms a time or two. This is especially true when we have not just rough days, but rough seasons of life. Dwelling on our own thoughts and insecurities causes us to spiral into the dark trenches and stay put. We end up feeling "stuck." But there is hope! We do not have to keep living in shame. Listen in as Danielle and Leslie (Mothering By Faith Ministry) chat about the causes of "mom-shame,: how to lean in to living loved and find Christ's hope in the darkness.

Waiting seasons often bring "soul unrest" as we long for answers or a shift in our circumstances. It's difficult to remember that God is good in every season. In this episode, Danielle invites you to simply pause where you are in this moment, and listen to this restful reading of Psalm 107. May the Redeemed of the Lord declare that God's steadfast love does endure forever. He is good. **“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Are you in a season of waiting right now? Waiting is never easy, especially in motherhood. Honestly, it's one of the hardest things we experience at one point or another. In these seasons of waiting, it's so easy to just take the wheel and veer off in the direction we think we need to go. But, there's a better way. A way that leads to hopefulness rather than hopelessness. It is possible to seek peace in the midst of our waiting seasons. Listen in as Danielle and Jennifer Elwood talk about motherhood in waiting seasons and how to pursue peace even when life is uncertain.

Friends, we are meant to live stress-filled lives. However, we're often tempted to focus on the negative aspects of our circumstances. This always leads to additional stress, overwhelm, and a great lack of calmness. But there is hope! Listen in here at Danielle and Anna Kettle (author of Sand Between Your Toes) chat about how to live and mother from a place of rest in the midst of a chaotic world.

Are you in a season of waiting right now? Waiting is never easy, especially in motherhood. We all experience waiting at one point or another. In these seasons of waiting, it's so easy to just take the wheel and veer off in the direction we think we need to go. But, there's a better way. A way that leads to hopefulness rather than hopelessness. Listen in here as Danielle shares 3 ways to wait well, and discover hope that God is still working in our waiting seasons.

There are seasons of motherhood that leave us feeling far beyond weary. In fact, we may feel that we're "stuck in the trenches." This feeling keeps us from discovering hope and experiencing joy in motherhood. Join Danielle and Brandy as they share personal struggles and practical tips on how to climb out of the trenches and find renewed joy.

Are you weary in motherhood? As mothers we feel consistently weary. Weariness keeps us from deepening those relationships with our children, friends, and God. Some seasons of life are more weary than others. But there is hope. Listen in here as Danielle shares 3 ways to wash away weariness and find lost joy in motherhood.

As mothers, we are dealing with distractions everywhere. Distractions are often unavoidable, but they're not beyond their limitations. So how do we as mothers find renewed hope in the midst of these unavoidable distractions? Listen in as Danielle shares some ways to place our weary feet back on the straight path in the journey of motherhood.

Motherhood is a battlefield, and we need faithful tools to fight those daily battles. Calmness is a tool that will carry further and deeper in the joys that we so desperately long for. But what happens when we can't naturally summon calmness? Listen in here as Danielle shares her experiences with cultivating and some practical tips for reclaiming the lost joys of motherhood.

Motherhood is a good, acceptable, and perfect calling from God. And yes, we may know that, but there are times when we are tested and becomes hard for us to discern what our purpose. Trials and tough times cloud our vision. Listen in as Danielle shares personal struggles and real encouragement to keep pressing on.

Do you struggle to find calmness in motherhood? Join me, Danielle Poorman, as we journey together to cultivate calmness, discover hope, and experience joy in the mundane and eventful, the trying, and the wonderful moments of motherhood.